Like a warrior in battle, her tears shone, a weapon in hand as she rained down hell, shots firing left right and centre as she screamed in agony. The fire was blazing in her heart, and the whole world was burning in her flames, she felt an arm on her waist, Lay taking the gun out of her grip despite her attempts to keep ahold of it. He shook his head gently, a warm hand pulling her into an equally warm embrace, despite her attempts to free herself from his hold. Until finally her feeble form collapsed into him, legs giving way as she fell to the floor with him right besides her. He held her gently, as Wendy lowered next to him, moving her hair back.

The next hour was a blur, until they were called to the hospital so that the death could be confirmed and processed. She walked into the room where her sisters body lay lifeless. They had cleaned her up and placed a sheet over her body. She looked normal. Like she was sleeping. But that was far from the reality. She would never wake up, and Irene had to live with that. She placed a hand on her sisters head, a stray tear falling as she walked back out, waiting in order to sign the final phase so that the funeral home could pick the body up. She leaned against the wall, her body, slipping down it, as her head leaned against the wall, hands clenched as she gulped down the wave of emotions she was feeling. She pushed everyone away, her phone ringing moments later with her baby brothers face lightening up her screen. "Lucas." "Sis I'm coming." "No you're fucking not." "Ai-" "No you listen to me right now. The reason Ryujin lost her life was because of her association with me. I'm not losing you. I refuse to. Stay where you are Lucas. Don't come home until I burn this city to the ground." "Okay. I'll stay put. I love you Ai." "I love you too. Bye." She hung up not waiting for a response. Her head leaning back again, her mind going into a frenzy. The bloodshed pulling her further into the darkness.

And suddenly a hand rested against her shoulder pulling her from the darkness back into the light with one touch. She looked up, and there stood the man that had been responsible for her cloud in judgement. The man that kept pulling her back in. His hazel eyes held warmth, they held sincerity. And she never knew the power that silence held until now. He looked past her for a second, passing a smile of assurance to Wendy who offered him one back, and through that small exchange Irene had worked out that she had called him. She looked towards Wendy who offered her a small smile before hauling Lay the other way, and signalling the others to follow. Irene didn't say anything. She couldn't. Every single time she slipped. Every time she wanted to give into the darkness around her, he would find away consciously or subconsciously to stop her from her heinous acts. And that scared her. She ignored his presence despite feeling his intense eyes transfixed to her form. "Ms Bae we need your finally signature on the death certificate. Here you go, please leave it at reception once you're done. Sorry for your loss." Irene tensed hearing that, and Jackson caught that under his gaze. He accepted the stuff from the nurse with a smile and a thanks before handing it to Irene. And for the first time since he met her, he saw vulnerability in her eyes. He watched as her hands trembled for a second, and his own guilt punctured his heart. He watched her take a breath, before signing it and closing her eyes, a tear that he wasn't supposed to see slipping from her lotus like eyes. He watched as she tried her best to compose herself, but the storm in her eyes scared him. The fire that blazed within them showed that she was willing to destroy everything, she was willing to rip the very fabric of the universe into two for justice; it was something he both admired and feared.

He stood up as she finished, stretching out a hand for her to take, and he watched as she contemplated whether or not to accept it. He knew she wouldn't but he hoped she would. Irene eyed his hand wearily, she couldn't. She wouldn't, this would ultimately be an act of her giving into her feelings for him, and she could not allow it, not now. She had too much to do, to much to fight for and she couldn't allow him to pull her back into the light, she needed the darkness. This is what she was, she lived and breathed the darkness everyday and she could not allow that to infect him. He was light, she was darkness, and their worlds weren't made to coexist. Or so she thought. He watched as she picked herself up from the floor, her eyes numb as she handed it over to the receptionist wordlessly. She turned back, as he took steps towards her.
"Let's get you home." He spoke.

She didn't bother answering him, she couldn't bring herself too, because ultimately she knew the minute she opened her mouth, she would break down on him, and she couldn't allow that, she couldn't expose herself in that way. Because it had cost her time and time  again, and despite the look in his eyes, despite the voice in her heart whispering that it was okay, her rationality took over. He led her out, opened the car door for her, and watched her haphazardly as they drove back to the place that she had uttered. The journey was a silent, the soft tune from the radio audible to them both until Irene had slammed it shut, turning her body at an angle so her tears couldn't been seen, and her hand clamped against her mouth to encase the bitter screams that wished to rip from her throat. And he could see the struggle she was going through; and his heart burnt alongside hers because no matter how hard he tried to deny it, the Mafia Queen had captivated him in more ways then one.

