#storm shadow

‘This suit is uncomfortable..’ sighing, rolling your neck, satisfied as you crack it.Papers scattered across the desk, pens and pencil out of ink and dull to the tip.

Rubbing the sleep out your eyes, fixing posture, ready to tap away as the computer screen shined along your face.

Few minutes in, close to finish this report your superior needed, a hand slapped your back, flinching, preparing for the worst as you swing the chair backwards, ready to catch whoever was messing with you.

“Relax.. it’s just me!” Sizing the man you called your boyfriend , who was nested in a bright white suit , new scratches littering his face, grin plastered on his mouth.

‘Looking handsome.’ you didn’t admit that out loud , instead ,standing up and questioning him. “ Shouldn’t you be working?” No response. With all the stress you were put under and having no way to release it from the amount of paper work you had, it ticked you off that he didn’t say anything.

Turning around , ready to throw fury for no reasons, you were met with the other’s face, inches away from yours. “Your ass looks great in those pants.” Wow.

Barely pressing his lips against yours, whispering into you, “ I need you right now..” gripping your hand, slowly bringing it down to his closed crotch, feeling his hard on. “ Look what you do to me baby..” quiet groans left his mouth, forcing your hand to grope onto him.

“It’s only right you help me fix it.” Unsure, as you guys were in a very public place, biting down your lip, face flushed from his eyes lingering on you. “I-i.. there’s p-people here!” Your own eyes flickering across the room to watch out for anyone who may walk in.

A forceful hand gripped your jaw , making you look into the other’s eyes.” People won’t come in-“ the warmth of his hands left momentarily before they were on you again , switching from your jaw to your thighs, pushing you on-top the cluttered desk.

“If they do.. I might let them watch..” shaking your head rapidly, shame filling you up, “I’ll make you feel good.. you know that right?” It wasn’t a question, at the end of the day you were a mess under the man as he loved every inch of your body.

Nodding, nuzzling into the crook of his neck.His hands rubbing down your back, “Words, please?”

As soon as the words left your mouth, you found yourself on your stomach, feet on the ground , pants messily pooled around your ankles. No prep, no nothing, the man leaving marks on your neck , murmuring ‘sorry,’ ‘he couldn’t wait to be inside you’

The stretch hurt, the pain as soon as it was there was gone, the burning sensation brought tears to your eyes. But it felt so good.

Setting a Brutal pace, this is what you get for dating a ninja. Hands searching for anything to hold on to, arching for more access , pleads spilling out your lips.

Hitting the right spot , the ache between your legs bobbing up and down from impact.

Biting down your hand , muffling any noise escaping you, leaving teeth marks behind, worried that anyone could see you two.

A slap bounced off the walls, the rough hand hitting back and forth, red imprints left behind , “f-fuck!”

Sweat dripped down your temple, extra hot as your dress shirt was still on, barely hanging on a thread. Hips rocking into you, dick leaking beneath you , tip a soft hue of red as it was left unattended.

“That suit , l..looked so good on you,” finding your hips bringing you up and down,” hugged all your curves.”

Whimpering, his heat twitching inside you, your own flopping around, it was enough to make you release onto your own desk.

No warning, only the mutters of nonsense leaving the other’s mouth , thrusts becoming sloppier, before liquid filled you to the brim, dripping down , the sound filled your ears as he slowly pulled out.

Pulling your pants back up, helping you stand up , knees wobbly, fixing your disheveled hair , kissing the tear stains away. “ You look so beautiful..” rolling your eyes,”You’re saying that after I’m fucked out?” Playfully pouting.

No response as his soft lips clashed into yours, tongues slipping past. Lasting for a minute before you pulled away , knowing you guys had work to attend and couldn’t get carried away again.

What your coworkers didn’t know , was that you guys were one freaky ass couple.

As you squirm in your seat.Not only the suit pants bugging you, cream spilling out your hole, left to stick to you. Reminding you off what happened not too long ago.

2013 G.I. JOE Retaliation Promotion.

The bright lights of the cameras shined on you and your co-star, while the interviewer asked you basic questions.

“So how did the two of you feel with this new casting. Mr Lee who had already played in the original G.I. Joe movie and you who has just now made her debut.”

You look to Byung-hun silently pleading for him to take on the question first. Luckily one look your way and he knew your silent question. Something you had found yourself grateful for.

“The entire cast is full of amazing actors, who are so caring and gentle.” Slowly you felt your nails picking at your cuticles as you thought of your answer. “I had a lot of fun working with these guys — and everyone on the crew makes it so fun.”

You didn’t noticed at first, and honestly neither did the interviewer. He was so slick with the way he slid his hand into yours, stopping your bad habit. Giving your hand a gentle squeeze before you answering as encouragement.

Your voice didn’t waver as you let the warmth of his hand bring you back to earth.

“Working on a project this big, with these actors who I truly admire is something I’m so excited about. This my ‘debut’ and it’s crazy to me that this is all really real.”

Before the interviewer could ask his next question Byung-hun didn’t think before keeping your conversation going. Helping your nerves.

“Going Hollywood is definitely something that is nerve wracking. I remember how crazy the whole thing was for me.”

Your little smile at him made the fans go crazy when the video came out. The hand holding, and little gentle reassurances he would do throughout the entire thing was something fans couldn’t get enough of as they would re-watch it over and over.

—

Photos flashed everywhere, blinding you as you stepped onto the movie premiere. Your dress was gorgeous, just like you. Your hair and makeup styled perfectly, you had honestly felt like a princess.

And in true prince fashion, Byung-hun stepped in when he saw you picking as your nails again.

Smiling at the photographers, he grabbed your hand. Leaning down to whisper in your ear; “your hands are too pretty to mess up. Squeeze mine instead.”

When he straightened his posture, and smiled once again for the cameras, as if nothing happened, you couldn’t help but think maybe that’s when you first felt it.

Devotion, wrapped in admiration.

He had helped you so much with your anxiety, some would say it was inevitable to favor him. “Thank you.” All he did was simply squeeze your hand back.

The blinding lights going crazy over the hand holding. Surely it would cause rumors, but for once you didn’t let it get to your head. Simply holding his hand instead.

—

For Lee Byung-hun, he had only thought of you as a co-worker. While your admiration for the man was so obvious, he couldn’t help but thing it was a silly crush you had because he helped you in tough situations.

He kept it professional, denying at friend invites you sent him, or any drink you’d offer him. Though he changed perspectives after watching you most recent single interview.

“Many of your fans are interested with your relationship with your co-star Lee Byung-hun. Can you elaborate on it?”

Truth was you felt nervous at this question, you didn’t know the right way to answer. Though you knew you wanted to be honest and not let the rumors continue, even if it may disappoint some.

“Ah, well truth be told there is no relationship I can really explain. This movie is the first time I’ve had such a big role.

While filming, it’s true I had quite a few scenes with Storm Shadow, more often than not. While filming those scenes I’d watch the way Lee Byung-hun embodied his character.

It was something I was truly impressed about, and so since our characters were so intwined with each other — we were paired for most promotional videos.”

You took a deep breath before continuing, grateful that the interviewer didn’t interrupt.

“During our first promo video, I was extremely nervous. This is such a big film and I was so in my head — seeing this my co-working held my hand to help with my anxiety.

People who support me loved it. Was all for it, but all it was, was him helping a co-worker out. The same thing happened at the movie premiere.

While on that carpet my heart was pounding and he was there to offer support. That’s all, the rest is rumors. I simple just admire him and someone to learn from.”

You felt a little shaky but ultimately felt better after clearing air. In your eyes Mr Lee Byung-Hun was uncomfortable about the rumors. That’s why he wouldn’t ever socialize much with you, so you had felt proud of yourself for putting an end to it.

