Last night, Luca had slept for the longest time ever since he had begun this job. Nine full hours of uninterrupted sleep. He lay flat on his bed, staring at the painting his mother had done on his ceiling. He had spent half an hour reflecting on himself. Reflecting on his crude behaviour toward his director. He had denied help and said awful things that he wouldn't have dreamt of saying weeks ago. Heck, he even went as far as pushing him.
Luca's face scrunched up, grimacing at the thought of doing something so inconsiderate. Zayn rarely ever went out of his way to help others, so why would he refuse it? Who knew when he'd ever get that level of consideration as a mere employee again? And Zayn granting him paid leave simply because he noticed something slightly off from his pulse was considerate. That showed how much he really cared about his workers and what a caring prince he was. Luca should've thanked him. Because he had the privilege of seeing Zayn every day when others did not. He should've maybe even given him another espresso without being asked to. But Luca didn't do any of that. He had told Zayn to leave in an impolite manner. Thrice.
The hair on his arms stood up when his thoughts brushed past the moment at the kitchen counter, heat crawling up his neck. The way that Zayn had held him at the waist, not loosening his hold despite Luca pushing him away. The closeness of his face. The warmth of his breath on Luca's skin. That tingly feeling he had when Zayn whispered those words in his ears—
Luca slapped his cheeks with a loud smack and exhaled sharply. He didn't know why he was thinking such vile thoughts. Zayn only acted to ensure he recovered and returned to work quickly. And Luca didn't want to burden Zayn any longer. Didn't want to let him down despite his best efforts. That could never happen. Ever.
He glanced over to his bedside table, and he was certain Zayn had left him another glass of water. Because no one else could have, and Zayn would never admit it. Not out loud.
Luca smiled, feeling much better than usual. "How considerate," he thought, grabbing the glass carefully. His hands shook only subtly, and he didn't spill the water.
All of this was great, but Luca couldn't help feeling a pang of guilt when he had called Zayn inconsiderate when everything he had done up until now hadn't been anything but considerate. He didn't understand what was happening then—that must've been the reason for his horrible behaviour. One second, he found himself collapsed on the floor, vision blurring and him struggling to breathe; the next, he found himself lying on his bed even though he hadn't moved himself there. And the first thing he saw was Zayn appearing from nowhere. He had panicked because he hadn't been in any formal attire, his hair was dishevelled, and he lay there like a fool who didn't know how to accept help. And internally, something kept telling him to get away. Away from Zayn. And it wouldn't stop ringing in his head. But that was no excuse. He had to apologize and do his best to improve. "Reinforce your apologies with your actions and by changing for the greater good," his father would tell him. He had followed that motto for as long as he could remember, and he had every intention of continuing to follow it.
Luca did not want to stay inside his apartment any longer. It was beautiful and all—but he was homesick. He would go to visit his family. He didn't have to return to work thanks to the paid leave for a good while, so why not visit his lovely creators? He missed Max and Lilah. His feet were more stable now, and the jelly sensation he'd constantly feel in his knees had eased significantly.
Luca did not feel like driving. It was the faster way, but he missed feeling the air outside and the nostalgic feel of taking a public train. He'd cover his face; paparazzi loved catching TSL employees outside of HQ. Not today.
When Luca was last caught by paparazzi, who quite literally appeared out of nowhere, he was stuck in interviews for six hours while he refused to speak about anything. And ultimately, he was rescued by Zayn, which led to rumours that still haven't quieted down.
When he walked by his kitchen, he couldn't help but pause for a moment. All the trouble everyone had gone through just to get him to eat made his chest tighten. He was a grown man who refused to feed himself. He tried—but it didn't sit right with him.
Luca swore to himself he would eat later, since his mom would probably figure out a way to feed him despite his objections. He grabbed a black mask and cap and a thick black coat and remembered to take his notebook with him when he went out. He had enough for transportation fare, so he wouldn't have to worry about getting there.
