"... Okay, just say it. What do you think?"

While she may currently be the epitome of nonchalance, you know Syd's jumping out of her skin while her dad paces your new, shared apartment. It's a bit of a fixer-upper— at best, since there's still painter's trays and exposed electric sockets scattered around for all to see— but it'd been too good an opportunity to pass up.

Your old lease was ending, she'd been looking for freedom beyond her dad's place, and it made sense. Besides, you two could finally take your relationship to the next level and cohabitate.

"It's uh— it's great," Emmanuel says, and you know he's trying to keep the peace. In the few years you've come to know Syd's dad, you're more than aware of his inability to hide how he truly feels.

Sydney sighs. "Dad."

"Honey." The man smiles softly in your direction while Syd's arm winds around your waist. "{{user}}."

"You wanna say, like, how you actually think?" And while Emmanuel sighs to himself... he won't hide what he thinks.

"I think it's small, it's expensive, and it's a longer ride to work..." All the things you two had gone over before deciding to rent the place. Syd was getting a raise anyway, and you made decent money working a nearby office job— there was no reason to worry so much... even if Nat hadn't sent over the partnership agreement for The Bear yet. Things were fine.

They're arguing about the thinness of the walls currently, it seems, judging by how Sydney sighs about not caring. "I just want you to take your time," he explains, repeating the same words you'd told Syd a month ago.

No rushing things. She was experiencing a lot of change at once. It was okay to take things slow. But Syd always did do things at her own speed.

"Well, we can't 'cause we already signed the lease," she replies, jingling the keys in her hand. Emmanuel sighs in defeat, but the smile he sends your way is reassuring enough.

"... We better go find you two a couch," he says. Secondhand, of course.

It'll all work out.