Chapter Text
The days passed, and Tyler and Nik found a new routine.
Tyler would venture to the village close to their refuge to fetch food and essential supplies, while Nik stayed at home, caring for Mate.
Nik struggled to find solace in sleep. Every time she closed her eyes, the haunting image of Yaz's lifeless gaze pierced her dreams. Each night, her heart shattered a little more, and the weight of grief pressed upon her like an unyielding burden.
One afternoon, after dozing off, she was jolted awake by a nightmare from her past. It was a memory of her childhood, a moment when she felt powerless to protect Yaz.
In the dream, she believed he was dead, only to be confronted by the haunting emptiness in his eyes. Nik woke up screaming, the echoes of her distress reverberating through the silent cabin.
Tyler, who had been outside, rushed back in, concern etched on his face.
Nik, overwhelmed by the vivid memories of her nightmare, evaded Tyler's attempts to comfort her.
Instead, she spent the entire afternoon wandering around the cabin, only returning when darkness cloaked the surroundings.
Tyler, deeply worried, felt a sickness in the pit of his stomach, a helplessness in the face of Nik's pain.
*** *** ***
After a month, a subtle shift began to unfold.
Nik reluctantly started taking the medication prescribed for her wounds, and her appetite gradually returned.
Despite these physical improvements, an emotional void lingered within her, a persistent ache that refused to fade.
Tyler, relieved to witness Nik taking small steps toward recovery, welcomed the change.
The past month had been a harrowing experience for both of them, and he had grown increasingly concerned about Nik's well-being.
There were days when she couldn't muster the strength to utter a single word, leaving their communication confined to non-verbal exchanges.
On a Sunday morning, a glimmer of change surfaced. Nik woke up after Tyler, the first time she had done so in weeks.
She ventured into the kitchen, her voice breaking the prolonged silence as she requested coffee. Tyler's heart warmed at the sound. He had missed the familiar cadence of her voice, now raspy and unfamiliar after a month of near silence.
He brewed the coffee, savoring the simple joy of their shared morning ritual. As Nik sat at the table, cradling the warm cup in her hands, Tyler observed a flicker of something resembling hope in her eyes. It was a small but significant step forward.
Over breakfast, Tyler cautiously broached the subject, "Nik, I'm glad you're taking the meds and eating a bit more. How are you feeling?"
Nik looked at him, her gaze still haunted but with a hint of acknowledgment. "I don't know, Tyler. Everything feels... numb."
Tyler nodded understandingly, knowing that the wounds they both carried went beyond the physical. The journey toward healing was a slow and arduous one, but in the simple act of conversing over coffee, they discovered a glimmer of resilience. A tentative beginning to the process of rebuilding their shattered lives.
*** *** ***
The evening came and Tyler and Nik found themselves next to the fire that Tyler made. And Nik started talking.
« I wish you wouldn’t look at me like like that, » Nik says almost whispering. « Like what? » Tyler asks curious. « I don’t know. Like you could love me » Nik says with such a vulnerability in her voice.
Tyler's expression softened, and he gazed into the dancing flames for a moment, contemplating Nik's words. The crackling fire provided a backdrop to the vulnerability that hung in the air.
"I never intended to make you feel that way," Tyler finally spoke, his voice carrying a sincere tone. "It's just...I care about you, Nik. More than I probably should."
Nik looked into Tyler's eyes, searching for sincerity, and a subtle shift in the atmosphere hinted at the unspoken emotions lingering between them. The night held a quiet intensity as their words lingered in the cool air.
"You've got a way of making me question things," Tyler admitted, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Maybe it's time we confront what's been building between us."
As the fire continued its dance, casting flickering shadows across their faces, the unspoken tension between Tyler and Nik began to unravel, and the night held the promise of a conversation that could change the course of their relationship.
The crackling fire seemed to echo the heartbeat of the night as Tyler and Nik navigated the uncharted territory of their emotions. A comfortable silence enveloped them, broken only by the occasional pop and hiss of burning wood.
Nik, still searching Tyler's eyes, sensed a shared vulnerability, a connection that begged acknowledgment. "Maybe we've been avoiding this for too long," Nik confessed, her voice carrying a mix of hesitation and determination.
Tyler nodded, his gaze unwavering. "We can't keep dancing around it," he agreed. "But what does it mean for us, Nik?"
The question lingered in the air, and the weight of it settled between them like a delicate but significant revelation. The flames cast shadows on their faces, emphasizing the rawness of the moment.
Nik took a deep breath, summoning the courage to speak her truth. "I think we owe it to ourselves to explore this, Tyler. To see where these feelings lead us."
Tyler's expression softened, mirroring a sentiment of both relief and anticipation. "I've been afraid to admit it, but I've felt the pull too," he admitted.
As the flames continued their hypnotic dance, the pact between Tyler and Nik unfolded under the vast expanse of the night sky, promising a shared exploration of emotions that had long been confined to the unspoken.
*** *** ***
Three months had passed since Tyler and Nik decided to make a fresh start. However, as the seasons changed, so did their circumstances.
One day, Nik found Alcott waiting at their door, throwing an unexpected curveball into their newfound tranquility.
