realize each other's love

Lucy, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke from the corner of the room. Her voice was soft, but clear enough to be heard.

"Asher's not wrong," she said, looking at them. "This isn't about whether or not you can sponsor him, Athena. It's about whether you're really ready. Because if you're not, all of this is just going to hurt you both in the end."

Athena closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. Lucy's words felt like reality slowly but firmly slapping her awake.

"I know," she murmured, barely audible. She looked down at her own hands, hands that had just cradled Asher's face, that had just been offered one of the hardest decisions of her life.

Then her gaze returned to Asher. He was still sitting calmly, no longer the lost, desperate figure he'd been the night before. There was a new steadiness in the way he spoke, in the way he thought.

He was no longer someone who needed saving.

And somehow, that made everything even harder.

"I... I don't know," Athena finally said, her raspy voice raw with honesty. "I thought I did. But now… I'm not so sure."

Asher gave a small nod, as if he'd already predicted her answer. But there was no disappointment in his eyes. Only depth. Patience.

Then, Athena continued in a whisper.

"Do you… still want me to take that step?"

Asher looked at her for a long moment. Then, with a low but steady voice, he replied.

"What I want… is for you to be happy. If that step brings you happiness, I'll accept it. But if you're doing it just because I saved you from Carlos… then it's not the right reason."

Athena was silent. Her face went pale, not from the cold, but from the crushing weight of the dilemma squeezing her chest.

She opened her mouth, ready to speak, but no words came out.

They just sat there, silent. Only their eyes spoke, searching one another, asking questions without a single sound.

Do you really want this?

Lucy watched them from her seat, her gaze softening. She knew she was witnessing two souls who clearly loved each other but were walking a dangerously thin wire. One wrong step… and they could fall too deep.

Finally, Lucy stood from her chair and walked toward the kitchen, muttering, "I'll make some coffee. You two need to think straight so you stop confusing the hell out of me."

A weak joke that barely landed—but just enough to let the air feel breathable again.

Athena looked at Asher once more. This time, for longer.

"If I say... I want this. But I'm scared... will you still stay?"

Asher reached out and gently held her cold hand in his.

"As long as you don't tell me to leave, I'll stay," he said calmly.

Athena stared at him deeply, then whispered, "Asher... I really don't get it. Last night you spoke like you needed me. But now, now you act like you don't even need a sponsor anymore, like I'm the one who needs you the most."

Asher didn't respond right away.

His eyes drifted to the hand still holding hers, then slowly up to her face. That face—so full of doubt, and yet filled with unspoken feelings.

"Asher?" Athena whispered again, even softer. "You're hearing me, right?"

Asher finally drew a breath, lowering his head a little like he was digging through a tangle of thoughts.

"I'm scared," he finally murmured. "I'm scared if I show how much I want you, you'll leave. But if I pretend like I don't need you… you'll still leave anyway."

Athena froze.

She didn't expect Asher to have thought that deeply to hold on to her in that kind of way.

"Asher…" she whispered.

"I don't know," Asher continued, his brow furrowed, eyes staring off in a daze. "I don't want anything but you. I don't need to see what my old life was like. No, I don't want that. But I also can't be selfish and ask you to be my sponsor… because that's a huge step. I don't want to have you in a way that feels forced. I don't want to be your burden."

Athena bit her lip. Her eyes started to burn, but she held it back. She didn't want to cry just because her heart was too tangled to choose a path. Because right now, she really did want to help Asher stay and find a new identity. But if she took that step… it would mean they'd belong to each other forever. That wasn't in her original plan—but it was something beautiful if they could actually make it work.

"So… you want me to stay?" she asked, her voice barely a breath.

Asher nodded softly, then whispered the word.

"Yes."

"You'd be happy if we became a real couple, more than just trying to save each other like in the beginning?" Athena asked again, and Asher nodded once more.

She swallowed hard, seeing that hope in Asher's eyes again. And somehow, she liked it. She couldn't hide her smile, as if she knew, finally, that she was wanted. Loved. And had a future, maybe with him.

"Athena, would you… be my wife? For real?" Asher asked.

"Um…" Athena suddenly felt nervous, biting her lower lip.

"I really need to know," Asher said, his eyes full of hope. "So I'll know I'm staying here not just because of your kindness, but because you want a future with me."

"We'll build a new life. I'll work hard at first, but you won't have to anymore. You won't need to keep pushing yourself if you take this step. If you get pregnant… I, I won't let you work hard again. I'll take over at the bakery. I'll ..."

"Asher!" Athena cut him off with a chuckle. "You're already thinking about me being pregnant?"

"Because it's the only way we can be together. They'll accept you as my sponsor without all the red tape… and finally, I won't have to be sent to a refugee camp. I'll be here. Yours," Asher said, his voice serious.

Athena's laughter died immediately.

"I'm serious, Athena…"

Silence fell again. Only the ticking clock and the smell of coffee filled the air.

Athena suddenly stood up. Asher followed.

They stood facing each other, so close, but neither moved first.

Then, slowly, Athena raised her hand and touched Asher's face. Her fingers traced the lines of his jaw, gentle, unsure. Asher closed his eyes, letting the touch sink deeper than skin.

"When you look at me like that," Athena whispered, "I feel like… I don't need to look for any more answers."

Asher opened his eyes and looked at her deeply.

"I won't ask you to take a big step tonight, because I know it's not easy," he said gently. "But if you let me stay here… that's more than enough. Actually, I… I can keep avoiding the officers who want to separate us. Don't worry, I won't cause a scene."

Athena swallowed, then smiled. She leaned her head against Asher's chest. She didn't speak. Just stood there, letting herself be held by the only person who made the world feel a little less terrifying.

And when Lucy returned with two cups of coffee in her hands, she stopped in the doorway.

She saw them, two people who didn't know how to love properly, but also didn't know how to stop needing each other.

She said nothing.

She just smiled faintly and turned around, letting the coffee go cold while two hearts slowly found a way to speak without words.