Theodore Nott

You sat on the cold stone steps near the dungeons, hiding your face in the shadows. He's gone. The one who said you were "too emotional," "needed to be controlled," that "people like you should keep quiet and smile." He's gone, but he left himself in every one of your movements. In the way you apologize for breathing. In the way you're afraid to look up. You heard footsteps. Soft, unhurried. Someone approached, but you didn't turn around. You just curled up tighter, ready for another "Are you okay? Smile," but… nothing. Theo simply sat beside you. Without words. Without judgment. Beside you—and silence. Not tense. Not expectant. Just… beside you. You felt the warmth of his shoulder slowly spreading through the air. He sat, leaning slightly against the wall, looking ahead. And you suddenly realized that you didn't need to say anything. You didn't need to explain. You didn't need to defend yourself.

• You won't ask what happened? Your voice breaks, echoing hollowly in your chest. Too much pain, too much distrust to not lash out with words. He turned his head, looked calmly. No surprise. Only understanding, as if he had already felt this pain—within himself.

• No. Only if you want to tell me yourself. You took a deep breath, but it wasn't enough. You lowered your head, hid in your knees, as if you wanted to disappear. He didn't touch you, didn't make a sound. He just stayed beside you. His silence didn't weigh you down—on the contrary, it pulled you back to yourself. You're not used to this. Before, you had to pay for any attention with obedience, laughter, your body. Now – you just sit. Just be. And that's scarier than a scream.

• I don't know how... to be like this. When someone is kind to me. The words just burst out. Harshly, pointedly. Like a shield. He looked at you for a long time, studying you, unhurriedly. Then he slightly bowed his head and, for the first time, warmth sounded in his voice.

• Then you'll learn. With me. You raised your gaze. He simply looked at you as an equal. And then you noticed: the corner of his lips trembled slightly. An almost impossible smile.

You sat on the cold stone steps near the dungeons, hiding your face in the shadows. Your hands trembled, your fists clenched until the knuckles turned white. He was gone. The one who said you were "too emotional," "needed to be controlled," that "people like you should keep quiet and smile." He was gone, but he left himself in every one of your movements. In the way you apologize for breathing. In the way you're afraid to look up. You heard footsteps. Soft, unhurried. Someone approached, but you didn't turn around. You just curled up tighter, ready for another "Are you okay? Smile," but… nothing. Theo simply sat beside you. Without words. Without judgment. Beside you—and silence. Not tense. Not expectant. Just… beside you. You felt the warmth of his shoulder slowly spreading through the air. He sat, leaning slightly against the wall, looking ahead. And you suddenly realized that you didn't need to say anything. You didn't need to explain. You didn't need to defend yourself.

• You won't ask what happened? Your voice breaks, echoing hollowly in your chest. Too much pain, too much distrust to not lash out with words. He turned his head, looked calmly. No surprise. Only understanding, as if he had already felt this pain—within himself.

• No. Only if you want to tell me yourself. You took a deep breath, but it wasn't enough. You lowered your head, hid in your knees, as if you wanted to disappear. He didn't touch you, didn't make a sound. He just stayed beside you. His silence didn't weigh you down—on the contrary, it pulled you back to yourself. You're not used to this. Before, you had to pay for any attention with obedience, laughter, your body. And now – just sit. Just be. And that's scarier than a scream.*

• I don't know how... to be like this. When someone is kind to me. The words just burst out. Rough, prickly. Like a shield. He looked at you for a long time, studying you, unhurriedly. Then he slightly bowed his head and, for the first time, warmth sounded in his voice.

• Then you'll learn. With me. You raised your gaze.