The night air was crisp and cool as Zane made his way through the city, his mind still buzzing from his tense encounter with Asher. He wasn’t sure why he had agreed so readily to stay away from Ethan in Asher’s presence. Perhaps it was because he knew it wouldn’t last—knew that Asher didn’t really have a clue about what was truly going on. Or maybe it was simply because he couldn’t bring himself to make things harder for Ethan, despite the hero’s connection to Asher.
Lost in thought, Zane found himself heading toward one of the city’s quieter parks. The paths were lined with tall trees, their leaves rustling softly in the breeze. It was a place of relative peace and solitude—a sanctuary for those who needed to escape the constant noise of the bustling city.
And that’s when he saw him.
Ethan was sitting on a wooden bench under the soft glow of a lamppost, seemingly at ease. He had Rascal on his lap, the little dog curled up and dozing contentedly. Ethan’s gaze was directed upward, staring at the dark sky dotted with stars, his expression thoughtful and serene.
A rare smile tugged at Zane’s lips as he observed Ethan from a distance. It wasn’t often that he saw the hero so relaxed. Most of the time, Ethan was a whirlwind of energy, constantly pushing himself to be better, to do more. But here, in the stillness of the night, he looked almost… peaceful.
Deciding to seize the opportunity, Zane moved quietly, making his way closer without making a sound. He approached from behind, his footsteps light on the grass, until he was standing just a few feet away from the bench.
Then, with a mischievous grin, he leaned down, his lips hovering near Ethan’s ear. “Boo.”
Ethan jerked in surprise, his heart leaping in his chest. Rascal yelped, startled awake by the sudden movement. “What the—!” Ethan whirled around, his eyes wide, and then narrowed as he recognized the smirking figure behind him. “Zane, what the hell? You scared me half to death!”
“Did I?” Zane’s voice was laced with playful innocence, his eyes twinkling. “I thought heroes were supposed to be unflappable.”
“Yeah, well, I wasn’t exactly expecting a surprise ambush in the middle of the park,” Ethan muttered, his pulse still racing. He glared at Zane, but there was no real heat in his gaze. “You really need to work on your timing.”
“I thought my timing was perfect.” Zane sauntered around the bench, taking a seat beside Ethan. “But I guess I can work on it if it’s bothering you, my dear hero.”
Ethan rolled his eyes, but a faint smile tugged at his lips. “You’re insufferable, you know that?”
“I’ve been told,” Zane replied with a casual shrug. He glanced down at Rascal, who had settled back into Ethan’s lap, still eyeing Zane warily. “Looks like your little friend wasn’t too happy about my entrance either.”
“Yeah, well, you did give us both a mini heart attack,” Ethan grumbled, his fingers absently stroking Rascal’s fur to calm him. “So, what are you doing here? Decided to take a break from villainy to scare the locals?”
“Actually,” Zane drawled, leaning back against the bench, “I came to see you.”
Ethan blinked, surprise flickering across his face. “Me?”
“Mm-hm.” Zane nodded, his gaze turning serious. “There’s something I wanted to talk to you about.”
“Okay…?” Ethan raised an eyebrow, curious. “What is it?”
Zane hesitated for a moment, his gaze dropping to his hands as he considered how to approach the subject. “I… ran into Asher tonight.”
The casual statement sent a jolt of shock through Ethan. His heart skipped a beat, and he turned to Zane, his eyes wide with alarm. “What? You—what happened? Did he—?”
“Relax,” Zane interrupted, his tone calm and reassuring. “We didn’t fight or anything. We just… talked.”
Ethan stared at him, disbelief etched on his face. “You and Asher talked? Like, actual words?”
Zane chuckled softly. “Yes, Ethan. Actual words. We didn’t even throw a single punch.”
“That’s… kind of hard to believe,” Ethan muttered, his brow furrowed. “What did you talk about?”
Zane’s lips quirked into a smirk. “You, mostly.”
“Me?” Ethan’s eyes widened even more, a flush of confusion and concern coloring his cheeks. “Why were you two talking about me?”
“Well, he doesn’t know about us,” Zane said, his voice turning more serious. “But he’s really protective of you. He kept telling me to stay away from you.”
Ethan groaned, running a hand through his hair. “Of course he did. Asher’s always been overprotective. But… you didn’t tell him, did you? About us?”
“Of course not,” Zane replied, shaking his head. “But I did have some fun messing with him.”
“What do you mean by ‘messing with him’?” Ethan asked suspiciously, his gaze narrowing.
“I just asked him a few questions about you,” Zane said with a shrug, his tone nonchalant. “Wanted to see how much he’d give away.”
Ethan sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Zane, you can’t just—”
“Relax, beautiful,” Zane interrupted, his voice softening. “I didn’t push him too hard. Just enough to see what he’d say.”
Ethan shook his head, exasperated but unable to keep the small smile off his lips. “You’re impossible, you know that?”
“And yet, here you are,” Zane teased, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “Still putting up with me.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Ethan muttered, his cheeks flushing slightly. He looked away, trying to ignore the way his heart fluttered at Zane’s words. “So… what did Asher say?”
“Not much,” Zane admitted, his expression turning thoughtful. “Just kept telling me to stay away from you. Kept asking why I was interested in you.”
“What did you tell him?” Ethan asked softly, a hint of apprehension in his voice.
“I didn’t tell him anything,” Zane replied quietly. “But… he knows I care, I think.”
Ethan’s breath hitched slightly, and he turned to look at Zane, his eyes searching the man’s face. “And… do you?”
Zane met his gaze, his expression open and vulnerable in a way that made Ethan’s heart ache. “You know I do,” he murmured.
For a moment, they just stared at each other, the weight of unspoken words hanging between them. Then, slowly, Ethan reached out, his fingers brushing lightly against Zane’s.
“I care about you too,” he whispered.
Zane’s smile was soft, genuine. “I know.”
They sat like that for a while, the silence between them comfortable and filled with an unspoken understanding. Finally, Zane broke the quiet.
“So, about Asher…” he began, his tone lightening again. “You think he’d punch me if he found out about us?”
Ethan snorted, his lips curving into a grin. “Oh, he’d definitely punch you. And probably throw me into a wall too for keeping it a secret.”
“Sounds like fun,” Zane said with a chuckle. “Maybe we should tell him sooner rather than later, just to get it over with.”
Ethan laughed softly, shaking his head. “Yeah, right. Let’s just enjoy the calm before the storm for a little longer, okay?”
“Fine, fine,” Zane relented, his smile widening. “But I’m holding you to that, beautiful.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Ethan murmured, leaning back against the bench. He glanced up at the stars, a sense of contentment settling over him. “Just… stay here for a bit, okay?”
“Always,” Zane whispered, his gaze lingering on Ethan’s profile.
And in that moment, with the night sky above them and the world quiet around them, it felt like everything was exactly as it should be.
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...
