The evening city lights shimmered through the windows of the practice studio as Zenith watched Draven pack up his things. Draven was humming softly, unaware of the careful planning Zenith had done for the past few days.
Zenith's heart thumped in his chest. He deserves this… a moment away from all the chaos, even if it's just for a little while.
"Draven," Zenith called softly, leaning against the doorframe.
Draven looked up, eyebrows raised. "Yeah?"
"I… I found a place," Zenith said, voice low but full of anticipation. "I want to take you somewhere. Just us. No one else."
Draven blinked, a mixture of surprise and curiosity washing over him. "A place? Where?"
Zenith smiled faintly, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "You'll see. But you have to come with me."
Draven hesitated, glancing around the empty studio as if anyone could be watching. "Are you sure this is safe?"
Zenith stepped closer, lowering his voice. "Completely. It's just a small café by the river… quiet. I thought we could have dinner, maybe walk by the water. No distractions, no fans, no chaos."
Draven's chest tightened—not from fear this time, but from the sweetness of the gesture. "You… planned this?" he asked softly, almost in disbelief.
"Yes," Zenith replied, tilting his head slightly. "I wanted to do something for us… to make this feel real, even if we have to keep it a secret for now."
Draven felt a flutter in his chest and nodded. "Okay… let's go."
The walk to the small riverside café was quiet but comfortable. Zenith kept a subtle distance, letting Draven walk slightly ahead, but every now and then, his hand brushed against Draven's, sending sparks of warmth up his arm. Draven noticed, heart skipping, but didn't pull away.
When they arrived, the café was nearly empty, with soft lights casting a warm glow over the wooden tables. Zenith guided Draven to a secluded corner, far from the few other patrons. They sat down, menus open but largely ignored, both caught in a rare moment of calm.
"You planned this… just for us?" Draven asked again, voice quieter this time.
Zenith nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Yes. I wanted us to have a moment where nothing else mattered."
Draven's chest warmed, and he let himself relax for the first time in days. He didn't answer immediately, just reached across the table, brushing his fingers against Zenith's hand. The contact was light but electric, and Zenith's eyes softened as he held Draven's gaze.
They talked quietly for a while—about small things, mundane things, things that didn't involve fans or rehearsals or the pressures of the idol world. Each laugh, each shared glance, pulled them closer in ways words couldn't capture.
As the night deepened, Zenith leaned slightly closer, lowering his voice. "Draven… I want this to be more than just a secret fling. I want you… all of you."
Draven swallowed, heart pounding. "I… I want that too," he admitted, voice trembling slightly. "But… we have to be careful."
"I know," Zenith said softly, squeezing Draven's hand gently. "But tonight… we can just be us. No expectations, no chaos."
Draven smiled, leaning forward. Their foreheads touched lightly, a gentle, lingering intimacy that spoke volumes. For the first time since everything had started, Draven allowed himself to imagine a future where he and Zenith could navigate the chaos together—slowly, carefully, but fully.
The night ended with a quiet walk along the riverbank, hands brushing, stolen glances, and the unspoken promise that this was only the beginning of something deeper.