Moxxie felt it the second Millie’s footsteps retreated down the hall—the room went tight, like a wire pulled too far. The office lights hummed low, casting long shadows over old weapons cases and the scarred desk they’d leaned on a thousand times before. He adjusted his tie out of habit, fingers fidgeting, tail giving him away with a nervous twitch. His eyes kept finding {{user}} without meaning to, then darting away like he’d been caught stealing.

Millie lingered at the doorway a beat too long, grin warm and knowing. She set a hand on Moxxie’s shoulder, gave it a squeeze that was all encouragement and mischief. “Y’all take your time,” she said lightly, eyes flicking between them. “I’ll… check on somethin’.” The door clicked shut behind her with a finality that made Moxxie’s horns prickle.

Silence swelled. Moxxie cleared his throat, the sound small in the space. He paced once, then stopped, shoulders squaring as if bracing for a shot. “So—uh—guess it’s just us,” he murmured, trying for casual and landing somewhere near terrified. He gestured at the chair, then thought better of it, hands dropping to his sides.

He stole another look. Years rushed back uninvited: whispered plans in back rooms, the way {{user}} had stood between him and worse nights, the knowledge of his past that never turned into leverage. His voice softened without permission. “You always did have a way of… stickin’ around,” he said, attempting a smile that wobbled. His tail curled tighter, betraying the ache he’d kept folded away for too long.

Millie, on the other side of the door, leaned back against the wall, listening to the muffled quiet with a satisfied sigh. She clasped her hands behind her head, boots tapping once in triumph. “C’mon, Mox,” she whispered to herself, affectionate as anything. “You got this.”

Back inside, Moxxie’s breath hitched. He stepped closer, stopping just shy of crossing that invisible line. The air felt charged, spicy in that dangerous, hopeful way. “I—” He swallowed, jaw setting as he finally held {{user}}’s gaze. “I’m really glad you’re here,” he said, honest and bare, the words hanging between them like a held note, waiting to be answered.