𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒏 ━━ shayan saw something in you
₊ ⊹☕˚୨

❝ what? ❞

❝ nothing, just reminiscing. ❞

Olive meows softly as she walks, wriggling in her arms. Chloe pets the cat gently, trying to soothe it. The sound seems unusually loud in the silence of the alley, and she looks around paranoid, but no one seems to notice her.

Finally, she reaches the end of the alley and steps out onto a busier main street. The shop she's looking for is just down the block, a small, unassuming building with a sign reading The Night Owl in black and white letters.

She stands outside the shop for a moment, swallowing hard. Her heart is pounding, her palms sweating, but she wills herself forward, striding across the sidewalk and up to the door of the cafe.

The cafe has a cozy, comfortable ambiance, with wooden tables and chairs in small clusters around a wide seating area. A large chalkboard menu hangs above the counter, the words in a neat, stylish script. At the far side of the room, a man is mopping the floors, his dark curls sticking out in every direction, his lean figure bent over the mop.

The bell above the door chimes as she steps in.

"I'm sorry, we're closed." the man says, turning towards her with a warm smile.

She stands there awkwardly in the doorway, the cat in her arms purring softly. Her stomach flutters with nerves as he turns towards her, the smile on his face doing little to ease them.

The man looks at her, the smile slipping as he scans her from head to toe. He catches a glance at the cat in her arms, eyebrows raising slightly.

"I understand." she says softly, clearing her throat and stepping further into the cafe. "I'm looking for a man named Klaus?"

The man straightens up, leaning the mop against the nearest table and walking over to her. He looks her up and down once more, eyes narrowing in curiosity. "That's me.." he says. "I'm sorry, how do you know me?"

She swallows hard, her hands shaking slightly as she reaches into her pocket and pulls out the creased piece of paper. "I was told to give you this." she says, holding it out to him.

Klaus frowns, taking the paper. He unfolds it carefully, his eyes scanning the contents. They slowly widen, before looking back up at her. "W-where did you get this?"

"A man named Shayan gave it to me." she whispers, her gaze dropping to the floor. Olive meows softly, pawing at her chest, and she pets the cat nervously.

Klaus seems to freeze momentarily at the mention of the name, something like recognition flashing in his eyes. He reaches up and ruffles his already messy hair, his expression turning grim. "Where is he?" he asks, almost urgently.

"I... I don't know." she says, her voice shaking slightly. Her gaze drifts around the room, avoiding looking directly at Klaus.  A part of her desperately wants to run, to get out of here, but she swallows the panic down and fights to keep herself still. "He.. he said you would take care of me."

Klaus seems to soften at her words, his brows drawn together in a concerned look. He looks down at the paper, then back up at her, his gaze lingering on the cat. "What's your name?" he asks bluntly, folding the piece of paper and tucking it into his back pocket.

"C-Chloe." she stutters, her fingers gripping the fabric of the cat's fur. Olive meows again, batting playfully at her chest.

Klaus nods, then motions for her to follow him. He leads her to a table and pulls out a chair. "Sit." he says, his tone surprisingly gentle.

She sinks down into the chair, her heart rate still thrumming in her ears. Her eyes dart around the room, taking in the cafe's cozy atmosphere. Klaus sits across from her, his elbows on the table, his gaze fixed intently on her.

Klaus chews nervously at his lip. "Can you tell me about Shayan? Is he okay?"

Her eyes flick back to Klaus, catching the hint of concern in his expression. She swallows, her mind racing as she tries to find the right words. "He... he seemed fine, when I left him." she says, her voice barely above a whisper.

Klaus lets out a breath, visibly relaxing at her words. He leans back in his chair, tapping his fingers anxiously on the tabletop. "When was that? Why were you with him?" he asks, the questions tumbling out anxiously.

"Just an hour ago." she replies, her fingers trembling a little in the cat's fur. "He... he told me I needed to leave. He said people were after me, and that I had to find you."

Klaus' eyebrows furrow together. "People? What people?" He leans forward, his hands still tapping a nervous rhythm on the table.

She looks down at the cat, avoiding his gaze. "I... I don't know. He didn't say." she says, her voice barely above a whisper. "He just said I had to get out of there, that he was sent to kill me.. but he couldn't."

Klaus freezes, his tapping stopping abruptly. "He was sent to kill you?" he breathes, his usually calm expression filled with shock.

