#zenless lighter

Fandom: Zenless Zone Zero Ship: LighterWise

Summary: Helios Academy comes to check on Eous and questions whether Wise is fit to be his father.

Small Blessings // Mirrored Images // Past and Present // Making Memories // Matchmakers // Under the Mistletoe // New Year's Day // "I'm Home" // Lunch Break //

Like the first night Wise met Lighter, he frantically knocked on his door with his heart thumping against his chest. He wondered how Eous was still sleeping when he must’ve been able to hear how frantic both his heartbeat and knocking was. The small boy slept with his head resting against his shoulder. He placed a hand on Eous’s dark hair and thought of how small he was in his arms.

In the time since they moved to their new home, the child had grown a lot. Yet, he was still small enough for him to carry him. How much longer could he hold him like this? The question was far more than a parent’s musing on their child’s growth. Wise wasn’t able to let the dread linger for long before the door opened. His nerves settled at the same time as his heart leapt in his chest. Lighter’s broad shoulders filled the doorway in front of him. The soft smile Lighter gave Wise was like a flickering flame at dusk.

“It’s past Eous’s curfew. Are you here for a sleepover? If I knew— What’s wrong?” Lighter straightened once he saw how pale Wise was. A wave of protectiveness seized him and he gently ushered the pair into his home. He closed the door behind them but it was Wise who rushed to lock the door. His behaviour was strange and Lighter could only think of one thing that could make him so panicked. Gently, Lighter brushed his fingers over Eous’s cheek. He didn’t appear hurt or sick.

“Be careful not to wake Eous.” Wise whispered. He leaned back against the door, needing something solid behind him. He couldn’t use his hands to catch himself or keep himself from sinking while he was still holding Eous in his arms. Thankfully, Lighter placed a steadying hand on his waist. He looked into his deep green eyes and took a deep breath. “I’m sorry to come so late at night, Lighter, but I really need your help.”

“It’s not the first time that you woke me up in the middle of the night. As I said last time: it’s better to wake up to a pretty face like yours over my phone alarm.” He tried to lighten the atmosphere.

Wise managed a small giggle at the teasing. Unfortunately, it faltered when he looked down at Eous. “Can Eous sleep over here tonight? Professor Sunbringer and Professor Joyous are paying me a visit on behalf of Helios Academy. I don’t want Eous to be there for their inspection.”

“Wouldn’t it make more sense for them to visit during the day?”

“Helios Academy works on their own schedule.” The words were laced with sarcasm and resentment. “They want to evaluate whether I’m taking good care of Eous. Even though they agreed to let me adopt him after Professor Arna died, Helios wanted us to live on campus. I convinced them that a normal environment would be better for a child. This was supposed to be a surprise evaluation. Luckily, Vivian learned about it and called to warn me.”

Lighter never questioned why the family lived in Helios Academy while Arna was alive. It seemed logical because she was a professor and they would provide her living accommodations. Now, he wondered why they were still closely tied to the school even after her death. What reason did the academy have to plan a surprise inspection? While Wise never fully explained his situation or time with Helios Academy, Lighter was certain of one thing: Wise loved Eous and would protect his son.

He had seen Wise angry and upset but this was the first time he appeared terrified. He placed his hand on top of Wise’s that was still holding Eous. Gently, he squeezed his fingers. “I won’t let anything happen to you or Eous. If those two are here for an inspection, I can put in a good word for you. It’s the least I can do since you also defended me against Steph’s grandpa.”

“I wasn’t doing anything special. He was wrong about you. You’re great with kids.” With that trust, Wise gently placed his son in Lighter’s arms. They were both careful not to wake the boy as he settled in place against his chest. “I can’t thank you enough for this, Lighter. Sunbringer and Joyous will insist on interviewing Eous. I plan to tell them that he’s at a sleepover across town and reschedule it for another time. That will give me a chance to prepare Eous to see them again.”

“After the interview, do you want to sleep over? Eous might wake up while you try to carry him back to your place. He’ll definitely cry if he wakes up and his dad isn’t there.”

“I would love to.” Wise said but his expression told Lighter that he couldn’t. Regretfully, he shook his head. “My professors will become suspicious if they see me sneak over to my neighbour’s place in the middle of the night. It’s better to stay cautious. I’ll pick up Eous in the morning. In case he does wake up early, tell him that I just went home to get his toothbrush or something.”

