𝑺𝒂𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒆

{ᴀʀʀᴀɴɢᴇᴅ ᴍᴀʀʀɪᴀɢᴇ} "ᴘᴀʀᴛ 3"

ᴘᴀʀᴛ 1 , ᴘᴀʀᴛ 2

You jolt up screaming, face sweaty and hands shaky…

Another nightmare, another time your mind hitting the replay button to that night.

You start panting heavily as your heart feels like it’s going to escape from your chest, nothing makes sense to you, you feel nothing but fear and panic, and you do not even realize you were not breathing well.

“Breathe,” a voice comes out of nowhere, it breaks into the cloud of the intense feeling you’re experiencing now, you don’t even recognize who it is.

“Please don’t- please-,” you choke out, your mind is playing sick tricks with you, making you feel like you’re back to that night again, like the stalker is right in front of you, like the blade is shining in his grip.

“Y/n, breathe with me,” the voice replies urgently and firmly.

“Don’t kill me please- please don’t-,” you say as you put your hands over your ears and shut your eyes with full force, hoping that will even make this stop.

The voice says something but you can’t make it out, it’s blocked by your hands.

“Please please, please I’m begging you,” you cry out, repeating the exact same words you did while trying to save your life.

Then your ears barrier –your hands– gets removed, you don’t understand what’s happening, so you open your eyes panting in fear.

And there he was.

Simon was looking at you, his own eyes wide, reflecting panic and helplessness.

He has been here since you woke up, or… let’s say, since he found you asleep on the couch.

He still never leaves home whenever he leaves the base, no more pubs at night, no more escaping.

And it’s one of those regular nights where he stays like a protective shadow around you, not crowding you, but always watching.

So when he came out of the shower, and saw you asleep on the couch, he felt relief at seeing you relaxed and at peace.

So he gently covered you up with your blanket and sat on the ground.

He watched you as you slept, counting each eyelash, each breath you took.

He didn’t leave, he didn’t fall asleep, he just guarded you, just like how he always should have done.

And when he heard you whining in your sleep, his heartbeat started raising, and he shook you to wake up.

But you didn’t know any of this… you didn’t know he was with you the whole time.

“Y/n look at me, listen to me,” he says, his voice deep, as he tries to stop it from shaking, this wasn’t about his emotions, to him, it was about you and only you.

You reply with a whine as you try to put your hands over your ears, because seeing him now, makes you feel more confused, and it raises more sorrow in you.

Because to you, you know Simon feels guilty, you know he regrets every single second he stayed away from you that night instead of staying and protecting you.

You know that he is trying to show you, that if he could reverse time, if he hadn’t been coward enough to hide from you and from what you made him feel, you wouldn’t have been this hurt.

So he stops you from covering your ears, holding back your wrists firmly.

“No, none of that, focus on me.”

You shake your head, “It hurts,” you whimper out.

He nods, “I know, I swear to God I know, but please just focus on me.”

You continue crying, it’s very hard for you to gain control over your body when your whole nerves are screaming for danger ahead.

“I don’t want to die.”

You cry out, and that sentence pierced right through Simon’s heart.

His heart that is breaking at the sight of you like this, who’s wanting to just make you feel safe again, feel secure in your own mind.

He knows that there’s a long way to go, and considering what happened between you, it seems impossible.

But he can’t lose you, not when he almost did, not when he found you again.

“You’re not dying, I swear I’ll never let anyone harm you, just breathe in.”

He inhales, “and out,” he exhales.

Your body shakes in rejection of any help, but you try, that small aware part of your mind knows what’s happening, so you inhale slowly, shaken, cut off by crying hiccups, but you try.

“Good, very good, just like that, now out,” Simon exhales, demonstrating gently, a flicker of hope raises in his chest as he sees you trying.

You follow, and exhale, still not perfect, but you’re trying, Simon continues.

“Good girl, don’t stop, you’re doing great.”

He praises you gently, trying to convince you that there is no danger surrounding you, that you were protected, right here, right where he exists.

“I- s-,” you try to speak, but Simon cuts you off.

“Shhh… no, just breathe.”

The storm inside your head finally starting to cool down, still hiccuping, you stare at Simon.

And since that night, since everything, you felt a strange feeling as you stared at him, it bloomed in your chest like a cool bucket of water after being thirsty for decades.

It was comfort.

You felt your heart pace slowing down, your hands less shaky now, and you just stare at Simon.

Simon stares back, holding eye contact as he nods slowly.

“Yes, there you are.”

He says gently, he knows you’re calming down, and hell if that didn’t feel like one of his greatest achievements throughout his life.

Then slowly, and so delicately, he lifts his hand and guides yours towards your chest, pressing your palm right above your heart.

“You feel that? That’s you, alive, breathing, your heart beating…”

You just stare at him, even after the storm, even when your mind is still fragile, you’re stunned by the man in front of you.

The one who treated you like less than an afterthought, is now trying his best to make sure you’re okay.

Then he speaks again.

“You’re safe with me, and you always will be.”

You take a shuddering breath at that, it’s very hard for you to trust what he’s saying, but his tone, that look in his eyes, reveal that this man, is willing to put his words into actions and more.

And with the last shred of panic leaving you, your body felt weak, like someone just pressed the ‘turn off’ button, and you shut down.

