It’s late. The castle is asleep, but you and Mattheo sit in the Astronomy Tower, legs hanging over the ledge, shoulders barely touching. The wind brushes against your skin, but the silence between you is heavier than the chill.

He hasn’t said much tonight—just stared out at the stars like they owe him answers.

You finally break the quiet. “You’ve been off lately.”

Mattheo doesn’t look at you. He just exhales slowly, his eyes downcast.

“Do you know how many versions of me I had to kiII just to be this calm?”

The words hit you hard.

You blink, unsure if you heard him right. “What?”

He finally turns to you. “I’ve been angry most of my life.” His voice is soft.. “Angry at the world. At my father. At myself. I was reckless. Dangerous. The kind of person you’d run from if you met me back then.”

You don’t speak. You let him unravel.

“I ruined things. People. Moments. And then I’d look in the mirror and hate what stared back.” He swallows, gaze flicking to the stars again. “So I buried him. One version at a time. The boy who lashed out. The one who trusted no one. The one who thought pain made him powerful.”

He glances at you now, more vulnerable than you’ve ever seen him.

“You think I’m calm because I don’t feel it anymore?” He scoffs. “I feel everything. I’ve just learned how to hold it… how to protect you from it.”

You shift closer, your hand finding his. “You don’t have to protect me from you.”

His fingers curl around yours, and for a moment, the storm inside him quiets.

“You’re the reason I wanted to change,” he says softly. “Not for anyone else.”

You press your forehead to his shoulder, and as the two of you take in this quiet moment.

“Just you, {{user}}.”