Kael didn't sleep.
All night he lay awake, staring at the ceiling as the darkness shifted into grey morning. Every time he closed his eyes, Elior's face pushed through the silence—the soft tilt of his lashes, the faint smile he showed only in dreams, the way his voice lingered even after waking.
By dawn, Kael's eyes burned, dark circles carved beneath them like bruised shadows.Still, his heartbeat felt strangely steady, as if a purpose kept it alive.
He bathed quickly, letting the cold water shock him awake, though it did nothing to quiet the restless thoughts twisting inside his chest. He changed into his academy uniform, fastened his cloak, and walked out with a direction that wasn't the academy at all.
Instead, his feet carried him to Elior's dormitory.
He stood there at the entrance, unmoving, the early morning light slipping over his shoulders. A few students passed, whispering, wondering why Kael was there so early—why he was staring at the doors like someone important was supposed to walk out.
And in Kael's mind, there was only one answer.
He's the only one I want to see.
A few minutes later, the door opened.
Elior stepped outside, adjusting the strap of his bag. Sleep still clung softly to him, his silver hair catching the weak morning glow. The moment his eyes lifted, they froze.
"…Kael?"
He blinked once, twice, as if he didn't trust what he was seeing. Kael standing there, waiting, dark circles under his eyes, gaze sharp and locked on him.
Elior's steps slowed, a small frown appearing as he approached. "Why… are you here?"
Kael didn't answer the question. Instead, voice low from exhaustion and something deeper, he asked,"Did you sleep well? …Did you have breakfast?"
Elior stared at him for a heartbeat, something unreadable flickering in his eyes.He didn't reply. He simply opened the carriage door and stepped inside.
Kael followed immediately.
The bodyguards closed the doors, and soon the carriage began to move.
Inside, there was a quiet stillness. Elior sat by the window, hands folded on his lap, while Kael sat opposite him, gaze fixed and unwavering as if afraid Elior might vanish if he looked away.
Finally, Elior spoke, voice gentle but firm."I slept well. And I had breakfast."
He paused, then his eyes drifted to Kael's face."…What about you? You didn't sleep, did you? You have dark circles."
Kael exhaled softly—more like a confession than a breath."It doesn't matter," he murmured. "I'm fine."
But Elior kept watching him, confusion tightening his expression.
Kael shifted forward slightly, as though drawn by something he couldn't fight.
"I just…"His voice lowered even more, almost trembling."…couldn't stop thinking about you."
"..."
Kael didn't stay in his seat for long.
Quietly—almost too quietly—he shifted, moving from the opposite side of the carriage to sit right beside Elior. Their shoulders weren't touching, but the space between them had thinned into something fragile, something heated.
Elior stiffened a little, confused by the sudden closeness."Kael…?"
Kael didn't answer.
Instead, he leaned in—slow, deliberate—until his breath brushed against the shell of Elior's ear. His hand slid down, fingers brushing Elior's before gently, firmly intertwining with them.
Elior's breath caught.
Kael's voice dropped into that low, velvety tone that always made Elior's heart stutter—quiet enough that only the two of them existed in that moment.
"Yesterday…" Kael murmured, lips almost grazing Elior's ear, "you slipped away from me."
Elior's eyes widened, turning slightly toward him—but Kael tightened his hold on Elior's hand, drawing him back into the whisper.
"That last one centimeter…" Kael breathed, "…you have no idea what it did to me."
His forehead nearly touched Elior's temple as he spoke, every word slow, controlled, dripping with a heat too honest to hide.
"It kept me awake all night."His thumb stroked Elior's knuckle."Made my mind lose itself over you. Again and again."
Elior swallowed—hard.He couldn't look at Kael.He couldn't.
Kael let out a soft, dark chuckle, teasing yet edged with something dangerously sincere.
"So tell me…" His gaze fixed on Elior's lips before rising to his eyes."Who's going to take responsibility for driving me insane?"
Elior's heart pounded.Kael leaned in even closer.
"And…" Kael's voice melted into a whisper so seductive it felt like a touch,"…where's my compensation, Elior?"
He didn't blink.Didn't look away.
His gaze was deep, intense—hungry in a way he wasn't even trying to hide.
Elior finally turned his head slightly, eyes wide and breath uneven.
"C-compensation…?" he managed to whisper.
Kael only smiled—slow, dangerous, breathtaking.
"..."
Elior's face went red instantly.
Not pink.Not warm.Red.Deep, burning, helpless red — like someone dropped him straight into boiling embarrassment.
Kael saw it.Of course he did.
And the slow, satisfied curl of his lips said he was enjoying every second of it.