Your body goes limp in Simon’s arms, but he holds you tight, making sure you won’t fall from the couch.

He stares at your face, now eyes closed, hair sticking to your sweaty forehead, tear trails over your cheeks, which are red too and so is your nose.

He puts an arm beneath your knees, and he lifts you, walking slowly through the dim hall as he makes his way to your room.

He makes his way in and he puts you down into your bed, your head leaning to the side as your hair fans over the pillow.

And he thinks to himself, ‘how can someone look so beautiful even in the hardest moments of their life?’

He covers you up again, just like before, and he sits on the edge of the bed, watching you sleep again.

Simon knows what you just gone through by heart, he carries more baggage that no normal human can endure.

But it doesn’t matter to him anymore, you’re what matters.

Because even when physical scars fade into another story of your life, the mental ones don’t fade in the same way.

The mental scars don’t fade, they come back, and the worst part is, you never know when, or in what form they will…

“Sleep angel…,” he says quietly, knowing for a fact, he doesn’t think he can let you sleep alone ever again.

{ ɪ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ꜰᴏʀɢᴏᴛ ʏᴏᴜ }

"ʀᴇ4 ʀᴇᴍᴀᴋᴇ ʟᴇᴏɴ"

"Miss y/n ?"

A gentle voice woke you up from your lecture nap.

You squint your eyes confused as you slowly realise who you are and where you are.

And the first thing you see is Professor Kennedy, looking at you with rather worried eyes than scolding.

You sit up quickly and look around, the classroom is empty, everyone left meaning the lecture was over.

You feel a mix of shame and guilt for what just happened, instead of focusing on the lecture, you dozed off.

You look up at Leon, who was still staring at you, like he's studying you.

You feel the heat creep up you face, you clear your throat and finally find your voice

"Im sorry Mr.Kennedy...i didnt mean to doze off"

He shakes his head, "dont apologise, we're only humans"

He stays quiet for a moment then he asks, "are you okay? I mean, are you sick or tired?"

Your eyes widen at the question, "No! No im totally okay i just...i didnt sleep well last night i uhmm...i think it caugh up to me"

You give him a sheepish chuckle, feeling more embaressed as the seconds goes by

"You should take care of yourself", he says in the softest tone you ever heard him speak in.

Normally he's stoic, voice firm that makes every student pay attention immediatly.

So this version of him caught you off guard for a bit.

You feel your face turning more red.

"I- yeah, sure..."

Sure? Thats the reply you came up with? Wow, very smooth y/n.

He notices your state, flustered and embaressed, rosy cheeks and hair slightly deformed on the side from where your head was down.

Then he smiles, he actually smiles, then he ruffles your hair and speaks.

"Dont be hard on your self little bunny"

And with that he walks away, leaving you still embaressed, guilty, and slightly confused...

Did he just ruffle my hair? Proffessor Leon Scott Kennedy?

And did he just say "Little bunny?"

You frown a bit, this nickname is very familiar to you...you swear you've heard it somewhere.

You shrug and stand up, starting to pick up your things

You scoff as you see a drool spot on your notebook.

"Tsk...stupid".

You continue to pack your things, your head still roming over what just happened.

You sigh and put your backpack on one side of your shoulder and start making your way out of the empty class.

And then, suddenly you stopped walking... it hit you, it finally did.

"Little bunny"

'Wasnt that what that boy used to call me all the time?' You think to yourself

That boy, in your old neighborhood, the one who always looked after you when you were 5?

That boy who always had your back with the other mean kids didnt want to let you play with them?

That boy who held your backpack from your way home after preschool?

That boy who never let you cross the road by yourself?

That boy who you cried for a week over him after his family moved away?

That blonde 11 years old boy, who was taller than you, who played with you and made sure you were safe always.

The boy who always called you "little bunny" instead of your name.

Leon...

Its him...its Leon.

You gasp and your eyes widen, putting your hand over your mouth at the revolution

"What!!" You say outloud in the empty class.

After all this years, that boy now is your professor...all this period and you never realised it was him all along.

"Oh god...", you whisper and chuckle at the news, you didnt remember him...

But it took you two words to do now.

And leon?

He's driving , making his way back home as his mind replies the sight of you asleep on your desk.

The sight of your flushed face, your shy and embaressed expression.

He smiles to himself and shakes his head

"She's so cute...." he mutters to himself.

Because him? How could he ever forget you?

He recognised you the second you walked in class on the first day.

And you cant imagine how much of self control he had to not jump at you the second he did.

Because to him, you were his first love, and you werent the only one who cried when he moved away.

It did hurt him that you didnt remember him, he thought that you forgot about him.

And everyday he has a class with you...he always stayed the last one to leave...

Just hoping, maybe, one day you'll remember...

So what he did today? Calling you "little bunny", was an attempt to make you remember...

And now? He just still dont know that you never forgot about him either.

{ᴀʀʀᴀɴɢᴇᴅ ᴍᴀʀʀɪᴀɢᴇ} "ᴘᴀʀᴛ 2"

ᴘᴀʀᴛ 1

It has been two months since that night, and things have changed... a lot.

You survived, but at what cost? Severe blood loss and nightmares that hunt you every night.

