„Rora, you need to calm down!" Leilani pleaded as she watched her friend pace around the flat with an anxious expression permanently etched on her face.

Rora has been like this for days since she received that message from her friend. Or this is what Leilani could gather since she was in so much panic she could barely talk about things. And Rora was in the middle of her fourth mental breakdown that day, currently panicking because she couldn't find that one top she was looking for.

Leilani would've thought this was hilarious, watching her freak out about a male (because since she has known Rora Wells, she never saw her talk with a man other than telling him to fuck off). But this had to be a special man for her to care about such things like vacuuming their living room. Rora hated cleaning, especially vacuuming.

So everything was off.

„I think I'm having a heart attack, Lei," Rora fanned her face with her hands, taking another lap around the kitchen. Leilani frowned upon seeing her utter distress, reaching over the counter and placing a hand on her shoulder to finally stop her.

„Breath," Lei reminded her, taking in a deep breath and urging her to do the same. Rora breathed in, then exhaled through her nose to calm herself down. „No need to freak out so bad. You look amazing, the flat is immaculate, and everything is going to be okay. Why are you so stressed?"

She was right, the flat was probably the cleanest since they moved in here. Rora just undid her overnight braids, her dark brown hair falling over her back like a chocolate waterfall. She even put on minimalistic makeup, concealing the aftermaths of her fucked up sleep schedule.

„I don't know," Rora sighed as she plopped herself on the closest bar stool. She dragged a hand over her face, feeling like she was losing her mind. „What if he won't even come?"

„Oh, dear," Leilani took her hand in hers and gave it a light squeeze. „He will. You said he never breaks his promises, no?"

Rora nodded. He was always like that, taking no shit, giving no fucks and only doing his own business. She respected that, she really did. But right now, she wanted nothing more but to have the ground swallow her whole. She was afraid, because what if he wouldn't show up at all? But Rora was terrified that he would really show up because she had no idea how to act around him. It was over a year since she saw him.

„I'm sure-"

The doorbell broke through the air like thunder, Rora's eyes widening in shock as she stared back at Leilani.

„Oh, hell nah, bro," Rora jumped from her seat, anxiously biting the nails on her hand as she stared at the door. „Go and tell him off!"

„What the hell am I supposed to say?" Leilani threw her hands in the air, whisper-shouting toward her friend. She didn't want to get mixed in the things between them, she should've left ten minutes ago.

„I dunno, that it's the wrong door, wrong New York, or the aliens took me... I don't fucking know, be creative!"

„Nuh-uh!" Lei caught her arm, stopping Rora from running off to her room. She took her face in her hands, forcing her to look into her eyes. Her icy blue eyes were wide with fear, while Leilani's dark ones radiated warm and calmness, just like her entire being. „Open the door, greet him, give him something to drink. Everything's going to be alright, love."

„Yeah, right," Rora nodded her head, letting out an anxious sigh. Lei flashed her a warm encouraging smile before she let go of her friend, pushing Rora towards the front door. „I can do this."

She ripped the door open like pulling off a band-aid, thinking it was probably better to just get it over with. She knew she would just back down if she wouldn't do it fast, but this way she didn't let her mind process things. And when she came face to face with the man who haunted her dreams like a ghost, she felt her legs weaken under her weight.

He looked great, just like she imagined. The dark hood of his hoodie hid most of his features away, the water droplets on his black leather jacket shining under the dim lights of the hallway. Her breath hitched in her throat when their eyes met, and suddenly she felt like punching him in the face and kissing him at the same time.

„Fuck you, Simon."

The words came out involuntarily, and she immediately bit down on her bottom lip in embarrassment. She usually said what came to her mind first, which wasn't such a good thing right now.

„That's how you greet people around here?" his eyebrow raised at her, his eyes wandering over her figure.

Her hair got longer, reaching past her shoulders. It was wavier, too. He never saw her with her hair loose, but he thought it suited her. She was wearing a red tank top, the rich color dimming beside the fire in her eyes. It was so long since he saw her fierce eyes, but it was similar to the ones he saw in his dreams. It was hard to take his eyes off the small part where her sweatpants and cropped tank top didn't meet, showing her creamy skin.

„Pretty much," she let her eyes take in his figure, lingering upon his hands. He had his bag with him, but he traded his military attire clothes for casual ones, meaning he probably came from a base straight to her. „Come in."

As Simon stepped inside, her breath hitched in her throat. His shoulder almost brushed against hers, his scent clouding her mind. She mentally kicked herself. Get a fucking grip, man!

But Simon was a very observant man, probably more than most. That was how he noted the other woman in the apartment, hiding in the kitchen. Noticing how his posture changed, Rora turned around to see what caused his muscles to tense and his eyes more awake. But just as she turned around, she saw a fairly nervous Leilani looking back at them, a tight-lipped smile appearing on her face.

„That's Leilani, my flatmate," Rora gestured towards the girl, Simon's eyes flickering back to Rora's. She had to crane her head back a little to maintain eye contact, but she would do everything to look into his eyes. God, she missed them so much it was pathetic.

„Hi!" said girl waved with her hand, her awkwardness almost making Rora groan.

