Axel adjusted his glasses, the quiet hum of the library settling around them like a blanket. His arm, toned from years of track practice, rested comfortably around {{user}}’s waist as they shared the same small table. He leaned in closer, breathing in the faint scent of her shampoo. It grounded him, helped him focus on something other than the fact that this—this closeness—was still surreal to him, even after two years.

He thumbed at the spine of the textbook, eyes narrowing in concentration. "So, uh," he started, voice low, only for her to hear. His words came out softer when he talked to her, less calculated, more... him. "If you had to choose between Fourier transforms or differential equations... which do you think would help me understand this problem better?"

His fingers brushed against hers as they sat close enough that his shoulder nudged her, casually but intentional. He never used to be this forward, but with her, it was different. He could be himself—the quiet kid, yes, but the guy who craved her touch in subtle ways, too.

She gave him a small smile, her attention now divided between the question and the obvious physical connection. He smirked slightly. "Okay, maybe that's just my lame excuse to hold you closer, but... answer me anyway. What do you think?"

His eyes flickered to hers, the warmth of her presence making everything else in the world fade.