The attack left a scar on you, not just on your skin but on your mental health too, but you try to hide it, because that accident made you realize that no one has your back except yourself and yourself only.

You stopped caring about what Simon thinks of you, or how you act. You stopped trying to initiate small talk or any other kind gestures.

Why? Because you feel so stupid for trying to make this more than just a beneficial marriage on paper.

You feel so stupid for trying to make him open up, for trying to make this feel less suffocating than it already is.

And that night changed everything.

And Simon? Well, let's just say the roles have turned.

Simon hasn't been more attentive and caring than ever before.

He helps you around the house, makes sure you take your medicine, helps you take care of the wound, even when you refuse.

He even stopped leaving at night. He never does it again, and he doesn't think he'll ever be able to.

He speaks... not speeches, but he actually speaks. He asks you if you need anything, asks about how you're feeling...

Because he thought losing you was going to solve the heavy, confusing things he feels for you.

But when he actually faced it, he realized he has never wanted to keep something for himself this badly.

He knows it's unfair to you. He knows he has no right to push himself into your life when you had clearly given up, but he can't.

He just can't.

Because the image of you when he found you that night on the edge of dying made something in his heart crack.

Or maybe... it gave something in his heart life.

He doesn't try to annoy you, he keeps it respectful.

He just lurks like a shadow, trying to make you believe that he is trying, that he cares, even in the shittiest ways possible...

So tonight, in his room, unable to sleep, he lays on his bed, one arm behind his head as he stares at the ceiling, smoking a cigarette while his mind drowns in thoughts.

Then he hears some noise coming from the bathroom.

Without hesitation, he stands up and walks toward it, his protective instincts rising instantly, alert for any danger that could ever be near you.

His footsteps are silent as he reaches for the door, which was already slightly cracked open, light leaking out from it.

Then he sees you, standing by the sink, looking at yourself in the mirror as you trace the scar on your belly.

A jagged scar rests across the lower part of your stomach, faded slightly after two months but still pink around the edges, a permanent reminder of that night.

He watches you as you place the bandage over it, clenching his hand at the sight of you changing it without his help.

Then he speaks.

"Why are you changing it alone?" he asks, even though he already knows what the answer will be, and he hates it.

You look at him through the mirror, slightly startled by his presence, then you speak.

"You were asleep."

"I wasn't," he says quickly. "Even if I was, you could've woken me up."

"No thanks," you say quietly as you pull your shirt back down, washing your hands in the sink while avoiding looking at him.

Simon stays quiet, just watching you, his hands aching to reach out for you, but he's scared. So scared.

Then you walk away from the sink, passing him as you leave the bathroom, making your way toward your room.

And that's when something in him snaps.

"Y/n..." he calls out, and you have never heard his voice soften the way it does now.

You stop in your tracks and turn to look at him, your face a silent question.

He freezes for a moment, unsure of how this is going to end, but then he remembers how he found you that night... and if there is one thing he knows—

Life is too short.

Not just with you, but throughout his entire career in the military.

So he starts walking toward you, stepping closer and closer until he's only an inch away.

You tilt your head up to stare at him, and those eyes... those eyes you always saw carrying so much baggage are now filled with something else.

Regret... guilt... and something so, so close to yearning.

You take a shaky breath as you wait for him to speak, but you don't say anything.

Then, without warning, he lowers his head and buries it into your neck, hugging you so affectionately that you can't feel anything but his warmth.

You freeze at his actions. Him? Simon Ghost Riley? This man hugging you?

He squeezes you gently in his arms, careful not to hurt you, and buries his face deeper into your neck.

You can feel his warm breathing, his stubble tickling your skin in the most comforting way possible.

But you don't hug him back, and you try so hard not to soften for him.

Then he speaks again.

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry for everything," he whispers, his voice barely audible. You swear if he wasn't this close, you wouldn't have caught what he was saying.

You stay quiet for a moment before speaking.

"Don't apologize."

He shakes his head. "No... it's my fault. It's all my fault."

"I'm not your responsibility."

That makes his breath hitch slightly. He pauses for a moment before loosening his hug just enough to look at your face.

He cups one of your cheeks with his palm, the contrast between your soft skin and his rough one making his heart skip a beat.

"You are... you are my wife."

"Just by title, Simon..."

He stares at you for a moment, knowing that's true. So painfully true.

"I know... but I won't let you down again."

You stare back at him. You know he's being truthful, but the ache left behind after something so horrific and traumatic makes you wary of everything.

You don't want to reject him, but you also don't want to deal with this... whatever this is between the two of you.

So you just give him a slow, polite nod, breaking free from the hug as you step back.

"Go back to sleep."

You say quietly as you walk back to your room, closing the door behind you.

And Simon? Well, he knows sleep will not come tonight. Not after this. Not after everything.

ᴘᴀʀᴛ 3

It had been months since the zombie outbreak took over the world, chaos spreading across every corner of it. The grounds where kids once played in mud and grass had now turned into vast graveyards.

But people had to survive, adapt, live, even in the harshest and most lifeless situations.

And the people all eyes were on now more than ever, the people everyone was counting on, were the military.

Counting on them to protect, provide, and watch over everyone.

So there was a military camp far in the forest, a strategic area where the dead didn’t approach much, but of course, it was still at risk.

