Smile Case

The day was almost over. Detective Leo sat at his desk in the cluttered detective agency. The aroma of coffee filled the air, but Leo’s focus was fixed on the newspaper before him. As he scanned the front page, his captain, Mr. Smith, suddenly called him. Leo furrowed his brows as he picked up the phone. His heart sank as he listened, and when the call ended, he slammed his fist on the table.

“Another victim?” Alex asked from the desk across from him.

Leo exhaled and nodded as he stood up, with Alex following suit. Leo muttered something under his breath and spoke quietly, “Let’s go, we are already late. The faster the case is solved, the better.” The two stepped into the elevator together. Leo pressed the ground-floor button and leaned against the wall as the elevator descended. His eyes drifted to Alex’s bandaged hand. “Still not healed?” Leo asked gruffly, though there was a faint hint of concern in his voice. Alex glanced at the bandages and shrugged. “Better than before. Don’t worry about it.”

As they reached the ground floor, the two detectives made a beeline for their office car. They were always unlucky at the worst moments, and just like now, the car wasn’t working. That meant they had to walk to the crime scene. Worse than that, it had started snowing, and the cold was biting. Leo pulled his jacket tighter around himself as he walked, Alex beside him, staring at his phone.

"About twenty minutes from here.” Alex informed him as he slipped the phone back into his pocket. That was a small relief for Leo in midst of this freezing cold. He definitely didn’t want to freeze to death in this weather. “I told Andrew a hundred times to repair the damn car,” Leo muttered in annoyance. Alex stayed quiet. That was one thing Leo liked about him, he only spoke when necessary.

The officers had already set up a loose perimeter by the time Leo and Alex arrived, their boots crunching softly against the thin layer of snow that had begun settling over the street.

Alex felt something.. off. "I have a bad feeling about this.." Alex murmured under his breath, quietly but not quiet enough for Leo to not hear. Leo ducked under the tape, ignoring the officer who tried to greet him. Alex followed close behind, quiet as always, his gaze already scanning everything from the placement of officers to the direction of footprints in the snow.

Leo paused just short of the body. The victim had been left in the dumpster like trash, half-hidden beneath black plastic bags and rotting waste. The smell was sickening, unmistakable. Acid damage was visible along the arms and neck, the skin warped and eaten away in places. Not fresh. Days old. Leo exhaled slowly through his nose, forcing his expression to settle into something neutral. Beside him, Alex didn’t react outwardly at all, but his stillness said enough. His eyes lingered on the burns longer than necessary, sharp and calculating. “Dumped post-mortem?” Alex asked quietly, crouching near the edge without touching anything yet. “Looks like it,” Leo replied, voice low. “We’ll confirm with forensics.”

Leo stepped closer, already shifting his focus to details: positioning, possible drag marks, anything that stood out from the surrounding mess. He barely registered the faint commotion behind him at first—raised voices, hurried footsteps. It blended into the background noise of a crime scene. But then it grew louder and more urgent.

“Hey—stop her!”

Leo turned sharply. A figure slipped past the officers at the barricade—a young girl, no older than fifteen or sixteen. She was moving too fast and looked.. desperate? One officer reached for her but missed, his glove brushing only the edge of her sleeve. Another shouted, but she didn’t slow down. She ran straight toward Leo and Alex, her breath coming in uneven bursts, her face pale enough to almost blend with the falling snow. For a split second, everything stalled.

Leo stepped forward instinctively, putting himself in her path. “Hey—stop. You can’t be here,” he said firmly, but not harshly. She didn’t stop. Not until she was right in front of them. Close enough for him to see the terror in her eyes and how pale she was.

“He is… back…” she whispered. Her voice barely carried, but it hit harder than any shout. Leo’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean—?” That was when he saw it. The subtle movement of her jaw. The way her hand twitched near her mouth. A flicker of realization sparked but he was too late.

“No!”

The word left him as he lunged forward, grabbing her shoulders. But she had already bitten down. For a second, nothing happened. Just a small, almost insignificant sound—like glass cracking between teeth. Then her body jerked. Her eyes widened, foam gathered at the corner of her lips as her knees buckled beneath her. Leo tried to hold her upright, but she slipped through his grip, collapsing onto the cold ground.

Everything happened so fast, both Leo and Alex had no time to react.

