Kindred Spirits

Chapter Ten: Emotions Running High

~ o ~

After going through pain

After going through war

After saving each others lives

Sometimes you can't help but fall for someone you once called a comrade

~ o ~

Four Hours Later

My eyes slowly fluttered open and I was greeted with a pain in my chest. I couldn't move a limb to respond to the pain, but I looked around the room as much as my eyes could move. It was difficult to even move my head, but I could see that I was back in my hospital room.

"You're awake! Ay dios mio! She did it!"

I was then met with a warm hug from Sombra. I smiled to myself as she leaned off of me.

"...How long was I out?" I asked.
"The surgery took about four hours and you've been asleep for about three after that. It looks like it's worked! Look at yourself!"

The hacker lifted a mirror to my face and much to my astonishment, my skin color had returned to normal. No longer was it yellow or blue...but instead was slightly tan. Just as I appeared before all of this happened.

"It looks like Dr. Ziegler did something else to allow your skin to get the oxygen it needed quickly. It would've apparently taken you days to return to normal...so I guess there's a lot less work for the heart to take care of now." said Sombra.

I immediately realized that Aiden was not accounted for as I immediately looked her in the eyes.

"Where's Aiden?" I snapped.

Sombra raised her hands and hushed me.

"Relax araña. He's getting his surgery done as we speak. His heart arrived an hour ago so he isn't due to come out of there for at least another two. Just take it easy." she urged.

I sighed deeply as I began to examine my skin. Gone was the blue skin tone I had gotten so used to seeing...and considering how healthy my skin looked, it could only mean that Dr. Ziegler really came through with the surgery. Apart from some pain in my chest which I expected considering that she had to cut into me and then place a whole heart inside without making any mistakes...I felt perfectly fine. I then picked up the mirror and looked at my face. My skin was back to its normal light tan tone...even my eyes which had been turned yellow from the biochemical compound in the pacemaker...were back to their normal blue. I had not seen these eyes...in what felt like ages.

And I had Aiden to thank for all of this. I wouldn't be breathing if it wasn't for him...

"...I...almost kissed him before the surgery..."

Realizing what I nearly did, I felt a new level of heat come to my cheeks, nothing like I felt before and for some reason, I felt even warmer on the inside. It was surreal, as if everything I felt before was now drastically heightened.

"Get some rest mija. I'll wake you up once Aiden comes out of surgery." said Sombra.

Feeling relieved enough, I sunk back to the bed and closed my eyes, allowing sleep to take hold once more.

Four Hours Later

Dr. Ziegler came out of Aiden's room before calling Sombra and I forward. I swiftly made my way to her, attempting to look through the window on the door but I just couldn't get an angle that allowed me to see him.

"How is he?" asked Sombra.

She smiled at Sombra and nodded.

"The surgery was a complete success. The heart he now has is actually not as healthy as his original one so he has to take it easy for a little while for his body to get used to it. He'll be just fine otherwise." she replied with a bright smile.

I gave her a grateful look, finally feeling the worry leave my mind as I grabbed her hand in both of mine.

"Thank you...so much Dr. Ziegler." I said.

Much to my surprise, she placed a hand on my cheek and offered me a forgiving smile.

"I know what happened to you Amélie. I know you weren't yourself when you did all of those things...Aiden told me everything when I spoke to him before the surgery." she explained.

I looked at her in confusion.

"I know that they brainwashed you and altered your body to prevent you from ever feeling emotions again. I made sure to restore you to normal. It's going to feel overwhelming at first because you haven't had a high concentration of any type of hormone in your body for years...but you'll adjust. Now, you need to take care of your friend; he's going to need you because he'll take longer to adjust." she explained.
"What happened? Is something wrong with him?" I asked.

The doctor nodded slowly.

"Talon conducted an experiment on him when he first became the assassin known as The Eagle. He was their very first attempt at a super soldier that went well. It's very similar to what Jack Morrison went through except on a grander scale. His muscles are far more developed than an average humans and the majority of his senses are heightened. However, because the new heart he has is not as strong as his original one, he won't be as capable of a soldier until his body adjusts. Right now...he's vulnerable." she explained.
"What did they do to him?" asked Sombra.

The doctor took a breath before showing a clipboard to the two of us.

"They introduced several serums and biochemical compounds into his bloodstream. The serums are what make him so fast and strong. The compounds are what enhanced his senses to almost superhuman levels. There is no finer soldier on the planet than this man because of these changes...but it also awakened a dark side." she continued.

She turned the page to show a picture of Aiden, with his eyes yellow.

"The alien compounds in his body caused him to lose his mind coupled with the neural reconditioning he went through before, which is what caused him to develop his dark alter ego. Though he became the perfect soldier, Talon also created the ultimate killer provided that he kept falling prey to his rage. That's why they assassinated his wife and kidnapped his daughter; they wanted him to be angry at the world which would encourage him to kill without remorse."

I felt deeply worried for him now as I looked to the door.

