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Luca had no idea what was about to hit him.

He was just trying to help. That was all. Just being a good person.

It started a few weeks ago when one of Damien's minions—a woman named Elena—had shyly approached him while he was doodling on a napkin at the café Damien had definitely bought just to keep Luca well-fed.

"You're Luca, right?" she asked hesitantly.

Luca looked up, blinking. "Uh. Yeah?"

Elena fidgeted, tucking a strand of dark hair behind her ear. "I... I need your help."

Luca straightened. People didn't usually ask him for help. They either feared for his safety (thanks, Damien) or were too scared of his connection to Damien to interact with him at all.

"What's up?" Luca asked, intrigued.

Elena bit her lip. "You went to Ridgeway High, right?"

Luca frowned. "Yeah..."

"I... so did she."

That got his attention. "Who?"

Elena's face turned pink. "Mira Patel."

Luca's eyes widened. "Wait, Mira? As in—former student council president Mira? Debate team Mira? The 'I single-handedly made Ridgeway's uniform policy less awful' Mira?"

Elena looked embarrassed. "Yeah. That Mira."

Luca let out a low whistle. "Damn. Good taste."

Elena groaned. "I know, right?" She sighed, rubbing her forehead. "Problem is, I... don't really know how to talk to her. I mean, she doesn't even know who I am. And considering my, um, current line of work, I don't think I'd make a great first impression."

Luca tilted his head. "So you want me to play wingman?"

Elena nodded, looking desperate. "Please. You were her classmate. She'd at least listen to you."

Luca thought about it for a moment. Then, grinning, he reached for his phone.

"Alright," he said. "Let's get you a date."

What Luca didn't realize was that while he was busy setting up Elena's love life, Damien was spiraling into a pit of jealousy-fueled insanity.

Because from his perspective, his Luca—his soft, chaotic, irreplaceable Luca—had suddenly been spending a lot of time with Elena. Whispering, giggling, making plans.

And Damien, being Damien, jumped to the absolute worst conclusion.

By the time Luca strolled into Damien's penthouse later that evening, he had zero clue he was walking straight into an ambush.

"Luca."

Luca paused mid-step. Damien's voice was way too calm.

He turned to find Damien sitting on the couch, legs crossed, sipping whiskey in a way that screamed danger.

"Uh. Hey?" Luca said cautiously.

Damien took another slow sip, then gestured for him to come closer. Luca hesitated but obeyed.

The second he was in reach, Damien yanked him onto his lap.

Luca let out a startled yelp, struggling. "D-Damien?! What the hell—"

Damien's grip was ironclad.

"Tell me, sweetheart," Damien murmured, voice deceptively soft. "Is there something you need to confess?"

Luca blinked. "Huh?"

Damien's grip on his waist tightened. "You've been spending a lot of time with Elena."

Luca frowned. "Uh, yeah? So?"

Damien's eyes darkened. "So," he drawled, "imagine my surprise when I hear whispers that my darling Luca has been sneaking around with someone else."

Luca gaped at him. "Are you—are you seriously accusing me of cheating?"

Damien cocked his head. "Should I be?"

Luca felt actual offense flare up in his chest. "Are you kidding me? I love you, you dumbass!" He smacked Damien's shoulder. "You really think I'd do that?"

Damien frowned, as if considering it. "Not intentionally—"

Luca groaned. "Oh my god. You're insane."

"I am," Damien agreed. "But if you don't want me to kill Elena, you might want to explain."

Luca stared at him. "You what?"

Damien gave him a pointed look. "Explain, Luca."

Luca threw his hands up. "She asked me to help her talk to Mira!"

Silence.

Damien blinked. "Wait. Mira Patel?"

"Yes, Mira Patel!" Luca huffed. "She's had a crush on her forever and wanted me to help set them up!"

Damien stared. Then, slowly, he leaned back.

"Oh."

Luca smacked his chest. "Oh?! That's all you have to say? You were about to murder an innocent woman over a misunderstanding!"

Damien cleared his throat. "Well. In my defense, I wasn't going to murder her. Just lightly maim."

Luca smacked him again. "You are insane."

Damien caught his wrist before he could hit him again, pressing a kiss to his palm. "And you, my love, are my chaos magnet."

Luca groaned. "I hate you."

Damien smirked. "No, you don't."

Luca scowled. But, begrudgingly, he let Damien pull him into a kiss.

Because, really, as insufferable as he was...

Luca still loved him.

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