Confusion slowly crossed her face.
"…You ate dinner?" Her voice came out rough from sleep.
Completely unguarded.
Alaric looked away almost immediately. "Not yet."
Still visibly sleepy, Elena pushed herself upright slightly against the couch cushions while tightening the blanket loosely around herself.
Then her eyes landed on the second bowl in his hand. Realization hit her slowly.
"You reheated it?"
The way she asked that question bothered him unexpectedly. Like she genuinely hadn't expected him to. As though kindness from him would've been surprising.
"It's just soup," he answered flatly. "You're acting like I performed surgery."
A tiny breath of laughter escaped her at that.
It was small and tiring but it was real and somehow that simple sound made the massive penthouse feel less empty.
Elena reached for the bowl carefully but paused halfway before looking up at him again.
"…Sorry."
Alaric frowned slightly. "For what?"
"For falling asleep here."
