Reading Between the Lines [Ili]

[Iliana Tsankova]

Iliana stayed quiet once Rachel and Oliver arrived. This wasn't her conversation anymore. The Wrights had spent years carrying pieces of this burden separately, and for perhaps the first time, some of those pieces were finally being laid on the table where everyone could see them. It wasn't pretty. It wasn't comfortable. But it was necessary.

So she simply remained beside Nate. Her hand never left his. When Rachel looked at her and quietly admitted she was glad she was back, Iliana's expression softened immediately. She gave the younger girl a small nod. "I don't think I ever truly left, Rach." The words were simple, but there was a weight behind them.

Even after the breakup. Even through all the distance and hurt and silence. She'd still listened when Nate needed someone to listen. Still kept the things he trusted her with. Still worried. Still cared. The only thing she'd failed at had been letting him carry her burdens too. Her gaze drifted briefly to Nate before returning to Rachel, a faint smile touching her lips.

Then she let the conversation continue. Sophie's apology visibly pulled at something in her chest. Not because Sophie was wrong to feel guilty, but because Iliana knew exactly what it felt like to discover someone you cared about had been suffering in silence while trying desperately to protect everyone else. It was such a painfully Nate thing to do.

When Sophie finally seemed to understand at least enough for the argument to stop being an argument, Iliana let out a quiet breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. The tension in the group shifted. Not gone. But different. Less explosive. More sad than angry.

After a moment, she gave Nate's hand a gentle squeeze. "Nate?" Her voice was soft. When he looked at her, she tilted her head slightly toward the castle. "Can I borrow you for a minute?"

She wasn't really asking permission from the others so much as giving them space. Rachel and Oliver weren't likely to let Sophie vanish now, and Sophie herself looked rooted to the spot as she tried to process everything she'd learned. So once Nate followed her a short distance away, far enough for privacy but not so far they couldn't still see the others. Iliana finally stopped.

For a moment she simply looked at him. Really looked at him. The exhaustion. The fear. The relief. The years of carrying things alone. Then she reached up and brushed her fingers lightly against his cheek. "What do you need from me?" No assumptions. No advice. No attempts to solve it.Just the question.

Because everyone else had spent the last several minutes talking about what Nate had done for them, what he'd protected them from, what he'd carried. And very few people ever stopped to ask what he needed. So Iliana did. Her thumb brushed gently along his jaw. "I mean right now, at this moment..." Her eyes softened. "What can I do for you?" Being there was obviously a given for her, but she would do whatever else he needed as well.

[Nathaniel Wright]

Nate looked to Ili as she said his name, and he nodded, not resisting as she led him away from the rest. Her touch on his cheek had him closing his eyes for a moment, just taking a breath, and his brow furrowed as he tried to think of what his answer even was.

"I don't know," he finally said softly, shaking his head. He leaned into her touch a bit, putting his hand on the back of hers. "If the rest of the world could stop being so tiresome, that would be a start," he said with a little wry smirk.

"I don't know if anyone's ever asked... I genuinely don't have an answer," he shook his head, looking at her fully, "I suppose that sounds rather ridiculous. To not know something that seems so simple... But I don't spend much time looking in, I suppose."

He glanced back toward where they'd left the others for a moment before looking back to Ili, "Though I did not intend for this to turn into a soap opera on the front lawn." he rubbed the back of his neck with his other hand, clearly feeling a bit awkward about his rather public display.

[Iliana Tsankova]

Iliana listened without interrupting, her hand remaining against his cheek as he worked through the question. The admission that he didn't know what he needed didn't surprise her nearly as much as it seemed to surprise him. In fact, it felt painfully predictable. Of course he didn't know. Nathaniel Wright had spent years deciding what everyone else needed before ever considering himself. When he finished, she smiled softly.

"It doesn't sound ridiculous." Her thumb brushed lightly against his skin. "It sounds like someone who's spent so long taking care of everyone else that he forgot he was allowed to need things too." There was no judgment in the observation. Just understanding. At the comment about the world being tiresome, a quiet laugh escaped her. "Unfortunately I don't think I possess the power to fix the entire world."

