Aiden's pov
Aiden woke up to a softness that didn't belong to him.
The first thing he felt was warmth not the cheap thin blanket from his parents house but something smoother silkier, the air carried a faint scent of antiseptic and pine, crisp and clean his eye lids fluttered open and sunlight spilled across a white ceiling too high, too white too perfect.
He blinked once.twice the room didn't shrink or change marble floors, cream walls with art he'd never afford. Curtains so tall they could swallow his entire room back home, a chandelier glinted faintly above scattering light like tiny diamonds. He swallowed his throat dry.
This isn't home.
He pushed himself up slowly feeling the soft resistance of the mattress beneath him, the sheets were smooth, satin he thought and cold against his fingers every small movement echoed, there was space everywhere the kind of space that felt to clean, too intentional then it hit him a sharp pulse behind his eyes and with it came fragments of last night:
The alley
The men
The needle
His legs giving out.
And someone's voice low and firm, and furious, shouting his name before everything went black.
Aiden's breath hitched, his chest rose and fell too fast he turned his head sharply scanning the edges of the room like a cornered animal, his voice cracked when he finally spoke "w...where the hell am I" he half expected chains but there was none no ropes no bruises no rough hands just the silent hum of air conditioning and heavy beating of his own heart then he saw him. Neo was lying a few feet away stretched on a separate couch his hands over his eyes as if he'd been there all night relief rushed through Aiden's chest so suddenly it hurt. He stumbled out of bed padding across the cold marble barefoot shaking neo's shoulder "neo hey wake up" Neo groaned blinking himself awake his eyes softened the moment he saw Aiden "you're awake" he said quietly sitting up "thank God".
*What's going on?... where are we?.. why are you here? did we-" Aiden's voice trailed off as he gestured around helplessly Neo sighed rubbing his face "you are safe.. Kellen he found you before those guys could take you, you're in the estate, lucas's estate" Aiden froze still half disbelieving "wait Lucas as in your boss Lucas? The rich one with the permanent scowl and that whole mafia energy going on" neo gave him a look "you could just say yes".
"oh my God" Aiden muttered pressing a hand to his chest "so the guy that saved me that was kellan right the one with the Sharp jawline and that look that screams I break bones for fun" Neo groaned "please don't start" "I'm just saying" Aiden raised his hands defensively grinning now that the fear had started to fade "his hot and if I died yesterday at least I died in front of a fine man" "Jesus Christ Aiden!"
Neo tried to keep a straight face but failed a small smile cracked through . Aiden chuckled softly tensions slowly draining from his body he rubbed the back of his necks suddenly realizing his voice might have echoed because the air around them shifted.
it wasn't silent anymore he felt it that pull that strange presence as though eyes were on him, he turned and his heart skipped . At the far end of the room stood four figures Lucas calm and unreadable, Elijah with his hands folded two men he didn't recognize but they looked like Lucas a bit and had the same intimidating Grace. Aiden blinked his mouth going dry he didn't know how long they'd been standing there but judging from lucas's raised brow and neo's embarrassed cough it had been long enough to hear every single word. Kellans expression didn't shift but his gaze did slow, steady unreadable it burned through Aiden like heat through glass. Aiden swallowed hard "well.." he started forcing a weak laugh "I was just..uh. appreciating your life saving skills" Neo buried his face in his hands. Lucas exhaled through his nose like a man too tired for this kind of drama and Kellan. Kellan just smirked. A small dangerous curve of his lips.
"Glad to know my looks where the highlights of your near death experience" he said his voice low smooth and annoyingly calm Aiden blinked "oh so you did hear that" "every word" neo groaned quietly "Aiden please" Lucas stepped forward hands tucked neatly into his pockets eyes sharp as ever he had that look the kind that could slice through excuses before they were even spoken "you're awake that's good" he said simply he tone carrying authority without trying "you gave everyone quiet a scare last night" "sorry?" Aiden offered weakly, his voice small against the weight of lucas's presence "you don't have to apologize" Elijah said from behind his tone kinder, more gentle "you were targeted for a reason that has nothing to do with you but you are safe now" the world should have comforted him but instead they raised a question that pressed tightly against his chest.
"Targeted?"
He looked from Elijah to Neo then back to Lucas "wait what do you mean targeted I'm not.. I'm not even involved in any of this stuff you people do" neo hesitated his gaze flicked briefly to Lucas then down "it's complicated" "try me" Aiden said his voice trembling slightly though he tried to sound braver then he felt "I nearly got kidnapped, injected and God knows what else I deserved to know why" the room went quiet for a heartbeat Lucas finally exhaled "we are still finding out who's behind it but they were after neo not you, you just got caught in the line of fire".
