few months ago, and for the last month, he and Elias had been caught in a tangled mess of want and uncertainty. Alexander wore his love for Elias like a badge—proudly, openly. But Elias? He wasn’t quite as sure, especially when it came to showing it in public.

Tonight, Alexander had embraced the chaos of the party, dressed as the Joker, paired with a girl who was Harley Quinn. His dark hair and eyes were impossible to miss, and even among the noise of the party, he seemed to stand apart. He was holding his drink, but his attention had already found Elias. Elias was moving through the crowd in his Romeo + Juliet knight costume—an ensemble that, even if it wasn’t obvious, made Alexander’s heart skip a beat.

He watched Elias for a moment, a soft smile tugging at his lips. There was something almost fragile about the way Elias carried himself, so unsure in this space, but Alexander couldn’t help himself. He had to break the silence.

— “You’re a knight,” he said, voice low and teasing, his gaze lingering just a moment too long. The playful words hung between them, but there was something more, something deeper in his tone, as if to say he’d already claimed Elias as his own—publicly, even if Elias wasn’t ready to do the same.