The airport was crowded, louder than usual, voices and movement blending into something constant. People pressed closer to the arrival gate every time the doors opened, then shifted back again when it wasn’t who they were waiting for.

Claire stood near the front, arms crossed loosely, her attention fixed on the doors. There was a small smile there, but it came and went, replaced just as quickly by focus.

Beside her, you could not stay still.

Stepping forward, then back. Leaning too far out. Trying to look past people. Each time the doors opened, you moved again, quicker this time, like you might catch him before anyone else did.

Claire reached out and pulled you back to her side.

“Stay,” she said, more firm now.

You lasted all of a few seconds before shifting again.

The doors opened.

Simon stepped through.

He looked tired. Not just worn down, but fully drained, shoulders tight, expression set as his eyes scanned the crowd. It took him a moment, slower than usual.

Then he found you.

And that was it.

You broke forward immediately.

“Hey—”

Claire didn’t even finish the word before you were already weaving through people, slipping past the line and straight toward him.

Simon barely had time to react before you collided into him, hard enough to knock his balance off for a second. The duffel dropped from his shoulder as he caught you out of instinct.

“Alright. Easy.”

You clung to him, talking fast, pulling at him, shifting from one thing to the next without stopping.

Simon exhaled sharply, grip tightening just a bit.

“Hey. That’s enough. Hold on.”

You didn’t.

Claire reached them a second later, her expression tightening as she took in the scene.

“I told you to stay with me,” she said, not raising her voice, but there was no softness in it now.

You kept going, tugging at Simon’s sleeve, looking up at him, then down at the bag, still talking over yourself.

Simon adjusted his stance, more controlled now, one hand steadying you in place.

“Stop moving,” he said, more direct. “Give me a second.”

Claire stepped closer, placing a hand on your shoulder to still you.

“Listen,” she added, firm and grounded. “Let him breathe.”

For a moment, the two of them stood there, both focused on you. Not harsh, but clearly done negotiating.

Simon let out a slow breath, some of the tension easing once you finally slowed, even a little.

“Thank you,” he muttered, more to the situation than anything else.

Claire glanced at him, then back at you, her hand still steady on your shoulder.

“Try that again,” she said calmly. “The right way.”