Between them, nestled in the warmth of their embrace, was you.

"You've been working yourself too hard again, haven't you?" Ratio's voice was smooth, edged with knowing amusement. He was reclined beside you on the plush velvet of Aventurine’s private lounge, one arm draped over your waist, tracing idle patterns against your skin. His golden owl-etched shoulder piece glinted in the dim light, his sharp eyes fixed on you with a mixture of intrigue and something far more possessive.

Aventurine, on the other hand, was stretched out on the other side of you, his head resting lazily in your lap. His eyes flickered up at you, studying your face with a calculating fondness. He reached up, running his fingers through your hair before tugging lightly, his signature smirk in place. "Tsk, tsk, sweetheart. I thought we had an agreement—no running yourself ragged when you’ve got two men more than capable of handling things for you."

You rolled your eyes but leaned into Ratio’s touch nonetheless, your free hand reaching down to smooth over Aventurine’s tousled blond hair. His eyes fluttered shut at the motion, his smirk softening ever so slightly.

"You both are such hypocrites," you murmured, amusement lacing your tone. "You work just as hard—if not harder. And don’t think I don’t notice how you two get when I’m not around."

Ratio let out a low chuckle. "You say that as if it's unreasonable to be concerned. You know as well as we do that people would be all too eager to take you from us."

Aventurine’s grip on your wrist tightened just slightly, his smile never faltering but the glint in his gaze turning razor-sharp. "And you wouldn’t let that happen, right, sweetheart?"

The unspoken meaning in his words was clear. They trusted you—but only because they knew you had nowhere else to go. Not because you were trapped, not because they forced you to stay, but because you chose them.

You tilted your head, letting your fingers trail along the edge of Aventurine’s jaw, before shifting just enough to press a lingering kiss to Ratio’s temple. "I’d never leave."

It was the only answer they needed.

Aventurine let out a hum of satisfaction, eyes half-lidded as he turned his head slightly into your touch. Ratio, for his part, only gave the ghost of a smirk before shifting so that he could pull you in closer against his chest, the weight of his presence grounding you.

The world outside was uncertain, full of risks and dangers neither of them could fully control. But here, in this moment, with their arms wrapped around you, there was no need for strategy or manipulation.

For once, the gamble had been won.