“Sounds like a plan. Text me if anything changes or whether you just need me.” The quick acceptance surprised Wise. He thought that Lighter would have more questions about his sudden visit. Most people would. The trust and understanding helped Wise feel like he wasn’t facing the situation on his own.

Wise knew that he shouldn’t risk waking Eous but he couldn’t stop himself from pressing a light kiss to his temple. The child roused slightly but he quickly went back to sleep. Between Lighter’s bodyheat and strong arms, Wise could see why Eous was comfortable enough to stay fast asleep. If only he could rest his head there as well.

He stood on his toes and wrapped his arms around both Lighter and Eous. “Thank you, Lighter.”

Fandom: Zenless Zone Zero Ship: LighterWise

Summary: Wise and Eous visit Lighter at his work.

Small Blessings // Mirrored Images // Past and Present // Making Memories // Matchmakers // Under the Mistletoe // New Year's Day // "I'm Home" //

Leaps and Bounds’ headquarters was different from what Wise had expected from a delivery service. It wasn’t the appearance of the old brick building but instead the loud chatter and metal ringing that emitted from it. Caesar had given him the address and told him to visit whenever they were free. He hesitated to accept her offer because he didn’t want to interrupt their work. Lighter told him that he was always driving from one delivery to the next so Wise doubted they would be able to see each other for long.

Wise glanced down at Eous sitting in his wagon. Leaps and Bounds was a 20 minute walk so he decided to enjoy the fresh air with Eous instead of taking the car. The young child was brimming with nervous energy as he bounced in his seat. He was certain that Eous would’ve tried to climb out if he wasn’t holding a treasured package in his hands. It would be difficult for him to climb out without setting the box down and he made it clear that he needed to keep it safe for Lighter.

He lifted him out of the wagon and set him in front of the entrance. With one hand, he pushed the door open and Eous immediately slipped through once the gap was large enough. He kept him in the corner of his eyes as he struggled to pull the wagon inside with his free hand. His son wasn’t the type to run off but the possibility worried him after the New Years party.

“Welcome!” Burnice’s cheery voice greeted them. She stood at the counter with Lighter and the two immediately went to help him with the wagon. Lighter took a moment to pat Eous’s head before he walked to Wise’s side. He placed his hand on the small of his back and then reached around him to grab the wagon. A warm shiver ran through Wise from where he touched him. He tried to suppress the reaction by telling himself that Lighter only held him for balance while helping him.

Still, he couldn’t help but notice how his hand lingered on his back even after they pulled the wagon into the store. No matter how many times he told himself that it would be selfish to enter a relationship, he couldn’t stop the growing feelings within him. He felt a little disappointed when Lighter let him go.

“What brings you to Leaps and Bounds?” Burnice asked. “Need something delivered?”

“Lunch for Lighter!” Eous declared and held the lunchbox over his head. Lighter wasn’t surprised because Wise had texted him to ask if he was free to share lunch together. He asked Burnice to cover his shift and she readily agreed. He knelt in front of Eous to take the gift from him. Rather than hand him the box, the small boy launched himself into his arms expecting to be carried.

“Being the one to get a delivery is a nice change.” When Lighter lifted Eous, Burnice couldn’t help but notice how he held him. She had never seen him so careful with something in his arms. Then, he held out his hand to Wise. “You wanna eat outside? You can keep the wagon here. We don’t have to worry about someone taking it with Burnice guarding it.”

“I wanna see Calydon’s gym!” Wise was interrupted before he could answer. Eous’s request confused him because a delivery service wouldn’t have a gym. “Moccus told me about it. His mom’s place has a gym in the back and they even have a ring where they can practise fighting. Lighter looks cool in all the pictures Steph has of him boxing. But I never got to see him fight.”

“Moccus was probably talking about the gym at Caesar’s house.” Wise reasoned. He stood next to Lighter and tapped the box. “Eous, we came to give Lighter the special lunch that you made him. We can’t take too much of his time by going to the gym. He has work.”

The disappointment on his face tugged at Wise’s heart. He lightly kissed his forehead to comfort the small boy. Throughout the walk, he had been excited to visit Lighter’s workplace. He had tried to temper his expectation by telling him that they could only stay for a short lunch. It was clear that Eous still hoped to spend more time with Lighter and see the gym.