The Lush Syrov Apartment Complex was far too much for someone like him. Celebrities from left and right resided there—so why did he have to live there with people way out of his league?
Zayn had given him an unconvincing excuse, but Luca was certain it was to "keep an eye on him" or something along those lines. Why he didn't do this for other employees, Luca couldn't understand.
After taking an elevator to the lobby, he walked through a hallway. It was vast, with crisp picture frame moulding that broke up the expanse.
There weren't many other people in the lobby. Most were out doing their jobs or on vacation. The rest stayed inside their suites.
He slid on his shades and lowered his hat when he stepped out after greeting the receptionist with a bright smile.
Luca did not know where the nearest bus stop was because he had forgotten to check his GPS. He couldn't ask at the front desk, because they weren't the type to care about public transportation.
Most of the wealthy wouldn't know how to take a bus if you asked. Luca was not that kind of wealthy.
He took out his phone to look up a nearby bus stop. The sun had chosen this day to shine at its full potential, making it difficult for him to see his phone screen. Luca scanned for shade among the parked cars and spotted one lone tree. One.
He dashed to the tree, almost tripping, and looked around—no one in sight.
When he got to the tree, he sighed, reopening his phone with Touch ID. Just as he was about to open the GPS app, he felt a tap on his shoulder.
Luca flinched, afraid of who it might be. When he had looked around, he'd seen no one…so was it a ghost?
"Hi there, stealing my shade?" A manly voice spoke, his hand still on his shoulder.
Luca exhaled shakily before turning around.
"Oh—sorry, I didn't realize anyone was—" Luca stammered, heat rising to his face. "I mean, hello."
The man laughed softly, shoulders shaking elegantly. "No need to apologize; I'm the one who touched you without asking."
"It's okay!" Luca said quickly. "I don't mind."
"That's good," the man replied. He took Luca by the hand kindly. "Are you looking for a bus stop? I've been trying to locate one for ten minutes. I'm starting to think they don't exist here."
Luca smiles despite himself. "They do feel hidden around here; I can check."
"Would you? You'd be saving me," he beamed.
"Looks like we'll be taking the bus together," Luca told him.
He always knew that doing good deeds was something he should always try to do, but he'd never been so excited to do one as much as this time.
Shortly, he managed to find the nearest bus stop. It was only a couple of minutes away, so he started the GPS.
"I found one, sir. Would you like to walk together?" He asked nicely.
The man nodded and fell into step with Luca. He smelled like flowers and always smiled, putting Luca at ease.
"What's your name?" The man asked smoothly.
"Ster—" Luca caught himself. "Luca," he offered a handshake.
The man shook Luca's hand, appreciating the offer. "Luca," he repeated softer. "That's a nice name. I'm Kaz."
Heat crept up his cheeks. "Thanks. That name suits you well."
Kaz smiled, almost shy. "I'll take that."
Kaz's eyes lingered over his coat for a moment. "You must be roasting in that thing. Want help taking it off?"
The sigil had practically marked his entire top half. He could not take his coat off even if he felt like it. And if someone were to recognize the patterns outside, Zayn would murder him for making such a stupid mistake.
"Thanks, but I'd rather not," Luca insisted.
"Alright," Kaz lifted his hands in surrender. "I won't interrogate you."
A beat of silence.
"You're beautiful when you smile, by the way."
A jolt ran up Luca's spine. How could a man so ethereal call him beautiful? Kaz was the epitome of beauty.
His breath hitched. "I—what? No."
"Yeah." Kaz shrugged. "You are."
Luca felt a light warmth staining his cheeks all of a sudden, making him look away reluctantly.
**
"Two minutes until the bus," Luca said, letting Kaz sit in the bus shelter first.
Kaz nodded, humming a quiet melody with his gentle voice as they waited.
Luca listened intently, paying more attention than he meant to. Something about this man felt familiar, but Luca couldn't wrap his finger around it.
The sigil beneath his clothes began pulsing erratically. Luca's eyes widened, stepping back instinctively. He couldn't let Kaz notice the sigil—was the sigil setting him up for failure on purpose?
