Adrian led Julian out of his office and toward the private lounge. As they approached, muffled giggles leaked out into the hallway. When Adrian pushed the door open, his sharp eyes instantly scanned the room.
The entire table was covered in an absurd array of colorful boxes, cake stands, and sugar-dusted pastries. Leo had a silver fork in one hand, his mouth full, his cheeks puffed out like a little hamster storing winter rations. His large eyes were wide as he listened to Tristan, occasionally nodding in quiet awe.
However, to Adrian's overly protective, hyper-critical perspective, the scene looked entirely wrong. Leo looked tiny, swallowed up by the couch, completely surrounded by a barrage of baked goods. Is Tristan forcing him to eat all of this? Adrian thought, his brow instantly furrowing into a dark line. The boy is going to burst.
"---and so, when Adrian was only ten years old, he literally told Uncle Raymond that his financial advice was 'financially illiterate'!" Tristan was saying, waving a half-eaten eclair in the air dramatically. "Can you believe that?! He's been a scary, rude monster to all the elders and us brothers since he was in diapers! He used to glare at me so hard I thought my soul would leave my body—"
"Tristan!"
"Ahh!" Tristan jumped and screamed, the eclair slipping from his hand.
Leo gasped softly, his head snapping toward the doorway. He instantly stopped chewing, his hands dropping to his lap as if he had just been caught committing a terrible crime.
Without a word, Adrian strode into the room. He reached down, snatching the dessert plate right out of Leo's hands and placing it far out of reach on the far corner of the table.
"Hey! He was enjoying that!" Tristan whined, jumping up from the couch. "Aaron bought those from the best bakery downtown!"
"He is going to overeat and get a stomach ache," Adrian stated flatly, his voice cold and uncompromising. "He does not have the body to consume half a bakery in one sitting."
Tristan opened his mouth, a teasing, sarcastic retort right on the tip of his tongue. Oh, look at the big bad husband worrying about a tummy ache! But before he could utter a single word, Adrian slowly turned his head. He pinned Tristan with a lethal, pitch-black glare that practically dropped the room's temperature by ten degrees. Tristan swallowed his words whole, instantly zipping his lips and taking a prudent step backward.
Just then, the lounge door swung wide open again.
"Look what I got!" Aaron announced cheerfully, marching into the room while balancing two brand-new, stacked bakery boxes in his arms. "I managed to get the fresh strawberry tarts and the warm vanilla muffins before they sold out—"
Aaron stopped dead in his tracks. His triumphant smile melted away into pure terror as his eyes landed directly on his boss standing in the middle of the room.
"Boss!" Aaron squeaked in fear.
"So," Adrian scowled as he crossed his arms over his chest. "This is what my head executive assistant does during peak operating hours. Buying out the local bakeries instead of managing my afternoon portfolio."
Aaron's face flushed a deep panicked red. He began sweating bullets, clutching the pastry boxes like a makeshift shield. "I-I was...well, Boss, you see, the little sir needed...I mean, I thought a slight sugar boost would make him feel comfortable, and..."
"Silence!" Adrian cut him off flatly, rubbing the bridge of his nose. He turned his gaze to Tristan, then back to Aaron. "Aaron, escort Tristan out of this building immediately. If I see either of you back in this lounge, you will both be handling the audit reports for our regional sub-branches."
"Understood, Boss!" Aaron blurted out. He grabbed Tristan by the back of his collar, practically dragging the protesting younger cousin out the door in a desperate bid to save his own paycheck. "Let's go, Master Tristan!"
"Hey! Let me go! I didn't even get to tell him the story about the Christmas tree incident!" Tristan yelled as the door slammed shut behind them, plunging the room back into relative silence.
With the loud nuisances cleared out, Adrian turned his attention back to the couch. He took a deep breath, steeling himself to scold Leo as well. The boy needed to learn boundaries, he couldn't just accept piles of sweets from every energetic idiot who walked through the door.
"Leo, you cannot simply—" Adrian began sternly, stepping closer. But words completely died in his throat. Leo was sitting frozen on the edge of the cushion, looking up at him through a pair of big, glossy, shining eyes. His messy bangs brushed against his forehead, and right on the corner of his lower lip was a small, dusty smudge of white powdered sugar and chocolate crumbs. He hadn't even been yelled at yet, but he looked so profoundly terrified, so utterly convinced he was about to be punished, that his eyes were already swimming with unshed tears. He held his breath, his shoulders hitched up to his ears, looking like a helpless, trapped hamster awaiting its fate.
Dammit, not those eyes again! Adrian cursed violently in his own head. Why does he look like I'm about to throw him off a cliff?!
