MASTERPIECE OF RUIN

The air between them was thick with unspoken words, an invisible thread pulling them together yet keeping them just far enough apart. The streetlights flickered above, casting long shadows on the pavement as Lavinia and Lucien walked side by side, the silence stretching between them-not awkward, but charged, as if the night itself was holding its breath.
His hands were tucked into the pockets of his coat, his usual unreadable expression in place, but there was something softer in the way he glanced at her from the corner of his eye. Lavinia felt it-an awareness, a presence that lingered even in the quiet. She had never known him well, never had a reason to, yet here he was, walking her home as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

"You're quieter than usual," He finally spoke, his voice smooth, carrying a note of curiosity rather than concern.

Lavinia let out a dry laugh. "I'm always quiet."

His lips twitched, almost like he wanted to smile but thought better of it. "Not in your head."

That made her pause. "How would you know?"

He tilted his head slightly, his blue eyes meeting hers with an intensity that sent an unexpected shiver down her spine. "You think too loudly," he murmured.

She swallowed, unsure of how to respond to that. He wasn't wrong-her thoughts were a storm that never seemed to settle. But how had he noticed?

They reached her house too soon. The porch light cast a warm glow, a sharp contrast to the cool night air. Lavinia hesitated at the steps, turning to face him. "Thanks for walking me home."

Lucien shrugged, but there was something deliberate in the way he lingered. "It was dangerous to leave you alone."

A small, wry smile played at her lips. "You say that like I'm fragile. Aren't you the danger?"

His gaze flickered downward for the briefest moment before returning to hers, something unreadable flashing through them. "No," he said, quieter this time. "Not fragile. Just... worth looking out for."