Maybe I'm not invincible.

Monsters can get hurt too. Physically and emotionally. The sensation of fire stings my shoulder as I toss my sweater over my head. I have a pretty high pain tolerance, so the fact that a gun has me gritting my teeth makes me feel weak. My cheek has a slash from the bridge of my nose to my jaw.

He should've at the very least cut from my lip so I could look like the Joker. He's my role model. That psychopath-- we go well together.

The blood is dry, relaxing on my cheek like decoration. On the corner of my lips is another drop of blood, along with my badly bruised nose. My shoulder is painted in black-blue hues as I press down on them. There's an odd satisfaction I get from pushing down on my wounds and getting energized from the sting.

I freeze when I hear his heavy footsteps coming to the bathroom. A heavy, ominous angst cloud consumes us as the rain soaks into our skin. I keep my eyes in front of me to watch out for him and slowly straighten my back. He's done the one thing I never wanted him to do. He killed. I heave a sigh as I lower the sleeve of my shoulder off my shoulders, gnawing at my lip for a distraction from the pain.

He killed him to save you, Mika.

Then I freeze, because Asiel suddenly appears. His fluffy hair flops over his big emerald eyes as he walks in with arms full of treatments. I hold my breath, wondering why I can't move. It's like someone spilled glue all over the floor and forgot to warn me. He turns his head lazily, and his hooded, dark eyes meet mine.

Anguish.

"Sit on the counter," he demands quietly. The way he's staring at me makes me erupt into goosebumps. "Mika, sit on the counter."

I feel like I'm floating on the dark cloud in an alternate universe where everything has changed. Wait, that's real life. I hesitate for a few more moments, and Asiel just stares, waiting. He pulls in a silent breath, and an involuntary gasp slips out when a sudden pair of hands grab my waist, lifting me to the bathroom counter.

"Shirt off," he demands.

His eyes become sharper, piercing me as I take my shirt off while keeping a neutral expression. All I can do is stare at the wall, trying to ignore how rapidly my heart is beating out of my chest. A moment later, he gets close enough to throw my hair into a ponytail. Does he hate me now? Did he overhear Luka's annoying monologue? The thought drives a shiver up my spine that I manage to shake off.

He firmly grabs my cheek, lifting it to face him. "This might sting a little."

"O-okay," I mutter, holding my breath while waiting for his next move.

Asiel dabs a cotton ball on my lower lip, and the sting causes me to click my tongue. The warmth of his body leaks through my skin as he steps in between my legs for better access. I'm gulping, choking on my own spit as he continues to treat me. I don't want to say the wrong thing. Having compassion is a new ball game for me-- how am I supposed to help him?

His finger trails over the gash on my cheek, and he sighs. "Look at you. Look what he did to you." He pours rubbing alcohol over my cut and blows on it. "Why do you insist on sacrificing yourself for me?"

"I'm not a princess in distress," I reply, trying to simmer the boiling fuel in the pit of my stomach. "I'm the one who showed you how to fight in the first place. Why are you allowed to save me, and I can't? Is this a macho thing? Are you insecure?"

Asiel shakes his head while placing a bandage over the cut on my cheek. "No, it's not that. You just don't understand, Mika."

I jerk my head away from his grasp. "Enlighten me then."

He shakes his head, pushing the bra strap off my right shoulder. Asiel drops his hands on both sides of my hips, dropping his head down as he breathes in and out slowly. Whatever emotion he's feeling, he shrugs it off and grabs a pair of gloves.

"What are you doing?"

"What does it look like I'm doing?" Asiel softly touches the area of the wound. "It looks like a clean shot. I'm going to have to take the bullet out."

I lay my head on the bathroom mirror. "Just get it over with, Asiel. Wait. Do you know what you're doing?"

He elevates my arms, causing a groan to slip out. "No. Not really. I watched the familia doctor do a few surgeries. Nothing special. I'm basically an amateur, but unless you want to go to the hos-."

"No." I shake my head. "I trust you. Just do it fast."

