The elevator chimed softly as it stopped at Knox's floor. The hallway, typically quiet except for Knoa's occasional giggles, felt unusually still.
Shawn stepped out, clutching a small bag of groceries Knox had asked him to bring. He was sick and grounded by his husband after a fight broke out between them and Athan, so now, Shawn does the shopping for them.
He reached the apartment door and raised his hand to press the doorbell, but just as he did, it opened from the inside.
Athan stood there, to Shawn's surprise. He made sure to ask his uncle if Athan would visit or not, and timed his visits to days he wasn't visiting, so he was taken aback.
Their eyes locked, and time felt like it folded in on itself. Not in a grand, romantic way—but in that breathless, hollow kind of silence that said everything neither of them had the courage to voice.
"Hey," Athan said, stepping aside politely. "You came by."
Shawn gave a small nod, avoiding his gaze. "Just dropping this off."
