Aiven woke to warmth.
Not the blanket.
Not the weak morning sunlight filtering through his curtains.
Warmth that breathed.
Warmth that held.
Warmth that had a heartbeat.
His eyes fluttered open—and his head was resting on Raze's shoulder, his cheek pressed against Raze's chest like it belonged there.
Raze was already awake.
Already watching him.
A soft, gentle smile touched his lips.
"Good morning, Aiven."
Aiven shot up so fast he almost fell off the couch.
"I—I—I didn't mean to— I just— You were— I—"
Raze caught his wrist, steadying him with warm fingers.
"It's okay," he said softly.
"You slept well. That's all that matters."
Aiven felt his soul leave his body.
Meanwhile on the floor—
Draven snored like a broken motorcycle.
Raze and Aiven stared at him in disbelief as he drooled on the blanket.
Aiven whispered, "He said he's a light sleeper."
Raze muttered, "He lied."
Suddenly Draven shot upright, eyes wide.
"WHO TOUCHED MY FRYING PAN—"
Aiven jumped.
Raze choked on his own breath trying not to laugh.
Draven blinked around, disoriented.
"Oh. Morning."
Aiven sighed.
"Morning."
Draven smirked at the two of them.
"So. You two cuddled all night, huh?"
Aiven turned bright red.
Raze didn't deny it.
"Are you hungry, Aiven?" Raze asked, gently ignoring Draven's teasing.
Aiven nodded quickly.
"I—I'll cook."
"No," Raze said instantly, standing up.
"You sit. I'll cook."
Draven made a choking sound.
"YOU? COOK? Since when can glowing idol boy cook?"
Raze smirked.
"Since always."
Draven folded his arms.
"Prove it."
---
Twenty minutes later…
Aiven sat at the table with eyes wide.
Raze had actually cooked.
Pancakes. Eggs. Fruit.
It smelled amazing.
Draven looked betrayed.
"You can cook? Since when? Why didn't you cook at MY house?"
Raze shrugged.
"You didn't ask."
Aiven laughed softly.
Raze's eyes softened instantly at the sound.
Once they sat down to eat, Draven leaned back in his chair dramatically.
"So, Raze… are you planning to confess properly? Or are you just going to keep staring at Aiven like he hung the moon?"
Aiven nearly choked on his pancake.
Raze didn't flinch.
He simply said, quiet and honest:
"When he's ready."
Aiven's heart did something painful.
Draven grinned.
"Smart answer."
Then—
Someone knocked loudly on the front door.
Aiven stiffened.
"Not again…" he whispered.
But this knock wasn't frantic.
It was firm.
Official.
Raze moved protectively in front of Aiven.
Draven peered through the peephole.
His eyes widened.
"You two… are dead."
Aiven felt his blood freeze.
"Who is it?"
Draven opened the door slightly.
And Zenith stood there.
Arms crossed.
Face blank.
Eyes… murderous.
"Raze," Zenith said calmly.
"You didn't come home last night."
Aiven's stomach twisted.
Raze sighed.
"Zen—"
Zenith stepped inside, closing the door behind him.
"And Velric is furious," Zenith added.
"He's asking where you slept. Why you didn't answer your phone. Why you disappeared."
Raze's jaw clenched.
Aiven felt sick.
This was bad.
Really bad.
Zenith finally turned to him.
His expression softened slightly.
"Aiven… I'm glad you're safe. But we need to talk. All of us."
Draven whispered,
"Oh, this is going to be fun."
Raze moved closer to Aiven, just enough that their shoulders brushed.
A silent promise.
A silent don't be scared.
Zenith took a deep breath.
"There are photos," he said quietly.
"Someone leaked pictures of Raze running into your apartment last night."
Aiven felt his world crack open.
Raze grabbed his hand under the table.
Zenith continued,
"Velric has already called an emergency meeting."
Aiven whispered, voice barely audible,
"What… what does that mean?"
Raze looked straight at him.
"It means they know about us."
Aiven's breath caught.
Zenith added quietly,
"And they're going to try to destroy it."