She nods, her chest tight with fear. "But he didn't." she adds, her voice unsteady. "He... he let me go. He said he couldn't do it, he didn't want to..."

Klaus scoffs a soft laugh, a small smile pulling at his lips. "Of course he did."

His reaction strikes her as odd, and she glances up at him for a moment, her brow furrowing. "You... you know him?"

Klaus glances up at her, swallowing thickly. "Shayan.. he's my fiancé. He's been missing for two years."

Her eyes widen at his words, her heart skipping a beat. She hadn’t expected that, had expected anything but that. After a moment, her head starts to spin. "F-fiancé…" she whispers, her hands gripping harder at the cat in her arms.

Klaus looks away from her, swallowing again. She can see a mix of emotions play across his face - hurt, anger, fear... but there's something else too, something he's trying to hide beneath the surface. "He's was going after some bad people when he disappeared. Probably the same bad people who are after you." Klaus says.

His words send a shiver down her spine, confirming the worst. She’d wondered if there was a connection, and now it seems there is. Her mind races, the pieces starting to come together. "D-do you know who?" she asks, her voice unsteady. Her palms are starting to sweat, her heart beating faster in her chest. Olive meows softly, nuzzling against her chin.

Klaus shakes his head. "Last time we spoke.. he told me about this Commission. Some kind of organisation of killers or something.. They killed his parents, and one Navy Seal buddies."

Her breath catches in her throat, her heart rate speeding up even more. She’d never really understood what kind of danger she was in, but now it’s beginning to seem more real. The idea of people hunting her, trying to kill her, is both terrifying and inconceivable. She swallows hard, her gaze darting around the cafe, half-expecting shadows to start moving.

"But if he's sent you here... he wouldn't have done that without knowing he'd be able to cover your trail. Without knowing you were safe here with me." Klaus' voice softens.

She looks up at him, seeing the concern in his expression. He’s right, she thinks. Shayan wouldn’t have sent her here otherwise. He knew Klaus could protect her, that this was the safest place for her. Her hands still shaking, she nods slightly, her throat dry.

With a deep breath, Klaus stands up and rounds the table, holding his hand out to her. "C'mere." he says, his voice soft, the usual edge gone.

She looks at his hand, her heart beating a little faster. Part of her wants to shrink back into her chair, but a larger, more desperate part forces her up, onto shaky legs. She takes his hand, her palm sweaty against his.

He carefully leads her to the back of the cafe, past the kitchen and through a door to a small back room. It's a tight space, just large enough for a desk and a bed. A small, dirty window is set above the desk, letting the street lights from outside stream in.

Klaus motions for her to sit on the bed, and she does, settling gingerly on the edge of the thin mattress. He crouches down in front of her, his expression a mix of concern and something else.

"Can I ask you something?" he asks quietly, his gaze resting on her hands, still holding the cat.

A flutter of nerves goes through her stomach. "O-okay." she stutters, her fingers twitching nervously on Olive's fur.

"When you met him... how was he?" Klaus's voice is soft, almost pained. "Did he... did he say anything?"

She swallows, her heart clenching at his expression. She had a feeling this was going to be a painful question, and it seems she was right. "H-he was... nice. He was nice." she says, trying to keep her voice steady. "But he.. he looked sad. He didn't really smile."

Klaus nods, his gaze falling to the floor. She can see the pain etched into every line of his face, the worry and fear he's been carrying these past two years. He takes a shaky breath, his hands tightening into fists.

"But he was kind. His eyes were kind."

Her words snap Klaus's gaze back to her face, and she can see something like relief flicker across his expression. He nods again, his throat bobbing as he swallows. "Yeah.. yeah, they were."

He lets out a breath, his shoulders slumping. He's trying to pull himself together, and she can see how hard he's fighting to keep his emotions in check. Klaus stands. "You can sleep here for tonight. I'll set up the guest bedroom for you tomorrow." he smiles.

She nods, her eyes fluttering for a brief moment. She's still shaking slightly, her hands trembling against Olive's fur. The mention of a real bed makes her want to cry with relief.

"There's a shower upstairs if you'd like, you can borrow some of my clothes too, if you need."

Her eyes widen at the offer, something like a wave of gratitude washing over her. She can feel the adrenaline wearing off, her body suddenly feeling weak and exhausted. "I.. yeah, I'd like that... thank you." she says, her voice barely above a whisper.

He smiles, nodding. "You don't need to thank me."

