Aris could almost hear Aahan's voice in his head. 

He gazed at his hand, and shut it almost immediately. His hand looked dark of course, because of the shadows around him. It didn't mean anything. It couldn't.  However, once he had learnt that he could use his powers to not only manipulate emotions but even absorb them, he realised soon that it came at a cost. Balance was the way of nature and every time Aris cured the corruption out of someone, it was he himself who got corrupted. A tiny bit each time. 

He would be alright. He had to. He had to get over this stupid war. And then finally, when no threat of prophecy loomed over the man he loved, they could truly be together. Truly looking for a future. 

As if on cue, Zeke's hand tightened around his own. "Do you think checking the rooms would be dumb?"

It took a while for Aris to comprehend his words and realize they were now on the first floor. The corridor they stood in was pitch black, but oddly enough, Aris wasn't afraid. There were things worse than the darkness. 

"Maybe," Aris said. "Seems like an obvious place to hide. But it couldn't hurt to check, since we're already here."

Zeke started leading him deeper into the inky darkness and for a split second, his crippling fear seemed to return before he sighed deeply. A tiny click, deafening in the darkness, sounded; and Aris realized Zeke had unlocked some door to his left. A moment later, they stepped into a room which was strangely brighter than anything else outside it. Illuminated by a single flickering lamp in the corner. Aris couldn't see much of the scarcely furnished room, except a large bed to his right, massive curtains across the wall from them, a door to their left which he assumed led to the bathroom. A large wardrobe stood near the wall to their right and the walls were barely illuminated enough to make out the rich wooden panelling. There was something vaguely familiar about it. 

Zeke sighed softly beside him before saying, "This is...was..my room."

Even with the gravity of the situation, Aris was mildly surprised at the revelation. He reluctantly dropped Zeke's hand as his curiosity led him deeper into the room, parts of it were almost completely dark. "It's so..." Aris struggled to find a proper words. "-um...."

"Boring?" Zeke suggested, walking over to him as Aris chuckled. He had been in Zeke's room before but scarcely seemed to remember much of it. The memory was etched deep into his brain and the finer details of the room had slipped far away. 

"Well, I was going for simple but I guess that works." 

Zeke smirked slightly before his features darkened. "It feels so strange to be back here. Like...a different life."

Aris contemplated his words for a few seconds. For him, it was another life. He wondered what it would be like to be back in his own room. But he knew he couldn't dwell on it. Not right now. 

Aris walked over to the bed, glancing at the bedside stand which was empty. No photographs. No trinkets. No customization of any sort. "Did they change the room after you left?"

"Er...no," Zeke answered. "What makes you think that?"

Even before Zeke had answered, Aris had realized that the room had been left exactly the same. He saw a pile of random assortment of clothes bundled onto the bed. "Just...there's no...personalization whatsoever."

Almost like Zeke had never really felt at home here.

Zeke shoved his hands into his pockets and shrugged. "I wasn't here too often. Spent most my time at Lisette's or Stonewall."

Aris could never really get used to the way Zeke would call his aunt by her first name. But now that he had a stepmother, he could understand the awkward situation. 

"So you changed stuff there?" Aris asked, his heart skipping a  beat when he noticed something among the bundled up clothes. 

"I didn't really have much. I ran from home, remember?" Zeke said. Aris bit his lip but didn't respond. Maybe his question had been stupid. Zeke detested his childhood and everything about it. Why would he keep any trinkets?

He leaned over and pulled out a piece of black cloth that had looked vaguely familiar. And even though he hadn't seen that particular hoodie of his since what felt like years, he recognized it right away. 

"Is this...mine?" he asked, his throat closing up. He glanced at Zeke and even through the dim lights, he could see his cheeks blazing. 

"Er...no," Zeke lied before sighing. "Yes."

"Where did you get it?" Aris asked, his ears ringing. 

Zeke seemed to be chewing on his lip, shuffling his feet before he finally answered, "After you...you know-" he seemed to be having trouble getting words out. "I went to... your dad's place and-" Zeke sighed and Aris slowly realized what had happened. "I kinda nicked that from your room."

The idea was so strange to Aris. Even though he himself had been smitten with Zeke ever since he had seen him, he couldn't imagine that Zeke would ever feel the same about him. The idea that Zeke had taken his clothes, treasured them as a memory seemed so out of character for him. 

The scent. The sense of comfort. What Aris had missed like a madman. Zeke had too. 

"Oh," Aris said finally, dropping the hoodie back onto the bed. 

"Kinda pathetic I know," Zeke said quickly. "But I...I...just..."

"Shut up," Aris said softly, walking over to him. "You make things really bad by speaking."

"I know," Zeke said. 

Aris was quiet, wanting to tell Zeke how much it meant to him. All through his life, Zeke seemed to be the only one who had ever returned his love. He had his own strange and sometimes cruel way. But Aris knew he tried. And the sole idea that someone was trying, merely trying to love him, was enough to be grateful. 

He kissed Zeke, his heart coming to life at once. Zeke didn't protest, his mouth opening against his immediately. And for a few surreal moments, the world around them disappeared. Their tongues entangled hotly as Zeke's hand travelled lower down his body, grabbing him close as the kiss deepened. Aris caressed his face tenderly, knotting his fingers in Zeke's soft hair as fire burst in the pit of his stomach. A scandalous thought formed in his mind before he reluctantly broke the kiss, reminding himself of the situation they were in. 

"I...guess they're not here," he whispered breathlessly, slowly leaning away. "Where should we check next?"

Aris' rampaging heart fluttered a little at Zeke's intense gaze. But something about his eyes was melancholic. The dark shroud that seemed to be a permanent resident. And his lust was overcome rapidly by a cold sense of dread. 

"Zeke," he began, "Are you..hiding something from me?"

Zeke bit his lower lip, clearly conflicted before he sighed. Aris' heart dropped as he waited for the lie which he knew would slip out of Zeke's lips. 

"Yes."

Aris gaped at him, astounded that he had stated the truth. 

"But..." Zeke sighed, "I...I think it's better that you...don't know."

Aris' stomach knotted anxiously. "Are you serious right now? You can't just say that to me and expect me to not be worried."

Scared. He was scared. Not worried. But he didn't want to admit it. Not when he had clearly shown so much weakness. 

"I'm...sorry," Zeke said softly, averting his gaze and Ais realized pestering him for an answer was going to be fruitless. He conceded reluctantly, much against his better judgement and reminded himself that for now, they had a mission at hand. Zeke gazed at him silently for a few seconds, in a way that despite the situation they were in, Aris' heart couldn't help but flutter. Like the remnants of first love, he had lost and found. Almost surreal. 

Zeke grabbed his hand and brought it to his mouth, gently brushing his lips across his fingertips, a fleeting touch of his hot breath enough to send goosebumps along Aris' skin. "We should look on the second floor." 

Aris was struck for a while at how ordinary the dark around him suddenly felt. A true witness of how much things had truly changed. He was mildly surprised that Zeke was able to navigate his way through the dark so well in a place which he apparently wasn't familiar with. They stepped foot on the second landing, and at once, Aris had an odd feeling. A presence. Multiple perhaps. 

"Do you...feel weird?" Zeke asked in a low voice. 

"Yes," Aris whispered back. "Reckon they're here?"

Zeke took a deep breath, "Only one way to find out." 

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There's been a lot going on. 

I hope everyone out there is keeping safe regarding the current situation </3 Just know that we're all in this together. 

And I may have some super exciting news to share soon as well! More details awaited on that. Thanks for reading!