The night hadn't ended. The aftermath of the kidnapping still weighed heavily on both of them. Tawan stood by the window of the safe house, her shoulders tense as she stared out into the darkness. Her knuckles throbbed slightly, the pain from her wounds a distant reminder of how close she had come to losing Aira. The thought alone unsettled her.
Aira stirred on the couch behind her, shifting under the blanket Tawan had draped over her earlier. She sat up slowly, rubbing her eyes, and her gaze immediately found Tawan, who hadn't moved from her post by the window.
Aira's heart ached as she watched Tawan's rigid posture. The tension from the night still clung to them both, and Aira couldn't shake the image of Tawan throwing herself into the fight to protect her. The memory was vividâthe fear, the raw protectiveness in Tawan's eyes, and the vulnerability that had followed when they were finally reunited.
"Hey," Aira said softly, breaking the silence between them.
Tawan didn't turn around, her eyes fixed on the darkness outside. Her voice was low and distant. "You should get some rest."
Aira stood, padding quietly toward where Tawan stood. She could feel the heaviness in the airâthe weight of everything they had been throughâand it made her chest tighten. "I could say the same to you," she murmured. "You're the one who took the hits tonight."
Tawan's jaw tightened at her words, but she didn't respond. Her mind was elsewhere, replaying the fight in her head, the close calls, and the thought of Aira being taken. She couldn't stop thinking about how much worse it could have beenâhow she had almost failed her.
Aira stepped closer, her voice softer. "You're still hurt. Let me take care of it."
Tawan shook her head. "I'm fine."
Aira sighed. "You always say that."
Tawan finally turned to face her, her eyes shadowed with something deeper than exhaustion. "It's my job to protect you. That's all that matters."
Aira frowned, her heart sinking at the cold professionalism in Tawan's tone. "That's not all that matters. You matter."
For a brief second, something flickered in Tawan's eyes, but she quickly pushed it away. "I've been through worse."
Aira stepped closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "Maybe, but that doesn't mean you have to go through it alone."
Tawan's gaze flickered away, her body tense. "I'm used to it."
Aira's chest tightened. She could see it nowâthe walls that Tawan had built around herself, the emotional distance she tried to maintain. "You don't have to be."
Tawan's eyes darted back to her, and for the first time that night, Aira saw something raw behind themâsomething that made her heart ache. "I've lost people before, Aira. People I cared about. People I should have protected."
Aira's breath caught in her throat, and the air between them felt charged. This was the first time Tawan had revealed anything about her past, about the weight she carried. "Tawan..."
Tawan's voice was quiet, barely a whisper. "It's easier to keep my distance."
Aira stepped closer, her voice filled with tenderness. "But you haven't kept your distance from me."
Tawan hesitated but eventually sat down on the couch, her movements slow and stiff. The tension between them hadn't dissipated, and Aira could sense that Tawan was still carrying the weight of what had happened. Quietly, Aira fetched the first aid kit and knelt beside her, gently taking Tawan's hand.
As Aira unwrapped the bandage from Tawan's hand, her fingers brushed lightly against the skin. Tawan remained still, her posture tense. She stared ahead, not meeting Aira's gaze, though she could feel the warmth from Aira's touch.
"You're always acting so tough," Aira said softly, her fingers moving with care. "But you don't have to be, you know? You don't have to carry everything on your own."
Tawan's jaw tightened, her voice steady but strained. "It's my job to be strong. For you."
Aira glanced up at her, searching Tawan's face for any sign of emotion. "You don't have to do it alone. I'm here, too. I care about you."
Tawan's eyes flickered, a momentary crack in her usual stoicism. She exhaled, long and slow, before responding. "I know you care. But I'm fine."
Aira chuckled softly as she finished bandaging Tawan's hand. "You're terrible at letting people take care of you. Let me help, just this once."
Tawan's lips curved slightlyâa brief, fleeting smile. "You're stubborn."
"I'm learning from the best," Aira teased lightly, her eyes twinkling with warmth.
