The walk back to Ethan’s apartment was quiet, the only sound being the crunch of gravel underfoot and the distant hum of the city nightlife. Zane walked beside him, hands shoved deep into his pockets, his gaze flicking to Ethan every few seconds as if to make sure he was still there.
Ethan glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, feeling a strange sort of tension coiling in his chest. He couldn’t tell if it was nervousness, anticipation, or something else entirely. After everything that had happened tonight—the almost kiss at the park, Jonah’s teasing interruption—he wasn’t sure what to expect.
“So,” Zane began, breaking the silence with a casual drawl, “I’m guessing you’re not used to late-night walks like this, huh?”
Ethan shook his head slowly. “Not really. I usually just go straight home after a mission… or sometimes I just stay at the base.”
“Figured,” Zane said with a chuckle. “I bet you haven’t been getting out much lately, huh?”
Ethan’s brow furrowed, confused by the sudden shift in Zane’s tone. “What do you mean?”
“Well, with how much you’ve been working lately… I bet you’re even more uptight than usual,” Zane teased, his grin widening. “I’m surprised you haven’t, I dunno, exploded from all that pent-up energy.”
Ethan blinked, his cheeks warming slightly. “I—what are you talking about?”
Zane smirked, his eyes glinting with mischief. “You know, all that stress? All those nights spent alone?” He leaned in, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Haven’t you heard that a little, uh, ‘release’ can do wonders for your mood?”
Ethan’s face flushed bright red, his eyes widening in shock. “Wh-what?! Zane, what are you—”
“Relax, I’m just messing with you,” Zane said with a laugh, waving a hand dismissively. “I mean, I’m not wrong, but—”
“Stop,” Ethan muttered, his voice strained with embarrassment. “I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Sure you don’t,” Zane said, his grin turning almost predatory. “You’re way too easy to mess with, you know that?”
Ethan huffed, looking away in an attempt to hide his flustered expression. “You’re such a jerk.”
“Aw, don’t be like that,” Zane murmured, leaning closer until his shoulder brushed against Ethan’s. “I’m just trying to loosen you up a bit. You’re always so tense.”
“I’m not tense,” Ethan muttered defensively, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Uh-huh, right,” Zane drawled, clearly not convinced. “Anyway, we should get you home. You’ve had a long night.”
Ethan’s lips parted in surprise. “But… aren’t you tired too?”
“Not really,” Zane replied with a shrug. “I’ve got plenty of energy left. But you…” He reached out and gently poked Ethan’s cheek. “You’re starting to look like a zombie.”
Ethan swatted his hand away, but there was no real heat in the gesture. “I’m fine. I just… I don’t know.”
Zane’s gaze softened, and he slowed his pace, letting Ethan catch up. “Hey… I’m just messing with you, okay?” His voice was gentle, almost tender. “I just want to make sure you’re doing all right. I know it’s been… rough lately.”
Ethan’s chest tightened at the concern in Zane’s voice. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to relax. “I know. I just… It’s hard.”
“Yeah, I get it,” Zane murmured. “But you don’t have to deal with it alone, you know? I’m here for you.”
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...
