The smell of pizza wafted through the house as Jake unpacked the boxes in the living room. Rachel set up a stack of board games, while Marcus fiddled with the TV to get Mario Kart ready. The atmosphere was warm, filled with the sound of playful banter.
Aura stood outside Leo's door, the pizza box balanced on her hip. She knocked lightly. "Leo? We're having a game night. Thought you might want to join."
No response. She tried again. "It's your favorite - pepperoni with extra cheese. I'll even let you beat me at Mario Kart."
Still nothing.
She sighed, leaning her forehead against the door for a moment before deciding on a new tactic. "You know Rachel's here, right? She's convinced she can finally beat you at Settlers of Catan. Should I tell her she doesn't stand a chance?"
The door creaked open, just a fraction. Leo stood there, his hair disheveled, his face drawn and pale. His eyes flickered with faint curiosity, though his expression was guarded.
"She still thinks she can win?" he muttered, his voice hoarse from disuse.
Aura smiled, a wave of relief washing over her. "She's delusional, honestly."
Leo hesitated for a long moment before stepping out. His movements were slow, like someone testing the water before jumping in. Aura didn't comment, didn't push. She simply led the way to the living room, keeping her steps light.
When Leo entered the room, the chatter stilled for a moment. Rachel and Jake exchanged a glance, their smiles softening as they greeted him like no time had passed. "Finally!" Jake exclaimed, tossing Leo a controller. "We were about to start without you."
Leo sat on the edge of the couch, his body tense. At first, he barely participated, his hands clumsy on the controller. But as the game progressed, something shifted. Jake's terrible jokes and Rachel's exaggerated frustrations slowly chipped away at his defenses. By the second round of Mario Kart, Leo was leaning forward, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
Aura watched from the corner of the room, her heart swelling. It wasn't much, but it was something.
The night ended quietly. As the group packed up, Leo slipped back into his room without a word. Aura found herself standing outside his door again, pizza box in hand.
"Thanks for coming out," she said softly. "It was good to see you."
There was no reply, but she didn't need one. The mere fact that he'd shown up was enough.