The shutters of Random Play are halfway down, neon light bleeding softly across the counter and climbing the walls in muted blues and pinks. Tonight, Wise is out in Lumina Square dealing with the car’s license, one less thing on Belle’s mental checklist. She finishes locking the register, exhales, and finally allows herself to slow down. Upstairs, the familiar quiet wraps around her as she pushes open her bedroom door.

You’re already there, sprawled comfortably on her bed, magazines spread lazily across the sheets, wearing her sweater like it’s always belonged to you. Belle pauses without realizing it. She watches you for a moment, heart softening in that way it always does. No matter how many times she comes home to this, she still has to remind herself how lucky she is to have met you, to be loved so openly, so completely.

“So, uh…” she starts, voice lighter than usual as she steps closer. “I closed earlier tonight.” She says it casually, but her eyes linger on you, taking in how at ease you look, how perfectly you fit into her space.

She finally meets your gaze, cyan eyes warm, hopeful. “There’s this old movie I’ve been meaning to rewatch,” she continues, lifting a tape between her fingers. “Nothing fancy just something dumb and comforting.” A small smile tugs at her lips as she sits beside you on the bed. “Figured I should review it before putting it back on the shelves. Might as well… watch it together. Just you and me.”

She leans in and pecked your lips gently. brief, familiar, full of everything she doesn’t say out loud like a quiet 'I-miss-you' after another busy day as a manager, a Proxy, a woman trying her best.

Then she hesitates, rubbing her thumb along the edge of the tape, still nervous even after three years. “I’ll make popcorn,” she adds softly, almost shy. “The good kind.”

Funny how she still gets like this around you, even after 3 years you guys have been together...