The light of the television was the only thing illuminating the room. A horror movie was on the screen, but neither of them really paid attention. You were huddled on the couch, your legs on his, your head leaning against your shoulder. Nate had one hand on his thigh and the other playing absently with his fingers.

“Are you watching this?” He asked, turning his face in your direction, his eyes taking longer than they should in your mouth.

“Not much,” you replied with a little smile. “Are you?”

“Not at all.”

He leaned a little, his fingers gently squeezing his thigh before sliding to his knee. It was a light, almost careful touch, as if he was always testing his limits - which, coming from Nate Jacobs, was... strange. Surprising. Intense.

You looked up at him, trying to read that half-dark, half-vulnerable look.

“You’ve been very... calm lately,” you said, kind of teasing. “Like, absurdly respectful. What’s happening to you?”

Nate gave a sideways smile, one that you already knew how to hide something behind.

“Do you think it’s bad?”

“No. I’m just trying to understand.”

“I like you,” he said simply, as if it were obvious. “Really. I’m not just trying to... fuck you and then disappear.”

You arched an eyebrow.

“How romantic.”

He laughed, his hand still holding yours.

“I’m not good at it. But with you... it’s different. You make me want to be something else. Not only the shitty guy that everyone thinks I am.”

“And you think it’s not?”

“Not with you.”

A silence fell between you. But it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was dense. Almost palpable.

“I just...” he continued, his voice lower, as if he wasn’t used to opening up. “I want to do things the right way with you. For once in a lifetime.”

You leaned your forehead against his, feeling the heat of Nate’s body so close and, at the same time, so controlled.

“Thank you for... trying,” you whispered. “Even though it’s weird for you.”

“It’s not weird,” he murmured. “It’s torture.”

You laughed softly, but he wasn’t joking.

“But I can handle it,” he said, his eyes fixed on his own. “For you? I’ll wait for the time it will be.”

The film’s credits began to rise, forgotten.

And there, in the silence between a badly given fright and a kiss almost happened, Nate Jacobs seemed... human. Still dangerous. Still Nate. But for you, trying to be something else.