The academy grounds were quieter than usual that evening, the late sun casting long shadows across the training field. Daniel adjusted his gloves nervously, trying to focus on his footing, his movements, anything that would distract him from the subtle hum of his suppressor beneath his skin.
But it was impossible.
Mika and Ryo were lurking near the sidelines, smirking knowingly, whispering softly to each other. Daniel's chest tightened with every glance they sent his way. He knew exactly what they were thinking: the way he flustered around Leo, the way his body reacted, and the subtle hints that his secret might be revealed if he wasn't careful.
Leo, meanwhile, was standing casually at the edge of the field, observing. Calm. Confident. But Daniel noticed the way his sharp eyes flicked toward him every few seconds, noting the tension in Daniel's shoulders, the slight flush in his cheeks, the way his hands twitched whenever Mika or Ryo teased.
"Ready?" Leo called softly when Daniel approached, tone low enough for no one else to hear.
Daniel swallowed, nodding. "Yeah."
The first drill began. Daniel moved with precision, avoiding missteps, controlling his breathing, and focusing on the task. But every time Mika or Ryo laughed from the sidelines, Daniel felt a jolt of embarrassment, a heat in his chest he could barely contain.
Leo noticed. Always noticing.
During a particularly tricky maneuver, Daniel stumbled slightly, and before he could recover, Leo stepped closer. His presence was a shield, subtle but effective. Not overt, not teasing, just… awareness.
"You okay?" Leo asked quietly.
"I'm fine," Daniel muttered, though his voice lacked conviction.
Leo's lips curved faintly. "I can see you're not. But don't worry. I've got you."
Daniel froze, aware of the weight of the words and the intensity behind them. The friends' whispers faded into the background, their teasing muted by the force of Leo's calm presence.
After the drill, Daniel tried to retreat to a corner of the field, hoping to regain some composure. But Leo followed, keeping the same careful distance, eyes scanning him with subtle concern.
"You've been distracted today," Leo said softly, tone gentle, teasing just slightly. "Your friends' commentary isn't helping, is it?"
Daniel exhaled sharply. "It's nothing."
Leo shook his head slightly, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "It's everything. And you're letting it show. But that's okay. I like seeing it."
Daniel's pulse quickened. "You… you like seeing it?"
"Yeah," Leo replied casually, though his eyes gleamed with amusement and something deeper, something protective. "Because it means you're… real. Not hiding everything. Not pretending to be untouchable."
Daniel's chest tightened. He swallowed, trying to steady himself. "I'm not pretending."
"You are," Leo said softly, stepping just close enough for Daniel to feel the warmth radiating from him. "But I don't mind. Not at all."
Mika and Ryo, noticing the subtle shift, tried to hide their grins. "See that?" Mika whispered. "He's aware of the teasing, and he's… handling it differently."
Ryo chuckled. "Yeah, but look at Daniel. He's melting inside. That's going to be fun."
Daniel groaned under his breath, ignoring them as best as he could.
Leo, aware of their attention, didn't comment aloud. Instead, he let his subtle actions speak: a guiding hand near Daniel's elbow when navigating obstacles, a gentle nudge to adjust posture, eyes flicking to him when friends whispered or laughed nearby. Protective. Observant. Patient.
Daniel felt his chest tighten with every subtle gesture. He wanted to protest, to step away, but part of him wanted the closeness, the awareness, the protective shield Leo offered so naturally.
By the end of the day, Daniel was exhausted—not just from training, but from the emotional strain of being aware, observed, and teased simultaneously.
He pressed a hand to his chest, suppressor humming faintly beneath his skin, aware that he was teetering on the edge of exposure.
Leo walked beside him quietly, presence steady and grounding. His subtle smirk told Daniel that he knew, fully aware of the teasing, aware of Daniel's flustered state, and aware of how much Daniel struggled to maintain control.
And Daniel realized, as he exhaled slowly, that he didn't want to hide from it anymore.
Because Leo noticing him like this… it was intoxicating.