Chasing Shadows

Chapter Eighty-Two: Breaking Point

The soft hum of the laptop was the only sound that filled the room, the gentle whirr blending with the quiet of the early morning. The dim light of the screen cast shadows across the bed, its glow highlighting Zane's focused expression as he scrolled through a series of documents. His brows furrowed as he scanned through the mission details, strategies, and encrypted messages that Rhea had sent him.

Ethan lay beside him, his body nestled in the blankets, eyes fixed on the ceiling. The silence between them was comfortable, yet it held a certain heaviness-one that had lingered ever since Ethan had returned home. They hadn't talked much, but Zane had stayed close, as if silently telling Ethan that he was there, that he wasn't alone.

But now, in the quiet hours before dawn, Ethan's mind buzzed with thoughts he couldn't seem to shake. He turned slightly, his gaze drifting over to Zane, watching him type something quickly on his laptop. The intensity in his expression was familiar, a look that Ethan had grown used to seeing in Zane whenever he was knee-deep in villainous plans with Rhea.

Taking a slow breath, Ethan shifted closer, his head resting against Zane's shoulder. He felt Zane tense slightly, then relax as he glanced down at him.

"Can't sleep?" Zane asked softly, his voice a low murmur. He reached out, running a gentle hand through Ethan's hair, fingers brushing soothingly against his scalp.

Ethan shrugged, the weight of the conversation he needed to have weighing down on him. "Not really... Just been thinking."

Zane's eyes softened, the intensity in them fading slightly as he looked down at Ethan. "What about?" he asked gently, pausing his work and giving his full attention to Ethan.

There was a long pause, and then Ethan shifted, propping himself up on his elbow to look Zane in the eye. "About... what happened earlier today," he started, his voice hesitant. "With Asher."

Zane's brow furrowed. He closed the laptop and set it aside, his focus completely on Ethan now. "What did he say?"

Ethan looked away, his jaw clenching slightly. He could feel the anger bubbling up again, the frustration and hurt mixing together into something almost unbearable. "He... told me to take a break from being his sidekick."

For a moment, Zane didn't react. His expression remained neutral, but the sudden shift in the air between them was palpable. "He what?" Zane's voice was low, almost dangerously calm.

"He said I should take a break from missions. From... being a hero." Ethan's voice wavered slightly, but he forced himself to continue. "He thinks I'm... I don't know, a liability or something because I'm-"

"-because you're with me," Zane finished for him, his tone sharp. There was a flash of anger in his eyes, but he quickly tamped it down, not wanting to let it out on Ethan. "He's punishing you for being in a relationship. With me."

Ethan nodded slowly, his gaze dropping to the sheets. "I know he's just trying to protect me. But it's frustrating. He thinks I can't make my own decisions... or that I'm putting myself in danger just because I'm with you."

Zane's hands tightened into fists for a moment before he forced himself to unclench them. "That's not fair," he muttered, more to himself than to Ethan. "He has no right to decide what's best for you. You're not a kid; you're his partner-his equal."

Ethan let out a bitter laugh. "Apparently, I'm not. Not anymore." He ran a hand through his hair, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "I tried to tell him that you're not... that you're not a bad person, but he wouldn't listen. He just kept telling me to stay away from you."

Zane's jaw clenched, his expression darkening. "Of course he would. Because I'm a villain, right? Because I don't fit into his perfect image of what a hero should be." He shook his head, letting out a frustrated breath. "And what did you say?"

Ethan hesitated, his heart hammering in his chest. He hadn't meant to blurt it out earlier-to tell Asher the truth in the heat of the moment. But once the words had left his mouth, he couldn't take them back.

"I told him about us," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Zane stilled, his eyes widening slightly. "You... told him?"

Ethan nodded, biting his lip. "Yeah. I couldn't... I couldn't keep lying to him. It just slipped out. I was so mad, and I-"

"-you shouldn't have to hide," Zane interrupted, his voice firm but gentle. He reached out, cupping Ethan's cheek with his hand, his thumb brushing softly against his skin. "I'm proud of you. For standing up for us. For being honest. Even if Asher doesn't like it."

Ethan's eyes stung slightly, and he leaned into Zane's touch, taking a deep breath. "He was so angry. I thought... I thought he was going to hit me."

Zane's grip tightened just a fraction, a dark look crossing his face. "If he ever lays a hand on you, I'll-"

"He didn't," Ethan cut in quickly, placing his hand over Zane's. "He wouldn't. Asher's... he's not like that. He's just... hurt. I know I blindsided him."

There was a heavy silence between them for a moment. Then, Zane let out a long, slow breath, his shoulders sagging slightly. "So, what now? Are you really going to take a break from hero work?"

Ethan shrugged helplessly. "I don't know. I guess I don't have much of a choice. Asher said he can handle things on his own for a while, and that I should... focus on other stuff."

"'Other stuff,'" Zane repeated with a slight sneer. "Like what? Sitting around doing nothing? Watching from the sidelines while he gets himself killed?"

Ethan flinched, but he didn't argue. "It's... it's complicated, Zane. Asher's my mentor. He's like a brother to me. And now... I feel like I've lost him."

Zane's gaze softened, and he pulled Ethan closer, wrapping his arms around him. "You haven't lost him," he murmured, his voice gentle. "He's just... being a stubborn, overprotective idiot right now. He'll come around eventually. He loves you, Ethan. He just... doesn't know how to deal with it."

Ethan buried his face in Zane's chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath his cheek. "I don't know if he will," he whispered, his voice breaking slightly. "What if... what if I have to choose? Between you and him?"

Zane's arms tightened around him, and he pressed a soft kiss to the top of Ethan's head. "Then I'll make the choice for you. I'll walk away if it means keeping you from getting hurt."

Ethan jerked back, his eyes wide. "No! Don't-don't say that. I don't want you to leave."

Zane's expression softened, and he brushed a thumb over Ethan's cheek, wiping away the stray tear that had slipped free. "I'm not going anywhere, okay? I'm just saying... I don't want to be the reason you lose the people you care about. You shouldn't have to give up anything for me."

Ethan shook his head stubbornly. "I'm not giving you up. I don't care what Asher thinks, or what anyone else thinks. You're... you're the person I want to be with."

Zane's lips curved into a small, tender smile. "You're too good for me, you know that?"

Ethan huffed softly, his lips twitching upwards despite himself. "You're just saying that because you want me to forgive you for stealing all the blankets last night."

"Hey, it's not my fault you're so warm and cuddly," Zane teased, his tone lighter now, a hint of mischief returning to his eyes. "Besides, you looked cute shivering there. Gave me an excuse to hold you tighter."

Ethan rolled his eyes, but he couldn't suppress the smile that finally broke through. "Idiot."

"Yeah, but I'm your idiot," Zane murmured, leaning in to press a soft kiss to Ethan's lips.

For a moment, everything else faded away-the argument with Asher, the uncertainty of what the future held. In that small, shared space between them, there was only warmth, and understanding, and love.