"He'll be very much capable of doing everything he could before...but he needs at least a week to adjust to the new heart or he could risk straining it. Then there will be nothing that even I can do."

I nodded firmly.

"I'll make sure he doesn't do anything strenuous." I said.

Dr. Ziegler smiled at me once more.

"He kept expressing how worried he was about you. How much it mattered to him that you were alright...I haven't seen such kindness in someone in a very long time. He was more than willing to give up his life for you. You have a good friend Amélie. I suggest you hold onto him for as long as you can."

With a final nod, the doctor took her leave as I turned to Sombra. She smiled at me before nodding.

"Go. He's waiting for you." she whispered.

I hesitated at first; I wasn't fully sure what I was going to say to him or what I was going to do...but after Sombra placed a hand on my shoulder and gave me an encouraging nod, I finally convinced myself to enter the room.

And there he was...fast asleep on the bed.

I approached him and pulled up a chair to sit next to him. After making myself comfortable, I reached out to his hand and touched it.

"It...feels so much more warm..."

I don't know if it was because my body was restored to normal...or if it was a combination of the butterflies in my stomach and my now racing heart. I felt simultaneously exhilarated and afraid...because even though I felt so strongly for him, was I going against his wishes?

He always said that he respects Gerard to the point of never wanting to do anything he wouldn't approve of. We've had close encounters several times in the past and each time, he's managed to stop himself but never in a way that truly offended me. He was just trying to be courteous and give me respect...but after all he's done for me, going so far as to give his own heart to me in an effort to save my life...

Doesn't he deserve to be happy? Doesn't he deserve a reprieve?

"Doesn't he deserve the same love that he shows others..."

My hand then held his in a gentle grip as I felt emotions begin to take over. Tears began to stream out of my eyes even though I didn't feel in the least saddened. I knew the struggle that went on in his mind whenever he had a tender moment with me: the guilt of feeling like he betrayed Gerard if he allowed himself to give in. I couldn't ask for more of a gentleman when it came to him because I knew how difficult it could be to resist temptation. For a long time, I did nothing but let temptation take hold and now that I was myself once more...I could empathize how he felt.

There was also the lingering pain of his wife being assassinated. I didn't know Lisa that well, but I understood how much he loved her. Knowing that his employers were the ones who had her assassinated must've weighed heavily on his conscience, especially when he wasn't able to keep his daughter safe. I didn't think about the feelings he may still have for her or if he wanted to remain faithful to the end of his life...but I knew that I wanted to at least let him know how I felt about him.

He had nothing to worry about when it came to dishonoring Gerard because my husband entrusted my life to him and he kept his promise. He protected me with everything he had...and I know I've fallen for him.

The question is...would he accept my feelings?

"You came through for me once again...and still you ask for nothing in return. It's getting irritating to have to thank you and then have no way to repay all that you've done..." I whispered.

He didn't seem to hear me as his body didn't move at all.

"When we met again, I wasn't the nicest of individuals to you. But you took care of me regardless. You nursed me back to health and helped me rediscover what it feels like to care for others...and not just about myself." I continued.

My grip on his hand tightened as I felt my heart begin to pound against my chest.

"This feeling...I haven't known it in so long that I began to think there would never be a day where I could be normal again. Where I could go back to being the person I was before Talon did all of this to me...you paved the way for all this and you did it without hesitating. As if you always intended to make the difference that I didn't know I needed."

I leaned closer to him.

"I thought a lot about you during the two months I was gone. Your voice kept me from losing myself to my killer instinct and now...I've conquered it. You saved not just my life...but also my soul."

I leaned over to his sleeping form and kissed his cheek.

"For that...words cannot express how grateful I am to you Aiden Beuclair..."

I placed a hand on his cheek, still feeling the tears streaming down my cheeks.

"...You'll probably never see it the way I do. But you've done so much for me...and been there for me through all the times I needed someone that I know for sure now. I care about you...deeply. I haven't felt so strongly for anyone since Gerard."

I held his hand with both of mine.

"I hope one day...you can bring yourself to see me in that light. Because I fell for you long ago...I just didn't know it."

Not wanting to leave his side, I brought the chair closer and rested my head on the bed before allowing a comforting sleep to take hold.

Later That Night- The Les Bains Paris

I stirred slowly from my slumber to find myself in a soft, queen sized bed. After looking around for a few moments, I realized that I was no longer in the hospital bed. I looked down at my body to see that I was dressed in a velvet purple nightgown. Someone had taken the liberty of undressing me completely and putting on fresh clothes. After blushing at the thought of being seen in all my natural glory, I was greeted with the scent of food being cooked. I got to my feet, astonished at the fact that I had no trouble doing so whatsoever as I peered through the door.

I saw that there was a covered pot, cooking what smelled like pasta sauce as well as an uncovered pot which was presumably cooking pasta. I then noticed that Sombra was standing at the door, putting on her gloves as she was talking to Aiden. She looked as if she were getting ready to leave.

"Keep me posted on how she's doing. I'm just glad you came out unscathed despite the longer wait." she said.
"I will. Thanks again for everything Sombra." he replied.

