Behind the Shadows: A Love Unspoken

Chapter 1: Echoes in the Dark

The sound of gunfire filled the air, sharp bursts of bullets ricocheting off metal and concrete. Gekko's heart raced as he sprinted down the alley, a glowing green orb in his hand. His creatures darted ahead, scouting the area. This mission had gone sideways fast, but that was nothing new for Gekko. His focus remained on the objective, clearing a path for the team.

Behind him, in the shadows, Iso watched. His eyes tracked every move Gekko made, memorizing each step, every breath. He moved silently, effortlessly blending into the chaos of the battle. His heart pounded with a different kind of intensity—one driven by obsession. To the others, this was just another mission. To Iso, it was another moment to protect the one person who meant more to him than any victory ever could.

A bullet whizzed past Gekko, close enough to graze his arm. He winced, stumbling, but before he could react, Iso was already there. From the corner of his eye, Gekko caught a blur of motion—a split second where Iso phased into view, his gun aimed with precision. The enemy fell before they even had a chance to fire again.

Gekko blinked, confused. "Iso?"

But Iso was already gone, melted back into the shadows, his presence almost ghostly. Gekko shook his head, chalking it up to the adrenaline rush, unaware that Iso's eyes never left him, not for a second.

The enemies kept coming. Gekko ducked behind cover, commanding his creatures to flank the attackers, but Iso was always one step ahead. He moved like a shadow, silently taking out threats before they even reached Gekko. It wasn't the first time Gekko had noticed something strange on missions—moments where danger just vanished, where he felt like someone was watching his every move.

Still, now wasn't the time to think about it. He called his creatures back, regrouping as they pushed deeper into enemy territory. "Clear ahead!" Gekko shouted into his comms, unaware of how often it was Iso making it that way.

From the shadows, Iso's gaze hardened. He knew how dangerous this mission was—knew that Gekko was too carefree, too trusting of the world. Iso couldn't let him get hurt, not again. He had already vowed to keep Gekko safe, no matter the cost. Even if that meant staying in the dark, always watching, always protecting.

And as Gekko moved forward, oblivious to the dangers closing in, Iso followed, the silent guardian who would never let anything touch the one he loved.

But tonight, the danger was different. Something more sinister loomed in the air, and Iso could feel it. As Gekko rounded the corner, preparing to plant the spike, a figure appeared—a sniper, hidden in the distance, lining up a shot on Gekko. Iso's blood ran cold.

Without hesitation, Iso emerged from the shadows, stepping into the open for the first time. His dimensional blades shimmered in his hands, and before Gekko could realize what was happening, Iso unleashed a storm of energy, cutting through the air like lightning.

The sniper never had a chance.

Gekko turned, his eyes wide, catching the sight of Iso standing in the open for the first time. "Iso? You... you saved me," Gekko breathed, half-shocked, half-grateful.

Iso's face remained unreadable. He didn't answer, couldn't bring himself to speak the words that burned in his chest. Instead, he gave a slight nod before disappearing once more, back into the safety of the shadows.

But as they moved deeper into the mission, Gekko couldn't shake the feeling that Iso's protection went far beyond duty. Something about the way he had appeared in the nick of time, how every threat seemed to vanish whenever Iso was near, left Gekko with a strange mix of gratitude and confusion.

And for the first time, Gekko began to wonder—just how far would Iso go to protect him?

---

The battle raged on around them, but in the quiet spaces between gunfire and explosions, Gekko could feel it—someone was always watching, always waiting. And for the first time, he began to notice how much closer Iso had been all along.