"Did I crowd you? Sorry," Kaz said, gentle and concerned.
"No—I'm fine," he lied. He hated lying, but it was necessary.
Kaz didn't reply for a moment—as if choosing what to say next. "Good," Kaz said gently. "You looked pale for a second."
The bus approached. Kaz stood, his long hair perfectly in place. He hesitated briefly before reaching for Luca's hand naturally. "Come on, the bus is here."
Luca hesitated briefly before letting Kaz take his hand.
The bus was relatively empty because no one ever took it in this part of the city. Luca didn't take it much either, as he usually drove to work to avoid being late.
He missed Vae; he missed Margot, and he missed the smell of TSL HQ. Which was weird, because he was on his way to see his parents and siblings—people he also missed.
Kaz sat at the very back of the bus, and Luca felt compelled to follow him.
"Do you want to be friends, Kaz?" Luca asked. Kaz seemed like a nice person, and he was sure Vae would love to meet him.
Kaz nodded eagerly, giving Luca his contact information. He informed Luca that he didn't have his phone on him, as he'd forgotten it at his suite, also explaining why he couldn't locate a bus stop himself.
"I'll call you later today, Luca. Don't be shy to answer," Kaz said.
"Please do. I'd like to get to know you," Luca replied, smiling brightly.
Kaz seemed to share the same intentions, as he didn't say anything else and returned Luca's smile.
When the bus arrived at the transit centre, everything seemed to happen too fast. They both had to part ways, and a sudden emptiness latched itself onto Luca. He waved goodbye to Kaz and headed for the train that would take him to his destination.
Kaz waved back enthusiastically, telling him that he was excited to call him later and that they should have dinner together sometime soon. The scene replayed in Luca's mind ceaselessly, a warm memory that took his mind off things that pestered him.
Like the guilt he felt for not eating despite his best efforts. The guilt he felt for being weak.
***
Luca walked down the path to his parents' mansion. Cozy and welcoming in every way. He imagined his sister's smile and the shy brother's look.
He stepped up the stairs to the door and knocked rhythmically against the warm-coloured door.
Luca could hear calm footsteps approaching—his mother. The door opened slowly, and the shocked expression on his mom's face almost made him laugh.
"My love, what brings you here? Don't you have—" Luca captured her in a big, warm hug, practically beaming at the sight of her. Behind her, his siblings had come to check who was at the door, and they both squealed at the sight of him. Lilah, his little sister barely above the age of 8, enthusiastically joined in on the hug, while his timid brother smiled from afar.
Lilah had left a trail of dirt behind her, evidence of her playing outside.
"What's up, Max?" Luca asked, moving to hug him as well. Max's hair smelled like candy and soil.
Max laughed quietly, indulging in the hug. "Lucy," he said quietly. Luca ruffled his hair playfully, chuckling.
It warmed Luca's heart to see his amazing family. He planned to visit them more often and to make sure he spoiled his siblings even more than he already did.
His mom opened the door fully so he could step in. His mom's ability to recognize him no matter how many things he wore to disguise himself shocked him. He sighed in relief, throwing the annoying shades on the counter. But he didn't take his coat off. He didn't want to worry his family about his well-being. He had packed enough long-sleeved turtleneck tops to last for two days, as he hadn't planned to stay for long.
His mom noticed but said nothing, letting him share when he was ready.
His dad was seated on the couch, arms sprawled and focused completely on a sports game playing on the TV. He had probably not even noticed all the commotion that happened at the door.
"Hi, Dad," he said warmly, skipping over. His dad had the TV remote in one hand and a drink in the other, and he wore a pair of their silly family slippers.
"Hey," his dad replied, barely paying attention. Then his eyes widened, realization hitting him. He took Luca in a warm hug. "Lucy? It's so good to see you, boy!" He said, smiling softly.