A beat passed before she continued, "Though if I ever do, you'll be the first to know." Then his attention shifted back toward the others and the awkwardness creeping into his expression became impossible to miss. That earned a more amused smile. "Nate." She stepped a little closer. "Look around." Her gaze flicked toward the castle grounds.

Students were moving in every direction. Heading to dinner. Quidditch practice. Clubs. Study sessions. Their own dramas. "No one is paying nearly as much attention as you think they are." Her expression softened. "And the people who are paying attention?" A small shrug. "We'll survive." Before he could overthink that too much, she rose onto her toes and pressed a gentle kiss to his lips. Not long. Not dramatic. Just enough to interrupt the spiral she could practically see forming behind his eyes.

When she pulled back, there was a faint smile lingering on her face. "There." Her fingers found his hand and squeezed lightly. "You don't have to have all the answers right now." Another squeeze. "You don't have to fix everything tonight either." She glanced toward where Sophie, Rachel, and Oliver still waited. "They've got a lot to process. So do you." Then her attention returned fully to him.

"But whatever comes next, I'm here." Simple. Certain. Whether that meant helping him navigate the conversation with his siblings and cousin, sitting quietly beside him afterward or distracting him from the weight of it all for a few hours. It didn't matter. "I'm not going anywhere." Her smile warmed slightly.

"So if what you need right now is for me to stand beside you while you figure out how to untangle this mess..." She intertwined their fingers. "I can do that." Then she gave him the choice, waiting comfortably at his side. Whenever he was ready, she'd follow him back. Or stay right where they were for another minute if that was what he needed instead.

[Nathaniel Wright]

He gave a small smile at her response, at her understanding why he just didn't seem to have an answer. When she drew his attention away from his growing self-consciousness, he looked a bit more closely at the other students. Sure, a couple had glanced that way, but they were worried about their own issues. Sure enough, his head was still taking him elsewhere before she kissed him, getting a surprised look from him for a second before he seemed to ease.

His worries weren't gone, but she helped him pull them back into a manageable box in his mind. He couldn't let these things become all-consuming because it would mean he was missing things. He looked at her as she said she wasn't going anywhere; his eyes read over her face. "I haven't really ever let you out of this mess, have I?" he murmured softly, thinking about what she'd said to Rachel, clearly. He lifted the hand she wasn't holding to her cheek, gently caressing it. "You could have said it wasn't your problem anymore... at any time... and there were times I didn't want to unburden myself on you because it wasn't... isn't really... your problem... I'm not saying that as another way to get upset with myself," he smirked ruefully, "But rather just... realizing I don't show you how much I appreciate you enough."

"Let me just... give this back to Sophie. I think she's got enough of the picture now to be more careful," he said, pulling out the notebook, "Then I think I'm rather...done for the day," he murmured, "Maybe we can find somewhere a bit quiet to find ourselves for a while?" he looked at her, seeing if that sounded like something she wanted to do.

"Dinner first, of course. Either you and I might find ourselves having to ask Nova to help us into the kitchens again," He chuckled a little.

[Iliana Tsankova]

Iliana couldn't help the small, satisfied smile that appeared when she saw the immediate effect the kiss had on him. There he was. The Nate she knew. Still worried. Still carrying too much. But no longer standing on the edge of being overwhelmed by it. Apparently she had discovered a rather effective method for resetting an overworked Nathaniel Wright. She filed that information away for future use.

His comment about never really letting her out of the mess softened her expression immediately. As his hand came up to her cheek, she turned into the touch without thinking, her eyes lifting to his. "No," she admitted quietly. "You didn't." A faint smile touched her lips. "But I never really wanted out of it either." Because that was the truth. Even after everything. Even after the breakup. She'd worried. She'd listened. She'd cared.

The shape of it had changed, but the feeling never had. His appreciation made her chest ache a little in the best way. "You don't have to keep thanking me for caring about you," she said softly. "I do it because you're you, Nate. Not because I expect anything for it." The rueful smile he wore earned a gentle shake of her head before she reached up and briefly covered the hand resting against her cheek with her own.