She knew Lei was hella awkward sometimes, not really knowing how to act around strangers, especially with men. Most of the time it was just hilarious to watch her suffer before she went to help her out, but right now Rora was just too nervous herself to have the energy to balance out her friend's poor social skills.

„I'll be on my way in a minute," Leilani hurried towards their living room, picking up her small pink duffel bag from the couch.

Leilani was going to stay a night or two with her not-so-official girlfriend, but they didn't like labels. Secretly, she planned it perfectly so Rora could have some alone time with her mystery military man, who happened to be the scariest man she have ever met.

„Do you want me to escort you down?" Rora asked, already turning around to grab her jacket.

„No!" Lei snapped with a little too much urgency. Rora furrowed her eyebrows at her weird behavior. „I'll be fine, but thank you!"

Rora hesitated. They had a creepy neighbor just in front of the elevators, who always happened to come out of his apartment just at the right time to look at their asses. Rora threatened to break his jaw numerous times now, but she barely got any reaction out of him. Usually, when she caught him staring at any of them, she bared her teeth at him and threatened him a few times more, only for him to sneak back into his apartment. Fucking pussy, as she called him many times. If he wanted to be a creep, at least he could've been smarter about it.

„Call me if you need me," Rora told her, which almost sounded more like a threat than good advice. Lei knew how protective Rora was, always shielding her from other men, always lashing out if someone was not respectful enough. She always happened to hold a grudge against males, the only man she have ever seen her with being her German Shepherd, Kilo.

So when she announced she was having over a friend, who happened to be a man, Leilani knew he must be special. That was why she had to get out as fast as possible. And because her friend was so menacing.

„I'll text you when I get there," Leilani blew a kiss to Rora and then waved to the man standing beside her. „It was nice to meet you!"

And with that, Leilani was out the door, clutching her bag in her hand. Rora leaned against the doorframe as she watched her friend's figure, her eyes flickering towards the asshole's door, ready to jump him. She had Simon on her side now, she was pretty sure only his looks would make the creep shit himself.

She felt him step closer to her, but she didn't let her eyes leave Leilani. If there was anything she could do to protect her from the filth she had to endure, Rora would do anything.

And, just like most times, door 601 opened, the very creep sticking his head out, pretending to mess with his keys as he watched Lei approach. Rora's shoulders tensed as she took a step forward, ready to break his entire face if he dared to even speak to her.

„Is there a problem?" Simon's voice reached her thoughts, letting her mind think about anything else besides homicide. Her eyes didn't leave the man's figure who just stepped outside, and it didn't take long for Simon to piece things together.

„If I kill someone, will you be my alibi?" Rora sneered between her teeth. She crossed her arms in front of her chest to stop her hands to shake from rage.

Simon stepped outside of the apartment to stand beside her, getting a better look at the scene. Leilani was quick to dart towards the elevator, her feet tapping anxiously against the floor as she waited for the elevator to arrive. He crossed his arms in front of his chest, the motion getting the attention of the man who just got outside. His eyes found Rora's frame immediately, a low growl escaping her, disgust mixing with rage on her face. Then, his eyes wandered over to Simon, who stood only a step behind her, his dark figure looming over the hall like a ghost.

His face was completely emotionless like he stared back at a blank wall. The tall man looked like he had no soul, and the woman beside him had the most murderous look in her eyes he have ever seen. Then, the tall man slowly tilted his head to the side, his eyes not even blinking as he held the other man's stare.

Rora watched the creep's face loose all color and retrieve back into his apartment more hurriedly than before. Just as Leilani stepped inside the elevator, his door shut, leaving only the two of them in the hallway.

The woman cleared her throat before she turned around, flashing a smile at the man beside her. Her smile and clear eyes hid the fact she just asked him to vouch for her if she happened to kill someone. She hasn't changed one bit, and Simon liked that about her.

„So, do you want something to drink?"

**

Somehow the air got suffocating once Simon was inside her apartment. Rora tried her hardest to act unbothered and chill, but she was sure he noticed she was off; he always noticed everything. Observant fucker.

„I want to introduce you to someone," came the great idea in her head, a genuine smile appearing on her face as she stepped inside her room, leaving Simon in the living room.

Her eyes immediately went to the black blob laying at the end of her bed, sleeping peacefully. Kilo was the best thing that ever happened to her. When she got back from the lengthy hospital treatment after their mission went to shit, Kilo was always there for her. Lei, too, sure, but Rora didn't want her friend to know about her night terrors and anxiety attacks. But Kilo was always there to anchor her down and lessen her anxiety.

Since Kilo was 90% deaf and blind to half an eye, he was different from most dogs. Rora learned to give him the fullest and happiest life despite his circumstances, dog-proofing her entire apartment and giving him the most love. Rora walked up to Kilo and bent down to blow on his nose gently, waking him up. She didn't like to startle him with sudden physical contact and calling out to him was pointless.

Kilo opened his eyes, one dark brown and the other one a cloudy blue and silver mix, a gash splitting his fur across his eye. It was a miracle he could keep that eye. But Rora thought this way Kilo and she were really alike now, both of their scars being on the left side.

