2- The Confession

One second he was in Lulu’s office, heart pounding, the world twisting at his feet- and the next he was out in the hallway, breath ragged, feet moving on pure instinct.

Yami.

He found her in the underground parking lot, standing beside that black car she always drove him in , jacket already shrugged on around her black suit. Of course she was prepared. Of course she had everything packed neatly away while he was rethinking life.

“Yami!” His voice echoed far louder than he meant it to.

She turned.

And there it was—that same calm, unreadable expression. But this time, something flickered behind it- though Yuri wasn't up to deciphering exactly what at the moment.

“Yuri,” she said evenly. “You shouldn’t be down here.”

“Don’t,” he shot back, doubling over with his hands on his knees. “Don’t say that. Don’t tell me what I should or shouldn’t do.”

She straightened her back, squaring her shoulders. "I apologise" she said. No, damn it, he didn't want her apologies! “You need to go back upstairs. You have a-”

“No.” He stared into her dark eyes, fists clenched at his sides. “You’re quitting." It wasn't a question but she nodded slowly. "And nobody thought to tell me.”

Silence stretched between them, thick and heavy.

Yami glanced away. “It’s not your concern.”

Ow. “It is,” he said quietly. “You’re my bodyguard. You’re—” He cut himself off, jaw tightening. “You’re important.”

Her fingers curled slowly at her side, gripping the car key in between her long fingers.

“That’s exactly the problem.”

Yuri frowned. “What?”

She exhaled. “My job is to protect you. To make rational decisions. To not get emotional.”

“And?” he pressed.

“And I can’t do that anymore.”

His breath caught.

Yami's eyes flicked back to him. Really looking at him this time. There was something burning in those intense eyes of hers.

“I like you,” she said.

The words landed softly.

Devastatingly.

Yuri’s mind went blank. Completely, utterly blank.

“You… what?”

Her jaw tightened. “I shouldn’t , I know that. It’s unprofessional. It puts my position and your safety at risk.” She shook her head once. “It would do neither of us any good."

“So your solution,” he said slowly, “is to disappear?”

She gave him that look, like he was asking if the sky was really blue “I’m removing myself from the situation,” she replied, voice steady but low. “Before it gets worse.”

Yuri barked a laugh.

It came out sharp and odd and a little unhinged.

“You’re leaving because you care about me?” He stared at her. This was ridiculous. She was ridiculous. “That’s the stupidest-"

“Yuri-”

“No!” he snapped. “You don’t get to decide what’s best for me and then vanish without a word.”

Her eyes flicked away once more, tracing the lines on the concrete floor. “This is my responsibility.”

“And what about me?” he demanded. “Do I get any say in this?”

Her lips parted, then pressed together again. For the first time in all the time he'd known her, she looked unsure.

“I-"

“I like you too,” he blurted.

The words hung in the air.

Yami froze.

Yuri swallowed, heart pounding so loudly he was sure she could hear it. “I’ve liked you for months,” he said, voice trembling now. “I was planning something. Something special. And yeah, maybe it all went wrong, but-" He took a shaky breath, not sure how exactly to put his feelings into words.

She stared at him, eyes wide, carefully constructed walls cracking just enough to show what was underneath.

“Yuri,” she whispered, “you don’t understand what you’re asking.”

“I understand that I don’t want you to leave,” he said. “And I understand that running away because you care isn’t fair.”

For a long moment, neither of them moved.

Then Yami looked down, fingers tightening around the keys in her hand.

“…You make this very difficult.”

A small, shaky smile tugged at his lips.

“Good.”

"I already gave in my letter of resignation."

Yuri huffed. "Oh please, if i want something done, it gets done."

At that, one side of Yami's mouth turned up into something like a sneer.

"You're a real piece of work." She huffed, shaking her head fondly.

At that, Yuri beamed, his bright eyes crinkling at the corner.

This was great!