The soft clinking of cutlery on plates had long since faded into the background as Zane and Ethan stepped out onto the small balcony attached to Ethan’s apartment. The night air was crisp, carrying a faint scent of rain, and the city lights below painted a vibrant, living canvas. Zane leaned casually against the railing, lighting a cigarette with a flick of his lighter.
He took a deep drag, the tip glowing a soft red in the dim light, then exhaled slowly, the smoke curling up and dissipating into the night. He glanced sideways at Ethan, who was sitting on a low stool nearby, his gaze fixed intently on Zane’s face.
Zane raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. “What? Never seen someone smoke before?”
Ethan blinked, clearly caught off guard by the question. “Huh? No, I mean… I’ve seen it before.”
“Then why are you staring?” Zane teased, his smirk widening.
Ethan shifted awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. “I dunno. It’s just… weird seeing you smoke.”
“Weird?” Zane repeated, arching an eyebrow. “How so?”
Ethan shrugged, his gaze flicking to the cigarette and then back to Zane’s face. “I don’t know. You just don’t seem like the type.”
“Oh, really?” Zane said, feigning offense. “And what’s the ‘type,’ Mr. Judgey?”
Ethan let out a soft huff, trying to suppress a smile. “You know… the ‘I’ve-got-my-shit-together’ type. Smoking doesn’t really scream that.”
Zane burst out laughing, nearly dropping his cigarette in the process. “Oh, please. If I’ve got my shit together, then I’d hate to see what you call a mess.”
Ethan’s lips twitched, and he leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms over his chest. “Hey, I’m not that bad.”
“Sure, sure,” Zane said, nodding exaggeratedly. “You’re just a little pyro with a death wish.”
“Pyro?” Ethan repeated incredulously, narrowing his eyes at Zane. “I don’t set everything on fire.”
“Could’ve fooled me,” Zane shot back with a grin. “Pretty sure you set that poor guy’s pants on fire during your last mission.”
“That was an accident!” Ethan protested, his cheeks flushing slightly.
Zane chuckled, shaking his head as he took another drag of his cigarette. “Right, an accident. You just accidentally threw a fireball at his ass.”
Ethan’s lips twitched again, but he tried to maintain a serious expression. “It was a tactical maneuver.”
“Tactical, huh?” Zane drawled, his grin widening. “Yeah, you keep telling yourself that, hotshot.”
Ethan shook his head, but there was a smile on his lips now, and Zane felt a flicker of warmth spread through his chest. It was nice, being able to banter like this again. To laugh, to joke, to just… be.
After a few more minutes of comfortable silence, Zane glanced at Ethan again, catching him watching him with that same curious expression.
“Seriously, though,” Zane said, stubbing out his cigarette on the railing. “Why are you staring at me like that?”
Ethan blinked, his gaze dropping to the ground. “I don’t know… You just look… different. More relaxed.”
“Really?” Zane said, raising an eyebrow. “You think I look relaxed?”
Ethan nodded slowly. “Yeah. Happier, too.”
Zane’s chest tightened slightly at that, but he forced himself to keep his tone light. “Well, I am with you, so… can you blame me?”
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...
