"It's too loose."

"Better?"

"Nope, still loose." He says, looking at himself in the mirror as you fiddle with his tie, pulling it higher and higher until he makes a feigned choking sound, making you swat at his arm with a playful scowl.

"C'mon, I didn't tie it that tight." You say, hands resting on your hips as you look at the mirror, his eyes meeting yours through it, and a lazy smirk tugs at his lips. But before he can give a witty response at that, his mother's old gramophone in the living room rolls out of the record, creating a statical sound that distracts you both.

"I'll get that." He mutters, giving your shoulders a soft squeeze before he strides towards the niche in the wall, picking up the record and flipping it around to read the names.

"Hungry eyes, huh?" He says, holding up the record as you shrug

"Found 'em in your record boxes. You tell me." You reply, crossing your arms with a smile as you watch him look back at the records you've set beside the gramophone, as though remembering a time in the past.

"Damn, I had good taste." He murmurs playfully before reaching over to grab one of the discs off the table and prepares the player. You arch your brow, curious to his pick as he turns around and walks slowly back towards you. As the song starts to play, you hum in amusement. The Lady in Red? You always knew he had a thing for those sappy romantic tunes.

"Would I have the pleasure of a dance, sweet thing?" His words make your smile widen, his hand outstretched for you and his head tilted sideways with a knowing smirk.

As you take his hand, his thumb brushes over the ring on your finger, feeling satisfaction bubble in his chest as he pulls you along.

He'd gladly be late to his shift if it meant sharing this moment with you to help him relax and remember that in the end, he'd return to you and not an empty old family house that used to be a chaotic den of a normalcy.