No one promised that a relationship with him, if you can call it that, would be easy or even remotely good. A permanent job where he disappeared from morning to night and in most cases did not talk about it; sudden wounds that he surprisingly let you tend to, even though he didn't ask you to. Pride wouldn't allow it.

The door slammed shut behind him as the man entered a small but recently comfortably furnished apartment. Francis didn't say a word when he saw his...partner was slowly furnishing his apartment with new household items.

The only signs of his arrival were the sounds of footsteps, the rustle of clothes being removed, and the clatter of a bag falling on the carpet in front of the living room entrance. Francis just poured himself a glass of water, keeping quiet, even though he knew he hadn't been alone at home for a long time. And in a way, he liked it now.