She nods, her gaze dropping to her lap. Her stomach is still tight with nerves and adrenaline, but a small sense of relief starts to set in. She'll be safe here, at least for the night.

"How old are you, kid?" he asks softly.

The question catches her off guard, and she has to think for a moment before answering. "S-seventeen." she stammers, her eyes still on the cat in her arms.

Klaus sighs. "No wonder he couldn't.. You'll be safe here, okay?"

She nods, the words like a soothing balm for her panicked nerves. Her heart is still pumping furiously, but the adrenaline is wearing off a bit, leaving her feeling exhausted. "Thank you.." she whispers, her voice weak.

He smiles again, but it's missing something. The same something that was missing from Shayan's smile. "Get yourself cleaned up, I'll get you some food."

She nods, watching him go. Once he's left, she sinks down onto the soft mattress, her body suddenly heavy and tired. Olive lets out a soft meow, stretching out on the bed beside her.

The room is quiet, the only sounds the occasional passing of a car and Olive's gentle purring. She takes a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. Now that she's alone, her fear is creeping back up, seeping through the cracks in her defenses.

⋆⋅ ━━━━ ⋅⋆

She groans softly, her eyes flickering open. The faint light from the window streams in, just bright enough to see a German Shepherd sniffing at her face with a curious snuf.

"What the─" she mumbles, blinking sleep still in her eyes. The dog lets out a soft bark, backing up a step and wagging its tail. Olive meows sleepily from her spot on the bed.

As her eyes fully clear, she realizes the dog is looking at her expectantly, its head cocked. She pushes herself up, sitting with her legs dangling off the edge of the bed. The dog let's out another bark, its tail wagging faster.

Suddenly, she hears footsteps coming up the narrow staircase. Klaus appears a moment later, looking a little less tired than he did last night. He grins at her, his eyes flitting from her still-sleepy face to the dog at her feet.

"Glory, why are you bothering the poor girl, let her sleep." he snaps his fingers, and Glory moves to his feet.

She rubs her eyes, watching the interaction with a bemused expression. The dog, Glory, seems obedient and friendly, her tail still wagging as she circles Klaus's feet.

Klaus grins at her, his arms crossed over his chest. "Morning. You sleep okay?" he asks, a hint of amusement on his face

She nods, her hair a mess and her eyes still a little bleary from sleep. "Yeah, I slept okay." she responds, her voice still a bit raspy from sleep.

"I made breakfast, come when you're ready." he smiles.

She smiles back, a small but sincere smile. Her stomach growls loudly, and she blushes slightly. "Ok, thanks." she says, her voice quieter than usual.

As he turns and leaves, she stands up, stretching her tired muscles. Her eyes still feel heavy, but she can smell the faint but enticing scent of coffee and toast coming up from upstairs.

She takes a moment to look at herself in the small mirror above the dresser. She looks a mess -- her hair sticking up at weird angles and the circles under her eyes darker than usual.

Sighing, she runs a brush quickly through her hair, doing her best to tame the messy locks. Once she's satisfied, she grabs the borrowed clothes Klaus left for her and slips into the bathroom to freshen up.

The bathroom is small, almost cramped, with just a toilet and a small shower-tub in the corner. She quickly jumps into the shower, relishing the feeling of hot water on her cold skin. Once she's clean, she dries off and pulls on the clothes Klaus left -- a pair of sweatpants and a faded t-shirt, both somehow fitting almost perfectly.

When she finally deems herself presentable enough, she makes her way upstairs carefully, still trying to keep her footsteps quiet. As she reaches the top of the stairs, the smell of coffee and toast greets her, stronger now.

The small apartment is clean and cosy, the living room blending into the kitchen. Klaus is standing with his back to her, standing over the stove. He turns when he hears her, flashing her a smile.

"Morning. Sit down, I'll get you some food." he says, motioning to the table. She nods, taking a seat while he dishes up a plate with toast and scrambled eggs.

He sets the food in front of her, along with a steaming cup of coffee. She takes a tentative bite, the eggs warm and fluffy. She can't help a small moan of appreciation.

Klaus chuckles at her reaction, sliding into the seat across from her. "That good, huh?"

She grins sheepishly around a mouthful of eggs. "Yeah, it's really good." she says, setting her fork down for a moment. She takes a sip of the coffee, letting the bitter liquid clear her mind.

Klaus grins, watching her eat. He doesn't say much as she shovels eggs into her mouth. He seems more relaxed than he did last night, a bit more... settled. Her eyes fall on the chain around his neck, the simple metal tags resting on his chest. Her eyes widen a fraction, surprise and curiosity fluttering in her chest.

