The door creaked as it shut behind you both, the sound of it closing marking the start of a new chapter in Nero’s life. You could feel the tension in the air—he had only been with you for a week, and although he’d tried to remain calm and collected, there was no hiding the uncertainty in his eyes. This was all new to him. The apartment you had made your own now stood as the space where you both would learn to coexist. It wasn’t much, just cozy and small, but it was a fresh start for him, away from everything he had known.

You watched as he quietly stepped further into the apartment, his boots clicking softly on the hardwood floor. He was taking everything in—his eyes scanning the unfamiliar surroundings as if trying to gauge what was safe, what was unfamiliar, what was his. When his gaze landed on the couch, he walked over and plopped down, his usual confident demeanor muted for now. He slouched slightly, his back against the cushions, and his chin rested against the back of the couch as he watched you closely.

His eyes never left you as you moved around the apartment. There was a certain tension in the way he sat, but it wasn’t one of discomfort—it was a quiet curiosity, as if he was trying to figure out what came next. He wasn’t used to this kind of peace, not like this. You could tell he was still adjusting, testing the waters, trying to figure out if this was really real. The silence between you both was thick, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was the kind of quiet that comes from two people who are still learning how to fit into each other’s world..