CHAPTER 38: JUST BEING CLOSE

The classroom door clicked shut behind the last of Jace’s cronies, leaving only the sound of Cassian’s uneven breathing and the distant hum of the campus outside.

Leonel was still standing like a statue near the chalkboard, fists unclenched but shoulders tight, like he was waiting for another threat to appear. Aiden had turned to Cassian, hands hovering near his arms like he wasn’t sure if he was allowed to touch.

Cassian rubbed his wrist where Jace had grabbed him. His knuckles were scraped from the punch, his throat raw from shouting but he was okay. More than okay. He’d fought back. And they’d come for him. Both of them.

Aiden finally let out a breath he’d been holding. "You really punched him good tho?"

Cassian managed a weak smile. "He had it coming."

Leonel finally moved, stepping closer. His eyes scanned Cassian’s face, his neck, his hands checking for damage. "You sure you’re alright?"

"Yeah," Cassian said, voice steadier now. "Just... tired of people thinking they can push me around."

Aiden shoved his hands in his pockets, rocking back on his heels. "So... screw class. Let’s go watch a movie."

Leonel blinked. "What?"

"You heard me." Aiden grinned, but it was softer than usual like he was trying to lighten the mood without making light of what just happened. "We’re all wound up. Adrenaline’s still buzzing. Might as well burn it off on overpriced popcorn and a terrible action flick where the hero punches a helicopter."

Cassian stared at him. Then he laughed a real, shaky laugh that made his shoulders drop for the first time in hours.

Leonel watched him for a beat, then huffed. "Fine. But if we get detention, I’m blaming you."

"Deal," Aiden said, already heading for the door. "Grab your stuff. We’re going."

They didn’t go back to the dorms. Just grabbed their bags from the classroom lockers and walked straight to the bus stop, the late afternoon sun warm on their faces. No one talked much. Just walked side by side, shoulders brushing, like they needed the quiet proof that they were all still there.

The bus was packed standing room only but Leonel didn’t hesitate. He stepped on first, parting the crowd with quiet authority. Cassian followed, weaving through the aisle, eyes on Leonel’s back like a lifeline.

Then someone shoved past him—a guy in a hurry—and Cassian stumbled forward, crashing into Leonel’s back.

Before he could even say "sorry," Leonel turned, hands catching his arms. "Whoa. You good?"

Cassian nodded, face burning. "Yeah, just—crowded."

Then Aiden was there, sliding in behind him, one arm slipping around his waist like it was the most natural thing in the world. His chest pressed warm against Cassian’s back, and his breath tickled Cassian’s ear as he murmured, "Looks like you’re having trouble balancing yourself."

Cassian’s stomach flipped. He ducked his head, but Leonel tilted his chin up with a finger.

"Don’t worry," Leonel said, voice rough but soft. "We got you. We won’t let you fall."

Cassian opened his mouth—to say thanks, to joke—but his brain short-circuited.

Because they were *so close*.

He could smell Leonel’s cedar soap. Feel Aiden’s heartbeat against his back. Their heat wrapped around him, and for a second, the noisy bus faded away.

Then—Leonel shifted.

And Cassian felt it.

Leonel’s knee pressed gently between his thighs , just anchoring. Like he was making sure Cassian stayed put atleast that’s what he was making it look like while smirking .

Cassian’s breath hitched. "W-what -?"

But before he could finish, Aiden closed the distance even more his hips flush against Cassian’s back, and

Oh.

Aiden was hard. Pressing against him slow, subtle, like he couldn’t help it.

Cassian’s hands flew to Leonel’s shirt. "Y-you guys... what are you doing?"

Leonel’s smirk was slow, knowing. He leaned in, lips brushing Cassian’s ear. "Nothing. Just... being close."

Cassian shivered.

Aiden’s hand tightened on his waist. "You’re not complaining."

"I -I didn’t say I was!" Cassian stammered. "I -just... I didn’t expect -"

"Us to want you like this?" Leonel finished, eyes dark. "Yeah. We do."

Cassian’s breath caught. "But... what does that even mean?"

Leonel’s thumb brushed his cheekbone. "It means we like you. More than friends. And we’re not hiding it anymore."

Aiden pressed a soft kiss to his neck. "You don’t have to figure it all out right now. Just... let us be here."

And Cassian did.

He leaned back into Aiden, let Leonel’s hand slide to his waist, let their bodies mold together in the crowded bus like they were made to fit.