"You… y-you're too close…" Elior whispered, voice trembling as he tried to pull his hand free.
Kael didn't let him.
His grip only tightened, steady and warm, drawing Elior closer until their thighs brushed.Elior's breath hitched.
Kael leaned in even more—tilting his head slightly, lowering his voice into that dangerously soft tone that always melted Elior's resolve.
"Closer?" Kael murmured. "Like this?"
Their faces were so near now that Elior could feel the warmth of Kael's exhale on his lips.Too close.Far too close.
Elior shook his head, trying to retreat—but Kael followed every movement like a predator tracking prey.Like a panther stalking his trembling little rabbit.
Elior: "K-Kael… let go…"
Kael only smirked, eyes dark with unhidden hunger."You're running away again?"
His other hand slid to Elior's waist, pulling him in a sharp, effortless motion until Elior almost fell against his chest.
Elior gasped, breath breaking.He was flushed from his ears to his throat, trembling like he wasn't sure if he wanted to hide or disappear entirely.
Kael's gaze dropped to his lips again.
Last night's missed moment burned behind his eyes.That one centimeter that escaped him.The hunger that chewed at him all night.
He leaned forward, slow, deliberate… like a starving man discovering the first piece of chocolate after days of craving it.
Elior's heart thrashed violently.The pressure of Kael's hand at his waist.The warmth of Kael's breath.The closeness — so close their noses nearly brushed.
"K… Kael…" Elior whispered, breath unsteady, begging without knowing how to stop him."W-What… what are you doing…? Let me go…"
Kael didn't.
He moved even closer, lips hovering just above Elior's—so close Elior felt the heat of the kiss before it even happened.
Kael's whisper spilled against Elior's shaking mouth:
"Last night… you ran."His thumb brushed Elior's flushed cheek."I'm not letting you slip away again."
Elior squeezed his eyes shut, voice barely alive."Kael… please…"
Kael's smile deepened—hungry, aching, desperate.
Today…he wasn't planning to hold back.Today, he intended to taste him fully.
"..."
A sharp knock hit the carriage door.
Kael didn't even flinch.He pretended he didn't hear it — lips still dangerously close to Elior's, his grip still firm on Elior's waist as if one more second would finally give him what he craved all night.
Another knock, louder this time.
Kael growled under his breath.
"What?" he snapped without looking away from Elior.
A guard answered from outside, voice careful, almost nervous."My lord… the academy has arrived. And… someone is waiting for you outside."
Kael froze.
Not in fear.In annoyance so sharp it felt like the temperature dropped inside the carriage.
He still didn't release Elior.
"Waiting for me?" Kael repeated, irritation dripping from every word. "Who?"
"U-Um… he said he will only give his name once you step out, my lord."
Kael clicked his tongue, frustration spilling through him.Of all the times—of all the moments—now?
His fingers slowly loosened from Elior's waist.Not because he wanted to.Because he had to.
The instant Elior felt the grip weaken, his eyes widened — hope flashing across his red, trembling face.
Kael saw it.
"Elior—"
It was too late.
Elior shot out of the seat like a startled animal, escaping Kael's hands in a single desperate movement. He darted toward the carriage door, pushed it open, and jumped out almost in one breath.
"Eli—!"
Kael reached for him, fingers brushing the air where Elior's sleeve had been just a second ago.
Elior was already gone.
Out of the carriage.Away from Kael's arms.Face still flushed like fire as he hurried toward the academy gates, refusing to look back.
Kael sat frozen for a heartbeat, breath shaky with disbelief.
He had him.He almost had him.
And then—
Kael's jaw clenched.
He stepped out of the carriage, eyes burning, expression dark enough to freeze the guards in place.
Whoever had interrupted him…Whoever had dared to ruin the moment he'd starved for all night…
Kael had a full list of words ready — all sharp, all violent, all aimed straight at the idiot who chose the worst possible timing.
He wasn't going to let this go easily.
"..."
Kael stepped out of the carriage with a storm in his chest, his eyes sharp enough to cut stone.He expected a fool.But not this fool.
Aevrin stood there.
Smiling.
Not kindly — never kindly — but with that slow, poisonous smirk that always suggested he knew more than he should.
Kael's jaw tightened."Aevrin."
Aevrin tilted his head slightly. "Good morning, Kael."
Kael's eyes darkened, anger spilling into each syllable."Why are you waiting here? What business do you have with me?"
Aevrin shrugged, as though this was all nothing."No business. I just wanted to say good morning."
The smirk deepened when he watched Kael's expression twist — frustration, irritation, disappointment all flashing like lightning.
