Normal POV
The plane hummed softly, gliding over the cloud-covered peaks as Aira—still Mike to those around her—gazed out the small window. Shadows cloaked the endless expanse below, and the occasional shimmer of a river wound through the darkness like a silver thread. It was a quiet, intimate world up here, where the tension of the Academy couldn't touch her. Yet the turmoil within her only grew stronger.
She glanced to her side, where Lire sat, his gaze fixed on the in-flight magazine, his profile cast in shadow under the dim cabin lights. His jaw was set in its usual, unyielding way, but there was something softer in his eyes tonight. She tried to look away but found herself drawn to him, as if he held answers to questions she didn't know she was asking.
The peace was broken when a stewardess leaned over, her smile just a touch too bright as she offered Lire the dinner menu. She barely spared a glance for Aira—just another soldier in her eyes. The subtle slight stung, but it was Lire's response that caught Aira off guard.
"I'll have the salmon," he said, his voice cool yet somehow gentle, his gaze flicking briefly to Aira, almost as if he wanted to ask what she'd choose.
"And for you, young sir?" The stewardess's eyes landed on Aira with a polite but distant smile, and something about it felt like a slap. She was invisible to most, a shadow.
Aira forced a smile. "Same," she replied, her tone neutral.
The stewardess left, and the two of them lapsed back into silence. As the minutes stretched, she could feel Lire's gaze on her, faint but attentive, and her pulse quickened, her thoughts tangling in a dozen dangerous directions. The connection she felt between them was undeniable, but every heartbeat that echoed in her chest reminded her of the impossible distance between them.
After dinner, Lire's eyes remained fixed on her, studying her in a way that made her want to squirm. She shifted slightly, pulling her cloak tighter around her as if it could somehow shield her from his penetrating gaze.
"You're unusually quiet tonight," Lire said at last, his voice low, just for her ears.
Aira's breath caught. "Just… tired," she replied, knowing it was a flimsy excuse but offering it nonetheless.
Lire's lips pressed into a thin line. "Tired doesn't suit you, Mike. You're usually so…" His voice trailed off, and he looked away, his hands resting on his lap as if to keep himself from reaching out. "Forget it."
Aira glanced at him, her heart racing. Lire was so close, his profile cast in soft light. She could almost imagine leaning into him, confessing the weight she carried in her heart and letting him see her, truly see her, without the mask. But it was impossible. He couldn't know, not without endangering them both.
The hum of the plane faded into a comforting white noise, lulling her into a state of half-awareness. She glanced out the window, catching sight of the moon hanging full and bright over the clouds. It was beautiful and haunting, a reminder of all the secrets she held.
Without realizing it, Aira drifted into sleep, her body finally surrendering to the exhaustion of the day. Her head fell gently against Lire's shoulder, and for a moment, she found peace in the warmth of his presence.
---
Lire's POV
He hadn't noticed at first. He had been lost in thought, his eyes trained on the darkness outside the window as his mind raced with questions. Mike had been acting strange, quieter than usual, distant in a way that Lire couldn't explain. But as he felt the gentle weight of Mike's head on his shoulder, his heart skipped a beat.
Lire turned slightly, his breath catching as he took in the softness of Mike's sleeping expression. In sleep, his features softened, the hardness that usually cloaked his face melting away. Lire's gaze traced the lines of his jaw, the faint curve of his lips, and an unfamiliar warmth blossomed in his chest.
It didn't make sense. None of this made sense. But in this quiet moment, with Mike leaning against him, it felt as if the world had shifted, as if they were the only two people on the plane, caught in some private universe.
He raised a hand, hovering inches from Mike's face, fighting the urge to brush back a stray lock of hair. The tenderness he felt startled him, sending a rush of confusion through his mind. He was Lire—the Academy's cold, calculating assassin, the one who never let emotions cloud his judgment. And yet here he was, helpless against the tide of feelings that washed over him.
