C7 Hidden Flames

Aiden sat under the cherry blossom tree, its petals dancing around him like shy whispers of spring. He was scribbling in his worn notebook again—a habit he kept whenever he needed to decompress. The morning sun filtered through the canopy above, casting a soft golden light on his delicate features.

To the casual observer, he was simply a pretty boy lost in thought. But under the surface, Aiden was analyzing—watching students pass by, cataloging behavior, reading motives. He wasn’t just an ordinary student pretending to be poor. He was a master of subtle manipulation, the scion of a hidden empire more powerful than any dared to imagine. But no one knew—not even Lucien or Damien.

Not yet.

Lucien stood at the edge of the school courtyard, flanked by his discreet security. His jaw clenched at the sight of Aiden—alone, vulnerable, soft. That same twist in his gut surged again. That maddening, aching pull he had felt the moment he’d first laid eyes on him. He adjusted his sleek black suit and took a step forward.

But Damien had beaten him to it.

The mafia boss, dressed as the outrageously handsome substitute professor today, leaned casually against the tree trunk. His voice was smooth silk, his gaze full of unspoken promises.

"Aiden. Mind if I join you?"

Aiden looked up, his calm eyes flickering for just a moment. He smiled faintly, nodded.

"You already are."

Damien's lips quirked up in amusement. Such polite confidence. Such subtle defiance beneath the sweetness.

Lucien’s footsteps echoed as he approached. "Aiden," he said, tone clipped, trying to mask the jealousy under his skin. "I was hoping we could have a chat."

Aiden looked between them, not blinking. "Now?"

Lucien nodded. "Yes. It’s important."

"Oh?" Damien interjected. "Funny, I was just about to invite Aiden to lunch. Important matters as well."

The tension thickened.

Aiden gave a small, amused smile. "Do I get to choose who I go with, or are you both going to drag me off like cavemen?"

Both men froze.

Lucien cleared his throat. Damien chuckled lowly. They glanced at each other—just for a heartbeat—and looked away.

Aiden stood slowly, brushing off imaginary dust from his uniform. "I'll go with whoever wins rock-paper-scissors."

They blinked.

He was serious.

Lucien hesitated, pride wrestling with his desire. Damien raised an eyebrow but raised a hand. Lucien, not to be outdone, mirrored him.

Aiden counted down. "Three. Two. One. Go."

Lucien: paper.

Damien: rock.

Aiden smiled sweetly. "Looks like I’m going with Lucien today."

Damien didn’t hide his frustration. Aiden touched his arm lightly before walking away. "Next time, Professor."

That one touch sent a shock through Damien. He watched the boy disappear with Lucien, his mind racing.

But Aiden, walking beside Lucien, held a different thought.

They really think I’m harmless.

Lucien opened the car door for him. Aiden stepped inside, his eyes scanning the luxurious interior. As Lucien slid in beside him, the car pulled away.

"You look tired," Lucien said softly. "Are you sleeping enough?"

Aiden gave him a sidelong glance. "I’m used to taking care of myself."

Lucien’s brows furrowed. "You don’t have to. Not anymore. You have me."

"Do I?" Aiden asked, voice low.

Lucien turned toward him. "Yes. You do."

Aiden tilted his head, studying him. "What do you want from me, Lucien?"

Lucien hesitated. The raw honesty in Aiden’s eyes disarmed him. He reached out, brushing his fingers along Aiden’s cheek.

"Everything."

The words hung there, heavy with promise.

That night, back at his private apartment, Aiden sat cross-legged on his bed, sipping tea. He stared at the wall covered in notes, photographs, connections.

Lucien. Damien.

Both Enigmas had revealed their obsession. Both had laid pieces of themselves bare without even realizing it.

He tapped a pen against his lip, amused.

"So eager to protect me," he murmured. "So eager to claim me."

He glanced down at his phone—a text from Lucien.

Sleep well. You're not alone anymore.

Then one from Damien, moments later.

Don't let that mogul touch you. I’m watching.

Aiden smirked.

So possessive, he thought. So blind.

They didn’t realize the prince they wanted to protect was, in fact, the king.

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