Hello again! Hope you enjoy the new chapter!

-Blink


On my 10th birthday, I remember running downstairs and seeing my dad standing there, waiting for me to wake up. I don't know how long he'd been waiting, but it didn't matter...he was there. That was the day he got me a bow and arrow. Training for the inevitable began then. I was just pretending to be him, and it was fun for me - not to mention I was a natural. He was hoping my imagination would turn into ambition... He hoped right.

I was 13 when we were honoring the 10th anniversary of my mother's death. I didn't know her that well since she died when I was 3, but she loved boating and doing things on water. Dad took me kayaking. I hated it. He laughed and agreed with me, and we bonded over how great land is. How much easier it is to aim at targets when the ground you're on isn't rocking back and forth. But then that became our new challenge. That was also when I learned I couldn't swim. My mom couldn't either. In a way, it was nice to share at least something with her, even a weakness like that.

...

Maybe a day has passed since I killed Tannen; maybe a week. I wasn't even sure. I was so close to death but my stubborn ass wouldn't let it happen. I should've been grateful and feeling more alive than ever, but I felt even more lost. My dad's death ruined me and turned me into a recluse. Only speaking to neighbors, and Jordi... It was comfortable for me. Meeting Aiden was a curveball to the routine, but it was welcome. But even thinking that Dad could be alive felt like I wasted the last five years by doing nothing. I never felt that I wasted them before. I was happy feeling retired. But now I feel like I've been letting him down. Plus, I've never killed anyone before.

Jordi walked into my room, "Sunshine, you done sulking? You're starting to bum me out. Go do something, you're alive!"

I didn't respond. It wasn't the near death experience that I was worried about. I was laying on my side, back facing Jordi, looking outside.

"Rip…" Jordi started with a strange hint of softness to his voice.

"I know, Jordi, you don't have to say it," I said quietly. I knew Jordi enough to know when he was going to try to break character for my sake. To tell me everything is going to be okay. And that he understands I'm going through a difficult situation. I'm sure Aiden told him about my dad. Or maybe he didn't. I haven't even gotten a call or text from him… not that I should expect to.

Jordi sighed, "I know you know… So if you ever actually need to hear it, just say so, okay?"

That was all I needed to hear. I smiled and might have cried a little bit. Getting your head bashed into apparently makes you emotional.

...

4ish years ago…

There's a fun superhero event at a toy store every year in mid-October, for Halloween. Mostly people in costume taking pictures with kids, and some other little activities, but I used to go to feel some sort of life in lonely Chicago.

I drew a lot of pictures and wanted to hang them up on the walls for decoration or something. I was ready to leave that day, until I saw Jackson, Nicky, and Lena taking pictures with people dressed up.

I don't know if I was comfortable with walking up to them and saying hi, but something made me walk over to them. And right when I was about 10 feet away, I realized how creepy I might have looked to Nicky - like I was following them or trying to stalk Jackson or something. I turned on my heel and started walking away. I looked back to make sure I wasn't noticed, and in the process, running right into someone.

"Oh god," I said as I stumbled. The person I ran into held my arm, keeping me steady. "I'm so sorry, I'm not paying atten-" I looked up and saw a familiar face. "It's you!" Of course, I still didn't know his name at the time. I took a few steps back, mostly out of nerves. "Are you sure you're not following me?" I smirked, trying to regain my cool.

He chuckled, "Chicago is starting to feel a lot smaller."

"Uncle Aiden!" We heard. I looked behind me to see Jackson coming up to him, followed by Nicky with Lena. I stood off to the side a bit to avoid getting in the way.

First time I heard his name. I didn't think it suited him. He looked like too much of a square….He should be a Philip or Chuck... or something.

Jackson reached Aiden, "I'm going to enter a tournament!" He said.

"Jackson, you can't run off like that! Even if you see Aiden." Nicky said frustrated when she finally caught up, holding Lena in her arms. She looked at Aiden, "You're late."

Lena was 3 at the time. I didn't understand why she had to be carried everywhere. Had I known Lena's fate, I would tell Nicky to never let her go. I eventually learned to get along with Nicky, but at the time I thought she was rude. Little did I know, she was going through a divorce.

"Sorry, Nicky, got caught up in a few things-"

"You're always getting caught up in a few things when we make plans," Nicky began to rant and I turned my head and looked at the crowd, minding my own business, and trying not to make Aiden feel uncomfortable. "Can you watch Jacks? Lena and I are going on a walk." He had just enough time to say bye to her and they walked off.

