Random BL One-Shots

Ephemeral Love

Inspired by Hoshikuzu Venus - Aimer

The rain pattered gently against the windows of the high-rise apartment, a steady rhythm that mirrored the beating of Aureon's heart calm on the surface, but underneath, a storm raged. He stared out into the city's dark skyline, the neon lights flickering like fading stars in a polluted sky. This city was a perfect reflection of his life, a dazzling veneer hiding its rotten core.

"Aureon..." Juaneño's voice called softly from behind him, pulling him from his reverie. The sound of his name from Juaneño's lips was like a balm for his wounded soul, but it also brought a sharp pang of guilt and dread that he couldn't shake. Juaneño had become his everything a bright light in his otherwise dim existence but loving him meant inviting danger into both of their lives.

Aureon turned, his gaze meeting Juaneño's piercing, dark eyes, eyes that had captivated him from the first moment they met. Juaneño stood there, drenched from the rain, his long black coat clinging to his body, making him look both ethereal and fragile, yet with an air of mystery and danger. Every time Aureon looked at him, he was reminded of how fragile their love was in a world as cold as the one they lived in.

Juaneño stepped closer, his wet boots squishing against the floor, but his eyes never left Aureon's. "You've been thinking again, haven't you? About him."

Aureon winced. Of course, Juaneño knew. He always knew. No matter how hard Aureon tried to forget Kingstone how hard he tried to erase the man who had left his mark on his soul Kingstone's presence loomed like a specter, always there, always watching.

"I can't help it," Aureon whispered, his voice shaking. "He won't leave us alone. No matter what we do, no matter how far we run, he's always there."

Juaneño's jaw clenched, a rare flicker of anger crossing his usually calm demeanor. "Kingstone doesn't own you, Aureon. He never did. He's just trying to control you because he can't stand the fact that you chose me."

Aureon flinched, not because of Juaneño's words, but because they were true. Kingstone, with his cold, manipulative ways, had once held Aureon in his thrall. Their relationship had been toxic, built on power and control rather than love, but there had been a time when Aureon had mistaken that for affection. That's why breaking free had been so painful, why Kingstone's betrayal had hurt so deeply. It wasn't love—it was obsession, a sick kind of addiction that Aureon had fought to break free from. But now, Kingstone was back, and the game had turned deadly.

"Do you think he'll let me go that easily?" Aureon's voice cracked. "He said he'd rather see me dead than with someone else."

Juaneño's eyes softened as he reached out, his hand resting on Aureon's cheek. "We'll protect each other. We're stronger together, Aureon. I won't let him hurt you."

But there was something in Juaneño's voice, a hint of doubt, a crack in the façade of confidence he usually wore. They both knew the truth—Kingstone wasn't just a threat. He was a force that neither of them fully understood, a man who wielded power over people's lives with a cold, calculating ruthlessness.

And Aureon knew, deep down, that no matter how much Juaneño tried to reassure him, Kingstone's reach was far too long.

Later that night, Aureon lay in bed, Juaneño's warmth pressed against his back, his arms wrapped around him like a protective barrier. But sleep wouldn't come. His mind kept replaying memories moments from when he had first met Kingstone, back when everything had been different. He remembered the way Kingstone had seemed like a beacon of power, his presence magnetic, drawing Aureon into his orbit. Kingstone had promised him everything a life free from the pain of his past, a future where he didn't have to be afraid anymore. But those promises had been lies, illusions meant to trap him in a cage.

A sharp knock at the door startled Aureon from his thoughts, and Juaneño was already on his feet, his hand reaching for the gun he kept hidden under the bed. Aureon's heart raced as he pulled himself up, fear gripping his chest like a vice. They both knew who it was before they even answered.

Juaneño opened the door cautiously, revealing Stallion, their loyal friend and the only one they could trust in this dangerous game. But Stallion's face was grim, his usual bravado replaced with worry.

"He's coming," Stallion said in a low voice, glancing nervously over his shoulder. "Kingstone's made his move. He's putting out orders to take you both in. If you don't leave now, you're dead."

The weight of those words hung heavy in the air. Aureon felt his stomach drop, and Juaneño's grip tightened on his gun. There was no time left. No more running. No more hiding.

They had to face Kingstone.

The abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city was eerily quiet, the only sound the soft dripping of rainwater through the rusted ceiling. Aureon stood in the middle of the dimly lit space, his hands trembling as he faced the man who had once ruled his world, Kingstone.

Kingstone, dressed in his usual expensive suit, stood tall and imposing, his eyes gleaming with that familiar mixture of power and cruelty. He was the same as ever—untouchable, immovable, a king in a world of pawns.

"I gave you everything, Aureon," Kingstone's voice was cold, yet laced with venomous affection. "And this is how you repay me? Running off with him?" His eyes flicked to Juaneño, who stood protectively beside Aureon, gun drawn and ready.

Aureon's breath caught in his throat. He had never seen Kingstone like this so unhinged, so desperate. But the danger was real, palpable in the air. Aureon knew that Kingstone wouldn't let them walk away from this.

"You never gave me anything," Aureon's voice trembled but held firm. "You just took. You took my freedom, my life, my will. But not anymore."

Kingstone's lips twisted into a cruel smile. "Is that what you think? You're free now, Aureon?" His gaze darkened. "I can still take everything from you. Watch."

Before Aureon could react, Kingstone raised a hand, and the sound of gunfire echoed through the warehouse. A sharp cry split the air, and Aureon's heart shattered as he turned to see Juaneño collapsing to the ground, blood staining his chest.

"No!" Aureon screamed, rushing to Juaneño's side. He cradled him in his arms, his vision blurring with tears. "Juaneño, please, no..."

Juaneño's eyes fluttered open, his breathing ragged. He smiled weakly, his hand reaching up to touch Aureon's face. "I told you... I wouldn't let him... hurt you."

Aureon sobbed, shaking his head. "No, no, you can't leave me. Please, don't leave me."

Juaneño's hand fell limp, his eyes closing as the life drained from him. The world around Aureon seemed to collapse, and all he could hear was the sound of his own heart breaking.

Behind him, Kingstone chuckled, the sound dark and victorious. "I told you, Aureon. If I can't have you, no one can."

Something inside Aureon snapped. With a guttural scream, he grabbed Juaneño's gun, his shaking hands aiming it at Kingstone.

Kingstone didn't flinch. He just smiled, the same cruel smile he always wore. "Go ahead, Aureon. But you know it won't change anything. You'll always belong to me."

Aureon's finger trembled on the trigger, his mind swirling with pain and fury. But then, the weight of everything crushed him—the realization that no matter what he did, he could never escape this darkness.

The gun fell from his hand, clattering to the floor as he collapsed beside Juaneño's lifeless body, his sobs echoing through the empty warehouse.

In the end, there was no escape. No victory. Just the cruel, fleeting nature of love, and the devastating power of memory.

And in the darkness, Aureon knew that his heart had shattered into pieces that would never be whole again.

The city lights flickered outside, indifferent to the tragedy that had unfolded within. Life went on, but for Aureon, the world had ended that night in the rain.

The stars had faded, and the love that had once been his guiding light was now nothing more than a distant, ephemeral dream.