Unscripted Ties

Unexpected Encounters

Fourth stood outside Gemini's apartment, Leo balanced on his hip, a small overnight bag slung over his shoulder. It had been a long day, and the press tour had taken more out of him than he expected. He had planned to drop Leo off with Gemini and head straight to a meeting with his manager to discuss the upcoming concert logistics. The last thing he needed was any surprises.

He knocked on the door, expecting to see Gemini's familiar grin when it swung open. But instead, it was Prim who answered. Her wide smile and perfectly styled hair took Fourth by surprise. She was dressed casually but still managed to look camera-ready, her demeanor as confident as ever. Fourth's heart sank at the sight of her.

"Fourth, hi!" Prim said, her voice a little too cheerful, her eyes widening slightly in recognition. "Oh my gosh, is this little Leo?" She gave the boy an exaggerated grin, which Leo returned with a curious stare.

"Yeah," Fourth replied, his voice tight as he tried to keep his surprise—and irritation—in check. He shifted his grip on Leo, who was already wriggling, eager to get down. "I didn't know you were here."

Prim gave a small, awkward laugh and opened the door wider to let them in. "Oh, Gemini didn't mention? He's just taking a shower. He'll be out in a few minutes. Come on in."

Fourth hesitated for a split second before stepping inside. He knew there was no reason to feel this sudden flare of insecurity, but seeing Prim there—so comfortable in Gemini's space—stirred up something uncomfortable in him. She and Gemini had co-starred in one of his straight series while Fourth was on his hiatus, and the rumors about their off-screen chemistry had circulated for months. It was the kind of buzz that he had tried not to think about, that he'd convinced himself didn't matter.

He walked over to the living room, setting Leo down on the floor. The little boy immediately made a beeline for his favorite toy car that Gemini always kept out for him, chattering nonsense as he rolled it back and forth.

Prim took a seat on the couch, gesturing for Fourth to join her. He sat down stiffly on the edge, the air between them growing awkward. She glanced at Leo, her smile warm but her eyes flicking back to Fourth with a hint of something else—sympathy, maybe, or was it curiosity?

"So, Leo's adorable," Prim said, her voice softer now, as if she was trying to break the ice. "I had no idea you and Gemini were so close off-screen."

Fourth forced a smile, nodding politely. "Yeah, we've been friends for a long time," he said simply, his eyes never leaving Leo as the boy played, trying to avoid meeting Prim's gaze.

There was a tense silence after that, the kind that made every second feel like an hour. Prim fidgeted a little, as if unsure of what to say next. She opened her mouth, probably to make another attempt at small talk, but just then, the bedroom door opened, and Gemini stepped out.

He was still drying his hair with a towel, dressed in a loose T-shirt and sweatpants, and the moment he saw Fourth sitting there with Prim, he froze for just a second—just long enough for Fourth to notice the flicker of guilt that crossed his face. It was quick, almost too quick, but Fourth caught it.

"Hey!" Gemini said, his voice overly bright as he tossed the towel aside and approached them. He tried to keep his tone casual, but there was an edge to his smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Sorry, I didn't hear you come in. I just got out of the shower."

Leo's face lit up as soon as he saw Gemini, and he abandoned his toy car, running to his father with his little arms raised. Gemini scooped him up with an ease that was both playful and tender, pressing a kiss to Leo's forehead. "There's my little guy! Did you miss me, huh?"

Fourth watched them, his face carefully neutral, but the tension in his jaw was unmistakable. "I've got a meeting to get to," he said shortly, his tone clipped. "Leo's already had his dinner, but he'll need a bottle before bed. His blanket's in the bag, and make sure he gets his bunny before he sleeps. He's been a bit fussy lately, so try to settle him early."

Gemini nodded, but he looked a little thrown, almost like he wasn't sure how to react to the coolness in Fourth's voice. He opened his mouth as if to say something, then stopped himself. Instead, he gave Leo a small bounce, making the little boy giggle, but his eyes were on Fourth, searching.

"Got it," Gemini said softly, his voice gentler now, more serious. "I'll take good care of him, don't worry. You go do what you need to do."

Fourth didn't respond right away. He just nodded once, his gaze lingering on Leo for a moment longer before finally meeting Gemini's eyes. There was something unspoken in that look—something like disappointment, or maybe even hurt—but he didn't let it show for more than a second.

"Okay," Fourth said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'll be back to pick him up tomorrow morning."

Gemini's smile faltered slightly, but he forced it back up, trying to keep the mood light. "See you tomorrow then," he said, though there was a hint of something almost pleading in his eyes, like he wanted to say more, to explain.

But Fourth didn't give him the chance. With one last glance at Leo, he turned on his heel and headed for the door, his footsteps echoing in the silence that seemed to stretch far too long. Prim stood up, looking a little lost, as if she was unsure whether to stay or leave, but she shot Gemini a questioning look.

Once the door closed behind Fourth, Gemini let out a slow breath, his shoulders slumping slightly. He set Leo back down, and the little boy immediately went back to his toy car, blissfully unaware of the tension that had filled the room.

"You okay?" Prim asked softly, her voice careful as she watched Gemini's face.

"Yeah," Gemini replied, but the smile he gave her was strained. "I just—I didn't expect him to come by right now. Timing's a bit off, I guess."

Prim looked like she wanted to say more, to ask about the awkward exchange she'd just witnessed, but she seemed to think better of it. Instead, she gave Gemini a small nod and a sympathetic smile. "I'll get going then. Thanks for today, Gem."

"Yeah, thanks for stopping by," Gemini said, his voice distant now, his mind clearly elsewhere.

After Prim left, Gemini leaned against the wall, running a hand through his damp hair in frustration. He looked down at Leo, who was still happily playing on the floor, completely unaware of the complexities in his parents' world.

He knew he'd have to talk to Fourth—really talk to him. But right now, all he could do was focus on the one thing he was certain of: Leo. He picked up his son again, holding him close, the little boy snuggling into his arms.

"We're okay, aren't we, buddy?" Gemini murmured softly, pressing a kiss to Leo's temple. "It's just a bump in the road. We'll figure this out."

But as he stood there, holding Leo close, the weight of the situation settled heavily on his shoulders. He couldn't shake the image of Fourth's expression—the disappointment in his eyes, the quiet hurt that he hadn't been able to mask completely.

And for the first time in a long time, Gemini felt like he was losing his grip on the one thing that mattered most to him.