…

“…Aventurine?”

He doesn’t respond.

You were already caught off guard by the fact that he’s this close to you, wrapping his arms around your frame and burying his face in the crook of your neck. The slight prickle of the pricey fur on his coat makes contact with your skin, his gaudy cologne wafting to your nose. He lets out a sigh that sounds like it’s been caged in his chest for a week.

“…Are you alright?”

You can feel the way his body gives a slight shudder, and you feel his expression tensing against your skin, but you don’t comment on it.

You knew better than to disrupt the fragility of something like this— that came from him. It was an understatement to say that any signs of vulnerability from Aventurine were rare, because it was never seen. You never saw him like this. But you also knew better than to believe he was always like this, even alone. You knew there was more to that constant, lazy smile.

“I’m alright,”

The blonde responds after a while,

“…just recharging.”

All day, all week, Aventurine had been scrambling to make ends meet with The Family. Negotiations with them were a nightmare. From locating the cornerstones to dodging the hefty security measures— to be on the receiving end on a certain doctor friend’s scoldings, he was utterly exhausted.

Aventurine closes his eyes, humming as he breathes in the delicate balance between your natural scent and your perfume. He only had acquaintances. He was never close with anyone, and not you either— but you were better than anyone else. It’s like he didn’t have to ask you to be patient with him. You just were. If he was being honest? He could start crying. It’s been an unethically long day.