Then, when he mentioned giving the notebook back to Sophie and being done with the day, she nodded immediately. "That's probably for the best." The poor man looked exhausted. At the suggestion of somewhere quiet afterward, her smile returned. "Food first," she agreed firmly. There was no missing the amusement in her eyes. "Because tea still doesn't count as a meal in your mind, apparently, and I don't need a lecture about nutrition from you while you're trying to decompress." A teasing look.

Then she squeezed his hand. "After that, I'll see what I can come up with to give us both a little peace and quiet, okay? Somewhere away from gossip columns. Away from cousins and siblings. Away from fathers and expectations and responsibilities. Just for a little while.

Her smile softened. "I think we've both earned it." Then she tilted her head toward where the others still waited. "Go give Sophie her notebook back." A playful glint entered her eyes. "And try not to accidentally adopt another family crisis while you're over there."

[Nathaniel Wright]

Nate smiled softly as she said she didn't want out of it and that it was because it was him, "Too good to me, Ili," he murmured softly.

"It doesn't," Nate said when she teased about tea not counting as a meal, "Your brain needs more than caffeine to function." He said anyway, even though she was talking about not getting a lecture, "I'll be right back," he kissed her forehead before stepping away from her, going back over towards his siblings and cousin. He handed Sophie back her notebook, but she looked like she almost didn't want it back. She took it after a moment, muttered her thanks, and started to walk back inside. He turned to Rachel and Oliver, "It's not her fault what we go through," he pointed out, "It shouldn't be on her head that he's a piece of trash. Remember that."

Rachel huffed, "You always give everyone an out," she muttered, "Fine, you're right. Again," she threw her hands up and started inside. Oliver looked a little relieved honestly, but then waved at his brother and followed after Rachel.

Nate shook his head, waving after them before going back towards Ili. He gently took her hand, squeezed it, then started with her towards the Great Hall.

[Iliana Tsankova]

She rolled her eyes affectionately when he immediately ignored her request not to lecture her. "There it is," she sighed dramatically. "I was beginning to worry the stress had damaged your ability to fuss over me." The kiss to her forehead drew a softer smile, however, and she watched him head back toward his family without trying to follow. Instead, she lingered where she was. Watching. Listening. Not intruding.

She saw Sophie take the notebook back. Saw the guilt lingering in her posture. Saw Rachel's frustration and Oliver's relief. And she saw Nate doing exactly what Nate always did. Protecting everyone. Even now. Even after being scared half to death by what Sophie might accidentally stumble into. The moment he defended her, insisting none of it was her fault, Iliana couldn't help the fond shake of her head. She heard what his sister said and shrugged. Rachel wasn't wrong. He really did.

When the others finally headed inside, Iliana caught Rachel's eye briefly and offered the younger girl a small smile before her attention returned to Nate. The second he reached her, she let him take her hand. Her fingers curled comfortably around his. "You know," she said as they started toward the Great Hall, "your sister might have a point." A teasing glance slid his way.

"Most people would've at least let Sophie sit with that guilt for an hour." She bumped her shoulder lightly against his arm. "But there you were already making sure she knew none of it was her fault." Her expression softened. "It's one of my favorite things about you." And one of the things that worried her the most. Because Nate extended grace to everyone except himself.

As they crossed the grounds, evening settling around the castle, she found herself relaxing for the first time all day. The crisis hadn't vanished. There would be more conversations. More complications. Probably several involving Sophie. But for now? It was over. At least for tonight. Her thumb brushed absently over the back of his hand.

"So," she said after a moment, a hint of mischief returning to her voice, "what exactly constitutes a proper meal according to Nathaniel Wright?" She tilted her head. "Because if your answer is 'three vegetables and a lecture,' I'm turning around and asking Nova to smuggle us into the kitchens instead." The image alone made her laugh quietly. "And honestly, I think after today we've earned dessert first."

[Nathaniel Wright]

Nate gave a huff. "I just want her to be careful, not feel guilty," he shook his head. "My sister probably wishes I'd be meaner, which I can be when it's earned, but Sophie's just naive. Maaaaybe a bit malicious in her gossip, but nothing so bad as I think she deserves to sit in that kind of guilt."

