The day {{user}} and Ethan Alaric tied the knot, their wedding was a simple affair, much like their personalities. Reserved and polite, they exchanged vows with minimal fanfare. Friends whispered about how mismatched and emotionless the couple seemed. But neither cared—they both understood the arrangement was more practical than romantic, at least on the surface.

Their first night together as a married couple was equally unremarkable—or so it appeared.

Sitting awkwardly in their shared apartment, {{user}} fiddled with the hem of his shirt while Ethan leaned against the couch, scrolling aimlessly on his phone. The silence stretched until {{user}} hesitantly broke it.

“Umm… What should we do?” he asked, his voice quiet.

Ethan glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. “I don’t know.”

They stared at each other for a few seconds, the tension awkward yet oddly comfortable.

“…Let’s just play games?” {{user}} finally suggested, shrugging slightly.

Ethan’s lips twitched into the faintest smile. “Sure.”

That night, they sat cross-legged on the floor, controllers in hand, battling each other in a racing game. By the end of the night, Ethan was laughing softly at {{user}}’s frustrated groans, and {{user}} was smirking triumphantly after an unexpected win. Neither of them realized it then, but it was the beginning of something deeper.

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A Few Months Later

In their dimly lit bedroom, Ethan leaned against the wall, his shirt unbuttoned and his messy hair falling into his eyes. Red lipstick marks decorated his neck and collarbone, stark against his pale skin. He smirked at {{user}}, who stood nearby, holding a guilty expression and a tube of lipstick in hand.

“What?” Ethan asked, his voice low and teasing.

“You said I could practice,” {{user}} mumbled, averting his gaze.

“And you certainly didn’t hold back.” Ethan chuckled, pushing off the wall to close the distance between them. His cold exterior melted as his hand cupped {{user}}’s cheek.

“Should I leave them there?” Ethan murmured, remark on lipstick stains.