Chapter Six
By the time they stepped out of the house, Kael felt like his soul had been gently but firmly removed from his body and placed somewhere behind his eyes.
The front door closed with a soft, expensive click.
Kael stood there for a second too long, staring at the driveway like it might start explaining things to him.
"I am," he said slowly, "so tired."
Jaxen glanced at him, already loosening his cufflinks like this had been a casual meeting and not an emotional ambush disguised as lunch. "You did well."
"That wasn't 'well,'" Kael replied. "That was me lying in real time while your cousin tried to psychologically dissect me with a fork."
Jaxen's lips twitched. "You held your ground."
"I alphabetized your personality," Kael muttered. "I deserve a medal."
Jaxen opened the car door for him. "Let's get you home quickly."
Kael did not argue. He got in immediately and slumped against the seat like a man who had seen things.
The car pulled away in smooth silence.
Kael stared out the window. "Your father scares me."
"That's intentional."
"He approved of us."
"Yes."
"That's worse."
Jaxen exhaled softly, almost amused. "You're overthinking."
"I almost died choking on chicken because you said 'what's mine,'" Kael shot back. "That's not overthinking. That's trauma."
Jaxen said nothing, but the corner of his mouth lifted again.
They were a few minutes into the drive when Kael's phone rang.
He glanced at the screen and groaned. "Leo."
Jaxen nodded once. "Answer it."
Kael put it on speaker.
"Hey," Leo said. "You alive?"
Kael snorted. "Unfortunately."
"Good. Because if you died without telling me where you keep your spare charger, I'd haunt you."
Kael smiled despite himself. "What's up?"
"So," Leo continued, "when are you coming to visit, huh? I haven't seen you in forever. You keep saying 'soon' and then vanishing like a cryptid."
Kael sighed and rubbed his forehead. "I don't know. Work has been… a lot."
Jaxen's eyes flicked toward him briefly.
"My boss is very strict," Kael continued smoothly. "Very intense. Very wicked."
Jaxen turned his head slowly and looked at him.
Leo gasped dramatically. "Wicked? Like throws interns into the sun wicked?"
"Yes," Kael said solemnly. "Especially interns."
Jaxen raised a brow.
"He barely lets me breathe," Kael added. "I'm exhausted. Overworked. Emotionally fragile."
Jaxen stared at him like he was reconsidering every life choice that led to this moment.
"That's illegal," Leo said.
"Tell me about it."
"So when can I steal you?" Leo asked. "This weekend?"
Kael hesitated. "Uh—"
Jaxen reached over and turned down the car's music, still staring at Kael.
"I'll see," Kael said quickly. "No promises."
"Liar," Leo said fondly. "Fine. Just don't disappear on me again, okay?"
"I won't."
They hung up.
The silence afterward was thick.
Kael kept his eyes forward. "So."
Jaxen spoke calmly. "Wicked."
"I panicked."
"You told him you're exhausted."
"I am panicking again."
"You told him I barely let you breathe."
Kael finally looked at him. "You do schedule my life."
"That's different."
"How?"
"I schedule it efficiently."
Kael groaned. "You're unbelievable."
"You can visit him this weekend."
Kael froze. "Wait—what?"
Jaxen kept his eyes on the road. "You can go see your brother. Weekend."
Kael blinked. "Seriously?"
"Yes."
"No catch?"
"No."
Kael stared at him for a full three seconds.
Then he threw himself sideways.
"THANK YOU," Kael said, hugging him without warning.
The car swerved.
"Stop," Jaxen snapped. "Compose yourself."
Kael pulled back, laughing. "I can't believe this worked."
"This is still fake," Jaxen said firmly. "Remember that."
"Oh," Kael replied, suddenly quieter. "Right. Fake."
The rest of the drive passed in silence.
Not an awkward one.
Just… full.
When they got home, Kael went straight to his room and collapsed onto the bed face-first.
After a minute, he rolled over and grabbed his phone.
He called Leo.
"I'm coming this weekend," Kael said.
There was a pause.
Then Leo said, softly, "You serious?"
"Yeah."
Leo exhaled. "Good. I miss you, idiot."
Kael smiled. "Miss you too."
After the call, Kael stared at the ceiling, thinking about fake relationships, real exhaustion, and how none of this felt as simple as it should.
The next morning, Kael woke up to aggressive knocking.
Not polite knocking.
Threatening knocking.
"WHY," Kael croaked, "do you hate peace?"
The knocking continued.
Kael stumbled to the door and opened it to find Jaxen standing there, fully dressed, fully alert, and fully judging him.
"You're late," Jaxen said.
Kael squinted. "For being alive?"
"Breakfast."
Kael glanced at the clock. "It's eight."
"Yes."
"I don't wake up until my soul checks in."
"You do now."
Kael followed him into the kitchen, yawning. The table was already set perfectly.
Too perfectly.
Kael narrowed his eyes. "Why is there a sticky note on the fridge?"
Jaxen poured coffee. "Label."
"It says 'FRIDGE.'"
"Yes."
"I KNOW."
Jaxen handed him a mug. "Drink."
Kael took a cautious sip. "…Okay, that's really good."
"I know."
Kael sat. "For someone who barely lets me breathe, you're very domestic."
Jaxen paused. "Say that again."
"Never mind."
After breakfast, Jaxen said, "Get dressed. We're going out."
Kael panicked. "Why?"
"Errands."
"I don't do errands."
"You do now."
"This is how it starts," Kael muttered. "First errands. Then spreadsheets."
They ended up at a grocery store.
Kael pushed the cart. Jaxen walked beside him with a list.
"You walk like you're negotiating world peace," Kael said.
"I am buying almond milk."
"Exactly."
In the aisle, they reached for the same box.
Hands brushed.
They froze.
Kael cleared his throat. "Sorry."
"It's fine."
An old man passed by, squinting at them. "You boys married?"
Kael choked. "No—"
"Yes," Jaxen said calmly.
Kael stared at him in horror.
The man nodded approvingly and walked away.
Kael whispered, "You did that on purpose."
"Efficiency."
Back in the car, Kael laughed despite himself.
"This is going to end badly," he said.
"Probably," Jaxen agreed.
Kael leaned back, smiling.
He was tired.
Confused.
Still lying.
But for the first time in a long while—
He was also looking forward to what came next.