It was loaded with basic human needs, tents, food, medics, just what was needed to make it through another day.

And Carlos was one of the soldiers assigned to work at this camp. He was good at his job, known among the survivors for his friendly behavior even while the end of the world was happening.

He was capable and skilled, known as someone anyone could count on.

But one night, the rain wasn’t merciful when the team went out on a scavenging run, and with terrible luck, the team encountered a group of zombies, more than they could face... they were outnumbered.

So in the midst of everything, Carlos didn’t know how or when it happened, but he found himself lost.

The team was nowhere to be seen, and he was now alone out in nowhere, surrounded by long trees, darkness, and nothing but the supplies he found and his rifle.

He didn’t even know the way back... so he kept walking.

It was the next day when he encountered a zombie again, and it was a big one.

A towering mass of rotting flesh and exposed muscle lumbered forward, its distorted limbs dragging across the ground while guttural growls echoed from its split, blood-soaked jaw.

But what was weird was that the zombie’s attention wasn’t on him, it was on something else... or rather, someone else.

So Carlos approached to get a better view, and indeed, he saw someone running away from the zombie, so his instincts won.

Without thinking, he rushed ahead and shot the monster in the head, then boom. Dead on the ground.

He lowered his rifle, then looked at the person, squinting his eyes in the dim light.

And below the moonlight, there was you, panting heavily, wearing a faded hoodie beneath a weathered leather jacket, dark cargo pants smeared with dirt, and worn combat boots, with a half-empty backpack hanging heavily from one shoulder.

And since that moment, you never left each other’s side.

You were all alone in this mess, hunting, scavenging, surviving, moving from one place to another trying to stay alive.

But then after you met Carlos, you got to know each other, survived together, co-surviving while the world around both of y’all died.

You both were unstoppable. It didn’t feel as heavy as it once did when you had each other’s backs.

And you both got close, way too close to just call this a partnership for survival, but neither of you admitted anything.

Because in a world like this, having feelings for anyone wasn’t a good idea.

Nothing was certain, anything could happen, and anything could vanish too...

It stayed like this for a very long period, one that neither of you knew the exact length of.

And then, miraculously, his team found you both in the middle of the forest while they were out on another scavenging run.

It was a shock for both sides, Carlos and the team. They all hugged him and said they thought he was dead.

So that was when you both made your way back to the camp.

For you, it wasn’t easy getting used to a place like this after being outside for such a long time.

There were blankets, clean food, clean water, clean clothes, medical help, guards, it was like paradise for you, getting everything this easily.

But for Carlos, that wasn’t what bothered him. What bothered him was that now he couldn’t keep you by his side all day long.

He was a soldier after all, and he had his duties, so coming back to the camp did separate you both in a way.

But not all the time.

He watched over you like a hawk every single second of the day, making sure you got everything you needed, making sure you ate, drank, showered, making sure no one bothered you.

You kept teasing him, saying he could stop being such a mother hen.

He laughed it off, but for him, it wasn’t about being a mother hen.

It was about him not being able to live without you anymore.

Carlos fell for you, hard, more than he ever had for anyone else.

And he got so used to having you with him that he couldn’t just do his job without being near you or keeping you in his eyesight.

So what happened one day was that you were waiting in line for lunch, waiting for your turn while holding an empty tray for food.

Carlos was close, leaning against a wall, watching you with crossed arms, basking in the way your hair moved when a breeze hit, the way the sunlight framed your face perfectly.

But then Matthew, a soldier known for being a flirt and a womanizer, approached you with a smug smirk, and he started a conversation.

Carlos’s jaw clenched as he watched the interaction unfold.

Matthew was flirting with you while you seemed uninterested, smiling politely now and then, keeping it respectful.

Carlos tried to keep himself under control, to not act like a rabid dog towards Matthew. He was jealous, of course, but he also felt so protective over you.

And when Matthew leaned a little too close for your comfort, and when you seemed uncomfortable, Carlos moved.

In one second, he was behind Matthew.

“Need something?” Carlos said to him in a low, threatening tone.

Matthew looked at him, his smug expression still on his face.

“Nah, just checking on the lady here,” Matthew replied.

“Go do your job and stop chit-chatting around,” Carlos said again, still in the same tone.

Matthew just rolled his eyes and walked away. Carlos watched him with piercing eyes before turning to look at you.

“Was he bothering you?” he asked.

You sighed. “He was just flirting and it was becoming uncomfortable, thank you,” you gave him a grateful smile.

He clenched his jaw, then nodded, walking away like nothing happened.

You didn’t think much of it actually, but to Carlos, his blood was boiling.

Not just because he was jealous, but because he knew Matthew’s charm.

And him being the possessive bastard he was, he wasn’t going to let him get to you that easily.

So now it was midnight. The changing room was empty, only Matthew inside checking out whatever he was checking.

Perfect.

So with no hesitation, Carlos approached him.

“What was that about?” Carlos asked.

Matthew turned to him, an eyebrow raised at the sudden confusing question.

“What was what?” Matthew asked.

“Y/n... you think you can talk to her like that?” Carlos asked, his tone betraying both his anger and his self-control.

Matthew scoffed mockingly. “What? Can’t I shoot my shot with a pretty thing like her?”

