The Bridge Is Where We Meet [JJK]

Chapter 4

The room was still, the air tense with the aftermath of Aesira's violent intervention. 

The echoes of her fists against the men who had captured me seemed to linger in the atmosphere, her grunts of exertion fading slowly. My heart raced in the silence that followed, pounding against my chest like a drum in the quiet dark. The cold floor beneath me and the ache in my bruised body anchored me to the harsh reality I now found myself in.

Aesira's silhouette moved swiftly, almost fluidly, as she stood over the unconscious bodies of the men who had tormented me. Her chest rose and fell with heavy breaths, her expression unreadable. I tried to speak, to thank her, but my voice was weak.

"You... you came," I managed to whisper, my throat dry and raw.

Her eyes flicked toward me, sharp like the edge of a blade, before softening just a fraction. 

"I told you not to follow me," she muttered, but there was no real bite to her words.

Her hands, blood-streaked and trembling slightly, reached for the ropes that bound me. With quick precision, she untied me, pulling me to my feet.

I swayed, the world tilting on its axis as dizziness overtook me. Aesira steadied me, her grip surprisingly firm, and without a word, she slung my arm over her shoulder, supporting my weight.

"We need to go before they wake up," she said quietly, her voice carrying an urgency that sent a chill through me. I nodded, though I wasn't sure if I had the strength to walk.

We moved slowly at first, my body protesting every step. Aesira was silent beside me, her face a mask of concentration as she led us out of the abandoned building. The stale air gave way to the cool night breeze as we stepped outside. The stars glittered overhead, indifferent to the chaos that had just unfolded.

My mind swirled with confusion and unanswered questions, but I couldn't summon the energy to ask them. All I knew was that Aesira had come for me. She could have left me behind—God knows she didn't owe me anything—but she had returned.

I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye. The same woman who had mocked me on the bridge now held me upright, guiding me through the night like she'd done it a hundred times before.

We reached her car, an old, beat-up vehicle that didn't seem to fit her at all. She helped me into the passenger seat before getting in on her side. The silence between us was thick, but it was no longer oppressive. There was something new in the quiet—an unspoken understanding, perhaps.

She started the car without a word, and we drove off into the night. The streetlights flashed by in a blur, and I leaned my head back, exhaustion settling into my bones. As my eyes fluttered shut, a single thought echoed in my mind.

Who was Aesira? And why had she come for me?

The question lingered in the corners of my thoughts as sleep finally claimed me.

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I woke up to the smell of something familiar—coffee, maybe? My body felt heavy, and every muscle screamed in protest as I shifted. It took a moment to remember where I was. Aesira's apartment.

The memories from the night before hit me all at once—the attack, the men, Aesira fighting them off. My heart began to race again, but the faint sound of clinking dishes from the kitchen calmed me down. I wasn't alone.

Pushing myself up from the couch, I winced as the pain shot through my side. Despite the discomfort, I forced myself to stand, my legs wobbly beneath me. I hobbled toward the kitchen, drawn by the smell of whatever Aesira was preparing.

She stood by the stove, her back to me, moving with the same quiet efficiency I had come to associate with her. The image was so domestic, so unlike the fierce fighter I had seen last night, that it almost made me laugh.

"Morning," I croaked, my voice still hoarse.

Aesira didn't turn around. "You should be resting."

I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. She was right, of course, but there was something about her calm demeanor that made me want to stay, to ask the questions that had been gnawing at me. 

"Why did you come back for me?" I blurted out, the words escaping before I could stop them.

Aesira paused, her hand hovering over the pan she was using. The seconds stretched out, and I wondered if I had pushed too far. But then she turned, her face expressionless as she looked at me. 

"Why wouldn't I?" she said simply, as though the answer was obvious. 

I frowned, trying to make sense of her words. "You don't even know me." 

She leaned against the counter, crossing her arms over her chest. "Maybe not. But you're not the first person to get mixed up in something bigger than yourself. Besides, I don't leave people behind." 

Her gaze bore into mine, and for a moment, I saw something deeper—something she wasn't saying. But before I could press her further, she pushed herself away from the counter and turned back to the stove. 

"Sit down," she said, her tone softer now. "You need to eat." 

I obeyed, though my mind was still buzzing with questions. As I sat at the small table, watching her move about the kitchen, I realized that there was so much more to Aesira than I had originally thought. She wasn't just some mysterious woman I'd met at the bridge. She was dangerous, yes, but also fiercely protective.

And for reasons I couldn't yet understand, she had decided that I was worth protecting. 

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[A/N]

Sorry for such a late update.

I was busy with school and didn't have time to even breath.

I will surely update it regularly from now on.

Hope you enjoyed it.

<3

Love ❤️,

funsizefirecracker

Insta: addictwrites.x

Word Count: 940