The training room was quiet save for the rhythmic sound of water trickling from the cooler. Asher handed Ethan a chilled bottle, his gaze lingering on the younger man’s face. The tension from their sparring session hadn’t completely dissipated; Ethan’s shoulders still seemed drawn tight, his expression shadowed with uncertainty. But there was something else there too—something Asher recognized as a stubborn determination to push through whatever internal battle was brewing.
“Thanks,” Ethan murmured, accepting the bottle and taking a long sip. He glanced up at Asher, who was watching him with a mix of concern and something deeper, something almost akin to protectiveness.
Asher leaned against the wall, folding his arms across his chest. “You know you don’t have to shoulder everything alone, right? I’m not just your mentor, Ethan. I’m your partner. If something’s eating at you, I want to know.”
Ethan shifted his gaze to the floor, the weight of those words pressing down on him. He knew Asher meant them—knew that if he asked for help, Asher would move mountains to give it. But that was part of the problem. It was easier to keep everything bottled up than to risk burdening Asher with his own doubts and insecurities. Easier to pretend that everything was fine, even when it wasn’t.
“Yeah, I know,” he said quietly, though his tone lacked conviction.
Asher’s gaze softened, a small sigh escaping his lips. He pushed away from the wall and took a step closer, his presence solid and reassuring. “Look, I’m not going to push you. But I need you to understand something, Ethan—no matter what’s going on, it doesn’t make you weak. It doesn’t mean you’re failing. We all have our moments of doubt. Hell, I’ve had more than my fair share.”
Ethan looked up, surprise flickering across his face. “You?” The idea of Asher—the always-composed, seemingly unshakable Titan—having moments of doubt was hard to imagine. Asher had always been the epitome of strength and confidence, someone Ethan looked up to and aspired to be like.
Asher chuckled softly, a hint of self-deprecation in the sound. “Yeah, me. Believe it or not, I wasn’t always this… put together.” His smile faded, replaced by a more contemplative expression. “I’ve had times when I felt completely lost. When I questioned whether I was doing the right thing—whether I was being the right kind of person. You think I’ve never struggled with the weight of all this?”
He gestured vaguely around them, as if encompassing not just the gym but everything—their roles, their responsibilities, the impossible expectations placed on them as heroes.
Ethan blinked, caught off-guard by the admission. He’d never thought of Asher as anything less than resolute. But seeing him now, hearing the raw honesty in his voice, it was like glimpsing a side of Asher that few people ever got to see. It made him feel… closer, somehow. Less alone.
“I guess I just assumed you always had it together,” Ethan admitted, his voice softer now, more thoughtful. “That you didn’t—couldn’t—struggle with this kind of stuff.”
“Then you were wrong,” Asher said simply, but there was no reproach in his tone. “I’ve made plenty of mistakes. I’ve had moments where I didn’t know if I could keep going. But I had people who believed in me—who reminded me of who I was when I couldn’t see it myself.”
He stepped forward, placing a hand on Ethan’s shoulder, the gesture both gentle and grounding. “I want to be that person for you, Ethan. I believe in you. Even when you don’t.”
Ethan swallowed hard, his throat tightening. He looked up at Asher, something unspoken passing between them—a shared understanding, a connection that felt stronger now than it ever had before. He could see the sincerity in Asher’s eyes, the unshakable faith he had in him. And for the first time in days, the knot of anxiety in his chest began to loosen, just a little.
“Thanks, Asher,” he whispered, the words carrying more weight than he could express. “I… I needed to hear that.”
Asher’s smile was soft, almost affectionate. “Anytime. And, hey—how about we take a break from all the serious talk for a bit?” He straightened, a mischievous glint appearing in his eyes. “I’ve been working on this new recipe, and I could use a taste-tester. You up for it?”
Ethan blinked, taken aback by the sudden change in topic. “Wait, you cook?”
Asher let out a mock gasp, feigning offense. “Of course I cook! What, you think I survive on protein bars and energy drinks alone?”
Ethan couldn’t help it—a small laugh escaped him, the sound almost foreign after everything that had happened. “Honestly? Kind of, yeah.”
“Wow, I’m wounded,” Asher teased, pressing a hand dramatically to his chest. “Come on, then. Let me prove you wrong.”
Ethan hesitated for only a moment before nodding, the tension in his shoulders finally easing. Asher clapped him on the back, his grin widening as he led the way out of the gym. For a little while, the lingering shadows of doubt faded into the background, replaced by something lighter, something that felt almost… normal.
---
Later that Evening
Asher’s apartment was a reflection of its owner—tidy and organized, with just a touch of personal flair. Ethan glanced around as they stepped inside, his gaze catching on the collection of books neatly arranged on a shelf, the framed photographs on the wall. There were snapshots of Asher with people Ethan didn’t recognize, candid moments that showed a side of him that felt more human, more grounded.
“Make yourself comfortable,” Asher called from the kitchen, already pulling out ingredients from the fridge. “This might take a while.”
Ethan settled onto the couch, feeling an odd sense of familiarity settle over him. It wasn’t the first time he’d been here, but tonight felt different—more intimate, somehow. Like he was seeing Asher not just as a mentor or a hero, but as a person. A friend.
They fell into an easy rhythm as Asher cooked, the conversation flowing naturally between them. They talked about everything and nothing—training routines, random memories from their pasts, even a few embarrassing stories that had them both laughing until their sides hurt.
For the first time in what felt like forever, Ethan felt like he could breathe again. The doubts and fears were still there, lurking at the edges of his mind, but they didn’t seem quite as overwhelming now. Not with Asher’s steady presence beside him, grounding him, reminding him of who he was and who he could be.
---
Ethan’s POV
As the night wore on, Ethan found himself watching Asher more closely—studying the way his expression softened when he laughed, the way his eyes lit up as he recounted some anecdote from his past. There was so much more to him than the strong, unshakeable hero everyone else saw. Layers of complexity and vulnerability that made him… real.
Ethan didn’t know what the future held, didn’t know if he’d ever be able to fully shake off the doubts Zane had planted. But right now, in this moment, with Asher beside him, he felt like maybe—just maybe—he could find a way forward.
One step at a time.
YOU ARE READING
Chasing Shadows
Teen Fiction"Chasing Shadows" is a tale of darkness, obsession, and unexpected desire. Zane, a calculating villain with a vendetta against the city's beloved hero, Asher, finds his meticulously crafted world disrupted by an unexpected presence-Ethan, the hero's...
