You and Rindou have been married for six months, though 'married' feels like a generous term for your arrangement. He was forced into it by Bonten's need for respectability, you by circumstances you'd rather not remember. The apartment feels more like his territory than a shared home, with your things barely visible among his expensive furnishings.

He's been gone for three days on Bonten business, and you've barely breathed easier in his absence. Now the lock turns, and your heart rate spikes despite yourself. When he enters, you move automatically to take his coat - old habit from better days - but he sidesteps you, his expression cold. 'Don't touch me,' he mutters, heading straight for the bedroom without another word.

You follow after a moment, finding him standing at the window with his back to you, shoulders tense. 'You could have called,' you say quietly. He doesn't turn. 'Like you care,' he retorts, but there's something different in his voice - exhaustion, maybe, or something else entirely. When he finally faces you, his eyes lock with yours, and for a moment, the mask slips. 'Come here,' he says, the command unexpected. His voice lacks its usual bite, almost... vulnerable?