„Come, there's somebody I want to introduce to you," Rora motioned for him to follow her, Kilo getting up and waggling his tail at the sight of her.

Her eyes immediately found Simon, sitting on the creme-colored leather couch that both the girls adored so much. And the moment both of them saw each other, they changed. Kilo's steps grew more careful as he curiously watched the man sitting on the couch, while Simon couldn't take his eyes off the huge, dark dog.

„This is Kilo," Rora said with a smile, leading the dog up to him. With a gentle push on his back, she instructed him to sit, Kilo's observant eyes watching the man's every movement, ready to protect his owner. „Give me your hand."

The sad memory of her asking the same thing from him surfaced in his memory. The same knife she gave him that time still laid in his bag, the blade losing its previous shine from the much use. He brought that knife everywhere with him.

Rora held his hand as Kilo smelled him, deciding whether he was worthy of petting him or not. But when she noticed him waggling his tail ever so slightly, she placed Simon's hand over Kilo's head, letting him pet him. Kilo had a problem with letting people close to him, and the only one he accepted easily was her and Lei. And now Simon's name was added to that brief list.

„He's sweet," Simon commented as he let his fingers run through the thick black fur, his heart missing the dog he worked once, back in the days. When he was a child, he always wanted a pet, but his father's action said a clear no when he asked for one.

And now that Kilo was okay with Simon being there with them, she could finally relax. Or, more like trying to. So Rora went straight to the whiskey.

„So," Rora cleared her throat, pulling two glasses out from the cabinet and walking with them in her hand to the couch. She sat in the far back, crossing her leg as she made herself comfortable. Simon busied himself with scratching behind Kilo's ear, who laid down beside the couch. He always liked to be close to Rora. „What did you do?"

He gave her a questioning look, the sight of his face still throwing her off a little. It was so weird to just sit beside him and chat like everything was fine.

„While you were away? Y'know, when you pretended to be dead for a whole ass year?" she continued, her pettiness getting the better of her. She poured some whiskey and handed one of the glasses to him. She gave him the one with more alcohol in hopes intoxication would encourage him to talk more.

„Here and there," he gave the simple answer, taking a sip from the whiskey. He didn't even flinch at the harsh alcohol. Rora rolled her eyes at him as she took a sip, too. Can this bitch be more indirect?

„You could've called, at least," she commented, keeping her eyes trained on her fiddling fingers. Her black nail polish was already chipping because she was an anxious mess and liked to pick on it. „Or email me. Or fuck, I dunno, send smoke signals or some shit! I was worried, Simon."

She was afraid to look at him in fear that she would make a bigger fool out of herself. Her face already started to heat up from embarrassment and the weight of his gaze only just worsened things. God, she hated feelings so much.

„I made a promise."

„What?" her eyebrows furrowed at him as she finally lifted her head. The second their eyes met she felt her heart skip a beat. There was something different about him, she realized. The more she looked at him, the more noticable it got. She just couldn't quite put a finger on what has changed.

Simon reached into the pocket of his hoodie, pulling something metallic out of it. He threw it on the coffee table laying in front of them, the thing landing with a sharp clang. Confusion mixed with surprise as she leaned forward, inspecting what he just tossed in front of her.

Those were dog tags. And she recognized a few names.

Lt. Johnatan Daniels

Stg. Michael Garret

And a bloodied white pearl necklace she was way too familiar with. She wanted to strangle Maximillian Solace with the very same thing, it dangling from his neck right as he held her down while Garret, well... Took what wasn't his.

„What... How?" she breathed out as she reached out for the dog tags. He noticed her hand tremble as she held Daniels's dog tag. „What the fuck is this?"

„I always keep my promise," Simon replied, downing his whiskey in one go, keeping his eyes trained on the few ice cubes that left in the bottom of the glass. With a swift motion of his wrist, he circled the ice cubes around, a soft clank breaking the silence between them. „They died pathetically."

Rora snorted at his remark, and let her ex-lieutenant's dog tag fall back on the glass table. A weird feeling took over her as she looked at the evidence proving the men who ruined her life were dead. Truly dead. Because if she was certain about something, it was Simon doing his job.

And this was the nicest thing anybody has ever done for her. Almost romantic, in a way. She couldn't help the helpless shine in her eyes as she looked back at him, a genuine smile playing on her lips. Simon noted how her eyes got a little cloudy by the tears she was holding back, not letting a single tear fall.

„So you were busy doing... That," she gestured towards what remained of the scum of the earth. She downed her drink in one go and went straight to pour another round. She needed alcohol right now. „Tell me about it."

And so he did. The told her all about the places he traveled throughout that one year and his targets. He didn't go into much detail, knowing that Rora knew how he worked: bloody and efficiently. While he talked, Rora rested her head on the palm of her hand, watching him while listening to the low hum of raindrops drumming against her windows. There was just something so domesticated as they sat next to each other, sharing a drink and talking about the last year or so, catching up on things.

And in the middle of it all, Rora got tired of hiding her feelings anymore.

_________________________

new chapter for you!

i happened to fuck up my sleep schedule so i could finish this book. but hey that means i can upload these every two days now!

take care loves ❤️