Chapter 17

(A.N: So sorry I couldn't update yesterday.I had to take my pet to the vet and things got hectic.Anyway,hope you enjoy this chapter🥺)

3rd person pov:

The days after their conversation began to flow into a quiet rhythm, one that felt natural and easy. For the first time in a long while, Fourth felt something unfamiliar but comforting—a sense of belonging.

It started with the small things. Fourth would wake up to the scent of breakfast wafting through the air, the sound of Gemini humming softly in the kitchen as he prepared food. At first, Fourth had protested, claiming Gemini didn't need to fuss over him so much. But Gemini would only smile and say, "I like taking care of you," in a tone so matter-of-fact that Fourth couldn't argue.

They would spend mornings at the dining table, talking about nothing and everything. Fourth had grown used to Gemini's presence—how his warmth filled the room, how he always seemed to know when Fourth was lost in thought and would pull him back with a light joke or a reassuring word.

It wasn't just the mornings, though. They began sharing moments that felt like they'd been crafted just for the two of them. Afternoons were spent in the living room, Gemini reading aloud from a book while Fourth lay on the couch, his head propped up on a cushion. Sometimes, Fourth would close his eyes and just listen to the steady cadence of Gemini's voice, letting it wrap around him like a blanket.

"Are you even listening?" Gemini teased one afternoon, catching Fourth's sleepy expression.

Fourth opened one eye, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Maybe. Your voice is relaxing."

Gemini chuckled, his laughter soft and warm. "I'll take that as a compliment."

Evenings were their favorite time, though neither of them would admit it aloud. They would sit on the porch together, the night air cool against their skin. Sometimes they talked, and sometimes they didn't need to. Fourth began to appreciate the silence between them, realizing it wasn't empty—it was filled with understanding.

One evening, Fourth found himself leaning against Gemini's shoulder as they watched the stars. It wasn't something he'd planned; it just... happened. And when Gemini didn't move away, didn't comment on it, Fourth felt his heart swell with something he couldn't quite name.

"You know," Gemini said after a while, his voice low, "I used to think I was searching for something that didn't exist anymore. Like I'd imagined it."

Fourth glanced up at him. "What do you mean?"

Gemini hesitated, then smiled softly. "This. I didn't think I'd ever find something like this again."

Fourth's chest tightened, but it wasn't unpleasant. It was a warmth that spread through him, soft and steady. For the first time, he felt like maybe he wasn't just existing in someone else's world. Maybe he was part of it, too.

The next morning, as Gemini carried a tray of tea to the table where Fourth was sitting, Fourth surprised himself by speaking up. "You don't have to do all this, you know."

Gemini raised an eyebrow. "Do what?"

"Take care of me all the time. You've done enough."

Gemini set the tray down, his expression thoughtful. "Taking care of you doesn't feel like a chore, Fourth. It's... something I want to do."

Fourth felt his cheeks warm, and he looked down at the table. "Still, it feels like I'm just taking and not giving anything back."

"You're wrong," Gemini said, his tone gentle but firm. "You being here, letting me be part of your life—that's more than enough."

The words stayed with Fourth long after Gemini left the room. He realized that he wasn't as alone as he'd thought. And as the days passed, that realization began to take root, growing into something stronger.

For the first time, Fourth allowed himself to believe he wasn't just a burden or an afterthought. He was part of something—something that felt real and grounding. And with Gemini by his side, he started to feel like he belonged.