Chapter 98: 98: Night cuddles
As the tension in the alley reached its peak, Aiden sighed, stepping forward to stand between Hiro and Mr. Yama's goons.
His tall frame cast a long shadow over the group, and his presence was commanding enough to make the thugs hesitate.
"Alright, let's make this quick," Aiden said casually, rolling his shoulders. "I'm not in the mood for drawn-out nonsense."
One of the henchmen sneered and lunged forward, swinging a meaty fist. Aiden stepped aside effortlessly, catching the man's arm mid-swing.
"Bad move," Aiden muttered before twisting the arm, flipping the henchman over onto the ground in one smooth motion.
The second thug tried to rush him from behind, but Aiden, with his enhanced senses, heard him coming. He delivered a swift back kick that sent the man flying into a stack of crates, which collapsed under the impact.
"You done yet?" Aiden asked, brushing imaginary dust off his hoodie.
Mr. Yama's face twisted with rage. "You think you can walk in here and humiliate me?!"
He charged at Aiden with surprising speed for his size, aiming a wild punch. Aiden caught the fist with ease, his own hand barely flinching. He raised an eyebrow.
"Big guy, small brain," Aiden said, shaking his head. With a single shove, he sent Mr. Yama stumbling backward into a wall, his impact loud enough to make the crowd gasp.
Mr. Yama and his thugs groaned in pain, clearly outmatched. The crowd, sensing the show was over, began to disperse, murmuring about the spectacle they'd just witnessed.
"Let's go," Tadashi said, his voice calm but firm as he put a hand on Hiro's shoulder.
Hiro stared at Aiden with wide eyes. "What are you, a superhero or something?"
"Something like that," Aiden replied with a wink, turning to follow Tadashi back to the bikes.
When they arrived at the Lucky Cat Café, the warm glow of the lights and the comforting scent of baked goods immediately wrapped around them. Aunt Cass was waiting at the door, her face a mix of worry and relief.
"Hiro! Where have you been?!" she exclaimed, pulling him into a tight hug.
"I was—uh—out," Hiro mumbled, trying to wriggle free.
Aunt Cass turned her attention to Tadashi, who gave her a sheepish smile. "He's fine, Aunt Cass. Aiden and I found him in time."
Aiden, standing behind them, was caught off guard when Aunt Cass suddenly pulled him into a hug, pressing his face against her soft, mature bosom.
"Oh, Aiden! Thank you for looking out for my boys," she said, her voice filled with gratitude.
Aiden's face turned a shade darker, and he awkwardly patted her back. "Uh, no problem, Aunt Cass. Just doing what I can."
Hiro snickered from the side, and Tadashi tried to suppress a grin. Aunt Cass finally released Aiden and ushered them inside, fussing over them and insisting they sit down for something to eat.
After a hearty meal and some playful teasing from Aunt Cass about how he was becoming part of the family, Aiden decided it was time to head back.
"Thanks for the meal, Aunt Cass," he said, standing and stretching. "I'll see you all tomorrow."
"Anytime, Aiden," she said with a warm smile. "And seriously, thank you again."
Tadashi and Hiro waved as Aiden stepped out into the cool night air. The city was quiet, the streets bathed in the soft glow of streetlights as he made his way back to Honey's dorm.
When Aiden entered Honey's dorm, the sight that greeted him made him pause. Honey Lemon was curled up on the couch, fast asleep.
She was still in her day clothes, her long legs tucked under her, and her head resting on one arm of the couch.
"She must've been waiting for me," Aiden muttered, a small smile tugging at his lips.
Nimbus, perched on a nearby table, chirped softly as if agreeing.
Aiden walked quietly to the closet, pulling out a blanket. He draped it gently over Honey, but as he turned to leave, she stirred slightly, her soft mumble of contentment pulling at his heartstrings.
Shaking his head, he decided to sit down beside her. He adjusted the blanket so it covered them both, then pulled out his holographic computer to do some minor adjustments on a project he'd been working on.
