The horror movie started with slow, ominous music.
Dark shadows flickered across the massive television screen, casting shifting lights around Adrien's living room.
Adrien and Zane sat on the couch.
Too close.
Their shoulders brushed every few seconds.
Neither moved away.
Neither acknowledged it.
Adrien hugged a pillow loosely against his chest, eyes on the screen.
But his mind was nowhere near the movie.
It kept drifting somewhere else entirely.
To the bathroom earlier.
To the shower.
To something he hadn't expected to see.
Zane's piercing.
Adrien swallowed.
He didn't even know why that detail stuck so stubbornly in his head.
But it did.
The memory flashed again — the metallic glint, the confident way Zane had casually mentioned it afterward like it was nothing.
Adrien shifted slightly.
Focus on the movie.
On the other side of the couch, Zane had an entirely different problem.
He had barely been able to concentrate since the shower.
The kiss.
The heat.
Adrien standing so close beneath the water.
His body.
His skin.
The memory alone was enough to make Zane's pulse spike again.
He forced himself to stare at the screen.
But every time Adrien moved, every time their legs brushed, Zane felt the warmth shoot straight through him.
His breathing slowly deepened.
The tension in the room thickened.
Neither spoke for several minutes.
Finally Adrien sighed and stood up.
"I want popcorn."
Zane immediately got up too.
Almost like a reflex.
Adrien noticed instantly.
"You don't have to follow me everywhere."
Zane shrugged casually.
"I'm helping."
"You're hovering."
"Same thing."
Adrien rolled his eyes but continued into the kitchen.
He grabbed the popcorn container and poured the kernels into a bowl.
Zane leaned against the counter.
Watching.
Not even pretending otherwise.
Adrien closed the microwave door and pressed the button.
Then he turned slowly toward him.
"You stare a lot."
Zane blinked.
"What?"
"Like… a lot."
Adrien folded his arms.
"Too much."
Zane looked away instantly and scratched the back of his neck.
"Sorry."
Adrien raised an eyebrow.
"You're not even denying it."
Zane shrugged again.
"I like looking at you."
Adrien stared at him.
Zane said it so casually it almost sounded harmless.
Almost.
Adrien turned and hopped up onto the kitchen counter, sitting there while waiting for the microwave.
Zane leaned beside him, one shoulder resting against the marble.
For a moment they simply stood there.
Quiet.
"Do you always watch horror movies alone?" Zane asked.
"Usually."
"You don't get scared?"
Adrien scoffed.
"No."
"Liar."
Adrien nudged his shoulder lightly.
"I'm serious."
Zane smiled.
"You screamed earlier."
"That was a jump scare."
"Still counts."
Adrien opened his mouth to argue—
The microwave beeped loudly.
Zane turned immediately and grabbed the bowl.
With bare hands.
"OW—!"
He dropped it instantly.
Adrien jumped down from the counter.
"Are you stupid?"
Zane shook his hand frantically.
"It's hot!"
"No kidding!"
Adrien grabbed the bowl with a towel and set it aside.
Then he took Zane's wrist and inspected his palm.
The skin was slightly red.
"You're an idiot," Adrien muttered.
He walked quickly to the cabinet and pulled out a small white box.
"First aid kit?"
"Obviously."
Adrien gently wrapped the bandage around Zane's palm.
His fingers moved carefully, focused.
Zane watched him the entire time.
Not even trying to hide it.
When Adrien finished, he looked up.
Zane was smiling like the happiest person alive.
Adrien narrowed his eyes.
"You did that on purpose."
Zane's expression immediately turned innocent.
"What?"
"You grabbed a hot bowl with your bare hands."
"I forgot."
"You fight professionally and you forgot heat exists?"
Zane didn't answer.
Adrien sighed.
"You have upcoming matches."
"I know."
"The last thing you need is a stupid injury."
Zane's smile widened even more.
"You care about me."
Adrien rolled his eyes dramatically.
"Eat your popcorn."
They returned to the couch.
The horror movie had gotten darker.
Scarier.
The characters on screen were exploring a haunted house.
Thunder cracked through the speakers.
Adrien tossed popcorn into his mouth casually.
Zane watched him again.
Adrien caught him doing it.
"Seriously."
"What?"
"Watch the movie."
"I am."
"You're watching me."
"Better than the movie."
Adrien shook his head but didn't push him away.
Time passed.
The movie dragged on.
Zane checked the time casually.
12:47 AM.
His stomach flipped.
He needed to stay.
He couldn't leave yet.
He thought quickly.
Then he yawned dramatically.
Adrien glanced over.
"Tired?"
"Maybe."
Before Adrien could react, Zane shifted and flopped sideways onto the couch.
His head landed directly in Adrien's lap.
Adrien froze.
"What are you doing?"
Zane didn't answer.
He simply closed his eyes.
Pretending to sleep.
Adrien stared down at him.
"You're unbelievable."
But he didn't push him away.
After a few seconds he relaxed slightly against the couch again.
Zane inhaled slowly.
Adrien's scent surrounded him instantly.
Clean soap.
Something faintly sweet.
It was intoxicating.
His body reacted immediately.
His heart beat faster.
His breathing deepened.
Adrien hesitated.
Then his fingers moved slowly into Zane's hair.
He started gently brushing through the strands.
Zane shivered.
Hard.
Adrien noticed.
"You okay?"
Zane nodded slightly without opening his eyes.
Adrien continued.
His fingers moved slowly through Zane's hair again.
Zane felt like electricity was running through his entire body.
His skin prickled.
His stomach tightened.
He could barely breathe normally.
Adrien's fingers moved lower.
Lightly brushing the back of his neck.
Then his ear.
Zane couldn't stop the soft sound that escaped him.
A quiet, helpless whimper.
Adrien froze.
Completely still.
Slowly, he looked down.
Zane's face was flushed bright red.
His breathing uneven.
And then Adrien noticed something else.
The clear outline beneath Zane's sweatpants.
A noticeable bulge.
Adrien's eyes lingered for a second.
Then another.
There was even a faint dark spot at the fabric's tip.
Zane suddenly opened his eyes when he realized Adrien had stopped moving.
Their gazes met.
Adrien didn't look embarrassed.
He didn't look surprised.
Instead—
A slow smirk spread across his lips.
Zane's brain immediately short-circuited.