×Disclaimer: Chief will be called Donna in this AU×
"My lady, this will be your temporary bodyguard for the time being - until her evaluation is completed."
Nightingale places a neatly organized stack of documents on Donna's table -detailing from her identity down to her experience.
She picks up the documents, her fingers run across the cool surface, as her gaze shifts to the stoic figure standing across her.
She flips through the pages, letting the name roll off her tongue.
"Rahu..."
The woman named Rahu looks up. Her black bangs partially shadowed her steely grey eyes.
"Yes, madam."
Donna returns to the documents, shifting from it to Rahu with a quiet curiosity.
One of the best FAC bodyguards. She noted, her brows lifting slightly.
A sole survivor from the elite division, FAC G-47. She traces the line slowly with her fingers, her eyes narrowing as she takes in the details.
What would drive someone with such a background to become a bodyguard here?
She wondered, glancing at Rahu's form.
The woman opposite stood rigid, each muscle taut beneath her uniform - a physique molded by countless years of battles. Her tall presence alone was imposing, a silent testament to her experience.
Donna's eyes linger on the most striking of all, a deep scar running down Rahu's right eye, a reminder of a brutal encounter.
Strong physique, toned and battle-worn.
Experience? This job should be trivial for someone like her.
Retirement? Doesn't seem likely, she's rather young for that.
Donna closes the file with a soft thud, her tone composed yet laced with curiosity.
Whatever her reasons are...let's just observe for now.
"I hope you understand that loyalty is paramount here, I don't tolerate betrayal."
"Understood, madam." Rahu's expression remains unchanged.
The faintest smile touched Donna's lips as she set the document aside.
"Although." She paused for a moment.
"Quite a background for a simple bodyguard." She remarked quietly before continuing.
"I'm not sure if this place offers what you're looking for."
"I don't expect much. I'm here to do my job." Rahu gaze didn't waver, her voice indifferent as usual.
Donna tilted her head slightly, intrigued.
"Is that so?"
"Yes," Rahu replied. Her voice carries a hint of finality. "Wherever I'm placed, I commit fully. That's all."
Donna's lips curved slightly, almost amused at her words. "Alright. I will be counting on you."
Everyone has their reason and secret, what would yours be? I'm curious.
Over the next few months, Rahu stayed indifferent and true to her missions, never stepping away from the boundaries she drew. Her duties shifted from guarding Donna's door to escorting her to high-profile banquets. She was a quiet, imposing profile, always alert and professional. Her evaluation period was successful and quickly became Donna's bodyguard.
Donna, however, would often break the silence with small talk. Knowing Rahu's reluctance to share about her past, Donna starts to share about her daily life, from something as simple as, "How's your day?"
To " Would you like to join me for tea?"
At first, Rahu's response was curt and minimal, often a cold, "I'm doing my duty."
But gradually, Donna's casual conversation becomes part of their routine. Rahu found herself listening more closely - perhaps even looking forward to it. These little conversations began to paint a fuller picture of the woman she guarded.
What had once been a silent listening starts to shift. It begins with a small nod here, to "I see." there, often accompanied by the faintest smile that tucks at the corner of her lips. However, there are still parts of Donna's personality that leave Rahu rather frustrated.
Donna seems to possess an unshakeable amount of optimism about the world - an innocence that Rahu struggled to appreciate. To someone as hardened as Rahu, such idealism seems naïve, even a liability in a world like theirs.
Another thing that left Rahu quietly surprised was the relentless workload Donna took on. On several nights, she would see the flickering candlelight sipping through the door cracks, before opening the door carefully with a small creak. Donna would be found asleep on her desk, slumping over half-finished documents, the candlelight casting a warm light that shields her from the darkness.
Without a word, Rahu would step in, carefully lifting Donna from the chair. Each time, she was struck by how small and light Donna felt in her arms, almost fragile - a contrast to her resolute personality.
Surprisingly dedicated...for a Donna.
Rahu thought, feeling a weird surge of protectiveness. The weight of her body would startled her each time, and she caught herself adjusting her hold to be extra gentle, as afraid she would break something precious.
She needs to eat more...is the food here that bad? A faint frown crosses her face, as she tries to recall what would fit Donna's palette. Perhaps she should bring her some of the bakeries downtown.
Gently, she carried Donna to her bed as she tucking her in with surprising care. When Donna stirred slightly, Rahu would freeze on the spot, afraid that she would wake her up. She then adjusted the covers, and a quiet sigh escaped her lips.
For someone who carries so much on her shoulders, she's barely taking care of herself.
As Rahu steps back, her glance lingers on Donna for a moment, unable to shake off the unfamiliar urge to protect this woman who trusts too easily.
Focus Rahu. Remember your goals.
Rahu turned away with a quiet exhale, as the faintest trace of a smile faded away.
On a late evening, as they strolled through the flower garden under a blanket of stars, they had a rare open conversation.
Donna asks about Rahu's goals, and she speaks of her dream - a vision grounded in trust and loyalty. Rahu walked alongside her as she listened in silence, seemingly to put her words together.