She responded by giving him a warm hug, burying her head into his chest and for some reason, sparking a pang of jealousy deep within my heart. After she released him, she then poked his nose.

"BOOP!" she teased.

He rolled his eyes, but laughed softly at her childish gesture before she took her leave.

The last time I saw Aiden, he had bandages on his shoulder as well as around his torso for his broken ribs. Now, he showed no sign of those injuries. Evidently, Dr. Ziegler took the liberty of repairing all of his injuries while she operated on him. Now, he was dressed in a navy blue sweater that was just a little too long for his hands. He was never a muscular man, but he was very toned and that was evident in his light but solid build. He was wearing thick sleeping pants as well as white socks. His hair had grown a little in the two months I hadn't seen him, which lengthened his spiky hair enough to flare over his eyes. He allowed some of it to grow on the sides as well. However...

Somehow, the part that captured me most was his crimson eyes. I no longer saw the deep yellow they took on before, whenever he gave into his darker side. That could only mean that he honored his word and had the doctor remove the implant.

I eased the door open and quietly made my way to the couch in the middle of the room. He didn't seem to notice as he went back to the stove to continue cooking. I sat in silence and watched him cook for a few minutes until he finally turned around, evidently surprised to see that I was awake. It was difficult at first to meet his eye, considering everything I poured out to him earlier...but he didn't seem aware of anything I said considering how happy he was to see me.

"How're you feeling? You were asleep for a while." he said.
"I should be asking you that considering you had heart surgery too." I replied.

He smiled and nodded.

"I'm adjusting to it well. Not as quickly as you did with mine...but still well." he replied.

I then got to my feet before pulling him away from the stove.

"It's my turn to cook. Get off your feet." I said firmly.

He seemed hesitant, but I offered him a gentle smile.

"Let me take care of you this time; you've been doing it for me for far too long." I said.

He sighed softly but conceded as he brushed past me and sat in front of the island counter. I finished cooking all of the food, remembering the other times that he did it for me before bringing the servings to the counter. He smiled at me.

"You're a fast learner." he said.
"You make it sound like I didn't know how to cook before." I teased.

He chuckled heartily.

"Considering how often you made Gerard do it in the past, I was beginning to wonder."

I rolled my eyes before playfully smacking him with the wooden spoon in my hand. It...felt amazing to be able to feel all of these things again. I didn't know whether it was due in part to the conditioning breaking, or because I actually had a healthy circulatory system again. Or maybe it was because...

"I'm with him again..."

We ate our food in a comfortable silence and after he washed the dishes, he led me back to my bedroom. Astonishingly, he booked two rooms for us instead of just one. After I got back into the bed, he sat at the side.

"I booked another room for myself. Will you be alright in here?" he asked.

I bit my lower lip and looked away, feeling a deep blush on my cheeks. I didn't want him gone in any shape or form so I gathered my words.

"...Would it be a problem if you stayed here with me?" I asked.

I probably failed to sound needy when I said that and after a few seconds, I glanced back at him to see that he was completely flustered and was probably just as red as I was. However, unlike before when he would wordlessly, but also politely dismiss me...he hesitated to speak.

"...Is something wrong? Nightmares again?" he asked.
"No...I just don't want to be alone." I replied.

It took him a few seconds to process my request but he finally conceded.

"Alright. Let me cancel the room and bring my things over. I'll be back in ten minutes." he said.

After giving me a comforting smile, he took his leave. Just as he promised, he returned within ten minutes and placed his bags in front of the bed. He then stepped into the bathroom to change into his sleepwear before he climbed into the bed with me after turning off the lights. He however didn't lay close to me, instead giving me a lot of space. I turned around to face him to see that he was looking up at the ceiling. I scooted closer to him before slightly tugging on his sleeve. He turned to face me as I gave him a meek look.

"...Are you okay? You're quite far..." I whispered.

He cleared his throat in an attempt to calm down as he nodded.

"I-I...I'm alright." he replied.

It was both adorable and hilarious to see the assassin get so flustered as I turned my back to him.

"...You don't have to lay so far away from me. I don't bite."

I said those words hoping that he would muster the courage to move closer and thankfully, my plan worked. I felt him shuffle closer and it wasn't long before I could feel his breath on the back of my neck. It sent an unknown thousand shivers down my spine and caused goosebumps to appear all over my body. It took a lot of effort to prevent myself from flinching, but I remained still. I glanced in the corner of my eye to see that he was staring into space, not sure at all of how to continue. Feeling that I had teased him enough, I took one of his hands and pulled it over my stomach before easing myself into his chest. After snuggling against his body, I waited for his response. It took a few more seconds and I could tell how nervous he was from his pounding heart...but he finally wrapped the other arm around my waist and hugged me close. I let out a breath of satisfaction, the very first one that had nothing to do with killing someone...and allowed myself to melt in his embrace.

"...Comfortable?" he asked.

I laughed softly before placing one of my hands on his.

"Yes...very comfortable."