Ayisha sat on the couch, Sunny curled against her side, his warmth steady and familiar.
Simon stopped when he saw her. She was smiling softly, to herself. It wasn't big or performative. Just there.
Sunny's tail thumped when Simon reached down to scratch behind his ear. Simon took the seat beside Ayisha, close enough to feel her presence, careful enough to leave space.
She glanced up, caught his eyes, then looked away.
He stayed quiet, heart beating faster than it should have, searching for something ordinary to say anything that wouldn't sound like too much.
Sunny shifted, nails clicking lightly against the floor before settling again.
Simon leaned down, absently petting his dog.
Ayisha looked up once more and offered a small smile.
He returned it, still rubbing Sunny's ear, then cleared his throat.
"Are you going to work?"
"I'm too drained," she murmured.
"Then… what do you want to do?" he asked. His fingers tapped against his knee, restless, almost boyish.
"Let's watch movies."
Simon's face lit up before he could stop it. "Sure." He reached for the remote. "Horror, drama, action, fantasy, romance?"
"Horror."
He paused. "What kind?"
She chuckled. "Anything. Just pick."
He did.
Ayisha settled deeper into the couch, Sunny still sprawled across her lap. Simon stretched one arm along the backrest, stopping short of touching her.
The movie opened on a woman walking alone, phone pressed to her ear, the alley dark and narrow—
A sudden stab. A sharp sound.
Ayisha flinched, then laughed under her breath.
Simon laughed with her.
She focused on the screen. Simon didn't.
The glow from the television traced her profile, eyes intent, lips barely curved. Her hand moved slowly through Sunny's fur, gentle, repetitive, grounding. The movie screamed, tension rising, but Simon didn't react.
He was too busy watching her.
The movie grew louder, darker. Music swelled at all the wrong moments, silence stretching before every jump scare. On screen, shadows crept closer, footsteps echoed too slowly.
Ayisha stiffened when another sudden noise cracked through the speakers. This time she didn't laugh right away. Her fingers curled slightly into Sunny's fur.
Simon noticed.
Without looking at her directly, he shifted just a little close enough that their shoulders brushed. Not enough to startle her. Just enough to be there.
She didn't pull away.
Sunny lifted his head, sensing the change, then let out a small huff before settling again, his weight anchoring them both.
Ayisha exhaled. "This is stupid," she muttered, eyes still on the screen. "I watch horror all the time."
"Doesn't mean you have to like every part of it," Simon said quietly.
Another scream burst from the television. Ayisha flinched again, this time leaning back instinctively. Her shoulder pressed fully into his arm.
Simon froze for half a second.
Then he relaxed, letting it happen.
He could feel her warmth through the thin fabric of her shirt, the slight rise and fall of her breathing. His arm stayed draped along the back of the couch, unmoving, giving her space to pull away if she wanted.
She didn't.
Instead, she whispered, almost embarrassed, "Don't make fun of me."
"I wouldn't dare," he replied, just as softly.
She smiled at that small, fleeting but it stayed.
The movie continued, but the fear dulled. The jump scares came and went, predictable now. Ayisha's grip on Sunny loosened. Her breathing evened out.
Minutes passed.
Her head tilted slightly, resting against the couch then, barely noticeable, against his shoulder.
Simon swallowed.
He didn't move.
If he did, he might ruin it.