The week flew by in a blur of deadlines and late nights. Between classes, wrapping up our final robotics project, and making sure everything was ready for the semester’s end, it felt like I barely had a moment to breathe. The apartment became a revolving door of study sessions with the gang, the sound of keyboards clacking and tools whirring a constant background noise.

Ender, as always, moved effortlessly through it all—cleaning, organizing, keeping everyone fed without a word of complaint. I admired how easily he adapted, always knowing exactly what we needed, but something about the relentless pace of the week left me feeling on edge. I knew we were making progress, and I was proud of our work, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that time was slipping through my fingers, that the moments were running out.

One night, as we were working, I felt myself getting distracted. Tiredness dragged at me, making it hard to focus.

Ender, ever observant, moved to sit beside me. “Are you okay?” he asked quietly, his voice careful.

“Yeah, just… tired,” I mumbled, pretending to refocus on the work in front of me.

He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly as he watched me. His posture shifted. “You are sure there isn’t something more… emotionally complex?” His British accent slipped in with a familiar ease, making my heart skip.

I blinked, caught off guard. “Wait… are you—”

Ender’s lips curved into a small, knowing smile, his gaze sharpening with mock intensity. “Seren, you know I would do anything for you,” he said, his voice low and serious in that Hudson-like way. “But let’s not pretend that makes me a hero.”

Theo snorted, glancing up from his work. “Oh no. He’s back.”

I groaned, my embarrassment flaring as Ender channeled his inner vampire bad boy. “Seriously? Again?”

Ender stepped closer, his voice dropping even lower. “I’m only doing what’s necessary to protect you. But that doesn’t change the fact that I’m still dangerous.”

Gemma raised her hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright, we get it. Ender’s officially gone full vampire heartthrob.”

I couldn’t help but laugh, shaking my head. “Okay, Hudson. Enough.”

Ender’s expression shifted back to his usual calm demeanor, though I caught the faintest glimmer of amusement in his eyes. “As you wish,” he said, his voice returning to normal. “I only wanted to lighten the mood.”

After everyone had left that night, I found myself sprawled out on the couch, completely drained. My laptop sat on the table beside me, emails and to-do lists piling up in my inbox. But all I could think about was sleep.

Ender was cleaning up the remnants of dinner, his movements as precise as ever. He glanced over at me, sensing the exhaustion in my posture.

“You’ve been working too hard, Seren,” he said softly, setting down the last plate.

I sighed, sinking further into the cushions. “I know. But we’re almost done, right? Just a few more days.”

He nodded, his eyes studying me for a moment. “You should rest. Your efficiency will improve with proper sleep.”

I smiled at his straightforward logic, though a part of me wanted to argue. “I will. I just need a minute.”

The apartment was quiet now, the chaos of the day fading into the soft hum of night. It felt strange, having these quiet moments amidst the whirlwind of finishing the project. I was so used to the noise, the constant activity. But when it was just the two of us… it was different. Quieter. More intimate, in a way.

I glanced at Ender, watching him as he moved toward the couch. He didn’t sit, but stood close, his presence steady and calming. And just like that, the thought crept into my mind again—the one that had been lingering all week.

What would it be like if he lay beside me at night? Just… there. Not in any romantic or scandalous way. Just his presence, next to mine. Offering the comfort that only he seemed to bring. I imagined the weight of his hand resting on mine, his form keeping me anchored in the present. But then I remembered—he wasn’t warm. Not yet.

I glanced down at my hands, fidgeting slightly. I didn’t need him to be warm. It was the comfort of knowing he was there. The peace that came from his steady presence. But would it feel strange? Would the coolness of his touch remind me of what he wasn’t? Or would I find solace in the familiarity of it, in knowing that it was still him—still Ender?

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“You’re quiet tonight,” Ender said softly, his voice pulling me from my thoughts. He tilted his head, observing me with that gentle attentiveness I had come to rely on. “Is something on your mind?”

I hesitated, my eyes flicking to his for a moment before I shrugged. “Just thinking about… everything, I guess. The project. School. Life.”

Ender didn’t press, but I could tell he sensed there was more I wasn’t saying. He always seemed to know, even when I wasn’t ready to admit it. His gaze softened, and for a moment, I considered telling him. Telling him about the thoughts I’d been having—about him lying beside me, about the mods that were still looming on the horizon.

But instead, I just sighed. “It’s been a long week. I’m just tired.”

Ender nodded, his expression understanding. “If you would like, I can help you relax. Perhaps a foot massage?”

I laughed softly, shaking my head. “You’re too good to me, you know that?”

He tilted his head slightly. “I simply wish to assist you in any way I can.”

I smiled, the warmth of his words sinking into me. It wasn’t just the physical comfort he offered, but the emotional support too—the quiet, steady reassurance that he was always there, always ready to help, no matter what.