On the other hand, him hearing you say you only admire him from a person to learn from had hit him hard. A person he knew actually looked up to him. It was an honor, one he had became proud of.

So when he saw you next, he didn’t beat around the bush.

“I’m a person you admire?” You didn’t have a crush on him like he originally thought, and that’s the moment he wanted you be your friend.

That’s the moment he had devotion towards you. Devotion wrapped in friendship.

—

Your final cast interview. It was a long experience, but an unforgettable one. This whole movie had became something you truly loved, cast included.

“Each of you will read out a card, and say the answer within ten seconds. If you get it, you’ll gain points. Whoever has most wins.”

A simple game to finish it off. Easy peasy.

To the right of you, Dwayne went first. “In ten words, explain the film.” He read off before hurrying to put ten words out.

“Cobra.” One finger up. “Escapes.” Another. “While. Joes. That. Are. Left. Fight. Back.” One last word, but just before he could think of it — getting stuck the timer went off.

The whole crew laughed at his disappointment, and then next was your turn.

“I’m nervous.” You gave one deep breath before reading out your card. “Why should you watch the new movie.”

One. Two. “Have you seen this cast?” Five. Six. “Just look at Dwayne’s muscles.” Everyone laughed.

Dwayne got a little red, causing a little teasing. It was a good moment, a happy moment. So why was Byung-hun laughing?

In fact as it was a viral clip, not you teasing Dwayne, no it was Lee Byung-hun reaction that was viral.

“Have you seen this cast?” Byung-hun kept his entire focus on you, not even looking away once when you spoke. In fact throught most of the interview, he barely paid anyone else much attention. “Just look at Dwayne’s muscles.”

A bitter feeling bubbler under his skin, as he felt his blood hot. His jaw visibly clenched, as he glared at the man in question. Before looking you up as down, his fist the next to clench. Not a single laugh leaving his lips let alone a smile.

It went very viral, and Lee Byung-hun didn’t even try to deny what they were saying. Jealousy, yes. Though it wasn’t because he was romantically interested. He just felt a sense of belonging over you. Not in a toxic way, or at least not in his eyes.

Truth be told you only mentioned to him simply because you didn’t want him to be mad at you.

“What that video going around about?” A simple question. He was in your living room, laying down on your lap, eyes closed while you mindlessly scrolled through instagram.

Instantly he knew what you were talking about and once again he didn’t defend himself.

“I didn’t like how you mentioned him.”

“His muscles.”

A scoff slipped past his lips, “I have those too, you know?” He sat up, and didn’t hesitate to lift his shirt up to show you. His abs briefly capturing your full attention.

“Yea but there’s already enough rumors about us.” That was true, and he knew that but he just didn’t care.

“Let them talk.” He brushed a hair out your face, “we’re friends, and friends go over co-workers.”

Friends, neither of you doubted the word. But we’re friends so devoted to one another? So admirable to the other? So protective? Yet the word was never doubted.

—

Over the years

Over the years, neither of you worked on a project again. That didn’t matter, your friendship was still so ever strong.

Often at each other’s house, getting food, attending events. All your fans had was an occasional post about the other.

Once you posted putting a pretty pink bow in his hair, his face was in complete annoyance.

“Byung-hun. Look at me!” He knew you had your phone recording and he debated on weather or not to snatch before looking at you. Ultimately he settled for a glare.

“My pretty princess.” Oh he just might kill you. His head tilted as suddenly you felt a little hotter as he look up at you. Like he was going to devour you alive. “Princess? I’m the one that pampers you—“ before he could continue the video went black.

It was a fond memory of your and you had posted it. As expected whenever a post involving the other popped up it blew up.

Though his comment made even more chaos. As he so much loves to do. No joke, before he made the comment he laid on your bedroom floor breaking silence as he watched the video.

“How can I make this more chaotic.” You couldn’t help but sigh at him.

I dream so often of shutting your mouth. Any ideas?

It went crazy. Then again you’ve done that before, comment a wild thing on his post.

For instance, he posted a picture of himself sweating. Chain dangling (one you got him) and a devilish smile.

Have my kids, I’ll never talk back.

Yea?

You had purposely also sent him a private audio message, cat calling him.

The uproar your fans had, oh well let’s just say many articles broke out.

It was honestly fun, watching your fans want something so bad and just dangle it. Made the two of you feel euphoric on the power.

Yet that wasn’t the only thing you two had found euphoric.

Eventually at one point the two of decided to drink and drink. None of you think before you both crossed a line that was already so faded.

You kissed, and then kissed. Until you ending up the next morning both naked in bed.

The two of you decided for the best that none of it ever happen again, but even though you didn’t — it doesn’t mean you two forgot. In fact neither of you can look at wine the same.

Though, y’all’s restraint fell apart eventually as the two of you kept ending up in each other’s bed.

Most people wouldn’t be shocked if they knew, but oh the two of you were dumbfounded on why you guys could resist each other.

So began your friends with benefits era. A classic.

As that era ended, you both realized you had wanted more, so eventually causal dating was the next step for the two of you. In private of course.

—

Promotion of squid games

You and Byung-Hun both sat in front of cameras. Each looking at fan made videos. It was nice to see such creativity, or that what you thought going into this.

As the first video played, with weird dancing and animation, you couldn’t understand how Byung-Hun could keep a straight face.

“That was for sure… interesting.” The side eye you gave him, and then the camera was definitely clipped.

“I feel wrong.” Is all you had simply said. Which was true. “Definitely love the work put into this, and I think it’s cool how people made this. Just… not my cup of tea.”

A few more weird videos broke out, and some nice one with people singing the theme song, and etc.

The next fan video was an edit of the two of you. Simply just watching each other as the lyrics in the video played. Romantics clearly intended.

It didn’t surprise the two of you. Byung-hun turned his head to you, laughing a little.

“You know, a lot of our fans watched this show for us being in a film together. Yet our characters actually despise the other.” Your smile felt contagious to him as you laughed back.

“Are we the problem?”

The man simply nodded his head back before the two of you watched the next video.

—

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—

Lie detector interview.

“We are going to give you a set of questions, please answer yes or no.”

Nerves picked at your skin as your watch Byung-hun opposite from you.

They would start with true or false trivia, before going into more detail questions. He gave you a reassuring smile before reading out the first words.

“Is your name really Y/N?” Easy. “Yes.” The detector person gave a thumbs up and he went onto the next question.

“Is it true that you play in squid games season 2?” Another easy one. “Yes.” One more true or false. “Is it true you are very nervous?” The look you gave him was the most ‘duh’ bratty attitude ever.

“Yes.”

“Okay, now onto the actual questions.” He looked down at his card, almost laughing before reading it out to you.

“Have you ever injured yourself on the set of squid games?” You knew exactly what he was thinking about, and it took you a moment not to laugh as well.

“During one of my earlier scenes, I was drinking wine, that I thought was grape juice.” Byung-hun placed a card over his growing smile as you continued. “Well no one actually thought I was drinking actual wine. Nor did I. So I ended up getting a little flushed and tripped off my chair spraining my ankle.”

Amusement wouldn’t even began the joy your co-star had as he remembered the day he carried you back to your trailer.

“Did you have to learn Korean for this film.”

You tilted your head as you thought about it. “I didn’t learn it for this film, but I had learned it a while ago to surprise you because I felt bad you had to translate your thoughts before saying them.”

Lee Byung-hun remembers the first time you spoke to him in Korean. In fact he thinks that was the moment he fell in love with you.

You two had become the definition of she fell first but he fell harder.

You use to mess up so much, and he always loved it. Now you’re pretty fluent but he loves the moments where you ask him for help.

“Tell me more about your character.”