At her question, Nate looked over at her, raising a brow at her mischief. "What do you mean, according to me?" he chuckled, shaking his head, "I wasn't planning on lecturing you anymore," he snorted, "But you almost seem to want me to as much as you keep alluding to me doing so."

"But I never said you had to eat in the right order, just that you need actual sustenance."

He walked with her through the crowd, glancing around to make sure they didn't walk into anyone before looking back to her. "Though maybe we walk a little slower and can sit close to the doors so we can slip out easier," he chuckled lightly.

[Iliana Tsankova]

Iliana smiled as he defended Sophie yet again, entirely unsurprised. "See? That's exactly what I mean." She glanced up at him. "Most people hear malicious gossip and stop at malicious. You somehow manage to get all the way to she's naive and doesn't deserve to feel guilty." There was a fondness in her voice that made it clear she wasn't criticizing him. If anything, she admired it.

Even when she occasionally wanted to shake him. His response to her teasing about food immediately earned a laugh. "Oh, don't put this on me." She pointed at him with her free hand. "You spent the better part of the break making sure I eat something that isn't tea." The accusation was entirely unserious. "And now you're pretending you weren't gearing up for another nutrition lecture."

Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "I know you, Nathaniel." The dramatic use of his full name was accompanied by a grin. "You get that look." Then she paused a beat. "The 'I've noticed something concerning and am about to become everyone's responsible older brother whether they asked for it or not' look." The fact that he actually was someone's responsible older brother only made it funnier.

By the time he suggested sitting near the doors, her expression brightened immediately. "Now that is the first excellent idea you've had all afternoon." She squeezed his hand lightly. "Eat quickly. Escape efficiently. Avoid being trapped by people who want to talk." A thoughtful hum. "Honestly, it sounds less like dinner and more like a tactical operation."

Which, knowing Nate, probably wasn't entirely inaccurate. As they approached the Great Hall doors, she found herself relaxing further, the tension from earlier continuing to fade. The evening suddenly seemed much simpler. Food. A quiet corner somewhere. No family crises. No gossip columns. No discussions about dangerous people.

Just them. Her shoulder brushed his lightly as they walked. "And for the record," she added, looking up at him with a small smile, "I think your sister only wishes you were meaner because she knows you're usually right." A pause. "Which is probably the most annoying quality a person can possess." Her smile widened. "Congratulations."

[Nathaniel Wright]

Nate shrugged a bit at her pointing out what he was doing in a "I can't help it" kind of way, though he was smirking to say he wasn't entirely sorry for it either.

"Well, I would hope all the lectures from the break might sink in," he chuckled softly. "I would hope I wouldn't have to keep saying it over and over. I just want to make sure you're taking care of yourself," he smirked. At his getting his full name used, he chuckled again, shaking his head. "Would you rather me say nothing then?" he mused. "I wouldn't be a very good prefect if I just watched things happen I know can be at least done better."

He snorted at her calling it a tactical operation. "That implies we're trying to be sneaky. We're not doing anything wrong, so it's not necessary to be sneaky about it," he shook his head, though he was clearly amused. He looked at her, though, as she brushed against him, and he gave a rueful smile at what she said. "What can I say? Responsible big brothers tend to be observant," he chuckled lightly, squeezing his hand, "And Rachel is going to end up being in the Wizengamot one day herself with her sense of justice," he shook his head with a smirk. "Or a hit wizard. Suppose that depends on how straight that moral compass stays."

"I'm just unable to say how I feel most of the time, like the words are never the right ones. But at least I know how to show people that they matter to me. Or at least I think I do; I suppose the jury's out on that one," he smirked over at her.

[Iliana Tsankova]

Iliana caught the I can't help it shrug immediately and laughed. "There it is." She pointed at him again. "That's the exact face." The one that said he knew he was fussing, knew she was going to call him on it, and had absolutely no intention of stopping. His explanation only proved her point further. A smile tugged at her lips as she shook her head. "No, I don't want you to say nothing." The answer came easily.

"I think I'd be more worried if you suddenly stopped noticing things." That was the thing, wasn't it? For all she teased him about it, Nate paid attention. He always had. To people. To details. To things that hurt. To things left unsaid. Sometimes to his own detriment. "I just reserve the right to complain when your concern turns into a lecture."

