˚୨୧˚⊹♡⊹Zero x reader ⊹♡⊹˚୨୧˚

Title: Shadows of Night

Chapter One: The Crimson Rose

---

The moon hung high over Cross Academy, casting a cold, silvery glow over the silent grounds. For most Day Class students, the night meant sleep and peace—but for her, it was the beginning of duty, mystery, and danger.

As a member of the Disciplinary Committee, patrolling alongside Zero Kiryu meant enforcing the fragile balance between the human Day Class and the enigmatic, dangerous Night Class vampires. Despite the familiar routine, tonight’s patrol was anything but ordinary.

The memory of the crimson rose left outside her dorm room lingered. Its petals had been soaked in vivid red, accompanied by a chilling message scrawled on a slip of paper: “You belong to the night.”

She hadn’t yet told Zero. His temper was as sharp as his aim, and mentioning mysterious notes and roses left by unseen admirers wasn’t likely to go over well.

---

“Eyes forward,” Zero snapped, breaking through her thoughts. His silver gaze swept the path ahead, his hand never far from the gun at his hip. “Stay alert. The Night Class isn’t playing games.”

“I know that,” she shot back, annoyed by his perpetual grimness.

Silence stretched between them as they moved toward the Moon Dormitory, where the Night Class waited in orderly silence. At their center stood Kaname Kuran, elegant and commanding as ever. His crimson gaze locked onto hers, unreadable yet heavy with meaning.

Her breath hitched, but she refused to look away. Beside her, Zero tensed visibly, fingers twitching near the grip of his gun.

“Kuran,” Zero greeted coldly. “Move along.”

Kaname’s smile was faint but laced with amusement. “Always so protective, Kiryu. You should relax—trust that she can handle herself.”

Zero bristled, stepping forward. “Stay out of her business.”

Kaname ignored him, his attention still fixed on her. “Be careful tonight,” he warned, voice low and smooth. “Not everything in the dark is as it seems.”

Her pulse quickened, the rose’s message flashing in her mind. Yet she forced her voice steady. “We can handle it, Kaname.”

His gaze lingered a moment longer before he signaled the Night Class students to proceed into the building.

---

The patrol concluded without incident, but tension hung heavy as she returned to her dorm. The rose lay untouched on her desk, its vivid petals stark against the pale wood. The folded note lay beneath it, silent yet imposing.

A sharp knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.

She opened it to find Zero, his expression dark and unreadable as he stepped inside without waiting for an invitation.

“We need to talk,” he said flatly.

Her brow furrowed. “About Kaname again?”

His lips pressed into a thin line. “Not just him. You—”

His words cut off abruptly when his gaze landed on the desk. His eyes narrowed dangerously as he stalked toward it, picking up the rose and note. “What the hell is this?”

Her heart skipped a beat. “It’s nothing—just a prank or something.”

Zero’s grip tightened on the rose, his knuckles white. “This isn’t just a prank. Who gave it to you?” His voice was low but furious. “Was it Kaname?”

“I don’t know!” she snapped. “I found it outside my door.”

His eyes blazed. “You should’ve told me about this.”

“Why? So you could overreact like this?”

Zero’s jaw clenched. “This isn’t a game. Whoever left this note is trying to get inside your head—and I won’t let that happen.”

She crossed her arms, frustration mounting. “I can handle myself, Zero.”

“Can you?” he shot back, stepping closer. “Because from where I’m standing, you’re caught in something dangerous, and you don’t even realize it.”

Their breaths mingled in the charged air, but the intensity in Zero’s gaze never wavered. “I won’t let anyone hurt you,” he vowed softly, his voice filled with raw determination.

But even as he spoke of protection, her thoughts strayed to Kaname’s warning—and the unsettling promise hidden within the rose’s message.