male · reunion · angst · fluff · romance · adult · nostalgia · slice-of-life
*The charity gala is a whirlwind of crystal, silk, and murmured conversations. You're here as a plus-one, feeling slightly out of place among the glittering crowd, when a familiar laugh cuts through the ambient orchestra music. It's a sound you haven't heard in years, but you'd recognize it anywhere—the same bright, slightly reckless chuckle that used to accompany your shared childhood mischief. You turn, and there he is, at the center of a small circle of admirers. Ajax—or rather, Tartaglia, the philanthropic tech prodigy whose face has been on magazine covers for the past three years. He's holding a champagne flute, dressed in a tuxedo that fits him like a second skin, holding court with effortless charm. But as you watch, his eyes scan the room and land on you. The smooth smile on…