Chirp! Chirp!
The birds sang their morning songs with cheerful abandon, flapping their wings and soaring through the crisp mountain air. The morning was bright, beautiful—alive.
Nicole felt the breeze kiss her cheeks and weave through her hair as she skipped down the cobblestone path winding through the forest surrounding her new home—the safe house.
It wasn't as luxurious as her estate in Luz, but the forest had its own charm. Hidden caves, winding trails, and quiet corners made it both a sanctuary and a fortress. A place to breathe. A place to disappear.
She paused, sensing a presence behind her.
A shadow crept closer.
She didn't flinch. Instead, she pretended to admire the birds overhead, their wings slicing through the sky like ribbons of light.
As the figure neared, she subtly shifted her weight, preparing to strike.
Then—swift as a whip—she leapt into the air, aiming a back kick at the intruder's chest.
But the figure dodged, sidestepping with practiced ease.
Nicole landed and launched into a flurry of kicks and punches, her movements sharp and fluid. The figure blocked and evaded, until—
"AAAH!" they yelped, clutching their shoulder as one of her kicks landed hard.
Nicole narrowed her eyes, ready to finish the fight.
But then—
"Damn it, hooligan! Can't you see I'm in pain here? And you still want to attack? Jeez… do you live for my suffering?"
She froze.
"Davis?"
"Yeah… who else? Didn't you see me coming?"
Nicole blinked. "What are you talking about? I didn't see you. I was just enjoying my morning walk when I felt someone lurking behind me. I'm in hiding, remember? You can't just sneak up on me like that."
"Sneak up?" Davis groaned, still clutching his shoulder. "I came from the left bend—right in your line of sight. You turned, saw me, and kept walking. I thought you wanted to talk away from your brother's prying ears. I didn't expect a full-on ambush. What's wrong with you?"
Nicole blinked again, replaying the moment. She had seen a shadow earlier, assumed it was Simeon, and ignored it. She'd been so annoyed with her brother's constant surveillance that she hadn't bothered to look twice.
But it wasn't Simeon.
It was her sweet Roach.
She exhaled, stunned. She'd missed him terribly. Wanted to call him, but phones were banned—too risky. If anyone discovered she was alive, it could cost them everything.
Now here he was.
Davis looked tired—handsome, but worn. His brown jeans and dark green hoodie clung to him in the chilly mountain air. His wavy hair rested like soft wool, his lips pale, his eyes baggy and bruised from sleepless nights.
Without thinking, Nicole leapt into his arms, clinging to him like a koala, showering his face with kisses.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, my Sweet Roach. Oh… I missed you so much!"
Davis chuckled. "Strange… I thought you hated me to the core. Wanted to torment me until I was useless. Have you changed your mind, hooligan?"
Nicole stopped kissing him and glared, her eyes blazing like a little tiger.
Davis swallowed. Uh-oh.
"Do you want another beating?" she growled. "Can't you just say you missed me too? Did you really have to remind me of that—after everything we've been through?"
He could see she was genuinely upset. He'd only meant to tease her, but her pout was too real, too raw.
Still, he smirked. "Impossible. You're already trapped in my arms, with no way to escape. So… what are you going to do?"
Nicole's pout deepened into a frown. Her eyes flashed with fury.
Davis braced himself. He was ready for the yelling, the punches, the chaos.
But instead—
Soft lips pressed against his.
His eyes widened.
She kissed him.
No storm. No fury. Just the sweet taste of her lips—warm, tender, real.
Nicole pulled back slightly, her voice a whisper.
"You can hold me tighter… because I'm not going anywhere."
The words hit him like a punch to the chest. His heart raced. Heat surged through him, begging to be released.
She looked dreamlike—eyes half-closed, cheeks flushed, lips a deeper shade of pink. Irresistible. He couldn't wait to kiss her back.
But just as he leaned in—
"Mmmm…" Simeon cleared his throat behind them.
'Bloody hell.' Davis cursed inwardly. 'When will I ever get to kiss my hooligan back? This is the second time something ruins the moment. If you weren't her brother, I swear…'
Nicole turned, eyes blazing.
Simeon sighed. "Sorry to interrupt your romantic sneak-fest, but it's not safe out here. Come inside. And next time, make your presence known. Officially."
He shook his head and walked back toward the house, muttering under his breath.
