Guardian Angels

Chapter 28

Under the cover of night, the rooftop of Izzy's penthouse became a sanctuary once more, but this time, for a vigilante on the brink of collapse. Alex Mason, having pushed himself beyond his limits in his daring escape, found the last reserves of his strength waning as he reached the familiar rooftop, before darkness claims him.

Izzy Diaz found herself facing a situation she had never anticipated. Roused from sleep by the instinctive feeling that something was amiss, she stepped out onto the rooftop to find the sight she had feared—Alex Mason, the vigilante who had become an unexpected part of her life, unconscious and wounded.

Without hesitation, Izzy sprang into action, her concern for Alex overriding any other thoughts. She managed to carry him into the safety of her penthouse, her mind racing through the steps she needs to take to ensure his survival. The discovery of a gunshot wound on Alex's shoulder confirmed her fears; the close-ranged shot had penetrated his armor, leaving him vulnerable and in pain.

As Izzy set to work treating the wound, her hands moved with a precision and care born out of a mix of first aid knowledge and sheer determination. She didn't dare remove Alex's helmet, respecting the boundary that had always existed between them. However, as she removed his coat and upper body armor to access the wound, she uncovered a truth that had been concealed beneath layers of kevlar and body armor—Alex Mason, the vigilante who haunted the streets of Angel City, the figure shrouded in tales of vengeance and justice, was a woman.

The revelation stunned Izzy, forcing her to momentarily pause in her task. The person she had come to know as Alex Mason, the vigilante who fought with a ferocity and dedication that had earned her admiration, trust, and even more, was not who Izzy had believed. Yet, as the initial shock subsided, Izzy's resolve solidified. Now was not the time for questions or doubts; Alex needed her.

With focused determination, Izzy cleaned and disinfected the wound, carefully extracting the bullet before sewing the wound closed and bandaging it with steady hands. Once Alex was stable and resting comfortably on her bed, Izzy allowed herself a moment to breathe, to process the whirlwind of emotions that swirled within her.

Seated on the couch, Izzy watched over Alex, ensuring her breathing remained steady and unlabored. The danger had passed, and Alex was safe, for now. But the discovery of Alex's true identity—a secret that changed everything and nothing all at once—left Izzy with a tumult of thoughts.

Who was the woman beneath the helmet? How had she come to take on the mantle of Alex Mason, and what drove her to fight so fiercely for a city that knew nothing of her sacrifice? These questions and more danced through Izzy's mind as she gazed at Alex, her feelings a complex tapestry of shock, admiration, and a deepening sense of connection.

Izzy, though shocked and filled with curiosity about the true identity of the vigilante she had come to admire, choosed to wait for Alex to awaken and reveal her story in her own time with respect of his—her—privacy. And as the tired Izzy slowly fell asleep watching over Alex's sleeping form, she knew that regardless of the challenges ahead, they faced them together, bound by a deeper understanding and a shared resolve to protect the city—and each other—against whatever darkness may come.

***

As dawn began to break, casting a soft glow over the city, consciousness slowly seeped back into Alex's mind, and the remnants of pain and the fog of sedation gave way to a sharp clarity. The first thing she noticed was the warm-toned ceiling above her, then she found herself enveloped in the softness of Izzy's bed, a stark contrast to the cold anonymity of the rooftops and hideouts she was accustomed to. 

The events of the night before were a jumble in her mind—a chaotic blend of confrontation, pain, and a desperate flight to safety. Alex noticed the absence of her armor, the protective shell that had become a second skin in her fight against the city's darkness. Panic fluttered in her chest, an instinctual reaction to vulnerability, until she sees the bandages wrapped around her shoulder, the wound beneath cleanly treated. As her gaze drifted, it landed on Izzy, asleep on the couch, her posture betraying the fatigue and confusion of the night's events. Next to her were a plate containing the removed bullet and some simple tools.