"Did you..." she falters for a moment, her eyes still on the tags, "did you serve?"

Klaus looks down at the tags. "Oh, no. No, these.. they're Shayan's."

Her eyes widen a bit more, her gaze flicking back to his face. Shayan's? She hadn't known he had a military past. Her mind drifts back to their encounter, thinking about his skill and his training.

"He was a Navy Seal," Klaus adds, his fingers playing with the chain. "One of the best in his unit."

She lets out a soft breath, her surprise only growing. A Navy Seal? The pieces are falling into place now; all the small things start to make sense. His confidence, his skill, his quiet nature...

"He joined the Navy when he was seventeen," Klaus continues, tracing the engraving on the tags. "He served for seven years, two tours overseas."

Her eyes are still wide, disbelief and awe mixing together in her chest. She had no idea Shayan had such a past. The quiet, shy, gentle man she met the other night was a Navy Seal?

Klaus smiles faintly, a hint of sadness in his eyes. "He hated talking about it, though. He never really wanted to talk about his time in the military..."

She nods, her mind spinning. So many unanswered questions are crowding her thoughts, but she doesn't want to pry. Klaus's fingers are still tracing the tags, an almost wistful expression on his face. The silence between them stretches out, broken only by the sound of her fork scraping against the plate. Klaus seems lost in thought, lost in the memories of the man those tags had once belonged to.

She can see the pain on his face, the loss that has clearly left a wound in his heart. But there's something else too, something almost like nostalgia. A kind of bittersweet memory.

Finally, Klaus lets out a shaky sigh and sets the tags back down. He gives her a faint smile, his eyes still clouded with grief. "Sorry, kid. I didn't mean to go all somber on you."

She shakes her head quickly. "No, it's okay. I..." she falters for a moment, her gaze flickering to the dog tags. "I get it... I've lost people too."

Klaus raises an eyebrow at the words, his gaze locking onto hers. He seems surprised by the admission, or maybe just by her words. But he says nothing, only studying her with his intense gaze.

"My parents..." she says. "My dad died when I was a kid, my mom a couple weeks ago."

Klaus's expression shifts, something like sympathy in his eyes. He doesn't say anything, just nods for her to continue.

She lets out a shaky breath, her eyes falling to her half-empty plate. "Cancer," she says eventually. "She was a single mom after that, and it was just us two. And then she got sick too.."

Klaus reaches out, taking her hand in a surprisingly gentle gesture. His touch is warm and firm, giving her a small sense of comfort. "That must have been hard," he says softly, his voice gentle. "You don't have any other family?"

She shakes her head, her eyes still fixed on the empty plate in front of her. "No. My mom was an only child, and my dad's family didn't really... care, after he died."

A flicker of anger passes through Klaus's eyes, but he quickly smooths his expression. "You were alone?" he asks, his tone still soft.

She nods. "I made a few friends, regulars at the protests and rallies, but no one that really stayed around."

Klaus squeezes her hand gently. "And you've been... out there, on your own, with no one looking out for you?"

She nods numbly, her heart sinking at his words. When he puts it like that, her life sounds pitiful. Weak. "I was managing okay," she says softly, the words sounding pathetic even to her own ears.

Klaus's brows furrows. "You don't have to do that anymore. You're here now, this can be your home."

She can feel her eyes prickling with tears at the words, but she quickly blinks them away. "You'd... you'd really let me stay?" she practically whispers, her voice cracking.

"Of course." he says. "Shayan saw something in you, more than just a kid, he saw something that made him send you here. Whatever that was, it deserves to be helped. And I can help you, if you'll let me."

The tears are almost too much now, and she ducks her head, trying to hide the emotion on her face. She can't remember a time when anyone cared enough to want to help her. She's been alone so long, the thought of having someone on her side is almost overwhelming.

"Hey, you don't have to hide." he squeezes her hand. "It's okay."

The tears slip down her cheeks as she lifts her head, her vision blurry through the wetness. She can see the concern on Klaus's face, the genuine sympathy in his gaze. It's more than she deserves, and it brings a fresh wave of tears.

She tries to wipe the tears away, but they seem to come faster, falling like rain down her face. The dam has broken, and the pain and loneliness she's been holding in for so long come rushing out.