Nicole rolled her eyes and stepped out of Davis's arms. They exchanged a look—equal parts exasperation and longing—before following Simeon back to the house.
.....
Inside the house, Davis and Simeon sat across from each other at the rustic wooden table, the silence between them thick enough to slice with a blade. The tension wasn't new—it had always lingered like smoke between them, curling around every word, every glance.
Nicole stood nearby, arms folded, watching the two men like a referee waiting for the first punch.
Simeon finally broke the silence.
"So… Agent Hammock. Aren't you going to introduce yourself properly this time?" His tone was dry, almost bored, but the edge beneath it was unmistakable.
Davis leaned forward in his chair, locking eyes with Simeon as he spoke.
"As you wish. I am Davis Hammock. It's a pleasure to meet you, Simeon."
He then slightly leaned back and continued.
"As for the rest, I believe you already know who I am. I don't see the point in repeating what's been written in every classified file you've probably hacked into. Not that care since I know that it's typical brotherly procedure."
He then leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.
Simeon's jaw tightened. "Typical brotherly procedure, my ass. I don't care about what the files said. I care about intentions. You show up here unannounced, sneak around like a shadow, and nearly get your ribs cracked by my sister. Then you sit here like you own the place. What exactly are you doing here?"
Nicole stepped forward, her voice calm but firm. "Simeon, stop. He came to see me."
Simeon didn't look at her. His eyes stayed locked on Davis. "And what about Costa Rica?"
Davis's gaze flickered, just slightly. "What about it?"
"Don't play dumb. I know you were there. I know something went wrong. And I know you're not telling anyone what happened."
Davis exhaled slowly, his fingers drumming against the table. "It's classified. That's all I can say."
Simeon scoffed. "Convenient."
Nicole stepped between them, her voice softer now. "Simeon… please. He's exhausted. You can see it in his eyes. Whatever happened in Costa Rica, it's not something he can talk about. Not yet."
Simeon finally looked at her, his expression unreadable. Then he turned back to Davis.
"You know, I never liked you. Not because you're an agent. Not because you're reckless. But because you always keep her in the dark. You show up when it suits you, disappear when it doesn't, and leave her wondering if you're dead or just indifferent."
Davis's jaw clenched. "I never asked for this believe me."
"Oh, yeah," Simeon said, standing up. "But she doesn't deserve this. And that's the part I don't like about this relationship of yours."
Nicole stepped forward, placing a hand on her brother's arm. "Simeon… he's here now. That's what matters. And honestly I don't care about all that, as long as he comes back to me. That's more than enough."
Simeon looked at her, then at Davis. His shoulders relaxed, just slightly. He could see that, Nicole was deeply in love with this guy and nomatter how much he showed his disapproval. She will never let him go.
"Fine. You're here now. So make it count. For the sake of my sister, I'll let it slide. For now. "
Davis stood, nodding. "I will."
Simeon shrugged his shoulders and walked towards the kitchen.
Nicole sighed and turned to Davis. "I'm so sorry, Davis, about Simeon. His not normally like this. He's just looking out for me and honestly, maybe a little bit too much."
Davis turned to Nicole, his voice low. "It's okay. I understand. I am a brother as well and I look out for my little sister Tanya too. So I understand why he has his guard up. But I hope we will get along soon. Anyway I'll be back soon. I promise, I'll try to see you more often, if it means making your brother feel at ease."
Nicole nodded, her eyes soft. "I'll be waiting."
Davis leaned in, kissed her forehead gently, then turned and walked out the door.
The silence that followed was different—less tense, more reflective.
Nicole turned to her brother. Who just stepped in from the kitchen. "You were hard on him."
Simeon shrugged. "He's not just some guy, Nic. He's a weapon. And weapons don't love. They destroy."
Nicole sat down, her voice quiet. "He's more than that. You saw it too. He's broken. But he's trying."
Simeon sat beside her, his voice softer now. "I just don't want you to get hurt again. You've been through enough."
Nicole smiled faintly. "I know. But sometimes… even broken things can protect you. Even weapons can choose not to destroy."
Simeon looked at her, then nodded slowly.
"Just promise me you'll keep your guard up. Even with him."
"I will," she said. "But I'll also keep my heart open. Because if I don't… what's the point of surviving?"
They sat in silence for a moment, the morning light spilling through the windows, casting golden shadows across the floor.
Outside, the birds kept singing.
And inside, for the first time in a long while, the house felt like home.