One Dark Fate The Battle Of Survival ||Kth ff|| Mafiya A/U

light to the surface

"Holding her felt like holding a wild force of nature. But even a storm deserves to rest, and I want to be the calm she finds."
-Taehyung

I don't know how long we stayed like that. My arms around her, her body limp against mine. The room was quiet, save for the sound of her shallow breathing and the soft thump of my heart against my ribs. Everything else had faded away-the pain in my foot, the storm outside-none of it mattered.

All I could think about was her.

"The world sees her as invincible, but I see the cracks, she hides so well. And for some reason, I want to be the one who helps put her back together."

Her hair brushed against my cheek as I held her close, her warmth so different from the ruthless woman I'd come to know. Venom. She was always in control, always a step ahead, yet here she was, fragile in my arms. It didn't make sense. Nothing about her ever made sense to me.

I shifted slightly, realizing that she hadn't moved in a while. Her breathing felt lighter, too light, almost imperceptible.

"Hey..." I whispered, barely audible. Nothing.

My heart picked up, anxiety tightening my chest. "Venom," I said again, louder this time, trying to shake her gently. Still, no response.

Fear stabbed through me as I carefully laid her down on the bed, my hands trembling as I arranged her head on the pillow. She looked so pale, so different from the fiery force of nature that scared everyone, including me at times. What happened? Had I pushed her too far?

I stared at her face, my mind spinning. The tight knot in my chest only grew. She looked... vulnerable. It was strange, seeing her like this. Vulnerability didn't suit her, yet here it was, lying beneath her sharp exterior.

I sat there for a moment, just looking at her, my mind swirling with questions I didn't have answers to. I don't know what I expected. For her to wake up and push me away? To lash out at me like she usually did when someone got too close? But she just lay there, silent and still.

"What are you...? I couldn't understand you."

The words felt strange on my tongue. And yet, they were the only ones that made sense. She was a mystery, one I couldn't solve. She terrified me, frustrated me, but... something was different now.
I felt a strange kind of protectiveness toward her.

I shook my head, running a hand through my hair as I tried to gather my thoughts. This wasn't the time for confusion. I needed to get help, or at least find out if she was hurt. But I couldn't move, like some invisible force held me there.

Then there was a knock.

I glanced at the door, startled by the sound, and saw Atharva standing in the doorway. He was soaked, rainwater dripping from his hair and clothes, making small puddles on the floor. His face was unreadable, but his eyes were serious.

"Come with me," he said, his voice steady, cutting through the quiet.

I hesitated, my gaze flickering back to Venom. I didn't want to leave her like this, but something about the way Atharva stood there, unwavering, made me follow him. I rose to my feet, a sharp pain shooting up my leg as I limped toward the door. I had forgotten about my foot until now.

Atharva looked down at it immediately. "Your feet are bleeding."

Without another word, he led me out of the room and into the hallway, the distant sound of rain following us. He didn't speak as he motioned for me to sit, and I watched as he retrieved a first aid kit. The silence between us felt thick, but I didn't know what to say. My mind was still on her.