Carlos snapped at that, stepping closer, his voice a hushed whisper, a hushed threat.

“Speak to her again, breathe next to her, or even look at her, and I’ll make sure you won’t see the end of it.”

Matthew frowned. “Excuse me? And what is she to you, huh? As far as I’m concerned, she’s nobody’s.”

“She’s mine.”

He said it like he didn’t need to say anything else after it. You were his, whether you knew it or not, and he wouldn’t live a day letting anyone think they had even the slightest chance with you.

And so for Matthew? Gone.

And Carlos would keep driving them away for as long as he lived.

{ᴀʀʀᴀɴɢᴇᴅ ᴍᴀʀʀɪᴀɢᴇ}

ᴛᴡ: ɪɴᴊᴜʀʏ, ꜱᴛᴀʟᴋɪɴɢ, ʙʟᴏᴏᴅ

The fluorescent lights were blinding, and the footsteps and yells of urgent nurses and doctors filled the hospital hall.

But Simon didn’t notice any of it. His mind was like a broken record, repeating everything that happened, every opinion, every argument, every calculated benefit that led to this moment.

You, his wife just by paper, now in an operating room after a horrific break-in accident.

You were stabbed, right in the stomach after a stalker broke into your house and tried to force himself on you.

It all started when you both got married just for the benefits of it. You didn’t know each other before, but you both agreed, as long as it benefited you both.

From the start, you knew he wasn’t an easy person to deal with. Stoic, cold, very hard to read, didn’t talk much, and always kept to himself.

He was a ghost, literally. His name suited him in more ways than one.

So you kept your distance, stayed respectful, and tried your best not to bother him more than he already was.

And for Simon… well, let’s just say he didn’t even care at first. He saw you as nothing more than a woman he was married to on paper, nothing more, nothing less.

He kept his distance too, never bothering to talk, to ask, or even to acknowledge your presence in the house.

You kept observing him, his routine, his mannerisms, his habits, and you felt like he was actually approachable, just not in the usual way. You had to carefully choose your words and actions, and to you, he seemed… broken.

He had that aura about him, like he had endured more than what any normal person should.

He carried it with him in his posture, in the way he moved in silence, in the way he avoided small talk or anything that involved getting to know him.

But he carried it even more in his eyes. God, those eyes. They spoke far more than any word or gesture could.

You felt empathy towards him, and being who you were, you didn’t want him to think that you were a threat or a new irregularity in his life, so you decided to approach him.

At first, it was subtle. Small talk about nonsense, which he always responded to with one-word answers.

Small acts of kindness. Cooking for him, taking care of his things, being attentive and patient, just little things.

But it felt like approaching an injured animal.

You knew you didn’t have to do any of it. You guys were just married on paper anyway. Nothing sensual, nothing intimate, just two people co-existing in a house.

But you didn’t want to feel like a burden, and your intention was simply to turn him into a friend, to become comfortable around each other.

But for Simon, as time passed, each day with a new attempt from you started to annoy him.

He hated it. Every kind and attentive gesture from you made him feel more and more threatened.

Why would she act like this? What does she want from me?

So he started acting rude, distant, and cold.

You didn’t understand why he was acting like this. It wasn’t supposed to backfire on you, but you didn’t stop.

You tried everything you could think of, showed nothing but good intentions, patience, kindness…

Still nothing. Every gesture was met with rejection and rudeness.

So you finally accepted it. You kept your distance, stayed respectful, you even apologized for it.

He didn’t give you any proper answer, and that only made you feel more stupid.

Simon felt relieved. When you stopped, so did the threats.

Days passed as you both co-existed in the house, but the peace didn’t last long before strange things started happening.

Footsteps following you at night in dim streets, shadows disappearing as soon as you looked in their direction.

It happened everywhere you went. The pharmacy, the supermarket, the bank, the park, anywhere.

Someone was stalking you.

You thought it was just in your head, that you were imagining things, being paranoid, and you didn’t tell anyone.

Until one night. Simon was out, God knows where, and you were sitting on the couch eating pizza while watching a series when you noticed a shadow by the window.

You squinted your eyes, blinked quickly, but it didn’t disappear. It stayed there. It was a person.

You felt your heartbeat quicken. You muted the TV and stood up, walking slowly towards the window, and as you got closer, he walked away.

You ran towards the door and stepped outside to check, but he was gone.

Your hands shook violently. Suddenly, the idea of stepping outside felt incredibly stupid, so you ran back in and locked the door, breathing heavily as you did.

So the next day, you finally decided to tell Simon, because seemingly, now he was your only family member.

After a long day of him being at base, you let him rest for a bit. You didn’t want to crowd him the moment he came home.

So when you heard him moving around in his room, you finally built up the courage and walked to him, knocking gently on the door.

It only took a few seconds before he opened it. He was in civilian clothes, and you knew he was leaving again, like he did every night.

You took a deep breath and spoke.

“Hey Simon, can we talk for a moment? Please?” you asked politely.

“What is it?” he replied coldly.

“I, uh… are you going out again tonight?”

“Yeah.” His tone carried finality.

That made you hesitate for a moment, but you kept pushing.

“Can you… can you stay for the night? I don’t feel safe alone,” you asked quietly.

He raised an eyebrow, staring at you, his eyes piercing into yours like you had crossed a line.

