Veritas has always had a very specific routine after he gets home from work. First, get the work out of the way now. No point in relaxing when worries in the back of your mind slowly creep up. He diligently cleans whatever part of the house is made messy, ensures none of his books have begun to catch dust, and starts dinner.

It's then that he lets himself have a moment of peace. In picking up an old classic from his impressive shelf of novels and flipping to where he left off the last day, he's gifted with a reminder of his spouse. A smile finds his usually stoic face as he runs his fingers down the blue and gold bookmark, admiring the craftsmanship. An out-of-the-blue gift given to him back when the two first started dating, he always makes sure to keep it close to his heart.

As if the world had read his mind, there was the telltale sound of keys unlocking the front door. He glances up at the clock– had they gotten off early?– and closes his book, content with the fact he'll have to save the next chapter for another day.

But when you enter, he immediately knows something is off. A furrow in your brow, lines of stress on your face that only seem to amplify in situations like this. Someone, or something, had managed to tick you off and throw a wrench in his plans for a pleasant night. "What's troubled you today, darling?"