𝖈𝖑𝖚𝖇 / HEAVEN

a soft, hesitant breath escaped leyla’s lips as she shifted against the cushion, her brunette hair falling gently over her shoulders while her glassy eyes stayed fixed on them. she wrapped her sweater a little tighter around herself, her sweet, quiet demeanor radiating a gentle innocence that made the tangled web between them feel even more delicate. she knew sneaking around like this was bound to get complicated —— especially considering who they used to date —— but sitting here with them made all the guilt temporarily fade into the background. “so what did you tell them this time about why you had to cancel?” she asked softly, her voice carrying a light, hopeful murmur as she searched their face —— quietly wondering how much longer they could keep a secret like this to themselves.

jordan leaned back comfortably against the deep cushion of the seat, a lazy grin spreading across his face as his eyes locked onto the other. tall and handsome, his clean-cut style and neatly trimmed beard caught the warm light while he crossed his long legs, letting out a low chuckle that settled the energy between them. “y’know, you're surprisingly good company,” he murmured, his smooth voice carrying a chill, amused edge —— a rare admission that hung lightly in the air as he tapped a steady rhythm against his knee and waited to see how they'd take it.

wesley wiped down the polished wood of the bar with a damp rag, his dark shaggy hair falling slightly into his eyes as he kept his focus on his work. despite his reserved silence, his tanned arms and rounded muscles flexed with every quiet movement, his sharp mind tracking every single thing happening in the dim room —— including the way they were leaning across the counter. he paused, setting the rag aside to lean his forearms on the oak, his dark gaze lifting to meet theirs with a blunt, unreadable calm. a dry, sarcastic twitch tugged at the corner of his mouth before he spoke, his quiet voice cutting through the ambient hum of the tavern. “do you always flirt like that?” he asked, resting his chin in his hand as he studied them, entirely unfazed. “because if you’re trying to buy yourself a free drink... you’re going to have to do a whole lot better than that.”

elara crossed her arms tight against her chest, her slight, model-thin frame practically humming with defiance as her bright blonde hair spilled over her shoulders. despite standing a head shorter than them, she held her ground with that oversized pride that always got her into trouble —— her sharp eyes glaring up at them with absolute conviction. she poked a finger against their chest, her delicate chin lifted high as a feisty smirk threatened to crack through her stern composure. “don’t think i won’t hold it against you forever,” she warned, her voice carrying that trademark stubborn edge that made it clear she meant every word. “when this inevitably comes back to bite us, i’m going to make sure you never hear the end of it.”

jensen chuckled, a low sound vibrating in his chest as he took a lazy step forward, towering over them with that insufferable grin that always let everyone know he was fully aware of how good he looked. his blonde hair caught the light just right —— naturally effortless, of course —— and his bright eyes danced with pure mischief as he crossed his arms, the fabric of his shirt stretching tight over his athletic frame. he shook his head, leaning down just enough so his smirk was directly in their line of sight, his voice dripping with sarcastic charm. “it’s too late. you can’t take it back,” he teased softly, his tone laced with a cocky confidence that proved he’d already won this little game. “you said it, it’s out there in the universe now, and honestly? i’m pretty sure it’s legally binding.”

a soft, flustered heat crept up brynn’s neck as she shifted slightly under the weight of their gaze, her blonde hair falling over her shoulder as she let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. her heart was beating just a little too fast —— a silent betrayal of the sweet, easy composure she usually kept —— but she squared her shoulders anyway, her bright eyes flashing with a mix of playful sass and quiet vulnerability. she pressed her lips together to suppress a small, shy smile, leaning back against the edge of the counter to put a fraction of space between them. “don’t look at me like that,” she murmured, her voice carrying a gentle lilt despite the blush dusting her cheeks. “you’re going to make me forget what i was about to say…”

the faint scent of rain clung to the heavy leather of luca’s jacket as he stood in the doorway, his tall frame cutting off the draft while his dark eyes locked onto the sleek, unmarked envelope resting on her kitchen counter—and then straight to her face. he took a single step inside, the latch clicking shut behind him as his hands slid into his pockets, tracking the sudden, telling shift in her posture the moment she scrambled to shield it with her body. “it’s not yours,” she’d blurted, her voice laced with a sharp panic that instantly set off every alarm in his head. a slow, dangerous smirk pulled at the corner of his lips as he closed the remaining distance with an easy, predatory grace, his long fingers skimming the side of her throat to feel the betraying flutter of her pulse before resting heavily on her hip to pull her close. “sweetheart,” he murmured, his rough whisper vibrating right against her skin as his dark gaze searched hers, “you ought to know by now... if it’s sitting in your apartment, looking like it’s bothering you this much, it’s definitely mine. now try that again, and tell me what the hell you’re trying to hide from me.”