“We have a workout place in the back but no one uses it. It’s just leftover from the building’s old Calydon days before they converted the place for Leaps and Bounds. The back can’t be called a professional gym. I’ll give you a quick tour if your dad agrees but no actual fighting or training. You’re still too small for that, Kid,” Lighter offered. The boy immediately brightened like he expected.

Eous turned to Wise with large, green eyes. His eyes were surprisingly similar to Lighter’s who now appeared guilty for shifting the question to him. He didn’t know how someone could say no to him when they were both staring at him. “Okay, but you can’t play with any of the equipment. A gym is different from a playground, Eous.”

The backroom was larger than Wise imagined it would be. In the center of the room was a small boxing ring. Equipment for training was organized against the back wall. Lighter told him that the building used to be for the Sons of Calydon and he became more curious about their work. He hadn’t seen a reason to question Caesar’s different businesses when Lighter told him he only worked in deliveries and logistics in Leaps and Bounds.

“There’s not much to see with our ‘gym’. I hope that Moccus didn’t raise your expectations too much.” Lighter said but he could see curiosity shining in Eous’s eyes. He held onto his hand to keep him from running to the weights. They kept the equipment secured but he was wary of Eous hurting himself if he tried to play in the gym. “Let’s go eat in the break room. That’s more interesting.”

“Can we eat in the ring? It’s a big picnic table!” Eous pointed to the raised platform. When Lighter and Wise turned to each other, they both read each other’s thoughts. He nodded and carried him to the ring. Eous was easily able to crawl under the rope and he immediately darted to the center. The boxing ring was an empty square so Lighter didn’t know why Eous found it fascinating. The innocent outlook of a child was endearing though.

Lighter hadn’t entered the ring in years. He pushed those memories from his mind and focused on Wise standing next to him. He held out his hand to help him into the ring. As he laid his fingers into his larger hand, he whispered to him. “I was going to say that we can’t spoil Eous so much or else he will start to think he’ll always get his way but we’re both guilty of that.”

“One lunch won’t hurt. Anyways, this is my break so Lucy can’t yell at me.” Lighter easily followed him into the ring, his movement fluid and practised. He went to the center where Wise was already setting out the tupperware.

When he sat down, Eous immediately placed a lunchbox on his lap. He lifted the lid and found an assortment of sandwiches and snacks. The sandwiches were clumsily made with uneven cuts and peanut butter smeared on the side. In contrast, the fruit had been cut into playful shapes. He could guess who made which part of the lunch from a glance.

“I made lunch all by myself! Wise was teaching me. Ehn na… wanted to share with Lighter.” Eous told him, his voice suddenly shy. He took a sandwich and held it out to Lighter. His small fingers trembled around the bread. Lighter leaned down to take a bite and then made an exaggerated hum. The simple acknowledgement erased the worry from him and he grinned. He handed a second sandwich to Wise.

They shared the simple lunch. A few sandwiches and fruit from a child’s lunchbox weren’t enough to fill their stomachs but Lighter acted like Eous had made him a feast. Wise watched them with a smile. Eous would hand him more food without noticing the crumbs gathering on Lighter’s pants. They truly appeared to be a family.

Wise took a napkin from his bag and lightly wiped the corner of Lighter’s lips, catching the stray breadcrumbs there. As he did so, Lighter turned his head and his lips brushed over his fingertips. He knew that the touch was unintentional and innocent but his heart quickened nevertheless. Heat crept up his cheeks and he turned away from Lighter.

A loud thud and raised voices broke through the moment. He couldn’t make out what they said with the wall muffling the voices but the anger was apparent enough. Wise instinctively pulled Eous closer to his side and looked to Lighter. His expression was tight but not panicked.

“Sounds like an annoying customer. You’d be surprised with the scene that people will make over a lost package. I’ll check on Burnice so you can stay here with Eous.” They both knew that Burnice was strong enough to handle an angry customer but Wise knew that Lighter would still worry. He would’ve intervened as well if he didn’t have Eous.

