As You Wished

Like We Used To Be

Elior stood and walked toward him, each step deliberate yet graceful. The space between them shrank until they were close enough to touch, close enough for Kael to catch that familiar scent that had haunted his dreams for years.

"How are you, Kael Arvenhart?" The smile that spread across Elior's face was pure sunshine. Warm, genuine, everything Kael had missed without realizing how much.

"I'm always okay when I can see you." The words slipped out before Kael could stop them, honest in a way that surprised them both.

Elior's cheeks flushed pink, his smile turning shy. "Well then. Coffee or something else?"

"Black, no sugar." Kael found himself smiling back. "You remember."

"I remember everything." Elior's voice was soft as he headed to the counter, where the barista had been not-so-subtly watching their reunion. The poor kid turned red when Elior flashed him that megawatt smile while ordering.

Kael watched the easy way Elior moved through the world, how effortlessly he made people light up. Some things never changed. The thought brought equal measures of comfort and pain.

"Come on." Elior was back, gesturing toward the terrace. "There's a spot where we can actually talk."

They settled at a corner table partially hidden by hanging plants, the kind of place designed for intimate conversations. The evening light caught in Elior's hair, and Kael had to look away before he did something stupid like reach out and touch it.

"So," Elior said once they were seated. "How have you really been, El?"

"I'm good. Different kind of good than before, but still good." Elior's fingers traced patterns on the wooden table. "You know how it is."

Kael did know. Success came with its own set of chains. "At least you're living your dream."

"Yeah." Elior looked up, something flickering in his expression. "Dreams are funny things, aren't they? You spend so long chasing them, you forget to ask if they're what you actually want." He shook his head with a rueful laugh. "Sorry, that's too heavy for coffee conversation."

"Keep singing," Kael said quietly, reaching across the table to brush his fingers against Elior's. "Whatever else happens, don't stop singing."

Their server appeared with perfect timing, setting down Kael's black coffee and Elior's latte with its ridiculous heart-shaped foam art. They both laughed, the moment's tension breaking into something lighter.

***

Outside, Julian parked behind the Rolls-Royce with military precision. Rui practically bounced out of the passenger seat.

"Damn, Ju, you're good at this tracking thing." Rui grinned, already heading for the café entrance. "How'd you know exactly where he'd be?"

"GPS," Julian said simply, patting the dashboard. "Modern technology is quite remarkable."

"Right, technology." Rui was still grinning as he reached for the door handle. "Come on, let's go surprise our boy."

"Wait." Julian's hand shot out, catching Rui's wrist. "Perhaps we shouldn't intrude."

"Intrude? It's just Kael. He won't mind ..."

But Julian was already steering him toward a cluster of flowering bushes beside the building. "Trust me on this one."

"Seriously? We're hiding in the bushes now?" Rui whispered, though he crouched down anyway. "What are we, twelve?"

Julian pointed through the leaves toward the terrace, and Rui's complaint died in his throat.

There was Kael, looking more relaxed than Rui had seen him in years. And sitting across from him, laughing at something Kael had said, was someone who made Rui's brain short-circuit.

"Holy s**t," he breathed. "Is that ..."

"Language," Julian murmured, but he was smiling.

"That's him, isn't it? The guy from the banner. Elior What's-his-name."

"Elior Veylan," Julian supplied helpfully.

"You knew." It wasn't a question. "You knew this whole time."

Julian's smile turned mysterious. "I know many things, Young Master Rui."

"God, you're infuriating." But Rui was grinning as he turned back to spy on his best friend. "How long has this been going on?"

"That," Julian said, "is not my story to tell."

***

Back on the terrace, Kael and Elior had fallen into the easy rhythm they'd once shared, conversation flowing like music between them.

"Do you still remember that song?" Kael asked. "The one you used to hum when you thought no one was listening?"

Elior's smile turned wistful. "Which one? I hummed a lot of songs back then."

"You know which one."

"Yeah." Elior's voice was barely audible. "I remember. Some things stick with you whether you want them to or not."

The words settled between them, heavy with meaning. In his peripheral vision, Kael caught a flash of movement from the bushes, but he didn't turn to look. Let them have their secrets. Right now, this moment belonged to him and Elior, and the rest of the world could wait.