They pulled up at her home moments later, and wordlessly she rose from the car, fishing in her clutch for the keys and after her desperate attempts to find them she succeeded. They dropped out of her  hands, Jackson standing back to watch her with tense eyes as she bent down to pick them up. She never made mistakes, her persona oozed peace and that very foundation had been shaken in front of his eyes. She wanted to escape and the desperation in her movements were highlighted under the moon light that shone down on them, watching in silence at a tormented heart. She moved to shove the key in, the door refusing to open at her command, the pattern repeating as she slammed her fist against it, before jamming the key in again. He watched her for a second, his own eyes softening at her pain. His warm hand grabbed hers, taking the keys gently and opening the door successfully. He turned back to see her avoid his gaze as he held the door open for her.

She walked in first throwing her bag to the couch before walking away. He dropped his blazer onto the same couch before following her carefully, his eyes never once leaving hers as he watched every single move of hers. She moved in the direction of her bedroom, moving to close the door only for him to jam his foot in. She tried desperately to close it, the action remaining futile as he pushed his way in gently. "Leave." She breathed out turning away from him. "No. I'm not leaving you. Not now. Not when you need someone." She turned away with a bitter chuckle. "I don't need anyone." "Yes you do." She remained quite taking of her bracelets and chucking them carelessly on her dresser, before tangling her arms back to undo her necklace. She fiddled with the minute clasp a frustrated sigh escaping her lips as Jackson walked forward, his hands stopping hers and undoing it for her. He placed it gently down onto the dressing table, the two now staring at each other through the mirror, her mascara had partly smudged and still she looked beautiful. "Leave me alone." She gritted out, her breaths shaking as she looked at him. "Irene-" "Just fucking leave me alone Jackson. I don't need you. Okay? I don't need anyone, and I for sure don't need you to help me okay? Stop fucking trying to fix me because guess what I don't need to be fixed okay! I don't need to be healed so just leave alone!" She panted heavily as he looked at her taking a step back. "Okay. Fine. You don't need anyone fine. I'll leave." Irene closed her eyes gripping onto the dressing table in a deadly grip that made her knuckles turn white. He took notice taking more steps back, his hands reaching for the light switch to turn it off, followed by the door closing with a soft bang.

He leaned against the wall, his eyes narrowing onto her form in the darkness. He wasn't going to leave. Not like that. Not when she was in this state. He watched as she swept everything off her dresser in frenzied movement, her aggression pouring out as she smashed things against the floor, her cries gaining sound as he watched on, wanting her to release everything that was burning within her. He watched as she fell to the floor leaning against the wall and crying her heart out, and he had never seen anyone break like this, the whole ordeal bringing tears to his own eyes as he turned his head to the side for a split second to wipe away at the stray tear that fell in accordance to her pain. He turned back as she continued to break, his feet carrying him to her as he slipped besides her, pulling her gently into his embrace. She tried fighting against him, her hands balling into fists that punched violently against his chest, and yet through the entirety of her storm he held her patiently, until he finally found that she was hugging him back, burying her face in the comforts of his chest and grasping the navy material of his shirt. He felt her shudder against him,holding him tighter and he recuperated the action, adamant to soothe the fire that raged in her heart from the loss she was experiencing. He kissed the side of her forehead. "I've got you Babygirl." Small words that held more significance than he had realised for Irene. It wasn't a half hearted sentiment that things would get better, nor was it a reminder of what she had lost. Instead it was him proving he was there. It was him proving that even if she would push him away, he would stay, and he would be there every step of the way. It was a promise that when she needed this, when she needed to release the emotions within her, he would be waiting with open arms to hold her and that was something that In the very depths of her heart she had craved for. He didn't say anything after that. Instead he took her completely in his embrace seating her on his lap, and allowing her to hide in his arms, and through it all he sat there patiently. He felt her slump against him, his hands moving to brush her hair away from her face, now noticing the small mole that rested on the left side of her face and her long eyelashes. He smiled softly to himself, moving to pick her up with ease before carrying her bridal style to her bed, he lay her down, undoing her heels and placing them neatly at the end of her bed. He pulled the duvet over her shivering form, kissing her forehead and turning to pick up the mess she had made during her fit of rage.

After twenty minutes , after he was done, he turned back to her, watching as her head turned to the side, her eye brows tense, he walked towards her gently pushing her hair away from her face. "Don't leave me." She begged quietly. "Please." He heard and his heart cracked, he looked back at her, before deciding he needed to leave. Until he was pulled back by her hand holding his. He turned back, seeing her still in deep sleep. He sighed slightly watching her, she looked so worn out, so defeated, and it was a sight he never thought she would possess. He looked up at the time before stepping out of his shoes and gently slipping besides her, pulling her body to his own, his hand resting against her waist as she snuggled into his chest. He smiled, kissing her forehead before allowing his eyes to close.
The two seemingly at peace.

TBC

Authors note:
Hey guys hope you enjoy this one. Let me know what your thoughts are on it. Lots of love and best wishes to you all. Stay safe x