She delivered the statement with the gravity of someone negotiating an important legal contract. Then she nodded thoughtfully at his assessment of Rachel. "Oh, she'll absolutely end up terrifying someone professionally." There wasn't a shred of doubt in her voice. "The only question is whether she'll be terrifying them from behind a desk or while actively chasing them." Ili paused for a heartbeat before smiling, "Personally, my money is on both."

By now they were nearing the Great Hall, students filtering around them in every direction. His last comment, however, made her look over at him. Really look at him. And for a moment the teasing slipped away. Because there he went again. Dismissing something he was actually very good at. The squeeze of his hand earned one in return.

"Nate." Her voice softened. "The jury isn't out." She held his gaze. "You think you're bad with words because you compare yourself to people who make speeches and grand declarations." A small smile appeared. "You've successfully lectured me about eating enough approximately eight hundred times." The smile widened. "So no." A gentle shake of her head.

"I don't think the question is whether you know how to show people they matter." Her eyes warmed. "I think the problem is that you're so busy doing it that you never notice everyone else can see it." Then, because she could practically feel him preparing to get embarrassed by that level of sincerity, she bumped her shoulder against his again. "Besides."

The teasing returned. "If you were actually bad at showing people they matter, your siblings wouldn't follow you around like lost ducklings, Nova wouldn't treat you like her favorite exhausted older brother, and I certainly wouldn't have gotten back together with you." A beat. "You're annoyingly good at it, actually."

[Nathaniel Wright]

"I wouldn't have to lecture if people just listened," Nate laughed shamelessly at the fact that he, in fact, lectured regularly, "To be fair, I am usually just trying to help, I just end up sounding like someone's disappointed father," he snorted.

"Both?" Nate turned that over then smirked, "So an Auror. Yeah, I could see that too," he smirked at the thought, "Woe be unto her quarry."

She was right that the way she talked about him was definitely getting the tips of his ears a bit red. He didn't usually think of himself in those kinds of ways. It was always just doing what he thought was best and that he could see needed to be done. He rubbed the back of his neck as she turned to teasing, earning a smirk from him. "Fine," he chuckled a little, kissing her cheek, "You win."

"Now let's actually get something to eat before you manage to trick me out of it," He shook his head opening the door to the Great Hall to let her go through first.

[Iliana Tsankova]

Iliana looked entirely too pleased with herself when he finally surrendered. "Of course I win." The answer came without hesitation, accompanied by a grin that suggested she'd already decided that outcome several minutes ago. The kiss to her cheek only made it worse. She was still smiling as she stepped through the doors he held open for her.

The familiar noise of the Great Hall washed over them immediately. Hundreds of conversations layered over one another, cutlery clinking against plates, students coming and going as they settled in for dinner. Normally she didn't mind it. Tonight, after everything that had happened, it felt a little overwhelming. Still, she followed Nate toward the food.

And because she knew exactly what he was looking for, she made a point of fixing herself a proper plate. Not just a roll and tea. Not just a few bites of something. An actual meal. The sort of plate that would probably earn approval from the boy who'd spent the better part of the last several weeks worrying about whether she was taking care of herself.

Whether she finished all of it remained to be seen. But it was a start. Once she'd gathered everything she wanted, she stepped aside and waited for Nate to finish getting his own food. Leaning lightly against the end of the table, she watched students drift past them in little groups, laughing and talking amongst themselves. When Nate finally joined her, she glanced down at his plate before looking back up at him.

"There." A small smile tugged at her lips. "You can stop worrying that I'm surviving exclusively on tea for at least the next hour." She nudged his arm lightly with her elbow. Then her gaze swept across the crowded hall. "Now the important question." The smile softened. "Where do you want to eat?" She lowered her voice slightly and her fingers found his free hand again almost absentmindedly.

"The Great Hall is entertaining in small doses." A beat. "Most of the time it just feels loud." Not unpleasant. Just exhausting. "So where are we going?" The question was genuine. Tonight she'd happily follow his lead. They'd spent enough of the afternoon dealing with everyone else's problems. For once, she was content with finding a quiet corner somewhere, eating dinner, and simply existing beside him for a while.