For a brief moment, the tension between them seemed to ease. They sat in silence, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was a moment of understanding, of two people who had been through something intense together and were slowly finding their way back.
But the silence didn't last. Tawan's gaze dropped to her bandaged hand, and her expression darkened slightly. "This isn't going to get easier. What happened tonight... it won't be the last time."
Aira's heart tightened at the seriousness in Tawan's voice. She knew the dangers that came with her life, but hearing Tawan say it out loud made it feel heavier. "I know," she whispered, her voice soft. "But we'll face it together."
Tawan finally met her gaze, and for the first time in what felt like hours, there was something vulnerable in her eyes. "You don't have to face it, Aira. That's why I'm here."
Aira set the first aid kit aside, her eyes lingering on Tawan's bandaged hand. She could feel the unspoken tension between themâthe weight of everything that had happened tonight, and the emotional distance Tawan was still trying to maintain.
"You're always looking out for me," Aira said softly, her voice cutting through the silence. "But who's looking out for you?"
Tawan blinked at the question, her eyes flicking toward Aira's before quickly darting away. "I don't need anyone to."
Aira frowned, her chest tightening. "That's not true. You're not invincible, Tawan. I've seen the way you throw yourself into danger for me. But... who's there for you when you need someone?"
Tawan's hands clenched into fists in her lap, her voice coming out tight. "It's easier this way."
Aira tilted her head, her heart aching at the walls Tawan had built around herself. "Easier for who? You or the people you keep pushing away?"
Tawan's breath hitched, and Aira could see the struggle behind her eyes. She wasn't used to being challenged like thisâwasn't used to someone caring enough to push past her defenses. But Aira wasn't going to let her off the hook that easily.
"I've lost people," Tawan said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "People I should have protected."
Aira's heart ached at the rawness in Tawan's voice. She had suspected there was something deeper, something painful in Tawan's past. But hearing it out loud made it real. "It wasn't your fault," Aira whispered.
Tawan shook her head, her eyes distant. "I was supposed to protect them. I failed."
Aira reached out, gently resting her hand on Tawan's. "You didn't fail me tonight."
Tawan's eyes flicked to Aira's hand on hers, and for a moment, Aira saw something vulnerable in her gazeâsomething fragile that she hadn't seen before. "But I almost did," Tawan whispered, her voice breaking slightly.
Aira's grip on her hand tightened, her voice trembling with emotion. "But you didn't. You saved me, Tawan. And I'm still here."
Tawan swallowed hard, her eyes flickering with a mix of emotionsâfear, guilt, and something else Aira couldn't quite place. "I don't know if I can keep doing this."
Aira's heart clenched, but she didn't let go of Tawan's hand. "You don't have to do it alone. You have me."
For a moment, the air between them was thick with unspoken emotions. Aira's heart pounded in her chest as she held Tawan's gaze, her eyes searching for somethingâanythingâthat would break through the walls Tawan had built around herself.
But just as quickly, Tawan pulled her hand back, retreating once again. "I can't... I can't let myself get close."
Aira's chest tightened at the words, but she nodded, understanding the weight of Tawan's fear. "I'm not asking you to let go of everything. I'm just asking you to let me in. Just a little."
Tawan looked down at her hands, her body tense. "It's not that easy."
Aira smiled softly, her voice gentle. "It doesn't have to be."
For a brief moment, Tawan's guard dropped. She looked at Aira, her eyes filled with a mixture of longing and fear. But then, just as quickly, she closed herself off again, standing up abruptly. "We should focus on what's ahead. The threat isn't over."
Aira's heart sank as she watched Tawan shut down again, the moment slipping away. But she didn't push further. Not tonight.
The air in the room felt heavier with each passing second, the weight of Aira's confession hanging between them like a storm waiting to break. Aira's heart pounded in her chest, her hands trembling slightly as she waited for Tawan's response. She had finally said the words that had been clawing at her insides for weeks.
But the look on Tawan's face was not what she had hoped for.
"I... I can't," Tawan whispered, her voice filled with pain as she shook her head, taking a step back. "Aira, you don't understand what you're asking."