All of Adrian's hard resolve crumbled into dust in less than a second. He cursed his own pathetic lack of willpower, internally groaning at how utterly weak this boy was making him feel. Reaching into his breast pocket, Adrian pulled out a white silk handkerchief. He leaned down, carefully cupping Leo's chin with one hand while using the other to gently wipe the sweet crumbs off the corner of the boy's lips.
Leo blinked, his body relaxing just a fraction under the surprisingly warm touch.
"You have sugar all over your face," Adrian grunted gruffly, trying his absolute best to maintain a stern tone despite his soft actions. He pulled the handkerchief away, folding it neatly before pointing a finger toward Julian, who was standing quietly by the doorway, observing everything with a subtle, amused smile.
"Listen to me, Julian is going to be your sign language teacher starting tomorrow. Today, you two are just going to introduce yourselves and talk for a little bit."
Having delivered the instructions, Adrian stepped back, intending to turn on his heel and return to his office to regain his sanity but a tiny pull stopped him. Adrian slowly turned his head back around to see Leo clutching the hem of his jacket. His little husband's wide eyes were filled with sudden, overwhelming panic as he looked back and forth between Adrian and Julian. His chest was heaving with rapid hitches. It was painfully obvious, Leo was terrified of being left completely alone in an unfamiliar room with a total stranger.
Adrian stared down at the small hand clutching his clothes. "Leo. Let go."
Leo violently shook his head. His grip tightened even further, his knuckles turning pale as he looked up at his husband with an almost desperate, pleading expression. Please don't leave me.
Adrian let out a heavy sigh. He felt a strange, tight knot form in his chest. Reaching out, Adrian placed both of his broad hands squarely on Leo's delicate shoulders, leaning down until they were at eye level.
"Look at me," Adrian commanded softly. Leo's glossy eyes locked onto Adrian's dark but steady gaze. "Julian is a good man. You can trust him. I trust him with my life, and I am fine leaving you with him. He will not hurt you. I'll not allow anyone to hurt you."
Leo's lower lip trembled, but his grip on the suit jacket didn't loosen even a millimeter. He was still terrified, his traumatic past whispering that strangers were dangerous.
Seeing that sheer authority wasn't working, Adrian shifted his strategy. "Don't you want to learn how to communicate freely? Don't you want to be able to tell people what you want, what you think, and how you feel without having to hide?"
At those words, a bright flicker of interest sparked in Leo's large eyes. His breathing slowed just a bit. He looked at Julian, then back to Adrian, his mind clearly weighing the overwhelming fear against the beautiful, incredible promise of finally having a way to communicate.
Seeing the change in the boy's posture, Adrian offered a rare softening of his expression. "I am not abandoning you. I am just going to my desk. I will be back right here in this room in exactly one hour."
Leo stared at Adrian for three agonizing seconds. Slowly and hesitantly, his small fingers uncurled from the fabric of the suit jacket. He dropped his hand back into his lap, giving Adrian a barely perceptible nod.
"Good boy," Adrian murmured, his hand briefly patting Leo's head before he caught himself and straightened up instantly. He turned to his older brother, his face snapping back into its usual stoic mask. "One hour, Julian. Not a minute more."
"Of course, Boss," Julian chuckled softly, stepping aside to let Adrian pass. Adrian walked out, the doors clicking shut behind him.
Standing near the coffee table, Julian quietly watched the closed door, a knowing, deep smile touching his lips. He had carefully studied every micro-expression, every subtle change in Adrian's posture, and the undeniable, instinctual trust the mute boy placed in his cold brother.
Exacting, ruthless Adrian Hale...Julian thought to himself with amusement, turning his gentle gaze back to the nervous, sweet boy sitting on the couch. ...you are so deeply screwed.
Julian didn't make any sudden movements. Having spent years treating patients broken by trauma, he knew the delicate anatomy of fear. He took a seat on the opposite armchair, far enough to respect Leo's personal boundary, but close enough to establish a calm presence.
"You don't have to be scared of me, Leo," Julian began in his soft voice, entirely devoid of pressure. Leo's long eyelashes fluttered. He gave a slow nod.
"Starting tomorrow, we're going to learn sign language together," Julian explained, picking up a notepad from the table. "We'll start with the basics, simple gestures for everyday things. Food, water, how you feel, whether you're tired or in pain. It's not a test, and there's no deadline. We will go entirely at your pace."
Leo listened intently, the idea of being able to express simple needs without having to guess or cower made his large eyes brighten with a faint spark of hope. When Julian looked up and offered a warm, questioning smile, Leo gave a small nod of agreement.
Throughout the hour, Julian asked simple questions. Leo communicated purely through nods, shakes of his head, and quiet gestures.
As Julian observed the boy's reactions, a heavy, quiet ache settled in his chest. Leo was undeniably pitiful, a delicate, damaged bird that had been systematically crushed by the very people who were supposed to protect him. Looking at the timid youth, Julian couldn't help but wonder about his younger brother. Could Adrian, a man who had spent his entire life building cold walls around his heart truly handle a soul this fragile?
