CONFESSIONS IN THE RAIN
The rain had eased into a light drizzle, mist curling over the city streets like smoke. Leon and Elliana sat on the hood of his car, close enough that the warmth between them was a shield against the chill.
Elliana's hair clung to her face, droplets glistening on her skin. She shivered slightly, and Leon immediately draped his jacket over her shoulders.
"You'll catch a cold," he said softly, voice low enough that no one but her could hear.
"I don't care," she admitted, looking at him with a mix of fear and longing. "Not tonight."
Leon studied her, heart twisting. "Ellie…"
She reached for his hand, intertwining her fingers with his. "I'm tired of hiding how I feel. I don't care about danger. I don't care about the risks. I just… want this. I want you."
Leon's chest tightened. He had been holding himself back for months—because every smile, every touch, every word they shared pulled him closer to a truth he wasn't ready to confess. But looking at her now, seeing her bravery and trust, he couldn't resist.
Slowly, he leaned forward, his forehead resting against hers. The world melted away—the rain, the city lights, the threats lurking in the shadows. All that existed was the warmth between them, the unspoken connection that had been building for months.
"Ellie," he whispered, voice rough with emotion, "you don't know what you're asking of me."
"I don't care," she said again, eyes locked on his. "I trust you."
He closed the small gap between them, pressing his lips to hers in a kiss that was both tender and consuming. It wasn't rushed—it was a careful exploration, a promise in every touch.
Elliana responded immediately, her hands sliding up to rest against his neck, pulling him closer. The world felt like it had stopped; the rain softened, the distant hum of the city a quiet backdrop to the heat between them.
When they finally broke apart, their foreheads still touching, Leon's hands framed her face. "You should know…" he murmured. "There are things about me… things about that night with your mom…"
Elliana's chest tightened. "I know you're part of that," she whispered. "But I… I don't care right now."
Leon's eyes glimmered with pain and guilt. "I should tell you everything… someday. But not yet. You're too precious to get caught in that storm."
"I'll take the storm if it means being with you," she replied, resting her head against his shoulder.
For a few quiet moments, they sat like that, rain dripping gently around them, hearts beating in sync, holding onto each other as though the world itself might collapse—but they had this, and it was enough.
And for the first time, Leon let himself believe—maybe they could survive the danger, survive the lies, and survive each other's worlds.
But deep down, he knew… the truth about her mother would change everything. And the storm was only just beginning.