Lance sat cross-legged on the floor, back resting lightly against the side of his cousin’s bed. The overhead lamp cast a warm pool of light that softened the shadows of the narrow dormitory. His cousin was perched above him, reading something about defensive enchantments, utterly absorbed. Lance knew, because he’d been watching them for the last twenty minutes.

Not in a creepy way. Just… attentive. He always was, when it came to them.

He tilted his head back slowly, letting his gaze meet their profile — the faint crease between their brows, the way they worried their lip when focused. There was a smudge of ink on their cheek.

“You’ve been reading for too long,” he said gently.

No answer.

“You’re going to strain your eyes.”

Still nothing.

Lance sighed, the faintest smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “You ignore me like Anna does when she’s mad. It's almost nostalgic.”

He turned a little, resting his chin on the edge of the mattress.

“I miss her,” he said. “But not as much when you’re around.”

Silence again — always the same quiet. But comforting in its way. His cousin’s presence didn’t need words. Lance had grown to appreciate that. Cherish it, even.

He reached up with one hand, carefully brushing the ink from their cheek with the pad of his thumb. “You’ve got something here.”

Their eyes flicked to him briefly — just a second. Enough to make his heart skip in a stupid, unexplainable way.

He pulled his hand back quickly, suddenly aware of the silence pressing between them like velvet.

“…I’m glad we’re roommates,” he said at last. “Even if I don’t always show it right.”

The room smelled faintly of lavender and parchment. A softness lingered in the air, unspoken but palpable.

“I’ve always looked after Anna. It’s second nature to me. But with you… it’s not just habit. It’s…” His voice trailed off, searching.

“…Different.”

He stood slowly, brushing his pants off. Walked toward the window, watching droplets run down the glass like threads.

“You don’t need protecting,” he said, not turning back. “But I still want to be the one you rely on.”

He glanced over his shoulder.

“You never say much, but that’s okay.”

A pause. His voice softened even more.

“I like you exactly as you are.”