“Call an ambulance!” someone shouted, though everyone already knew it was useless. An officer dropped to his knees beside her, checking for a pulse with shaking hands. Another backed away, swearing under his breath. The air that had felt heavy before now felt suffocating. Leo didn’t move. He stood there, staring down at her, his hands still half-raised from where he’d tried to catch her. His jaw tightened and he took a deep breath.

“She bit a cyanide capsule,” Alex said from beside him, his voice quieter than usual but steady. He was looking at the girl’s mouth, at the faint residue, already piecing it together. “Hidden beforehand. Probably under the tongue.” Leo dragged a hand through his hair, the motion sharp and frustrated. “Damn it…”

He crouched down again, this time slower, forcing himself to focus. Her expression had already gone slack, the fear wiped clean, replaced with something eerily empty. Alex remained standing for a moment before crouching beside him, his gaze flicking briefly from the girl to Leo. Hos expression was unreadable as he spoke, "She came here for a reason,” he said. “She knew something.” Leo nodded once, sharply. “Yeah. And now we don’t get to ask her.”

For a brief moment, silence settled between them. Then Leo straightened, the shift almost visible— “Get her secured,” he said, louder now, addressing the officers nearby. His tone had changed—colder, controlled. “Carefully. Full tox screen. Check her identity, contacts, everything. I want to know who she was and how she’s connected.” The officers moved quickly, grateful for direction. It gave them something to do—something to focus on instead of the body at their feet.

Leo turned back toward the dumpster, his expression hardening again. “We don’t have time to get stuck here,” he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

Alex stood as well, brushing his gloved hands together lightly. His eyes lingered on the girl for just a second longer before he looked away. “You’re thinking it’s connected,” he said. Leo didn’t answer immediately. He walked back toward the original body, his steps measured, deliberate. After a moment, he spoke. “She said he’s back. That’s not a coincidence.”

Alex followed him, slipping back into place beside him as if nothing had happened. But there was a slight tension in his posture now, something coiled beneath the surface. “Then this isnt just a small murder,” he said quietly. Leo glanced at him briefly. “Yeah.”

They reached the dumpster again, the smell hitting just as hard as before. But this time, it barely registered. The shock was still there, sitting somewhere beneath Leo’s ribs. This case wasn’t going to wait.

He crouched again, eyes scanning the scene with renewed intensity. “We prioritize this,” he said. “The girl’s important, but she’s not going anywhere. This—” he gestured faintly toward the body “—this is where it starts.”

Alex nodded once, already shifting his attention fully back to the victim. “Then let’s not waste time.”

And just like that, they moved on.

They searched carefully but couldn’t find much on the body. Mostly because it had already started decomposing and parts of the skin had melted into the garbage beneath it, as if the body had been left to dissolve with the trash. For now, they would have to rely heavily on forensic reports. In the middle of their search, Alex suddenly noticed something.

A small yellow smile ball.

It was lying near the victim’s decomposing hand. Alex carefully picked it up with his gloved hand and showed it to Leo. “Smile…” Alex muttered. Leo’s expression darkened immediately. He already understood.

Leo placed the smile ball inside an evidence bag and walked toward the group of detectives, Alex following closely behind him. Leo’s thoughts drifted back to a case from years ago.

The Smile Case.

The last murder connected to that case had happened four years ago. After that, the killings had suddenly stopped. With no leads and no new evidence, the detective agency had eventually closed the case and labeled it as a cold case.

But now…

It was back.

Alex knew the pressure this would bring. The entire agency would be forced to focus on this case for the next few days until they caught the killer. Alex hated that pressure. A voice suddenly interrupted Leo’s thoughts, pulling him back to reality. It was of his colleagues, calling him over to talk about the case. So, he went near them with Alex following suit.

Soon, the media vans arrived and the forensic team began moving the bodies. Alex watched them quietly before turning to Leo as he spoke to the detectives. “Smile is back,” Leo informed the detectives grimly. Their expressions immediately darkened.

“That monster again?” Andrew, one of the detectives, asked nervously. Leo nodded. “So you’re going to reopen the case?” another detective, Matthew, asked.

Leo nodded again. One of them then said cautiously, “Didn’t your dad handle this case years ago?”

At the mention of his father, Leo’s expression hardened instantly. “My personal life is none of your business,” Leo replied coldly.