"Mom's been mad all day. She didn't even say anything when I won the first round"

"Don't worry Jacks, your mom has a lot going on right now," Aiden said pushing Jackson's hat down.

"Is it about my dad?" He asked fixing his hat.

"Don't worry about it, kiddo. What tournament it it?"

Jackson was about to respond, but he turned to look at me and recognized me immediately. "Spider-man!" He cheered.

I liked kids enough, but I never claimed to be good at getting them to like me. Jackson remembering my face was a great first step. We chatted a while about superheroes and video games. It was pretty fun. Jackson was a smart kid, even then.

"Jacks, I think you're in the next round for the game," Aiden interrupted, hearing Jacks' name being called. He was about to start following him to the game, but held onto his shoulder before he turned to look at me, "Want to join?" He asked.

I dreaded looking at my watch, and he noticed.

"I hope I'm not keeping you from something," Aiden said.

I sighed before I answered him, "I really wish you weren't, but I have somewhere to be in like an hour." I made plans with Jordi. After my dad died, he was all I had. I couldn't blow him off after how much of a help he has been. Jordi would understand, but I wouldn't be okay with it.

Aiden nodded, "What are the odds of running into you again?" He asked with a hint of coyness to his voice.

I smiled, "At this rate, pretty good."

"I don't know if I feel like chancing it," Aiden said, slowly being lead by Jackson's pull of his arm.

I followed just to finish the conversation, "Yeah?" I asked dumbly, "In that case, I may be free to run into you later," I'm so bad at flirting.

"If you're from the area, I might be at Grant Park this evening at 7."

"What a coincidence, I might be there at 7, too! By the fountain?" I asked

"Sounds like where I go on Friday nights," He smirked and turned to hold out his hand for me to shake, "Aiden."

I turned to make eye contact, noticing how green his eyes were. There was something mysterious about them. Maybe the name suits him after all. "Oh," I shook his hand, "Ripley."

….

My phone started to ring. I was hoping having flashbacks about him would make his spider sense tingle and call me. I'm not sure why I wanted him to be the one on the other line, but after what he said to me the last time I saw him, I felt it was appropriate. I wasn't owed anything; I was just being ridiculous. I was too afraid to answer to even check the phone. I looked at the phone and it was a number I didn't recognize or even saved into my contacts. I answered it anyway and immediately regretted it.

"Sissy, it's Sarah!" I heard the high-pitched voice on the other line.

I hung up. My sister. My fucking sister - HALF sister to be clear. I wanted Aiden, and I got my perfect, skinny, blonde sister with the perfect family and a "modest" home. Even without trying, she was shoving it into my face.

I got up out of bed feeling like I beaten up. I looked in the mirror afraid of confirming whats on the other side... and surprised myself. Didn't look as bad as I felt.

I walked into the living room to see Jordi cleaning some of his guns, watching TV.

He looked up at me, "Well look who came back from the dead. Actually you might still be dead. You look like shit, darling."

I sat down next to him, "I'm still prettier than you," I replied.

"There she is! Thank God, I was getting ready to pack your bags and throw your ass out to Aiden's creepy motel." Jordi said fully turning his attention to me.

I chuckled, "He'd just throw me out to some loony bin," I really wanted to ask Jordi about him.

"No way, he won't stop asking me about you," Jordi said under his breath.

I wanted to just leap out of my seat, but my body wouldn't let me, "He won't!?"

Jordi looked at me with the most disappointed look and sighed, laying back into the couch, "I thought you said there isn't anything going ooonnnnn."

"There isn't! ...Technically."

Jordi stood up to go into the kitchen to get a drink. 10am? Alright, Chin. "You people and your feelings. It gets in the way and you make dumb decisions. Just remember why you guys broke up and why you couldn't stop crying about him."

"Why do you have to ruin something before it even gets started?" I asked, getting angry. Jordi is not the person to take seriously, but it was not a good day.

"It already started and ended! Years ago!" He countered.

I tried not to respond fearing that I might say something stupid so I went into my room, hearing Jordi in the distance, "Just don't lock yourself up in there for 3 more days or I'm selling the apartment with you in it!"

