Ash carefully planned every step, making sure not to make a single sound. 

Once the mission was successfully completed, he immediately set off for home. He had already changed out of his gear a few streets away. The cold air bit at his flushed face - not that he minded. He had other things to worry about. "What if Lucian saw him?" 

No, that was impossible. There was no way he could have spotted him, not with how quickly he had slipped down from the rooftop. 

 When Ash finally arrived at his empty apartment, the sound of his heavy boots hitting the floor echoed trough the silence. He kicked them off carelessly by the door, exhaling as tension drained from his body. 

A hot shower. That was what he needed - something to wash away the night's work. To clear his mind. 

In every sense of the word. 

Including Lucian. 

The days after the job had been...uneasy. Or at least really simillar to that feeling. It wasn't like he felt guilt about the killing. Ash as always was perfectly able to buried any feelings about the people he was paid to kill. No this wasn't like that. He just couldn't find the right word for it. 

He should have laid low for a while, letting the heat die down just for this once. Yet here he was, standing in line at a café like he was just any other person around him. Mybe it was reckless, but he wasn't the kind of man who ran from shadows. He just hadn't expected  to turn around and find Lucian standing right there. 

" Holy shit, this is deffinitely not my day" - Ash screamed out loud in his head. 

As he recognised him Ash remembered how it felt when Lucian's lips was against his. And in that moment he wanted to jump out of the window. But then, just as fast, he smothered it. 

- Small world. - his smile came easily, practiced. 

Lucian studied him for a second too long. Then he answeared. 

- Didn't think i'd see you here. 

Ash chuckled. Right it felt shameful after that night. 

- Guess fate's got a funny sense of humor. - said Ash with a sarcastic tone as he turned around to order some coffee. 

Lucian didn't move. He just watched as Ash turned away, his fingers drumming against the counter while waiting for his coffee. 

- You look different. - Lucian finally said, his voice unreadable.

Ash smirked, though he didn't turn back to face him. 

- New haicut. - he joked, grabbing the paper cup the barista just handed him. The warmth felt nice as it seeped into his fingers.

- Yeah, must be it. - Lucian scoffed. 

Ash exhaled slowly, lifting  the cup to his lips. 

- Look, if you're here to get on my nerves..

- I'm not. - Lucian said it so quick it made Ash pause.

He turned slightly, just enough  to catch Lucian's expression - it was calm, but his eyes...they were full of excitement. 

- Alright, then what do you want? - Ash asked as he smoothly sidestepped Lucian and made his way to a nearby table, settling into a chair with an ease. 

- I'm just enjoying the company, since fate decided to thow us together again. - Lucian cast him a questioning glance, nodding toward the empty seat beside Ash, as if waiting for confirmation that it was okay to sit down.

- Go ahead. - Ash sighed, rolling his eyes. "Great. More time spent together."  As if things between them weren't already awkward enough. Ash almost managed to push last night's events behind as never happened - until Lucian slided closer to him, bringing it all rushing back. 

- So, what's new with you these days? - Lucian broke the silence with an easy, casual question.

- Nothing special. Just work, mostly. - Ash replied, taking another sip of his coffee. - What about you? - he added, barely paying attention. 

- The same. It's not easy being a cop in times like this. - Lucian said with a small smile. 

Ash nearly chocked on his coffee. 

- A cop? Wow, I wouldnt't have guessed. - he lauged, forcing a casual tone while trying to keep his cool. 

Stay calm, Ash. Everything's fine. 

Lucian raised an eyebrow at Ash's reaction, his smirk deepening just a little - like he knew what was going trough Ash's head.

- Yeah. -Lucian continued, resting an elbow on the table. - Long nights, unpredictable situations..but i like my job. 

Ash forced a tight-lipped smile, nodding as if that was completely normal information and not the worst thing he could have possibly heard. 

A cop. 

Lucian tilted his head a little. - You okay? You look like you've seen a ghost. 

Ash let out a short, forced chuckle. 

- No, of course not. I was just a little...surprised, i guess. - he tapped his fingers against his cup, keeping his posture relaxed even as his mind raced. 

Lucian hummed. 

- You sure about that? 

- Totally. - Ash said, meeting his gaze head-on. 

Lucian didn't press it further, but something in his expression made it clear - he wasn't convinced enough to belive that. 

Damn it. 

This was going to be a problem. 

The conversation headed to much safer topics after that. The city, previous dates, nothing that really mattered for both of them. Time passed by as Ash glanced out of the window the sky was already deepened into deep purple and shady blue. It was evening without him noticing. 

Lucian followed his gaze.

- You have to be somewhere?

Ash shook his head, though he probably should have been. He had things to care of - anything would have been better than being with Lucian any longer. - I was planning to grab a drink or two somewhere. You can come if you want. 

Ash hesitated. The smart thing would be to say no, thank you. And walking away. But he didn't say that at all. 

- Fine. - he muttered, standing up and grabing his jacket. - One drink.

Lucian grinned like he'd just won something. 

- One drink. - he replied, clearly not believed in that for a second. 

He rolled his eyes again as they were about to leave the place. The city was alive as always at his hour - the flickering neon signs leaved a great atmosphere on the streets. The nearby bars and restaurants was full with people. Their laughter spilled out from everywhere, and the cool air carried the scent of cigarette smoke and spilled alcohol. 

Lucian lead the way, and Ash followed him without any question. They didn't speak a word after leaving the coffee shop. But in Ash's mind it was a disaster, he almost shouted at himself to turn around. It's not too late to get away. But his feet kept moving. 

And that, he figured out, was the real problem.