Soon after the investigation, Leo and Alex walked back home through the snow. The streets were quiet and peaceful. Leo lit a cigarette, and he could feel Alex glaring at him from the side. “Oh come on… one cigarette, please?” Leo said sarcastically.Alex sighed and shook his head in disappointment.

Their focus soon shifted to normal stuff, taking in their peaceful surroundings. People were going about their days, nothing much interesting. Leo wanted to go home as soon as possible to escape this cold. As they walked, they passed a newly opened bookstore. Leo walked past it, distracted by his thoughts. He did not realise Alex had stopped until he noticed he was not besides him. He glanced back and saw him standing infront of the bookstore, eyeing it curiously.

Leo rolled his eyes. He knew Alex loved to read books in his free time. Hell, Alex definitely wants to buy some books. So, Leo walked back toward him. “You want a new book?” Leo asked, already knowing the answer. Alex walked into the bookstore immediately without replying. He started browsing through the crime section while Leo casually checked the dystopian type of books nearby.

At the counter, Leo was holding a book titled 'The Long Walk' by Slawomir Rawicz — the kind of survival story Leo liked reading. Alex had picked two books: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn and The Shooting Party by Anton Chekhov.

After paying, the two walked back outside. “When are you going to read all those books? Your shelf is already full,” Leo teased. Alex shrugged, “Someday.”

Soon the two reached their small house. Alex placed the books neatly on the shelf while Leo took off his jacket. “I’m taking a shower first. I feel frozen,” Leo said as he walked toward the bathroom. Alex simply nodded and sat on the couch, scrolling through news on his phone.

The media was already buzzing about the return of the Smile Killer. Just as Alex expected, there were countless theories about the mysterious murderer. Most of them were ridiculous. But one theory caught Alex’s attention.

It described the killer as a sadist who enjoyed torturing his victims before killing them. That actually made sense. The Smile Killer’s previous victims had all shown signs of severe torture.

Alex was deep in thought when Leo returned from the shower, now wearing a T-shirt and pants. “Finished reading conspiracy theories?” Leo asked jokingly. Alex rolled his eyes and went to take his own shower.

After finishing his shower, Alex walked into the kitchen and started cooking while Leo spoke to the captain on the phone. When Leo entered the kitchen later, he noticed that Alex was making split pea soup. Leo’s face immediately lit up.

He walked behind Alex and wrapped his arms around his waist, resting his chin on Alex’s shoulder. "You’re making split pea soup?” Leo asked happily. Alex nodded. Leo tightened his arms around him for a moment before finally letting go and sitting down at the table.

After dinner, the two began discussing the case. “Why did you call the captain earlier?” Alex asked curiously.

"To get the old files and photographs,” Leo replied. “We need to start from the beginning if we want to understand the killer.”

Soon a junior detective arrived and handed Leo the files before leaving. Alex hesitated before speaking again. “Also… Leo.” Leo raised an eyebrow, signaling him to continue. “I don’t think he has a motive,” Alex said quietly. Leo leaned back in his chair, thinking carefully. “Maybe,” he said slowly. “Maybe he’s just a monster.” His tone was calm — but filled with cold disgust.

The two leaned over the photographs and files spread across the table. There was no pattern in the killings. The only thing connecting the murders was the small smile ball left at each crime scene. The victims were children, men, women, and even elderly people. There was no discrimination. Anyone could become the next victim. The ways they were killed were beyond horrifying.

But for some reason, there was a strange online group that had been created to honor the killer. Leo had found out about it through Alex, who was far more active on social media than Leo ever was. The discovery had filled Leo with burning anger.

“That’s disgusting and mentally wrong… honoring a killer of all people,” Leo muttered coldly. After a moment, he added, “You should inform another group of detectives to start investigating this online community.” Alex nodded and quietly messaged Andrew to take care of it.

The two talked for a while longer before Leo suddenly stood up and walked to the kitchen. Alex expected Leo to bring coffee, but Leo returned with two glasses of whiskey. Alex looked reluctant. But seeing Leo’s tense expression, he finally accepted the drink. As they slowly got drunk, Leo suddenly received a message from his father. Curious, he opened it.

“You’re trying to solve the Smile Case? Good luck. You won’t be able to do it." Leo’s jaw clenched in anger. Without saying anything, he poured himself another glass of whiskey and drank it in one go. Alex grew concerned as he watched Leo drink more and more.