Treating a survivor of severe abuse wasn't a business transaction or a corporate takeover. It required absolute patience, selflessness, and emotional maturity. One wrong step, one cold dismissal, or one outburst of harshness from Adrian could shatter what little sanity and trust Leo had left. Was Adrian truly ready for that kind of responsibility? Or was he entering a game whose stakes he didn't fully comprehend?
I hope that day never comes, Julian thought bitterly to himself, the memory of his lost husband, Thomas, haunting the edges of his mind. I don't ever want to see another Julian in this house. I don't want Adrian to bear the curse of loving and failing someone.
Precisely as promised, sixty minutes later, the door handle turned.
Adrian stepped back into the room, his sharp eyes instantly sweeping over the sofa. When he saw Leo sitting safely, unbothered and calm, the faint, hidden line of tension on Adrian's forehead smoothed out.
Julian stood up and offered Leo a warm, reassuring smile. "That's enough for today, Leo. I'll see you tomorrow at eleven, and we'll start our first real lesson."
Leo looked up, giving Julian a polite nod of farewell. Julian nodded back, threw a brief, silent look of warning at Adrian, and took his leave, closing the door behind him.
Once they were alone, Adrian walked over to the couch, standing over the smaller boy with his hands tucked casually into his trouser pockets. He looked down at the empty pastry boxes on the table, then at Leo.
"Are you hungry? It is almost dinner time."
Leo instantly shook his head.
Adrian's lips twitched upward into a sarcastic smirk. "Of course you aren't. You spent the entire afternoon stuffing your face with junk, cakes, and pastries alongside those two idiots. I doubt you'll be hungry for a week."
Leo's cheeks flushed a burning crimson. He quickly looked down at his lap, his fingers picking at his sweater in embarrassment, looking thoroughly ashamed of his earlier indulgence.
"Regardless," Adrian grunted, turning toward the door. "You still have to sit at the table and keep me company while I eat. Get up. We're going home."
By the time they reached the mansion, the sun had long set. The dining room table was set. Adrian sat at the head of the table, unfolding his napkin. True to his word, he didn't force Leo to serve himself, nor did he demand that the boy eat right away. Leo sat quietly in his chair beside Adrian, keeping his head ducked low, his hands resting neatly on his thighs.
Adrian began to eat in silence. However, as the mouthwatering scent of the hot, savory meal drifted across the table, Leo's stomach which had digested the sweet pastries hours ago decided to betray him completely. A surprisingly loud, betraying growl echoed from beneath the table, shattering the peaceful quiet of the dining room.
Leo froze instantly. His eyes went wide as saucers, his entire face, neck, and ears turning an explosive, fiery red. He pressed his arm tightly against his stomach, utterly horrified by his own body's treacherous betrayal.
Adrian paused his chewing, his fork hovering an inch above his plate. He slowly turned his head to look at the burning, squirming boy beside him. A dark, amused smirk spread across Adrian's face.
"Well, well," Adrian teased rudely, leaning back in his chair with an arrogant, taunting brow raised. "Look who suddenly developed an appetite. I thought someone was entirely too full from his grand tea party to eat proper food?"
Leo squeezed his eyes shut, bowing his head so low his forehead nearly touched the table, his face radiating pure heat. He wished the floor would open up and swallow him whole. He couldn't ask for food, he didn't have a voice to ask, nor did he have the courage to make a gesture.
Seeing the boy suffering in his own embarrassment, Adrian's mocking smile softened just a little. He let out a low huff through his nose, reaching across the table with his own serving utensils.
Without saying another word, Adrian piled a generous portion of tender meat, warm rice, and vegetables onto Leo's empty plate. He pushed the plate directly in front of the blushing boy.
"Eat," Adrian commanded, his tone grunting but completely devoid of real malice. "Before your stomach makes any more noise."
Leo blinked, lifting his head timidly. He looked at the steaming plate of food, then up at Adrian's unbothered face. Seeing no anger or disgust in his husband's eyes, Leo didn't waste a single second. He picked up his fork and began to eat, taking hungry, enthusiastic bites.
Adrian sat back, quietly cutting his own steak. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched the boy chew with contented relief, completely absorbed in his meal.
An unexpected sense of relaxation washed over Adrian's chest. For the first time since they had met, Leo was eating in his presence without trembling, without waiting for permission like a beaten animal, and without terror in his eyes. He was simply eating because he was hungry, trusting that the man beside him wouldn't pull the plate away or strike him.
Adrian took a slow sip of his water, an unnoticeable sense of pride settling deep in his cold heart.
It isn't much, Adrian thought quietly to himself as the sound of the hamster chewing filled the silent room. But it is progress, right?