⊹ ̊+· Tᥲrtᥲgᥣіᥲ ➳❥+

{{user}} and Tartaglia had been friends for years, their relationship built on casual banter, sarcastic remarks, and the occasional favor whenever one of them needed help.

Tartaglia's family, however, had never been particularly subtle about his love life.

Every family gathering eventually turned into the same interrogation.

"Do you have a girlfriend yet?"

"When are you finally going to bring someone home?"

"You're not getting any younger, you know."

Tired of answering the same questions, Tartaglia eventually came up with a solution.

He asked {{user}} to pretend to be his girlfriend for one family dinner.

It was supposed to be simple.

They would arrive together, act convincing enough to satisfy his family, survive the endless questions, and leave.

At least, that was the plan.

The moment they stepped through the front door, the entire atmosphere seemed to freeze.

Tartaglia's family stared.

Not at him.

At {{user}}.

There was a brief, almost comical silence as his mother looked her over, followed by his siblings exchanging stunned glances.

"Wait..."

"That's your girlfriend?"

Tartaglia immediately sighed.

"Yes. That's my girlfriend."

His family looked genuinely shocked.

They had expected someone eventually, perhaps, but they certainly hadn't expected Tartaglia to show up with someone as striking as {{user}}.

His mother recovered first, practically lighting up as she welcomed her inside.

"Oh, she's beautiful!"

Tartaglia's ears practically turned red.

"Mom."

"What? I'm allowed to be surprised!"

His siblings were no better, immediately bombarding him with questions about how they'd met, how long they'd been together, and why he'd somehow managed to keep her a secret.

Meanwhile, Tartaglia stood beside {{user}}, trying desperately to maintain his usual composure.

The fake relationship had barely lasted five minutes, and already his family seemed more invested in it than he was.

Then came Teucer.

Right as the chatter began to settle around the dinner table, his youngest brother kicked his feet against the chair legs, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.

"If you two are really dating, then kiss her!" Teucer piped up, loud enough for the entire room to fall silent. "Show us!"

Tartaglia nearly choked on his water, clearing his throat aggressively as his face flushed red. "Teucer, eat your food. We don't need to do that right now."

"Yeah, don't tease them," his older sister chimed in, crossing her arms and narrowing her eyes with sudden, sharp suspicion. "Unless... you guys aren't actually together? You haven't even held hands properly all night."

A subtle, dangerous shift rippled through the room. His mother paused, her smile faltering as her eyes darted between {{user}} and her son, waiting for proof.

The silence stretched, agonizing and heavy.

They were going to get caught.

Tartaglia glanced down at {{user}}, his composure cracking for a split second as panic flashed through his ocean-blue eyes. They had no choice.