[Nathaniel Wright]

Nate smirked a bit as she showed him she had enough food. He shook his head a little, but looked around at her question about where to eat, and he brushed his fingers on her. "Let's make sure to grab some water at least before we go, just in case any of this is drier than it looks," he murmured. "And maybe we can try the gardens? They're usually pretty empty right about now, and in the right spots, you know it can be pretty cut off and quiet," he murmured, "Inside options..." he hummed in thought, "We could go to where the base of the clock tower is. It's pretty open inside," he suggested, looking to see which option she'd prefer.

He glanced around the room again, sort of an instinctual glance around, like someone who didn't trust not keeping a vigilance on his surroundings, but brought his focus back to the Ravenclaw table, making sure Oliver and Rachel made it to where they were supposed to be. He looked confused, though, as he saw Rachel talking to a boy about a similar age at the Gryffindor table, though it seemed to ease when he realized Amelia Hawthrone was also sitting there, recognizing her from the Gryffindor Quidditch team. He watched for a moment, something unreadable in his expression for that moment, before he looked back towards Ili.

"Which sounds better to you?" he asked, then looked for cups and a pitcher of water.

[Iliana Tsankova]

Iliana followed his gaze when his attention drifted toward the Ravenclaw table, noticing the brief check on Rachel and Oliver before he seemed satisfied they were where they were supposed to be. It was such a Nate thing to do that she didn't even comment on it. Instead, she waited while he found the water, accepting one of the cups once he poured it. "See?" she said, taking a sip. "Now we're both being responsible." The tease was gentle, accompanied by a small smile.

When he presented the options, she considered them seriously. "The gardens." The answer came almost immediately. Her eyes drifted toward the enchanted ceiling overhead before returning to him. "I think we've both spent enough time inside today." Between classes, family drama, and the Great Hall itself, the thought of fresh air sounded infinitely more appealing. "And if we're lucky, nobody will stumble across us." A faint grin tugged at her lips. "Or if they do, maybe it'll just be Nova and she'll spend ten minutes trying to redesign my entire wardrobe before wandering off again."

She picked up her plate and nudged his arm lightly with her shoulder. "Come on." The gardens won easily in her mind. The evening air would be cooler. Quieter. No crowds. No curious ears. Just the soft sounds of the castle grounds settling into evening. As they headed toward the doors again, she found herself relaxing further with every step. The knot that had lived in her chest since Christmas felt a little looser. Not gone. But better. Manageable.

Partly because she'd finally talked about it. Mostly because she wasn't carrying it alone anymore. As they stepped outside, she glanced over at him and smiled. "You know," she said lightly, "for someone who claims not to know what he needs, picking a quiet garden and dinner with his girlfriend seems like a pretty good start." The word slipped out naturally. Girlfriend. Not tentative. Not uncertain. Just true. And judging by the smile that immediately followed, Iliana was perfectly happy with that.

[Nathaniel Wright]

Nate nodded when she said the gardens, and again in agreement with her own reasoning for the choice, "Hopefully she can find something else to be doing this evening," he murmured, not sure he had it in him to deal with even Nova right now. He walked with her, getting the doors as they went, rather insisting on it. Her comment about having a good start on what he needed made him smirk lightly, especially at how easily she called herself his girlfriend, "I'm glad you understand how much you are needed," he murmured as he walked with her.

He kissed her cheek before they stepped into the gardens, and he guided them to a spot that was a bit more private than the rest, just trying to give them both a moment to breathe. "I'm sorry about how today's gone," he said as a small table came into view. It was as much a spot to do homework as it was for this little sneak-away dinner, "I certainly didn't intend for it to get nearly as dramatic, but I suppose to a degree that was inevitable."

He actually pulled out a seat for her, waiting for her to sit before he took the other seat, "But I'm starting to realize you coming in and calming the storm is also pretty inevitable," he smiled lightly at her, "We're much better at taking care of each other than ourselves," he chuckled lightly, shaking his head.

