---
Aiden knew he'd messed up.
He knew he should have told Sion everything from the start—but he hadn't. And now, the gap between them had turned cold. Frigid. Sion didn't even look at him the same way anymore.
After the argument at the bar, Aiden left alone. The night air was harsh, sobering him with every step he took toward his condo.
But when he reached the door, his hand instinctively reached into his pocket… and came up empty.
No key.
He groaned. "Perfect…"
It was too late to call his friend. And calling Sion? The man he just yelled at in a drunken mess? The same man whose heart he was trying to win back?
He sat on the cold hallway floor, knees pulled to his chest, head buried. "I'm such an idiot…"
Footsteps echoed down the hall.
He didn't bother looking up until the sound stopped right in front of him.
"…You dropped this."
Aiden slowly lifted his head.
Sion.
Standing there, tired, calm… holding his condo key.
"You…" Aiden blinked. "Why are you here?"
Sion crouched down and extended the key. "Found it near the bar. I figured you'd be locked out."
For a second, Aiden just stared. Fate really had a strange sense of humor.
He reached out and took the key, fingers brushing against Sion's hand. "Thanks…"
A beat passed.
Then Aiden, with a little pout and a light sway in his voice, said, "Can you unlock it? I'm drunk…"
Sion hesitated, but then gave a silent nod. He walked over and unlocked the door with a soft click.
But what he wasn't expecting was Aiden already pulling off his shirt as he stepped inside, dropping it casually near the door.
Sion stiffened. "What are you doing?"
Aiden turned halfway, shirtless, hair a little messy, cheeks still red from alcohol. "It's my house. I'm just getting comfortable," he said, smirking—just a little.
Sion looked away sharply, jaw tensing. "Then get comfortable. Alone."
Aiden stepped closer. "Or… you could crash here again. Like last time."
Sion's brows furrowed. "You want me to stay?"
Aiden leaned against the wall and looked at him with that same soft gaze that used to melt Sion so easily. "Do you want to go back alone… or stay with me, just for tonight?"
Sion's silence was the only answer for a while.
He hated that he still cared. He hated that one look from Aiden made his walls tremble. But most of all—he hated how much he missed Ren in Aiden's voice.
Finally, he nodded. "Fine. Just tonight."
Aiden's eyes lit up. "I'll take the sofa."
Sion didn't argue.
Later, as the night grew quiet, Aiden curled up on the couch, a warm blanket around him. From the slightly ajar door of his room, he saw Sion lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
Nothing happened that night.
But Aiden knew one thing for sure.
He'd won a small piece of Sion back.
And it was only the beginning.
---