My Stepbrother, My Enemy {BL}

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘❦✾❦∘∙⊱⋅•-

Noah’s POV

I was all out of tears, just left with this trembling fear that it was all some twisted dream and any moment I’d wake up on that grimy mattress in the workshop, surrounded by laughter and shadows. My body felt empty, like all the emotions had been squeezed out, leaving only dread behind. Adrien must have sensed it because he held me tighter, his presence steady and warm, grounding me when my thoughts began to spiral.

"It’s okay," he murmured softly, his voice low and firm, almost like he needed me to believe it just as much as he needed to say it. "You’re safe now, Noah. I promise you, you’re not there anymore. They can’t touch you, and I’ll make sure they never get the chance again."

Hearing that finally calmed my breathing, even though my heart still felt fragile and unsure. I pulled back a bit, wiping my face with the back of my hand, feeling embarrassed now that the worst was over. "I’m sorry," I said quietly, my voice raspy. "I didn’t mean to... cry for so long. I must look pathetic."

Adrien frowned immediately, looking almost offended. "Don’t apologize," he said, firm but gentle. "Not for this. Not ever."

That’s when I noticed his hands resting on the bed, and my breath caught in my throat. Thick white bandages were wrapped around his knuckles, already faintly stained, and panic surged through me before I could stop it. I reached for him instinctively. "Adrien... your hands. Are you hurt?"

He noticed my reaction and sighed softly, turning his hands slightly as if to hide them, but it was too late for that. "Hey, no," he said quickly, trying to calm me down. "It’s nothing. You’re not supposed to be worrying about me right now, okay? You’re the one who-"

I didn’t let him finish. I gently took his hands in mine, my fingers brushing over the bandages as if he might break. They were warm and solid, real, and the thought that he’d been hurt because of me made my chest ache in a way that wasn’t just fear. He fell silent, watching me with that intense, softened gaze that always made me feel seen, in a way that unnerved me.

"How did you even find me?" I asked softly, still holding his hands. "How did you know where I was?"