Revelations and Tensions

Sadiki sat alone in his quaters. The memory of Drystan's kiss still haunted him, brief, unexpected, and yet somehow monumental.

It was as though the ground beneath his feet had shifted, leaving him unsteady, uncertain of where he stood.

He had been avoiding Drystan ever since that night, ducking into hallways or slipping out of rooms whenever Drystan appeared. It was cowardly, but Sadiki didn't know what else to do. How could he face Drystan after everything?

His thoughts drifted to Eirik, and the familiar ache settled in his chest.

He had spent so much time grappling with his feelings for Eirik, trying to bury them or at least make sense of them.

And now Drystan, Drystan, of all people, had thrown him completely off balance.

"Sadiki."

The sound of Eirik's voice jolted him from his thoughts. Sadiki looked up to see him standing on the threshold, a look of concern etched across his face.