When a Lynx Meets a Leopard [Ash Lynx x fem reader]

Chapter 78: You Can't Promise Tomorrow

Song: Blue Bird
By: Shinichi Osawa and Yoshihiko Ishizaka (they composed it I think... correct me if I'm wrong)

(Y/n)'s POV

Max's eyes flicked between me and Ash until he finally understood. "You want me to go in with you, Ash?" He sighed, raking a hand through his hair. "Well, I don't want you to. I'd rather go into a bar with (Y/n), but it's a gay bar, and she'd stick out." Ash smirked, watching as I played mindlessly with his fingers while I listened. Max sighed again, standing up and straighening out his clothes. "Okay, let's go then." Ash stood up after him, gently kissing my knuckles and squeezing my hand before he left. 

I watched them leave, chuckling as Ash slipped an arm around Max's waist, making the bigger man tense up considerably. He reluctantly rested a hand on Ash's hip in return, stuffly walking into the gay bar. "Hey, how's everything over here? Can I get you anything else?" The sweet voice of the waitress from early smiled. I turned around to face her, noticing the slight disapointment on her face. "Oh, uh... do you have any (Favourite dessert)?" I asked, smiling back up at her while resting my chin on the palm of my hand. "Yes, we do. Anything else for your friends?" I thought for a second, smirking to myself. "You don't happen to have any pumkin pie, do you? I know it's slightly out of season." 
"We did, I dunno if there's any left but I can check for you?"
"Sure, but don't worry if there isn't any." I waved slightly as she pivoted, walking the other direction towards the till. Robert, who had been to the toilet, came back as I was waving sarcastically while mimicking the girls voice quietly. 

"I take it you don't like her very much?" He chuckled, sitting back down and taking a sip of his drink. "No, I don't like her. She was flirting with Ash the entire time he was here. Even slipped him her number." I muttered, producing a strip of lined paper with some digits on. "You don't need to worry about Ash going off with anyone else. That boy's only got eyes for you." Robert reassured me, guessing that I was overthinking, which I was. In my eyes, that girl was much better than me. Prettier, confident, clear skin, and has a nice body to top it off. Even though I knew Ash didn't care about any of those things, he loves me for me. And that's it.

A few minutes later, the same waitress came back with a tray. One plate had a slice of pumpkin pie, and the other (f/d). I thanked the girl, paying for the food then before digging into the treat I had bought myself. "Who's the pie for?" Robert asked, raising an eyebrow as I ate my dessert. "Ash." I replied simply, quickly finishing my food and sitting back with a content sigh. "My goodness, you inhaled that! You're lucky you didn't choke." Robert chuckled, taking the (plate/bowl) from infornt of me, making a neat pile of dishes on the tray. "Yeah, well I grew up in a group of assasins. You didn't eat fast, you didn't eat." 
"I'm sorry I mentioned it..." The man appologised, quickly understanding that I was telling the truth.

The awkward silence that followed my slightly irrational outburst, was broken by me seeing Ash and Max emerge from New World. Ash slipping a gun back into his waistband while holding a brown envelope, Max close to his side. I stood up, picking up the peice of pie as I did. "Hey, can I get this in a take out box please?" I asked the lady behind the till. She nodded, quickly doing as I had asked and waving me and Robert out.

Ash and Max were waiting patiently by the door, Ash leaning casually against the wall. "(Y/n), over here." He called, waving slightly to catch my attention. I walked over to him, eyeing the envelope in his hands as I passed him. "What's in there?" I asked Ash as he stood up straight, sliding an arm around my waist. "Just some photos, nothing to worry about." He assured me, nodding to Max as we walked. We ended up in a large area that stretched out along the river. It was secluded and dimly lit, lights from the city above reflecting off the water. Ash stood behind a large metal pillar, shielding his eyes from what was playing on Roberts laptop. "This makes me sick. That swine." He muttered, spitting on the ground. As soon as I cought a glimpes, I turned away and joined Ash, wrapping my arms around his waist and burrying my face in his chest. "I'm okay, you don't need to worry or feel sorry for me." He hummed, kissing the top of my head. 

"And sorry, old man. I was about to shoot him." Ash sighed, not looking towards Max as he spoke to him. "Don't fret it. Sorry for making you go through that." Max replied apologetically, picking up the cake box I had set on the floor. "Thanks Ash. I'll make sure the rights of these boys are protected." Robert said seriously, finally closing the laptop with a satisfying snap. Ash eased himself from my grip, stepping out from around the pillar and handing the brown envelope in his hands to Max. "Just use my pictures. I'm already a dead man. Nothing could shame me." He breathed with a sad smile as Max took the envelope, as well as a lighter from his pocket. "Forget everything. But I guess you would've already if you could." Max told Ash, watching as the envelope caught fire and burned in his hand. "Just don't think about it anymore. You don't have to be controled by this anymore." Ash just watched, eyes wide from surprise and prehaps relief. But I wasn't happy. Not because of Max burning the photos, no I was glad he did that, but of because of something that Ash had said. But it'd have to wait until we got back.

On the walk back, Ash seemed to know something was up. Every attempt he made to hold my hand, or wrap his arm around my shoulder or waist was met with a flinch and cold look. I didn't usually act like this, only when I was upset, and he was smart enought to know this. No one said anything, Max and Robert soon went their own ways and it was just me and Ash left walking together. Eventually, he broke the silence, "(Y/n), what's wrong?" He asked, taking my wrist and holding it tightly. "Nothing." I replied simply, trying to wriggle my way out of Ash's grip, but to no avail. "(Y/n)." He repeated, meeting my eyes with a concerned expression. We weren't too far away from the hide out. Oh well, better here that anywhere I suppose. "Why do you always talk like that, Ash?" I asked, looking staright back up at him with steady eye contact. "Like-"
"Don't you dare say like what. You know what like. What was all that, 'I'm already a dead man', business about, huh? It's shit, Ash. Don't you fucking plan on dying on me. I wouldn't be able to cope." My control over my emotions had failed me. Tears slipped down my cheeks as I visualised Ash's body in my arms, limp and cold. "Hey, shh. It's okay. I don't plan on dying, and I'm still here. Aren't I?" Ash spoke softly, pulling me into a hug and burrying his face in my hair. 

"For now, yeah. For now you are, but you can't promise tomorrow. Nobody can, and it hurts."

~~~
:D

I hope you enjoyed this chapter,
have an amazing day/night,
~Author-Chan❤