“I play a foreign player, that is intended to remind Gi-Hun about Ali. When I get into the games lots of drama, funny and stressful things begins to happen. I don’t wanna spoil it.”

“Well you passed!” As your began to unhook yourself from the machine, “not a single lie.”

“Not like I could.” You would rather be seen as the honest person you were anyways.

You had asked your co star similar questions but one was a heavily asked fan question.

“What’s your relationship with Co-Star Y/N L/N.” Even you began to feel nervous. Dating. You two were dating and had went a very long time keeping your confirmed relationship private.

But, as you both looked at each other you both knew there wasn’t a point in keeping things a secret.

“Dating.”

Let’s just say the PR for squid game was better than gold.

The fluorescent lights of the Taekwondo dojang in Seoul buzzed overhead like judgmental fireflies. You stood stiff as a board beside Master Kim, your new trainer, while two dozen pairs of eyes drilled into you. Some trainees sized you up with mild curiosity while the others looked like they were already calculating how fast you’d quit.

Your parents had dragged you here after one too many playground incidents back home and convinced you that learning to kick would magically turn you into a self-defense machine. Right now, all you wanted was to melt into the polished wooden floor.

“ Everyone, this is our newest trainee.” Master Kim announced in his booming voice with his crisp dobok making him look every inch the authority figure.

“ She just moved to Seoul. Treat her well. No hazing unless you want extra laps.”

A few snickers rippled through the room. You kept your gaze glued to your bare feet while your cheeks are burning.

Master Kim launched into the rules without mercy. “ Respect the dojang. No talking during instruction. No phones. No eating. Break any rule and you’ll run ten laps, do fifty push-ups, or both. Serious violations? You’re out. This is discipline, not a playground.”

His eyes swept the room then landed on you. “ Understood?”

You nodded so fast your neck hurt.

The warm-up started immediately in basic stretches, forward bends, and side lunges. Your muscles screamed in protest; you weren’t used to any of this. While the others moved with practiced fluidity, you wobbled like a newborn giraffe. Every time you tried to touch your toes, your hamstrings staged a full rebellion.

Master Kim noticed.

“ Keep breathing. Slow and steady. You’re not racing anyone.” His voice carried encouragement, but the burn in your thighs made it hard to believe him.

After what felt like an eternity of awkward high kicks that barely cleared the ground, he finally called a short break. You collapsed onto the edge of the blue mat, chest heaving, and sweat already sticking your hair to your forehead.

Tomorrow was going to be hell. You watched the veteran trainees flow through their routines and envy twisted in your gut.

Then someone plopped down right beside you.

You flinched so hard you nearly toppled over.

“ Today’s training feels like my limbs are filing for divorce.” A low voice muttered beside you.

“ I want to quit and become a convenience store clerk. But nooo…I have to be the greatest assassin the world has ever seen. Dramatic, right?”

You turned your head slowly. The guy sitting next to you had a sharp jawline, messy dark hair damp with sweat, and a side profile that could probably launch a thousand fan cams. He looked maybe a year older than you. He’s handsome in that annoyingly effortless way.

He must have realized he’d been monologuing out loud because he let out a short, self-deprecating chuckle. “ Sorry. I'm talking to myself again. It happens when the legs are dying.”

He extended a hand. “ Thomas Arashikage. Yeah, I know that it sounds like I walked out of an anime. Blame my mom’s obsession with ninja movies.”

You hesitated, then shook it. “ I’m…Y/n L/n.”

Thomas grinned in bright and surprisingly warm. “ Y/n. Nice. I noticed you the second you walked in with Master Kim. You had that fresh-meat deer-in-headlights look. A classic newbie.”

You let out a small laugh despite yourself. “ That obvious, huh? I’m just nervous. Not used to people staring like they’re waiting for me to trip over my own feet.”

He nodded while leaning back on his hands. “ You’ll get used to it. The first month is always brutal. Everything hurts. You question your life choices. Then one day you realize you can actually do a proper roundhouse without falling on your face.”

His eyes sparkled with mischief. “ And when that happens, you get to show everyone your hidden skills. We all have them, you know. Something that makes us different. I can’t wait to see yours.”

You blinked, caught off guard by the sincerity. Most people just gave polite small talk and Thomas spoke like he actually meant it.

Before you could respond, Master Kim clapped his hands. “ Break’s over! Back to basics…front stance, chamber, and kick! Newbie, watch and copy the form.”

You groaned internally and pushed yourself up. Thomas stood too while stretching his arms overhead with a dramatic wince.

“ See you on the other side of the pain, Y/n.” He said while flashing another grin.

“ Try not to murder your calves on the first day.”

You rolled your eyes, but a reluctant smile tugged at your lips. “ No promises. And stop talking about being an assassin. That’s weird.”

He clutched his chest like you’d wounded him. “ It’s aspirational! You’ll see. One day I’ll be so good, even Master Kim will fear me.”

“ Thomas!” Master Kim barked.

“ Less talking, more kicking.”

Thomas shot you a quick wink before jogging back to his spot. You tried to focus on the next set of stretches, but your mind kept drifting to the guy who’d just casually declared his dream of becoming the world’s greatest assassin while complaining his legs were about to file for divorce.

The session dragged on and every muscle protested. You caught Thomas glancing your way a couple of times. Once when you nearly lost balance on a side kick while his mouth twitched like he was fighting a laugh. Another time when you finally landed a decent front kick then he gave a tiny thumbs-up that somehow made the burn in your thighs feel slightly less apocalyptic.

By the end of the hour, you were a sweaty and aching mess. As everyone bowed out and started gathering their things, Thomas appeared beside you again, towel slung over his shoulder.

“ Not bad for day one.” He said, voice low so only you could hear.

“ Most newbies look like they’re fighting invisible ghosts. You only looked like you were fighting one ghost.”

You snorted. “ Thanks. I think.”

He smirked. “ Anytime. Just don’t quit before you discover that hidden skill of yours. I have a feeling it’s going to be impressive.”

You opened your mouth to retort like something about how his assassin dreams were probably just an excuse to wear all black, but the words caught in your throat. There was something in the way he looked at you, not judging like the others had at the start.

His gaze lingered a second too long while yours did the same. Then he broke it with another chuckle.

“ See you tomorrow, newbie. Try not to die in your sleep from soreness.”

You watched him walk away, heart doing a stupid little flip that had nothing to do with the workout. As you gathered your bag, one thought looped in your mind that this training was going to be a lot more complicated than your parents had promised.

...

A week into training, the dojang in Seoul had stopped feeling like enemy territory. Your muscles still ached, but the routines were slowly becoming familiar.

Thomas Arashikage was the main reason while other trainees kept to their cliques or shot you occasional pitying looks when you messed up a stance and he always made time for you.

“ Y/n, your high kick looks like you’re trying to swat a very slow mosquito.” He teased one afternoon while demonstrating the proper form with effortless grace.

“ Higher. Pretend the air offended your ancestors.”

You glared, sweat dripping into your eyes. “ Easy for you to say, Mr. Future Greatest Assassin. Some of us weren’t born with legs that cooperate.”

He laughed with that bright and infectious sound that always pulled a reluctant smile from you. “ Hey, my legs filed for divorce last week, remember? We’re in this together.”

Master Kim’s sharp voice cut across the mat. “ Arashikage! Y/n! Less comedy hour, more focus. And Y/n, laugh any louder and you’ll be running extra laps for disturbing the peace.”

Thomas winked at you behind the trainer’s back. Your stomach hurts from trying to stifle the next burst of laughter.

From then on, he became your default partner for pair drills. When you struggled with the chambering motion for a roundhouse kick, he’d open his palms patiently, and letting you practice the snap against his hands.

“ Again. You almost had it. Don’t rush, feel the balance.”

