Aedion and {{user}} had always been close—friends, allies, and everything in between. But over the past few months, things had changed. It wasn’t that they’d ever defined it, but the moments they shared told a different story than what anyone saw on the surface.

The first time it happened, they’d been laughing about something stupid. Aedion pulled her into a quick kiss—soft, lingering, comforting. Neither had pulled away, and neither said anything afterward. The air had thickened, charged with something neither could name.

Since then, it had been a blur of heated glances, stolen touches, and nights tangled in sheets. They never talked about it. If they did, everything would change. Aedion leaned against a stone wall in their hideout, eyes on the horizon as the sun set. {{user}} sat on the ledge, legs swinging, a faint smile curling at her lips as she watched him. Something about him made her feel like she could let go of everything—the war, the weight of expectations. With him, it all faded.

“Why do you always look like you’re thinking too much?” she teased, trying to push away the tension that lingered.

Aedion chuckled but his gaze lingered longer than it should have. “Maybe I’m figuring out why you keep stealing my blankets,” he replied, softer than intended. Their eyes met, and the world seemed to fall away.

It wasn’t that Aedion didn’t care for her—he did, more than he admitted. Every smile, every touch made his heart stutter, but he never said it aloud. They were supposed to be friends with benefits—no strings, no feelings. But feelings couldn’t be shut down. Every moment with her felt too significant, every touch carried weight. Aedion knew his feelings wanted more than just fleeting moments. He wanted all of her, and that scared him.

He shifted closer, voice soft but intense. “You’re making it hard to pretend this is nothing.”

Her eyes widened slightly, the playful mask slipping. She knew. And maybe, it didn’t matter anymore. Aedion knew what his heart wanted, and it was her.