As Kayden stepped out of the store, the shopping bag swinging lightly at his side, he caught his reflection in the glass door and paused.
A soft laugh escaped him.
"Didn't I just promise to act more mature?" he muttered to himself, shaking his head as he walked down the sidewalk. The memory of the message he sent Thaddeus flashed in his mind. He hadn't expected a reply, let alone the full amount transferred like it was no big deal.
He chuckled again, lips curving into a grin. "I can't help it," he said under his breath.
There was something about teasing Thaddeus that made his chest tighten in the best way. Like he was playing with fire but still drawn to the heat. It wasn't about the money. It was the reaction. The silent way Thaddeus always responded. No fuss. No lecture. Just action. As if he saw him, understood him… even in the things left unsaid.
Kayden clutched the bag a little tighter and glanced up at the sky, his smile softening.
"I'll adjust soon," he told himself, voice low.
Maybe not all at once. Maybe not perfectly.
But he would.
Especially if it meant being someone Thaddeus could take seriously.
Someone he couldn't ignore.
Thaddeus sat across from the boardroom table, nodding politely at the investors' superficial talk, but his mind had drifted.
A smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
He had transferred the money without hesitation or questions.
Kayden knew what he was doing. That message is playful. Almost bratty was bait. And Thaddeus had taken it, not because he had to, but because he wanted to.
Because the thought of Kayden walking around a store, pouting over price tags, pretending he couldn't spend his own money just to tease him, it made something warm settle in his chest.
"Mr. Grey?" one of the men across the table asked, tilting his head. "Something amusing?"
Thaddeus blinked, forcing the smile to fade. He cleared his throat and leaned forward, fingers laced together.
"No. Just a good start to the day," he said coolly.
But beneath the calm exterior, something restless stirred. It is a quiet, dangerous kind of hope.
The meeting had stretched longer than expected, filled with endless discussions and shifting agreements. But eventually, it wrapped up. As soon as Thaddeus settled into the backseat of his car, he pulled out his phone and typed a message.
Are you home or still outside?
Kayden responded a minute later.
I'm back home… but I have a headache.
Thaddeus paused. Just a few hours ago, Kayden had been teasing him with playful texts and shopping requests. Now this sudden shift in tone made him uneasy.
You were fine this morning, he replied, fingers moving slower now. If it's serious, let the driver take you to the hospital.
Kayden read the message, but no reply came. He was trying to act more mature lately, and telling Thaddeus he didn't want the driver to take him might make him sound like a kid again. So he stayed quiet.
Thaddeus stared at the screen for a moment longer, then sighed. He understood without needing an explanation. Kayden had never liked the driver taking him anywhere.
A few minutes passed before Thaddeus sent another message.
I'm on my way home. I'll take you myself.
This time, Kayden responded.
Okay.
Thaddeus leaned back in his seat, exhaling deeply. The ache in his chest wasn't from stress. It was something else. Something harder to name.
But he didn't question it.
Thaddeus got home and went straight to Kayden's room. He knocked once before gently opening the door and stepping inside.
Kayden looked up from the bed, slowly rising to sit. The dim light brushed over his new hairstyle, something subtle yet more refined. Thaddeus noticed it immediately and offered a small smile.
"You changed your hair," he said softly. "It suits you."
Kayden's lips curved slightly, but before he could reply, he leaned forward and wrapped his arms around Thaddeus. The older man didn't push him away. He allowed the embrace, resting a hand lightly on Kayden's back.
"Shall we go to the hospital?" Thaddeus asked gently, his voice careful.
Kayden didn't respond right away. He kept his arms around Thaddeus, his head resting against his shoulder. When he finally spoke, his voice came out softer than usual, almost childlike.
"I don't like the smell of hospitals. I don't want to go."
Thaddeus looked down at him, silently taking in the boy in his arms. Kayden might have been trying to act more mature lately, but moments like this reminded him that beneath all the effort, he was still the same spoiled, tender-hearted boy. And that was part of who he was.
Without speaking, Thaddeus leaned down and pressed a light kiss to Kayden's forehead.
"Alright," he said. "Let me call my doctor. He'll come here and treat you at home. Will that be okay?"
Kayden nodded slowly. "That's fine."
Thaddeus pulled out his phone and made the call. While they waited, Kayden stayed close, resting against him with his eyes half-lidded. His body was warm to the touch, and Thaddeus could feel the faint tremble in his frame.
