Behind the Shadows: A Love Unspoken

Chapter 2: Shadows that Linger

The dust of the battlefield settled, but Gekko's heart still raced, not from the intensity of combat, but from what had just happened. He couldn't shake the image of Iso standing there, in the open, his blade slicing through the air, saving him. Again. It was starting to feel less like coincidence, and more like something else.

As the team regrouped inside the safe house, Gekko sat quietly in the corner, replaying the mission in his head. His creatures circled him protectively, sensing his unease. Normally, he'd laugh it off, maybe joke about how close he had come to death, but this time felt different. This time, Iso had appeared at exactly the right moment, as if he knew Gekko would be in danger before Gekko did.

Across the room, Iso lingered in the shadows, his sharp eyes fixed on Gekko. His heart tightened as he watched Gekko restlessly fidget with one of his creatures. Iso's mind raced. How many times had he saved Gekko without him realizing? How many close calls had there been where Iso intervened, and Gekko simply moved on, unaware of the silent protector just steps behind him?

But this time, Iso had stepped out of the shadows, and Gekko had seen him. His heart still beat fast from the rush of exposing himself, letting Gekko see a sliver of the truth. Iso's obsession had always been his secret to carry—his burden. But now, Gekko had glimpsed it, even if he didn't understand it.

"So," Gekko's voice broke the silence, catching everyone's attention. He didn't look at Iso directly, but his question was clearly aimed at him. "You were out there. More than usual."

The words hung in the air, and for a moment, Iso didn't respond. His mind was a battlefield of conflicting emotions—part of him wanted to confess everything, to tell Gekko about the sleepless nights, the way he watched him through every mission, how he couldn't bear the thought of losing him. But the other part, the logical, cold part, reminded him of the consequences. Gekko wasn't like him. Gekko was full of light, full of warmth. He didn't belong in the shadows with Iso.

"I was covering you," Iso said finally, his voice a low, controlled murmur. "Just doing my job."

Gekko glanced up, meeting Iso's eyes. His usual carefree smile flickered for a moment, replaced by something more serious, something uncertain. "Yeah, but it felt like more than that. You were always... right there."

Iso's pulse quickened, though his expression remained impassive. He wasn't ready for this conversation. Not yet.

Before Gekko could probe further, Sage interrupted, pulling the team's focus back to the mission. "We've still got a lot to plan for the next attack. We can't afford any more close calls." Her eyes darted to Gekko, and then briefly to Iso, as if she too had noticed something. Sage was perceptive, almost too much so. Iso stiffened, hoping she hadn't figured out the depth of his obsession.

Gekko nodded, but his gaze lingered on Iso for a moment longer before he joined the group. As the team began strategizing, Gekko found it hard to concentrate. His thoughts kept drifting back to Iso—his silence, his mysteriousness, and how he always seemed to be there when danger was near.

The meeting wrapped up, and as the others began dispersing, Gekko felt a pull. He needed to know. There was something between him and Iso that he couldn't ignore anymore. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe it was just Iso being a good teammate, but the way he had looked at Gekko during the mission... it didn't feel like just duty.

As the safe house grew quieter, Gekko finally approached Iso, who stood alone near the back door, his posture rigid, his hand resting on the hilt of one of his dimensional blades.

"Hey," Gekko said softly, trying to break the tension.

Iso didn't respond at first, his eyes still scanning the shadows, but when Gekko came closer, he turned, his expression unreadable as always. "What is it?"

"I just wanted to... I don't know. Thank you. You saved me out there." Gekko shifted awkwardly, unsure how to voice the strange feelings that had been stirring inside him since the mission.

"I was doing my job," Iso repeated, his voice emotionless, though inside he felt the familiar turmoil rising.

"No, it wasn't just that." Gekko's eyes searched Iso's face, looking for cracks in the cold exterior. "You've been doing this a lot, haven't you? Watching out for me. I mean, I know we all look out for each other, but this feels different."

Iso's heart raced, but his face remained a mask. "You're imagining things," he said flatly, though his voice betrayed a hint of tension.

"I don't think I am," Gekko replied, his voice soft but steady. "I've seen you out there. You're always... there. You're always watching."

Iso clenched his fists. He had been so careful, so calculated, never letting his obsession slip. But now, standing here, with Gekko's piercing green eyes looking right through him, he felt exposed. His carefully constructed walls were crumbling.

"Why?" Gekko asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "Why are you always there, Iso?"

Iso could feel the answer burning in his throat. *Because I can't lose you. Because I care about you more than anyone should.* But the words wouldn't come out. Instead, he did what he always did—he withdrew.

"Go to bed, Gekko. You need rest for tomorrow's mission." Iso's voice was colder than he intended, but he needed to end this conversation before he said something he couldn't take back.

Gekko frowned, his heart sinking. "Iso..."

But Iso had already turned away, disappearing into the shadows once again, leaving Gekko standing there, alone with his unanswered questions and the growing feeling that Iso was hiding something much deeper than just being a protective teammate.