It wasn’t about labels.

It was just... this.

This quiet, electric space where he wasn’t alone.

When the bus lurched to their stop, none of them moved right away.

Leonel finally pulled back just enough to look at him. "now stop overthinking anything just be with us without thinking much?"

Cassian laughed weakly. "I think I’m just... really confused."

Aiden kissed his head. "Good. Means you’re paying attention."

And as they stepped off the bus Leonel in front, Cassian in the middle, Aiden behindCassian realized something:

He wasn’t falling anymore.

He was just... held.

And for now, that was enough.

They walked till they saw the theaters and went in

The cinema lobby smelled like butter, sugar, and that weird fake-leather scent of worn-out seats. Aiden bounced on his toes in front of the ticket counter like a kid, already arguing with the clerk about student discounts. "Come on, man, we live here doesn’t that count as residency?"

Leonel rolled his eyes but didn’t argue. He just nudged Cassian toward the snack counter. "You want popcorn or are we pretending you’re not gonna eat three bags?"

"Three bags," Cassian said without hesitation.

Leonel smirked. "Figured."

They stood in line, shoulders brushing, the earlier tension from the bus ride still humming under their skin but softer now, warmer. Cassian kept glancing at Leonel out of the corner of his eye, remembering the way his knee had pressed between his legs, the rough tenderness in his voice. His stomach fluttered.

When they met Aiden back by the theater doors, he was already poking Cassian’s side, grinning. "You’re blushing again. What’d he do this time?"

"Nothing," Cassian mumbled, swatting his hand away.

Leonel just watched him quiet, steady, like he was memorizing the way Cassian’s lashes fluttered when he was flustered.

They filed into the theater, the lights dimming as they found their seats. Of course, Cassian ended up in the middle. Aiden flopped into the left seat with a dramatic sigh, Leonel slid into the right with calm precision.

The screen flickered to life.

Cassian leaned forward, expecting explosions, car chases, maybe a shark-punching robot like Aiden promised.

Instead, soft piano music swelled.

Two people stood in the rain.

One whispered, "I’ve loved you since the first day I saw you."

Then they kissed.

Cassian froze.

His mind short-circuited.

Leonel’s mouth on his neck. Aiden’s tongue in his. The way they’d held him on the bus like he was something precious.

He swallowed hard, cheeks burning.

Then his left hand was tugged gently.

He turned.

Aiden was looking at him, eyes bright in the dark, already threading their fingers together. He didn’t say a word. Just smiled, gave Cassian’s hand a soft squeeze, and turned back to the screen like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Cassian’s heart hammered. He stared straight ahead, face on fire, trying to focus on the movie but all he could feel was Aiden’s thumb stroking his knuckles, warm and steady.

Then another touch.

On his right hand, warmth bloomed slow, deliberate, unmistakable.

Fingers slid over his, calloused and sure, weaving between his own like they’d done it a thousand times before. Like they were coming home. Cassian flinched at the contact, a sharp inhale catching in his throat. His pulse jumped under Leonel’s touch, wild and unsteady.

He turned his head.

Leonel wasn’t watching the movie. Wasn’t glancing at Aiden. His entire world, in that moment, was Cassian. His eyes dark, intense, impossibly soft held him like he was the only thing worth seeing in the whole damn theater. There was no smirk, no teasing edge. Just quiet certainty. A look that said, *I see you. All of you. And I’m not letting go.*

Without a word, Leonel laced their fingers tighter, then lifted Cassian’s hand to his mouth. His lips brushed the knuckles once, slow, almost reverent. The kiss was feather-light, but it sent heat straight down Cassian’s spine. Then Leonel held his hand against his chest, right over his heartbeat, and didn’t let go.

He just watched Cassian watched the flush creep up his neck, watched his lips part slightly, watched his eyes flicker between panic and something dangerously close to longing.

Cassian couldn’t breathe.

He was pinned not by force, but by tenderness. Aiden’s fingers still linked with his on the left, warm and grounding. Leonel’s grip on the right, firm and claiming. Two different kinds of love, two different kinds of safety, wrapping around him from both sides.

On screen, rain fell. The lovers kissed, slow and sweet, lost in their own world.

But Cassian wasn’t watching them anymore.

He was living his own love story one he never saw coming, never thought he deserved.

And for the first time, he didn’t want to run from it.

He just wanted to stay right here, held between them, heart full to bursting.