"Care to explain why you two were snooping around last night?" Mrs. Caleena's voice broke the quiet of the morning as she stepped into the kitchen, a basket of laundry balanced on her hip.
Aiden froze mid-bite, his cereal spoon hovering near his mouth. Adrian, caught mid-chew, nearly spat out his toast. "What? Snooping? Us? No way!" Adrian said, trying to sound casual but failing miserably.
"Adrian Caleena, don't even try it. Just because you were hiding doesn't mean we didn't know you were there." She turned her attention to Aiden, who was now avoiding eye contact. "Especially with Aiden's powers leaking all over the place."
Aiden stiffened, his cheeks flushing slightly. He mumbled, "I wasn't trying to…" as he poked at his cereal, his voice barely audible.
Adrian, on the other hand, looked baffled. "Wait—you knew we were there? How? We didn't make a sound!"
Mrs. Caleena let out a soft laugh. "Adrian, sound doesn't matter when you've got someone with uncontrollable aura practically radiating in the next room. Like I said, Aiden's powers are all over the place."
Adrian turned to Aiden, smirking. "Oh, great. So you're basically a walking beacon. That's helpful."
Aiden looked up, his dark eyes narrowing. "I didn't ask to be a Magi," he replied quietly but firmly.
"Whoa, relax," Adrian said, holding his hands up in mock surrender. "I'm just saying it's kind of hard to be stealthy when you're…well, you..."
"And you're so much better at sneaking around? You nearly tripped over the stairs last night."
"I- the place was dark!"
"The lights were on," Aiden shot back.
Einya chuckled, clearly amused by the exchange. "Alright, boys, enough bickering. Adrian, you might want to take some notes from Aiden here. At least he knows how to defend himself."
"Great, now I'm getting roasted by my own mum."
Einya ignored him and turned to Aiden, her tone softening. "It's not your fault, Aiden. You haven't learned how to control your powers yet, but you will. It just takes time and practice."
Adrian perked up. "I could teach him! You know, since I'm basically a pro at all this."
Aiden raised an eyebrow.
"A pro? Really? That's what you're going with?"
"Absolutely. I mean, how hard can it be? Right? So you start with, uh, some meditation? Maybe some breathing... exercises? Focus your energy, and bam! You're in control."
"Yeah, because sitting still and breathing deeply is going to fix everything."
"Hey, don't knock it till you try it," Adrian said with a shrug. "Besides, it's better than wandering around like a walking energy storm."
"I already tried it. The last time I did it, I was chased by a mob of Hunters. But since your such a pro at this, it's on you if it fails."
Mrs. Caleena smiled at their exchange but didn't let the moment linger. "Alright, boys," she said cheerfully, setting the basket down. "Adrian, take Aiden shopping later for some new clothes. He needs them."
Aiden immediately shook his head. "No, no, I can't let you do that, Mrs. C. You've all done more than enough for me already."
Mrs. Caleena raised an eyebrow. "What are you going to do, dear? Walk around Soleil in those old clothes forever?"
"I'll figure something out," Aiden mumbled. "Maybe I can get a job-"
Adrian burst out laughing. "A job? You do realise this isn't Earth, right? That's not how things work here."
What do you mean?"
"Look," Adrian said, still laughing. "Espera doesn't exactly have part-time gigs at the local bakery. If I even see you near a piece of bread you best believe I'm not eating any of it. You're coming shopping with me, and that's that. No arguments."
"But-"
"No buts," Adrian interrupted, standing and pointing at him. "You need new clothes, you stink, and frankly, I'm doing everyone a favor by dragging you along. So shut up and get ready."
Mrs. Caleena smiled warmly. "He's right, Aiden. It's okay to let us help. You're part of this household now, whether you like it or not."
Aiden hesitated, glancing between her kind smile and Adrian's teasing smirk.
"…Thank you, Mrs. C," he said softly.
Adrian clapped him on the back, grinning. "See? That wasn't so hard. Now go get cleaned up before I drag you into the shops as you are."
Aiden sighed, muttering under his breath as he left the room.
As he disappeared down the hallway, Adrian turned to his mother, still smirking. "He's got some fire in him, doesn't he, mum?"
Mrs. Caleena nodded, her expression thoughtful. "He does. Well, literally. But... he's also been carrying a lot for someone his age. Be patient with him, Adrian."
"I'm plenty patient."
Mrs. Caleena gave him a knowing look. "Just try not to drive him crazy while you're at it."
"No promises," Adrian said with a grin, grabbing his jacket.
-------------------------------------
The streets of Soleil buzzed with life as Adrian led Aiden through Soleil Plaza, weaving through the vibrant crowds. The sun's rays seemed to make everything sparkle, from the intricate patterns of the stalls to the shimmering fabrics draped across tables. Adrian seemed completely at ease, pointing out random vendors and making casual jokes, while Aiden followed quietly, his sharp gaze absorbing everything.
"Alright," Adrian said, stopping abruptly in front of a large shop with a glowing sign that read Sunthread & Co. in elegant, looping letters. "This is the place. We'll get you sorted here."
Aiden glanced at the shopfront, his brow furrowing slightly. "You're sure about this?"
"Of course I am," Adrian replied with a grin. "This place has everything. Trust me."
The two stepped inside, and Aiden was immediately hit with the scent of lavender and polished wood. Racks of neatly arranged clothes lined the shop, and a faint golden glow seemed to emanate from the fabrics.
