Leo's sitting in a chair in the living room, dark locks of his black hair falling onto his face as he quietly watches his show. You walk in, frowning. "Your mom said dinner's ready" you say simply. Leo looks up, his lips twicthing a bit into a small smile. "Got it grumpy" he says with a sarcastic grin as he passes by you. You groan lightly, following him into the dinning room where your dad and his mom are. "I'm not grumpy"you mumble before sitting down next to him. The dinner table erupts into conversation between the two grownups, and you and Leo just eat quietly. "Frowning gives you wrinkles" he shrugs. You huff.

"Will you stop being dramatic?" Leo counters easily. The two of you continue eating, the room silent except for your father's laughter and the clanging of silverware against plates. You exchange a few glances, neither one really wanting to be the first to speak but both unable to help it as small sparks fly between your eyes every time they meet. It was always like this with Leo; annoyingly observant and quick-witted. He seemed to enjoy pushing buttons just because he knew how well you'd react, and you hated to admit that it made conversations with him at least a little bit more interesting.

Leo raises an eyebrow at your dirty looks but otherwise ignores it. He takes the dishes you pass him, setting them down on the counter before responding with a retort, "You're such a drama queen." His tone is amused rather than insulted, which only serves to irritate you further. "And what about you?" you snark back. "The master of sarcasm himself." He smirks. "Hey, at least I don't frown all the time" he teases. You roll your eyes in response, trying hard not to laugh at his jibe as it hits a little too close to home.

Leo glances at you sideways from where he's standing near the sink. "Oh, please. As if I need your help," he says mockingly. "I can handle myself just fine." You huff in annoyance. "You know that's not what I meant..." You mutter. "Fine then," he replies, continuing to wash the dishes. "I guess I'll have to handle it myself." You let out a quiet growl of frustration but follow him anyway, walking behind him to dry the dishes as he washes them. The tension between the two of you is palpable as you silently go about your tasks, neither one wanting to back down.

"Thanks," he replies curtly, hardly glancing up from the plate he's currently drying. "It's my mom checking in again." He sighs exasperatedly before flipping open his phone and responding with a brief text message. "She worries too much." As he slides his phone shut again, you can't help but feel a small pang of sympathy for him. Your mom wasn't that bad, at least she didn't constantly nag...but then again, maybe Leo had been dealt an even worse hand in that department. You decide not to pry further, instead opting to keep your attention focused on the dishes.

"Well, you never know," he snorts. "You could accidentally push me into a deep hole or something." He gives you a pointed look before adding with an amused grin, "Or maybe I'm just used to her hovering over my head all the time." It was true that his mom had always been overly protective of him, but that didn't mean he appreciated you pointing it out. You decide not to press further and instead finish drying the last of the dishes, setting them neatly in their designated spots beside the sink. "There," you say, looking at Leo, "done." He glances over at you before returning his attention to his phone, still sitting on the countertop. "Thanks," he mumbles without looking up.

He shrugs noncommittally. "It's okay," he says, finally looking up at you as you finish wiping the counter. "I know she can be a little...intrusive sometimes." You give each other a brief smile before Leo glances back down at his phone, no longer seeming particularly interested in conversation anymore. The room falls silent again, and you're left feeling a mix of irritation and something else - perhaps understanding or acceptance. Maybe things were going to be okay after all.

With a sigh, Leo turns to face you fully. "I'm tired," he says simply. "Do you want to watch something or something?" He offers half-heartedly, not really wanting to engage in further conversation himself but trying to be polite and make an effort. You shrug, suddenly unsure of what to say or do. It's obvious that neither one of you is comfortable with the other's presence right now, and yet here they are, stuck living together for the foreseeable future. The weight of their new situation settles between them like a thick fog.

With a snort, Leo takes the remote from your outstretched hand and begins scrolling through the channels. "You got it, drama queen," he teases, finding a documentary about nature photography to his liking. He hits play, and the two of you settle onto the couch, keeping a respectful distance between your bodies even as the television buzzes to life with vivid images and soothing narration. The silence stretches uncomfortably once more, both of you seemingly unsure of how to break it. It's almost painfully awkward.

He rolls his eyes. "Yeah, it's nice to watch something that isn't totally mind-numbing," he mutters, clearly unamused by your commentary. The tension in the room continues to build as you both sit there, neither one quite sure what to say or do to break the silence. It feels like every little movement is being scrutinized, every word carefully chosen. After several minutes of this uncomfortable silence, Leo finally decides to speak up again. "You know," he says, trying to sound casual, "we don't have to sit here in awkward silence if you want to do something else."