As Lighter walked back to the store, Wise caught a glimpse of someone through the gap in the door. A blond man was arguing with Burnice. The stranger faltered when Lighter approached him. It was clear that he was intimidated by him and Wise hoped that was enough to de-escalate the situation. He trusted that Lighter could handle the customer so he turned to Eous, worried that the yelling had scared him.

Unexpectedly, Eous dashed forward. Wise was too surprised to react quickly enough to stop him. He tried to catch him but the small child easily slipped under the rope and jumped to the ground. He yelled his name and for him to stop. Eous had already reached the door by the time Wise was able to climb out of the ring.

Eous burst into the store, drawing everyone’s attention to him. He pointed his finger at the blond man and yelled: “Your jacket says Vanquisher. Moccus says you’re bullies. Leave my friends alone or else I’ll call ZhuYuan!”

“Snot nosed brat.” The man glared at him. The courage and determination that Eous had was replaced by fear. He stood paralyzed as Lucius stepped towards him. Lighter and Burnice immediately moved to stop him. Wise reached Eous first. He pulled him back and hid him against his chest. He didn’t know whether the man would hurt a child but he moved on instinct to protect his son.

A loud crash echoed throughout the store. Wise reluctantly looked up from Eous and found that Lighter had pinned Lucius to the ground. Lighter didn’t raise his voice but there was a restrained anger. “Don’t touch my kid. What kind of coward goes after a four year old? Whatever TOPS has planned to buy us out, the answer is the same. I’ll make sure of that after this. Go and tell them that.”

Lighter pulled him to his feet and then pushed him towards the door. He watched him leave only to ensure that he wouldn’t try to attack Wise or Eous. Once the front door closed behind him, he sighed and turned back to them. Cold regret ran through him when he saw Eous shivering against him. He wanted to reach out and comfort him but something stopped Lighter.

“Shit.” Lighter muttered the curse beneath his breath. With how protective Wise was, Lighter assumed that he wouldn’t want him in their lives anymore. He couldn’t blame him if that was his decision. He knelt next to them but he didn’t move closer. “Sorry, I probably scared you more than that guy did.”

He looked up from the safety of his father’s hug. Wise stroked his hair a few times before he let him go. Eous searched the room for something until his eyes fell onto Lighter. He immediately jumped into his arms like he had earlier that day. Relieved that he wasn’t scared of him, he caught the boy and lifted him against his shoulder.

Eous beamed up at him. “You scared the bad guy away like Starlight Knight! I want to be brave like Lighter. Will you teach me how to fight? I can protect Wise and Belle.”

“Hey, didn’t I say that you’re too small to be fighting?” Lighter gently stopped his rambling. “You’re still a kid so you should tell an adult when there’s a bully like that guy. Don’t try to run to fight him like that again. Fighting is bad. You shouldn’t be like me.”

“Why? You stopped that man to protect us.” Wise shifted closer to him and wrapped his arms around both Lighter and Eous. “Thank you.”

Fandom: Zenless Zone Zero Ship: LighterWise

Summary: During the countdown on New Year's Eve, Lighter and Wise discuss their hopes for the future.

Small Blessings // Mirrored Images // Past and Present // Making Memories // Matchmakers // Under the Mistletoe //

“No, don’t go! I wanna go to the party with Wise and Lighter. We’re supposed to spend the holiday together!” Eous cried and Wise struggled to soothe the child. He sat on the ground with Eous who clung to him as though the child believed he needed to stop him by holding onto him tight. He didn’t need to when Wise could never leave him crying. Tenderly, he kissed the top of his head and waited for his tears to subside long enough for him to listen. “Are you leaving me here?”

“We would never abandon you. Isn’t that right, Lighter?” He reassured Eous and then redirected the child’s focus to Lighter. When Lighter nodded, the fist gripping his coat eased but he hesitated to let him go completely. Wise could see that he still felt uneasy. “Lighter and I are going to a party that’s after your curfew. The party will be like the boring galas that Helios held for awards. You’ll have more fun here with Drussila and Anastella. Corin will be babysitting you too!”

They were invited to a New Years party at Lycaon’s manor but it was after Eous’s bedtime. Victoria Household assured them that they would have a daycare room set aside to watch the guests’ children. That afternoon, Lighter and Wise took Eous to a festival to celebrate New Years Eve as a family. They thought that Eous would be tired and asleep by the time they arrived at Lycaon’s manor for the party. However, Eous immediately woke up with a start and hugged him when they tried to hand him to Corin.

