The rain hammered down, each drop a tiny drumbeat on the pavement. Y/N, her hair plastered to her face, fought against the wind that whipped around her, trying to find shelter. She had been caught unawares, the storm rolling in with terrifying speed. A flash of lightning illuminated the street, followed by a deafening crack of thunder, and Y/N instinctively ducked, her heart pounding.
She spotted a small, dimly lit alleyway and hurried towards it, hoping it would offer some respite. As she stepped inside, she collided with someone, sending them sprawling. The force of the impact knocked the air out of her lungs.
'Oh my god, I am so sorry!' Y/N gasped, scrambling to her feet.
The figure lay still, groaning softly. Panic surged through Y/N. She reached out, her fingers brushing against a familiar, worn leather jacket.
'Mattheo?' she whispered, her voice thick with disbelief.
The man slowly opened his eyes, his gaze meeting hers. The familiar green that had once held a playful twinkle was now shadowed with pain and confusion.
'Y/N?' he breathed, his voice rough, like sandpaper on wood.
A wave of memories washed over Y/N, memories of laughter, shared dreams, and the bittersweet ache of their separation. It had been five years. Five long years since his face had been the last thing she saw before falling asleep, since his hand had been the one she reached for in the dark.
'What are you doing here?' she managed to ask, her voice trembling.
He looked around, his brow furrowed. 'I... I don't know,' he mumbled, struggling to sit up. 'I was walking, and the rain started. I guess I... I didn't see you.'
The storm outside seemed to mirror the turmoil inside them. Their eyes held a silent conversation, filled with unspoken questions and unsaid apologies. The air crackled with a tension that was both familiar and alien.
Suddenly, Mattheo reached out, his hand gently cupping her face. His touch was warm, familiar, sending a shiver down her spine. He leaned in, his gaze intense.
'Y/N, I...' he started, his voice barely a whisper.
Before he could finish, he stumbled, his face contorting in pain. His hand instinctively clutched at his chest, a grimace twisting his features.
'Mattheo!' Y/N exclaimed, her concern eclipsing all other emotions.
He shook his head, trying to dismiss her worry. 'It's nothing. Just a little dizzy.'
He tried to stand, but his legs buckled beneath him. Without thinking, Y/N reached out, her hand instinctively finding his arm, supporting him against her.
'Let me help you,' she said softly, her voice a balm to his discomfort.
He looked at her, his eyes full of a strange mixture of gratitude and something else, something she couldn't quite decipher. Then, with a groan, he leaned into her, collapsing against her. His weight pressed against her, the warmth of his body radiating through her clothes.
For a moment, they remained locked in this awkward embrace, the rain drumming on the metal roof overhead. Y/N felt the familiar scent of his cologne, a comforting blend of leather and wood that transported her back to happier times.
He finally looked up, his eyes boring into hers. The pain that had clouded them earlier seemed to have receded, replaced by an intense yearning. He leaned down, his lips brushing against her ear, his breath warm against her skin.
'Y/N,' he whispered, his voice hoarse with emotion, 'I need you.'
The words hung in the air, charged with raw vulnerability. Y/N's heart hammered in her chest, a dizzying mix of fear and longing swirling within her.
He gently pulled her towards him, his arm tightening around her waist. His lips met hers, the kiss hesitant at first, then deepening with a fierce urgency.
The storm outside raged on, but inside the alleyway, a new storm was brewing, one that promised both chaos and a desperate hope for redemption. As their lips met, Y/N felt a flicker of something that had been extinguished, but was now reignited, a flame that promised to burn bright, even in the face of a storm.