[Iliana Tsankova]

Iliana smiled to herself when he said he hoped Nova found something else to occupy her evening. "I imagine she's probably halfway through designing six more dresses already." The image made her laugh quietly. "Or she's cornered some unsuspecting first year and convinced them they desperately need a new wardrobe." She couldn't imagine Nova staying still for very long. As they stepped into the gardens, however, the laughter gave way to a contented sigh.

The air was cooler here. The chatter from the castle faded into little more than a distant murmur. Exactly what they'd both needed. She glanced over as Nate led them toward the tucked-away table, recognizing immediately why he'd chosen it. It was secluded without feeling hidden, peaceful without feeling lonely. Perfect. When he pulled the chair out for her, she looked at him for a second before smiling warmly. "Thank you." She settled into the chair, setting her plate down before looking back up at him.

At his apology, she shook her head almost immediately. "You don't need to apologize." Her voice was gentle. "Today wasn't your fault." Not really. "You wanted to protect Sophie." She folded her hands loosely around her cup of water. "And once she knew enough to understand why you were worried... I think it was always going to become emotional." There wasn't any way around that. Some truths simply hurt.

His comment about her calming the storm drew an amused smile. "I think that's giving me a little too much credit." Though... perhaps not entirely. She thought back to earlier. Finding him panicking. Watching the kiss pull him back from the edge of spiraling. The way he'd steadied afterward. Maybe she had helped. Just as he'd helped her countless times. Her smile softened. "I think..." she began thoughtfully, "...we've spent so many years trying to convince ourselves we have to carry everything alone that we've forgotten we're actually rather good at sharing the weight."

Her eyes met his. "You've been carrying mine without even realizing it." A small, affectionate smile appeared. "And apparently I've been doing the same for you." She picked up her fork, finally taking the first proper bite of her dinner before swallowing. "There." She looked entirely too pleased with herself. "You can officially stop worrying that I haven't eaten."

Another bite followed, almost as if she were proving a point. Only after she'd swallowed again did she continue. "I don't think either of us is ever going to become particularly good at asking for help." She gave him an apologetic little smile. "We're both far too stubborn for that." A beat. "But..." She reached across the little table, resting her hand lightly over his.

"...I think we can get better at noticing when the other one needs it." Her thumb brushed lightly across the back of his hand. "And maybe that's enough." For now, at least. It felt like enough.

[Nathaniel Wright]

When she looked at him after pulling out the chair, he wondered for a moment if he had done something strange, but then she smiled, and he relaxed. When she told him it wasn’t his fault, he tilted his head side to side, “I should have probably thought things through a bit more before acting. Just after this morning, I admittedly was… a bit afraid for her,” he mumbled, shaking his head, “And obviously my answer to anything is to lecture people into compliance,” he smirked ruefully, especially as she pointed out the fact she was, in fact, eating. When she talked about them carrying each other’s weight without realizing it, he gave another little smirk, “Maybe,” he murmured.

He gave a huff of a laugh at her demonstration of eating, shaking his head a little, “No, you’re right… we both think we should just figure it out ourselves, like we’re expected to,” he murmured. He looked up as she put her hand on his and smiled softly at her, “I think it’s a good start for both of us,” he murmured, “To have someone we know cares about us telling us it’s okay to want things, to need help,” he turned his hand over, gently taking hers, “It’s more than most people our age have ever really needed to figure out yet. Perhaps we can help each other learn how to communicate those needs,” he murmured, “Just like us being here.”

He took another bite of his own food, still holding her hand if she didn’t pull it back, “Speaking of,” he murmured, “Did you have anything you wanted to do today?” he asked.

[Iliana Tsankova]

Iliana smiled when he turned her hand over in his, her fingers curling naturally around his. It still amazed her how easy it felt to be here again, sitting across from him as though the time they'd spent apart had only been a detour rather than an ending. "I think we can," she agreed quietly. "We'll probably stumble through it more often than not..." A small laugh escaped her. "...but stumbling together sounds a lot better than pretending we're fine apart." She let that settle between them, comfortable in the silence that followed as they both ate for a few moments.

