Shadows and confession

The world around them was chaos. Sirens blared in the distance, a mix of shouting voices and distant flames crackling in the air. But Aksh couldn't hear any of it.

All he saw was Ahana.

Her small frame trembled in his grip, her face hidden against his chest, hands still gripping his shirt as if he might disappear if she let go. The words she had just screamed at him—I love you, Aksh! I can't lose you!—still echoed in his mind, leaving him stunned.

She loves me.

His jaw clenched. His heart, an organ he had long trained to feel nothing, was now pounding—loud, erratic, unstable.

But Ahana—his little flower—was breaking in his arms.

He exhaled sharply, trying to regain control. Slowly, he tilted her chin up, forcing her teary eyes to meet his.

"You're shaking," he murmured. His thumb brushed away a stray tear from her cheek, his touch gentle in a way that was rare for him.

Ahana sniffled but didn't move away. She couldn't. She had already bared her heart—there was nowhere left to run.

Then, as if reality finally caught up to her, her body tensed. Her wide eyes darted to his face, realization dawning.

She had confessed.

Oh, God.

Her lips parted, a thousand emotions swirling in her gaze—fear, embarrassment, panic.

"I—"

Aksh didn't let her finish. His arms tightened around her, pulling her against his chest again.

"Not now," he said, his voice low, firm. "You're not taking it back."

Ahana's breath hitched.

She wanted to deny it, to brush it off as a moment of panic. But the way he held her, the way he refused to let her escape, told her he had no intention of pretending this never happened.

For a moment, they just stood there—silent, raw, and tangled in a truth neither of them could ignore.

Then, Aksh's gaze snapped toward the burning wreckage. His expression shifted instantly, sharp and unreadable once more.

"Ahana, we need to leave."

Something in his tone made her look up, startled. He wasn't just saying it because of the explosion—there was something more.

Ahana hesitated, still shaken, but Aksh didn't wait for her response. He picked her up effortlessly, one arm under her legs, the other supporting her back.

"W-Wait! I can walk!"

"Not happening." His tone left no room for argument.

Ahana wanted to protest, but the way his jaw was set—his entire body tense and on high alert—made her swallow her words.

As they moved through the darkened streets, she finally noticed it.

They were being followed.

She caught glimpses of figures in the shadows, men in dark clothing blending into the night. Every time Aksh turned a corner, they did too.

Ahana's grip on his shirt tightened. "Aksh…"

"I know." His voice was calm, but his grip on her only tightened.

By the time they reached a quiet alleyway, the air was thick with tension.

Aksh set her down gently, his hand immediately reaching for his concealed weapon.

"Stay behind me," he instructed.

Ahana's heart pounded. She knew this side of him existed, but seeing it so close—feeling it, breathing it—was different.

A shadow moved.

Then, the first shot rang out.

The first gunshot shattered the silence.

Aksh moved instantly, yanking Ahana behind him as he fired back. The sharp bang echoed through the narrow alley, followed by the sound of footsteps scattering.

Ahana's breath caught in her throat.

She barely had time to process what was happening before Aksh grabbed her wrist and pulled her forward. "Run."

She didn't question him. She couldn't.

Her legs moved on instinct as they darted through the dark streets, their footsteps echoing against the pavement. The air was thick with tension, every shadow a potential threat.

Another shot.

This time, it barely missed, hitting the wall near Ahana's shoulder. She let out a yelp, but before she could react, Aksh spun around, his gun raised, and fired.

A pained grunt sounded from the darkness. A body collapsed.

Ahana's heart pounded. She had seen him cold before, but this… this was different.

Aksh wasn't just dangerous—he was lethal. Effortless. Precise. Merciless.

And yet… minutes ago, he had been holding her like she was the most fragile thing in the world.

"I love you, Aksh! I can't lose you!"

The words haunted him as he fired another shot, taking down another threat.

He had spent years keeping people at a distance, ensuring no one got close enough to matter.

But now?

Now, Ahana was in his arms, in his world, in his heart—and it scared him more than the bullets flying past them.

He had always protected her, but this time was different. This time, she wasn't just a responsibility.

She was his.

And the thought of losing her made his grip tighten on the gun.

"Aksh!" Ahana's voice pulled him back.

He turned just in time to see a man lunging toward him from the shadows. Without hesitation, he grabbed the attacker's wrist, twisting it violently. A sickening crack filled the air.

The man screamed, but Aksh didn't waste time—he knocked him out with a single blow.

Ahana flinched but didn't look away. For the first time, she wasn't terrified of what he was capable of—she was terrified of losing him.

The street fell silent. The last attacker had either fled or fallen.

Aksh turned to her. "Are you hurt?"

Ahana shook her head, but her eyes were still wide with shock.

His chest rose and fell with heavy breaths, but when he saw her standing there, still trembling, still looking at him like he was the only thing keeping her grounded, something inside him snapped.

He stepped closer. "Ahana—"

But she took a shaky step back.

"That was the first time I've ever seen you like this," she whispered. Her voice was small, hesitant. "The real you."

Aksh froze.

The real me.

The words shouldn't have shaken him, but they did.

Ahana had just confessed her love to him. But did she really know who she was loving? Could she love a man whose hands were stained with blood?

A heavy silence settled between them.

Then, Ahana surprised him.

She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her face into his chest.

"I don't care what you are, Aksh," she whispered. "Just… don't push me away."

His breath hitched.

Ahana didn't fear him. She feared losing him.

For the first time in his life, Aksh felt something unfamiliar. A warmth he couldn't ignore. A pull he couldn't resist.

His arms wrapped around her before he could stop himself.

He didn't say anything. He didn't have to.

Because in that moment, holding her in the dimly lit alley, he knew—

She was already his weakness.

And he would destroy anyone who tried to take her away.