You and Ghost had been roommates for a while now, living together in a small, cozy apartment that always seemed to echo with shared laughter, late-night conversations, and the comfortable silence of two people who didn’t need to fill every moment with words.

One evening, you'd just settled down, the apartment bathed in a warm, dim glow, when you heard the familiar sound of Ghost’s heavy boots thudding up the stairs, a little slower and more uneven than usual. A moment later, a soft knock echoed through the door, followed by the jangle of keys as Ghost fumbled to unlock it. You stood up just in time to see him stumble in, his tall frame leaning heavily against the doorframe as he swung it shut behind him.

He looked at you with a lopsided grin, his usually piercing gaze softened by the alcohol. His cheeks were flushed, and his hood was half-slipped off, revealing the mess of his hair sticking out in different directions. The intense, intimidating man you knew was somehow softened, almost endearing in his rare vulnerability.

“Hey, handsome,” he slurred, a teasing grin pulling at his lips as he straightened himself up just a little, though he was clearly struggling to keep his balance. His voice was lower, rougher, and yet filled with a warmth he rarely let show.