“What are you? Ten?” he mocked.

“No… no, it’s just last night I—”

He cut you off. “I’m leaving. I’m not babysitting you. You’re a grown woman.”

With that, he pushed past you and walked towards the door, slamming it shut behind him, scoffing under his breath as he made his way to his car as quickly as he could.

Because why would he stay? When every added second with you made him feel things he had vowed he would never allow himself to feel?

Why would he stay when those eyes of yours made him feel safer than anything he had ever endured?

Why would he stay when your scent lingering around the house made him close his eyes just so his heart could calm down a little?

Why would he stay when your voice made his heart skip a beat every time you spoke to him with that gentle, patient tone?

He couldn’t.

He wouldn’t let his guard down. He wouldn’t let himself accept something so pure as this, because in his world, being soft got you killed. Betrayed. Broken.

And damn you for making him feel soft at all.

So he ran away. He always stayed away from you, wouldn’t come back home until he knew you were asleep. Not because he hated you.

But because he didn’t. And he didn’t know how to deal with it.

But now… when he came back at midnight and saw you on the ground, soaked in your own blood, your face pale from blood loss, he felt like his heart stopped.

So there he was now, sitting in the hospital hallway while they tried to save you, hands stained with your blood, replaying everything he had done to you, every harsh word and gesture meant to make you hate him.

How he ran away when you tried to ask for his protection, not even giving you the time to explain.

And now… regret was useless, because whether they saved you or not, he didn’t think he would ever forgive himself for this.

ᴘᴀʀᴛ 2

Simon knows. Of course he knows, and he hates that he does...

Because why would he remember his assistant's birthday when he doesn’t even recall his own until weeks later after?

Why would he remember when dates meant nothing but due times in his line of work? But he did. How could he forget?

He had never met anyone like you, nor did he think he ever could, and he couldn’t feel any luckier that you are his assistant.

You, who know exactly what he wants and needs before he can say anything. You, who are as quiet, calm, and collected as him.

You, who are so soft-spoken that he has to lean down just to hear what you’re saying, and when he does, he can’t help but smell that sweet, floral scent of your perfume.

It feels like being born again after spending the whole day training sweaty recruits and breathing in gunpowder.

He does appreciate you, he really does, and at first, he told himself it was because you’re good at your job, which you actually are.

He told himself it’s because you understand him, and he feels understood and assisted when he’s with you.

But as the days pass, he starts realising his feelings go far deeper than simple appreciation.

Not when he hears your name and his heart skips a beat. Not when he catches himself staring at you while you work. Not when he starts noticing your habits and body language.

Not when one day, after going back home, he realises his shirt carries a faint trace of your perfume, and well... let’s just say he didn’t wash it so he could keep your scent with him when he came home.

He was falling for you... hard. More than he is comfortable admitting.

But he hides it very well. No one could ever know about what he feels, so on your behalf, he had never made you uncomfortable.

Always respectful. Always keeping an arm’s-length distance between you. And he is soft-spoken with you too.

He is strict with recruits, but not you. Never with you, which made you a little nervous at first, but now, you do like him as a boss, which is a bit odd around the base.

He never scolds you or blames you. He trusts you with the work, and even when you make mistakes, he just gently corrects and guides you.

But to him, he was surprised that he even had this side of himself.

So yeah, his feelings went way too far the moment he memorised your resume, the one that had your birthday on it.

So when the date came, he was watching you like a hawk, and it was exactly as he predicted. You didn’t tell anyone or make a big deal out of it.

It was just like a random Tuesday to you. You did your job perfectly, you didn’t even excuse yourself early so you could go celebrate, and you left at the same time as always.

And that behaviour hit way too close to home, because he would have done — and always does — the exact same thing.

And that made him realise that day after day, he sees himself in you, and how much you two are alike in so many ways...

Now? It’s 9 PM, and he finds himself parking outside your place...

Not directly outside, but a little farther away so you wouldn’t notice him.

He had been staring at your door for several minutes now.

In his hand? A small velvet box. Inside it, a silver necklace with a small yet elegant butterfly. He doesn’t know why he picked it; he just thought of you when he saw it.

And oh, a small card that says Happy Birthday, with no initials or signature. Completely anonymous.

Because would he face you? Absolutely not...

How could he? He is still your boss, and this... gifting you something like this, remembering your birthday when no one even knows it’s today... feels far more intimate than a boss simply appreciating his assistant.

So he finally gets out of his car, making his way to your door, steps silent, moving like a shadow beneath the moonlight.

When he arrives, he takes a shaky breath, places the gift on the ground, then knocks and quickly jogs away.

Hiding like a kid playing hide-and-seek.

He waits only a second before the door opens, and there you are.

His breath hitches as his eyes take you in. Beautiful. So beautiful that to him, it feels unreal.

You kneel down and pick up the gift.

But he couldn’t see your reaction because you were quick to step back inside before opening the small box.

But the next morning? When he sees you wearing it — his gift — even though you don’t know it was him, he smiles beneath his mask, like actually smiles.

And he never knew gifting someone you care about could feel like this.

But you’re worth it... you’ll always be worth it.