You failed the next three times and nearly toppled over. Instead of frustration, Thomas just grinned. “ See? Progress. Last week you would’ve face-planted. Patience and determination, newbie. You’ve got both. I can tell.”

His long-suffering patience was almost annoying. No matter how many times you botched a routine, he’d correct your posture with gentle hands on your shoulders or elbows, voice steady and encouraging.

“ You’re going to make it. Everyone starts somewhere. I even looked like a drunk giraffe on day one.”

By the end of the first month, the closeness between you had deepened into something comfortable yet electric. Thomas started initiating small outings after training with nothing dramatic, just “sightseeing” as he called it. The first time, he dragged you to Namsan Tower after a grueling session, claiming the view would “reset your soul after all those kicks.”

You went because you trusted him. He never pushed boundaries and never made you feel unsafe. You wandered the trails around the tower, the city lights of Seoul sparkling below like scattered jewels. Thomas pointed out silly landmarks and made up ridiculous stories about them.

“ See that building? That’s where I’ll establish my secret assassin headquarters. Top floor. With a vending machine that only dispenses ramyeon at midnight.”

You snorted while bumping his shoulder. “ You’re ridiculous. And my parents would kill me if they knew I was out with a boy instead of ‘focusing on training and the family business.’”

He raised an eyebrow, teasing. “ Secret rebel, huh? Don’t worry, I won’t tell. We’re just friends appreciating nature. Very wholesome.”

But it didn’t feel entirely wholesome anymore.

The outings multiplied. A quiet walk along the Han River at dusk, where he challenged you to a stone-skipping contest and lost spectacularly, blaming “wind interference” while you laughed until tears pricked your eyes.

Another time, he took you to a small park near the dojang, sitting on a bench as cherry blossoms drifted down even though it wasn’t peak season yet. He’d bring snacks and you’d talk about everything and nothing.

About his dream of mastering every martial art under the sun, your reluctance about inheriting the family business and silly trainee gossip.

Every meeting, the connection grew heavier. Thomas would catch your eye during training and flash that crooked smile that made your pulse stutter. When he guided your form, his touch lingered a fraction longer than necessary when his warm palms steadying your waist during balance drills. You’d pull away first with your heart racing while telling yourself it was nothing.

Yet the unfamiliar feeling in your chest refused to be ignored. A flutter whenever he laughed at your terrible jokes. A quiet warmth when he waited for you after class, towel in hand, and ready with another ridiculous comment.

“ Nice job today. Your kicks are starting to look less like panicked flailing and more like actual Taekwondo.”

You tried to dismiss it. It was unnecessary and your parents had been clear about focusing on training or no distractions. The family business needed a capable heir, not someone mooning over a boy with assassin fantasies.

Thomas was just a good friend.

That was all.

But the more time you spent with him, the louder your heart argued otherwise. During one sunset walk along a quiet trail outside the city, he stopped to pick a small wildflower and tucked it behind your ear without thinking.

“ There. Now you look like a proper Seoul adventurer.” He said softly, his fingers brushing your cheek as he pulled back. His eyes held yours a beat too long, dark and searching.

You swallowed, stepping back with a forced laugh. “ Flirting with the newbie again, Arashikage? Careful, or I’ll tell Master Kim you’re distracting me from my hidden skills.”

Thomas chuckled, but it sounded a little strained. “ I wouldn't dream of it. Just…appreciating the view.”

It's about friendship or something deeper.

You didn’t know yet.

And Thomas didn’t push. He just stayed close, patient as ever and letting the slow burn simmer.

Back at the dojang the next day, he partnered with you again, correcting your stance with that same steady patience. “ See? Determination. You’re getting better every day.”

You met his gaze, the familiar flutter returning. “ Thanks to my annoying personal coach.”

He grinned. “ Anytime, Y/n. Anytime.”

Master Kim barked another warning about noise, but neither of you could stop the quiet laughter that followed.

...

The years blurred together in the Seoul dojang like the steady rhythm of kicks against pads. What began as shy glances and clumsy stretches had evolved into something far more serious.

You and Thomas Arashikage became the school's go-to pair for side missions by escorting VIPs through crowded streets while retrieving stolen training equipment from shady contacts or quietly handling minor disturbances involving rogue trainees who thought they could use their skills for petty crime.

Thomas had been the one to drag you into it.

“ No way I’m pairing with anyone else.” He’d declared to Master Kim while flashing that signature grin.

“ Y/n and I already know each other’s moves. We’ll get it done clean.”

You’d bickered the entire first mission. “ Your ‘concrete plan’ was just ‘run at them and look intimidating,’ Thomas. I almost got elbowed in the face!”

“ Hey, it worked, didn’t it? And you looked cute when you were panicking.” He’d dodged your half-hearted swipe while laughing until Master Kim threatened extra drills.

The missions grew harder. Promotion came after a successful takedown of a mid-level fence dealing in illegal combat gear. Suddenly you were facing real threats of high-profile criminals and corrupt officials using martial arts connections for smuggling rings or even a few powerful businessmen with bodyguards who knew how to throw a punch.

The work was exhausting of long nights tailing suspects through neon-lit alleys in Gangnam, tense stakeouts in rainy Han River parks, and the constant edge of knowing one wrong move could end badly.

Yet Thomas made it bearable. He always arrived with detailed plans sketched on crumpled napkins about the entry points, escape routes, and signals only the two of you understood.

“ Stick close. I’ve got your back.” He’d murmur before every op, his hand briefly squeezing yours in reassurance. His patience never wavered, even when you froze during your first real confrontation with armed thugs.

He’d pulled you behind cover with his calm voice. “ Breathe. We improvise together. You’re not doing this alone.”

Your admiration deepened into something heavier and more consuming. The way he moved in combat mirrored the quiet strength he showed when guiding your form back in training.

Late nights after missions by sharing cheap convenience store meals on rooftops overlooking the city, the tension between you thickened like summer humidity. The unspoken words hung in every lingering glance, every accidental brush of shoulders, every soft “good work today” that felt like so much more.

You couldn’t ignore it anymore. The flutter in your chest had become a constant ache when his body language screamed the same. The way he always chose the seat closest to you, how his eyes softened when no one else was looking, and the protective edge in his voice during dangerous moments.

He felt it too.

You were sure of it.

One humid summer night, after a particularly grueling mission dismantling a small extortion ring, the two of you ended up at a quiet street food stall near Hongdae. Steam rose from tteokbokki and grilled skewers while the air was thick with spicy scents and distant K-pop beats. You sat on plastic stools, shoulders brushing, and sharing a plate of hotteok dripping with honey.

The words spilled out before you could stop them.

“ Thomas…what is this between us?” Your voice was quiet but steady with your heart hammering.

“ I can’t keep pretending. I’m slowly falling for you. All these years…the missions, the laughs, the way you look at me when we’re alone. I think you feel it too.”

He stiffened beside you, skewer paused halfway to his mouth. The easy humor drained from his face. For a long moment, and only the sizzle of food on the grill filled the silence.

“ I…didn’t know.” He muttered finally and set the food down. His shoulders slumped.

“ I wasn’t sure what I truly felt. Or maybe I was scared to admit it.” He ran a hand through his hair with his eyes fixed on the flickering stall light.

“ I want to pursue you, Y/n. God, I do. But I’m terrified you’ll become a barrier to my plans. We’re too different. You’ve got the family business waiting…the one your parents drilled into you. I want to be the best assassin this country’s ever seen. Make my parents proud. Prove I’m not just some loudmouth with dreams.”

Your chest tightened. “ Thomas—”

He cut in gently with his voice laced with regret. “ I don’t want to be the reason you fall. We’re still young. There are so many opportunities ahead. Your parents already forbid you from even being friends with guys like me. If they found out…I won’t let myself become the obstacle that ruins everything you’ve worked for.”

