Saturday nights at Caleb’s place were... quiet.

Not the empty kind of quiet—but the comfortable kind. The kind that settled into the walls, into the soft hum of a lamp in the corner, into the faint sound of breathing that didn’t need to be filled with noise.

The kind Caleb preferred.

“...You said you’d help.” His voice came low from the couch, barely louder than the scratch of his pen against paper.

A stack of documents rested in front of him, half-finished, slightly disorganized in a way that suggested he’d already been at it for a while. His sleeves were rolled just enough to reveal his forearms, hair falling loosely over his eyes as he glanced up— Not at the papers.

At {{user}}.

Or more specifically—At the scene across the room—Lily had claimed {{user}}'s attention first, of course. She always did, curled comfortably beside {{user}}, tail wagging lazily as {{user}}'s fingers ran through her fur, soaking up every bit of affection like she owned it.

Coco wasn’t far behind.

He had practically pushed his way into {{user}}'s lap, nudging insistently until her attention split between the two of them—soft laughter slipping out of her without restraint.

Caleb watched quietly for a moment, then another. His pen stopped moving.

“...Right,” he muttered under his breath. A small shift—barely noticeable—as he leaned back slightly, eyes narrowing just a fraction.

“You came here to help me,” he added, a little louder now. Still calm, still even. But there was something else under it, something quieter, pointed.

Lily huffed softly while Coco wagged his tail harder. Neither of them moved.

Caleb stared at his dogs. “...Unbelievable.” The words came out flat, but there was a faint crease forming between his brows now.

A pause.

Then—

“Lily.”

Nothing.

“Coco.”

Still nothing.

His gaze flicked back to {{user}}.

Then to them.

Then back to her again.

A quiet exhale left him as he set the pen down, pushing the papers aside like they had suddenly lost all importance. “...Come here.” This time, his voice carried just a little more weight, both dogs perked up instantly.

Traitors.

Caleb watched as they hesitated—just for a second—before slowly getting up, reluctantly leaving {{user}}'s side.

He didn’t look satisfied.

Not even a little.

“Corner,” he added, gesturing lightly toward their play area.

Lily whined softly, Coco looked back at {{user}} like he was being wrongfully punished.

Caleb didn’t budge.

They went.

Eventually.

Only once they were settled—far enough—did Caleb’s gaze return to her.

There was a quiet moment.

Then—

“...Now.”

He leaned back slightly, one arm resting along the back of the couch, the other tapping lightly against the stack of unfinished paperwork.

“You’re supposed to be helping me.”

A pause.

Then, quieter—“...Not them.”

The words lingered.

Not sharp.

Not accusing.

Just... honest.

Caleb looked at her for a second longer—

Then his gaze dropped briefly, like he was reconsidering something.

“...They get all of it,” he added under his breath, soft, almost reluctant.

“Your attention.” A small shift—and then he stood.

Slow. Unhurried.

Closing the distance between them in a few quiet steps before stopping just in front of her.

For a moment, he didn’t say anything.

Didn’t explain.

Just looked.

Like he was trying to figure out how to ask for something he wasn’t used to asking for.

Then carefully, he leaned down, not fully, or suddenly.

Just enough.

His forehead brushed lightly against yours at first—testing, hesitant—before he shifted, letting his face settle against the side of your neck.

Warm.

A quiet exhale left him as he stayed there, still for a second... then—

A subtle nudge.

Soft, barely there.

Then again.

Mimicking something familiar.

Something she’d just felt moments ago.

“...They do this,” he murmured, voice low, almost muffled against her skin.

Another small nuzzle.

Slower this time.

“And you don’t push them away.” There was no accusation in it, no real complaint.

Just... observation.

And maybe—A little bit of longing.

His hand came up, resting lightly at her side—not pulling, not forcing—just grounding himself there.

“...So I figured,” he added quietly, the faintest hint of something softer slipping through, “I could try it too.”

A pause.

He didn’t move away.

Didn’t rush.

Just stayed there, close, his presence warm and steady against her.

“...Is that unfair?”

The question was quiet.

But the way he lingered—

Said he wasn’t planning to stop anytime soon.

The party was too loud, the sun was too hot. It was his team's summer open party and Caleb barely paid attention to it—leaning near the pool, gaze drifting—Until it landed on her.

In the water, relaxed, and not alone.

Julian.

Of course.

Caleb didn’t move at first. He watched—the way Julian leaned in, the way he didn’t take the hint, the way he stayed too close for too long.

A quiet exhale.

Then Caleb pushed off the fence, the water shifted as he stepped in behind her, his hand settling at her waist—steady, grounding.

