Adrian always thought he was the broken one.

He joked about it. Owned it. Wore it like armor.

You were supposed to be different.

Normal. Grounded. The reason he stayed tethered to something human.

That’s what he told himself—right up until the night you proved him wrong.

It was quiet. Too quiet.

You were sitting across from him at the kitchen table, hands wrapped around a mug you hadn’t touched. He was watching you the way he watched threats—careful, curious.

“You’re being weird,” he said lightly. “Which is impressive, because I’m usually the weird one.”

You didn’t smile.

“Adrian,” you said. “If someone hurt you… really hurt you… what would you do?”

He tilted his head. “I’d kill them.”

No hesitation. No joke.

He waited for your reaction.

You nodded. “Okay.”

He frowned. “Okay?”

You finally looked up at him. Your eyes were calm. Too calm.

“What?” you said. “You think I wouldn’t want the same thing?”

Silence.

Adrian laughed once, unsure. “You’re kidding.”

You shook your head.

“I’ve imagined it,” you said. “More than once. Not because I’m angry—because it makes me feel… steady.”

His smile faded.

“That’s not a normal thought,” he said carefully.

You shrugged. “Neither are yours.”

Something shifted between you.

Adrian leaned back in his chair, studying you like a puzzle he didn’t want solved.

“You’re not scared of me,” he said.

“No.”

“You don’t think I’m a monster.”

You thought for a second. “I think you’re honest.”

He exhaled slowly.

“You know what I am,” he said. “And you stayed.”

You nodded. “You know what I am. And you didn’t leave.”

He laughed softly, almost relieved.

“So what does that make us?” he asked.

You stood, walked over, and rested your hands on his shoulders.

“Two people who don’t get to pretend they’re good,” you said. “But still get to choose who we’re loyal to.”

Adrian looked up at you, eyes bright with something dangerous and real.

“You don’t want to fix me,” he said.

“No,” you replied. “I want you to stop pretending you’re alone.”

He reached for your wrist, grip firm but careful.

“You know this means we don’t get an easy story,” he said.