The evening air had that lazy, post-training hush to it — the kind that made even tired limbs feel a little lighter. Ron walked beside Aurelian, the small box of limited-edition donuts held carefully in his hands like contraband treasure. The pastry shop's warm sugar smell still clung to him.
Aurelian kept his head down, shoulders tight. He moved with the practiced ease of someone raised in privilege, but tonight there was a stiffness Ron hadn't seen before. The boy looked smaller when his guard was lowered.
"Hey," Ron said, easy as ever. "You left the match last time. Didn't expect you to bail like that. Everything okay?"
Aurelian glanced up, blue eyes reflecting a tired sort of honesty. For a second Ron saw the mask slip: the confident smile replaced by something raw and human. "I—had to go. Family matters." He forced a laugh that didn't reach his eyes. "The usual. Meetings, arrangements… nonsense."
Ron gave a short snort. "Family matters, huh? Sounds like a noble excuse."
