Dead bodies were everywhere, it was like the world was at war again and decomposing flesh was becoming a normal thing to see. For some odd reason, Stella was worrying too much about the bodies lately. She had killed plenty of people before but this time it felt different, she stayed on the balcony staring at the sunset and holding onto her glass of wine. She was debating on finishing the entire bottle alone or not- it's not like she wanted to tell anyone else how she managed to endure all of it. She felt horrible, she thought she was a horrible person regardless of what she went through to make it.

     "Drinking early?" Luke stepped out and closed the balcony door behind her. "Did you want me to get the boys and get to the club?" 

     "No, don't bother," She looked at him unfazed as she stared at the clouds and took another sip. "I'm not in the mood for loud music."

     She had herself propped up on her elbows on the stone ledge, she let out a deep sigh as he had his back on the balcony ledge and stared at the door before taking out a cigarette. 

     "What's on your mind," He asked and pressed the cigarette to his lips and lit it. 

     "Gross, I don't want to smell your smoke." She groaned before glaring at him, he chuckled lightly at her reaction before blowing his smoke away from her. "Sorry, Stella." 

     There was silence again, she didn't want to bring up the past conversation between them because she knew she was walking on eggshells near him. She liked him a little too much, she couldn't imagine living without him. He was great to her and she treated him the best out of all the girls he had been with (not that there was a lot anyway). 

     They matched each other's aura perfectly yet they didn't date. 

     It was weird for the rest of the boys to see- two perfect individuals in the same business having the same affection towards each other but wouldn't get together. Stella and Luke were the most feared people in this industry even if they weren't together, it was almost sad to know that Luke's best man was not even mentioned when it came to the rankings. Stella knew how to make a name for herself, she used all her past mistakes and anger to turn into fear. She saw how others feared Luke and what better than to learn from the man himself? 

     "I want to be a better person in my next life," She broke the silence as she stared at him drinking from her glass. "Sometimes I wish I didn't have to kill so many people."

     He breathed out the smoke before turning his head to meet her stare, he nodded and inhaled before breathing out the smoke again in the other direction. "I think about that too, I've taken lives with just these hands." He looked at his hands for a quick second before bringing them back to his cigarette. "I want to live a peaceful life someday, or even live this one without the killing of innocent lives."

     "We're horrible people you know that?" She frowned. "I'm horrible, I killed people who had families."

     "That's just called collateral damage, Stella," He retorted and tapped his cigarette on the ashtray placed on the ledge, he turned his entire body to prop his elbow on the ledge and match her position. "These people put their family's lives in danger as soon as they join these gangs, it's just their consequence." 

     "It shouldn't be," She shook her head with a scoff. "I'm not the best human being out there but- Fuck-" 

     She almost slammed her wine glass on the ledge standing up straight, she felt her body let go a little bit more as she walked to the bench and sat down. She buried her face in her hands before pushing herself back on the bench. Luke stood up after her and just stared at how she was acting, he couldn't understand what went on with her. It wasn't like Stella to get emotional like that. 

     "This is about the mission isn't it," He hadn't noticed he moved from his original position to crouching in front of her, he had his hand on her lap and stared at her. She somehow found a way to avoid his gaze and instead, tilted her head up to look up at the sky. 

     "Hey, look at me," He tapped her knee softly which made her glare at him. 

     Stella didn't know whether she could confide in Luke like she had before, she felt that if she kept doing it she would fall deeper and deeper into an endless void of nothing. She knew no matter what she did, Luke would not date her. It was like the same bitter fairytale in her past coming back again but this time she felt more mature and more put together about it. She would not run, she would stay and learn how to live without having a partner, it was either him or no one. 

     "Luke, I killed off an innocent family," She felt tears build up in her eyes. "I know we left the kids alone-"

      "A staff member betrayed us, this was the consequence-"

     "You don't get it," She cut him off with a glare. "I've been in this industry for years and I don't think I can do this anymore." 

     "Are you... Are you quitting?" He frowned and stood up quickly with a glare. "You know you can't get out of this business, no matter how hard you try it's always going to be attached to you. You have many people targeting you," 

     "I know! I know," She stood up as well and paced around the balcony. "Luke, I just need a break from all the missions, I need a vacation."

     "Alright," He agreed rather quickly with a nod. "Then you get back to work."

     "Yes," She nodded quickly as she knew there was no way out of this life and was glad her boss still gave her a vacation. 

     They exchanged glances before turning their attention to the sky again, the sun was almost down completely but they still stood next to each other. 

     "I'll head inside," She opened the door. 

     "Wait-" He held her wrist stopping her abruptly, Stella tried her absolute best to push those feelings inside of her. In the end, she couldn't help but stare at him with such admiration and care. Everyone could see it, everyone but him.

     She stared at him still frozen in place and let out a deep breath, "What is it, boss?" 

     "I'm sorry," Her eyes widened at his words almost immediately, and she scrunched up her eyebrows trying to understand what had caused an apology to come out of him. Did she cause this? What is he doing right now? He held her closely and managed to pull her into his chest and she was still trying to process just what the hell he was doing- 

A hug. 

Luke was hugging Stella. 

"Boss-"

     "Shh," He inhaled her scent and chuckled at the smell of wine around her neck. He didn't drink wine at all in fact, he despised the taste but somehow she was able to make it smell so... desirable. "Call me Luke."

     Stella didn't know what to do, the feeling of weakness was entering her body again as the feelings came pouring out of her chest. Her heart was pacing faster by the second and his scent wasn't helping- his grip wasn't helping either! 

     "Thanks, Luke but I should go-" She began to talk as they parted away but not for long because he had pulled her in for a kiss. 

     She stared blankly at him, his lips pressing against hers like she was fragile. Her heart felt like it was going to explode but at the same moment she felt peace, her heart calmed down and was able to let go. Her eyes closed and her hands found their way around his neck before reciprocating the kiss and softly moving her lips against his. To feel cared for and held like this by someone she kept close to her heart was like a dream to her.

 She felt like a little teenage girl again.

     She couldn't remember much about her childhood anymore but she did remember the rejections she went through, it was meant to lead up to this moment. She would do it all over again if it meant she got to share a kiss with her boss, no question about it. 

     "Fuck," She breathed out as they parted away for air. "Luke, you just kissed me."

     "I did," He breathed out with his eyes widening. "I didn't mean to, I really didn't-"

     "Kiss me again." She stared at him almost getting negative thoughts about the encounter, but was interrupted by his lips latching back onto hers. 

     She was slowly tugging on the sleeve of his shirt with her left hand; the other holding the center of his shirt trying to pull him closer to her body. His hands found their way to her cheek and held her almost lovingly- He would've never thought he'd hold someone else like this again. After all, he had to ruin that part of himself so that his team could succeed and live. 

     Stella was so shocked to feel his hand holding her gently she would've thought he'd be rougher but it was almost too sweet for her to imagine how careful he was with her. The way she groaned softly between kisses and the way he had swiped her bottom lip with his tongue- 

     None of them wanted to pull away at least not yet. 

     He kept deepening the kiss if that was even possible, he had pushed her way too deeply into the wall but still making sure he wasn't hurting her. "I'm sorry," He spoke up as they finally pulled apart and pressed their foreheads together. 

     She opened her eyes straightened herself up (her legs became jello without noticing), and smiled softly looking away. "We don't have to be together, Luke. I understand the difficulty in this field but I also know I can't go on knowing we both want something more." 

     "I want something more in the future," He nodded. "Just not now, okay?" 

     "Okay." 

The pair didn't know what the universe had in store for them, they just both agreed that when the time was right they would officially get together.