Between Us, Always

Jun's POV

The ride home was a quiet one, the kind that wrapped itself in a thick layer of tension that none of us could shake. Even the drive back to the apartment felt longer than it should've been. It wasn't like the usual banter we shared on the way home after practice—today, everyone was too deep in their own thoughts, and I couldn't blame them. I'd tried to keep my distance from Dylan, but it was hard. Seeing him like that, so closed off and hurting, just made it impossible not to want to reach out. But I also knew he wasn't ready to talk, wasn't ready to let anyone in. 

When we finally made it back, I could tell everyone was ready to just crash. I offered to sleep over in Dylan's room so I could look after him. But before any of us could say anything else, Dylan spoke up, breaking the silence that had settled like a heavy blanket around us.

"Hey, Nano," Dylan said softly, his voice just a little too quiet, too careful. I could feel the words hanging in the air before they left his mouth. "Would you mind... staying in my room tonight? I just—I think I need someone. Not... not that I don't want Jun there, but... I think I'd be better with you tonight."

I froze. My offer to stay with him had been a reflex, just a natural desire to be there for him. But hearing him ask for Nano instead? It stung. It shouldn't have—it wasn't anything personal—but it still made a dull ache settle in my chest.

Nano didn't hesitate, his smile soft and reassuring as always. "Of course, Dylan. I'll stay with you." He turned toward me with a quick glance, his expression apologetic, but it was clear Dylan had already made his decision. I didn't know if Nano saw it in my eyes, the disappointment, or if he simply understood that Dylan needed him tonight.

I nodded slowly, forcing a smile onto my face. "Yeah, sure. No problem." My voice sounded a little more strained than I intended, but I wasn't sure how to make it sound any other way.

As Nano and Dylan made their way to Dylan's room, I stood frozen in the doorway for a moment, watching them walk down the hallway. The silence in the apartment felt louder now, like a constant reminder of how I was feeling.

Thame and Per, who had been quietly observing, exchanged a glance. Thame seemed to understand, and Per, with his usual soft empathy, just gave me a look that said everything without a word.

"Don't overthink it, Jun," Thame said quietly. "He'll come to you when he's ready."

I wanted to snap back with something witty, like I usually would, but the words didn't come. Instead, I just nodded.

"Yeah... I know."

I could hear Nano and Dylan's voices from down the hall, but I couldn't quite make out the words. It wasn't that I was intentionally eavesdropping—it was just hard not to hear everything when the apartment was this quiet. I turned my attention back to the couch, staring at the empty space where Nano had been sitting.

I had to admit to myself that it wasn't just about Dylan needing Nano tonight. It was about something I hadn't been able to place until now—the way things between Dylan and me were shifting, the distance growing even when we were in the same room. I thought I was fine, that I could give him the space he needed. But now, as I watched him lean on Nano and not me, it felt like I was being left behind in ways I hadn't fully realized.

I let out a sigh, shaking my head to clear the thoughts swirling around in my mind. The night wasn't about me. It wasn't about my feelings or my confusion. It was about Dylan, about him healing and finding his way back to himself. And if Nano was the one he needed tonight, then that's what I would give him.

But it didn't stop the ache.

Nano's POV

I quietly followed Dylan into his room, trying to keep the mood light, as I always did. But tonight felt different. There was a heaviness in the air that neither of us could ignore, no matter how much we tried to act like everything was fine. Dylan had seemed withdrawn all day, and I knew it wasn't just the accident. It was something else—something deeper.

"Want to talk about it?" I asked softly, setting my bag down by the door and turning to face him.

Dylan hesitated, his fingers twitching at the edge of his blanket. I could tell he was debating whether to open up or just let the silence carry on between us. After a long pause, he finally let out a shaky breath and met my eyes, his expression more vulnerable than I'd ever seen it.

"I don't know, Nano... " His voice cracked slightly, but he quickly recovered, trying to play it cool. But I could see the cracks beneath the surface. I could see him struggling to keep it all together.

"You don't have to keep up with anything, Dylan. Just take it one step at a time," I said, sitting down next to him on the bed. I kept my voice steady, calm—just what he needed, even if I felt like I was barely holding it together myself.

Dylan rubbed the back of his neck, his gaze dropping to the floor. "It's not that simple. It's Jun..." He said it like it was some kind of secret, like the words were heavier than they should've been.

At that, my heart skipped. I'd suspected it for a while, but hearing him say it out loud made it all too real.

"Jun?" I asked, keeping my tone light but not able to hide the curiosity from my voice. "What about him?"

Dylan let out a long sigh and leaned back against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest like he was trying to shield himself from the truth. "I don't know how it happened, Nano. I really don't. But I think... I think I'm falling for him."

I blinked, surprised by his confession. I always knew Dylan cared about Jun—hell, I'd seen the way they'd grown closer over time. But hearing him admit it out loud, especially after everything that had been going on between us, made it feel like the air had been knocked out of my lungs. It wasn't that I didn't want Dylan to be happy, it wasn't that I didn't think Jun deserved his feelings in return—but something about the timing just felt all wrong.

"I... I don't know what to do about it," Dylan continued, running his hand through his hair in frustration. "Every time I try to talk to him, it's like... it's like there's this distance between us now. I'm scared I've messed it all up by pushing him away."

I swallowed hard, my own thoughts and emotions a jumbled mess in my chest. I wanted to say something to help him, to fix it, but it wasn't that simple. It was never that simple with Dylan. His heart had always been complicated, and now, it seemed even more tangled up than before.

"You haven't messed anything up, Dylan," I said quietly. "You're just... you're just scared. I get it." I leaned forward, placing a hand on his shoulder. "But you can't run away from this. You've got to talk to him. Tell him what you're feeling, before it's too late."

Dylan let out a soft laugh, but it didn't reach his eyes. "You think I can just tell him? You think he'll just understand? After everything?"

I paused, my own heart tightening. I wanted to say yes, to tell him that it would all work out in the end, that Jun would understand. But the truth was, I wasn't sure. I wasn't sure about anything right now. What I did know was that Dylan was hurting, and that I was here for him, even if it was hard to admit that it was starting to feel like I was holding onto something that wasn't meant to be mine.

"Just be honest with him," I said, the words coming out more firmly than I expected. "And don't run from this, Dylan. You owe it to yourself to see where it goes."

Dylan's eyes flickered, his gaze softening as he looked at me. "You really think that?"

I nodded, offering a small smile, though it didn't quite reach my eyes. "Yeah. I do."

He seemed to think about it for a long moment before sighing deeply, his shoulders slumping in exhaustion. "I don't know how to fix this, Nano. I don't even know if I can."

"You don't have to fix it right away," I said, my voice gentler now. "Just... just take it slow. Take it one step at a time, okay?"

He gave a small, grateful smile, his eyes a little less burdened than before. "Thanks, Nano. I really needed to hear that."

I gave his shoulder a final pat before standing up. "Anytime, man. Anytime."