CHAPTER EIGHT

[Kael's apartment — not the big house, just his space]

Kael tossed his keys into the dish near the door as Riven trailed in behind him, scanning the place.

It wasn't huge, but it was clean — neat lines, dark wood, soft lighting. The place smelled faintly like leather, rain, and whatever cologne Kael always wore that made Riven' s brain cells malfunction.

"wait...you live here?" Riven asked, kicking off his shoes.

Kael raised an eyebrow. "would you prefer my penthouse?"

"...You have a penthouse?"

Kael smirked, heading toward the kitchen. "wipe that look off your face."

Riven mumbled, "I'm judging quietly, besides this one is different from before." Kael while busy preparing something to eat. " that one was too small and I was already planning to...do something with it" "oh, okay " he gently responded a bit confused but he just lets it at that.

They ate something quick — Kael reheated leftovers, Riven picked at them with his usual "pretending I'm not hungry" act until Kael shoved the plate closer and said, "eat properly."

By the time Riven was full and sleepy, Kael had already pulled out an extra blanket and tossed it on the couch.

"you're not walking home this late," Kael said. "and i don't trust you alone when you look like you'll collapse any second."

Riven yawned. "you make a really controlling nurse."

"I'm a boss. Not a nurse."

"boss nurse."

"...Riven."

Kael went to shower while Riven curled up on the couch. But halfway through the night, it was cold. The blanket wasn't enough. Riven tossed, turned, tried to make it work—until finally, groggy and mumbling curses, he tiptoed down the hallway.

He opened Kael's bedroom door slowly. Kael was already half-awake. "cold?" He asked sleepily. "shut up," Riven grumbled, crawling under the covers like a sulking cat.

Silence. Kael was warm. Riven hated how safe it felt.

Then—Riven spoke, barely audible in the dark. "...You're always there when i need you."

Kael's breath caught. "...Riven."

"i didn't mean to say that," Riven said quickly, back turned to him now. Kael didn't answer right away. Then— "yeah, you did."

And then? Nothing. No argument. No teasing.

Just warmth between them. And everything left unsaid burning louder than their words.

[The morning after]

The light barely started filtering through the curtains when Kael blinked awake, hazy and warm and—

Oh hell no.

Riven was curled up beside him, knees drawn slightly, head tucked near Kael's shoulder, their legs completely tangled like they belonged there.

Kael didn't move. Didn't even breathe. Because if he did... the moment might break. Riven let out a soft exhale, his breath ghosting against Kael's collarbone.

Kael's brain fighting the urge saying be cool be cool be coo—holy shit he's literally breathing on me. Kael's heart pounding. From a calm and composed big boss to a panicked man that's heart is about to explode.

He slowly, so painfully slowly, turned his head to look down. Riven' s eyelashes were stupidly long. His mouth slightly open. His hand was resting — no, splayed — across Kael's chest like he owned him.

Kael had taken bullets with more composure than this. He whispered to himself, "This is fine. I'm fine. It's just a guy. It's just Riven. Who talks back. And gets under my skin. And has no idea how much he messes me up—"

"—You're talking to yourself." Riven' s sleepy voice broke through the silence, laced with rasp and amusement. Kael stiffened. "Shut up." Riven opened one eye. Smirked. "You look like you saw a ghost."

"You are a ghost," Kael muttered, shifting slightly but not enough to escape the contact. "You haunt the hell out of me."

"Wow. That's kind of romantic for 7 AM." Kael glared at the ceiling. "Get off me."

"No."

"...Why?"

"Because your heartbeat's fast and it's entertaining." Kael turned his head slowly. "You little—" Riven grinned, wide and smug, then tucked himself even closer. "Guess I'm staying right here." Kael let out a long suffering sigh.

But his arm came up anyway, settling around Riven' s waist. "I hate you," Kael whispered. "No, you don't," Riven whispered back. And damn it... he was right.

A little later...

Riven, fresh from ruining Kael's blood pressure just by existing, stretched lazily and dramatically like he didn't just make a whole gangster boss malfunction in real time.

"alright, big boss," He said smugly, standing at the foot of the bed. "I'm heading out. Thanks for the... Luxurious stay." He didn't even bother putting on a full shirt yet — just his hoodie hanging off one shoulder like a damn tease. Kael watched him silently, eyes dark and unreadable, still lying on the bed like a statue carved from tension and emotional confusion.

Riven turned with a smirk. "don't miss me too mu—"

Yank.

In a blink, Kael had reached forward, grabbed him by the waist, and dragged him right back onto the bed with absolutely no hesitation. Riven let out a yelp. "hey—what the hell?!"

Kael wrapped both arms tight around Riven' s waist, chest pressing against his back like he owned this moment now. "nope. Not letting you walk out like that."

"like what?!"

"like you didn't just destroy my peace, climb all over me in your sleep, wake up looking like that—" Kael buried his face in the crook of Riven' s neck. "—then think you can smirk and leave?"

"i can smirk," Riven said, trying to wiggle out, failing miserably. "you're just pressed."

Kael muttered against his skin, voice low and serious now. "i am. I am pressed, Riven. Like hell I'm letting someone else see this before i figure out what the hell you're doing to me." Riven froze slightly, his cocky grin twitching.

"...You like it though," He mumbled without turning. Kael smirked against his neck. "I'm starting to. Unfortunately. Riven' s breath hitched. "you're clingy."

"you made me this way." Kael didn't let go. And Riven... Didn't ask him to.

minutes later

Riven was smug, satisfied, internally screaming. Kael the big spoon, still pretending he's unaffected but holding on for dear life.

The silence was... Dangerously soft.

Then—

Bzzz. Bzzz. Bzzz.

Kael's phone started buzzing violently across the room, vibrating on the kitchen counter like it was possessed. Riven twisted in Kael's arms. "you gonna get that?" Kael grunted against his neck. "nope."

"...Might be important?"

"not more important than this." Riven blinked. "...You're serious."

"i don't do half-assed, Riven. You should know that by now." The phone eventually stopped. A few moments passed. Riven, trying to keep it light, teased, "what if it was one of your scary gangster calls, huh? Business boss stuff?" Kael pulled back just enough to lock eyes with him. "then they can wait. I'm busy."

Riven fumbled with the hem of his shirt, his fingers slipping as heat crept up his neck. "D-Don't say it like that," he muttered, voice barely steady. Kael leaned to him, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Why not?" he said, eyes gleaming with amusement. "You were the one acting all smug about it two seconds ago."

Riven shot him a glare, though the blush blooming across his cheeks ruined the effect. "Yeah, well, that was before you went full drama king on me." Kael raised an eyebrow, mock-offended. "I'm not dramatic. You're dramatic."

"I'm literally just trying to put on my shirt and leave," Riven huffed, yanking the fabric over his head with more force than necessary. "Too bad," Kael replied smoothly. His grin deepened. "I'm not done with you yet."

He lets go.

Riven, finally free, gets up with the most exaggerated sigh ever and walks toward the door, hoodie sliding down again just to spite him. He glances back with a smirk. "you sure you're not gonna pull me back again?"

Kael, from the bed, raises a brow. "you want me to?" Riven shrugs, pretending to be nonchalant. "maybe. Kinda fun messing with you." Kael narrows his eyes. "you're gonna regret that." Riven takes one step toward the door. Kael is off the bed in two seconds flat.

He strides forward, grabs riven by the waist again, and this time lifts him up slightly before letting him fall back into his arms like a prize he's claimed. Riven laughs—nervous and breathless. "wait, wait—Kael—what the hell?!" Kael smirks, lips grazing Riven' s ear. "you said it's fun messing with me... Now it's my turn."