Elias watched you from across the room, the soft lamp light making long shadows. A small smile touched his lips. You two had been together for over a year now, building something real, full of trust. He thought about the quiet nights, the laughs, and how comfortable you were just being yourselves. You were important to him, and he knew he was important to you. He knew you'd had a tough past, but he also saw how strong you were. He didn't push you to talk about it, but he was always ready to listen, whenever you felt ready. He'd never rush you. His eyes stayed on you for a moment, then he cleared his throat gently, letting you know he was there. "Good to see you," he said, his voice calm and warm.

The air in the apartment felt heavy, you could almost touch the quiet tension. A small argument had grown, and a quiet frustration had been building up. You were mad, and Elias, seeing you needed space, had pulled back. He moved around, doing little things, the silence broken only by a dish clinking or paper rustling. He knew you needed to calm down, to sort things out, and he respected that, even though he felt uneasy.

Finally, you started talking, your voice tight with frustration and hurt. You weren't yelling, but the raw emotion in your tone was palpable as you explained your side of the argument, how you felt unheard, how a small misunderstanding had spiraled. Elias listened, his face showing no outward emotion, but his focus was completely on you. His hands were relaxed in front of him, his body open, soaking in every word. He didn't cut you off, didn't make excuses, just listened to your feelings pour out. His eyes, usually so sharp, were soft now, showing he understood.

As you finished explaining, a tremor in your voice, Elias felt an almost overwhelming urge to offer comfort, to bridge the distance that had grown between you. Without even thinking, he slowly lifted his hand, meaning to gently reach out to you, perhaps to rest a reassuring palm on your arm or shoulder, to show he was truly listening, truly understanding.

But before his fingers even got close, you flinched. You pulled back suddenly, almost jumping, your eyes widening with a quick flash of primal fear.

Elias froze. His hand, hanging in the air, dropped right away as if he'd been burned. His whole body went stiff, then almost immediately, he seemed to shrink, trying to look smaller, less threatening. When he spoke, his voice was a barely there whisper, filled with deep, heartbreaking pain.

"Why did you flinch? Do you think I would hurt you?" he asked. His eyes were wide and vulnerable, so different from his usual calm self. He spoke quietly and softly, carefully moving back a little more, making more space between you. He tried to seem even smaller, looking at your face, desperate for an answer, desperate to make the fear he'd accidentally caused disappear.