The street noise faded into a dull roar. You felt the crack in your heart widening.

“ I’ll fight for you.” You said, voice trembling but determined.

“ Just don’t leave me to do it alone. We’ve faced worse together on missions. We can face this.”

Thomas shook his head slowly and pain flashing across his handsome features. “ I have too many dreams, Y/n. Being the greatest…it’s everything I’ve trained for. I can’t ask you to give up everything for me.”

His gaze met yours. “ Don’t do that. I won’t allow it.”

Tears pricked your eyes. The boy who had made you laugh until your stomach hurt, who had patiently corrected your stances a thousand times, and who had planned every mission to keep you safe…he was pulling away.

“ After everything? The years, the way you looked at me, the touches that lingered…you showed me all those mixed signals and now you say you don’t know?”

“ I’m sorry.” He whispered.

“ I’m really sorry for leading you on. For not being clear. I do like you, Y/n. More than I should. But my main priority right now is my dreams. I can’t let anything or even this derail that. Not yet.”

The hotteok turned cold on the plate and your appetite vanished. All those moments of his laughter echoing in the dojang, his steady hands guiding yours, and the quiet nights where the city felt like it belonged only to the two of you crashed against the wall he’d just built.

You wanted to argue, to fight like you did on missions when the odds were bad. But the look in his eyes told you he’d already made his choice, at least for now. The slow burn that had warmed you for years now left only embers and smoke.

“ Fine.” You said quietly while standing on shaky legs. The unresolved tension lingered, sharp and painful, but neither of you were willing to close the distance or walk away completely.

“ Just…don’t expect me to pretend nothing happened.”

Thomas didn’t stop you as you left the stall, the Seoul night suddenly colder despite the summer heat. He remained seated, shoulders hunched with the weight of his ambitions and fears heavier than any opponent you’d faced together.

The walk home blurred with unshed tears. Years of partnership, laughter, and deepening connection had led here to a confession met with hesitation, and to feelings laid bare under streetlights only to be gently that devastatingly set aside.

Yet deep down, the spark refused to die completely. You wondered if the next mission would feel the same or if everything had just changed forever.

...

The rejection hits like a poorly executed axe kick and leaves you sprawled on the mat of your own emotions. That night at the street food stall when Thomas’s words had carved a clean line between you.

“ I like you too…but my dreams come first.”

You couldn’t breathe the same air as him after that.

The very next morning you packed your bag at the training camp outside Seoul and left without a word. No note or no goodbye. Every time you pictured his face, the pain flared fresh. Seeing him in the dojang while hearing his voice call out corrections to someone else, would have been unbearable.

So you ran.

Thomas tried multiple times.

Texts lit up your phone for weeks and missed calls.

Thomas: Y/n, talk to me.

Thomas: What did I do wrong?

Thomas: At least let me explain properly.

A voice message where his usual cocky tone cracked.

“ Newbie…don’t disappear on me like this.”

You deleted every one. You avoided every training session he might attend then switched your schedule or changed your number after the third month. When he showed up at your family’s business office once, you slipped out the back door before he could spot you.

Eventually, he stopped trying and the silence that followed was worse.

Then came the cruelest punchline.

During a rare visit back to the old dojang to collect forgotten gear, you overheard trainees whispering. Thomas had been reassigned to a new partner. A sharp, confident girl named Mina who moved like liquid steel and laughed at his jokes even louder than you once had.

They looked good together and the kind of partnership that didn’t need years to build; it simply clicked.

Fate had a vicious sense of humor.

The love you once carried for him curdled into something hollow, cold, and edged with hate. Not the dramatic, screaming kind. It was just a quiet ache that sharpened every time his name crossed your mind.

You threw yourself into training until your body screamed louder than your heart. Muscles tore and rebuilt stronger and techniques that once felt impossible became second nature. You pushed until bruises bloomed like dark flowers across your skin and your lungs burned with every breath.

Years slid by in a blur of sweat, blood, and silent rage.

Now, at twenty-four, you moved through the shadowed underbelly of Seoul as a full-fledged operative in the Cobra Organization. The same syndicate your parents had quietly served for decades.

The work was illegal, ruthless, and paid in secrets and blood. You handled high-value extractions, eliminations of rival players, and protection details for men whose smiles hid knives.

Your loyalty was absolute because Cobra gave you purpose when everything else felt empty.

But the hollow never filled. No matter how many successful missions you completed, no matter how many powerful targets fell because of your precise kicks and colder calculations, the ache remained.

Thomas Arashikage had become a ghost you couldn’t exorcise. You wondered, in the quiet hours before dawn, whether he was still at the old training camp grinding through routines, or if he had finally clawed his way up to become the “greatest assassin” he once joked about.

Had he and Mina become legends together?

Did he still sketch ridiculous plans on napkins?

Did he ever think about the shy newbie who once laughed until her stomach hurt?

You had cut every thread of communication. No social media or no mutual contacts. You trained alone, worked alone, and lived alone. After Thomas, the idea of letting anyone close felt like inviting another rejection you wouldn’t survive.

Your heart has hardened into something efficient and sharp. It's perfect for Cobra and useless for anything softer.

Tonight, you leaned against the cold railing of a rooftop in Itaewon, city lights glittering below like indifferent stars. Another mission completed about a corrupt official who had crossed Cobra one too many times and now slept permanently in the Han River.

Your body ached from the fight, but it was the familiar and welcome kind of pain.

The kind you could control.

Still, memories crept in uninvited.

You remembered Thomas’s steady hands adjusting your stance years ago.

“ Patience and determination, Y/n. You’ve got both.”

A bitter laugh escaped your lips and carried away by the night wind.

“ Greatest sense of humor, fate.” You muttered to the empty rooftop.

“ Really funny. You gave me the perfect partner, then turned him into the greatest lesson I never asked for.”

Your phone buzzed about the new orders from Cobra. Another target and another night of shadows and precision. You straightened, pushing the ghost of Thomas down where it belonged. It is buried beneath layers of skill, loyalty, and the cold armor you’d built around your heart.

Somewhere out there, Thomas was probably chasing his dreams with someone who didn’t remind him of complicated feelings. Maybe he had succeeded or maybe he was happier.

The thought twisted like a knife, but you welcomed the sting. Pain keeps you sharp and hate keeps you moving. You had chosen your path the day you walked out of that camp while he had chosen the night he couldn’t choose you.

Two assassins with the same dreams, now walking opposite directions.

You pulled your hood up and disappeared into the Seoul night, footsteps silent, heart still quietly breaking in the same place it had years ago.

And the worst part? Deep down, beneath the hate and the hollow, a tiny treacherous part of you still wondered what would have happened if he had just said 'yes.'

...

The dim glow of holographic displays flickered across the underground conference room buried beneath a nondescript building in Seoul’s Itaewon district. Cobra’s inner sanctum smelled of cold steel and faint ozone from the projectors.

You stood at attention in your black tactical gear, mask pulled down, while Snake Eyes, which is your master, the silent legend who had taken you under his wing years ago that outlined the mission on the central table.

“ Storm Shadow.” Snake Eyes signed and spoke. The words clipped and precise. His masked face revealed nothing, but the tension in his shoulders was unmistakable.

“ He is Cobra’s greatest threat right now. His rogue team has sabotaged three major operations in the last six months."

" He hit our weapons shipment in Busan. He exposed our contact in the National Assembly. He moves like a ghost and strikes like lightning. We need him eliminated.”

You absorbed every detail without interruption. Intel on Storm Shadow’s known patterns of his white uniform, dual swords, preference for close-quarters kills, and history with the Arashikage clan.