“We’ll be just down the hall too. Do you remember the ballroom that we passed on the way here? That’s where the New Year party is.” Lighter added. He wished that he had his red scarf to give Eous and wipe his tears. Victoria Household were hosting a party and Lighter wore a black suit and tie for the occasion. “If you need us, we can come back right away.”

“Fireworks.” Eous whispered.

“You want to watch the fireworks with us? They start at midnight and your curfew is nine. It’ll be difficult for you to stay awake for that long.” He understood his wish to spend the holiday together. Since he lost his parents at a young age, Wise promised to cherish his time with his family. “I have an idea! Lighter and I will wake you up to watch the fireworks together. Of course, you need to sleep and behave.”

“This is a fancy castle so it has a lot of places to watch the fireworks. We’ll scout out the best one while you sleep. Sleep is important for growing boys. Don’t you want to grow up to be tall like Starlight Knight?” Lighter added. Eous took a moment to consider the compromise.

“Tall like Lighter.” The nod that he finally gave them was slow and hesitant. Wise held him close as he stood and carried him to the luxury sleeping bag. He didn’t tuck him into bed though.

He leaned down and kissed his dark hair. Lighter also sat on the sleeping bag and fondly tousled his hair. Wise took his cellphone and held it out to Eous. “Your curfew is at nine but you can stay up a little late to play with your friends. I trust you to go to bed when you’re sleepy. Hold onto my phone and call Lighter’s number if you need us. Even if it’s just to say goodnight, we won’t mind the call.”

They lingered at his bedside to tell him goodnight and ensured that he was comfortable. Honestly, Wise was a little reluctant to leave Eous. He trusted Lycaon but he couldn’t help but think of all the possibilities of losing Eous in such a large house. What if his son wandered into the hall and became lost? What if someone broke into the manor?

Between them, Wise’s phone rang. He was confused because he didn’t know who would be calling him. Most of his friends and his sisters were attending the party so they would simply wait if they wanted to talk to him. Then, he saw Lighter’s name appear on the screen. He stood behind Wise and he could feel his chest pressed against his back.

Lighter tapped his name on the screen and said: “During the party, Wise and I will find the best place to watch fireworks and call you. You don’t need to worry about anything.”

“Fireworks!”

Lighter fiddled with his long tie. He felt out of place in such an extravagant party since he grew up in the Outer Ring. When Wise suggested that the Sons of Calydon join Lycaon’s New Years party, Lighter never expected that he would be invited. They lived in a middle-class neighbourhood so he never thought of how Wise came from Helios Academy. Now it was impossible to see past the crystal chandelier, gold wine and sea of jewellery of the ballroom.

He felt out of place and searched for Wise in the crowd. Earlier, he left to speak to the host of the event about his work. Lighter didn’t want to intrude on their conversation so he went to test the drinks with the Sons of Calydon. A part of him wished that he stayed with Wise. When he first arrived at the manor, it didn’t feel overwhelming like it did now. That was because his focus was on Wise and he made him forget his own surroundings.

“Excuse, are you the famous Red Scarf Knight?” Lighter didn’t recognize the voice of the person who asked him. He turned to face the person and it took a moment to realize who she was. He raised a brow at her and the much shorter girl lifted a flute glass in response. Most people outside of the Sons of Calydon would be intimidated by how tall he was but she had a secretive grin.

“I’m sorry, have we met before? I’m not the best with names and faces.” He hoped that he wasn’t offending someone famous or important. Lighter didn’t want to be kicked out of the party only minutes after arriving. Though, he was certain that he had never met the woman before. Outside of the Sons of Calydon unofficial work, he rarely had the opportunity to interact with the upper class.

“No, we’ve never met before.” She shook her head and Lighter became more confused. She let out a soft laugh. The way her eyes shifted from teal to blue when she laughed was familiar.

“Belle Arna? Wise’s sister? He showed me pictures of you. Sorry, I didn’t recognize you right away. My name is Lighter Lorenz.” He stood straighter with his back rigid as he introduced himself to Belle. Wise told him that he was close to his sister so Lighter didn’t want to leave a bad impression. With how important family was to Wise, would he end their friendship for his sister?