The doctor arrived not long after, carrying a small medical bag. Thaddeus stepped aside to let him work while Kayden sat up, trying to stay composed.
After checking his temperature and vitals, the doctor gave his assessment.
"He has a high fever," he said calmly. "Could be stress-related. Maybe exhaustion too. It seems like he's been carrying more than he lets on."
Thaddeus listened quietly, nodding as the doctor administered treatment and handed over a set of medications, along with instructions for dosage and rest.
Once everything was done, the doctor packed up and left, assuring Thaddeus he'd check in again the next day.
As the door closed behind him, Thaddeus turned back to Kayden, who was now curled under the blanket, eyes heavy but still open.
Thaddeus placed the medicine on the nightstand and adjusted the duvet around him.
"Get some sleep," he said softly.
Kayden reached out and gently tugged his hand.
"Will you stay?" he asked.
Thaddeus hesitated for a moment, then sat down beside him again.
"I'll stay."
And with that, the room fell into a quiet stillness, the only sound the soft hum of the night beyond the window.
Thaddeus passed the night in Kayden's room, remaining beside him. The night settled into a quiet calm, broken only by the soft sound of breathing and the ticking of the wall clock.
Sometime past midnight, Kayden stirred under the covers. A slight groan escaped his lips as he shifted, reaching blindly toward the nightstand for the glass of water. His hand fumbled in the dark, barely brushing the glass.
Thaddeus woke instantly at the movement, his instincts sharp. Without a word, he reached over from behind Kayden, steadying the glass before it tipped over. His hand brushed against Kayden's as he lifted it.
The contact made Kayden freeze for a second, his breath catching in his throat. The air between them tightened, warm, close, charged.
Thaddeus held the glass out to him. "Here."
Kayden took it slowly, drinking in silence. Thaddeus watched, his eyes adjusting to the dim light that filtered through the slightly opened curtains. When Kayden finished, Thaddeus retrieved the glass and placed it carefully back on the table.
Without saying anything, Kayden leaned into him, resting his head gently against Thaddeus's chest. The room was still again, wrapped in quiet tension.
Thaddeus didn't move. He simply stared ahead, his hand resting softly on Kayden's back. His thoughts churned questions, emotions, confusion. What was this between them? What was he allowing? What did it mean?
But no answer came. And eventually, sleep returned to him too.
The next morning, the calm was broken by the sharp ring of the front gate bell.
Darren had arrived.
Though the household had already begun to stirred.
Thaddeus had already gone back to his room earlier, showered, and changed into a fresh set of clothes, returning just in time with a breakfast tray in his hand. When he returned to Kayden's room, Kayden had also cleaned up and was now sitting up, propped against his pillows, looking much better than the night before.
He set it down and helped Kayden sit upright, placing the food gently on his lap.
Not long after, the doorbell rang again. One of the maids answered.
A young voice echoed downstairs, polite but firm. "I'm here for Kayden. My name's Darren."
The maid climbed the stairs and knocked at Kayden's bedroom door. Thaddeus, still seated beside Kayden, answered.
"Yes?"
"A young man named Darren is downstairs, sir. He's here for Kayden."
Thaddeus paused, glancing at Kayden.
Caught off guard, Kayden sat up straighter. "Oh, he messaged me last night. I told him I wasn't feeling well, but I didn't expect him to actually come."
Thaddeus studied him for a moment, expression unreadable. Then he nodded.
"It's fine," he said calmly. He turned to the maid. "Let him in."
The maid nodded and walked off.
Thaddeus rose to his feet, smoothing his shirt and preparing to step out to give them space. Just as he was about to rise and head toward the door, Kayden's fingers wrapped around his wrist.
Thaddeus turned slightly.
Kayden searched his face. "You're not angry… right?"
Thaddeus leaned in, his voice low and reassuring. "We'll talk after your friend leaves, okay?"
Kayden nodded slowly, his eyes still watching him.
A few moments later, footsteps echoed in the hallway, followed by a soft knock on Kayden's bedroom door.
Thaddeus opened it.
Darren stood just outside, led up by the maid.
"Thank you," Thaddeus said to her quietly, then stepped aside to let Darren enter.
He gave Kayden one final look, something unreadable flickering in his eyes, before walking out, leaving the two friends alone.