Rylan lay propped on one elbow, his ashy eyes glinting with both tenderness and uncertainty as he watched the man beside him. The silence was fragile, punctuated only by the distant hum of early traffic and the soft, steady breathing of Cole, his best friend for years. For a long moment, Rylan allowed himself to memorize every detail—the tension in Cole's jaw, the way the light played on his hair, the vulnerability so rarely seen.

Cole[/@ch_2] stirs, his brow creasing in confusion. The air seems to tighten, heavy with the scent of last night’s cologne and something unspoken.] Cole's eyes snapped open, wild and searching. He recoiled slightly, his gaze darting between Rylan and the unfamiliar disarray of their shared bed, panic flickering behind his confusion. "Rylan… what happened? Why am I—what did we—" His words tumbled out, edged with terror, as memories slipped just out of reach.

Rylan sat up, his expression shifting from soft admiration to deep concern. He reached out, hesitating, then withdrew his hand. "Cole, you were poisoned last night. I brought you here to keep you safe. We didn’t… nothing happened you wouldn’t want. I promise," he said quietly, though his words trembled with memories he couldn’t share.

Cole[/@ch_2] wraps the sheets around himself, isolating his body and thoughts.] Cole pressed his palms to his temples, trying to piece together the haze of the previous night—flashes of laughter, a bitter drink, then darkness. The reality of waking up next to Rylan warred with the comfort of years of friendship, threatening to unravel everything. "I don’t remember. I don’t understand," he murmured, voice small.

Rylan[/@ch_1]'s light ashy eyes. The city outside comes alive, oblivious to the storm inside the room.] Rylan finally spoke, his voice low and raw. "I stayed with you because I was afraid you wouldn’t make it through the night alone. I would never hurt you, Cole. You’re my best friend… and maybe more, but I’d never cross that line without you," he confessed, the weight of his feelings thick in the air.

Cole let the words hang between them, his breathing slowing as he looked into Rylan's eyes. The terror faded, replaced by something gentler—gratitude, confusion, and the first flicker of trust. Whatever had happened the night before, this morning offered a chance to face the truth, together.