Neo's pov,
The first thing I felt today when waking up was pure joy the sunlight warm, soft stretching through the curtains like it had been waiting all night just for him. He blinked again, eyes stinging from how long he'd slept, his alarm had stopped ringing hours ago. For once he didn't care.
The house was quiet, mom should have gone to work already. Pia's muffled voice came from the kitchen how usual morning playlist blasting in the background, for a second neo layed still listening to the clatter of mugs, her off key humming and something in him eased,maybe it was the exhaustion finally catching up to him or maybe it was the relief of knowing he didn't have to walk into that office today, whatever it was, The silence didn't feel heavy anymore it felt healing.
"Are you going to stare at the ceiling all morning" pia called from the kitchen, how did she know? Neo groaned dragging himself out of the bed "I was hoping you'd think I was dead" "not until you pay the debts you owe me" she said voice sing song like, he cracked a small smile as he shuffled to the bathroom hot water hit his face and for the first time in days he didn't flinch, he didn't feel like someone being watched just tired. And human.
By the time he left the house pia was leaning by the door with the cup of juice "so? the office boy finally returns to school" she teased arching a brow "you should also do the same you're going to be late don't think I won't tell Mom" "okay....okay bye already" she said walking up the stairs.
The campus was alive again the charter of students, the smell of coffee and dust the faint bit of music from someone speaker echoing of the hallway walls, neo inhaled it all a smile tugging at his lips. normal. God he missed this.
He spotted Aiden before Aiden spotted him, bright hoodie, sunglasses and a grin that could light up the whole courtyard "look who decided to bless campus with his office aura" Aiden said loudly making a few heads turn neo laughed despite himself "you're so dramatic" "and you are late, I already ordered coffee you're paying".
They sat beneath their usual tree the one with carvings from students who had long gone. Neo didn't realize how much he needed this until now, the noise, the chaos. The way Aiden talked nonstop like the world was fine again.
"so?" Aiden asked leaning forward "spill, you've been MIA for tdays, what happened" neo hesitated fingers tracing the edge of his cup, then he told him everything the man at the office the confrontation,lucas's voice through the phone the message that chilled him.
Aiden blinked slowly then whistled "so basically your office turned into episode of narcos and you didn't call me?" Neo frowned "it wasn't funny Aiden" "no I'm serious you're working for James Bond bro".
Neo chuckled softly shaking his head "you are ridiculous" "I'm the one who got kidnapped remember I think that qualifies me more as your emotional comic relief" Neo's laugh faded a little and his gaze drifted across the courtyard, to the edge of the buildings the tall trees beyond, his chest tightened.
Lucas.
He wondered if Lucas had rested too, if he was safe wherever he'd gone, the way his voice sounded on the phone low, calm but carrying that hidden exhaustion replayed in his head, he shouldn't care this much but he did and that scared him a little.Aiden's voice snapped him out of it "bro are you even listening" neo blinked "sorry what?" "I said" Aiden drawled a smirk forming "I think I'm in love" ne groaned "with what your reflection again?" "no with that kidnapper dude Kellan"
"Oh so you know his name?" "you know him?" "yes I do" "link me up with him please" Neo nearly choked on his drink "you're insane" "maybe but have you seen that jawline up close I saw death and thought worth it" Neo's laughter broke through the quiet campus air loud enough that a few people turned, Aiden winked "see I'm still the best part of your life".
By the time classes ended the sky was melting into Orange and gold. Neo walked home with his backpack slung over one shoulder in hand, after waving Aiden goodbye mind finally quiet. He got home dropped his bag and collapsed on the couch the apartment smelled like Pia's cooking spicy, warm, comforting no messages no, calls, just silence, just peace.
Later on that evening new exhaled a thumb hovering over his screen ready to turn it off for the night when a new notification appeared
unknown: nice day at school today neo
His blood ran cold.
Nei hesitated for a second before pressing "send" the screenshot of the message glowed on his screen for a few seconds before the three dots appeared Lucas was typing
"stay where you are I'll check the system logs don't open anything suspicious"
neo exhaleed slowly he's fingers hovering over the keyboard his thumb hesitated before typing back
"are you okay"
there was a long pause then came the reply short yet warmer than he expected
"your worrying about me?"
Neo's lips twitched slightly you are one to talk he almost typed back but instead settled for
"I just want to make sure you're okay" another pause then Lucas sent
"I'm fine you did good yesterday neo" something about the way Lucas said neo not kid, not boy, not assistant made his stomach twist slightly,he read the last message again and again before finally setting the phone down his heart was still racing but it wasn't from fear this time
"what are you doing neo?"
he said before sleeping into Paradise