Aevrin's chest warmed with sick satisfaction.
Perfect, he thought.He had clearly ruined something Kael wanted.
He just didn't know what.
Not until he noticed movement in the corner of his eye.
Elior—running away from the carriage, face red, hands trembling, trying desperately not to look back.
Aevrin's smile disappeared.
His breath stopped for a second.
He was inside the carriage with Kael…?He let Kael approach him again?He gave Kael another chance to hold him?
A cold, ugly feeling twisted in Aevrin's chest.
Disappointment.Sadness.Jealousy sharp enough to bleed.
And underneath all that — a hint of danger.
Elior is slipping away from me.And Kael… Kael is the one taking him.
Aevrin's fingers curled at his side, hidden by his long sleeves.He needed to act.Soon.If he wanted Elior's heart — or at least to keep Kael away from him — he would have to try harder.Much harder.
Something big.Something that would make Elior rely on him… only him.
Aevrin inhaled slowly, forcing his expression back into a bored mask.
Kael, meanwhile, muttered something under his breath — a curse, low and venomous — as he brushed past Aevrin without another glance.
Aevrin's smirk returned faintly.Kael's anger pleased him.But Elior's reaction… that shook him.
Kael's footsteps grew distant as he headed toward the classroom, shoulders tense, mood ruined, mind still replaying the mis-timed escape of a trembling, blushing Elior.
Aevrin watched him leave.
And in his mind, a single thought bloomed like a shadow:
Elior… I won't lose you.
"..."
Kael entered the classroom still simmering with irritation, his heartbeat refusing to calm.He scanned the room once—
And there he was.
Elior, already seated at their usual desk in the back row, his face still a bright, helpless shade of red.He was fidgeting with his quill, shoulders stiff, head lowered, trying so hard to look normal… and failing adorably.
Kael's anger melted instantly.
He walked straight to him.
Elior didn't even dare look up.
Kael sat beside him, leaning back slightly, letting his gaze roam over Elior's flushed cheeks.A slow, wicked smirk curled at his lips.
"So," Kael murmured, voice low enough for only Elior to hear, "you slipped away. Again."
Elior's hand froze.He swallowed.
Kael's eyes darkened in amusement."What am I supposed to do with you, hm? You're the only one who boldly tests my patience… breaks every limit I have… then runs away like a frightened rabbit."
Elior's ears burned red."K-Kael… don't say things like that…"
But Kael wasn't done.
He leaned closer, his breath brushing Elior's hair.
"If I catch you again… I won't let you go. Maybe I should just chain you to my side…"His voice dropped further, nearly a whisper."…and even if you break the chains, I'll lock you again. And again. Until running becomes impossible."
His thoughts spiraled darker, possessive, feverish:
Even if I locked him in a room, he would still try to slip through my fingers.No matter how tight I hold him, he finds some way to escape.So what should I do… tie him to my bed? Keep him where only I can see him?Or just claim him so completely he never thinks of running again?
Kael's stare burned.
He was imagining Elior in all kinds of ways that would make the sky blush.
But then—
"Kael…!" Elior whispered sharply, snapping Kael out of his fantasy.
Kael blinked.
Elior stared at him nervously, hands gripping his notebook."D-Don't do that kind of stuff…! W-We're friends, aren't we? We don't even know each other well… so let's… talk properly."
Kael stared.
Friends…?Talk properly…?Get to know each other…?
Elior continued softly, cheeks still pink:"I… want to know more about you. And you should… know me too. That's how friends work."
Kael almost choked.
Friends?This — this — was Elior asking him to get closer?To learn about him?To spend time together?
Kael's mind skyrocketed into the heavens.
He wants to get to know me.He wants us to talk privately.This is basically… like a date.A blind date.No—better. He's inviting me into his life.
Kael's heart beat so hard he thought the desk might shake.
He leaned slightly toward Elior, unable to hide the smile in his voice.
"So… you want to know me better?" Kael asked, tone far too warm, far too excited.
Elior nodded sincerely."Yes, because we're fri—"
Kael didn't hear the last word.
He was already far away in his mind—nose in the clouds, thinking of every intimate thing he wanted Elior to learn about him.
If he wants to know me…then I'll let him know everything.Every thought, every desire…especially the ones about him.
Kael rested his chin on his hand, looking at Elior like he was the world's sweetest secret.
"Alright, Elior," he murmured, eyes sparkling with dangerous joy."Ask me anything you want."
And in Kael's head—it wasn't friendship.
It was a beginning.
A beginning of something he had no intention of letting Elior escape from.
— By Aurea;"He asked to know me…and I vowed he'd never escape once he did."