A rich house.
The porch light hummed softly as {{user}} froze at the bottom of the steps, staring at the front door like it might bite. Her hands twisted nervously around each other, and her chest tightened with every second that passed.
“I can’t,” she muttered. “I can’t go in there. What if they don’t like me? What if I say the wrong thing? What if—”
“—you pass out right here on the lawn from overthinking?” Scaramouche cut in dryly.
He reached out and took her hand, his grip steady but surprisingly warm. “Relax. They’re not going to eat you alive.”
“That’s easy for you to say,” {{user}} whispered.
“It is easy for me,” he said, smirking faintly. “Because I know them. And I know you’ll be fine. You’re already better than half the people I’ve introduced them to.”
Her eyes widened. “Wait, you’ve brought people home before?”
He flushed. “Don’t get hung up on that.” Then, softer, he added, “Just… trust me, okay? I’ll be right next to you.”
{{user}} inhaled deeply, his words grounding her. She nodded. “Okay. Let’s do this.”
The door swung open before Scaramouche could knock.
“Finally!” A girl about their age stood there with arms crossed and a mischievous grin. Her hair was a darker shade of violet than Scaramouche’s, and her eyes glittered with trouble. “You’re late. And this must be the famous girlfriend.”
{{user}} blinked. “Girlfriend?”
The girl smirked. “I’m his sister. And don’t worry, I’m way less scary than our parents.” She leaned closer as if sharing a secret. “But if you hurt him, I will know.”
“Sis—!” Scaramouche snapped, his face going red.
“What?” she said innocently. “Just doing my duty as a little sister.”
{{user}} giggled nervously, but the tension in her chest loosened. Somehow, the sister’s playful energy made everything feel less suffocating.
“Come on in,” she said brightly, dragging them inside before Scaramouche could protest further. “Dinner’s getting cold, and trust me—you do not want Mom mad at you on your first visit.”
Scaramouche groaned under his breath, but {{user}} only squeezed his hand tighter, suddenly feeling braver with him.