Behind the Shadows: A Love Unspoken

Chapter 15: Firing Crosshairs

The day had rolled on as usual, with the team prepping for their next mission. But as Gekko and Iso stood in the briefing room, something hung in the air between them. The events of the past few days had forged an unbreakable bond, and though they kept their connection hidden from the rest of the team, the weight of it lingered.

Their new mission wasn't a small one. The team had been tasked with infiltrating an enemy stronghold on the outskirts of a city deep in hostile territory. It was meant to be a stealth operation, but everyone knew that these things never went according to plan.

As they geared up, Gekko felt the nervous energy thrumming in the room. Phoenix cracked jokes to lighten the mood, while Jett sharpened her focus, her fingers twitching, ready to move at a moment's notice. Sage stood quietly, her calm presence providing an anchor for the rest of them.

Gekko's eyes met Iso's across the room, and for a brief second, everything else faded away. The intensity of Iso's gaze—protective, fierce—said everything that words couldn't in that moment. There was an unspoken promise in that look. They both knew what was at stake, but Iso's silent vow was clear: he would do whatever it took to keep Gekko safe.

The team was in sync as they moved out, blending into the shadows as they neared the stronghold. The plan was simple—breach, extract intel, and get out—but nothing in their line of work was ever simple.

As they crept through the abandoned streets leading up to the building, Gekko couldn't shake the sense that something was wrong. His instincts, sharp from years of experience, were buzzing with warning signs, but he couldn't put his finger on why.

They approached the perimeter, and Phoenix, always the one to take point, signaled for them to move in. But before they could even reach the first checkpoint, all hell broke loose.

Gunfire erupted from every direction. They were surrounded.

"Ambush!" Jett shouted, her voice barely audible over the barrage of bullets.

Chaos ensued as the team scrambled for cover, returning fire wherever they could. Gekko dove behind a wall, adrenaline spiking as he tried to get his bearings. This wasn't supposed to happen—they hadn't even been detected, or so they thought.

Through the haze of gunfire and shouting, Gekko's focus snapped to Iso. He watched as Iso, always calm under pressure, moved with deadly precision, taking down enemies with calculated shots. But Iso's eyes were constantly flickering back to Gekko, watching his every move, making sure he wasn't in harm's way.

But the firefight intensified, and suddenly, Gekko found himself pinned down. Bullets peppered the walls around him, leaving him with no room to maneuver. His pulse raced as he tried to come up with a plan, but the weight of the situation was crashing down on him fast.

Before he could react, Iso was at his side. With a quick motion, he yanked Gekko back, pulling him into a safer position behind a chunk of debris. Iso's breath was heavy, but his focus remained unshaken.

"You alright?" Iso asked, his voice low and urgent, his hand gripping Gekko's arm tightly.

Gekko nodded, his heart pounding in his chest. "Yeah... thanks."

Iso's eyes burned with intensity as he glanced around, assessing the situation. "Stay close to me," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Gekko could hear the fierce protectiveness in Iso's voice. He wanted to protest, to insist that he could hold his own, but in the middle of this firefight, there wasn't time for pride. He knew Iso had his back, and right now, that was all that mattered.

Together, they moved as one, pushing through the onslaught of enemies. Iso was a force of nature, and Gekko stayed close, providing cover where he could. They fought through the chaos, clearing a path to regroup with the rest of the team.

But just as they reached the extraction point, Gekko felt a sharp, searing pain in his side. He gasped, his body jerking as he stumbled forward, clutching his side. The world tilted, the edges of his vision blurring.

"Gekko!" Iso's voice cut through the haze, full of panic and fear in a way Gekko had never heard before.

Iso was at his side in an instant, catching him before he could hit the ground. The pain was blinding, but through it all, Gekko could feel the intensity of Iso's presence, grounding him.

"Stay with me, Gekko. I've got you," Iso murmured, his voice trembling with fear that he rarely let show.

Gekko's breathing was shallow as he looked up at Iso, seeing the raw emotion etched into his face. There was something in Iso's eyes—something deeper than just fear for a teammate. It was fear for someone he couldn't bear to lose.

"Iso..." Gekko whispered, his voice weak but full of emotion.

Iso's grip tightened on him, and without a word, he lifted Gekko into his arms, carrying him toward the extraction point. The team rallied around them, providing cover as they fought their way out, but Gekko could only focus on Iso—on the feeling of his arms around him, on the desperation in his eyes.

As the sounds of gunfire faded into the distance and the team made their way to safety, Iso never let go. He held Gekko close, whispering reassurances that everything would be alright, even as blood stained the ground beneath them.

And in that moment, Gekko realized something with absolute clarity—Iso's devotion went beyond duty, beyond the battlefield. It was something deeper, something that Gekko could feel in every touch, every word.

As they reached the extraction point and the medics rushed to tend to Gekko's wound, he caught Iso's hand, squeezing it weakly. "I'm okay... don't let go."

Iso's eyes met his, and for the first time in as long as Gekko had known him, Iso's mask cracked. The raw vulnerability in his gaze was undeniable.

"I won't," Iso whispered, his voice breaking. "Not ever."

And as the world around them blurred once more, Gekko knew that no matter what happened next, he and Iso were in this together—bound by something stronger than fear, stronger than the battlefield.

Something real.