Under the Shadows

hi everyone! back with plot today lmaoo

**

Elyne stood near the door, her arms crossed, her gaze fixed on Dante as he slipped his knife into the sheath at his side. Her lips pressed into a thin line, her mind racing with every possible scenario that could go wrong. "Take me with you," she said quietly, for what felt like the thousandth time.

Dante paused, his hand lingering on the strap of his bag. His eyes softened as they met hers, but the answer was the same as always. "No," he replied gently but firmly. "It's too dangerous."

She rolled her eyes, the tension in her chest tightening like a knot. "You keep saying that," she muttered, her voice edged with frustration. "It's just a pick-up, right? You grab the papers, you come back. What's so dangerous about that?"

Dante sighed, slinging the bag over his shoulder. "Because it's never just a pick-up," he said, his tone calm but resolute. "There's always risk, and I need to know you're safe here while I handle it."

Elyne's jaw tightened as she stepped closer, her arms still crossed protectively over her chest. "So, what?" she said, her voice laced with a mix of defiance and vulnerability. "You don't trust me to have your back?"

At that, Dante laughed—a deep, genuine sound that caught her off guard. He closed the distance between them, his hand reaching up to cup her face, his thumb brushing lightly against her cheek. "Elyne," he said, his voice low and filled with warmth, "you're the only person in the world I trust."

She raised a skeptical brow, but he continued, his gaze steady. "You're the only one who knows where my accounts are and has access to them. The only one who knows where I plan to disappear for the rest of my life. And soon," he added, his tone softening, "you'll be the only one who knows my real name."

Elyne's breath hitched at the sincerity in his voice, the way his eyes held hers like he was anchoring her to him.

"I trust you with my life," he murmured, leaning closer, his forehead almost brushing hers.

Her breath caught at the weight of his words, the truth in his tone cutting through her frustration.

"It's not you I don't trust," he murmured, his voice soft and filled with quiet resolve. "It's them. The less you're involved in this mess, the better."

Elyne exhaled slowly, her tension easing but not entirely dissipating. She hated this—being left behind, waiting in the silence, her mind spinning with worst-case scenarios. "Just... be careful," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper.

Dante smiled faintly, pressing a kiss to her forehead, lingering just long enough for her to feel the warmth of his breath against her skin. "I'll be back before you even realize I'm gone," he said softly, the hint of a teasing smirk tugging at his lips.

She nodded, but the knot in her chest refused to loosen. As she watched him head for the door, a quiet dread settled over her, heavy and unshakable. Something felt off, a faint but persistent sense of unease that she couldn't explain.

"Dante," she called softly, her voice stopping him just as he reached the door. He turned, his expression questioning.

"Promise me," she said, her throat tightening around the words. "Promise me you'll come back."

His smile softened, a flicker of something unspoken passing through his eyes. "I promise," he said, his voice low and steady.

And then he was gone, the door clicking softly behind him, leaving Elyne alone with the quiet hum of her unease.