The morning of Noël's exam arrived quicker than either of them expected. Avery insisted on personally dropping him off at the university, Miss Reed quietly driving to Noël's university.
The ride was strangely quiet. Noël clutched his bag tightly, his nerves showing in the way his legs shifted restlessly against the car floor. Avery's hand rested over his, firm and steady, wordlessly telling him that he wasn't alone.
When the car finally slowed to a stop in front of the university gates, Noël froze. His hand hovered over the door handle but didn't move. Avery immediately noticed, his eyes softening as he leaned toward him.
"You've worked hard, Noël," Avery said in a low, calm voice. "I know you don't believe in yourself enough, but I do, and no matter what happens in there, I'll still be proud of you."
Before Noël could respond, Avery tilted his chin up and kissed him. It wasn't quick—it was deep, lingering, filled with warmth that seeped into Noël's chest and made his heart hammer in his ears. From the front seat, Miss Reed politely averted her eyes, staring out of the window as though she were deaf and blind.
When Avery finally pulled away, Noël's breath was shallow, his lips tingling. He hesitated, then whispered, "Can I… have one more hug?"
Avery smiled faintly and pulled him close, holding him tightly for a few seconds. Noël buried his face against Avery's chest, inhaling the comforting scent he had grown addicted to. Only after Avery loosened his hold did Noël finally step out of the car, his small frame swallowed by the looming university building.
Inside, his nerves returned in full force. He reached into his pocket, fingers finding the folded handkerchief Avery had scented for him. Bringing it discreetly to his nose, he inhaled deeply, letting the sharp, grounding fragrance fill his senses. It steadied him, eased the erratic beat of his heart.
Fifteen minutes later, he was called into a small exam room. The sight made his stomach drop. Rows of empty desks, a single chair, and a stack of papers waiting for him. He was used to exams being filled with students, the hum of whispered prayers, the scratching of pens against paper. But this time, it was only him. The silence was suffocating, the pressure heavier than ever.
For a brief second, he thought he might crumble. His hand trembled as he sat down, pen poised but unmoving.
Then Avery's voice came back to him "You're stronger than you think."
And faintly, so faintly, the words of his old caretaker echoed too: "Do your best, Noël. That's enough."
He straightened his back, inhaled sharply from the handkerchief one more time, and lowered his pen to the paper.
The exam had begun.
He opened his eyes again. The panic loosened its grip. Slowly, his pen touched the page, scribbling through the first problem. At first his answers were shaky, incomplete, but then the rhythm of study sessions returned to him. Concepts he had buried in long nights at Avery's mansion began to surface. He found himself writing faster, with growing confidence, chasing the exam instead of running from it.
By the time the invigilator announced the final ten minutes, sweat dotted his forehead, but he had filled the booklet. He had fought through.
_______
Meanwhile, in the polished glass meeting room across town, Avery sat stiffly in his chair. Miss Reed led the presentation smoothly, her words sharp and persuasive, but Avery's mind wasn't in the deal. His gaze wandered too often to his phone, his jaw tightening every time he resisted the urge to check if Noël had called.
He knew Noël was capable, brilliant, even. But the thought of him facing a test alone, after everything, gnawed at Avery more than any business matter could. After all he had missed a six months of lessons. For the first time in years, numbers and negotiations blurred into background noise.
When the meeting ended, Miss Reed glanced at him knowingly but said nothing.
_______
Noël was driven back home by the chauffeur once the exam ended. He was drained but also oddly lighthearted, replaying the exam questions in his head, thinking of what he might have gotten right or wrong. As soon as he stepped into the mansion, Leo who asked to come over at the estate, appeared in the hall, curious as ever.
"How was it?" Leo asked.
"It was… scary at first," Noël admitted with a sheepish smile. "But then it felt like the things I studied finally came back to me. I don't know if I'll pass, but—I tried." He spoke animatedly, his hands moving as he described the strange silence of the empty exam room and the way he had found strength in Avery's handkerchief.
Leo listened quietly, his usual teasing absent. He could see Noël's hope shining, and for once, he didn't interrupt.
_______
Elsewhere in the house, Jay sat in his own room, staring at the untouched glass of water on his desk. Tomorrow was the day. Adrian had been clear. The meeting would finalize everything. His chest tightened at the thought. He told himself over and over that Avery wasn't his problem, that he had a boyfriend waiting outside this twisted arrangement. That he owed nothing to the man who had plucked him into this world of power and shadows.
But still, guilt gnawed at him like acid. Every time he thought of Noël's trusting smile, or Avery's rare moments of unguarded calm, he felt his chest clench. He pressed his palms to his face, trying to breathe through it. I don't have a choice, he repeated like a prayer, though the words rang hollow.
______
That evening, Avery finally returned home. The mansion was quiet, its golden lamps casting soft shadows across the halls. He found Noël asleep on the bed, curled up like a child, exhaustion weighing down every line of his face.
Without a word, Avery took a shower and changed into his pajamas, sliding under the sheets. He turned Noël gently into his arms, his body instinctively craving the comfort of holding him close. The movement stirred Noël awake, his lashes fluttering as he blinked up at Avery.
"You're back…" he murmured, his voice husky with sleep. Then suddenly, excitement lit his eyes. He sat up halfway, tugging on Avery's sleeve.
"Avery! I have so much to tell you!"
Avery arched a brow, amused. "I thought you'd be too tired."
"No!" Noël shook his head vigorously. "You should've seen the campus! They repainted the basketball court while I was gone. And the library has new computers and the cafeteria smells the same, like greasy fried chicken!" He spoke so quickly, so animatedly, that Avery just leaned back against the pillows, letting the words wash over him.
He didn't interrupt, didn't correct, didn't tease. He only watched the sparkle in Noël's eyes, realizing just how much the boy had missed being part of that world. And for the first time in a long while, Avery felt a different kind of warmth loosen in his chest.