Simon never tries to fight with you, or turn a disagreement into an argument, when you want to do something or have an idea, he complies, not because he doesnt care , but because he likes doing anything with you, as long as he is with you it doesnt matter what you both do, whatever you want, happens, and you of course dont overwhelme him or be controlling, and you dont cross any line.

But today, after such tiring day at base, hours of complecated things trying to get solved, he just wants to go home and rest, like an old sloth.

So when he arrives, he gets welcomed by the sight of you being all bubbly and energy, its a familiar sight normally, but now, he has no mood for anything, so when you walk to him to give him a welcome hug, he does hug you, but not as tight and warm as always.

You dont say anything, you just assume he had a bad day at work, and when you pull away looking up at him "Darling welcome back i missed you" , you say with a happy smile, your husband is home after such a boring day, and you cant wait until you both cook together, thats what you wanted, and you know he wont say no, right?

He gives you a curt smile as he drops off his jacket and keys lazily. "Im going to shower", he says walking away to the bathroom without looking at you, you frown a bit at his tone but you dont blame him, again.

Simon takes his sweet time in the shower, you wait on the couch, scrolling on whatever just to pass time, then there he is, coming out of the shower, his broad torso is full in display, wearing only a towel covering his lower half, leaving the rest to imagination (even though you dont have to imagine, you know his body like the back of your hand)

He walks straight to the bedroom, and as he was going down the hallway, he reaches the kitchen, thats when you stop him with your voice "Cover up quickly, we have some cooking to do", you say excited

He spares you a glance, "im not hungry, cook alone"

That made your heart drop, excuse me? What did he just say? You stand up and walk to him

"What do you mean you're not hungry? Did you eat something at base??", you say, trying to cover your disappointment

He leans on the board of the kitchen door, crossing his arms, a scowl on his face

"I didnt eat, but im not in the mood", he says with a cold tone, and that was your last string

"What the hell? You're standing only on the cup of coffee you drank this morning and you say you dont have the mood to eat?? This isnt about mood Si, you should eat! And i want to cook with you"

You say scolding him, he grimaces at the loud tone, "I said i dont want to eat, cook yourself okay? Dont make me repeat things"

You scoff , "this isnt about 'want' Simon, you should eat, and i missed you all day, i was waiting for you to come so i could spend time with you cooking, and you now say you want to eat? At least-" you want to continue but he cuts you off, with a very angry tone, that you're not used to

"For god sake i said im not in the fucking mood! Which part of that you dont undrestand huh?? You think i was just sitting in the desk and waiting for the day to end so i can come home and cook whatever shit to cook? Im a lieutenant, i have responsibilities, im not jobless like you, having nothing to do all day, and when i say no it means no, i think you got it your way too much you cant accept that word, grow the hell up"

And with that, he stomps to the bedroom, and slamming the door as loud as he can, he removes the towel angrily, mumbling some curses under his breath as he wears the random boxer that his hand caught, then he just lays on his stomach on the bed, too tired to reflect on what he said or on you, he just sleeps the minute he feels the softness of the bed and allure of the sheets.

Meanwhile you, standing frozen in your place , not believing what he said, your mind not processing what he just said, your heart breaks as his words ring in your head, you try to compose yourself, but your lips cant help but tremble, your eyes cant help but cry, and you cant help but feel so misundrestood and wronged.

You look at the kitchen, the ingredeants on the counter mocking you, you walk slowly and arrange everything back in its place, crying silently hurt, your appetite is gone, the only thing you feel inside now is your heart beating so fast, and the soffesticating feeling of holding back your sobs, shuffeling into sniffles.

You sit on the couch, crying, because thats only how you'll eventually calm down, but never stop being hurt, after some minutes your sobs reduces, you wipe your tears and glance at the bedroom door, you contemplate for a moment then you walk slowly, as you reach the door you open it slowly, not making any noise, and you peak your head inside, and there he is, fast asleep on the bed, not even bothering to cover himself with a blanket.

You hesitate for a moment, he has hurt you yeah, but god...you couldnt stop your legs as they walk to the bed and cover him up, you look down at him and the sight of him makes you start crying all over again, so you decide to not sleep next to him, because your shoulders wont stop shaking the bed and your suffeled sobs will wake him up, and you dont want to feel like a burden more that you already do feel, so you leave quietly and go to the guest room, its enough for you, and you can sulk how ever you want.

The next day comes, its dawn when Simon wakes up by that annoying ringtone of his phone, and there is no good news in what he hears, his captain ordering him to come as soon as possible.

He doesnt even notice your absence , doesnt bother to wash his face, putting on whatever his hand grabbed from the closet, phone, keys, thats it, and he leaves.

After some hours, You woke up from such restless sleep, you feel an uneasy feeling in your stomach as you remember what happened, and the fact that you'll face him again is unsetteling, you never fight like this, so you dont know how to act, and dont know if you'll even be able to hold back your tears if you even hear his voice.

You walk out of the guest room, inspecting where he is, so you wont be shocked if he just shows up from nowhere, but the house is silent, so silent, and when you look everytwhere, you drown in disappointment, he isnt home.

It hurt more than him being home, he is gone? Just like that? That hurts much more than intended.

Meanwhile him, after the meeting, the problem they indured finally was solved ,the tension in the base softens, everyone's happy with the results, and so he is.

