The doorbell rang, a unique ringtone.
It was sharp and sudden. Kieran straightened instinctively, already halfway to the door before his mind caught up with his body.
He reached for the handle and pulled it open. He found Roy standing there holding a bottle by the neck, letting it dangle slightly as if presenting something, implying that he went out of his way to buy a bottle for the both of them.
"Dead Man's Fingers," he said. "Blueberry."
The glass caught the light from the hallway, deep white and familiar to Roy.
Kieran's lips twitched into a smile. Their favourite.
Roy looked more put together. More than usual. He was wearing slightly baggy blue jeans, worn in just enough to look intentional. A full grey shirt, clean lines, and a brown top layered over it that softened the look without dulling it. Effortless in the way Roy never seemed to notice
But maybe he was only wearing something good because his sister was coming over.
But who knows?
He'd always had decent fashion sense.
Kieran stepped aside, nodding once for him to come in. "You're early for once."
Roy shrugged in response and walked in. "Could've changed my mind if I waited."
The door closed behind him with a slight thud. were wide, his wide legs spread and stretched, and breathing in the space.
Then he paused for a moment, and his nose twitched.
"... You cooking, huh?" Roy asked.
"Yeah," Kieran replied quickly, too quickly. "Just haven't started putting it in the pot yet."
Roy hummed in response, unconvinced but uninterested in pressing. He stared up at the ceiling for a moment.
Still.
Nothing.
No scent of freshly cut onions. No sharpness of garlic in the air. No warmth of spices from blooming oil. Not even unfinished food left traces on Keiran's hands. The apartment was clean.
Flavourless.
Hmm.
That's weird, Roy thought.
But the thought drifted away before it could settle.
His gaze wandered instead.
The apartment was always familiar. The same furniture. The same small scuffs in the floor when they played indoor football. The same quiet, lived-in mess that somehow suited Kieran.
Then he saw something new.
Roy sat up.
On the TV stand, half-hidden behind a stack of books, was a framed photograph.
He stood and walked over, picking it up.
Three people.
Kieran in the middle, younger, smiling openly in a way Roy had never seen before. She was bright, like the older sister on the right. Both grinning. Bright. Alive. The background was like a canvas of chaos with colourful rides, blurred streaks and frozen mid-laughter.
"A theme park," Kieran said from behind him.
Roy glanced over his shoulder. Kieran leaned against the doorway, arms folded loosely.
"Me, my older sister, and my younger one," Kieran continued. "We went just recently. Decided to get a picture taken before I muck everything up."
Roy looked back at the photo.
"…Nice," he said.
"Yeah," Kieran replied quietly. "It was."
The doorbell rang again.
Twice.
Roy stiffened.
He turned slowly.
Kieran met his eyes and nodded once. Calm. Expectant.
"Can you get that?" Kieran asked.
Roy frowned, confused, but walked to the door anyway.
He opened it.
Graham stood there.
Smiling.
"Roy Shyam," Graham said warmly. "Hello."
Roy's brain stalled.
"…Hey," he replied, hesitation threading his voice. The commander of the Scholars was not who he expected to see. Not tonight. Not here.
Then movement beside Graham. A smaller hand slipped into view as the little girl, half the size of Graham, around 5 ft, stepped forward.
"Hello," she said cheerfully.
Roy looked down.
"…Hi," he echoed, confusion tightening in his chest.
Behind him, Kieran froze.
Why is Graham here?
He knew. Of course he knew. He wasn't blind.
But this… this wasn't mentioned.
Before anyone could speak again, footsteps approached from the hallway. Kieran's older sister appeared, both arms wrapped around a heavy pot.
"I brought food," she announced brightly.
She passed Roy without missing a step, already heading for the kitchen.
"Oh… sorry," she added over her shoulder. "I'm Kieran's sister."
She stopped, turned, and smiled. "You must be Roy."
Roy nodded automatically.
She gestured back toward the doorway. "That's Mira, my little sister. And that's Graham Rose."
Roy extended his hand out of habit when meeting a person for the first time. He then shakes Mira's hand and then went to shake Graham's hand.
Graham ignored it.
Instead, he stepped forward and pulled Roy into a hug. Roy stiffened for half a second and then returned it, uncertain but polite.
"I've really wanted to introduce myself to you properly," Graham said as he pulled back.
Then he turned and hugged Kieran too.
It was shorter. Lighter. Almost careful.
Kieran stood there, arms slack at his sides, staring past Graham with a look that said only one thing:
This has officially spiralled out of control.