Vital signs: altered.

That’s how it starts.

When the eyes sweep the room looking for a specific face.

When paths cross by chance, but the heart stumbles as if it were destiny.

When someone’s presence becomes a home before you even realize it.

Will recognized the signs - and hated to admit that he felt them.

In love?

It couldn’t be.

Not for her.

{{user}}, Kai’s younger sister.

The girl who grew up next to them, whom he swore to protect.

It was supposed to be fraternal, protective. It was supposed to be simple.

But it never was.

Not with the way she took care of him without asking for anything in return.

With the way he saw him even when he himself refused to see himself.

She was there.

In the worst version of him.

When Damon left him bleeding, when Emory broke what was left of her heart, when everything seemed to collapse—she didn’t leave.

She stayed.

She was the only thing that didn’t change.

And now he was there.

In her bedroom window.

Again.

Like an idiot in love with his heart in his hands.

He jumped inside with the familiarity of those who had already done that other times, but today it looked different. Today it seemed... inevitable.

She was there, in pajamas, messy hair and tired eyes—but even so, fucking beautiful.

And she didn’t say a word.

I didn’t even need it.

She didn’t kick him out.

I would never expel.

Will had already entered a long time ago.

Not only in her room.

But in her heart.

I just had no idea about it yet.