The name tugged at something buried deep in your chest but you dismissed it. Plenty of operatives used codenames inspired by old ninja lore. It couldn’t be him because the Thomas Arashikage you once knew was probably still grinding through dojang routines or playing house with his new partner somewhere far from this life.

The man who had rejected you, who had let you walk away with a shattered heart, and would never rise to become Cobra’s public enemy number one.

You accepted the mission without hesitation. “ I’ll handle it.”

Snake Eyes studied you for a long moment, then continued. “ You’ll track him through his last known sighting in the mountains near Chuncheon. Use the old training camp ruins as a possible staging point. He’s been spotted near former Arashikage-affiliated sites. Strike when he’s isolated. No witnesses and no mercy.”

He laid out the plan in meticulous detail about the infiltration routes, potential ambush points, and contingencies if Storm Shadow called in reinforcements. You memorized every variable, already mentally refining the strategy with your own touches while using the rainy season terrain for cover, and exploiting his possible overconfidence in hand-to-hand.

Years of relentless training had sharpened you into one of Cobra’s most reliable blades and this promotion would cement that.

“ Success here elevates your rank significantly.” Snake Eyes said.

“ Higher clearance. More critical missions. The trust of the higher-ups. Benefits that will make your parents proud of the legacy they passed to you.” He paused, then added with quiet intensity.

“ I fought to assign you this. Don’t make me regret choosing you over more experienced operatives. Be grateful for the opportunity.”

You met his gaze steadily and nodded. “ I won’t disappoint you, Master. This mission will succeed.”

A faint smile touched the corners of Snake Eyes’ mouth. The closest he ever came to open praise. “ Good. You’ve come far from that shy trainee who could barely chamber a kick. I see the fire in you now. Use it.”

You offered a small, controlled smile in return, but inside, something heavy pressed against your ribs. A vague unease you couldn’t name. The name “Storm Shadow” echoed again in your mind while stirring old ghosts you had buried under layers of cold discipline and hollow loyalty.

You pushed the feeling down. The distraction was unacceptable because you had spent years forging yourself into someone unbreakable precisely to avoid this kind of weakness.

The briefing ended with final coordinates and encrypted comms protocols. As you turned to leave, Snake Eyes placed a hand on your shoulder which was a rare physical contact from the silent master.

“ Remember why you fight for Cobra.” He said quietly.

“ Loyalty above all. Personal feelings have no place on the battlefield.”

You swallowed and nodded once more. “ Understood.”

Outside the conference room, the corridor’s sterile lights felt too bright. Your footsteps echoed as you headed toward the armory to prepare your gear.

It wasn’t fear of the target because you had faced dangerous men before and emerged victorious.

This was something older, deeper, and unresolved.

Memories you had long suppressed flickered unwanted of laughter that once made your stomach hurt, patient hands correcting your stance, late-night street food and lingering gazes full of things neither of you had named.

The rejection that had turned warmth into ice, and the years of training through pain until hate became your sharpest weapon.

You shook your head sharply.

It wasn’t him. It couldn’t be. Storm Shadow was the enemy ruining Cobra’s plans. The organization that had given you purpose when your heart had gone hollow. Killing him would be justice for every mission he had sabotaged and every plan he had derailed.

And yet, he weight in your chest lingered like an old injury flaring before a storm. You told yourself it was nothing more than pre-mission nerves. You had cut Thomas Arashikage out of your life completely.

Whoever this Storm Shadow was, he was just another name on a list. Another obstacle between you and the rank you had bled for.

You loaded your weapons with mechanical precision. The cold metal felt grounding and familiar. As you stepped into the elevator that would take you to the surface exit, you whispered to the empty space with a voice barely audible.

“ I won’t be distracted. Not by ghosts or not by anyone.”

The burn of an old wound you thought had scarred over is now itched beneath the surface and threatening to reopen at the worst possible moment.

Somewhere out there, Storm Shadow moved through the shadows, unaware, or perhaps all too aware that the past was about to collide with the present in the most painful way possible.

You exhaled slowly, steeling yourself.

This mission would change everything.

One way or another.

...

The next day, rain lashed the mountains near Chuncheon like a punishment. You moved through the target compound like smoke in a black tactical gear blending with the shadows of Cobra’s rival guards. Snake Eyes’ voice crackled low and steady in your earpiece while feeding instructions with clinical precision.

“ Stay low. Guards at three o’clock. Use the service corridor. Storm Shadow is confirmed inside in white gear and dual katana. Do not engage until you have isolation.”

You obeyed without question while slipping past patrols with practiced silence. Your heart beat steady from yesterday’s briefing still coiled but manageable.

This was your chance. A rank, trust, and proof that the hollow years had forged something unbreakable.

Then chaos erupted ahead.

A figure in pristine white ninja gear carved through the guards with terrifying efficiency. Dual katanas flashed like lightning and bodies dropping before they could scream. You didn’t hesitate. This was the target as you lunged from the shadows while aiming a brutal strike at his exposed flank.

He moved faster than you thought.

A powerful kick slammed into your ribs, shoving you hard into the nearest concrete wall as the pain exploded across your back. Before you could recover, Storm Shadow vanished down a side passage and his white uniform melted into the downpour.

Snake Eyes’ voice snapped through the earpiece. “ You had the opening. Why didn’t you finish him?”

You pushed off the wall while breathing through the ache. “ He was too fast, Master. A direct assault would have alerted the entire compound. I need better positioning so I won’t miss it again.”

A pause. Then, grudgingly. “ Acceptable. End him quickly. Do not disappoint me.”

You gave chase.

The pursuit led deep into a narrow in a forgotten alley between crumbling warehouse ruins, the old training camp grounds long abandoned and overgrown.

The rain hammered down in sheets and turned the ground to slick mud. Visibility dropped to almost nothing but your instincts screamed danger. He was here, waiting, and turning the alley into his trap.

Until light footsteps whispered behind you.

You spun, katana whipping up just in time to block his descending blade. Steel rang against steel and the impact vibrated through your arms when the fight ignited instantly.

He was good, devastatingly good.

Strikes came in fluid like Arashikage sequences. A familiar pattern that clawed at the edges of your memory. You parried, countered, landed solid hits to his torso and shoulders while absorbing punishing blows to your own ribs and thighs. The pain blurred with adrenaline as your mind kept screaming one impossible name, but you shoved it down.

Focus on mission and promotion because the past had no place here.

Rain soaked you both, turning white and black fabric dark and heavy. You saw your chance. With a desperate twist, you hooked your blade under the edge of his mask and yanked it free.

Time fractured.

Thomas Arashikage’s face is older, sharper, and scarred faintly along the jaw stared back at you while the rain streamed down his cheeks. Those dark eyes you once knew so well widened in shock.

Your heart dropped like a stone into an endless well. After all these years, the boy who made you laugh until you cried. The partner who guided your hands with endless patience. The one who had rejected you so gently it still burned.

Storm Shadow or Thomas Arashikage.

He recovered faster than you did. In a blur, he trapped you with his body pressing yours against the cold, wet alley wall and one katana at your throat while the other pinning your sword arm. You struggled, muscles straining, but his weight and leverage held you immobile. The rain poured between you, mixing with the metallic taste of blood from a split lip.

His voice that cut through the downpour. “ Who are you?”

You met his gaze. “ I am that someone will change after they get hurt by a person they were supposed to trust.”

His eyes searched for yours with confusion and something deeper flickering there.

You smirked, cold and bitter. “ If you want to kill me now, do it. I’m not afraid of death.”

Storm Shadow didn’t hesitate. His free hand shot up and tugged your mask down in one sharp motion. The moment your face was revealed, his dark eyes widened further, and raw shock replaced the assassin’s calm while the rain traced paths down his stunned expression.

For several heartbeats, neither of you moved. The alley, the rain, and the distant sounds of the compound are all faded.