"Hold this," Asiel says, handing over an icepack and gesturing to lie on my swelling arm. "We need to numb the area, or it will hurt you. Also, drink this."

After he hands over the whiskey, I chug it down like a bottle of water and feel the burning warmth collect in my stomach. While I'm holding the ice, Asiel sterilizes the cutting knife and needle, letting them soak for a couple of minutes. My heart is in my throat as I watch him lightly bang his hand on the doorway.

I don't even care about the pain I'm about to endure. The only thing on my mind is Asiel and his conscious. What is he thinking? Has the guilt hit him yet? Is that why he's being so distant? He's closing up on me. I can't take it.

I breathe steadily through my nose. "Come on. I'm ready. Let's get this over with."

Asiel doesn't waste a minute. The first cut causes me to grab onto his forearm, digging my nails into it. We feel the pain together. Blood streams down my arm, leaving the bathroom counter in a polka-dot pattern. My breathing accelerates as he goes deeper, stopping to sterilize before going back in.

"I see the bullet," Asiel announces, glancing into my eyes for a second. "I don't have forceps, so we have to do it the old fashion way. You can bite down on my shoulder or pinch me. Just don't move."

He shoves his fingers through my open flesh, and I release a low hiss. My heart is pounding, sweat seeping out from my skin. This isn't my first rodeo, receiving this type of surgery. But it's been so long since I forgot how intense it was. Asiel's vacant hand is shaking, sweat streaming down his forehead.

With a sensible smile, I intertwine our hands and say, "It's okay, Muneco. You are doing great. It's like walking through a garden of flowers."

Asiel slightly chuckles. "I'm supposed to be consoling you."

It takes all my concentration to keep my body from trembling as I feel him grab something within my flesh. "Why? You're the one doing the hard part. I know how much it hurts you to see me harmed."

A noise croaks from my throat when Asiel's hand slides against my flesh and pulls out the bullet from the wound. He drops it into the sink, flicking some blood spatters onto the white sink. "No, you don't."

Giving Asiel a lunch break, I grab the needle and put a thread through it. Stitching is like my second language. Once I let out a nervous breath, I bite down on a towel and push the needle through my skin. The fiery sensation spreads through my shoulder worse than before as I keep a steady rhythm.

The faster, the better, unless it's sex.

This shit always makes the time drag out like years are passing by. Finally, I get to the last stitch and pull the thread tight, making a knot before cutting it off. A powerful urge to cry and celebrate stirs in my eyes, but I don't have the energy for both.

"Let me wipe it down," Asiel says, nuzzling my ass against the bathroom counter. "Then you can head to bed." He wipes down my shoulder blade, leaving the stitch looking nice and clean.

"Without you?"

"Yes, without me."

A frown mars between my eyebrows. "I don't understand. Did I do something wrong?" My heart jams in my airway. "I don't like this feeling. Tell me what I did wrong."

"What you did wrong?" He laughs, a snarky grin on his face as throws the trash into the garbage. "Nothing. Absolutely nothing, Mika. You can never do anything wrong. You're perfect."

The sound of his tone isn't sincere, coming off more condescending. Anxiety trickles through my bloodstream. Asiel is being a bit passive-aggressive, but I couldn't figure out why.

A frustrated sigh escapes me as I tug my hair down from my ponytail. "Why do I feel like you don't mean that as a compliment? Asiel, I can't read your mind. If you're mad at me, then tell me. Don't stand there and be such an asshole."

"You want to know what I'm so angry about?" He shouts, flinging the trash and missing the garbage.

"Yes!"

He steps forward, one hand cradling the back of my head while the other clutches my cheek. "I could've lost you tonight, Mika!" he explodes, and I immediately shut the fuck up. "You don't get any of this because you don't love me. I meant it when I said I was yours. Losing you-- just the thought of losing you-- rips me apart. I can't take it. I won't be able to survive it."

My mouth slacks open in shock, but I'm truly floored- unable to respond. Asiel's eyes are dark, wild, livid with passionate anger. It's nothing like I've ever seen before.

