Chapter Ten:

As time passed, AJ got better though his personality was completely different. Everyone noticed, he was a bit kinder, though he was still tsundere. He always snapped when someone called him short, which was a good sign. Also, when Ido would try to hug him, AJ would sidestep him. That would cause a laugh from everyone, including Tyler. Ido found himself pouting a lot, but he was glad AJ was slowly going back to normal.

Right now, it was just Ido and AJ, in his bedroom. Ido was laying on AJ’s lap and AJ was staring ahead, this caused concern for Ido.

“Hey, what’s wrong?”

“Just thinking…”

“About?”

“What Tomas had told me one time.” AJ said and his voice got a bit softer mentioning the late male.

“What was that?”

“If becoming an assassin ever became too much, I could always use my teaching degree and live a semi-normal life.” He said and Ido looked up at AJ. Ido can’t say that he was surprised because Tomas’s death affected him pretty badly.

Ido sat up and looked at AJ.

“Are you thinking you should pursue that?”

“Yeah, maybe. I mean I hardly take lives anymore anyway. I mean I am still good at it, but I have been leaving my victims alive. Plus, I hardly take on missions anymore. I know that Tomas hated when I killed people, and now it’s like it’s a promise to him to myself.” AJ explained and Ido nodded his head and pulled AJ into a hug.

“It’s been three years, since he passed. You should do what’s best for you, I am always here if you need someone to talk to.” Ido said and AJ nodded his head.

“Thank you Ido, for everything.” AJ said and Ido shook his head with a small smile.

“We both lost someone dear to us. We should be there for each other no matter what.” AJ nodded and Ido pulled AJ down, making AJ lay on his chest. AJ closed his eyes. He was tired because he hardly slept the night before. He still occasionally had nightmares, of the day he lost Tomas, but Ido was still there for him. AJ was glad he and Ido were friends.

AJ knew he wouldn’t have made it through if it wasn’t for Ido, he wouldn’t have gotten through the last few years. He sighed softly and tightened his hold on Ido.

“Whatever you decide, I am supporting you.” He said with a small smile and kissed the top of his head.

“I know, thank you so much. You helped me so much. If it wasn’t for you, surely, I would have done something irrational, that would have cost me my life.” He admitted and Ido hummed.

“Yeah, no kidding. But I didn’t mind, we are friends, close friends at that. I would do anything to see you not be so depressed anymore.” AJ smiled and looked up at Ido. Ido looked back down, and they both held eye contact. He leaned down to AJ’s lips and hesitantly pressed his lips to AJ’s.

Ido could tell why Tomas couldn't get enough of AJ’s lips. AJ’s lips were soft and addicting. AJ slowly began kissing Ido back, the kiss didn’t escalate to anything. They both just wanted to test the waters to see how it would feel. AJ was the first to pull away and Ido hummed slightly.

“I can see why Tomas was addicted to kissing you. I don’t see why he always invited me to join you two…”

“It was his thing…” AJ said, shaking his head and Ido laughed slightly.

“No feelings behind that kiss?” Ido asked.

“No feelings…”

“Good, well that’s out of the way.” He said and AJ laughed slightly shaking his head.

“No kidding, especially since Tomas was so weird about trying to get you into a polygamous sexual relationship.”

“I think he wanted to see how you~”

“We are done with this conversation.” Ido laughed at AJ’s blushing face.

“No, but seriously. Don’t push anyone away, okay? You will find love again, you can still love Tomas, and move forward.” Ido said and AJ just looked at him before shaking his head slightly.

“I know… it’s still hard. I want to make sure I can protect someone before I start dating again.” He said sitting up.

“Yeah, I know, something tells me you will. Don’t blame yourself.” He said and AJ nodded, closing his eyes yawning slightly. The thought of being a teacher rested heavy on his shoulders, he had a lot to think about in a short amount of time. If he did, he had to find a school, get his resume together which wasn’t much.

He laid on his back and Ido watched him shaking his head slightly. He was amused that AJ wasn’t as cold as he was before Tomas’s passing but he still wanted AJ to be happy. At that moment, his phone began to ring, and he knew it was the boss.

“Boss man is calling, talk to you later. He is probably going to send me on another mission. Hopefully you are still here, if not I will find you…” Ido said and AJ laughed softly hugging Ido, and Ido began to leave.

“Please, be careful.” AJ said and Ido waved his hands over his shoulder.

“I will, I can’t leave you hanging. You would do something completely irrational if I did…”

“You aren’t wrong…” AJ said laughing and Ido shook his head before leaving the room. AJ sat up and went through his stuff until he found his diploma. He opened it and it showed the year he graduated university to be a teacher. He officially graduated when he was 18 years old and graduated high school when he was 16 years old. He smiled as he saw his graduation picture, and how he left home quickly. Even though he was in university to be a teacher, he still chose to be an assassin at 16 years old. That’s when he met his current boss, his boss allowed him to continue school if it didn’t get in the way of the missions.