The Parallel Paths

Tension

"That fucking loser!" Zack slammed a pillow across the room, fuming with anger. His breath came out in rough huffs, his pupils glowing a slight orange color.

"Loser is dramatic, and calm down." Elara sat on the edge of the bed, rummaging through her bag which was barely hanging on by a thread.

He shot his glare over to the blonde, her long flowing hair draping down her back. Her fingers tugged and tangled in with the brittle thread of her bag.

He grunted in frustration, her nonchalant response pushing his buttons further, though— his heart began to race. Angry, he stormed over to her, now glaring down at her sitting on the bed.

"You can't seriously be disagreeing with me!? You know he's a glorified brat with way too damn much power!" He exclaimed once more, his eyes going wide in his protest.

Elara dropped her bag and leaned back on her hands slightly, narrowing her eyes as her head tilted subtly, as if rethinking his argument.

The silence was confusing for Zack and her uncertainty only fueled his anger more, along with slight embarrassment as she silently focused only on him. This made his heart begin to pound against his rib cage, everything feeling more heavy— dense.

He rested his gaze on her golden irises, losing himself as her orbs collided with his— unable to break free from impact. He didn't want to pull away anyways— her soft gaze had a moderate effect on him.. his body.

This caused his gaze to soften briefly, trialing his amber eyes along her body then back up to her face.

Flushed— he stopped himself midway, his gaze tensing once meeting back with her.

"What?" He grumbled, narrowing his sharp red gaze.

Elara caught his gaze, a confused yet subtle blush washed across her cheeks in response. She shook it off, grumbling in hopes of choking those burning questions down— did he really just check me out!?

"I can't lie, he's definitely off." She muttered, grabbing her bag once more and emptying it's contents down across the floor in attempt to save them from the now growing dust farm within her bag.

He grunted in response, looking away from her. He tried to force that frown, keep up that facade but he felt it crumbling under this growing tension. His heart picked up pace and he felt hotter than usual, what the hell is happening to me!?

"Though, I feel like we can trust him." Elara muttered.

"WHAT!?" Zack snapped, his anger only fueling back to its peak. He had grown a deep hatred for the king ever since being humiliated by him— in front of her.

He started shouting nonsense and complaints toward her about the fire king, his pupils glowing a bright bloodshot red of pure anger and resentment—

it really annoyed Elara.

She shifted slightly on the bed, dropping her things to move and pinch the bridge of her nose in annoyance.

A furious sigh tore from her lips as she squeezed her eyes shut, his voice drilling into her skull like a damn jackhammer. Every word he shouted made her blood boil hotter, rage rising like a tide she couldn't stop. And the heat—oppressive and suffocating—was only throwing fuel on the fire.

"Can you shut up?" She snapped, shooting him a sharp glare.

He paused, his eyes going slightly wide now glaring down at her. Did she really just—