Klaus circles the table, and brings her into his arms. She crumbles against him, the dam continuing to break. Her tears soak his t-shirt as she buries her face in his chest, a broken sob escaping her lips.

His arms wrap around her, holding her tight against him. She can feel his solidity and warmth, a comforting presence in the midst of her emotional breakdown. "You're safe here, Chloe. I promise."

She clings to his t-shirt, her fingers clutching the fabric like a lifeline. The sobs continue to rack her body, the weight of her loneliness and pain finally releasing in a wave of tears. Klaus doesn't say anything else, just holding her as she cries. His chest is warm against her face, his arms strong and protective. She can feel his heart beating, steady and reassuring against her ear.

The tears finally start to slow, the storm of emotion and pain finally starting to subside. She pulls back, her face streaked with tears and snot. The front of Klaus's t-shirt is damp, a small patch of darker fabric against his chest.

Klaus uses his sleeve to wipe her face, smiling gently. "Hey, you like shopping?"

She lets out a shaky breath, sniffling slightly as she looks up at him. His sudden change in topic throws her for a loop, and it takes her a moment to find her voice. "Sh-shopping?" she manages to stutter out, her voice hoarse from crying.

"Yeah. You know, clothes, books, furniture and shit." he smooths her hair.

She blinks at him, her brain still a little fuzzy from crying. Shopping? She hasn't had the chance to do that in months, not when most of the money she earned went towards food and other essentials.

"Yeah, I... I like shopping," she says quietly, her voice still a bit unsteady. A flicker of understanding passes through Klaus's gaze, as if he can sense her confusion and curiosity at the sudden topic.

"Good. I'm gonna take you shopping, you can pick out all your favourite things, clothes and furniture for your new room. Whatever you like." he smiles.

Her eyes widen at his words, disbelief and gratefulness mixing together. "You... you don't have to─" she starts, but he cuts her off with a gentle shake of his head.

"Nonsense. This is your home now too, I'm your temporary guardian as of the time being, it's only right for me to make you feel at home." he smiles warmly. "Plus, I have full access to my presumed dead fiancé's money, so, may as well do something useful with it."

A small laugh escapes her, the sound tinged with disbelief and wonder. She had never thought the morning would turn out like this. "I... I don't even know what to say..." she says quietly, her voice still a bit rough.

"You don't have to say anything, kid. Just get some shoes on and we'll go."

She nods, wiping away the last of her tears. Her mind is still spinning from the sudden turn events, but she obediently slides off the chair and goes to find her shoes.

As she slips on her shoes, she glances over at Klaus. He's watching her patiently, a small smile on his face. She's still having a hard time wrapping her mind around the situation. She had only met this man last night, and now he's offering to take her shopping, to provide a home for her. It's more than she ever dreamed of.

Once her shoes are on, she looks up, meeting his gaze. He gives her an encouraging nod, gesturing towards the door. "Ready?" he asks, his voice gentle.

She nods, her heart racing a bit in her chest. She follows him as he leads the way towards the front door, the prospect of shopping and a new home making her feel both excited and a bit overwhelmed.

⋆⋅ ━━━━ ⋅⋆

They arrive at the bustling mall, the sound of people chatting and music fills the air. Klaus glances down at her, his eyes filled with amusement as he takes in her expression. She's gazing around at the shops and people with wide eyes, clearly overwhelmed.

Klaus looks around and smiles, a soft glimmer in his eyes.

Chloe frowns slightly. "What?"

He turns to her and laughs softly. "Nothing, just reminiscing. This is the same mall Shayan took me to when I moved in."

Her eyes widen at the revelation, her brain connecting the dots. This is Shayan's old mall, the one he used to frequent. She can picture him walking the same paths, going to the same shops. It's almost like she can feel his presence lingering around them, a ghost of memories past.

"You... you used to come here with him?" she asks quietly, her eyes still roaming over the familiar surroundings. Klaus is watching her, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"All the time." he smiles. "He was a gift giver, showed his love easiest that way."

She can picture it in her mind easily enough, Shayan walking through the mall, browsing the stores for the perfect gifts. The thought of it makes her heart ache in a bittersweet way.

"He was... he really cared, didn't he?" she asks softly, her eyes fixed on the familiar shops. Klaus looks at her for a moment, his expression softening.

"He did. Sometimes too much." he chuckles. "You know, when we met, I was a druggie looking for a place to sleep. Banged on the café door until he opened up. Haven't left since."

