The apartment felt heavier than usual. The silence after Zenith left wasn't peaceful—it was thick with worry.
Aiven sat on the couch, hugging his knees, trying to calm the tremble in his hands. Draven leaned against the window frame, arms crossed, scanning the street like a hawk.
"I can't stop thinking about all of this," Aiven whispered. "Fans, Velric, Raze… everything feels like it's closing in."
Draven's gaze softened slightly, but his tone stayed sharp. "We'll handle it. You, me… and Raze. Nobody's going to hurt you."
Aiven glanced up, meeting Draven's eyes. For a fleeting second, he caught a glimmer of something more than just concern—protectiveness, maybe even a hint of… tension. He quickly looked away, shaking his head. No. That's not what this is.
---
Outside, Zenith paced silently. His phone buzzed, but he ignored it. His mind was restless, replaying every small detail of Draven's behavior today—the teasing, the way Draven defended Aiven, even how stubborn he was.
Stay focused, Zenith told himself. Raze. The group. Protect them. Nothing else matters.
And yet… the pull toward Draven lingered. Something unspoken, dangerous, and thrilling. He shoved the thought aside. Not now. Not yet.
---
Back inside, Raze had returned quietly, checking on Aiven without making a scene. He knelt beside him, voice low.
"I know Velric's pressure is getting worse," Raze said. "We have to stay careful, but I promise… I won't let anything happen to you. Not to us."
Aiven blinked, his chest tightening. "I just want… normal. Just a little bit of normal."
Raze smiled gently, brushing a strand of hair from his face. "Normal isn't our kind of life… but I'll do everything to make it safe. For you."
Draven stood silently behind them, arms crossed, nodding slightly. "We'll figure this out. Together. Don't worry."
His words were calm, but the tension in his stance didn't escape Aiven. There was something unspoken between him and Draven, a spark that hadn't yet ignited into anything more.
Zenith's presence, though absent, still lingered in Aiven's thoughts. Draven couldn't help noticing Zenith's influence too—the way he hovered in the background, protective but distant, keeping his distance from everything that might expose him.
It was only the beginning. A long, twisted road lay ahead—full of drama, teasing, and secrets waiting to unravel.
For now, they stayed close, cautious, and protective of each other, each step bringing them closer to battles, misunderstandings, and the moments that would eventually test their hearts.