I stopped right at the door and turned back to get Jordi in view, "If you're so miserable with us being together, then why the fuck are you so involved? Asking him to follow me and making sure I see him all the time?!"

Jordi turned his head and just looked at me for a moment, "Oh. This is my fault?" He said more than asked. He maintained his eye contact as he crossed the living room until there were only a few steps between us. He tried to intimidate me and I just set my hands on my hips. "I never asked for you to have a stupid crush on him. Hell, I didn't even ask to meet him in the first place, if you really want to dig into the origins... Where do I come in?"

"You have a lot of capable… associates. So why him?" I asked.

"Because for a lot of them, the worst thing that could happen is that you die, they fail the mission, and they don't get paid. Aiden would take it on as a personal mission to make sure you're safe,"

"And you didn't have to pay him," I retorted remembering when Aiden said he owed Jordi a favor.

"I offered payment, but he didn't accept. Take that how you will, but you're welcome for ensuring your safety. A little ungrateful, no?" He walked away.

I wanted to leave. To go see a movie - but we know what happened the last time I did that. To go to a park – but the sunlight would burn my eyes and make my head hurt. To go shopping like what most emotional women do – but I had enough clothes. I walked out of the apartment and looked at my phone. I was a tap away from calling Aiden, but I stopped. Suddenly, Jordi's words made sense. It ended for a reason…but what if we were wrong, and it wasn't even a good reason? I decided to stop overthinking things and I called him, but he didn't answer. My courage deflated.

I started going down the stairwell and called my sister back. Even extremely distant family is better than no family, right? "Hey Sarah, sorry I hung up. I had a rough few days and wasn't fully awake yet."

"Aw, sissy, that's okay! I just wanted to hear how you were! It's been a while," Sarah said on the other line.

"Sure has." I said.

We bullshitted about her unsurprisingly perfect life for a while until she asked me: "So how are you and Aiden doooing?"

I wanted to throw my phone, "We haven't been together for a while." I said flatly.

"Oh I'm sorry! I didn't know. Who are you seeing now?"

It was always about men with her. She needed that security so she never went single for longer than a week. That's fine that it works for some people, but she always judged me for not having a boyfriend for months or years at a time.

"No one," I simple said gritting my teeth.

"Oh em gee! No way! Why?"

"Well you would know about that stuff if you called me more than every 2 years... Oops, I gotta go… To get a boyfriend and all that since it's so important. Bye" and hung up. I finally got to ground level and tied my hair up so it didn't look like a tangled mess, which it totally was.

I spent all day walking around to who knows where. I wore a cap to hide my face just in case. I kind of felt like a celebrity, only people wanted to steal from me and ruin my life, instead of taking pictures and well… ruin my life.

...

I made sure to be at the park a minute after 7. I couldn't be eager and early. I didn't want to be too late to seem uninterested. It took me 2 hours to make this decision. Jordi probably thought I was high with how I was acting around him.

I saw him standing there, staring at the fountain, which lights up after dark. He wore a long dark coat and a cap. For some reason, preparing to say hi to him made me nervous. The last three times, he either approached me or I walked into him.

I finally reached him and had to say something, "Fancy meeting you here," I said trying to sound clever.

He looked over to me, chuckled, and turned slightly towards me, "Never thought we'd have such luck meeting 4 times in 4 months,"

I smiled, "I'm actually kind of surprised you wanted to see me after a previous encounter."

He knew exactly which one I was talking about. "Yeah, where'd you learn to take someone down like that?" He genuinely sounded interested. I guess I would be, too.

"My dad used to be in the military. He moved a lot so I was homeschooled and training was inevitable," I pretended to sound annoyed by it.

"I think that's a good thing. A lot of bad people in this world. Self defense is the best thing you could learn. You have... really good aim."

He had no idea, "I get lucky sometimes," I smirked. "What about you? Saved me from that dude shooting me."

"Not from a military background, but I started when I was really young. Got in fights at school a lot," He replied.

"Causing trouble or finishing it?" I asked.

"The latter... mostly," Bad boy, huh? There was a short silence, "Can I ask why you were being shot at? Or is that topic off the table at this point?" He asked humorously. Joking or not, he was very forward. This might get annoying fast.

"I'd rather not ruin this night by talking about that," I sort of joked.

"There are very few things you could say to ruin this night, but I understand." He said. At least he didn't push the subject.

"This might be one of those very few things," I laughed to make the conversation lighter.