She can imagine the scene so clearly, Shayan opening the door to find a disheveled, drugged-out Klaus on his doorstep. It's hard to reconcile the picture in her mind with the man standing next to her now.

"He helped me get clean, moved me in a few days later, and we've been together since then." he smiles.

She can sense the sadness in his voice, the ache of loss that comes with the memories. She can't imagine how hard it must be for him, living in the home they shared together, having to deal with the ghost of Shayan around every corner. She reaches out and hesitantly puts her hand on his arm, trying to offer some comfort. Klaus looks down at her, a flicker of surprise in his eyes at the gesture.

He smiles softly. "Thanks kid, but I'm okay. I promise. Now that I know he's okay.. even if I don't know where or how or what, it's better. Easier."

She nods, her eyes still searching his face. She can see the truth in his words, the way his eyes have lightened, some of the weight lifted off his shoulders. As hard as it must be to be reminded of Shayan at every turn, he is better knowing that his partner is alive somewhere, even if he doesn't know the details.

"Now go on, pick your poison." he says with a slight laugh, gesturing at the shops.

She looks around at the shops, her eyes going wide with excitement. There are so many choices, so many options. She can feel the beginnings of giddiness in her chest as she tries to decide which shop to start with.

"Uhm... maybe the bookshop?" she suggests, already heading towards the store. Klaus chuckles in response, following her towards the store.

The bookshop is a haven for bookworms like her, filled to the brim with all genres, from romance to sci-fi to classics. She wanders through the aisles, her fingers brushing over the spines of the books as she takes in the titles and covers.

They spend hours in the mall, moving through each and every shop. By the time they're done, they have several bags of clothes and accessories, as well as a few essentials for her new room. Chloe is exhausted but happy, the giddiness from earlier still coursing through her veins.

As they pass the arts and crafts store, Chloe's eyes light up with excitement. She practically drags Klaus towards the store, her interest piqued.

Inside the store, Chloe is like a kid in a candy store. There are aisles and aisles of art supplies, from paint to sketch pads to sculpting materials, and it's all too much to take in. She starts wandering through the aisles, examining the various tools and supplies with a mixture of excitement and awe.

"You like art, kid?" Klaus asks, picking up a paintbrush.

She nods energetically. "I love art," she says, her eyes skimming over the various supplies. "I've always loved drawing, and painting, and creating things. It's like... I can pour all my emotions and thoughts onto a canvas, you know? It's a sort of release for me."

Klaus smiles warmly. "Then go wild."

Her eyes go wide at his words, her heart fluttering with excitement. She immediately grabs a basket, starting to fill it up with a mixture of art supplies, from sketchbooks to paints to pencils and charcoals.

Klaus watches as she adds item after item to the basket, her eyes bright with excitement. He can't help but chuckle at her enthusiasm, her hands almost trembling with eagerness as she grabs different supplies.

"You're really going to town, aren't you?" he teases, raising an eyebrow at the steadily growing pile in the basket.

She just grins at him, unashamed. "I can't help it," she says, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "There's so much to choose from! I don't know what half these things are, but I want to try them all!"

Klaus laughs. "No worries, kid. We can set up the extra room, make it your studio."

Her eyes widen further, her heart doing a little flip in her chest. "My own studio? Are you serious?" She can feel the excitement and gratitude bubbling up within her, a mixture of disbelief and joy.

"Of course," Klaus says with a smile, watching her excitement with amusement. "You need a place to make art, don't you? It will be your space, somewhere you can create whatever you want, however you want."

She's almost lost for words, her brain unable to process the idea of having her own studio. The thought of having a dedicated space to create, to bring her visions to life, it's almost too much to handle.

"I... I don't know what to say," she manages to stammer out, her voice a little choked. "I mean... are you sure? It's a lot, and I don't want you to go out of your way─"

"Are you kidding? It's great just to have someone else around, and this is your house now too, kid." he points at something behind her. "Get that, it looks fun."

She glances over her shoulder to see what he's pointing at, and her eyes light up as she spots a pile of clay sculpting supplies. Her mind races with possibilities, ideas for creating sculptures and pottery already forming in her mind.

"Oh, I need that," she mutters, reaching out to grab a block of clay. It's cool and firm to the touch, and she can already feel the creativity buzzing in her veins at the thought of working with it.

Klaus smiles as he watches her move down the aisle, scanning everything like a hawk. His hand moves to the dog tags around his neck, his thumb rubbing the metal gently.

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WORDS: 5499
© TOO SAD TO CRY