Callen pushed open the front door and stepped aside to let Nell in. She hesitated for a second before stepping over the threshold, her eyes immediately scanning the space.
"…Huh."
He smirked. "Something wrong?"
She turned in a slow circle, taking in the sparsely furnished room. A couch, a chair, a small dining table—functional but impersonal. The walls were mostly bare, and there was an almost unsettling lack of decoration.
"No offense, but… do you actually live here?" she asked, setting her bag down.
Callen chuckled. "Depends on your definition of 'live.'"
She shot him a look. "It's like a safe house, Callen. I knew you kept things minimal, but this is next-level."
"I don't like clutter," he said with a shrug. "And I don't need much."
Nell wandered over to the bookshelf, one of the few personal touches in the house. She trailed her fingers along the spines of well-worn books, spotting several in different languages. "At least I know you do read."
"Shocking, I know."
She turned, hands on her hips. "Okay, so where am I sleeping?"
Callen gestured toward the hallway. "Guest room's down there. There's a bed, a closet, and a lamp. Should be all you need."
She gave him a skeptical look but nodded. "Alright. And food? Because I don't trust whatever is—or isn't—in your fridge."
Callen smirked. "Smart. How do you feel about Thai?"
"Love it."
He grabbed his phone, already pulling up his usual spot. "Great. I'll order."
As they waited for the food, Nell settled onto the couch, and Callen took the chair across from her. The conversation flowed easily—talk about work, past cases, even a few stories from their childhoods. She found herself relaxing in a way she hadn't expected.
When dinner arrived, they set the containers on the small dining table and dug in.
At one point, Nell paused, looking at him curiously. "You know… I don't think we've ever actually had a meal together, just the two of us."
Callen frowned slightly, thinking. "That can't be right."
"Think about it." She gestured with her chopsticks. "We've had drinks with the team, lunch at our desks during case briefings, but an actual sit-down meal? Just us? This is a first."
Callen tilted his head, considering it. "Huh. Guess you're right."
She smirked. "Milestone moment. Should we toast?"
He held up his water bottle. "To your cockroach-infested apartment."
She laughed, clinking her glass against his.
They continued eating, the conversation shifting naturally between teasing banter and more serious topics. At some point, Callen found himself just watching her, taking in how easily she fit into his space.
After dinner, Nell stretched with a yawn. "Alright, I'm gonna turn in. Thanks again for letting me crash here."
Callen nodded. "No problem. If you need anything, just knock."
She smirked. "Like if I wake up at three AM and find you lurking in the kitchen?"
He chuckled. "Exactly."
With one last amused glance, she disappeared down the hallway. Callen stayed at the table for a moment, listening as her footsteps faded into the guest room.
A small smile tugged at his lips.
This was going to be an interesting few days.