"I got skeletons of my own that I could ruin this night with. Yours wouldn't even hold to candle to mine," He turned to me fully and leaned against the railing, "Want to walk around?"

I smiled, "Like what?" I asked disregarding his suggestion.

"Not going to share until you tell me about yours," He stepped back from the rail he was leaning on.

"Oh is that how we're going to do it?" I started to laugh,

He laughed back, "Yeah, that's how we're going to do it," and held out his arm for me to link with my own, which I accepted and walk with him. There was something very old fashioned about him, and it's the first thing that really draw me to him.

I don't remember much of what we talked about, but I always thought it was a good thing.

...

Nighttime came fast and I decided it was safer taking the bus around instead of walking. I've already almost been killed a few times, having it get progressively worse. Next time I'm sure I'll die. Before I turned to get on a street to the bus, I saw Aiden walking in the distance. He was alone, in his "vigilante" get-up, heading to go underground to parking garages or something. I quickened my pace a bit to try to catch up without getting caught.

When I caught up, I heard him talking to a woman, so I stood at the top of the steps. I could not make out what they were saying, and it bugged me. Why had Aiden not called me back when I called this morning? Why were they having a secret meeting someplace shady like this? Before I could get too deep in thought, I heard someone walk up the steps, so I walked ahead, at a slow pace. The woman who I assume Aiden was talking to, walked passed me and I could only see her from behind. Long Mohawk style hair, leather jacket… She was tall and lean. She was someone I could never be. Did Aiden want someone like her? A wild character, not some vagabond? I sat down on a bench on the street and just started sifting through my phone. Lucky it was only 8pm and the streets of Chicago were far from too dark or lonely. But I still wanted to just go home. I wanted to text Jordi to come pick me up, but I didn't want him to go on a rant about how right he was.

"Ripley?" I heard Aiden's voice break my thoughts.

I looked up and saw him approaching me, "Hey," I just said with a small smile.

"You look….-"

"Like a zombie? Yeah." I interrupted.

"No – I, uh… Mind if I have a seat?" He asked and I moved to make room. He sat down next to me, but not too close. "I was going to say you're looking better than I thought. How are you doing?"

"I tried calling you today," I said looking down at my hands, playing with my nails.

"Jordi made me promise to leave you alone. He said he hacked your phone to see who calls you and would put a hit on me if he saw my name pop up," Aiden said

I didn't want to, but I laughed. "I really wish I could be mad at him for that." Too busy being mad at him for other things.

"He's just making sure you're okay. Which I'm questioning now since you're out and about in the city… at night," Aiden emphasized the last part.

"I guess I just needed the fresh air. Tannen's dead – there's no one after me anymore," I shrugged.

"Did you want a ride home or something?" He asked.

I shook my head and sighed, "No... I don't want to go back right now. I left because he was being an ass and I had to leave," I admitted.

Aiden feigned surprise, "You finally realize he's an ass."

I smirked, "Oh, I know he's quite a handful, but it got a little personal...and I don't know, it irritated me. Thanks for the offer, though." I tried to keep the conversation with Jordi out of my head. I just enjoyed being in Aiden's presence again, even if it didn't mean anything.

"Well, I was going to head home to uh... research. I don't want to leave you out here alone." He said.

"I'll be fine. Do what you have to do," I tried to sound reassuring.

He didn't budge, "You know I can't do that."

"Well I'm not going back to wherever Jordi is!"

Aiden lifted his cap and rubbed his forehead for a second, "You could uh... stay at my place...for a bit. If you don't want to go back there." Sounded like it was hard for him to say; like either he wanted to ask but knew it was a bad idea, or he really didn't want to ask me at all but was just being nice.

"Don't have to sound so eager to ask me," I said sarcastically. He looked at me ready to apologize but then realized I was kidding with the way I was smiled. And the look he had on his face gave me my answer.

"Come on," He said standing up, offering his hand to help me up. I refused it, but stood up and followed him to a car he had parked in an alley. Probably wasn't even his. I knew what he did.. what he still does. But still… sometimes nice things just get to me.

He drove in silence as he pulled up to the Owl Motel - his hideout at the moment. He lead me into his room and locked the door behind him, "Make yourself at home," He offered. Wasn't much to make oneself at home. Not even for the person who lives there.

