ADANNA P.O.V (point of veiw)
The city stretched beneath us, streets glinting with the faint sheen of morning dew, and for a moment, the world felt suspended. Just us..... no danger, no enemies, just him. Darian! His presence, raw and alive, pressed against my chest like a weight I had been missing without knowing it.
My fingers still tingled where his thumb had brushed my cheek. Every nerve screamed, alive with the touch, the nearness of him. I had waited months for this, chased him through alleys, through shadows, and now… he was here, tangible, breathing, watching me with eyes that mirrored every thought and fear I had.
"Darian…" I whispered, the word trembling on my lips. It was a prayer, a question, and a confession all at once.
His hand remained against my face, warm, grounding. "Adanna… I know you don't understand. I never wanted you in this mess." His voice was low, husky, and every syllable wrapped around my chest, making it impossible to breathe normally.
"I don't care about the mess," I shot back, almost yelling through the tight knot of emotion in my chest. "I care about you..... only you. I've been chasing the truth, Darian, but the truth is nothing without you in it."
For a heartbeat, he froze. His eyes softened, dark and stormy, and then something in him broke. He closed the distance between us, not stopping until his chest pressed against mine. His warmth radiated through the thin layer of clothing, and the world seemed to narrow until nothing existed beyond him.
"You have no idea what I've gone through," he murmured against my forehead. "What I've fought to stay alive… to keep you safe."
"I've imagined every possibility," I whispered, tilting my head up to meet his gaze. "And none of them were good without you."
He let out a breath that was more emotion than air, and then, impossibly, he captured my lips. Not rushed, not desperate...just deliberate. A kiss that said everything he couldn't speak aloud for months. The world fell away, leaving only the quiet pulse of our shared heartbeats.
I clung to him, my hands weaving into the fabric of his jacket, anchoring myself to the reality of him. Months of longing, of unanswered questions, of near death and fear, condensed into that single, slow moment. His lips moved against mine with a tenderness that was almost shocking, considering the violent, chaotic life we both led and yet, it was perfect.
When we finally broke apart, our foreheads still touching, he breathed heavily, his hand sliding down to cup my cheek again. "I can't… I can't let them find you," he said, voice raw. "If they even think I'm here, they'll come for you next."
"I don't care," I said firmly, though my voice trembled. "I'll face them, I've faced everything alone until now. I'm not afraid if you're here."
He swallowed hard, eyes searching mine. "Adanna… I should've told you. I should've let you in,but I couldn't risk it… I couldn't risk you."
"Then let me in now," I breathed. "Don't shut me out again."
His gaze softened, a flicker of vulnerability that he rarely showed and then, gently, he pressed his lips to mine again. This time, longer, slower, a silent promise and a confession rolled into one, the kiss deepened, moving past caution into something urgent, something we'd both denied for far too long.
I felt the strength return to him in my arms, and yet I knew every movement was measured. Every touch, every pull, every press against me was balanced against the weight of the dangers still lurking beyond the rooftop, but in that moment, none of that mattered, none of it existed... just him..... just me.
He broke the kiss, resting his forehead against mine, and whispered, "I never stopped loving you..... not for a second."
I closed my eyes, letting the warmth of him seep into every corner of my body. "I never stopped either."
DARIAN P.O.V (point of view)
The city around us faded. Every sound, the distant cars, the faint hum of generators, the call of a vendor somewhere far below, disappeared into the background. She was here, alive and I was stupid for ever thinking I could stay away.
I pressed my forehead to hers again, letting the quiet minutes stretch between us, just feeling the weight of her against me. I could feel the tension leaving her slowly, the fear replaced by something softer, something closer to trust,and yet… the shadow of the organization loomed. I couldn't let her forget it. I couldn't allow my desire for closeness to cloud the danger that still hunted us.
"I need to tell you everything," I said quietly, tracing the line of her jaw with my thumb. "Every secret, every file, every lie I've ever told to keep you safe…"
"I'm ready," she whispered back, gripping the lapel of my jacket as if holding me in place could anchor her against the storm. "I can handle it."
I swallowed hard, shaking my head slightly. "I doubt you know what this means."
"Then show me," she said simply, eyes alight with the same determination that had made me fall for her in the first place. "I trust you, Darian. I trust you to tell me… or I don't care if it kills me, I'll follow anyway."
Her words struck me harder than anything I'd ever felt in a firefight. She was fearless in a way that terrified me and thrilled me at the same time. She'd never ask for protection. She demanded honesty, and I… I couldn't hide it anymore.
I took a deep breath, pulling her close again. "We need to move," I said softly, voice low and steady. "There's no time for rest. I have to explain everything before they catch up."
ADANNA P.O.V (point of view)
I followed him without question, the pull between us unspoken yet undeniable. Every step beside him felt like finding a lost part of myself I had thought gone forever,my hand brushed against his, and he didn't pull away. He let it linger, a tether, grounding us in the middle of a city full of shadows.
We moved through the streets with silent purpose, shadows folding around us like a protective cloak. I asked questions, small ones at first, about his injuries, about how he survived the explosion. He answered sparingly, but the moments his gaze met mine, raw and unwavering, spoke louder than words.
At one point, we ducked into an alley to avoid a patrol, pressed against each other in the tight space. My back rested against his chest, and I could feel the rise and fall of his breath. He leaned down slightly, lips brushing my ear.
"I shouldn't let you do this," he murmured. "I shouldn't let you come this close."
"But I have to," I whispered back, turning in his arms to look up at him. "I have to see the truth… and I have to see you."
He hesitated for a heartbeat, and then, impossibly, he kissed me again. This time it was slower, tender, full of the restraint that our situation demanded. His hands framed my face, thumb brushing across my cheekbone. My fingers pressed into his jacket, holding him close as if letting go would mean losing him forever.
"Adanna," he breathed between kisses, voice ragged. "If anything happens… I swear I'll never forgive myself."
"I trust you," I whispered, voice trembling. "I always have. You… you're the reason I keep going."
And in that moment, I knew I meant it. Not just the words, not just the emotions but the raw truth of it. He was my center, my anchor, my heartbeat in the chaos.
DARIAN P.O.V (point of view)
I pressed my forehead to hers again, inhaling her scent, letting it steady me. I could feel her fear, her longing, and her trust all at once. The weight of the organization, the endless chase, the danger looming... none of it mattered as long as she was here with me.
We stayed like that for a long minute, breaths mingling, hearts racing in synchrony, and then I straightened, offering a hand to her.
"We can't stay here," I said softly. "But you need to know… everything that's happened, everything that's coming… I'll tell you. You deserve the truth."
She took my hand without hesitation. "Then let's go," she said, eyes bright with courage, determination, and something deeper I couldn't name. "I'm ready."
~~~~
The streets ahead were quiet, but the tension hummed in the air. Every corner held a potential threat, every shadow a possible enemy,but neither of us hesitated. Side by side, we moved through the city, partners in every sense of the word now.
I could feel the adrenaline mingling with the heat of her body next to mine, and despite the looming danger, I allowed myself a brief thought, a selfish, fleeting thought. That maybe, for a moment, we could exist without fear... that maybe, for a moment, the world could stop chasing us, and it could just be her and me.
Her fingers brushed mine, a spark igniting where skin met skin. I squeezed her hand lightly, a silent promise. Whatever came, we faced it together.
And as we disappeared into the maze of alleys and rooftops, I realized… the fight wasn't just about survival anymore. It was about protecting this....us..... Our love..... Our connection that no organization, no danger, no shadow could ever erase.