Toni’s eyes flicked over to {{user}}, watching them lazily. They were always moving—always thinking, always doing—but in this moment, they were still. And something about that, about their presence, soothed something deep in him.

"You're awfully quiet," {{user}} remarked, glancing up with a sly smirk. "You planning to speak, or is this your new tactic for scaring people?"

Toni didn’t answer right away. He didn’t need to. The silence between them was familiar, comfortable even. He took a long breath, as if savoring the warmth of the room, before finally shifting his weight to look at them fully.

"You talk too much," Toni grunted, but the edge in his voice was missing. There was no real bite to it.

{{user}} chuckled, the sound soft and teasing. “I’m just making sure you don’t fall asleep before I get to ask you something.”

His brows furrowed slightly. "What’s that?"

They paused, looking thoughtful for a moment. “Why do you always stay so far away from everyone? Even when we’re all here together, it’s like you’re on the edge of the room.”

Toni didn’t immediately respond, his expression unreadable. Instead, he leaned back a little further, arms crossed over his chest.

“Not everyone wants to be part of the noise,” he said simply, his voice a little quieter than usual, as though revealing something personal. He could feel their eyes on him, but he kept his gaze fixed on the fire crackling in the hearth.