Page 42 of Shifted

"Don't do it, Dad-" Then there it was, he was begging. He was dreaming of someone's harm and begging for him to take the place of another. Begging for something I never knew about. "Don't hit her, leave her alone!" He flinched in his sleep, and I grabbed his arm as his eyes flashed open.

He was brought back to my single dorm room, scanning the area and looking back at me. He still looked petrified with a hint of embarrassment. "H-hope I..." I stared at his expression, then pressed my head against his chest, holding him in my arms.

He didn’t owe me any explanations. He just deserved to know he was safe, "You're okay; it was just a nightmare." I wiped the fallen tears on his cheeks; I'd never really seen him cry. His breathing was still unsteady, and I felt his heart racing, "I love you, it's okay." I mumbled into his chest.

I felt his lips press against my forehead. "I'm sorry, baby." I shush him, shaking my head. He had no reason to apologize for something he was reliving.

"Your Father?" I asked, wondering who the culprit in his dream was.

"The devil, he was the devil. To me and Mom, the nightmares are loose. I'm sorry for waking you, especially before your exam." I shook my head and faced him, running my fingers through his hair.

I moved myself to straddle him as his breath steadied. "I hate him, I hate him, and I don't hate people, Hope." Seeing his heartbroken expression made my heart ache. I only ever wanted him to be okay and happy because that’s what he deserved. But it was hard when he was more closed off about stuff. But I got it. He didn’t need to tell me all of it. But I just want to be there for him, to support him.

"I thought you hated Garry from Park Street?" I muse, trying to lighten the moment, causing him to roll his eyes in amusement.

"Never leave me, Hope.” His words whirl around my stomach in thought. I wanted him for a lifetime, and that was certain.

"I have nowhere else to go?" I say, leaning in and pressing my lips against his, and his lips smiled against mine.

"I love you more than you could ever know, Hope." Wrapping my arms around his neck, I leaned my head on his shoulder, "I think I want to marry you one day." I couldn't help but laugh as the feeling of butterflies filled my stomach. The whirl faded as the entire swarm took over.

"You do, huh?" I mumbled into his neck. He nods in response to my words as I relax against his chest.

"You're my favorite person, Hope." I smiled, kissing the nape of his neck in response. He was my favorite person, too, and the thought of marrying him made my heart do a little flip. Living a life of our own beyond this dorm room and campus when we are older and wiser.

"Can I become a lawyer first? Then you can marry me, hmm?" He chuckled in response to my words. I wanted us to be stable in our careers and lives before making any big decisions. Then, we’d start off strong and healthy.

"Deal." His arms snaked around my waist, and he pulled me close against him. "You're who I want to wake up to every morning and go to sleep next to every night." I sat up, looking around me, confused. My dorm was covered in half of his clothes, loose sweatshirts draped across the floor, and vanity.

"You sleep here almost every night already, and you abandoned your apartment. I was just offered free housing, so I'm not moving in with you, not just yet. I'm also 21, and I'm still a child in my mind. Let me remind you." His hands cupped my ass in response to my words, pulling me in closer.

"Who said anything about moving in?" I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment from being so presumptuous.

"I know you want me to?" I countered.

"You’re right, I do.”

?

Present

"So why am I here again?" I swore that with biting temperatures like these, I could get frostbite out here. We were squatting down on another rooftop, spying on our target, the building complex across from us. And yes, I said we, unfortunately.

"Because I..." Glancing up at him, he seemed at a loss for words. But then it clicked, and a grin began to spread across my face. He needed me. But with an ego like his, I knew the confession would never leave his mouth.

"Because I- I…" I poked fun as I knew exactly what he had to say and knew it would hurt his pride and ego all at once.

"I figured you were good for the job?" He lies. Walking around the truth, he couldn’t do this by himself for the first time, so he asked me here.

"So you need my help. Is that what you're saying?" Amartolós sighed and lowered the sniper, looking over at me as I smirked. The rookie strikes again—maybe this was him admitting he was no match for me.

"Don't revel in it for too long?" He groaned.

"Is it because..." I trailed off.

"Because I knew I was going to need backup. You kill people effortlessly most times, without hesitation or distraction—" I cleared my throat, interrupting him. “And because I was best for the job, so you stalked me on my last mission. Begged me basically—” He scoffs now, interrupting me, heated from my words.

"Did not beg, I simply asked for your contact,” he claims.

---