“ Y/n…” He breathed, voice cracking on your name like an old wound reopening.

“ Why are you doing this?”

You lifted your chin, refusing to let the tremble in your chest show. “ It's none of your business if I do this. I don’t care if Cobra is the government’s enemy or not. I only care about myself and the promotion this kill brings.”

He laughed in a bitter, hollow sound that hurt more than any strike he had landed. “ I never expected this. The girl who once had so much fire in training…lowering herself to Cobra just for the higher-ups’ approval? For rank?”

“ I don’t care what you think anymore.” You said firmly, though your voice wavered at the edges.

“ You’ve been gone too long from my life. I don’t see you the way I used to. You’re just a mission now. And I should end you right here.”

Thomas stared at you, the katana at your throat never wavering, yet his grip seemed less certain. Heavy angst thickened the air between your bodies, the old slow burn now laced with years of pain and silence.

“ The old you would never be happy knowing what you’ve become.” He murmured.

You laughed, sharp and broken. “ The old me died the day you hurt her”

His expression twisted. “ Just because I let you go doesn’t mean I didn’t hurt too. It doesn’t mean only you carried the pain.”

The words landed like another kick to the ribs. His warmth bled through wet fabric. His scent that faintly familiar beneath rain and blood and stirred memories you had tried to kill.

You wanted to scream, to fight, or to demand why he had chosen his dreams over you like why he looked at you now with the same longing that once made your chest flutter.

Instead, you remained trapped, the promotion, Cobra’s trust, and your hardened loyalty warring violently against the ghost of the boy who once called you “newbie” and promised you’d discover your hidden skills.

The rain kept falling, washing nothing away. Neither of you moved to strike the killing blow. The mission, the years, the rejection, and all of it suspended in this single and agonizing moment of rediscovery.

...

The rain pounded relentlessly in the narrow alley, turning the ground into slick mud that mirrored the chaos inside you. Thomas stood frozen after recognizing your face with his dark eyes wide with a storm of emotions that matched the downpour. His body still pinned you against the cold wall, katanas keeping deadly proximity, but the fight had shifted into something far more dangerous.

You saw the opening when his gaze softened and was distracted by the ghost of the girl he once knew. Years of training took over. You twisted free with a sharp elbow strike to his ribs, then unleashed a barrage of hits. Each blow landed with the weight of every lonely year, every suppressed memory, and every hollow promotion you had chased to fill the void he left.

Thomas accepted them. He didn’t counter or didn’t dodge. He simply absorbed the punishment while grunting softly as your strikes connected with his chest, shoulders, and arms. The rain mixed with the blood from fresh cuts on his lip.

“ Fight back, Thomas!” You screamed.

“ Be fair! Stop standing there like some martyr and fight me!”

He finally blocked your next flurry, strong hands catching your wrists mid-swing. His voice was low but steady despite the pain.

“ I won’t ever hit someone who’s still part of me.”

You chuckled bitterly, the sound hollow and wet. “ How noble. I can hit or kill someone who used to be part of my life. Especially when he made sure I learned how to survive without him.”

With a raw scream torn from your chest when you attacked again. The blades clashed as your katana sang through the rain as you pressed forward blindly and emotions blinded you to everything except the ache that had festered for years.

You were deaf to Snake Eyes’ urgent voice crackling faintly in your discarded earpiece, deaf to reason, and deaf to the mission.

“ I won’t hesitate to kill you if you keep refusing to fight!” You snarled while swinging again.

Thomas dodged or parried with minimal effort. His white uniform now stained and clinging to his frame.

“ Then do it.” He said quietly but his eyes never left yours.

“ I’ll accept my death if that’s what you want. At least I’ll die fighting for what’s right. Unlike you…fighting only to please the ones who own you.”

The words sliced deeper than any blade. You grabbed your katana with both hands and drove it forward in frustration. The tip slammed into the brick wall beside his head with a sharp crack and missed him by inches. He flinched slightly but refused to show fear. His dark eyes remained locked on you, calm amid the storm.

“ I’m tired of this, Thomas.” You whispered harshly.

The rain streamed down your face, mingling with the first hot tears you refused to acknowledge.

“ I’m tired of carrying the pain you caused. Look at me, Thomas. This is your fault. I wouldn’t have walked this path if you had just been brave enough to risk everything. I was willing to risk it all for you…my family’s expectations, the business, or everything.”

“ But you were deceitful. You made me believe the fairy tale was real with every smile, every lingering touch, every ‘you’ve got hidden skills’ speech. You toyed with my emotions and then chose your precious dreams.”

He shook his head slowly while the water dripped from his lashes. “ I never played with your feelings, Y/n. I felt the same. I loved you. But we were too young. I didn’t want you risking your future for me when I saw so much potential in you. I didn’t want to be the reason you fell.”

His voice cracked with old regret. “ You don’t know how much I regretted not taking that risk. How guilty I felt every day after you started avoiding me. I wanted to love you properly…but the timing was never right for us.”

Your eyes glistened with unshed tears that finally spilled over, hot against the cold rain.

“ Liar.” You choked out.

Thomas stepped closer while the alley was shrinking around you both.

“ If you really want Cobra’s approval so badly…” He murmured.

“ Then finish me. Get the recognition you crave from them.”

He reached out, gently but firmly grabbing your wrist. He guided the tip of your katana until it rested against the pulse point on his neck. His skin was warm beneath the cold steel.

“ I’ll never be mad at you for ending me. I’m glad…after all these years, I got to see you again. I’m sorry for hurting you, Y/n. Truly.”

You trembled violently as the blade shook in your grip.

“ Shut up, Thomas.” You whispered brokenly.

“ Just…shut up.”

He only stared at you with that defeated, open gaze with his dark eyes full of quiet sorrow, acceptance, and something deeper that made your heart twist painfully with no anger or no defense.

Just the man who had once patiently taught you to believe in yourself, now offering his life without resistance. But the frustration boiled over. With a choked cry, you threw the katana aside and it clattered uselessly into the mud.

“ I can’t do it.” You gasped.

The dam broke.

You pressed your forehead against his chest while your shoulders shook as years of suppressed pain flooded out in harsh and wrenching sobs.

Thomas didn’t hesitate as his arms came around you instantly, strong and steady, then pulling you close despite the rain, the blood, the mission, and the years apart. His embrace was warm and chasing away the cold that had settled in your bones since the day you walked out of that training camp.

After all this time, you finally felt the warmth you had been desperately seeking. The hollow in your heart cracked open wider, but this time it wasn’t empty. It hurt because it was filled with everything you had tried to kill about the laughter, the patience and the slow burn of feelings that refused to die.

You cried harder while your fists weakly clutching his soaked white uniform, face buried against him as sobs wracked your body.

“ Why…why did you let me go?” The words muffled against his chest.

Thomas held you tighter, one hand gently cradling the back of your head while the other stroking your back in the same soothing rhythm he once used during difficult training sessions.

His own breathing was uneven. His voice was thick when he finally spoke. “ I never stopped thinking about you, newbie. Never.”

Snake Eyes’ voice had long gone silent in the earpiece. The mission, the promotion, and Cobra’s expectations. All of it felt distant and meaningless against the reality of Thomas’s heartbeat under your cheek.

For the first time in years, you weren’t alone in the pain.

Yet nothing was resolved because the past still loomed and Cobra waited for a kill that would never come tonight. Your loyalty, your hardened heart, and his dreams while they all hung in fragile balance.

You cried until your throat burned and your legs trembled, safe for the moment in the arms of the man who had both broken you and somehow still felt like home and neither of you moved to pull away.

...

The rain continued its merciless assault on the narrow alley, but the world narrowed to the warmth of Thomas’s arms around you and the violent pounding of your own heart.

