Chapter 8. Retrouvaille, Maybe?

Right when the sunlight shrouded her city, Vionna was walking down the sidewalk carrying a handful of groceries. Her catchy tunes of whistle and hum followed along. One pretty day she admired, even without the presence of a lover. On her way back to a new apartment after moving out a while ago, something ruined her vibe. It was the sound of gunshots inside the alley she always took to get home. Feeling frightened, the young girl stepped backward and strode up to the main street where a lot of people were there.

"No, not this again," her traumatizing events with Hades had led her to this. A state where the ex barista just wanted some peace and quiet again in her life. To take a rest from chaos like the ones she went through. With caution, she encouraged herself to take a detour. Her footsteps quickened within seconds. She did not know if destiny was the right word for what her sight captured from afar. Right when the girl encountered an alley fork, she faced her apartment that was to the left. Beside it, an empty abandoned building with walls upfront. The tall concrete fence was smudged by colorful graffiti. Bright-colored mess on the gray wall was not the thing that snatched her attention. He was cornered, he had lost. A man was leaning down in defeat, gun pointing at him. Atmosphere around her turned dim, as dark as the fate he thought.

Vionna immediately recognized him. Not the one standing, but the wrecked person on the floor. Blood stained his shirt, probably a stab wound behind the white fabric. Hades. Once again, they met. And she saved him one more time. Her instinct told her to grab a glass bottle from the groceries bag. Slowly but surely, strike! A loud crashing sound was enough to let Hades hoisted his head upwards with remaining strength. The man intended to kill him fell limp as his nape was hit full force by the normal female streamer. Vionna was content with what she had done. "Headshot!" the girl threw her arms up. "Vi…" he weakly whispered, almost dying.

"Ah, sorry. Let's help you first," and she took off her outer flannel shirt, pressing it on his wound while he hissed painfully. "Hold it like this." She was composed, like had already known what to do. Having no other choice, Hades stayed silent and obeyed. Even so, it did not last when her hand picked up and tried to call an ambulance. His fingers prevented her, "Don't. Please." Therefore, she nudged an eyebrow. His phone abruptly buzzed in her palm. She saw the name on the screen and remembered it. Sean, his trustworthy bodyguard.

Immediately after their line connected, he yelled from a noisy background. "Sir, they're invading the main house. We've tried our best to evacuate and pacify as many personnel as possible." She gazed at Hades' tired face for a while and spoke on the line, "He's with me, wounded." And just with a few words, Sean took action. He tracked his boss' phone that was used to pick up the dial and found its pin point. They were heading towards a clinic nearby.

She reacted fast as the time was ticking. His big arm dangled on her shoulder. Vionna struggled carrying the big-weighted man. Step by step, her feet were careful not to bump into anything that could make them lose balance. Finally arriving at a limited waiting space, they barged into the doctor's room considering it was an emergency situation. Luckily, the patient was about to leave. A couch was enough to fit three yet he used them all while lying down. Few seconds after his temporary bandage a.k.a Vionna's outer was completely soaked with blood, the nurse was done preparing every aid kit needed.

Her hands were delicate. He opened his eyes just to see a picturesque woman treating his pain away. Already injected the anesthetic, the pretty doctor, Gabriella Erika, tapped the gauze carefully while disinfecting the cut to prevent any infection. A rush of relief poured over Vionna when Erika said the wound was not life-threatening. Only an epidermal lesion that ripped a few blood vessels. Estimated healing period, around 4 - 7 days with no heavy activities.

Hades was still being stitched when Vionna heard a knock and pulled the handle just to see an expected guest standing at front. He rushed inside and waited a while until he had a chance to interrupt. "Sir, we cannot go back to the main house. They've taken over, probably waiting after this failed mission," Sean whispered to his ear. With his remaining energy, Hades motioned his hand and murmured something back. Words others couldn't hear.

"But Sir, that'll put her at risk."

"Are you reprimanding me?"

"No, Sir. I'm just verbalizing my opinion."

"I know what I'm doing."

Taking a few steps, "Ms. Vionna, would you mind if my boss stays at your apartment for a while?" The bodyguard asked for her permission. She gave an approval, nodded, staring blank at his wound that was about to get bandaged. Inside her head, she asked herself how. How did she end up in this same situation again, with the same person, only reversing the role?

"You're all good to go now, Sir. Even though I do recommend you to visit the hospital." Erika confirmed. "Do you need a weekly appointment so I can check up on your healing process periodically?"

Vionna interfered, fiddling her fingers, "I'll be glad if you could do that, doc. He'll be staying at my apartment next door." She handed out a piece of paper that wrote the number of her room.

Sean saw Vionna with her careless attitude, giving out an address to a stranger. Hades was jaded to pay attention and he knew. He shifted close to Erika and slipped an envelope inside her white robe. Uttering a threat close to her ears, "Leak this information to anyone and I'll make sure you'll never see the sunlight again." She froze in place until the time came for them to leave that clinic.

. . .