"Mika, I'm nothing without you. You help me turn into who I am today, and I'll crumble like a skyscraper without you. It's stupid to be upset, but watching Luka hurt you,  nearly kill you-- broke me. You can't sacrifice yourself for me. I rather die a million deaths than be the reason you aren't here."

The warmth emitting from his skin has me falling into his touch. "I know love is a touchy subject for you, Mika, but I love you. I'm so in love with you-- I swear my heart beats for you only. You don't need to love me back-- it might be too much to ask of you, but I love you to the point of no return. I have enough love for the both of us. J-Just don't leave me."

He drops his forehead on mine, his hot breath causing goosebumps to erupt on my skin. It's a bittersweet moment as I digest all his words and his assumptions about me. He thinks I couldn't love him back? That's far from the truth. It takes a full-fledged demon to be immune to Asiel's affection.

Asiel breaks away, wiping his eye as he heads to the hallway.

My chest burns-- I can't keep it inside anymore. "Why are you the only one who has the right to fight? I was... scared. So fucking scared, Asiel. It's like I couldn't breathe, if you weren't in my sight." I stomp forward, shoving his chest until he slams against the door. "You promised me! You promised you would be fine! I don't want to lose you, Asiel. I can't do this without you. I can't walk away from us anymore."

Tears bubble up in my eyes, and the first one spills down my cheek.

Apparently, I'm fucking dam ever since I met him.

"All of my life, it's always been me, myself, and I. There wasn't anyone I could trust. My parents, Diablo, the cartel-- they all failed me. But I've always picked myself up, marching forward, but lately-- it's not the same anymore." I lick my lips. The only sound in my ears is the pounding of my heart. "I can't imagine my future without you being in it. Asiel... I love you."

Shock washes over his face before the harsh lines spread across his face. "M-Mika. Don't joke with me. Please. Don't say things you don't mean."

My voice breaks. "I'm not joking, Asiel." I wipe away more tears. "It's taken me a long time, but it's here. I don't fully understand how all this love stuff works, but everything you said-- is the same way I feel. I'll die for you. I was trying to ignore it-- afraid of what this can lead to, but you make me so happy."

The butterflies in my stomach go on an adventure, causing every inch of my body to tingle. "Love was never given to me. So, I'm not exactly sure what's next, but out of all the constellations in the sky-- I'm happy you are my star. If there was supposed to be one person on this earth that would teach me about love-- I'm so fucking glad it's you."

My breath knocks out of me when he slides his fingers into the hair at the back of my head, his other hand delicately cupping my cheek. My core tightens, melting at the sight of those big emerald eyes. I can't believe I said it. The words we both thought I would never say.

"You remember that promise I made on the night of my birthday dinner?" Asiel says, electric wires coursing over the areas he's touching.

"Y-Yes."

His finger drags down my bottom lip, his eyes bouncing from my mouth to my eyes. "It was fucking stupid of me to make a promise I knew I couldn't keep."

"Wh-." Asiel consumes my unfinished sentences when he thrust my face forward, slamming his mouth against mine.

Hehehehehhehehe... I've been waiting to upload this chapter for like EVERRRR!! ☺️☺️Mika and Asiel finally 💋💋 like wow, round of applause!!!

*bows* thank you thank you!

I'm actually surprised that no one mentioned how they haven't kissed 😂I thought it would be a big deal but maybe just to me. I'm a sucker for kissing scenes😝.

I think this was one of the first chapters I thought of when I wrote Mika, and I couldn't wait to write it and once I got to it— my mind went blank like I didn't know how I wanted it to go, but I hope you guys loved it and made your heart swoon when Mika declared her love for Asiel!!

Character development right? This is only a snippet since you just see them kiss 🥹🥹you guys want the next chapter?

Also who's pov you want the next chapter in Asiel's or Mika's 👀?

I think this is one of my favorite chapters. I love a lot of the later chapters too— I can't wait to read your comments I'm literally so excited to share this moment with you!!

Love ya💜❤️💜❤️