Ash carefully planned every step, making sure not to make a single sound. Once the mission was successfully completed, he immediately set off for home. He had already changed out of his gear a few streets away. The cold air bit at his flushed face—not that he minded. He had other things to worry about.
"What if Lucian saw him?"
No, that was impossible. There was no way Lucian could have spotted him—not with how quickly he had slipped down from the rooftop.
When Ash finally arrived at his empty apartment, the sound of his heavy boots hitting the floor echoed through the silence. He kicked them off carelessly by the door, exhaling as tension drained from his body.
A hot shower. That was what he needed—something to wash away the night's work. To clear his mind. In every sense of the word. Including Lucian.
The days after the job had been… uneasy.
Or at least really similar to that feeling. It wasn't guilt over the killing. Ash was always perfectly capable of burying any feelings about the people he was paid to kill. No, this wasn't like that. He just couldn't find the right word for it.
He should have laid low for a while, letting the heat die down just for once. Yet there he was, standing in line at a café like any other person around him. Maybe it was reckless, but he wasn't the kind of man who ran from shadows. He just hadn't expected to turn around and find Lucian standing right there.
"Holy shit, this is definitely not my day," Ash screamed inside his head. As he recognized him, Ash remembered how it felt when Lucian's lips had been against his. In that moment, he wanted to jump out of the window. But then, just as fast, he smothered it.
"Small world," his smile came easily, practiced. Lucian studied him for a second too long, then answered.
"Didn't think I'd see you here."
Ash chuckled. Right, it felt shameful after that night.
"Guess fate's got a funny sense of humor," Ash said sarcastically as he turned to order some coffee. Lucian didn't move. He just watched as Ash turned away, fingers drumming against the counter while waiting.
"You look different," Lucian finally said, his voice unreadable.
Ash smirked but didn't turn back.
"New haircut," he joked, grabbing the paper cup the barista just handed him. The warmth seeped into his fingers.
"Yeah, must be it," Lucian scoffed.
Ash exhaled slowly, lifting the cup to his lips.
"Look, if you're here to get on my nerves…"
"I'm not," Lucian said so quickly it made Ash pause.
He turned slightly, just enough to catch Lucian's expression—it was calm, but his eyes… they were full of excitement.
"Alright, then, what do you want?" Ash asked, smoothly sidestepping Lucian and making his way to a nearby table, settling into a chair with ease.
"I'm just enjoying the company, since fate decided to throw us together again." Lucian cast him a questioning glance, nodding toward the empty seat beside Ash, as if waiting for confirmation.
"Go ahead," Ash sighed, rolling his eyes. Great. More time spent together. As if things between them weren't already awkward enough. Ash almost managed to push last night's events behind him—as if they'd never happened—until Lucian slid closer, bringing it all rushing back.
"So, what's new with you these days?" Lucian broke the silence with an easy, casual question.
"Nothing special. Just work, mostly," Ash replied, taking another sip of coffee. "What about you?" he added, barely paying attention.
"The same. It's not easy being a cop in times like this," Lucian said with a small smile.
Ash nearly choked on his coffee.
"A cop? Wow, I wouldn't have guessed," he laughed, forcing a casual tone while trying to keep his cool. Stay calm, Ash. Everything's fine.
Lucian raised an eyebrow at Ash's reaction, his smirk deepening just a little—as if he knew what was going through Ash's head.
"Yeah," Lucian continued, resting an elbow on the table. "Long nights, unpredictable situations… but I like my job."
Ash forced a tight-lipped smile, nodding as if that was completely normal information and not the worst thing he could have possibly heard.
A cop.
Lucian tilted his head a little. "You okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Ash let out a short, forced chuckle.
"No, of course not. I was just a little… surprised, I guess." He tapped his fingers against his cup, keeping his posture relaxed even as his mind raced.
Lucian hummed.
"You sure about that?"
"Totally," Ash said, meeting his gaze head-on.
Lucian didn't press further, but something in his expression made it clear—he wasn't convinced.
Damn it. This was going to be a problem.
The conversation shifted to safer topics after that—the city, past dates, nothing that really mattered to either of them. Time passed as Ash glanced out the window; the sky had deepened into shades of purple and blue. Evening without him noticing.
Lucian followed his gaze.
"You have to be somewhere?"
Ash shook his head, though he probably should have been. He had things to take care of—anything would have been better than being with Lucian any longer.
"I was planning to grab a drink or two somewhere. You can come if you want."
Ash hesitated. The smart thing would've been to say no, thank you—and walk away. But he didn't say that.
"Fine," he muttered, standing and grabbing his jacket. "One drink."
Lucian grinned like he'd just won something.
"One drink," he repeated, clearly not believing it for a second.
Ash rolled his eyes again as they left. The city was alive as always at this hour—the flickering neon signs lending a vibrant atmosphere to the streets. Nearby bars and restaurants were full of people. Their laughter spilled out everywhere, and the cool air carried the scent of cigarette smoke and spilled alcohol.
Lucian led the way, and Ash followed without question. They didn't speak a word after leaving the café.
But in Ash's mind, it was a disaster. He almost shouted at himself to turn around.
It's not too late to get away.
But his feet kept moving.
And that, he figured out, was the real problem.