Luca sat next to his dad, and his siblings followed him. His mom had begun preparing dinner as soon as Luca had stepped into the house. She adored cooking, especially for her son, who was rarely at home.
Lilah wore a cream-coloured sundress with a lily tucked behind her ear, and Max was in a simple t-shirt and shorts, and they both wore the googly-eyed slippers that Luca had gifted them. It warmed his heart. Why hadn't he thought of this before?
Soon enough, the food was ready.
Luca gulped, anxious about what she could be wanting to say.
His mom placed cutlery, skipping his plate, to respect his eating difficulties. He swallowed again.
"Okay, everyone get eating; I'll just have a quick chat with Lucy," she told them. They all nodded in unison.
He gave them an awkward thumbs-up as he followed behind his mother.
She brought him to one of the many balconies, where the view was an almost perfect sight to see.
She and he sat in the cozy hanging chairs, feeling the cool wind pass by. At least it wasn't as hot as it had been before, but his coat made things difficult.
"So, what's up?" she began. "I just wanna make sure you're okay."
Luca stayed quiet for a few moments. He wasn't the best at expressing his feelings.
"Nothing worth worrying about, Mom," he said quietly.
"I can't be a burden to anyone else, and one lie should be okay, right?" Luca told himself.
Her face was filled with obvious concern, but she didn't press any further. "Talk to me when you're ready, okay?" she reassured him. "I know you're having difficulties eating. I didn't know if you'd like it if I insisted you eat, so I didn't prepare a plate for you. But if you want, I can give you a small portion." She squeezed his hand lightly.
"Yeah… I'll just bathe first to freshen up. I won't stay for long, only two days."
"You should spend some time with Max. He misses you," she said before squeezing him on the shoulder quickly and heading downstairs to the dining room.
Luca sighed heavily. He didn't know why all the possible struggles in the world had chosen to attack him all at once. He was afraid of how he'd react once he found out the reason. Would he snap? Would he feel betrayal? Would he tell himself it was okay and that he could get over it?
Would he live long enough to find out? The thought of that terrified him.
Luca's room mirrored his apartment, tidy as always.
A notification flashed across his phone screen. Zayn? He thought.
It was Kaz, his new friend. Luca found himself smiling at the message, taking a seat on his bed.
Kaz: "Hi, Luca. Finally found time to text you! What are you doing right now?"
Luca: "At my parents' house. About to bathe. You?"
Kaz sent a photo captioned, "Fun at a tropical cafe, come join me!" He was wearing a sun hat and sunglasses at an outdoor cafe, holding a milkshake in his hand.
Luca's eyes lingered over his slender fingers before he could look away.
His fingers flew across the screen as he formed a reply, smiling. "Wish I could, but I can't. Have fun!" He added a thumbs-up emoticon.
Kaz hearted the message and sent a picture of himself smiling.
Luca snapped a photo of him sitting on his bed smiling in response before turning his phone off and heading toward the bathroom.
He couldn't wait to tell Vae about Kaz. He imagined her begging him to meet Kaz, as she was the most extroverted person he'd ever met.
But at the same time, he wondered what Zayn might be doing at the moment. Possibly grumbling at work.
Luca cleared his throat, settling into the bath. The water seeped into his muscles, loosening places he hadn't realized were clenched. His shoulders sank beneath the surface, his breath evening out as the vanilla scent wrapped around him.
Somewhere in the house, he could faintly hear Lilah laughing—bright and unburdened—and the sound tugged something soft and aching in his chest.
For a moment, just a moment, Luca let himself believe he was fine.
Then the heat shifted.
Not pain yet—just wrongness. A pressure settled beneath his ribs, subtle enough that he frowned and adjusted his position. The water rippled, lapping quietly against the porcelain as the sigil throbbed once.
Luca stilled.
A second pulse followed, sharper this time, radiating outward like a warning. His fingers curled against the edge of the tub as his stomach twisted, the familiar burn blooming too fast, too deep.
"Not now," he whispered, breath hitching. "Please…not now."