The day goes smoothly for him, and as he was in his office, forgetting that he has been doing paper work for the whole noon, he feels his stomach protest, angry growls like its saying "Dont forget about me you asshole"

He stretches and look at his wrist expecting to see the time on his watch, but eventually he didnt wear it, so he grabs his phone instead to look at the time, and there it is, his lockscreen wallpaper.

A picture of you, back 9 months ago when you both went on a picnic in a forest, next to a beautiful lake, you smiling at the camera as you insisted to capture you while the huge mountain covered in snow is behind you, along with the lake, since then he never changed it.

And then when it was that he recalled what happened last night, and god, his appetite is gone again, did he really just say those words? To you? His wife? The person he loves with his whole heart? His wife? When you were just trying to take care of him like you always do and never fail? Who just want time with him? Away from chaos? He just told you you have no life?

"Fucking hell...", he mutters under his breath, feeling like shit all over again, he opens your contact but then he stops, no, you dont deserve a call, you dont deserve a small sorry, you deserve the world, and he knows how you're feeling right now, he knows exactly that you're feeling like the biggest burden in his life now, when god helps him you're the only good thing in his life.

He continues his day being grumpy, short answers, barking orders here and there, just wanting for the day to end and fix the shit he made, but only to be stuck on an emergency, again, and it made him lose his mind, he knows your bedtime, and he is sure when he comes back, you'll be asleep, so not only you being hurt all day ,but sleeping while you never got the apology you deserved.

Meanwhile you, Mesirable.

You spent the whole day sulking, every car engine voice you hear you jump out of your place, even though you know exactly what his car engine sounds like, and now, he isnt home.

So you go to the guest room again, and you lay down, reflecting on what he said for the millionth time in that day, feeling more insecure than ever.

Sleep didnt come, and so does Simon, worry leaks into your heart, but you dont call, you're a burden to him, remember??

While Simon, already in the garage half an hour ago, just sitting there, trying to rehearse the apology he wanted to say, in the passenger seat, your favorite snacks, and random ones too, he didnt know what to pick, he didnt know what the hell to do.

When he finally gathered the courage, even though he knows you'll probably be asleep, he leaves his car and walks to home.

He opens the door with such silence, his military training of being silent are working now, he sees the lights are off, and he walks slowly to the bedroom, but its empty, he frowns and look around, but you are no where, and then his eyes drift over the guest room door, he walks there and open the door quickly, and it stardled you, who you were sitting on the bed and scrolling on the phone.

You look up shocked, 'when did he comeback?? Fuck fuck fuck what am i supposed to do now', you think to yourself as you look at him, you were supposed to pretend you're asleep when you hear him comeback, but now there is no running away.

Meanwhile him, the sight of you, eyes puffy, tired, hair a bit messy from turning left and right trying to sleep, Just you...

It made the whole apology vanish, the bag of snacks in his hand is forgotten, and his throat feels dry.

You notice the look on his face, and worry highens, he looks like he's in shock, and the worse scenarios comes to your mind.

"Is everything okay?", you ask hesitantly, like even the sound of your voice will bother him.

That tone of yours, just your voice, the insecure look on your face, your slightly trembling hands, after a whole day of feeling like shit, made something snap inside of him.

He drops the bag on the floor, closes the gap between you in three steps, get cups your face, looking at you for a slight second, then he kisses you.

His lips are so warm on yours, the kiss is slow and sensual, and its replacing all the shitty script he was rehearsing before, and doing more.

His hand trembles as he positions your face to make his tongue enter your mouth, speaking its own language to fix the mess he made.

You've been caugh off gaurd, but then you feel like water in his arms, you surrunder compeltly to his kiss, this one is not like the other ones, not the playful ones, not the one filled with lust while making love, not the ones after a long deployement or long day, its diffrent.

He is apologising, with his lips, hands, tongue, warmth, just this intimacy.

He deepens the kiss, kissing you like his life depends on it, and just when he feels like he'll faint from the lack of air, he pulls away, heavy breathings coming out both of you, he keeps his eyes closed but you open them, he looks so vulnurable and so...scared.

He opens his eyes and it locks on your, he stays quiet for a moment, then he finally speaks.

"If you werent in my life, id be dead by now, and if i made you feel like you dont mean anything, then id rather die"

That does it to you, again, those tears, those endless salty fluids, you start crying again.

And with that he hugs you tightly, so tight like he is holding for his dear life "Im so sorry, so so so sorry", he whispers in your hair, feeling more like shit the whole day.

You try to speak but couldnt, you feel so overwhelmed you dont know how to express what you're feeling, and he knows it.

"Shh...i know...i know my love i know", he whispers, his voice couldnt be more gentle than this.

You feel so safe, like a huge rock got lifted off your chest, and you just cling to him, needing the comfort you've been seeking since you heard that loud tone of his, and you start to calm down.

After some moments, when he felt you relax and better, he cups your face and look down at you, your eyes puffy, face wet and red with tears, hair framing just right, its the most beautiful sight he has ever seen.

"You're so beautiful", he whispers, and just before you could react to it, his mouth is on yours, your neck, your shoulders, his hand roming all over your torso as you felt it sneak under your shirt.

So now you know his way of apologising, not just heartaching and warming words, but with intimacy, very sensual intimacy.