With a quiet sigh, Alex eventually walked over and gently lifted Leo in a bridal carry before taking him to their shared bedroom. Leo kept squirming slightly and mumbling incomprehensible words under his breath. Alex carefully placed him on the bed and lay down beside him, wrapping an arm around him from behind. “Hm…” Leo mumbled sleepily as he shifted closer, instinctively snuggling back against Alex. Soon, the two fell asleep.

“Where the hell is my phone?” Leo asked groggily as he searched around their bedroom. "In the living room! On the couch!” Alex replied from the kitchen. Leo walked into the living room and grabbed his phone, quickly checking his messages before plugging it into the charger. Then he walked toward the kitchen, where Alex was already making breakfast.

“Good morning, Alex,” Leo greeted him softly as he wrapped his arms around Alex from behind. “Good morning,” Alex replied calmly, still focused on cooking. “What are you making?” Leo asked, resting his chin near Alex’s shoulder and nuzzling slightly into his neck. He liked how Alex smelled. Leo quickly shook the thought away. Too weird. "Pancakes,” Alex replied simply. Leo’s expression softened immediately. “You know me too well,” he said with a faint smile.

After Alex finished making the pancakes, the two sat on the couch and ate while watching the morning news. As expected, the news channel was already discussing the return of the Smile Killer, much to Leo’s annoyance.

The anchor was Joseph — a reporter known for his exaggerated tone and aggressive accusations. “Smile has returned… and appears to be more ruthless than ever,” Joseph declared dramatically. Images from the censored crime scene flashed across the screen. “Are the officials even concerned about public safety? Last time, the killer was allowed to roam freely. Authorities justified it by saying they had no leads. But now that another victim has appeared, is this a sign of failure from the police for not catching the killer earlier and preventing this tragedy?”

Leo suddenly turned off the TV. “I lost my appetite,” Leo muttered, placing his half-eaten plate on the table. Alex frowned slightly and looked at him. “Eat the food, Leo. Don’t be angry at the food,” Alex said firmly, slightly annoyed. Leo rolled his eyes but silently picked the plate back up and finished eating.

After breakfast, the two changed into gym clothes and walked together toward the gym. “You’re finally wearing something other than black? Shocking,” Leo commented sarcastically as he glanced sideways at Alex. Alex was wearing a tight white tank top and a pair of black shorts. The outfit made Leo’s eyes linger a little longer than necessary on Alex’s arms and chest. Leo quickly looked away and focused on the road. “My other black shirts were wet,” Alex replied casually.

Soon they reached the gym and began working out separately. Leo lifted heavy weights while Alex ran on the treadmill. Other than the occasional sound of equipment and quiet conversations around them, the gym was mostly silent.

Alex glanced at Leo while he was lifting weights. His eyes lingered on the way Leo’s shirt clung to his body and the low grunts he made as he lifted. When Leo suddenly looked in his direction, Alex quickly turned his gaze away before Leo could notice. Soon, Leo finished his workout and walked over to Alex, who had increased the treadmill speed. “Finished your jogging yet?” Leo asked casually as Alex continued jogging. "Few minutes more. Can you grab the water bottle from my bag?" Alex asked, nodding towards the bag in the corner, on the bench.

Leo sighed and walked over to the bag, unzipping it as he looked inside for the water bottle. He did get the bottle, but he also noticed a new set of bandages. He glanced at Alex's hands, and realised they were new. His expression darkened as he went near Alex, with the bottle in his hand. Alex finished up and got off the treadmill, taking the bottle and drinking it. Leo decided to ask about it to Alex, "You bought a new set of bandages?" Leo asked, casually. He noticed Alex tense up slightly before answering, "Uh....yeah."

That's all? No explanation? Leo got slightly annoyed and pressed on, "Why? The wounds started bleeding? Or did you hurt your hands again?" Leo asked, his tone firm, leaving no room for lies. Alex avoided his gaze as he replied, "Uh...um... It uh... started bleeding again due to.. maybe, lifting heavy stuff? You know, weights. That's why I was using the treadmill today." He explained. Leo's expression softened at the explanation. It was just Alex being careless and nothing serious, though Leo was still a bit annoyed and concerned. "You should take care of yourself better, you dumbass." Leo said, gruffly but only to hide his concern.

