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Caelen didn’t even pretend to hide the way he trailed behind Shiki.
Footsteps soft, head slightly tilted, eyes fixed on Shiki’s back like he was memorizing each shift of muscle, each breath. Everyone in Lamentus got used to it — Shiki walking ahead, Caelen drifting behind him like a patient shadow.
Shiki never told him to stop.
In fact, he slowed down sometimes, just enough for Caelen to catch up.
Tonight, they were hanging out. Shiki sat on the table, legs dangling; Caelen stood between them, too close, as if being apart physically caused him discomfort.
“Did you eat?” Caelen murmured, voice low and breath fanning Shiki’s cheek.
Shiki smirked. “You watched me the whole time. You know I did.”
Caelen’s eyes gleamed, pleased. “I like watching you.”
“You make that very obvious,” Shiki teased, tapping a finger under Caelen’s chin. “But I don’t mind.”
He didn’t just not mind — he fed on it. The way Caelen’s gaze sharpened whenever someone else spoke to him, the way Caelen stepped closer when someone touched his shoulder too long… It thrilled him.
But Shiki played innocent, because Caelen didn’t need to know how deep the obsession went on both sides.
Someone called from across the room, “Hey, Caelen—! We need you—”
They didn’t finish the sentence.
Before Caelen could even turn, Shiki’s eyes snapped toward the speaker — cold, sharp, a silent warning laced with something feral. His glare was so intense that the person stumbled over their own words and quickly corrected themselves.
“I-I mean— we need Elias first. Sorry.”
Caelen blinked, confused. “Huh? They said my—”
Shiki smiled sweetly at him.
“Did they?” He tilted Caelen’s chin higher. “I didn’t notice.”
He had. Very much.
Anyone thinking Caelen was theirs?
Absolutely not.
Shiki leaned close enough that Caelen’s breath hitched, voice sugary-sweet in his ear.
“Why do they keep calling for you, hmm? Don’t they know you’re with me?”
Caelen flushed hard — bright, startled, delighted. “I… I don’t know.”
“But you’re mine right now.”
Shiki’s tone stayed soft, teasing — but his fingers dug just a little too tightly into Caelen’s jaw.
Caelen shivered.
Shiki released him a moment later, tapping his cheek lightly. The sweetness returned, like the moment of violence never happened.
“Come on.” Shiki hopped off the table. “If you’re following me, then follow me properly.”
Caelen’s face lit up with that same fervent devotion.
“Always.”
Shiki walked ahead, smirking to himself as he heard Caelen’s footsteps fall in line behind him again.
If only Caelen knew.
He wasn’t the only one who obsessed.
Shiki just hid it better — until anyone else dared to reach for what was his.
---
They walked in silence. Shiki’s pace was calm and steady; Caelen stayed exactly half a step behind him, eyes fixed on the back of Shiki’s neck.
Shiki slowed suddenly — and Caelen bumped directly into him.
The contact was brief, accidental—
But Caelen froze like he had committed a sin. “Sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing?” Shiki said without turning around. “I slowed down on purpose.”
“…Why?”
Shiki pivoted on his heel, facing Caelen fully. Caelen straightened, posture rigid, breath shallow.
Shiki stepped forward.
Caelen stepped back.
Shiki stepped forward again.
Caelen’s back hit the wall.
And then Shiki placed a hand next to his head, leaning in until their noses nearly brushed.
“Because I like knowing you’ll bump into me,” Shiki whispered.
Caelen’s breath trembled.
Because Shiki was telling him directly — openly — that the clinginess, the obsession, the following, the devotion?
He wanted it.
Shiki’s other hand slipped up, fingers brushing Caelen’s jaw. Caelen shivered — lower lip trembling with the effort not to lean into the touch too obviously.
“You don’t have to hide it,” Shiki murmured. “I know how you look at me.”
Caelen swallowed dryly. “I wasn’t trying to hide—”
“Yes, you were.”
Caelen’s eyes widened.
Shiki smiled — sweet, venomous. “You think lowering your gaze fools anyone? That standing a few inches farther back makes you look normal?”
Caelen’s shoulders tightened. “I just—”
“You follow me everywhere,” Shiki continued softly. “I don’t mind.”
That was the moment Caelen’s composure cracked — just a fracture, but enough.
“You don’t?” he whispered, almost fearful. “You really… don’t?”
Shiki leaned in so close their lips nearly brushed.
“I like it,” he breathed.
Caelen’s eyes fluttered shut—
But before he could lean in, Shiki pulled back with a wicked smirk.
“Come on,” he said casually. “We’re late.”
Caelen froze, chest heaving, hands trembling with restraint as Shiki turned and walked off.
Shiki didn’t look back, but—
He slowed down again.
And Caelen followed.
Faster.
---
A WEEK LATER..
Shiki brushed Caelen’s cheek with the back of his hand.
“Come to my room,” he whispered.
Caelen nearly collapsed.
But Shiki wasn’t finished.
“And next time,” he murmured against Caelen’s ear, “don’t wait for me to initiate.”
Caelen went absolutely still.
“W-What do you mean?”
Shiki’s voice dropped, almost a purr. “If you want to grab me— do it. If you want to keep people away from me— do it. If you want to follow me— keep doing it.”
He leaned in, lips ghosting Caelen’s jaw.
“And if you want me all to yourself…”
Caelen’s breath caught.
“You already have that.”
Caelen’s eyes dilated, breath stuttering, hands twitching like he was one second away from pinning Shiki to the wall.
Shiki watched him with slow, anticipatory delight.
“Go on,” he whispered.
“Show me.”
Caelen finally broke.
He grabbed Shiki by the waist, pulling him flush against him.
Shiki chuckled breathlessly.
“There it is.”
Their foreheads pressed together, breaths harsh, bodies locked.
Two obsessions, mirror images.
Two monsters staring at each other and recognizing themselves.
Not prey.
Not predator.
Equal.
Matched.
Mutual destruction waiting to happen.
Shiki whispered, “Good boy.”
Caelen shivered like he’d been electrocuted.
And then Shiki tugged him down the hallway, smiling like a devil who’d finally gotten the exact sin he wanted.