The morning air was sharp and crisp, the kind of chill that wrapped around you and made you feel alive. Anya walked through the quiet streets, her eyes scanning the horizon, alert to every movement. It had been a few days since her meeting with Alek, and while she had tried to remain focused on the mission, something about him lingered in her thoughts.
She had expected someone cold, calculated—another shadow to blend into the chaos. But Alek had proven to be different. He wasn't just an agent; he was someone who had made it clear that he wasn't just watching over her, but actively protecting her. It was… strange.
The previous day had been a perfect example. They had been walking through the village after an intel drop, and Alek had stepped in just as she was about to cross a street, pulling her back gently as a car sped by. "Careful," he'd said with that soft smile of his, as if he were looking out for his younger sister instead of a fellow agent.
It wasn't just the protective moments that stood out—Alek had a way of lightening the atmosphere. His humor was dry but disarming, like when they were sitting in the quiet corner of a café, and he'd leaned across the table with a teasing grin.
"You know," he said, his eyes glinting with amusement, "for someone so serious, you really don't know how to relax."
Anya had raised an eyebrow, not sure whether to be offended or amused. "I know how to relax," she said, keeping her tone neutral. "Just don't feel like doing it around you."
Alek chuckled, his voice low and warm. "Ah, I see. The mystery woman has layers. I'll have to crack that code eventually."
It was hard to ignore how comfortable his presence had become. He wasn't like the others—those who saw her as a tool, a weapon, or even an obstacle. Alek treated her like a person, not just a mission. But Anya couldn't afford to let that affect her judgment. She had to remain detached. She always did.
As she walked along the path, she heard footsteps behind her. She didn't need to turn around to know it was him. Alek's presence was different from the others. It was subtle, a weight that didn't press on her, but made her feel like she had someone watching her back.
"Taking a walk by yourself again?" Alek called from behind her, his voice light but carrying a hint of concern.
Anya rolled her eyes but slowed her pace slightly to allow him to catch up. "I'm perfectly capable of walking alone," she replied, her tone teasing, though her voice held the usual edge.
"I'm sure you are," Alek said, matching her pace effortlessly. "But I was told to keep an eye on you. Can't let you get into trouble without me."
"Getting into trouble? You think I'm reckless?" She shot him a sidelong glance, arching a brow.
Alek's smile widened, a playful glint in his eyes. "Not reckless. Just… unpredictable." He added the last part with a wink, making Anya roll her eyes again in exasperation.
They continued walking, the silence between them now comfortable. Anya was surprised at how easy it had become to talk with Alek. She hadn't expected anyone to be this… normal with her. Most people saw her as a liability or a threat, but Alek saw her as something different—a colleague, a person to be protected.
It wasn't until they rounded the corner near the local market that Anya noticed the eyes on them. A group of men lingered in the distance, watching them with too much interest. Their stares weren't casual, and Anya instinctively felt the shift in the air. Something was off.
Alek must have sensed it too, because his entire demeanor shifted. His posture became more rigid, his gaze scanning the surroundings with sharp intensity. He placed himself slightly in front of Anya, subtly blocking her from view.
"Stay close," he murmured under his breath.
Anya barely had time to react before Alek had moved between her and the group of men, effectively shielding her from their view. His body was solid and commanding, a quiet reassurance that he wouldn't let anything happen to her.
She opened her mouth to speak, but Alek gave her a look—one that was playful but with an undercurrent of authority.
"I told you," he said with a teasing grin. "I'm here to protect you, not to stand around and look pretty."
Anya couldn't help but smirk. Despite herself, she felt an odd sense of safety in his presence. She didn't need to say anything. He already knew how to keep her out of harm's way.
The men eventually lost interest and moved along, but Anya noticed the tension had yet to leave Alek's body. It was in the way he watched the crowd, the way his hand remained close to the gun at his side, ready if things escalated.
"You're always on edge, aren't you?" she asked, her voice softer now, but laced with curiosity.
Alek glanced back at her, his smile never wavering. "I have to be. People like us don't get to relax."
"Yeah, well, I'm not like you," Anya muttered, her voice quiet but pointed.
Alek chuckled. "You're more like me than you think, Anya. We're both survivors."
The moment lingered, and for the first time, Anya felt something in her chest tighten—not from the danger they'd just avoided, but from the strange pull that Alek's presence seemed to have on her.
---
Meanwhile, not too far away, Damian had been observing from the shadows. He had come to the village under a separate pretext, but now, seeing the way Alek and Anya interacted—so comfortable, so relaxed—something gnawed at him. It wasn't jealousy, not yet, but there was an unease in his gut that he couldn't ignore. Something about the way Alek stood in front of Anya, the way he protected her without hesitation, made something inside Damian stir.
He shook it off. This wasn't about him. It couldn't be. Not yet.
But as he watched them walk away together, that uneasy feeling lingered, and Damian couldn't quite place why it bothered him.