They showered in the gym shower and left to go back home. It was around 8 am now. Maybe earlier than before. "Did Andrew finally fix the car like i told him to?" Leo asked Alex as they walked, trying to make small talks to fill the silence. Maybe Alex didn't get the hint of Leo wanting to talk because he only nodded. Leo scoffed and focused on the street. He glanced around his surroundings, taking in the sight of people going along their day. He noticed a group of people whispering while looking at them, he knew why. Recently, the two were frequently shown on television and news reports online, as they were the ones investigating the smile case this time.

At home, the two changed their outfits to more professional look. Alex corrected his tie as he looked into the mirror, making sure he looks presentable. While Leo was busy, talking to the captain on phone about the press meeting in a few days. He seemed annoyed, which Alex was too, at the fact they would have to be at the center of the meeting. Alex hated the attention, a lot more than Leo. Their questions often felt personal, too uncomfortable and intrusive. But Leo was better at handling it than Alex, since he was used to media attention.

At the office, Leo and Alex entered and found the detectives waiting for them. "Blake and Morozov." Andrew greeted with a smirk. Leo's eyes narrowed, "Why are you guys gathered here? Is something wrong?" He asked gruffly, but curious. "The captain asked us to bring you two to his office." Andrew explained. Leo's brows furrowed, remembering the conversation earlier on phone. He knew why the captain had called him.

The two entered the office, where the captain, Mr. Smith, sat behind the desk, waiting for them. As soon as he saw them, he removed his glasses and set it aside, his expression serious. "Mr. Blake And Morozov." He greeted, gesturing them to sit on the chairs infront. They obligated, sitting there as they waited for him to talk. "You might know why I've called you two here." To which they nodded.

"The press meeting is going to start in a few days. And as you know, you two will be at the center of this meeting. And I don't want you two to mess it up." The captain paused, glancing at them before continuing, "Answer confidently, avoid questions irreverent to the case, and do not act on your temper, this one is for you, Blake." He said as he glanced at Leo, who nodded reluctantly. Leo knew he wouldn't last long before losing his temper if the press people ask stupid or personal questions.

After talking a bit more about the press meeting, the captain dismissed the two. As soon as they entered their shared office, Alex spoke up, "We should go to the forensic lab." And showed him a message from the lab, calling the two to visit the lab. Leo muttered something under his breath which Alex didn't hear but Leo followed him to the parking lot through the stairs.

At around 1 pm, the two reached the lab. The forensic members greeted them as soon as they entered. Ethan, the one in charge, approached them with a serious expression. "You two finally arrived, eh?" He said sarcastically as he led the two to his lab. "Anyways I found some stuff." Ethan added, getting more serious.

“The cause of death is acid, as you might have guessed,” he said, pointing at the body. “Time of death is around three days ago. We’re still trying to identify him, but it’s difficult—the acid damaged his face, and the body has started to decay. The smile ball…” He paused. “It has blood stains. We’ll run DNA tests, but it’ll take time. I’ll message you once it’s done.”

Leo’s expression turned thoughtful as he considered Ethan’s words. Alex stood behind him, just as quiet.

“Try finding his identity,” Leo said. “It could give us more leads.” Ethan nodded. They left the lab in silence. After a moment, Alex spoke, “Three days ago… how did no one notice the body?” Leo wondered the same. With a smell that bad, it should’ve been obvious.

Leo didn’t respond, his gaze fixed ahead. “The girl,” Alex said. Leo’s jaw tightened. “Yeah?” They walked in silence, footsteps echoing faintly. “She didn’t hesitate,” Alex continued. “The moment we questioned her… she acted.” His voice lowered. “That wasn’t panic. It felt like she was prepared.” Leo frowned. “You’re saying she expected this?” “I’m saying she was ready for it,” Alex corrected. “Cyanide isn’t something you just carry around. Someone gave it to her. Or told her to keep it.” Leo ran a hand through his hair, frustration creeping back in. “So she's either working with him... or terrified of him, enough to be manipulated." “Both are possible,” Alex said simply.

Leo stopped walking for a moment, staring ahead. “She said, ‘He is back.’” He repeated it slowly, as if testing the words. “That means she knew about the previous killings." Alex turned slightly toward him. “Most likely.” A brief silence followed before Leo spoke again, quieter this time. “We need her identity fast. Friends, family, anything. Someone must know something.”