After a brief moment of silence, she voiced her doubts.
"Do you really think people work that way?"
Rahu's tone was steady, though her gaze darkened as she continued. Her tall build blocks off the moonlight, causing a shadow to loom over Donna.
"Trust and loyalty are built from illusion, easily bought and sold." Rahu inched closer to Donna, her eyes seeming to shine in a dangerous glow.
"Especially we are alone now... Can you guarantee your safety?" There was a subtle edge to her voice as if warning her of the risks she so easily overlooked.
Such fragility. You trust people too easily Donna. Rahu thought, the tension simmering under her calm demeanor as she placed her hand on Donna's shoulder.
Donna only smiled, as if she wasn't just threatened. She remains calm and unbothered as her fingers brush over a blooming flower.
"Perhaps." She replied softly, her finger tracing along the white petals of the flower.
" But I would like to believe in it....just a little longer." Her eyes drifted to Rahu.
"At least, you would stay that way until you achieve your goals right?"
Rahu fell silent, her hands dropped back to her sides, as Donna's calm gaze held her steady. The question unsettled her. It stirred a feeling Rahu couldn't quite understand - a mixture of curiosity and unease that left her momentum speechless.
She knew Donna wasn't as naive, being in her place of position. Yet, breaking the truth out was something she didn't expect. Donna knew that she was here with a purpose, but yet she hadn't anticipated the trust that she placed in her. A part of her almost wants to scoff at it.
"Your optimism is rather foolish," Rahu murmured, but her tone lacked the bite it once held.
"Maybe. But let me know if I can help." She whispered with a gentle smile."Take it as a thank-you gift, for protecting me thus far."
Thank you gift? Rahu blinked and seemed momentarily stunned. This phrase felt rather out of place - considering how gratitude wasn't something she's used to in her field of work. Seemly to notice Rahu's sudden stiffness, Donna shifted the conversation with a warm smile.
"It's rather chilly tonight, isn't it?" She said, tilting her head slightly. The change of topic snaps Rahu out of her dementia, her body relaxed - if only slightly - as she gives a short nod. "Understood. I will escort you back."
Donna chuckled softly as she shook her head. "Not yet. I want to watch the stars a little longer," she said, her voice soft and wistful as her gaze lingered on the twinkling lights scattered across the night sky.
Rahu hesitated, her sharp eyes narrowing as she studied Donna’s serene demeanor. How could someone in her position remain so calm, so exposed, under the open sky? The vulnerability unsettled her, but she said nothing. Instead, she stepped closer, her sharp gaze sweeping over the garden’s perimeter, alert for any signs of danger.
Half of her vigilance was habit—her instinct to protect. The other half, however, was something less defined. Perhaps it was a foolish attempt to shield Donna, not from threats, but from the biting wind that whispered through the night.
"You don't let your guard down, don't you?" Donna teased gently, glancing up at her. "Even here? Our garden?"
"It's my job. Danger doesn't wait for an invitation." Rahu replied evenly, her voice carrying a tone of defensiveness as she folded her arms.
The cold wind brushed against Donna’s cheek, causing a stray strand of her hair to flutter. She tucked it behind her ear absentmindedly, her attention still fixed on the stars.
"Do you ever stop to look at them, Rahu?” she asked suddenly, her voice breaking the silence. Rahu blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "The stars?” she repeated, her tone carefully neutral.
Donna nodded, her eyes still on the sky. "Like a guiding beacon, no matter how dark the world is, they just...shine. It's rather comforting."
Rahu followed Donna’s gaze.
"I don’t see the point,” she said after a pause. "Stars can’t protect you.They’re just distant lights, far out of reach.”
Donna let out a soft laugh, seemingly unbothered by Rahu’s practicality. “True. But not everything valuable has to serve a purpose, Rahu. Sometimes, just existing is enough."
Rahu glanced at her, a flicker of something—curiosity, perhaps—crossing her face before she looked away. "Spoken like someone who hasn’t lived their life watching shadows," she murmured, perhaps more to herself.
Donna turned her head to Rahu, studying her with a gentle, thoughtful gaze. "And you have?” she asked quietly. Rahu stiffened as she averted her eyes. “That’s not important.”
Donna didn’t press further, sensing the walls Rahu had created. Instead, she offered a small, knowing smile. "Maybe not. But I hope one day, you’ll find something worth looking for. That sparkle of light."
The words lingered in the cold night air, a quiet challenge wrapped in warmth. Rahu didn’t respond, her gaze fixed on the shadows beyond the garden. But as Donna turned back to the stars, a part of her couldn’t help but wonder if Rahu had ever allowed herself the luxury of hope.
"Alright,” Donna said softly after a moment, her voice carrying a note of finality. “Let’s head back.”
Rahu nodded silently and stepped ahead, positioning herself slightly in front of Donna as they began their walk. She kept her eyes trained on their surroundings, but Donna’s words echoed faintly in her mind.
Something worth looking up for.
It was a sentiment that unsettled her, an idea she wasn’t ready to confront. For now, she focused on the sound of their footsteps and the quiet presence of the woman she protected.