A nice apartment Vionna had. Not spacious but undoubtedly clean. Bit by bit, with caution, Sean guided his boss while the flat owner made room for their path.

What happened to Hades was unfortunate and clearly staged by someone who held a grudge against him. Consider how much effort they have put out to carry out this assassination. Information about the mastermind was still unknown. With every attack, they cut ties with their minions to erase the trace. Lucky for Hades he could protect himself. A scar was a blessing compared to his enemy's objective: to find and kill him.

In this condition, he would not be able to do much. Vionna was the best person he could ask for help. Even reluctantly, he had no choice but to trouble her a while. How about a maid or a nurse, you may say. However, it was tantamount to opening up opportunities for those who want to sneak their keekers beside him to collect information or probably commit a murder themselves. Good news, Vionna was willing to look after him.

"The doctor, Erika, has scheduled your appointment every Tuesday and Friday, right here. Are you okay with that?" She feebly wiped his face using a subtle towel. Murmuring incoherent words she had trouble figuring out, he basically agreed.

Day after day went by, Hades was recovering. Sean visited once in a while. His head was full with important dealings either from the main house or the casino. Hades' work was not easy, now he knew it very well. Carrying the weight Hades has trusted him with, the bodyguard felt honored yet tired. Worry not, everything was under control. Everything besides the streamer's feeling. She lost her focus. She streamed with a worried face. Her viewers could see the restlessness. No matter what she did, it was hard for her to build trust again.

. . .

Erika came to her apartment twice a week. Her duty was to treat his wound and make sure it was developing well with no taint. Every time the doorbell rang, Vionna made her way frontwise to welcome the doctor.

"How are you doing, Vionna?" A warm smile was plastered across her beautiful face.

"Quite okay, thanks. Come in!"

"Ah, thank you." Erika set her foot on the ceramic flooring, making her way to his room.

"Sir Hades, good to see you again."

The twenty years old streamer had taken good care of Hades. She made sure he was out of worry and stress so he would heal faster. Inside, she kept her feelings, preventing them from overflowing. Even if she thought they had plenty of time for talks, Vionna decided to be silent until the moment was appropriate.

. . .

Alternately, as a young woman who had been alone for quite a while, Hades was like a breeze in the desert for Erika. Of course, for a man who looked perfect, she was smitten. Especially when she had to check on him often. Changing his bandage, disinfecting his stitch, she gazed, even touched things not any man nor woman could embrace.

But then she saw Vionna. A girl by his side who always prayed for his well being. Always got that worried mimic on her smile, a tough girl took care of such situations. Moreover, the time she spent on her job and for him was not something Erika could consider lightly.

"Oh, I'll leave you guys for a moment. I need to go somewhere."

Vionna left Hades and Erika alone. It was an unused bedroom she cleaned to accommodate guests. Few minutes have passed.

"I'm going to rest my eyes, if you'll excuse me."

"Take your time, Sir."

There was long silence. Clock ticking as a reminder that she was done. Packing her kit and hoisting herself from the chair, "I should get going," she thought. Except something stopped her. It was called a feeling of desire. Something she tried so hard to resist. Erika gave in for a good look at him, still asleep. His jawline, his physique, the way his chest moved up and down in rhythm with his breath, he struck her in awe.

Her body shifted closer towards him. With her face hardly brushed over his, the temptation of the devil made her crave to kiss him. Just a few inches more, he stirred in his sleep. His lips chanted Vionna's name. That single action itself reminded the doctor of her boundaries in an instant. She straightened herself back to where she was before.

On the nightstand, Hades' phone lightened up. She saw a photo of Vionna as his lock screen. One of his notifications wrote, "Hades, do you want a sandwich or maybe fruits? I'm in a shop across the street." It was the exact moment Erika realized there was already someone he is in love with. Her little heart told her to be a good being. She threw away all feelings involved.

"Sir, Vionna just texted something. It seems important. Here's your phone," she picked it up while awakening Hades from his slumber.

He responded with exhausted eyes, "Mmm? Oh, doc. Thank you."

"If you'll excuse me," she politely said farewell, "See you again on Friday."

Right after Erika walked through the white door, he received a call from Vionna. He answered and she was running for her life. Her breath was unsteady, sounds of tapping footsteps as she ran upstairs made him jolt up on his bed.

"I was on my way back and they saw me. Gangsters, I think they're searching for you."

Without hesitation, he stood up to find Vionna. But he forgot about his own condition. The wound radiated pain that stunned him at place, making him unable to reach the knob. Thankfully, the girl safely got back inside her apartment. She came in a panic state, seeking for Hades whom she left inside the room. Talking while she helped him to sit back, "Hades! Let me call Sean. Is it okay?" He only nodded.

. . .

After a while, someone knocked on the front door. Peeking from the doorhole, Vionna opened the lock knowing it was the bodyguard.

"Prepare the villa, we'll use it as a safe house." Hades stood beside the wooden door frame, holding on as a support. Clock was running low before the gangsters discovered her place. Attacks happened time after time, leaving him questioning how they knew.