“You’re a hard person to get an audience with, Lighter Lorenz. Well, that’s how Hugo would phase it.” Belle laughed. She spoke a mile a minute as though they had been friends for years instead of their first meeting. “Every time I visit Wise, you’re working and I miss my opportunity. I was starting to think that he wanted to hide you from me. Though, he should know that I’m not going to steal you away from him.” 

“It isn’t his fault. We were supposed to meet on Eous’s birthday but work came up and I had to leave the party early. That was before you arrived. The kid pouted at me for weeks that I took away his chance to introduce a new friend to you. Oh, next time, we should pretend we haven’t met so Eous can introduce us like he originally planned.”

“You really are a knight protecting my brother’s honour and Eous’s feelings. After everything that they told me about you, it’s hard to imagine Eous being upset with you. I’ve been excited to meet you and see if it’s true that your red scarf must be the key to a secret Starlight Knight transformation. Shame to say that your superhero identity has been discovered by a pre-schooler.”

“Kids have wild imaginations. I’m just a normal guy. Wise probably told you that, didn’t he?” He wondered what Wise had told Belle. Eous was quiet but he never hid how he saw him as a hero. Wise was more reserved with his feelings. They had become close friends but Lighter found himself hopeful that he might see him as something more.

“Are you fishing for a particular answer?” Belle giggled. “As a good sister, I should keep my brother’s secret. As a great sister, I’m not going to miss this chance to embarrass him. If you want me to be your sister-in-law, my information comes at a steep price. What will you trade with me?”

“Sister? Wise and I are just friends.” His insistence was met with her knowing smile. Would she tell Wise that he could be falling in love? That would make their friendship awkward. Lighter didn’t want to lose what they already had. He also needed to think of Eous and how a child would feel if unrequited love caused their friendship to fall apart.

“You’re as bad as Wise. I’ve been watching you for a while and I noticed how you were searching the crowd for someone. From what my brother had told me, your friends would be at the open bar or dancing. The only other person you know here would be Wise.” She hummed thoughtfully and paused for him to answer her.

When he didn’t, Belle decided to change her approach. “Arna got Wise and I part time jobs at a video store. She thought it would prepare us for life after we graduate from Helios. I learned that the best way to make a sale is to give customers a preview. So, Wise told me that the first time he saw you on your motorcycle, he thought you—”

Before she could finish, someone interrupted them. “I see that you two have already introduced yourself to each other. I was hoping that you two would get along but you went straight to gossiping about me. You don’t deserve this drink, Belle.”

Wise stepped out from behind Lighter with two cups balanced on a tray. Lighter hadn’t noticed his approach with how crowded the ballroom was. Despite his chastising, he didn’t try to stop Belle when she took a glass of wine for herself. When he handed the remaining one to him, Lighter couldn’t help but notice how flushed Wise was.

His expression was caught between appearing shy and flustered. Lighter couldn’t think of anything that would make Wise blush. It could’ve simply been the wine or the crowded party but he found himself asking: “How was your talk with Lycaon?”

“It was nice. I thanked him for sponsoring Belle’s work with the mayor. Victoria Household has done a lot for us.”

“Between Lycaon’s Victoria Household and Hugo’s Mockingbirds watching over me, I don’t know if I should feel like a VIP or a wanted criminal. But Lycaon and Hugo are like second dads for us. Oh, they’re dating and the host of today’s party.” Belle added. The brief moment of jealousy in Lighter was snuffed out. He had to remind himself that he shouldn’t feel possessive of Wise when they weren’t dating.

Lighter hoped those thoughts didn’t appear on his face and he kept his voice casual. “I have them to thank for this expensive wine. This is probably worth a whole month’s salary.”

“Honestly, the nitrofuel drinks that Burnice mixes are better.” Wise clicked their glasses together.

“If you two want to thank Lycaon and Hugo, you should enjoy this party to the fullest. Dance together! The next song should be starting soon. It’s not often that someone gets to dance to a live performance by Astra Yao so you can’t miss this chance.” Belle nudged her brother.

Wise sighed and lowered his voice to a whisper. “Belle, I know what you’re doing. Being this persistent will just make Lighter feel awkward. You don’t  know how he feels and—”

“Dancing sounds fun.”