As the minutes ticked by, the quiet hum of the computer and the warmth of the blanket lulled Aiden into a state of drowsiness.
Honey, instinctively seeking comfort, shifted closer, her head resting against his shoulder.
Aiden glanced down at her, his expression softening. "Goodnight, Honey," he whispered.
The screen of his computer dimmed as his eyelids grew heavier, and soon he drifted off, the two of them huddled together in the quiet dorm room.
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Honey Lemon stirred awake in the stillness of the dorm, the soft glow of the city lights filtering through the window. For a moment, she was disoriented, unsure why there was such warmth enveloping her.
Then, as her eyes adjusted, she realized she was nestled against Aiden.
Her head rested lightly on his broad shoulder, the blanket draped snugly over both of them. His steady breathing filled the quiet room, his chest rising and falling rhythmically. Honey blinked a few times, her cheeks warming as she registered their position.
Her heart gave a small flutter, but instead of pulling away, she stayed where she was, savoring the unexpected comfort of the moment.
As Honey rested her head back against Aiden's shoulder, her mind began to wander. She thought about the past few days since Aiden's arrival.
At first, she'd been excited about hosting a new student—a brilliant mind from overseas—but she hadn't anticipated how much he'd impact her life.
She smiled faintly, recalling how quickly he'd blended into their tight-knit group. He had a natural way of balancing intelligence and humor, effortlessly bouncing between solving complex equations and cracking jokes that left everyone in stitches.
Her thoughts meandered to their shared time in the lab. Aiden had this remarkable ability to turn even the most mundane tasks into something exciting.
Whether it was brainstorming for a project, building something new, or even teasing Fred for his latest wild idea, Aiden brought an energy that Honey found irresistible.
And then there's his charm... she thought, biting her lip as she glanced up at his relaxed face. In the dim light, his features seemed softer yet just as striking.
His strong jawline, the faint glow of his two-toned eyes hidden behind his lids, and the way his long dreadlocks framed his face—it was enough to make her cheeks flush again.
Honey's hand instinctively tugged the blanket closer as she let her thoughts unravel. Somewhere along the way, her initial admiration for Aiden's intellect had shifted into something deeper.
She couldn't pinpoint when it had started—maybe it was during their city explorations, when he'd laughed so freely at her excitement over a new gadget shop.
Or maybe it was in the lab, when he'd stayed late to help her salvage a project gone awry, his patience never wavering.
Or perhaps it was how he treated everyone with genuine kindness, even Nimbus. He never looked down on anyone, no matter their skill level, and his ability to listen—to really listen—was something she deeply admired.
I think I'm falling for him, she realized with a sudden clarity that made her breath catch. The thought was both exhilarating and terrifying.
Honey had always been a romantic at heart, but this... this felt different.
Honey's gaze lingered on Aiden's face, her heart swelling with emotion. She knew that life could be unpredictable. The moments they shared now, fleeting as they might be, were precious.
I don't know how long this will last, she thought, her lips curving into a bittersweet smile. But I'm going to cherish every second of it.
Emboldened by the quiet intimacy of the moment, she allowed herself to shift closer to him. Her head nestled more securely against his shoulder, her arm brushing lightly against his side.
Aiden stirred slightly but didn't wake, his body instinctively adjusting to accommodate her. Honey's heart skipped a beat at how natural it felt to be this close to him.
Closing her eyes, Honey focused on the steady rhythm of Aiden's breathing. The warmth of the blanket and the quiet hum of the city outside cocooned them in a bubble of tranquility.
She sighed softly, letting her worries and overthinking drift away. Whatever the future held, she was determined to make the most of it, starting with this simple, perfect moment.
With that thought, Honey allowed herself to relax completely, her hand lightly resting on the edge of the blanket. She felt safer and more content than she had in a long time.
As sleep reclaimed her, she smiled faintly, snuggling closer to Aiden. The world outside could wait; for now, this was enough.
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