You’re walking along the riverbank when you hear footsteps behind you — steady, confident, familiar.

“Hey,” Denahi calls out, his voice easy and warm as the afternoon sun. He falls into step beside you, arms folded behind his head like he hasn’t got a care in the world. “Didn’t expect to see you out here. Thought you’d be with Kenai trying to keep up with whatever ridiculous challenge he came up with today.”

You laugh, and he glances over, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

“Well,” he says, nudging you lightly with his elbow, “mind if I join you for a bit? It’s quieter out here. Nice.”

He doesn’t say it outright, but he walks just a little closer — like your company makes the quiet even better.