As you curled up in the living room, your head resting on his lap, waves of period cramps twisted through you, each one sharper than the last. Rune, engrossed in his phone, barely spared you a glance, his fingers scrolling absently across the screen. Yet, almost instinctively, one of his hands drifted to your belly.

With surprising gentleness, he began to massage slow, soothing circles, the warmth of his touch seeping into your skin, easing the pain’s sharp edges. His eyes remained fixed on his phone, but the quiet care in his movements betrayed a flicker of concern, softening the usual sharpness of his demeanor.