Aira's chest tightened. "I'm not asking for anything you can't give. I'm just telling you the truth."
Tawan's breath hitched, her eyes filled with a mix of fear and guilt. "It's too dangerous. I've already lost someone I cared about because I got too close. I can't let that happen again."
Aira's heart ached at the vulnerability in Tawan's voice. She stepped closer, her voice soft but determined. "I'm not asking you to relive the past, Tawan. I'm asking you to see what's in front of you now."
Tawan's hands balled into fists at her sides, her jaw clenching. "I can't protect you if I let myself feel this. You don't know what it's like to lose someone because of a mistake you made."
Aira's throat tightened as she watched Tawan struggle. She reached out, gently placing her hand on Tawan's arm. "You won't lose me," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I'm still here."
Tawan flinched at the contact, but she didn't pull away. Her eyes flickered with uncertainty, her emotions a mess. "I can't risk it."
Aira's heart sank, but she didn't let go of Tawan's arm. "I'm not asking you to risk anything, Tawan. I'm telling you that I love you."
The words hung in the air, and for a moment, time seemed to stop. Tawan's breath caught in her throat, her eyes widening in shock as she stared at Aira. "What?"
Aira's voice was soft but steady, her gaze unwavering. "I love you, Tawan. I've been trying to push it down, trying to ignore it because I thought it was wrong. But I can't pretend anymore. Not after everything we've been through."
Tawan's hands trembled at her sides, and her voice came out hoarse. "Aira, you don't understand. This... this can't happen."
"Why not?" Aira pressed, her voice rising with emotion. "Because of your job? Because of what happened in your past?"
Tawan clenched her fists, her voice breaking. "Yes! Because of all of that. I can't risk getting close to you, Aira. I can't lose someone again."
Aira's chest tightened, but she didn't step back. "You won't lose me. I'm still here. I'm not going anywhere."
Tawan's face crumbled, her eyes filled with pain. "I'm supposed to protect you, not..."
"Not love me?" Aira finished, her voice barely above a whisper.
Tawan's breath hitched, but she stepped back, creating distance between them. "I can't," she whispered, her voice filled with anguish. "I can't do this."
Aira's heart shattered, but she nodded, her voice breaking as she tried to smile. "I'll wait for you."
Tawan's expression softened, but the distance remained. The confession hung heavy in the air, unresolved, as they both stood on opposite sides of the emotional chasm.
Aira took a step closer, her eyes softening as she gazed at Tawan. "But in the meantime... I think you need this."
Before Tawan could react, Aira leaned in, her movements slow and deliberate. She pressed a soft kiss to Tawan's cheek, the touch light and lingering. It wasn't playfulâit was tender, filled with the warmth and affection Aira had been holding back for so long.
Tawan froze, her breath catching in her throat as the warmth of Aira's lips lingered on her skin. The kiss was gentle, a silent promise, and for a moment, Tawan forgot how to breathe.
Aira pulled back slightly, her gaze meeting Tawan's with a softness that made Tawan's heart ache. "It's my way of saying thank you," Aira whispered, her voice gentle. "For everything."
Tawan blinked, completely caught off guard by the kiss, and Aira could see the confusion and emotion swirling in her eyes. For a moment, the tension between them eased, replaced by something quieter, something unspoken but understood.
Aira smiled softly, her heart fluttering as she stepped back. "Good night, Tawan," she said, her voice tender, the weight of the night's emotions still lingering between them.
Tawan's lips parted as if she wanted to say something, but the words didn't come. She could only nod, still too overwhelmed by the softness of the kiss, the gentleness in Aira's gaze. "Good night, Aira," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Aira lingered for a moment longer, her eyes lingering on Tawan before she turned to head toward her bedroom. Just before she stepped inside, she paused, glancing over her shoulder one last time. "Sweet dreams," she said softly, her voice warm and full of meaning.
With a small, bittersweet smile, Aira disappeared into her bedroom, leaving Tawan standing there, still reeling from the softness of the momentâthe touch of Aira's kiss still warm on her cheek.