Nate felt lighter than he had in weeks, his nerves calming with every passing minute as he sat across from Ava. Her presence was a gentle anchor, something that kept him tethered to the real world. For the first time in a long time, he allowed himself to forget about the Specter, the jinn, the weight of the mask he wore every day. The only thing that mattered in that moment was Ava, her laughter, and the way she made everything seem easier.
They talked about everything—small things, like the latest movie she'd watched, the coffee beans she swore by, and her quirky habit of reading random books she found at the local bookstore. It was easy, natural. Nate found himself laughing more than he had in a long time, and he noticed how her eyes sparkled when she smiled. It was the kind of joy that he couldn't find in the chaos of his life.
But, of course, life wasn't that simple. Not for him, not with the shadow of The Host hanging over everything he did.
"How do you do it?" Ava asked suddenly, her voice softer, a hint of curiosity in her tone. "How do you manage to juggle all the things you do? Your... job, your life... I mean, you're always so busy. How do you stay sane?"
Nate hesitated, his fingers tapping absentmindedly on the edge of his coffee cup. The question was simple, but the answer was complicated. Too complicated. How could he explain to her that he wasn't just busy—that he was carrying the weight of a city on his shoulders? That every time he put on the suit, he wasn't just protecting people—he was fighting to keep the darkness within him at bay?
"I just... do what I have to do," Nate finally said, forcing a smile. "You don't really have a choice, right? Life just kind of throws things at you, and you either sink or swim."
Ava tilted her head, studying him closely. "Yeah, I get that. But you don't have to carry everything on your own. I mean, you've got people who care about you. You've got your uncle, right?"
Nate's smile faltered for a fraction of a second. His uncle, Henry... yes, Henry was the one constant in his life, the one person who understood him in ways no one else did. But even Henry couldn't protect him from the truth about who he really was. The jinn that lived inside him, the strange powers that were growing stronger with each passing day. It wasn't something Nate could share with anyone, let alone Ava.
"Yeah," Nate said quietly, his voice distant. "I've got people who care about me."
Ava seemed to notice the shift in his mood, her eyes softening. "I'm here for you, too, you know. If you ever want to talk about it. You don't have to keep everything bottled up."
Nate swallowed hard, the weight of her words settling deep in his chest. He wanted to tell her the truth. He wanted to tell her everything—the darkness that lived inside him, the battles he fought, the fear that one day he might not come back. But he knew he couldn't. Not yet. Not when he didn't know if she would understand, or if she would even stay after learning who he truly was.
"Thanks, Ava," Nate said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I appreciate that."
The conversation drifted to lighter topics again, but Nate couldn't shake the feeling that the more he got close to Ava, the more he was putting her in danger. The Specter was still out there, and whoever else was behind the attacks on the city—Nate couldn't protect her from that.
---
As the hours passed, Nate reluctantly said goodbye, telling Ava he had to head back to the hideout. She seemed disappointed but understanding, giving him a warm smile as they parted ways.
"Don't be a stranger, Nate," she said, her eyes searching his face, as if she knew there was more to his story than he let on.
"I won't," he promised, even though he wasn't sure if he could keep that promise.
As he made his way back to the hideout, his mind raced. He didn't know what was more dangerous—the Specter hunting him or the growing connection between him and Ava. The closer he got to her, the more vulnerable he became. And with everything happening in the city, he didn't know if he could protect both her and himself.
Nate entered the lab to find Henry waiting for him, looking concerned but trying to mask it with a casual tone.
"Everything go okay?" Henry asked, his eyes scanning Nate carefully.
"Yeah," Nate replied, sitting down at the table. "It's just... hard to be normal for a while, you know? It felt good to just... be Nate for a bit."
Henry nodded, but his expression was serious. "That's what I've been trying to tell you. You need to find balance. But I have to warn you—this isn't going to be easy. The Specter won't stop. And whoever else is out there—they're going to keep coming for you."
Nate nodded, but the weight of Henry's words settled heavily on him. "I know. I can handle it. I just... don't want to lose everything in the process."
Henry's gaze softened, his voice a little quieter. "You're not in this alone, Nate. We'll face it together. Just remember that."
But as Nate looked into his uncle's eyes, he couldn't help but feel the familiar ache in his chest. The ache that came with knowing the truth—that no matter how many people were on his side, he would always be fighting this battle alone.
As the night grew darker, Nate found himself staring out the window, thinking about Ava and the world he couldn't quite escape. For now, he could be Nate. But how long could he keep the mask off before everything came crashing down?