Hugo found himself adjusting to life in Cap Cana—though "adjusting" might have been too strong a word. It was more like he was floating, caught between desire and uncertainty, between moments where Leonardo felt like a protector and times when he seemed to be Hugo's beautiful, undeniable captor.
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Days bled into nights in a blur of whispered conversations and stolen glances. Every touch between them felt electric, even accidental brushes of their fingers. One night, after a walk along the shore, Hugo felt something strange—the pulse in his wrists seemed to throb with a new intensity. As they stood by the water, Leonardo close enough to brush shoulders, Hugo realized he could feel the rhythm of Leonardo's heartbeat as if it were his own.
He looked up, confused. "Is... is it normal to feel things like this? To hear your heartbeat so clearly?"
Leonardo's eyes sparkled in the moonlight, a slight, teasing smile tugging at his lips. "Not... entirely normal," he admitted, his fingers lightly tracing Hugo's hand. "Maybe there's more to you than either of us realized."
In the days that followed, Hugo's senses sharpened—he could see in the dark, every sound seemed heightened, and he began to notice a faint but growing warmth in his skin, like a power waiting to be called. Leonardo noticed too. It became their quiet secret, something just for them. He would guide Hugo, helping him test his limits in playful, gentle ways—like finding delicate seashells in the dark or walking silently through the forest, practicing their steps to avoid making a sound.
One evening, Leonardo pulled Hugo close during their sunset walk, close enough that Hugo could feel the subtle shiver running down his spine. "You don't know how rare you are, Hugo," Leonardo murmured, his voice so soft it was almost a whisper. "In all the worlds, I've never seen a human with power like yours. I don't want to lose that. I don't want to lose you."
Hugo felt a swell of emotions rise in him, words of confession nearly spilling out. But he stopped himself, unsure if Leonardo could feel the same. Still, he was too captivated to pull away, caught in Leonardo's gaze, their faces inches apart.
As Hugo's powers grew, so did their bond. One night, after a series of tense, breathless experiments, Hugo felt his back prickle, like something was unfurling beneath his skin. He staggered back, gasping, as small, translucent wings—like a moth's, fragile yet otherworldly—sprouted from his shoulders. Leonardo's eyes widened, his expression a mix of awe and reverence. "Hugo... this isn't just rare. It's... magnificent."
The two of them stood in silence, and for a moment, Hugo thought he saw a flicker of vulnerability in Leonardo's eyes—a hint of fear, as if this display of Hugo's power reminded him of his past. But he didn't pull away. Instead, he reached out, brushing his fingers over the wings, a touch both reverent and careful.
"I tried to do this for someone, once," Leonardo whispered, his voice barely audible. "To give her strength like yours... but I failed."
Hugo's heart ached as he caught the pain in Leonardo's gaze. Slowly, he reached out, touching Leonardo's cheek. "I'm not her, Leonardo," he said softly. "And you won't lose me. Not as long as we're together."
Leonardo pulled him closer, their foreheads pressed together in a quiet, unspoken vow.
But deep in the shadows, the villain was watching. He could sense the power rippling through Hugo, and he knew that if Hugo's strength continued to grow, it could threaten the delicate balance between worlds. The time to strike would come soon.