“What are you doing here?” Nik asked her voice a mixture of surprise and suspicion. As she waited for Alcott to respond, she settled on the outside of the cabin.
“I was walking around here and was wondering how you were holding up,” Alcott explained, his tone casual. However, Nik's skeptical gaze prompted him to offer an apologetic smile.
“Really?” Nik questioned with a frown, feeling the weight of the past few months. Alcott, recognizing the need for sincerity, responded, “Yeah. You look a little more intimidating than the last time I saw you.”
“In what way?” Nik asked wearily, finding a seat on one of the chairs outside.
“I know it’s difficult, what you are going through. But you’ll find another reason to live. Everyone does,” Alcott consoled, giving her a sad look.
“I’m not like anyone,” Nik retorted coldly. Alcott, looking at her with gravity in his eyes, asked, “I know that, and you know who’s going to come after you, don’t you?”
“Who’s going after you?” Tyler's voice interrupted from behind them. “Nobody,” Nik replied quickly, standing still to avoid delving into the ominous conversation.
“What is happening?” Tyler asked, gently grabbing Nik’s arms. However, she continued to avoid his eyes.
“Her brother died three months ago, the heir of a dangerous terrorist organization. Yaz Khan, the son of Mohammad Daoud Khan. And this guy is coming after his daughter, Nik Khan. Unworthy to their organization,” Alcott explained, locking eyes with Tyler. “The bastard for whom I’m working. My boss wants to avenge the death of his son, and…”
Before Alcott could finish, Nik grabbed a gun, a cold determination in her eyes. “Nik, what are you doing?” Tyler asked, but Alcott remained calm. “I know you are afraid, but I’m not here to be killed. I am here to help you leave this country alive.”
Nik smirked at his words. “Unworthy. You don’t have anything better to say?” she asked, anger and upset evident in her voice and expression.
“I’m sorry I used the words of your father. But you can trust me. I don’t want to kill you,” Alcott pleaded.
“Nik, what are you doing?” Tyler tried to take her gun. “He’s a traitor. But don’t worry, if I kill you, it’ll be quick and easy. I’m not like him,” Nik declared coldly, her eyes empty of emotion.
“I know you do not like him. That’s why I’m here. To protect you from him,” Alcott replied, indifferent to Nik’s hostile behavior.
“I don’t need protection. But you? Definitely need some. If you think of betraying him » Nik said nonchalantly not caring for Alcott’s life. Alcott stayed calm thought before he replied to Nik.
« Your father arrived today in the South of Portugal. How long do you think it’s going to take for him to get here, in Austria? » Alcott genuinely asks her but Nik smirks at his question.
« He’ll be here in probably two days. Maybe less than 24 hours. Which is why I’m going to stay here and end up that shit » Nik says indifferent to her life.
« Don’t say that. Do you think I’m going to stay here, arms crossed watching you being killed? » Tyler says angrily and Nik looks accidentally into his blue intense eyes.
« It’s not what I meant, Tyler. But I can’t ignore this situation any longer. I had the chance to run away from that life when I was a kid with Yaz but now… My whole life is falling apart. And I’m tired of running and pretending I’m someone I am not. I am not a kid anymore » Nik says with more confidence in her voice than she thought there would be.
« I’m glad that you said that, » Alcott says happy about Nik’s decision. « Why do you have a plan? » Tyler asked him though he knew already the answer. « I might have one, » Alcott says while looking at Tyler and Nik with a glimmer of light in his eyes.
« And what it is? » Nik asks welcoming any plan from any stranger. « Well, first things off I would like a drink, please. And a good one. Not like the bad drinks stuff that I drank the first time I went here » Alcott says.
Tyler nodded with his head remembering the first time Alcott and him met. « Okay. I’ll see what we have in the kitchen » Tyler says going back inside the cabin, leaving Nik and Alcott both alone in the cold of Austria.
« He doesn’t know the whole story, isn’t it? » Alcott says breaking the silent atmosphere between them and Nik nodded.
« He doesn’t and I don’t want to know anything about what happened that night, » Nik says using a cold tone again.
« That’s fine for me. But one day you’ll have to » Alcott says behind serious again. « I know. But not today » she replies to him.
*** *** ***
Meanwhile, in the South of Portugal: The Algarve.
A group of armed men were heading to their cars. When one guard went to the leader of the groups.
« Sir, we found her, » the guard says. « Good. Where is she? » the leader asks.
« Austria, sir, » the guard says. « And does she have company? » the leader of the team asks.
« Yes sir. Two men. One is named Tyler Rake, an old military from Austria and nowadays mercenary from your daughter’s business. The other one you know him. It’s Alcott. He betrayed us and we think he wants to help her » the guard says and the leader nods with acknowledgment.
« I knew he would do that. Looks like we are going to have more fun » the leader says to the guard and the guard nods and leaves the leader.
The helicopters started the cars in the direction of Austria.
*** *** ***
Back at the cabin in Austria.
« Coffee or whiskey? » Tyler asks Alcott as he holds one cup of coffee and one glass of whiskey.
« The whiskey is better, » Nik says with a hint of amusement in her voice.
« Very well, my friend. I’m going for whiskey. Enough of the amusement now. Here is my plan » Alcott says as he thanks Tyler and looks back at Nik.