The room was silent after Aiden passed out in Shinomi's arms, the only sound being the quiet crackle of the fireplace. Cassian looked frozen. Celestia was watching with an unreadable smirk, but Shinomi… Shinomi didn't care about either of them anymore.
"Aiden," he whispered.
The boy didn't stir—his breath was warm and slow against Shinomi's chest, his arms loose but trusting, as if there were nowhere else he belonged.
"He's drunk," Cassian finally muttered, stepping forward. "We should take him back to his room."
"I'll do it," Shinomi said sharply, already lifting Aiden in his arms.
He was light—almost too light. Pale fingers clutched at the fabric of Shinomi's collar even in sleep, and his head rolled against his shoulder.
"He shouldn't have drunk that much," Cassian said. "Did he steal it from the kitchen?"
Celestia rose and walked past both men. "Or maybe he just needed the courage. And neither of you were offering it."
With that, she exited the room, her gown trailing behind her like the last shadow of a storm.
---
Shinomi carried Aiden back to his chambers, past the startled guards, who quickly looked away, pretending not to notice how gentle the warrior prince held the fragile boy.
Once inside, Shinomi laid Aiden carefully on the bed.
He started to pull the blanket over him, but Aiden stirred.
"Mmm… Shinomi?" he whispered sleepily, his hand reaching blindly.
"I'm here," Shinomi said, catching his hand and brushing back a lock of hair that stuck to his damp forehead.
Aiden opened his eyes, dazed and warm. "You didn't drink my tea."
"I know."
"Didn't even look at me…"
"I know."
"Do you hate me?"
Shinomi sat on the bed beside him and gently placed Aiden's hand against his chest. "I never hated you," he whispered. "I just… didn't know what I was feeling. And I got scared."
Aiden smiled softly, eyes already closing again. "You're strong… what are you scared of?"
Shinomi didn't answer right away. He just watched the boy slowly drift off, his breathing becoming steady.
Then, barely audible, he said, "Of wanting something I might lose."
---
Later that night, Shinomi sat beside the bed, watching over Aiden like a silent knight. He noticed the small details he always missed when he was pretending not to care—the way Aiden curled slightly in his sleep, the way his lashes brushed his cheeks, the way his lips parted softly when he dreamed.
For the first time in weeks, Shinomi didn't think about Celestia.
He didn't think about Cassian either.
Only Ren. Only Aiden.
And the warmth now quietly sleeping beside him.
--