"Thanks," I said and took a second to look around. I let him do what he had to do - his 'research'. He listened to the same audio files over and over. There was a break in the audio and I spoke up, "I hope i'm not intruding..."

"No, you're fine," He simply said without even looking in my direction. I knew that this was who Aiden was now. I can think back to how he was before Lena died... He was serious when it came to his work, but when it mattered, he was happy. This Aiden hadn't felt real happiness since, and not even closure would revert him back to the Aiden I missed. I had to face the facts that he was gone and I didn't even know who was in front of me anymore. Women have a natural instinct to nurture and "fix" a broken person, but some things are just messed up beyond repair. Lena died, but he blames himself and he will never let that go, even if he gets revenge.

"I want to help you," I said quietly. Enough to where he could hear it if he wanted to, or he could pretend he didn't and ignore me.

"No," He said quickly.

"Why not?"

He turned his chair to me, finally, "You have your own shit to deal with, I don't want you wrapped up in mine, too."

"Aiden, you don't have to treat me like a liability - I can take care of myself!"

"Clearly," He scoffed. I wanted to kick his chair over, but he was right, "Plus I have all the help I need right now."

I froze. That woman? "Oh yeah? Like...who?" I asked cautiously.

"Someone I can't really talk about for their own safety, and Jordi."

"Whoa whoa whoa, JORDI is helping you?" I walked right up to him, making him have to look up to me

He cocked an eyebrow, "He didn't tell you?"

"No! What the fuck!? I know you have done business together and all, but this is huge!" I sat down on his bed.

"You're telling me. The man's insane first of all. Already questioned his methods a few times." Aiden sighed.

"Is this why he never tells me where he goes anymore? Why wouldn't he tell me?"

"I don't know, but... Rip, we're getting progress. Please don't say anything to him to make him stop," Aiden was hunched over in his chair, leaning his arms on his knees, and for the first time since we got there, he looked at me in the eyes.

I didn't respond for a second because I wanted to remember this moment. He was vulnerable and his eyes were pleading and my heart was pounding quicker than before. "Well, if you already paid him... he wouldn't stop no matter what I say."

He nodded back but looked at the ground for a while before he spoke to break the silence, "I just don't want you to get hurt on my account." He still didn't look at me.

"Old Aiden may never be coming back, but old-me is trying to escape more and more these days,"

He finally looked up at me, but I could barely see his green eyes from under the cap, "I don't want you to have to do that," he responded quickly.

His response, his eye contact... seemed so caring and familiar... Maybe there's a part of "Old-Aiden" that I could bring back. He stood up from his chair and headed over to the kitchen.

"Do you want anything to dr-"

"Aiden," I interrupted and grabbed his hand to stop him from continuing. He looked over in my direction, but didn't fully turn until a few moments later.

I don't know what came over me, but I reached up and lightly cupped his face that I've wanted to touch for so long. The scruff was something new and I was curious about it. It suited him, but made him look tired and...older. He didn't react to my touch and just stared back into my eyes. He didn't move until I reached up to try to take his hat off. He grabbed my wrist, "What are you doing?" He said, more than asked, barely above a whisper. It gave me chills.

"Wha?" I'm not sure I even said anything.

"What are you doing?" He asked a bit louder and stepped back.

"I-uhh, I don't know." I took a step back as well.

"Get some sleep," He said quickly and sat back down into his chair, "You can have the bed... Just - I have some things to catch up with," and he went back to his computer.

I stood there for a second before I realized what happened. He rejected me. I took a chance and he rejected me. I went over to his couch, laid down, and wrapped the blanket over me, my back facing him. I felt stupid - I couldn't imagine what he was thinking. I don't even know this person anymore. Crying wasn't going to do anything, but I couldn't help it. My thoughts kept going back to that woman I heard him talking to. Maybe I lost my chance by a day or by a year, but if she had something to do with it, I couldn't change it. Aiden had probably moved on, and it was selfish and stupid to think he'd sulk and wait around for me to realize how much I missed him.

Many minutes went by before I even began to start drifting off into sleep.

"What did you mean by... 'Old-Aiden'?" He asked quietly, out of the blue.

I took a few moments to make sure my voice wouldn't sound like I had been crying, "It doesn't matter," I said and meant it. Whatever I had with Aiden was gone and I was stupid to think I could fix it.


oops! Hope you enjoy all the Past and Present Aiden here. I like being able to write two different "love stories", lemme know what you think.

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