The illusion shattered.
His shaky fingers reached out in search of something to ease his pain. Anything.
He felt his eyes fluttering shut as he desperately tried to keep them open. He needed to get out of the bath. But his eyes wouldn't comply, his vision blurring at the edges. "Shit," he mumbled. He didn't want his family to find out—he didn't want to burden them.
The thought struck him harder than pain ever could—that one day, this wouldn't pass. That one day, there wouldn't be enough time to recover.
His breath hitched, coming in short rasps. It would be fine if he took a short nap, wouldn't it?
"Just...one moment..."
Luca went limp, and everything was engulfed in darkness.
But his eyes opened again, and he found himself shaking in the tub. His head throbbed with agony, and he was dizzy. He needed to get out and compose himself—preferably by drinking a cup of hot cocoa.
Luca groaned and reached down to unplug the tub. The water drained quickly between two slow blinks. He pulled himself up, wobbling slightly when his feet reached even ground. He stared at himself in the mirror, frowning and upset. He didn't like the sigil. It was pretty, but it wasn't supposed to be there. It hurt him. It was a forbidden tattoo.
He didn't feel like himself when he saw his reflection—he was a stranger.
Luca brushed his teeth quickly, toned his face, and walked out of the bathroom in his blue bathrobe.
He felt refreshed, but that was about it. What he had just experienced was alarming. He wouldn't tell his family just yet. He was sure that if he asked Zayn for more help—because he was ready to admit he needed it—Zayn would find a way to ease his pain or force the sigil dormant.
Luca wasn't worried, because he would repay that favour as soon as he was stable
In fact, Luca hadn't seen Zayn for a hot minute. It was irregular for Zayn not to contact him at least once in the morning, once in the afternoon, and once at night.
Luca grabbed his phone, not needing to scroll because he had Zayn pinned at the top for personal reasons, and saw no new messages. None.
There must've been technical issues. He refreshed the chat—nothing.
Still determined, he reopened and closed the app 5 times. Still nothing.
"Fine, I'll restart my phone," he thought.
There was no way that their argument was that serious—was it?
Luca: "Good evening, director. Are you at work?" He messaged, tapping his fingers on his chin as he waited.
Seconds turned into minutes, and minutes turned into hours.
Luca took a sip of hot cocoa. He and his family were watching a spooky movie for a Friday special. His mom had made an abundance of popcorn, and his siblings had brought various types of snacks from their stashes so they could share.
The movie wasn't exactly "spooky," because it needed to be appropriate enough so kids could watch. It wasn't scary at all.
The kids sat on either side of him, snuggling up like the cute little creatures they were.
Lilah had tied Luca's hair up with a pink bow while Max snickered beside them.
His mom and dad were lounging on the other couch, one with the TV remote and the other sipping coffee. Luca was repulsed by the idea of drinking coffee while eating popcorn.
"Ew, Mom. Coffee's not even good for you." Luca told her.
She didn't glance away from the TV and munched some more on popcorn before replying.
"Says you, Lucy."
Luca's jaw dropped, and he placed a hand on his chest. He didn't drink that much coffee—plus, he only drank it at work. Which was almost daily. Multiple times.
"Leave the poor boy alone, Heidi," his dad joined in.
She was dumbfounded, putting on a fake look of betrayal. "I'm just saying!" She shot back.
The family banter was funny and entertaining, but Luca couldn't keep his eyes off his phone.
Kaz had sent him a message, but he was waiting for Zayn. Not Kaz.
As much as Luca liked Kaz—just not now. He'd rather talk to him with a clear mind, and right now, his mind was anything but clear.
Zayn had read his message but hadn't replied. That was odd. That was mean. Why wouldn't he reply? Did Luca need to apologize now?
He felt his eye sting. He didn't understand why he was being ignored. Zayn must've been angry with him.
It might've been because he hadn't practiced identifying different kinds of mana like he was supposed to. Or because he kept getting hurt by the sigil. Or even because he had made little progress on the case.