When he asked if there was anything she wanted to do today, however, the smile she'd been wearing immediately turned into something much more resigned. "...Unfortunately." She drew the word out just enough to make her feelings abundantly clear. "I need to study Astronomy." The expression she made could only be described as deeply unhappy. "I swear the stars rearrange themselves the moment Professor Starling turns her back." She sighed dramatically before taking another bite of her dinner.

"It's the only class that's always managed to defeat me." Potions? Fine. Herbology? Easy enough. Charms, Transfiguration, even Ancient Runes she could wrap her head around. But Astronomy… "I can memorize constellations for hours, walk into the tower, look up at the actual night sky and suddenly none of them seem interested in introducing themselves." She gave him an apologetic smile. "So my thrilling evening plans involve star charts and hoping the heavens decide to cooperate for once."

There was a pause before her smile turned just a little sheepish. "...I was actually going to ask Nova if she'd quiz me." She laughed softly. "Then I remembered she'd probably get distracted halfway through explaining Orion because she'd decided the constellation needed a better outfit." The mental image amused her enough that she shook her head. Her eyes lifted back to Nate. "Though..." Her smile became a little more hopeful.

"...you're rather annoyingly good at explaining things." A slight tilt of her head. "If you're not completely sick of looking at books after today..." She gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "...would you mind helping me?" There was no embarrassment in asking. Not anymore. If they were truly going to learn how to lean on each other, then perhaps this was exactly where they started. With something as ordinary as asking her boyfriend for help studying the one subject that had been besting her for years.

[Nathaniel Wright]

Nate smiled softly at her and chuckled at her saying they would probably stumble a bit, "Yeah, we'll at least be there to help each other up." He smirked when she brought up needing to study Astronomy. He snorted at the visual of Nova trying to make the stars outfits, "More of how to turn the constellations into designs, I think. I can half picture her trying to make a dress shaped like one of them," he shook his head.

"I don't mind helping since we're in the same class," Nate pointed out, smirking. "We can probably go up there before class starts tonight, and we can pinpoint which ones are currently out," he said. "It's a bit more... practical than just looking at a textbook after all. Once we find them up there," he looked up at the sky, "Then we can look at the star charts and see how they align with what's in front of us."

"And you can ask Starling for help, too. I think she'd be rather overjoyed to get to help," He snorted, thinking about the astronomy professor's tendency to flit about, always so eager to talk about the stars and what they told the world.He looked back at her. "Not that I mind if I'm the one who gets to show you how to find them," he smiled lightly, giving her hand a squeeze.

[Iliana Tsankova]

Iliana couldn't help but laugh at the image he painted. "Oh, she'd absolutely do that." She smiled into her drink. "And somehow she'd make Cassiopeia look fashionable." The thought of Nova arguing that a constellation needed a different silhouette was amusing enough that Iliana could almost hear the conversation already. Her attention returned to Nate as he began explaining how they'd approach studying, and she noticed the subtle shift that always happened when he was talking through a problem.

He relaxed. Planning suited him. Breaking something overwhelming into manageable steps was almost second nature. By the time he'd finished, the knot she'd been carrying about Astronomy had already loosened a little. "That..." She smiled warmly. "...actually sounds much less terrifying than trying to memorize a chart and hoping the sky agrees with it." It was such a Nate solution. Practical. Methodical. Grounded.

She wasn't surprised he'd thought of it. When he mentioned Professor Starling, Iliana laughed softly. "I think she'd happily keep us there until sunrise if someone gave her permission." She'd seen the professor's enthusiasm often enough to know Nate wasn't exaggerating. "I do like her, though." Her smile softened. "It's hard not to enjoy someone who gets that excited about teaching." Then she caught his last comment.

Not that I mind if I'm the one who gets to show you…

A faint blush warmed her cheeks. "There it is again." She tilted her head, a teasing smile returning. "That subtle confidence." Her thumb traced absentmindedly across the back of his hand. "I rather like it." There had always been something quietly attractive about the way Nate never pretended to know everything, but when he did know something, he spoke with calm certainty rather than arrogance. It suited him.

"So..." she mused, "...my tutor expects proper payment, doesn't he?" Her eyes sparkled mischievously. "I should probably find out what your hourly rate is before I accidentally bankrupt myself."