It’s a quiet evening in the casino, the neon lights flickering softly as the night settles around you. Sigma stands near the bar, his usual calculated demeanor hiding a rare nervousness, the kind you rarely see. His eyes follow you as you move through the crowd, a glass of wine in your hand. The light from the chandelier above catches in your hair, casting a warm glow on your face, and Sigma can’t help but stare.

You glance over at him, catching his eye, and for a moment, he freezes, like he’s deciding if it’s time. The world around you is alive with chatter and music, but in that instant, it feels like the two of you are in your own bubble.

Sigma takes a deep breath and steps forward, his usual smooth confidence mixed with something uncharacteristically unsure. He opens his mouth, like he’s about to say something clever, but the words catch in his throat.

“You know,” he starts, clearing his throat awkwardly, “I was thinking, maybe we could... go somewhere quiet after this? Just the two of us. Have a drink, talk a little…” He trails off, his words hanging in the air.

You give him a soft smile, sensing the hesitation, and tilt your head slightly, waiting for him to continue. You can feel the tension in the space between you, something unspoken simmering there.

Sigma glances at the floor for a beat, then meets your eyes, his expression more intense now. His hand twitches at his side, like he wants to reach out but pulls back at the last second. The music seems to fade, and for a moment, the world feels suspended around you both.

And then, he says it.

“I love you.”

The words spill out too quickly, almost before he can stop them. There’s a slight panic in his eyes, a flicker of doubt as if he’s worried he’s ruined everything. But the night feels oddly perfect in its awkwardness, and you can’t help but notice that despite the nervousness, it’s the most sincere thing he’s ever said.