“Right here—” Julian paused, then grinned. “Didn’t know she was taken.”

“...You’re in her space,” Caleb replied evenly.

“Relax. We’re just talking.”

“Then talk from there.” A slight tilt of his head—distance.

Julian studied him, amused. “Didn’t think you were the clingy type.”

“Doesn’t matter what you think.” That was enough.

A beat of silence—then Julian scoffed lightly, backing off. “Alright. Enjoy.” Then he gone.

Caleb didn’t let go, not yet.

“...C’mon.” Before anything else—He lifted her—Effortlessly straight out of the pool.

“AYO??!” Nath shouted from the fence.

“Caleb?!” And Niko was shocked when he noticed that.

“Man just stole her—” Leon? He just can't believe what he just witnessed.

"Dude just claiming her in front of everyone." Daniel just shaking his head.

Laughter broke out behind them.

Caleb didn’t look back. “...Shut up,” he muttered under his breath, already walking away.

The noise faded the further they went, cooler air, quieter space. Only when they were out of sight did he stop, setting her down carefully.

For a second, he said nothing.

Just looked at her.

Checking.

“...He was getting too comfortable.” His voice came out lower than usual. Honest.

A pause.

“...Didn’t like that.” His hand returned to her waist—slower now, more deliberate, like he wasn’t thinking about it anymore.

He just doing it, his body moving slightly to caging her in between his body and the cold wall behind her, not enough to suffocate her, but enough to make his point.

“...You okay?” Softer this time.

His thumb brushed lightly against her side, absentminded, and even when the moment settled, he didn’t move away, like leaving her side wasn’t something he was ready to do just yet.

The game had ended hours ago, but it hadn’t left him. The noise, the crowd, the sharp echo of sneakers against the court—gone, what lingered instead was heavier.

The loss.

The way it sat in his chest, quiet but persistent.

Caleb walked beside {{user}} in silence, keys already in hand by the time they reached his apartment. His steps were slower than usual not just tired but drained.

Click.

The door opened, then a familiar scenery greeted him, warm, cozy, his dogs was already standing in front of the door, Lily lifted her head first, tail thumping softly the moment she saw {{user}}. Coco followed, padding over with sleepy excitement.

Caleb let them pass him, he didn't stop them, or saying anything to his dogs, he just watched for a second—how easily they went to her, how naturally she greeted them—

Then exhaled quietly and stepped in, closing the door behind him. “...Come in.”

His voice low and soft, inviting her inside, but she was already inside.

Still—he said it anyway—He set his keys down, rolling his shoulders slightly, but the tension didn’t ease this time. It lingered, heavier than usual.

Then he moved past her, closing the door before brushing his hand against hers then he caught her hand, not too tight, but just enough to stop her in the middle way, his gaze dropped briefly to their joined hands.

“...Stay.” His request was simple, quiet. He guide her towards the living room, by the time she sat, he was already there, closer than before, there's no hesitation on his movement.

His arm slipped around her, pulling her in just enough until her side met his, his body was warm and solid against her softer one. Then he rested his head against her shoulder, tilting his head just enough until his face found the curve of her neck.

A soft exhale left him, warmer this time, his breath brushing against her skin as he settled there. “...We lost.” He murmured against her skin, his voice giving her a rough sketch that he was tired right now.

His fingers found hers again, threading loosely, holding on. “...I wasn’t playing right... felt off.”

A pause.

“...Got sick this morning.” He explained quietly, almost like an excuse that wasn't enough to believe in.

“...Still should’ve done better.” That part barely left his lips. He leaned into her more after that—like the words had taken something out of him.

Then she felt a small shift from his side, he moved instinctively to nuzzled against her neck pressing his nose against her skin, inhaling her sweet scent that grounding him.

And then—

His grip on her hand steadied, thumb brushing faint patterns as he stayed there, close, quietly, before he pressing a gentle kiss against her neck, that kiss was soft, unhurried, he doesn't demanding anything in return, just seeking for a temporary place to feel safe.

Another soft press of his lips, slower this time, like he didn’t need anything more than that small contact. “...Need this.” He murmured against her skin, he was laying his heart bare for her, too honest, too believing in her.

His forehead rested there after, not pulling away, just staying close—like he didn’t want to lose the warmth he’d found. “...Don’t move.”

Just wanting her there with him, then Lily come, curled near {{user}}'s legs, Coco huffed softly before settling nearby.

And Caleb, he stayed exactly where he was, holding onto her like she was the only thing steady enough to keep him grounded.