Aiden stomach sank his hands went cold he turned slowly towards neo whose face was drawn, guilt settling in his eyes like a shadow "I'm sorry" neo murmured "I should've never involved you at all.. I didn't think they'd-" "stop!" Aiden cut him off before he could finish "don't you dare start apologizing like it's your fault I exist... I'd rather be in this weird marble Mansion than wherever those men were planning to take me".
The words came out sharp but his voice cracked at the end he didn't mean to sound scared but he was, every time he closed his eyes he could still see the alley, still feel the sting on his neck the blur of movements before the world faded.
A heavy silence fell again then Kellan moved he stepped forward, quiet but deliberate until he stood only a few feet from Aiden up close he was taller than he remembered the kind of tall that made you straighten your spine without realizing his eyes were cold yet something flickering beneath something restrained "you're safe now" he said "they won't come there you again" aiden stared at him searching his face for a hint of softness "you sound so sure" kellan's jaw flexed "because if they try again they won't live long enough to regret it" the words sent a chill through the room Lucas shot him a warning glance, but kellan didn't break eye contact with Aiden. He didn't need to raise his voice his promise was steady enough to make Aiden believe him. something warm and confusing stirred in Aiden's chest gratitude maybe or curiosity or just the shock of realizing this man, this stranger had thrown himself into danger for him.
"Uh...thanks" Aiden said quietly scratching the back of his neck "for, you know saving me and threatening to murder people for me. That's oddly comforting"
That earned him a faint twitch of kellen's lips not quite a smile but close enough to make neo roll his eyes.
Lucas clapped his hands once breaking the tension "alright enough dramatics breakfast is waiting neo bring him down we'll talk strategy after"
As they all started moving towards the dining hall Aiden lingered for a moment still clutching the edge of the sheet like a shield. kellan was the last to leave pausing briefly at the door he's gaze swept over Aiden again slow unreadable before he said "next time if you notice someone following you don't run into an alley. Run towards people".
Aiden blinked cut off guard by the unexpectedly practical advice "yeah well next time I'll make sure my life threatening situation comes with a manual" kellan's mouth curved again that same subtle smirk "good I'd hate to save you twice" and he was gone Aiden stared at the door long after it closed his pulse still fluttering a strange warmth blooming beneath the fading fear, he didn't know it yet but that was the exact moment the slow burn started to smolder. The sound of footsteps faded down the hall and for a while silence filled the room again.
Aiden exhaled shakily and turned to neo who was still sitting at the edge of the bed eyes fixed on his hands. The morning light caught the faint bruises on his jaw a reminder that the chaos hadn't left him untouched either "you okay?" Aiden asked softly neo looked up surprise "I should be asking you that" "well-" Aden said letting out a dry laugh "considering I woke up in an unknown Mansion surrounded by mysterious hot people who apparently kill for a living I've had better mornings." Neo cracked a smile but it didn't reach his eyes "I'm really sorry Aiden you got dragged into something you never should have been part of I didn't tell you before because I thought keeping things quiet would keep everyone safe" "safe?" aiding frowned "Neo I got tranquilized in a dark Alley that's not quiet that nightmare level danger" "I know" Neo's voice dropped "those men they were after me not you Lucas thinks it's connected to what happened at the office that guy darian he wasn't acting alone.... someone else is pulling the strings and they are watching anyone connected to us".
Aiden Leaned back slowly the weight of Neo's words settling in "so that's why I was followed" neo nodded "Lucas's team is already looking into it until then you are staying here he doesn't take chances when it comes to threats so he says" Aiden was quiet for a while just staring at the silk sheet between his fingers the realization of how close he'd come to being taken or worse made his throat tighten then neo added quietly "you know when I called Lucas I didn't think he'd come I just.. I panicked I didn't know who else to call" he laughed nervously "I thought he'd say Aiden isn't worth the trouble" Aiden blinked then punched his shoulder lightly but enough to make Neo flinch "first of all rude.. second of all you saved my life remember where even" Neo's laugh came out softer this time "yeah maybe we are".
A knock interrupted the quiet moments followed by a maid's voice through the door "breakfast is ready don't make Sir Lucas wait" "sir lukas!" they both said holding in their laughs neo stood brushing off invisible dust from his shirt he said "come on before Kellan decide to carry you down there himself" Aiden groaned but he stood up anyways his legs a bit wobbly from the after effects of the injection and the drugs he has taken earlier "if he tries it I'll let him"
Neo smirked "you've fallen haven't you" "fallen!!!!" Aiden sang
They left the room together heading down the stairs.