The lab was eerily quiet as Henry finished securing the Specter in one of the containment cells. Nate watched from the doorway, his body still recovering from the fight. Though the Specter was beaten, something about the way he fell to the floor, unconscious but not quite, set off a small alarm in the back of Nate's mind. The Specter wasn't out for good. He was calculating his next move, even if he was lying still for now.
Nate turned away, heading for the small break area in the corner of the lab. The flickering lights above and the low hum of equipment felt familiar, but his mind wasn't focused on the battle. Instead, his thoughts kept drifting to something that had only started to form in the background of his life in the midst of all the chaos.
Her.
He hadn't seen her in a few days, not since their accidental meeting at the coffee shop. Her name was Ava, and everything about their first encounter had felt... right. Something clicked in him that he didn't fully understand. It wasn't like he could just throw caution to the wind and dive into a relationship. Not with everything going on, not with the Specter trying to destroy him and everything he stood for. But there was something in the way she looked at him—something in the way she smiled that made him feel like maybe, just maybe, there was a life worth fighting for.
As he sat down, his fingers brushed against his phone. He hadn't talked to her since the day they'd met, and though he was hesitant, he couldn't deny the pull to reach out.
He tapped on the screen, opening their last conversation, which had ended abruptly. It was a small message exchange after she had asked him how he was holding up, and he had given his usual short response: I'm fine. Don't worry about me.
But then, there was the line she'd left after that: Just don't be a stranger, okay?
Nate had been so caught up in his responsibilities, in his duties as The Host, that he hadn't taken the time to think about what that meant. What it meant to be more than just a masked hero—what it meant to be a person. To be Nate.
And as he typed out a response, his fingers hovered over the keys. He wanted to be open, to let her know the real him. But could he? He wasn't sure if she could handle the truth about him, not after everything that had happened. Could she understand why he had to keep things hidden, why he had to remain The Host?
Hey Ava, it's been a while. How's everything? He sent it, feeling a strange mix of relief and nervousness.
A few moments later, his phone buzzed, and the familiar ding made his heart beat a little faster.
Hey, Nate! I was starting to think you'd disappeared on me. Everything's fine here, just the usual. How about you?
He smiled, feeling a slight warmth spread across his chest. It wasn't much, but it was something. Maybe he could do this. Maybe he could be more than just The Host for a while.
Busy. You know how it is. But I've been thinking about you. I'm sorry for not texting sooner. He tapped his screen, the words feeling heavier than he intended. His phone buzzed again before he could second guess himself.
Don't worry about it. You're always on the move, huh? I guess that's what makes you who you are. She sent a winking emoji. But I'm glad you're thinking about me. I was hoping we could catch up sometime.
He read her message again, savoring the simplicity of it. No drama. No hidden agendas. Just a girl wanting to know how he was. How could he not want to see her again? How could he not want to find out what this feeling was?
I'd like that, he replied before he could think too much about it. When?
Ava responded quickly, and Nate's heart sped up a little. She seemed just as eager.
How about tomorrow? Coffee again, but this time, I promise I'll let you get the first round. How's that sound?
Nate chuckled softly to himself, imagining her playful smile. The fact that she didn't know what he really was—the fact that she had no idea what kind of dangers lurked around him—made the offer feel like a slice of normalcy. A break from the chaos.
Sounds perfect. I'll be there.
---
Later that evening, Nate was alone in his room, the weight of his thoughts resting heavily on him. He was supposed to be the protector of the city, the one everyone turned to when danger struck. But in moments like these—when he was about to meet Ava again, when the world seemed momentarily free of violence and shadow—he could almost forget who he was supposed to be.
The Specter wasn't the only threat on the horizon. He could feel it. There were others out there who knew what The Host was capable of, and not all of them had noble intentions. But tonight, he would give himself a few hours of peace. Just tonight.
He closed his eyes, his mind briefly wandering to the possibilities of what could come next. He didn't know if Ava could ever fully understand what he was, but he wanted to try. Maybe, just maybe, he could find a way to balance it all.
---
The next day came too quickly. Nate stood outside the coffee shop, glancing at his watch, his heart skipping with anticipation. The familiar bell above the door chimed, and there she was—Ava, walking toward him with that same smile that made everything feel a little brighter.
"Hey, stranger," she greeted, her voice light and easy. "You look... well, like you actually had time to relax for once."
He laughed, a sound that felt almost foreign. "Yeah, well, it's not every day I get to escape from my... busy schedule."
They both slid into a booth by the window, and for a moment, the outside world seemed far away. No Specter. No jinn. No battles. Just two people sitting in a coffee shop, enjoying the warmth of the moment.
Ava smiled as she took a sip of her coffee. "I'm glad we're doing this. I know we're both busy, but it's nice to take a break every once in a while."
"Yeah," Nate said, his voice soft. "It really is."
And as they talked, the weight on Nate's shoulders didn't seem quite as heavy. For just a moment, he allowed himself to feel like Nate, not The Host. He could be someone else for a little while.