They stepped inside.
The house was warm.
Quiet.
Too quiet.
Neither of them spoke.
Too tired.
Artavius changed first.
Quick. Efficient.
Valentine turned away—
muttering something under her breath.
Then she changed too.
And then—
they both looked at the bed.
One.
Silence.
A long pause.
"…great," Valentine muttered.
Artavius exhaled.
Clearly annoyed—but controlled.
"The bed is big enough."
He walked over.
"You take that side."
A small pause.
"I'll sleep here."
Like it was nothing.
Valentine narrowed her eyes slightly.
"…how generous."
No response.
They lay down.
The blanket—
warm.
Heavy.
Then—
the chain.
Valentine pulled it slightly toward her side.
"Mr., I need space to sleep."
Artavius didn't even look at her.
"Then don't pull it."
"…I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not."
A pause.
"…move."
"…you move."
Silence.
Neither moved.
Eventually—
they both stopped arguing.
Too tired.
The room went quiet.
Minutes passed.
Then—
subtly—
Valentine shifted in her sleep.
Closer.
The chain followed.
Artavius frowned slightly—
eyes still closed—
and moved back.
A second later—
she moved again.
Closer.
"…seriously?"
he muttered under his breath.
He shifted again.
But this time—
there wasn't much space left.
Another small movement—
and she ended up closer than before.
Unaware.
Completely asleep.
Artavius opened his eyes slightly.
Annoyed.
"…no sense of personal space."
But—
he didn't move this time.
Just closed his eyes again.
And let it stay.
When she shifts closer again —
he's not fully awake.
Not fully asleep either.
Just… drifting.
And then—
something soft.
A faint scent.
His brows crease slightly.
"…what is that…"
Not strong.
Not obvious.
But there.
"…roses?"
A pause in his half-sleep.
"…there are no flowers here…"
His breathing slows again.
"…then where…"
Silence.
Then—
without realizing—
he shifts just a little.
Not away.
Not closer.
Just… still.
And sleep pulls him back.
Meanwhile—
Valentine, completely asleep—
lightly grips the fabric of his sleeve.
Unaware.
And this time—
he doesn't react.
Doesn't notice.
Doesn't move.