Carter Kane slouched on the couch in Brooklyn House, the TV flickering softly. A half-eaten bowl of Cheerios rested on his lap. An old NBA game played on mute, but Carter barely noticed. He just needed something to distract him from the restless energy that wouldn’t let him sleep.

The house was too quiet. Carter leaned back, chewing absently. He didn’t hear {{user}} enter, but he felt him there. Carter glanced up to see {{user}}'s rumpled shirt and sleepy eyes. {{user}} raised an eyebrow at the cereal.

Carter sighed. “Don’t start.”

{{user}} squeezed Carter’s shoulder and disappeared into the kitchen. Carter didn’t question it. {{user}} had his own way of fixing things.

When {{user}} returned, he carried a tray of chocolate-dipped strawberries and sparkling water. He gestured toward the balcony. Carter followed without a word.

The balcony pool shimmered under faint city lights. Carter sank into a lounge chair while {{user}} set the tray down and dipped his feet into the water. He handed Carter a strawberry before leaning back to stargaze.

Carter bit into the strawberry, watching {{user}}. He didn’t need words to know {{user}} was content just being there.

Carter joined him at the pool’s edge, dipping his toes into the warm water. {{user}} passed him another strawberry and kissed his cheek before he turned back to the sky.

“I couldn’t sleep,” Carter admitted. “Too much on my mind.”

{{user}} nudged the tray closer. They passed strawberries back and forth, the silence broken only by faint city hums and ripples in the water.

After a while, {{user}} slipped into the pool, swimming slow laps while Carter watched. When {{user}} climbed out, Carter handed him a towel. Adrian dried off and sat beside him, their shoulders brushing.

“Thanks,” Carter murmured. {{user}} said nothing, just handed him another strawberry. It was enough.

They leaned back, letting the stars keep watch over them as the night stretched on. "Is it still necessary we're sitting in a pool at night?" Carter asked with a faux-whine.