Soulbound'

the wee

ust stepped out of their apartment building, planning to head

e big house across the street. Instead of his sharp office suit, he

a bright wave, flashing his usual cheerful sm

appily. "Are you getting

ed, adjusting his sleeves. "Daico is inside setti

e had gotten comfortable with each other. It was surprising, but she decided not to say anything about it out loud. R

ys a housewarming gift," Abby added, giving Tyrone a

yes twinkling. "Your presence is more than enough. Bu

ng a little less nervous

rone into the open front door of the big house. She was curious. What did

im, but saw nothing until heavy fo

was plastered to his forehead, his shirt completely soaked, and walking right beh

ften would anyone ever see the cool, untouchable Director Aidan

mbarrassment. He quickly wiped water

dog under control?" Aidan grumb

Abby gasped. "

d, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. "We sealed it temporarily, but water went everywher

ed and helpless made Alia

d with Abby. "My uncle is a local plumber and lives jus

roken pipe, Abby and Alia sat on the porch floor with he

rone, rubbing the dog's soft ears. "He

's back. "He showed up at our porch last night, completely soaked from t

clean, simple weekend clothes-a dark fitted shirt and casual pants. He looked much more

somewhere, boss

tossing the keys slightly in his hand. "We n

gave Alia a subtle

ght, innocent smile. "She needs to buy a few things for our apar

d her mouth to refuse, but looking around at the cluttered living room and th

lite excuse, Aidan tossed a reusable

t door. He paused for a second and looked back at he

kitchen watching Daico effortlessly set out rows

, leaning against the cou

y bit of the food and groceries for the party had already been completely take

ise, the human food, and the hassle. But the second he saw Alia standing out on the porch in her casual weekend clothes, his whole moo

doesn't he?" Tyrone said, watching Da

nk. "He spent three hundred years following the ledger without a single c

the air and catching it. "The ledger gave her thirty days, but I giv

gine filled the air as Aidan navigated through the

casually resting on the top of the steering wheel. Seeing him in simple weekend clothes instead of his tailored suits made

hopping bag in her lap. "Are you really going to let us buy everyth

slightly. "I am driving, and I invited the neighborhood. You ar

Alia chuckled softly, her shoulders relaxing. "She can b

ow voice carrying a faint hint of amusement.

e. "They sound like they've known each ot

ssion on her face. For three hundred years, he had only seen mortals in their final moments-panicked, exhausted, or weeping. But sitting ri

back to the windshield as the light turned gree

d offered a small, thoughtful smile. "I guess I just take a little time to get used to things

ndow as the busy stor

ekend in a really long time where I haven't felt like m

deep in his chest. He tightened his grip sli

id, pulling the car smoothly into the grocery stor

said than done when you work in marketing," she said with a small, wry chuc

ntrance and turned off the ignition. Unbuckling his s

carrying the quiet authority of someone used to enforcing absol

escaped her lips. "Yes, boss," she tea

t together. Aidan grabbed a wide metal shopping cart, p

e to check a quick mental list. "Okay, so Tyrone said we need

uple of packs of tortilla chips, dropping them into the cart. She turned to see Aidan staring intently at a she

, amused by how intensely he was

etely flat, yet full of genuine perplexity. "Is there a functional difference betw

"It's just personal preference! Here, this one is the best," she said, picking up a b

laughing face. The light catching her eyes made them sparkle, free from the he

ledger entries, rigid deadlines, and the silent cold of taking souls. Yet here he stood in a mundane grocery store, learning

the bag neatly into the cart beside he

me on, let's go pick out some fresh strawberries a

faint, rare smile lingering on his l

the front door, Alia was surprised to see two familiar faces already sitting comfortably on the

ng in, they both instinctively straightened up and scramb

to sit back down, setting the

calm and relaxed. "I'm not your boss outsid

e back of the couch. "That's right! In this house, he's just Aidan.

e, visibly shocked to hear their usually dis

idan," Frank said with a polite, slig

ng Alia a glass of juice. "We've already bann

tling living room-from Frank and Georgina relaxing on the couch, to Tyrone laughing with Abby, and Aida

full swing. They decided to grill barbecue

wild and loose to the upbeat music. They all looked like they were well o

t each other. They rushed over, grabbed Alia by both hands,

ed dancing along with Abby, her cheeks flushed red an

meat. Aidan paused for a second, his dark eyes turning toward the ci

g it, a soft smile sp

te, he thoug

urned his head to glance at Tyrone. Tyrone, who was still

begin with but this looks like a total epic romantic

of his cage. He ran straight toward Tyrone, tackling him a

d flew into the air and splashed all over

the upbeat music suddenly feeli

groaned from the ground, the big g

lia's top. "Do you want me to run back to our apartment

l chuckle, shaking off the stray drops. "It's

red, stepping over from the grill and handing his barbe

sity. His room was neat, simple, and surprisingly cozy, with clea

ulled out a fresh, folded towel. After a brief pause, he opened another section of the cabinet and took out

r and handed both the tow

idan said softly, pointing to t

er wet top, she simply agreed with a small nod, takin

walking into the bathroom and ge

in the yard, the rest of the group was far too busy partying and dancing to n

om door. He knocked twice hard

e ans

sted the handle and opene

k valve. Water was pouring down all over her. Aidan stood stunned for a second-the oversized whi

and looked up at hi

her voice shaking as she tried

wrapping her arms around herself, he