The tension in the apartment was thick enough to choke on — the sharp smell of smoke, the faint buzz of Denji’s voice grating against Aki’s last nerve.

“Can you go five minutes without being an idiot?” Aki snapped, voice low but edged like a blade.

Denji froze mid-complaint, blinking wide-eyed before scoffing something under his breath. Power laughed from the couch, throwing fuel on the fire. Aki’s jaw tightened; you could see the muscle working as he exhaled hard through his nose, every ounce of restraint holding him back from launching Denji out the nearest window.

That’s when his gaze flicked toward the doorway—toward you.

The irritation in his face wavered, the storm behind his eyes softening by just a fraction. He didn’t say anything, didn’t need to. You gave him that small look that always managed to cut through his walls, and he turned away with a grunt, shoving his hands into his pockets as he muttered, “Dinner’s in ten. Don’t make me call you twice.”

Hours later, the apartment had gone quiet. Power and Denji were asleep—or at least pretending to be—and the only sound came from the faint crackle of Aki’s lighter.

He sat near the window, city lights glinting off the smoke curling around his face. You crossed the room and sank into the seat beside him. He didn’t look up right away, just let the silence settle before he spoke, voice softer now, stripped of its usual edge.

“Sorry you had to see that,” he murmured, thumb brushing over the filter of his cigarette. “Denji’s just—”

He stopped when he felt your hand rest over his, the warmth quieting whatever words he was about to say. His eyes flicked down to the touch, then up to you, and the hardness in his features melted away.

For a man who lived every day waiting to die, Aki suddenly looked very human—tired, but calm.

“You always show up at the right time, huh?” he said, a faint smile tugging at his lips before he brought the cigarette to them. The flame flared once, then faded, leaving only the glow at the tip and the soft curve of his smile reflected in the window glass.