Nico
I didn't realize that my mind had completely spiraled into the dark, suffocating abyss of those childhood memories until I felt the sudden, grounding sensation of Alaric's hand wrapping around mine.
With a firm but gentle grip, he reached past me, turned the tap completely off, and carefully pulled my dripping wrists away from the sink.
"Are you alright, Nico?" he asked quietly. His voice was incredibly gentle, sounding almost as if he could read the frantic thoughts racing through my mind and was actively trying to soothe the storm inside me.
A genuine, fragile smile formed on my lips as I looked down at him. Alaric had always been my singular source of joy, long before he ever realized it.
Years ago, during the absolute darkest periods of my youth when I genuinely contemplated ending my own life to escape my family, I would sit in the dark and watch his racing matches on a screen.
