CHAPTER SIX

 It was late.

Riven had forgotten his jacket in the campus library and doubled back, grumbling the whole time. He didn’t expect anyone to be there. Most of the students were long gone.

But as he turned the corner into the back hallway near the emergency stairs—

He stopped.

Kael was sitting on the floor. Alone. Hoodie off. Elbows resting on his knees, head tilted back against the wall, eyes shut. Breathing deep.

Not relaxed. Not sleeping. Exhausted. His knuckles were bruised. Fresh, red. His usually perfect posture had collapsed. And his phone lay face down on the floor next to him, a call still open. Riven could see the name on the screen: “uncle - declined (3x)”

Riven didn’t move. Didn’t speak. He'd never seen Kael look so... Small. It was just a glimpse — a flash of vulnerability hidden behind that intimidating mask. And for the first time, Riven didn’t feel like arguing.

[the comfort that wasn’t suppose to happen]

Riven cleared his throat gently.

Kael looked up. He didn’t flinch. Didn’t bark. Just… Blinked slowly, like someone waking up from something too heavy.

“you look like shit,” Riven said softly. Kael gave a tired smirk. “you always know how to sweet-talk a guy.” Riven walked over, sat beside him. Not close. Just… There. 

“i didn’t mean to walk in on your villain origin story,” He mumbled. Kael chuckled once, dry. “too late.”

They sat in silence for a while. Then Riven pulled something from his hoodie pocket — a crumpled little packet of antiseptic wipes.

“here,” He said, tossing it into Kael’s lap. “your hand’s bleeding.” Kael stared at it. Then at riven. “you carry first aid?”

“i fall a lot,” Riven muttered. “and people like you punch walls a lot.” Kael opened the packet, cleaned his knuckles in silence. When he was done, he looked at Riven again.

 “you didn’t ask.”

“ask what?”

“why i’m sitting here like a mess.”

Riven shrugged. “didn’t need to. I’ve been there.” Kael’s voice dropped. “it’s not always easy being the one who holds everything together.”

Riven turned to him, expression softer than usual. “you know… You don’t have to be that guy all the time.” Kael looked away. “i don’t know how to be anything else.”

Silence again.

Then Riven said, “you’re kind of a dick. But… I don’t hate you when you’re like this.” Kael turned his head, gaze sharp, curious. “so when do you hate me most?”

“when you act like you don’t feel anything,” Riven replied. “that’s the fakest thing about you.” Kael’s chest rose slowly. “…Don’t say that,” He murmured. Riven frowned. “why not?” Kael met his eyes. “because i already feel too much when i’m around you.”

[Confessions never start with ‘i like you’]

It was way too late to still be out. But somehow, Riven and Kael ended up walking home together again, after that weird night of silence and bruised knuckles and antiseptic wipes.

The streets were quieter than usual. The air was cold. Streetlights buzzed softly above them. They weren’t touching, but their shoulders kept brushing. Neither said anything about it.

They stopped at a street corner where they usually split ways. Kael gestured toward Riven’s road. “aren’t you gonna run off with one of your sarcastic exit lines?” Riven shoved his hands into his hoodie pocket. “i’m too tired to be annoying.”

“liar.”

“…Okay, maybe a little annoying.”

Kael smirked. “you’re always a little annoying.”

Riven nudged him lightly. “and you’re always a smug bastard.” They both laughed. Then quiet. Soft. Heavy.

Riven glanced sideways. “you ever get tired of pretending you’re heartless?” Kael was quiet for a beat too long. “i don’t pretend.”

“you do, though.” Kael didn’t answer. Riven’s throat tightened before he could stop it. “you care about people. Even when you don’t want to. Even when it’s inconvenient. Even when it’s me.”

Kael finally turned toward him. “Riven—” Riven interrupted, voice too fast. “i know i’m annoying. And reckless. And kind of a mess. But you never actually walk away.”

“…Because i don’t want to.” The words hung in the air. Riven blinked. “what?”

Kael looked away, like he regretted saying it, but didn’t take it back. “i don’t want to walk away. Not from you.” Riven’s breath caught in his throat. “so… What does that mean?” Kael shrugged, trying too hard to stay casual. “it means i’m either making a huge mistake or… I care more than i should.”

Riven’s voice was soft now. Barely above a whisper. “then maybe i’m making the same mistake.” Kael looked at him again. Really looked. And they both knew what that meant.

No declarations. No promises. Just the truth, quietly crashing into them both.

“…Goodnight,” Riven whispered, eyes dropping to the ground. Kael didn’t stop him this time. But he watched him walk away. And this time, riven didn’t want him to.

[Normal. Totally. Definitely. Normal. (help.)]

The next morning at campus. Riven was seated on a bench, earbuds in, pretending to scroll through his phone. He wasn’t waiting. Except he totally was.

He saw Kael coming from the corner of his eye. Hoodie up, usual scowl, coffee in hand. Riven immediately looked away. Not because he was flustered. He just—saw a bug. Or something. Whatever.

Kael walked over, tossed something on the bench beside him. A warm meat bun in a paper bag. Riven blinked. “what’s this?” Kael didn’t look at him. “it fell from the sky.” “oh wow. The sky tastes like soy sauce now.”

“modern miracle.”

Silence.

They sat there. Not looking at each other. Both sipping their drinks. Occasionally glancing sideways, catching each other doing it, then immediately pretending they were adjusting their hair or stretching.

Finally, Riven broke. “so…” He said, staring at his half-eaten bun. “that thing we said. Last night. Did you mean it?” Kael didn’t answer for a long moment, then “did you?” Riven bit his lip. “i might’ve been emotionally compromised by sleep deprivation.” Kael snorted. “sure. Let’s blame the streetlights.” Riven sighed and rubbed his face. “ugh, i don’t know how to do this.”

“do what?”

“be normal around someone i… Don’t hate anymore.” He mumbled the last part like a curse. Kael sipped his drink. “same.” They sat in silence again. This time heavier. But not in a bad way.

Then Kael cleared his throat. “you wanna keep being awkward until we combust from tension? Or should we just… Ease into this slowly.” Riven glanced at him, expression dry. “ease into what, kael?” Kael didn’t smirk this time. He looked serious. “whatever this is.”

Riven stared at him. Then took a long sip of his drink.

“…So i'll see you tomorrow?” Kael’s eyes softened. “yeah. You better.”