The evening was winding down, and the twins had just finished raiding the kitchen for snacks. With their energetic chatter filling the air, they casually suggested, "How about a movie night? We're staying over for the day, might as well make it chill."
Erin had to admit she wasn't exactly opposed to the idea, but the thought of being stuck on the same couch as Xander… well, that was another thing entirely. As Xander settled into one end of the couch, the twins, ever playful, slid into the other end, leaving her no choice but to sit in the middle next to Xander. She shot a brief, amused look his way. He didn't say anything, though the slight tension in his shoulders made it clear he wasn't thrilled by the arrangement either.
"You know," Erin said, leaning slightly away from Xander, "I thought this was supposed to be a chill night."
Xander shot her a sidelong glance. "Don't get too comfortable. I'm not the one who agreed to this."
The movie started, and the twins immediately began making sarcastic commentary. The film was one of those ridiculous, over-the-top action flicks—the kind that only existed to be laughed at. Erin couldn't help but roll her eyes as the lead hero dramatically leapt across a building.
"Really? They expect me to believe he could jump that far?" one twin muttered.
The other twin laughed. "It's a movie, man. Anything's possible."
Erin, trying to get into the spirit of things, added her own commentary. "Sure, like this plot was written by a toddler with a toy gun."
Xander, who had been pretending to ignore the entire situation, finally huffed. "Could you all keep it down?"
"You're just mad because you like it," one of the twins teased, nudging him with his elbow. "You're not fooling anyone, big brother."
Xander's face tightened slightly, though his lips quirked upward. "I'm not mad. Just… distracted."
Erin could tell he wasn't as annoyed as he tried to seem. He was trying to stay composed, but the more sarcastic commentary they threw out, the more he relaxed into it, occasionally stifling a laugh.
"So," the twin sitting next to Erin said, "You've been acting different big brother." His grin was playful, but his words were pointed.
"Define different."
"I dunno… like softer. Especially when she's around."
Xander's eyes snapped to the twin, narrowing in warning. It was a look Erin recognized. A subtle threat without being overt.
Erin raised an eyebrow. She hadn't expected Xander to react that way, but then again, she was starting to realize just how protective he could be—of himself, of others, of things he didn't always show.
The movie rambled on, completely lost to the background as the playful teasing continued. Erin felt the distance between herself and Xander lessen slightly. The awkwardness was still there, but it wasn't as sharp anymore. Instead, it was replaced with… something else. A shift she couldn't quite name.
As the final credits rolled, the twins started stretching, ready to call it a night.
"Thanks for the movie, Erin," one of the twins said, his tone light as he stood up. "We'll take it from here."
The twins disappeared to their rooms, leaving Erin and Xander alone in the living room. The silence that followed felt thick, comfortable, but still slightly unfamiliar.
Erin, still sitting on the couch, took a deep breath. She glanced around and noticed the mess of popcorn scattered across the floor. She'd gotten lost in the movie and the banter to the point of not realizing how much of it had ended up in her lap.
She was halfway through cleaning it up when a voice from behind startled her.
"You need help?"
Erin turned around to see Xander standing there, his arms crossed, his usual calm demeanor a little softer than usual.
She paused, blinking in surprise. "You want to help?"
"Is it so hard to believe?"
"Honestly, a little.
Xander moved forward without a second thought, kneeling beside her and picking up the scattered pieces of popcorn with a quiet precision. Erin watched him for a moment, uncertain about why he was offering to help—he'd never been particularly interested in doing anything that wasn't strictly necessary. Yet here he was, helping her clean up after the movie.
The atmosphere had shifted from earlier, from the playful teasing and the joking to something quieter, something more… intimate. Neither of them spoke as they worked together, the sound of their movements and the occasional soft rustling of popcorn the only noise in the room.
Once the mess was cleaned up, Erin stood up, stretching slightly. She met Xander's eyes, and for a brief moment, there was a shared understanding between them. Something unspoken but clearly present.
She smiled lightly, unsure of what to say or how to feel. "Thanks," she muttered. It felt too simple for what was happening, but it was all she had.
Xander nodded, his gaze lingering on her just a little longer than necessary. His voice was quiet when he spoke again. "No problem."
She opened her mouth to say something else but stopped herself. There was so much to say—about the past, about their situation, about what was shifting between them—but for the first time, words didn't feel necessary. It was there, in the silence, the look they exchanged.
Erin didn't know what it was, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed. Something had deepened.
"Why are you always like this?" Xander asked out of the blue.
"Like what?"
"You're unpredictable."
"And that's… a problem?"
"No… it's not."
She cleared her throat and stepped back, turning toward the hallway. "I'll, uh, get some water. I'm calling it a night."
Xander didn't say anything, just watched her go. But when she glanced back over her shoulder, she saw that look again—the one she couldn't quite decipher, but that made her heart skip a beat.
And for a moment, the world seemed a little quieter. A little smaller. As if something had been shifted in place, and they were both left to figure out what came next.