Three simple words made Wise’s heart jump. For a moment, he thought that he had misheard him or Lighter’s words were directed at someone else. Yet, Lighter held out his hand to him and Wise was left uncertain of what he should do. He couldn’t deny how inviting the offer was. On the other hand, he didn’t know if Lighter offered to be polite.

In spite of the list of reasons he should be cautious, Wise placed his fingers in Lighter’s warm hand. He moved his hand to the crook of his arm and led him to the center of the dancefloor. Couples were already waiting for the Astra to start her next song. Wise worried that he would miss his cue to start dancing because his heart was beating louder than the band.

“When I pictured us dancing together, I never imagined that it would be because of my sister. I hope she didn’t say anything strange. She means well but she can be… a lot.” Wise laughed nervously.

“What did you picture?” He asked and his words caused Wise’s blush to deepen. “I’ve danced before but this is my first time at a fancy ball. I don’t know the steps to a tango or waltz. Forgive me if I step on your feet?”

“A slow dance is simple. Place your right hand on my waist and your left hand holds mine. Slide your feet in a box shape.” Wise walked him through the steps. “Don’t worry about proper dance technique. It has been so long since Helios that I barely remember the steps too. Even when I was a student and my teacher forced me to attend galas, I rarely danced with people. Belle was the popular one between us.”

“Are you just saying that to make me feel better? You’re easy to get along with and someone cute like you would be popular.” The compliment was given alongside a fond smile. Wise felt his heart quicken. He had to question whether Lighter was flirting or only said it as a friend.

A soft love song began and Lighter placed his hand on his hip. With the light touch, he swept him into a dance. They moved in a small circle as they glided across the floor. The steps came surprisingly easy for them and they matched each other’s pace. He was a boxer who practised precise footwork. Even with that experience, he was cautious to step on Wise’s feet and hurt him.

Lighter leaned closer to him as he watched their feet. They were close enough that Wise was able to feel his warm breath brush across his forehead. “You don’t have to worry about stepping on my feet, Lighter. You’re not going to hurt me. It’s also a little awkward to talk when you won’t look at me.”

Their eyes met when he looked up from their feet. They were only inches apart and Wise could feel the pull of Lighter’s gaze. He was the one to ask him to look up yet he found himself flustered when he did. Wise missed the next step and he almost walked into another pair of dancers. Lighter quickly caught him around his waist to stop him and pulled him back.

“Wise!” Someone called his name and broke the moment. Wise let go of Lighter so he could turn to the person. From the person’s frantic voice, it was likely an emergency. What scared him further was the sight of Corin sprinting towards them. His first thought was that Eous was hurt or sick. So, his heart stopped when she yelled: “Eous is gone!”

“What do you mean that Eous is missing?” The outburst made the room stare at him. He barely noticed their confused glances since his focus was on Eous. His mind was already racing with worry and possibilities. “Did someone kidnap him? Eous wouldn’t leave without telling someone. We need to tell Lycaon and ZhuYuan to lock down the manor before they can leave. Corin, please tell Lycaon while I go search for him.”

Wise didn’t wait to see her answer before he spun on his heel and dashed out the door. He left the ballroom and stared down the hall. He came out to find Eous but he didn’t know where to begin. The weight of the situation fell onto his shoulders. How could he lose his son? He should’ve taken more precautions to protect Eous. He trusted the manor’s security and Mockingbird’s reputation.

“Slow down, Wise.” He heard Lighter behind him. His heightened emotions almost made him snap back at him. Then, Lighter took his hand and gently pulled him to a stop. The storm inside him settled when he held him. If there was someone he could trust and lean on, it was Lighter. He cared for Eous as much as he did and would protect him.

“We need to find him.”

“We will.” He promised and took out his phone. “You gave Eous your phone. We can call him. This place is big but we might be able to hear the ringtone.”

As his phone rang, Wise strained his ears for a hint of Eous whether it was his voice on the speaker or a distant ringtone in the hallway. He didn’t expect someone to answer the call after a few rings. If it was the person who took him, they would hopefully settle for a ransome and return Eous safe. He pressed himself against Lighter’s arm and leaned close enough to hear their conversation.

He expected to hear a gruff voice with a threat or Eous’s frightened tears. In contrast to that, a cheerful voice flowed through the speaker. “Lighter!”

