At the very beginning, Asia had been an absolute bundle of nerves, constantly second-guessing herself and struggling to figure out what she was supposed to do or how she was meant to act. Her thoughts raced nonstop, and every small detail felt overwhelming. However, all of that anxiety seemed to melt away almost instantly the moment she finally met Tyler in person.
On her very first day taking over Akeno's contract, Asia had mostly stayed close to the dark-haired woman's side. She listened quietly as Akeno explained the details of the arrangement to a man who appeared to be around the same age as her Queen. Asia barely spoke during that introduction, instead focusing on staying calm and trying not to look as nervous as she felt.
That said, it was impossible for her not to notice him. From the very first moment she laid eyes on Tyler, she found herself completely captivated by his appearance. He had medium-length blond hair that framed his face nicely and a pair of bright blue eyes that immediately drew her attention. Since he was dressed in workout clothes, Asia couldn't help but notice how well-built his body was. The way the fabric clung to him gave her a very clear view of how sculpted and strong he was.
She had been so caught off guard by the sight that she instinctively brought a hand up to cover her mouth, swallowing hard as she tried to compose herself. It took real effort not to stare.
Just as Akeno had predicted, Asia quickly found herself loving the time she spent working with him. Tyler was incredibly slow, gentle, and patient with her, never rushing her or making her feel pressured. Even when her nerves got the better of her and she stumbled over her words or struggled to form full sentences, he never seemed bothered. He didn't tease her or look annoyed.
Instead, he simply smiled and waited.
Originally, they had planned to attend a small amateur kendo tournament so Tyler could participate, but he canceled the plan at the last minute. When Asia shyly asked him why, he answered honestly. Since they had only just met, he thought it would be better if they spent some time simply talking and getting to know each other first.
Asia quickly realized that he probably knew how nervous she was about everything and was deliberately taking things slow to help her ease into this new responsibility. The realization filled her with relief and gratitude, and she made sure to thank him more than once throughout the day. By the time she finally had to return home, she felt far more comfortable than she ever expected to.
After that first day, Tyler gradually returned to his normal routine. He participated in all sorts of physical activities and sports, many of which often left him bruised or injured. Asia found herself worrying about him frequently, checking over his injuries carefully and wondering if he was truly okay after each session.
To her surprise, Tyler never seemed particularly bothered by the pain. He treated his injuries as if they were nothing more than a minor inconvenience, almost as though the healing itself was simply a routine formality.
Still, watching him was endlessly fascinating to Asia. During kendo practice, he moved with an almost graceful confidence, weaving and stepping around with the practice swords as if he were dancing. He looked far more skilled than any beginner she had ever seen. Every movement, every strike, carried a sense of control and experience that caught her attention.
More than once, she found herself wondering whether Kiba would even be able to keep up with him if the two ever crossed swords.
Asia quickly found herself feeling deeply thankful that Akeno had trusted her enough to step in and take over the contract. The more time she spent with Tyler, the clearer it became why Akeno had spoken so highly of him. He was just as kind, warm, and genuinely funny as promised, and it didn't take long at all before Asia started looking forward to every single chance she got to stand in for her.
Each visit left a lingering feeling behind, a soft ache of wanting more time that refused to fade. Before she even realized it, the young blond man had begun to take up space in her thoughts in a way she wasn't used to. He slipped into her mind during quiet moments, followed her into daydreams, and even appeared in her dreams at night. Strangely enough, she didn't mind it at all.
One night in particular stood out. Asia woke suddenly from an incredibly vivid dream, her heart racing as she sat up in bed. Embarrassed and flustered, she had no choice but to change her sheets before lying back down, staring at the ceiling and trying to calm herself. The next morning, she could barely bring herself to look Rias or Akeno in the eyes at the breakfast table. The embarrassment clung to her like a heavy blanket, and she kept her head down the entire time.
Things didn't get much easier when she met Tyler again. Almost immediately, he noticed something was off and gently asked why she kept avoiding his gaze. Asia stumbled through a few weak excuses, none of them very convincing, but he didn't push her for answers. Instead, he simply smiled, looking more amused than concerned, which somehow made her even more flustered.
Eventually, the time they had together began drawing closer to its end. Asia had even admitted out loud that she was going to miss working with him once Akeno returned. Today marked the second-to-last day she had been instructed to take over, and just like always, she spent her time carefully tending to the scratches, cuts, and bruises Tyler had collected throughout the day.
More than once, Asia found herself wondering if he enjoyed the pain a little too much, or if he was simply incredibly competitive. With how energetic and upbeat he always seemed, she couldn't quite tell which it was.
In some ways, Tyler reminded her a little of Akeno, a fallen angel, and she started to suspect that might be exactly why the contract had existed in the first place.
Letting out a soft, quiet sigh, Asia sat down on one of the benches in the locker room, waiting patiently for him to show her where he needed healing. Her eyes, almost without her noticing, followed his movements as he turned away and began pulling his shirt over his head. Inch by inch, more of his skin was revealed, and her green eyes stayed fixed on him the entire time.
The moment he turned back around, her cheeks instantly warmed, the faint blush on her face deepening into a rich rose color as she took in the sight of his toned muscles and defined abs. She unconsciously shifted her legs a little, rubbing her thighs together as he came over and sat beside her.
Her fingers trembled slightly as he leaned back against the cool metal lockers, relaxed and patient as he waited for her to begin her work. Asia took a slow breath, steadying herself as she prepared to focus on healing him, even as her heart continued to beat just a little faster than usual.
She didn't rush it, letting the quiet hang as her slim fingers guided the soft green healing light across his chest. Her fingertips hovered just short of touching his muscles, and she kept having to push her thoughts away when they urged her to reach out and feel him.
Almost like he knew what she was thinking, his blue eyes dropped to her. When she finally looked up, she froze under his gaze. As the seconds slipped by, the little voice in her head slowly started to win.
Carefully, she placed her hand on his chest, feeling the solid muscle underneath as the warmth of his skin spread into her palm.
When Tyler sensed her getting closer, his movements grew bolder. He leaned his head down toward her, and as if something unseen was pulling her along, Asia moved with him. Their lips drew nearer and nearer until they finally touched.
The gentle warmth of the kiss sent her heart racing faster than ever. A shiver ran through her, making her tense with want. The quiet moan that slipped from her lips only made him want her more.
Tyler broke the kiss just long enough to breathe, then leaned back in, kissing her again. He didn't hold back, pouring everything into it. His hands found hers, lifting them from his chest and pressing them to his face so he could kiss every bit of her skin.