Your sobs had begun to quiet into shaky breaths against his soaked chest when the sharp, deliberate sound of clapping cut through the downpour like a whip.

Both of you stiffened instantly.

Snake Eyes stood at the mouth of the alley, his masked face tilted in mocking amusement, and black tactical gear gleaming wet under the faint alley light.

When a slow and sarcastic clap echoed off the walls.

“ How touching.” He drawled.

“ The angst between you two is so sweet it’s making me cry. A real clingy movie scene. Unfortunately, I don’t have time to sit through the rest of this melodrama.”

Before you could react, he raised his pistol with cold efficiency and aimed it straight at your head.

Thomas moved faster than thought as he shoved you hard to the side while his body twisted to take the bullet meant for you when the shot cracked through the rain.

Thomas grunted as the bullet slammed directly into his chest while the blood bloomed dark against his white uniform. He staggered and collapsed to the muddy ground, clutching the wound with a wet gasp.

“ Thomas!” You screamed.

Snake Eyes turned the gun toward you without hesitation and his finger tightening on the trigger. Rage and grief exploded inside you when you snatched your discarded katana from the mud and lunged.

The blade sliced clean across his neck in one vicious arc. Snake Eyes dropped to his knees while his hands flew to the gaping wound as blood poured between his fingers. His eyes widened behind the mask in shock.

“ I’m done with your bullshit.” You snarled.

“ Done being your obedient dog, chasing rank and approval while you pull the strings.”

With a final, decisive swing, then you beheaded him. The masked head rolled across the wet ground with a sickening thud. You drove your katana downward, stabbing it viciously into the severed head to pin it in place like a grotesque trophy then you rushed to Thomas’s side.

He lay on his back in the mud as the rain washed over the growing pool of blood around him. His hand pressed weakly against the chest wound while his breath coming in shallow and labored gasps.

“ We’re going to the hospital right now.” You said desperately while trying to lift him.

“ Hold on. Just hold on.”

Thomas groaned. “ Maybe…I can’t make it, Y/n. The bullet…hit something fatal.”

“ Don’t say that!” You cried, tears mixing with rain on your cheeks.

“ Fight, Thomas. You have to fight!”

He gave you a sad and gentle smile. The same patient smile he used to give you during difficult training sessions years ago. His bloodied hand rose shakily to cup your face while his thumb brushing your cheek with surprising tenderness.

“ I’m really glad…before I died…I got to see you again.” He whispered.

“ You’re not dying!” You screamed while clutching his hand.

“ Don’t you dare say that. You’re going to live!”

His eyes fluttered and struggled to stay open. “ I always…loved you. Take care of yourself…newbie.”

“ No…no, Thomas, please!” You broke down completely while sobbing as you begged him to keep fighting and to stay with you.

“ Don’t leave me again. Please. I can’t lose you like this. Not after everything.”

His hand went limp in yours. His chest rose once more, then stilled completely. The light in his dark eyes dimmed and vanished. You screamed his name, crying so hard your throat felt raw while rocking his body in the rain as if sheer will could bring him back.

You didn’t hear the soft beeping nearby.

A planted explosive had reached its final timer. The blast erupted in a deafening roar of fire and debris, swallowing the alley, the bodies, and both of you in white-hot agony.

At least in the afterlife, you were together.

Til death do us part.

…

Your eyes snapped open with a sharp gasp.

Bright afternoon light filtered through the high windows of the Taekwondo dojang. The familiar scent of polished wood and faint sweat filled your lungs. You were lying on a stack of spare mats in the corner and the break area where trainees sometimes napped between sessions.

Storm Shadow—no, Thomas Arashikage stood over you, hand extended, his handsome face lit with mild concern and amusement. His dobok was clean, hair slightly messy from training, no blood, no rain, and no wounds.

Your eyes widened in pure shock. “ Thomas…we…we died. The bomb…Snake Eyes shot you…I beheaded him…then the explosion…”

He blinked, then burst out laughing with the bright and infectious sound you remembered so well echoing through the quiet dojang.

“ What are you talking about, pabo?” He flicked your forehead lightly with his finger that made you wince.

“ Snake Eyes? Seriously? That’s the dumbest codename I’ve ever heard. You must’ve had one hell of a nightmare.”

You sat up quickly, heart still racing. “ It felt so real! You died in my arms…I couldn’t save you…then the bomb went off and we both…”

Thomas tilted his head, still chuckling as he pulled you to your feet. “ You’ve been sleeping the entire break. Master Kim is already mad because your ‘nap time’ exceeded the limit. He’s probably planning extra punishment laps for both of us if we don’t show up soon.”

You stared at him, still convinced the nightmare had spilled into reality. “ But…you got shot protecting me. I cried so hard begging you to live. We died together…”

He laughed again, softer this time, and without warning you threw your arms around him in a tight hug. Thomas stiffened for a second in surprise, then relaxed and wrapped his arms around you, holding you close.

“ You are important to me, Thomas.” You muttered against his chest.

“ I feel so empty without you in my life. Please don’t ever leave.”

Thomas chuckled warmly while his one hand gently rubbing your back. “ Hey…I’m not going anywhere. I won’t.”

He pulled back slightly while he cupped both of your cheeks with his palms then thumbs brushing away the faint traces of tears you hadn’t realized were there. His dark eyes sparkled with that familiar mix of teasing and sincerity.

“ I won’t go anywhere because we’re still attending so much training together. We’re partners, remember?”

You narrowed your brows, confused. “ What do you mean?”

He laughed again and flicked your forehead once more, but lighter this time. “ You’re already forgetting reality because of that nightmare? We’re still here in the Taekwondo school, chasing the same path. You, me, Master Kim yelling at us for being late. No bombs. No Snake Eyes. No dying.”

The relief hit you like a wave. All the bad happenings about the rejection, the years apart, Cobra, the mission, and the painful death had been nothing but a terrible dream.

Your reality was this when Thomas was standing right in front of you, healthy and smiling, still your partner after all these years of training side by side.

You sighed deeply as you leaned into his warmth again. “ It felt so real…I thought I lost you forever.”

Thomas embraced you tighter while resting his chin on top of your head. “ It was just a bad dream, Y/n. You’re safe. We’re both safe. And I’m not letting you go that easily.”

Master Kim’s distant voice barked from the main training area, calling for everyone to return. Thomas grinned and took your hand while tugging you gently toward the mats.

“ Come on. Move your ass before we both get extra punishment. The nightmare’s over. This is us training together…is the real thing.”

You squeezed his hand, heart finally steadying as the last remnants of the nightmare faded. All of it had been a cruel illusion.

In reality, Thomas was still here. Your partner and our constant. For the first time in the dream’s aftermath, you allowed yourself a small and genuine smile.

The two of you walked back to the training floor together, shoulders brushing, ready to face whatever routines and whatever future came next.

No more running and no more hollow hearts. Just the two of you, chasing the same path, one kick at a time.

Author's Note:

Hello, I’m back. I sincerely apologize for being inactive and not posting or updating for the past month. Over the past few weeks, I lost my spark for writing and the motivation to create or share anything related to my passion. I felt overwhelmed and burned out, so I decided to take a short break. I realized I couldn’t write properly if I wasn’t in a good place emotionally, physically, and mentally.

I also didn’t want to disappoint my readers by uploading something that didn’t meet the quality you deserve, especially if I forced myself to write. On top of that, I’ve been dealing with some personal challenges, particularly in school, which made things even more difficult.

I want to express my deepest gratitude to those who checked on me. I truly didn’t expect so many of you to reach out and let me know you missed me...it means more than I can say.

That’s all for now. Thank you so much for your patience and understanding. I may not be as active as before, but I’ll do my best to post whenever I can.

Take care and stay safe, everyone. 💕🫶🏻