“Eous, where are you?”

“I went to find the perfect place to watch the fireworks.”

“There you are, Eous!” Wise all but threw himself onto the balcony when he spotted him through the glass door. Blind to his worried expression and frantic voice, the child merely waved back at him. He couldn’t respond to his outburst before he was gathered into his arms. The fear of losing Eous didn’t subside even when he was holding him again.

During his race up the stairs to the top floor’s balcony, he had prepared an angry lecture for leaving the daycare room without telling anyone. It should’ve frustrated him that Eous was oblivious to the worry that he caused by disappearing. He couldn’t bring himself to yell in anger and, instead, he simply held him tighter against his chest. He didn’t know what he would do with himself if he truly lost his son.

A large hand settled on his back and the tension slowly left Wise’s body. He felt protected with Lighter and Eous was safe so he finally allowed himself to relax. Wise adjusted his arms around Eous so he could carry him securely as he stood. The small weight in his arms meant the world to him. Carefully, he adjusted the hood over his head.

His heart softened in time with his voice. “Eous, you shouldn’t have left the daycare all by yourself. It’s not like going to Lighter’s house. You’ve only visited Lycaon’s manor a few times so you don’t know your way around. What if you got lost or hurt?”

“Surprise you.” He pouted as though the two words would excuse why he left without a warning. Wise knew that Eous hadn’t meant to scare him. Between his behaviour before the party and leaving now, Eous was acting more willful. Other parents would be angry with the change and prefer his usual soft-spoken son. He was grateful that Eous had the confidence to voice his thoughts like a regular boy who was never raised in Helios. Wise knew that it was due to Lighter’s influence.

“Even if you want to surprise us, you should’ve told Corin at least. She would’ve kept your secret and helped you find a place to watch fireworks. But this place you found is beautiful.” He walked to the edge of the balcony and brushed the snow from the rail. He sat Eous of the rail but hugged him so he wouldn’t slip. “Midnight’s in a few hours.”

“Fireworks!”

“You have a one track mind, Kid.” Lighter chuckled. He shrugged off his jacket and Wise assumed that he would lay it over Eous like a blanket. To his surprise, he draped it over his own shoulders and then adjusted it to keep them. Eous took the hem of the jacket and pulled it closer around them. Wrapped in their shared heat, he promptly fell asleep.

“I can’t believe he gave us a heart attack over fireworks and he’s going to fall asleep before they even begin.” Wise didn’t know whether he should laugh or groan at the turn of events. In the end, he leaned down and kissed his hood. He turned to Lighter and added, “Eous is warm enough so you can put your jacket back on. I don’t want you to catch a cold.”

“I’m fine.” He shrugged but Wise’s expression remained doubtful.

“It’s December and we’re standing in snow. Don’t be proud and act like the cold doesn’t affect you. You’re strong but I’m still worried about your health. Eous would tell you the same.” He paused and a light blush appeared on his face. “If you’re not going to take back your jacket, you can hold me. It’s not a perfect solution but sharing body heat should help.”

“Are you sure?” He waited until Wise nodded before he stepped forward. He stood behind him and he wrapped his arms around his waist. In return, Wise leaned back against his strong chest and rested his head on his shoulder. He fit surprisingly well in his arms and Lighter easily forgot about the snow around them. “You’re warm. Thanks.”

“I should be the one to thank you, Lighter. When Corin told me that Eous was gone, I… I’m glad that you were there. You’re always here for us.” Wise looked down and checked that Eous was asleep. “I never told Eous this but I wasn’t Helios’s original choice to adopt him. I had to argue against their nomination with Arna’s will.”

Wise could never forget the first time Eous cried in his arms. It was the night that they learned that they lost their teacher. As he was comforting him, he decided that they were the remaining family they had left and he would protect Eous. He knew that he had made the right choice and he would give Eous a happy childhood.

However, there was one sliver of uncertainty in Wise. “A part of me is always worried that Helios was right and Eous would have a better life without me. I never knew my parents so I had no one to guide me. Maybe Sunbringer would make him happier. What if they change their mind and try to contest Arna’s will? That’s one of the reasons I moved Eous so far from the school.”

“I won’t let them near you or Eous.” His arms tightened around them slightly.