Orion rarely finds people difficult to read. Adrien isn’t difficult to read, he’s just difficult to understand. He simply refuses to explain himself.

What else can he do with such a person? He has to dig his claws into his soul and drag out what he wants to know himself.

But he won’t do it here. Not here, not now.

He’ll give Adrien a chance to tell him. Like he always does. Orion is not a patient man, but he knows waiting is what makes the difference between a rushed meal and a meal to be savored.

And Adrien is to be treated ’delicately’ until then.

Niko leans forward, amber eyes spearing through Adrien. "I don’t suppose this is the point where you tell us what’s wrong?"

Adrien doesn’t even look at him. "I don’t suppose this is the point where you mind your own business?"

"No."

"I figured."

Alexis smiles faintly. "He’s improving."

"He’s always rude," Niko scoffs. "There’s nothing new here."

"Yes, but he’s using complete sentences again." Alexis flashes him a soft smile.

Adrien sighs. "I liked you better when you weren’t dating him."

"But you didn’t know me then."

"Exactly."

A corner of Alexis’s mouth lifts. It’s not a smile, but something close. Though, it’s probably the first genuine hint of a smile Adrien has seen on his face since he met him.

Orion watches the exchange without commenting. The color still hasn’t returned to Adrien’s face. His pulse, visible at the side of his neck, remains faster than it should have been.

He’s still in a state of heightened stress.

Alice still hadn’t looked toward their circle. She doesn’t have to. Her presence alone seems enough to put pressure on his duckling.

What exactly did you do to my Adrien, Old Crow?

The thought comes uninvited, not about Alice, but about Adrien. Every answer Orion uncovers only seems to produce another question.

He knows Adrien. He knows all his bottom lines and quirks. He knows all his poorly-kept secrets— he knows everything there is to know about what is his.

Runaway. Stubborn. Quick with an insult. And now...terrified.

Someone taught Adrien to react like this. That person spent years doing it. Orion finds, rather unexpectedly, that he dislikes the idea of his duckling being conditioned to fear another person.

He dislikes it a lot. Adrien should only fear him.

The sound of another engine rolls across the driveway. The photographers immediately spring to life.

"There they are."

"The happy couple."

"Finally."

Guests begin moving toward the entrance. Music drifts through the gardens once more. A sleek gold sports car sweeps around the circular drive before slowing to a stop near the front steps.

The stars of the show have arrived.

Leon climbs out first. Even from a distance, he looked tired— like a man who has accepted that arguing with fate is a waste of energy.

Louise steps out after him. She smiles a perfect, practiced smile as cameras flash around her, every inch the woman who intends to own the evening.

The photographers crowds closer.

Orion barely notices. His attention drifts back to Adrien, who hasn’t moved a muscle. He is still staring towards the entrance.

Not at Louise, at Alice, who is now watching the arriving couple with unreadable calm.

"...You’re grinding your teeth again," Orion says.

Adrien stops immediately. "...Shut up."

"There he is."

"I was always here."

"Do you really want to argue about that with me?"

Adrien rolls his eyes weakly, but it’s better than nothing. Orion leans back against the his car.

His gaze sweeps slowly across the estate. Everything appears normal, yet, something feels wrong.

He can’t explain it.

There is no visible threat, just an irritating feeling pressing against the back of his mind. The kind he had learned, long ago, not to ignore.

His eyes move across the driveway once more.

Something is wrong.

He doesn’t know what.

Only that every instinct he possesses has suddenly gone very, very quiet, and that is somehow worse.

He knows from experience that it means things have already gone to shit and no amount of planning is going to fix anything now.

Beside him, Adrien opens his mouth to mutter another sarcastic remark. The light in his eyes finally stabilizing as he gears up for another round of verbal sparring.

Orion would be excited but he never ends up hearing the venom Adrien is about to spill. His attention locks onto something beyond his car. His expression changes.

In one smooth movement, he reaches for Adrien.

Without a word, he grabs onto the front of Adrien’s jacket and pulls him sharply towards his side.

Adrien looks up in surprise. "What are you—"

The question hangs unfinished between them.

Every instinct he possesses screamed the same thing. It’s already too late.

"Get down now!"

The order is more for Niko and Alexis’s sake than his. He hopes Niko’s intuition worked in tune with his. The word has barely left his mouth, when light swallows the world.

The explosion comes a heartbeat later. The shockwave tears through the estate. It’s a vision of pure light and heat. Sharp enough to blind, and hot enough to burn.

Windows burst. Glass shatters. Music vanishes beneath screams.

Orion doesn’t hesitate. He moves.

One arm wraps tightly around Adrien’s waist, the other cradles the back of his head. He pulls him into his chest with bruising force.

"Orion!"

Adrien’s scream never reaches his ears. His ears are already ringing too much for that.

Orion folds himself around him, broad shoulders shielding him completely as glass explodes outwards. The car shudders beneath the force.

Something heavy slams against the side of the car.

Orion’s arms only tighten, his chin pressed against the top of Adrien’s head.

His body becomes a wall between Adrien and the burning world outside.

Then, the second wave hits.

******

If you’re enjoying the story, then please don’t forget to drop a review so I can get better optics and a wider range.

Thank you.

—TheLovePoet.