His lack of competence.
Luca excused himself from the living room with the "I'm tired" face. He had told them he was going to sleep because his day had been exhausting, and the twins both kissed him on the cheek and gave him big hugs. Max had proposed to tuck him in, but he told him that he was too old to be tucked in. That he was supposed to tuck Max in.
Luca wasn't going to sleep. He was being childish because Zayn wouldn't text him back.
He threw himself on his deep-blue duvet, exhaling. He was still frowning.
Luca: "Text me back, please!" He messaged, throwing his phone across the bed, only to pick it up again.
Zayn had read that one too, and yet there was no answer.
"I'll call you 35 times if I have to!" He threatened.
Then, a thought bubble appeared. Zayn was replying. It kept disappearing and reappearing for several minutes.
Luca waited and waited. Was Zayn doing it on purpose?
The thought bubble came back, and this time, Zayn sent a message.
"In a meeting. 2 minutes."
Luca's jaw dropped. Zayn was in a meeting—and he had been texting him. His face flushed in embarrassment as he palmed his face, sitting up on the bed.
At least it meant Zayn wasn't ignoring him, but he was still embarrassed. Two minutes seemed to be taking too long. And Luca was impatient.
He wondered what kind of meetings they had Zayn stuck in, because he didn't usually attend meetings. He didn't like them, so this one must've been very important.
He got off his duvet, lied down, and placed it back on top of him. Even if he wasn't truly planning on sleeping, he was tired. And he needed to tell Zayn about his achievement. He managed to drink a quarter cup of hot cocoa after not being able to stand the sight of food for so long. He honestly couldn't believe it—but it happened.
His mother had applauded him, but everyone else seemed confused about it. Luca was relieved they hadn't figured it out yet; they didn't need to.
His phone chimed, and he damn near rolled off the bed trying to pick it up. He smiled at the sight of the notification being from Zayn.
Zayn: "Sterling, are you in danger?"
Luca laughed lightly. Why would he be in danger in his family's home? Though it was well hidden, the level of security installed by his parents was a tad too overprotective.
Luca: "No… I was wondering why you hadn't texted me yet."
Zayn: "I have been in a meeting since dawn. Do you require assistance?"
So he was right about Zayn being in a meeting. But a meeting lasting for that long was rare. It was most likely a discussion about a "high-grade sovereign mystery," one that Luca didn't need to know about.
He had forgotten to reply, and his phone chimed once more.
Zayn: "You aren't in your apartment, Sterling."
The tone of that message made Luca wonder how Zayn knew that and why he knew that—and why did it concern him?
Luca: "I'm with my family. We need to talk soon; I have something to tell you."
Zayn: "Today. My manor. Bring your stuff."
Luca stilled. He blinked a couple of times. Shut his phone off and turned it back on. He was supposed to meet Zayn with his stuff. Today? Now? At his house?
Luca exhaled deeply; he had just told his family he was sleeping, and now he was to meet up with Zayn. It was fine; he would tell them he was called in for work. Technically, that was true.
Luca knew he could simply deny it, but deep down, he didn't want to. It didn't feel right. He could use it as an opportunity to ask Zayn for help and resolve lingering disputes.
That was all. They would have a conversation, and then he would leave. Simple. Maybe they'd even watch a movie or two if everything went well, and Luca could tell him about Kaz.
And then, they could work on the case together.
That seemed like the perfect plan to Luca. But his problem was that he hadn't prepared any clothes for going out. Just his coat, his pyjamas, and the clothes he had worn to take the bus.
Luca: "I don't have anything to wear…"
Zayn: "No worries. I will drive you."
Luca nearly dropped his phone on his face. "No—uh, send your driver if necessary."
Then he shut that phone off. The least he could do was spray some perfume and do his hair and pack some stuff if he was getting picked up. And why…did it sound like a date? Should he get flowers from the garden?
Luca shook his head. That was absurd. No way in hell. Zayn was his boss. And he was nothing but an employee.