He settled his hand back in his lap, sighing softly as he resigned himself to the mystery that was Mike. He would never say it aloud, but he felt protective of him, drawn to him in a way that defied reason. But he couldn't afford to lose focus. Not now. Not when the mission in Chicago could mean life or death for both of them.
Still, as he glanced down at Mike, his heart softened. Whatever was between them, whatever secrets Mike held—Lire was determined to uncover them.
The plane began its descent, jolting Aira awake. She blinked groggily, lifting her head from Lire's shoulder, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment as she realized where she had been resting.
"Sorry," she muttered, rubbing her eyes.
Lire offered a rare, faint smile. "It's fine."
The flight attendant's voice crackled over the intercom, announcing their arrival at O'Hare International Airport. Lire and Aira exchanged a brief glance before gathering their belongings, their thoughts already shifting to the mission ahead.
---
Normal POV
They cleared customs and retrieved their luggage, a heavy silence settling between them as they waited outside the airport for the car arranged by the Academy. Lire scanned the bustling crowd with a practiced eye, his senses sharp, alert to every possible threat.
When the sleek black car pulled up, Lire opened the door, gesturing for Aira to enter first. She slid inside, her heart pounding with a strange mix of excitement and anxiety. The mission was dangerous—they were here to eliminate a target who had defied the Academy's orders too many times. But something else buzzed in her veins, a thrill she couldn't name, though she suspected it had everything to do with the man seated beside her.
The car wound through the dark streets of Chicago, passing skyscrapers that seemed to scrape the night sky. After an hour of driving, they arrived at their hotel, a towering structure that gleamed like a polished gem amidst the city's nightlife. The lobby was a sea of marble and crystal, every inch of it gleaming with opulence.
As they approached the reception desk, Lire stopped her, his hand brushing her arm. "We're sharing a room."
Aira blinked, her heart stuttering at the unexpected announcement. "Sharing? Why?"
Lire's expression was unreadable, his green eyes dark and intense. "Orders from the Headmaster. Something about… teamwork."
She forced a casual laugh, though it felt brittle. "Right. Teamwork."
Lire's gaze lingered on her for a moment longer, as if he was trying to read the thoughts she so desperately wanted to keep hidden. Then he nodded and turned, leading the way to the elevator. As they ascended to the twentieth floor, Aira's mind raced with scenarios—most of them painfully awkward. Sharing a room with Lire was a test she hadn't anticipated, and she wasn't sure she was ready for it.
When they reached their suite, Lire opened the door, revealing a luxurious room bathed in warm light. The floor-to-ceiling windows offered a breathtaking view of Lake Michigan, its surface shimmering in the moonlight. The suite was spacious, with two beds on opposite sides, a small balcony, and a bathroom as large as her room back at the Academy.
Aira moved to the window, her gaze drawn to the city lights below. They seemed endless, stretching on forever, a sharp contrast to the isolated life she led at the Academy.
"You're quiet again," Lire remarked, setting his bag down on his bed.
Aira glanced over her shoulder, catching the faint concern in his eyes. "Just… tired," she murmured, though they both knew it was only half true.
Lire nodded, his gaze steady. "Rest up. We have a long night ahead of us."
He moved to the other side of the room, unpacking his things in silence. Aira watched him for a moment, the familiarity of his movements strangely comforting. She could feel the pull between them, the unspoken words that lingered in the air, but she couldn't bring herself to break the silence.
As she unpacked her own belongings, she couldn't shake the feeling that this mission would be different. The stakes were higher, the danger more palpable. And with Lire beside her, the tension between them would only grow.
But for now, they were just two shadows in a world of secrets, bound together by a mission that neither of them fully understood.
And as Aira lay down to rest, her thoughts drifted to Lire—his strength, his intensity, and the way he looked at her, as if he could see straight through her disguise. The truth was a dangerous thing, but so was the desire simmering between them.
And Aira couldn't help but wonder how long she could keep it all hidden.
TO BE CONTINUED...