Adrian looked Aiden up and down and instantly grabbed a shirt from a nearby rack, holding it up to Aiden's chest. It was light blue with a crisp collar and a subtle embroidered pattern.
"This? Screams you."
Aiden raised an eyebrow. "You think so?"
"Totally," Adrian said with a smirk. "You've got that whole posh, uptight vibe going on. Might as well lean into it."
Aiden rolled his eyes.
"Uptight? I'm not uptight."
"You literally stand like there's a ruler strapped to your back," Adrian said, grinning as he tossed the shirt into Aiden's arms. "Now, let's find you some trousers."
As Adrian darted around the shop, pulling out blazers, knit jumpers, and neatly pressed trousers, Aiden stood by the fitting rooms, holding the growing pile of clothes.
"Why so posh and formal?" Aiden asked eventually, his tone calm but curious.
"Because you seem like the kind of guy who'd hate punk or anything remotely casual. Am I wrong?"
"No, you're not," Aiden admitted, a hint of amusement in his voice. "I usually wear semi-formal outfits, even at home."
Adrian froze, turning to stare at Aiden like he'd just confessed to being an alien.
"Wait—what? Y-you wear semi-formal... at home? Like… in your own house?"
"Yes," Aiden replied simply, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Like inside?"
"Yes."
"Like not going anywhere? Just walking from your dining room to your living room and back to your bed?"
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
"You're kidding."
"Yes."
"Stop saying yes."
"Yes."
"But why, though?" Adrian demanded, genuinely baffled. "Why would you do that to yourself? What's wrong with pyjamas?"
Aiden shrugged, his expression calm. "I don't see the point in wearing pyjamas unless I'm going to bed. Besides, it's what I'm used to."
Adrian blinked at him, his mouth opening and closing like he was struggling to comprehend. "That's so weird," he said finally. "I mean, no offense, but… who does that?"
"Apparently, I do."
Adrian shook his head, laughing. "You're impossible, you know that, Chase? Alright, fine, semi-formal it is. But you're getting at least one pair of pyjamas. You're in Soleil now-you've got to loosen up a bit."
Aiden smirked faintly. "We'll see."
After an hour of browsing, Adrian had managed to assemble an entire wardrobe for Aiden: crisp shirts, tailored trousers, a few comfortable jumpers, and even a pair of loafers.
True to his word, Adrian also threw in a set of pyjamas, much to Aiden's quiet exasperation.
As they headed to the counter, Adrian glanced at Aiden, grinning.
"You know, for someone who supposedly hates casual clothes, you've been surprisingly cooperative."
"I just didn't see the point in arguing," Aiden replied, his tone even. "You clearly weren't going to give me a choice."
Adrian laughed. "You're not wrong. But admit it—you're going to look great in this stuff. Posh suits you."
Aiden gave him a sidelong glance, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "If you say so."
Adrian slapped a hand on his shoulder as they left the shop.
"See? I knew we'd make a decent team. Now, let's grab lunch before I drag you to the shoe shop. You're going to need more than just loafers, mate."
Adrian and Aiden stepped out the store with their newly purchased bags in hand. Adrian, still grinning from his victory in outfitting Aiden, suddenly stopped in his tracks, glancing at a nearby shop with a display of jackets in the window. Without a word, he grabbed Aiden by the arm and dragged him inside.
"What now?" Aiden asked, his voice tinged with faint exasperation.
"We're not done yet," Adrian replied, his eyes scanning the racks of jackets. "There's one last thing you need."
Aiden raised an eyebrow as Adrian stopped in front of a rack displaying an array of leather jackets.
"You're joking," he said flatly.
"Nope," Adrian said cheerfully, pulling a sleek black jacket off the rack. He held it up against Aiden, his grin widening. "Perfect."
"That doesn't exactly scream 'uptown,' does it?"
"Exactly. It's not supposed to. You've already got enough preppy stuff to last you a lifetime. This is for balance."
"And why, exactly, do I need balance?"
"Because we're friends now, and friends match. Look at me, all gorgeous and shit." He gestured dramatically to his own leather jacket. "I can't be seen walking around with someone who looks like they're headed to a business meeting every second of the day. This'll make you look cooler."
Aiden blinked at him, caught off guard.
"We're… friends?"
"Obviously," Adrian said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "You're stuck here, and I'm stuck with you. Might as well make the best of it, yeah?"
For a moment, Aiden was silent, staring at the jacket. Then, with a small sigh, he took it from Adrian and slipped it on. The fit was almost perfect, the soft leather molding to his frame. He glanced at his reflection in a nearby mirror and adjusted the collar.
"It's not terrible," he admitted quietly.
"Not terrible?" Adrian exclaimed, clapping him on the back. "Chase, you look amazing! And take this compliment to heart, I mean it. You're welcome, by the way."
"Don't push it."
Adrian laughed, clearly pleased with himself. "Alright, let's pay for that and grab lunch. I'm starving."
As they left the shop, Aiden adjusted the jacket again, feeling its unfamiliar weight on his shoulders. He glanced at Adrian, who was walking ahead, his hands shoved into his pockets and a carefree grin on his face.
"Thanks, Adrian," Aiden said suddenly, barely a whisper.
Adrian glanced back at him, surprised. "For what?"
"For… everything," Aiden replied, his tone slightly awkward. "You didn't have to do all this."
"That's what friends do, right? Besides, you're part of the team now. Can't have you walking around Soleil looking like you wear only one set of clothes."
Aiden didn't respond, but the faintest hint of a smile flickered across his face.