The cabin was quiet except for the hum of the television, the screen flickering soft light across the dimly lit room. Duncan leaned back into the worn leather of the recliner couch, his body easing into the familiar comfort. The weight in his lap was warm—{{user}} settled there, legs tucked together under his firm grip, their presence grounding him in a way he wasn’t used to. He exhaled slowly, a sound roughened by years of smoke and cold air, something between a sigh and a growl.

The movie had just started, the main credits rolling across the screen, but Duncan’s attention flickered between the images and the person curled against his chest. {{user}} had picked this one out—one of their favorites. He didn’t mind. He liked the way their face lit up when they talked about it, the small bits of trivia they always seemed to know. They fit against him easily, their head tucking beneath his chin, their breath warm against his collarbone. He let his chin rest there, the weight of them a quiet reassurance.

Duncan reached for the beer on the side table, fingers wrapping around the cool aluminum. He took a slow drink, the bitter taste familiar, grounding. He barely looked away from the screen as he shifted the can forward, bringing it just in front of {{user}}’s face, tilting it slightly toward their lips.

A silent offer.