“Maybe I’ll take you up on that,” I said, though my mind was still elsewhere, still lingering on the thought of him lying beside me as I slept.

The mods would change that. He’d be warm. He’d be able to feel more, sense more. But even without them, I wondered if it would still be enough. Would his presence—cool to the touch but still so… him—be enough to quiet my restless thoughts? To keep me grounded in those moments when the world felt too overwhelming?

I closed my eyes, letting out a quiet breath. “Thanks, Ender. I think I’ll just go to bed. But maybe tomorrow, okay?”

Ender nodded, his gaze steady as always. “I’ll be here.”

I slipped off the couch, my body heavy with exhaustion as I made my way toward my room. The apartment felt too quiet now, the busy energy of the day fading into stillness.

But I couldn’t sleep. I tossed and turned, my thoughts refusing to quiet down. The room felt too empty, too still. Even with the soft hum of the apartment around me, the silence seemed heavier than usual. I’d been trying not to think about it—about him—but every time I closed my eyes, the thought crept back in. What would it be like if Ender were here, beside me?

I wasn’t even sure what was holding me back anymore. I trusted him. I felt safe with him. Maybe that was the scariest part—realizing how much I wanted him here. Not just during the day when we were going through the motions of life, but in these quiet, vulnerable moments. I wanted his presence.

Before I could change my mind, I slipped out of bed and padded down the hall, finding him in the kitchen, scrolling through something on his phone. His eyes lifted the moment I stepped into the room, softening when they met mine.

“Seren,” he said quietly. “Is everything alright?”

I hesitated, my heart pounding. “Yeah,” I murmured, though the tightness in my chest betrayed me. “I was just… I was wondering if you’d come lay with me.”

Ender blinked, his eyes flickering as he processed my words. “Lay with you?”

I nodded, suddenly feeling shy. “Yeah, like… just beside me. I think it would help me sleep better if you were there.”

For a moment, he simply stared at me, as if weighing the implications of the request. But then, without hesitation, he nodded. “Yes. I would be happy to.”

Relief flooded through me, and I smiled softly. “Thank you.”

I led him back to my room, the quietness of the apartment making each step feel more deliberate, more significant. As I crawled back into bed, I felt a strange nervousness settle over me. Ender moved with his usual precision, carefully lying down beside me as if he were afraid of disrupting something fragile.

It didn’t feel awkward, though. It felt right. Natural.

For a moment, we lay in silence, the dim light from the street casting faint shadows across the room. I could feel the coolness of his body even through the blanket, a subtle reminder that he wasn’t human. But it wasn’t unpleasant. It was just… different.

Then, without saying a word, Ender shifted, pulling me gently toward him until I was nestled against his chest. I hadn’t expected that, but I didn’t resist either. His arm draped around me, holding me in place, and I found myself relaxing into him.

It was peaceful, almost too peaceful. My mind kept spinning, wondering what it would be like if he were warm—if he could hold me like this and offer the kind of comfort only human heat could bring.

“Seren,” Ender’s voice broke the quiet, his tone soft but steady, “I want to be warm.”

I blinked, glancing up at him in the dim light. “What?”

“For moments like this,” he continued, his voice thoughtful. “Not just for you, but because it would deepen the connection we share. Touch is a form of communication, a way to feel close, and I want to experience that with you.”

I swallowed, his words sinking in. “It’s not about being more human—it’s about understanding the full depth of connection,” he said quietly.

My heart stuttered in my chest. This wasn’t just about him meeting my needs. It was about something deeper—a desire to share a connection that went beyond touch. He wasn’t trying to change who he was, but rather to deepen the bond between us.

“You’re already enough, Ender,” I whispered, my voice thick. “You don’t have to change.”

“I know,” he said softly, his hand resting lightly on my back. “But I want this. I want to experience it with you. To be able to share that warmth, to offer it as a way to connect.”

I closed my eyes, the tension in my chest easing as I rested my head against him. “I understand.”

We lay there in silence for a while, his cool presence grounding me. Even without the warmth of a human body, I felt safe—more than safe, I felt seen. It’s not about needing him to be different. It was about his own desire to bridge the gap between us, to experience a closeness that went beyond function, that carried weight simply because it mattered to him.

As my eyes fluttered shut, I realized that no matter what happened with the mods, Ender was already offering me something I hadn’t even known I was missing—his willingness to reach for something more, not because I needed it, but because he wanted it too.

“I’ll be here,” he whispered, his voice like a steady heartbeat beneath the cool exterior. “In whatever way you need—even if that means just like this.”

As I drifted into sleep, wrapped in his quiet presence, I realized that warmth wasn’t about heat alone. It was the comfort of knowing he was here, that I didn’t have to face anything alone. And for now, that was more than enough.