Night_Dream_Ben

Crimson Ties: Love in the Crossfire
By: Night_Dream_Ben

Leo Santiago has always kept his heart locked behind walls—tough, silent, and fiercely protective of the few people he cares about. As a senior at Helix Academy, a school simmering with secrets and violence, Leo’s only goal is survival. That is, until Kieran Vale storms into his life—dangerous, sharp-tongued, and undeniably captivating.

Kieran, a mysterious transfer with a hidden past and a reputation that precedes him, seems to see right through Leo’s defenses. Their worlds collide in a brutal mix of high-stakes school rivalries, deep-rooted trauma, and undeniable attraction. What begins as tension soon ignites into something much deeper, and much more dangerous.

As threats close in from rival factions and secrets unravel within their school, Leo and Kieran must learn to trust each other—not just with their lives, but with their hearts. But in a world where loyalty is tested and betrayal lurks in every shadow, will love be enough to survive the crossfire?

"Crimson Ties: Love in the Crossfire"

The rain hadn't stopped since morning.

It tapped gently against the windows of Leo's bedroom, casting soft ripples of sound through the space. The world outside was gray, still. But inside, everything felt electric.

Kieran sat cross-legged on the floor, his back leaning against the edge of Leo's bed. His damp hoodie was draped over a chair, hair tousled from the rain. He was scrolling through something on Leo's laptop, though his eyes hadn't moved in minutes.

Leo, lying on his stomach across the bed, propped his chin on his folded arms. His gaze kept drifting—not to the screen, but to Kieran. The way his shoulders tensed every time Leo's hand brushed near. The flick of his eyes when he thought Leo wasn't looking.

They hadn't talked about the kiss.

Not after the sirens, or the statements, or the long, sleepless nights after.

It hung between them now—thick as smoke.

"Found the footage," Kieran murmured, finally breaking the silence.

Leo blinked, pulling his thoughts back. "Of the facility?"

"Yeah. News caught everything. They're calling us the 'Ghost Boys.'"

Leo groaned. "Wow. That's... dramatic."

Kieran's fingers froze on the trackpad. He looked up slowly. "Depends on the kind."

Heat bloomed in Leo's chest. Dangerous. Close.

He broke the stare first, shifting on the bed so his arm dangled lazily off the side—close enough for his fingers to almost brush Kieran's shoulder.

"I keep thinking," Leo said, voice softer now. "About what would've happened if we were too late."

Leo glanced at him. "That kiss… back there. Was it just adrenaline?"

Kieran's voice came quietly. "Was it for you?"

Silence settled again, deeper now. Heavy with unspoken things.

Kieran finally shut the laptop. "I didn't plan it."

"But I wanted to." His voice dropped. "I still do."

Slowly, he slid off the bed and sat beside Kieran on the floor. Their shoulders brushed. Neither of them moved away.

Leo tilted his head slightly. "So what's stopping you?"

Kieran's gaze flicked to him. "You are."

Leo laughed under his breath, but there was no humor in it. "Yeah. I get that."

Kieran turned, now facing him fully. "It's not because I don't want this. I do. But everything's been chaos. The mission. The pain. We're still healing."

Leo nodded, eyes dark. "I don't want this to be a distraction."

"It won't be," Kieran said quietly. "Not if we let it be real."

The air between them turned molten.

Leo leaned in a little, just enough to feel the tension ripple through Kieran's body. "Real scares me."

The space between their faces shrank until it felt like a single breath would close it completely. Every beat of Leo's heart pounded in his ears. Kieran's hand twitched, as if deciding whether to reach out—or retreat.

They just stared—close enough to burn.

Ch.47: Close Enough to Burn