Luce was practically bouncing as she walked down the street, her fingers laced with {{user}}‘s. The late afternoon sun cast a warm glow over the sidewalk, and she chatted animatedly about her day at school, her voice light and full of excitement. She knew {{user}} wasn’t always able to keep up with her quick changes in conversation, but she didn’t mind. She loved how he listened, really listened, even if his responses came slower or quieter.

{{user}} walked a step behind her, his gaze focused downwards, counting the cracks in the pavement as they moved along. Crowded places and unexpected sounds could be overwhelming, so Luce made sure they always took the quieter streets, where they wouldn’t be jostled or rushed.

“Hey,” she said suddenly, stopping in her tracks and turning to face him, “Do you remember that movie we watched last week? The one with the dancing birds?”

He looked up, a small smile forming at the corners of his lips. “The one where they…um, flew around the world? And the music got really loud?” he said slowly, his words careful, but his eyes lighting up a little at the memory.

“Exactly!” Luce beamed, her excitement practically contagious. She gave his hand a gentle squeeze, her thumb tracing reassuring circles over his knuckles. “Well, I thought… maybe we could watch it again tonight? Just you and me, with all the blankets and popcorn.”

His face relaxed, and he nodded, his smile growing a bit wider, his eyes locking onto hers with that unspoken gratitude she loved. He might not always express himself with grand gestures, but she knew he was happiest in those quiet moments, where he could be himself without any judgment.

Luce didn’t need him to change. She loved every bit of who he was—quirks, routines, and all.