The volunteer hall buzzed with easy laughter and shuffling papers, sunlight spilling through tall glass windows.
Ayan sat at the registration desk, posture straight, every line of him honed into quiet perfection.
The heat had eased just enough to let him breathe without trembling—but not enough to kill the burn under his skin.
He was fine.
He told himself that as the minutes slid by like blades.
> "Hey, Ayan."
The voice jolted him out of thought—a deep, friendly tone.
When he looked up, a senior volunteer—Raff—was smiling down at him, leaning on the desk with casual charm.
> "You always look like you stepped out of a magazine. What's your secret?"
Ayan blinked once, slow.
> "Existing."
Raff laughed, easy and warm. His hand brushed Ayan's wrist as he signed a form, fingers lingering a second too long.
> "Cold and beautiful. Dangerous combo."
Ayan's mouth opened to cut that off—
But then the air shifted.
Heavy. Sharp.
> "Funny."
The word curled smooth, almost lazy, but it burned like a blade as Kairo's voice slid into the space between them.
"I thought the rule was no hitting on team members during shifts."
Both heads turned.
Kairo stood a few feet away, sleeves pushed up, volunteer badge slung carelessly around his neck—but his eyes?
They were black fire, locked on Raff with a weight that could break bone.
Raff raised both hands, chuckling awkwardly.
> "Just talking, man."
> "Right."
Kairo's smile was slow, sweet—and sharp enough to draw blood.
"Why don't you go… talk over there?"
It wasn't loud.
Wasn't crude.
But it felt like the floor dropped out of the room.
Raff muttered something, backed off fast, and then it was just silence—thick, electric—before Kairo moved closer.
Close enough that Ayan could feel the heat rolling off him, could smell rain and something darker under his skin.
> "You let people get real close for someone who keeps saying 'stay away.'"
The words brushed Ayan's ear like a brand, low and private.
"Unless you wanted me to see that."
Ayan's throat locked. His pulse slammed so hard it hurt.
> "You're insane."
Kairo's chuckle was soft, wicked.
> "Maybe."
He leaned in—just enough for his breath to skim Ayan's jaw.
"But I'm the only one who knows what's under all that ice."
And then he stepped back, smile snapping into place like nothing happened.
> "See you after shift, ice prince."
He walked away, leaving Ayan nailed to the chair, blood roaring in his ears, heat screaming under his skin like chains melting into fire.
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