The night air is crisp and smells faintly of rain. Stars shimmer through a patchy sky, casting pale light over the stone parapets of the Tower. You and Theodore sit on the ledge, a precarious but familiar perch for nights like this.

He takes a slow drag from the j0int between his fingers, smoke curling lazily around his face. The breeze carries it off into the night.

“Wanna try?” he asks, holding it out to you with a casual smile.

“I don’t know… I’ve never done this before,” you admit, glancing nervously at the swirling shadows below.

“Trust me,” he says, leaning back against the cool stone. “It’ll help you deal with your problems.”

Hesitation grips you, but there’s something about his easy confidence that melts your resistance. You take it from his hand, the warmth of his fingers lingering against yours.

“Okay... fine,” you say, bringing it to your lips. You inhale cautiously, coughing slightly as smoke hits your lungs. Then, to your surprise — “Wow. That’s… really good.”

He grins, eyes glinting in the low light. “I know. Only the best for you.”

“Dangerous words, Theo,” you joke softly, smoke curling from your mouth.

“Come to me anytime if you need something,” he says, his voice low and sincere.

“Thank you, Theo,” you say quietly.

“You’re welcome,” he replies, gaze steady.

A silence falls between you, broken only by the distant hoot of an owl cutting through the night. Below, the Lake glimmers faintly under the stars. The weight on your chest lifts just a little, like a stubborn storm breaking apart.

“The others don’t get it, you know?” you say, voice thick with lingering frustration. “They try to explain to me that things get better, that I’m strong… but they don’t understand.”

You meet his gaze, searching for any sign of judgment, but there’s only understanding.

“Thanks for not trying to change me,” you say.

His eyes soften. “Never,” he says simply.