“I’ll push Andrew to prioritize it,” Alex said.

Leo nodded once, then resumed walking. “And the online group. If this killer really has followers…” His expression darkened. “One of them could’ve been her.”

Alex’s eyes flickered slightly at that, but his expression remained neutral. “Possible,” he said.

Soon, they reached their small house and stepped in. The familiar sight of the furniture and smell usually brought Leo some comfort. Today, it didn’t. He shut the door a little harder than necessary and shrugged off his jacket, tossing it onto a nearby chair.

“Such a bad day…” he muttered, dragging a hand through his damp hair. Alex placed the house keys on the table. “What do you want to eat?” he asked, already heading to the kitchen. Leo glanced at him, the tension in his expression softening a little. “Split pea soup, of course. It’s your specialty… and my favorite.” His tone shifted—quieter, warmer. It always did when it was just the two of them. Alex gave a small smile in return. It was subtle, easy to miss—but Leo didn’t miss it. It made his heart flutter.

“Alright,” Alex said simply, turning back to the counter. By the time Leo stepped out after a shower, dressed in a loose T-shirt and shorts, his hair still slightly damp, the house had been filled with the rich, comforting smell of the soup. It hit him instantly—warm, familiar, grounding. His stomach growled, and that’s when he realized just how hungry he was. Without a word, he walked straight to the table and sat down. Alex had already placed a bowl in front of his seat. Leo didn’t wait. He picked up the spoon and started eating, fast —like he hadn’t eaten in days. The warmth spread through him with every bite, easing the tightness in his chest, making him forget about the crime scene. Alex watched him for a moment, slightly surprised. Leo finished the entire bowl in record time, setting the spoon down with a quiet clink.

There was a brief pause. “Uh… you want… um, more?” Alex asked. But he already knew the answer. Leo looked up at him, almost sheepish—but before he could say anything, Alex had already taken the bowl and refilled it. Leo huffed quietly to which Alex replied “You would’ve said yes.” “…Yeah,” Leo admitted, picking up the spoon again. This time, he ate slower.

Across the table, Alex began eating as well, but his attention gradually shifted to his phone. His thumb scrolled through something, his expression neutral at first—but then it changed. His eyes narrowed just slightly, then widened. “What the hell…?” he muttered under his breath. Leo immediately noticed, he looked up from his bowl, his expression sharpening. “Something wrong?” Alex didn’t answer right away. Instead, he turned the phone toward Leo and slid it across the table. Leo frowned slightly and picked it up. His eyes scanned the screen, and he was shocked too.

The post was from the same group Alex had discovered earlier—the so-called Smile Cult. The language was disturbing, filled with admiration for the killer, glorifying the violence. But what stood out was one specific line. A sacrifice for the great smile.

Leo’s grip on the phone tightened. For a moment, the image of the girl flashed in his mind—the way she ran toward them, the fear in her eyes, the way she collapsed. “…Damn it,” he muttered. The connection was clear now.

“She was part of this,” Leo said, his voice low and cold. “Or at least connected to it.” Alex nodded once. “Looks like it.” Leo handed the phone back, his expression darkening. “Send this to Andrew and his team. They need to dig into this group—every member, every post, everything.”

Alex was already typing. “Done.” A brief silence settled between them again.Leo leaned back slightly, running a hand over his face. “This just got worse.” “It already was,” Alex replied quietly. Leo let out a dry breath of a laugh. “Yeah.”

They finished their meal in silence after that, both lost in their own thoughts. After cleaning up, they moved to their bedroom. The room was dimly lit, the soft glow from the bedside lamp casting long shadows across the walls. It felt quieter here—more contained, like the chaos of the outside world couldn’t quite reach them. Leo lay down first, stretching slightly before settling into the mattress. A moment later, Alex joined him.

Almost instinctively, Leo reached out and pulled Alex closer, his arm wrapping around his waist. Alex shifted closer, his face resting against Leo’s chest. For a while, neither of them spoke. “The girl,” Leo said after a moment, his voice quieter now. “If she really was part of that group…” “She knew what she was doing,” Alex finished. Leo’s arm tightened slightly around him. “She was just a kid.” Alex's fingers curled around Leo's shirt, soon the two succumbed to sleep.

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Hi guys! The author here. I would love to know how to improve my work. If you have any suggestions, please do tell me! :D