Badass in Disguise

bChapter /bb339 /b

Ethan took a deep breath, visibly centering himself. With remarkable self–control, he dipped his fingers into the cream and brought them toward my chest, carefully applying the medication to the scar.

His fingertips inadvertently pressed against the soft curve of my breast, and I watched his expression change instantly. His pulse visibly jumped in his neck, and he quickly withdrew his hand.

“Sorry,” he said, the wording out slightly breathless.

His apology made the moment more awkward than it needed to be. I noticed his throat bob as he swallowed hard, his lips pressing into a tight line.

I maintained myposed expression, but I could feel the tips of my ears warming. Ethan’s eyes flickered to them, and a knowing look crossed his face. He resumed applying the medication, his touch even more careful than before.

“Miguel mentioned something about one of your eye robots,” he said, clearly trying to change the subject. “Said it’s malfunctioning. He asked me to tell you.”

“Mm,” I responded, still scrolling through my phone.

After finishing with the cream, Ethan capped the tube and stood up. He went to wash his hands in the bathroomb, /bthen returned to sit across from me again.

“Busy with something?” he asked, nodding toward my phone.

I didn’t answer immediately. “Get me some water,” I said instead.

“Sure.”

Ethan went to fetch a ss of water. When he handed it to me, I gave him my phone in exchange.

He epted it, but his face changed when he saw the screen. His eyes widened slightly before looking back at me.

“This is you,” he said softly.

On the screen was a photo of Shadow – my former self.

Ethan studied the image carefully. “I saw your face on Dr. ckwell’s medical license,” he said. “You were beautiful.” He paused. “No wonder Ian couldn’t forget you. And Colonel Edwards said you were the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen.”

His gaze returned to the screen, where Shadow sat on the floor, hunched over aptop at a workstation, her hair pulled up in a high bun as she worked with intense concentration.

“I was busy in New York when you were tearing up Venezu as Nobody,” Ethan continued. “I couldn’t even make it to the La Corona that year. We never crossed paths.” His voice carried a note of regret. “If I had gone to Venezu then, if our paths had crossed… would things have been different?”

I took a sip of water, watching him over the rim of my ssb. /b

“You look beautiful,” he said, still staring at the photo.

“Do 1?” I asked, setting down my ss.

:

Ethan finally looked away from the phone. “I’ve always wondered why did you blow up the Transcendent Military Alliance headquarters?”

I shrugged, my expression nonchnt. “Didn’t like it. Blew it up for fun.”

“Didn’t like it?” Ethan echoed, confused. “What about it didn’t you like?”

“Too proper,” I replied.

“You don’t… like proper things?” he asked cautiously.

I gave him a sidelong nce. “You’re fake–proper. What are you nervous about?”

Ethanughed, the sound warm with affection. “The base has been rebuilt even stronger than before. If byou /bwant to blow it up again, you’ll need more explosives.”

“I never use small amounts when I blow things up,” I stated matter–of–factly.

Ethan nodded, his smile deepening. “But,” he said, drawing out the word yfully, “the Transcendent Military Alliance might end up being our joint property someday. If you don’t mind the expense, feel free.”

I leveled a cool look at him. “Not interested.”

“Is this the only photo? Are there more?”

I responded with minimal enthusiasm: “Swipe left.”

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10:37 Fri, bOct /bb3 /b

Badass in Disquise