We Do What We Want

Confessions

8/11/1470

Alex had just wrapped up a grueling mission, adrenaline still coursing through her veins. As she leaned against the cool, damp brick of an alley wall in the other world, her mind wandered back to her date with Nick a couple months ago.

He had been easy to talk to, his laughter infectious, and she remembered the way his eyes sparkled when he smiled. He had given her his address in the human world, a small but significant gesture that lingered in her thoughts. "If you ever need help, just come on in," he'd said, his tone casual yet laced with sincerity.

Now, in the aftermath of her fight between her targets, those words echoed in her mind. A sharp pain throbbed from a deep gash on her arm, reminding her of the danger she had faced. The wound was more than just physical; it was a reminder of the risks she took, and the last thing she wanted was for her parents to discover the extent of her injuries.

Her father's disappointment loomed large, a shadow that darkened her thoughts. She could almost hear him lecturing her about recklessness, about the importance of maintaining the family's reputation.

So she sat there, torn between two choices: seek help from Nick, or go home and face the inevitable consequences.

The prospect of Nick's care—his calm presence and the healing touch of his medical expertise—felt like a tempting escape.

She glanced down at the crumpled paper in her hand, her heart pounding as she traced the familiar address with her fingers. It was a place she hadn't visited in over two years—a place steeped in memories that felt both distant and vivid.

Two years ago, this had been the site of a confrontation that had turned her life upside down. It was here that she had essentially kidnapped Nick and his companion, Spade, driven by a mix of desperation and a mission gone awry.

Back then, they were caught in a tangled web of conflict and mistrust. The memory of that night still haunted her, a vivid tableau of adrenaline-fueled chaos that played in her mind like a broken record. She could almost hear the distant echoes of shouts and the sharp sound of Spades laughter...how she killed Liam in that exact house.

Alex felt her inner thoughts arguing until she finally came to a conclusion. Nick.

Mustering what little energy she had left, Alex focused on Nick's address, letting it settle in her mind. With a faint shimmer of light, a portal opened beneath her, and she let herself drop, tumbling through to the other side. She landed on the hard floor with a heavy thud, startling a certain pink-haired man across the room.

Nick glanced up from his desk, purple eyes widening at the sight of Alex sprawled on the floor, bloodied and clearly exhausted. The initial shock flickered away, quickly replaced by a lopsided grin.

"Well, that's one way to make an entrance," he said, arching an eyebrow as he leaned casually against the desk. His gaze dropped to her arm, where black blood seeped through her fingers, staining the floor. "Suppose you're here for that?" he added, gesturing to the wound.

"Medic," she ground out, her voice steely even as she winced, clutching her arm tighter. Shrugging off her vest, she revealed a jagged gash, its edges crusted in dark, black blood, filling the air with the unmistakable scent of iron.

Without missing a beat, Nick moved toward her, gently guiding her into a nearby chair. She resisted at first, her instincts fighting the vulnerability, but he didn't push, just chuckled softly under his breath, as if accustomed to her stubbornness.

He grabbed a spray from his first aid kit and aimed it at her wound. A cool mist hissed as it met her skin, numbing the worst of the pain.

Alex bit down on her lip, sharp canines pressing hard enough to draw blood. Her pointed ears twitched at the soft sounds of Nick's amusement.