Kryptonite

Breathe

Lauren smiled as she watched the bullet go straight in the man's heart.

Unable to even react, his eyes fell wide for one last time as he fell to the ground, blood gushing out of his chest as he became lifeless.

"To think, you even were allowed to live after what you did..." Lauren muttered as she dug her shoe into his face. "Sickening," she spat before kicking his head and turning around to head out.

Ivan was leaning against a tree branch, his arms crossed, as he watched the entire thing unfold. 

"Do you feel better now?" Ivan asked as Lauren began to gather her stuff.

"No," she began, causing Ivan's ears to perk up. "I wish I could have killed more today," she added before putting on her mask and walking off, with Ivan walking right behind her.

It's hard to tell her it's wrong when the people she's after are horrendous, he thought to himself. I'm at a lost for what to do. X has too far in to simply climb out. And unlike with James, love isn't gonna work on her.

-- 7 years ago --

"Tsk tsk," Ivan expressed as he finished wrapping Lauren's hands. "What did I tell you about punching through glass?" 

"We needed the remote or else!" Lauren yelled. As she screamed, she accidentally bumped her hand against the edge of a table, causing her to wince in pain and for Ivan to laugh. "Not funny," she hissed.

"In fairness, you've really gotten good," Ivan complimented. "You've probably surpassed me already."

Lauren blushed and turned her head away to hide her face.

To her dismay, Ivan was attentive enough to already notice. He merely let out a quick chuckle before turning away to leave.

"Wait, Ivan," Lauren called out. "Saan ka pupunta?"

"To the mall, of course," Ivan said, grinning. 

"Another date?" Lauren asked.

"We'll see at the end of today," Ivan said with a shrug. Just as he was about to turn around and leave, Lauren stood up and walked in front of him.

"Lau--"

"I don't get it," she began, her eyes averted downwards. "Why..why do you always do this?"

"What do you mean?" Ivan asked.

"Going on dates every weekend with people you barely know...if you're so lonely why don't you just..." Lauren paused as she looked into his eyes. "Nandito naman ako, diba?" she whispered.

Ivan's mouth fell open as he realized what Lauren was getting at. 

"Lauren..."

"We live the same kind of life. You don't have to hide we're assassins. We're together all the time. I mean, why...why look for others?" Lauren said, her voice growing shaky. "I know that's not allowed either...but why...why not?"

"I'm sorry, Lauren," Ivan replied, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I appreciate hearing how you feel. I really do. You're a good friend of mine. But that's as far as it goes for me."

Lauren's breath hitched as she looked up at him.

"We're also on the same team. It's too complicated even if I felt the same," Ivan replied. "Sorry," he apologized again.