The apartment was unusually quiet.
Too quiet.
Hazel moved back into the living room with the first aid kit, her fingers slightly trembling despite herself. She told herself it was just the cold from the rain.
Not him.
Definitely not him.
Richard hadn't moved from where she left him, but something about his posture had changed. He sat straighter now, his presence filling the small room in a way that made it feel… smaller.
Controlled.
Like he owned the space without even trying.
"Let me see," Hazel said, kneeling in front of him.
For a brief second, he didn't respond.
Then slowly, he extended his leg.
Hazel carefully rolled up the fabric of his trousers and froze.
This wasn't just an injury.
There was dried blood, yes. But beneath it bruising. Deep. Dark and precise.
Her brows furrowed. "This doesn't look like a simple fall." Hazel exclaimed.
Richard's gaze flickered to her, sharp and warning. "You ask a lot of questions."
Hazel didn't back down.
"And you avoid answering them." She furrowed her brow.
Silence stretched between them again but this time, it felt different. Like a string pulled too far.
Then, unexpectedly He smirked.
"You're bold."
Hazel shrugged slightly, dipping cotton wool into antiseptic she was holding. "I've had to be." She answered absentmindedly while focusing on his legs
Without another word, she pressed it against his wound.
Richard's jaw tightened instantly, a sharp breath escaping him but he didn't make a sound but Hazel noticed.
"You don't react much, do you?" she said quietly. "Most people would've yelled by now."
"Pain is nothing," he replied flatly.
Hazel paused for just a second.
"Nothing She repeated like he was out of his mind
"That wasn't normal,Not even close" She thought to herself
She continued cleaning the wound, more gently this time. "Still, you're human. It should hurt ,don't worry you can trust me not to tease you with it later and your little secret is safe with me." Hazel said before blowing on his wound.
At that, something flickered across his face again.
Something darker.
"Are you sure about that?" he muttered.
Hazel looked up at him, confused but before she could ask, he leaned forward slightly.
"Why did he throw you out?" He asked and her hand stopped.
The air changed instantly.
And her face went straight to were she had put up the sign "NEVER FORGET THE DAY HE THREW YOU OUT"
Hazel's chest tightened. "That's… non of your bussiness and stop looking around the house" Hazel waved it off
"You helped me,and you also told me to stay the night it's only fair I get to know my surroundings " he said calmly. "Consider this balance."
Hazel let out a dry laugh. "That's not how kindness works."
But his eyes didn't leave hers.
And for some reason she couldn't look away either.
"He chose someone else," she said finally, her voice quieter now. "A new family. I didn't fit into the picture anymore."
Richard watched her carefully, as if analyzing every word, every breath.
"And yet you still help strangers."
Hazel gave a small shrug, forcing a smile. "Not everyone has to be like him."
Something about that answer lingered.
Richard leaned back again, studying her in silence.
"Hazel." He called softly
She blinked. "I don't remember telling you my name."
"With your room telling me all about you and your roommate it's not that easy to hide it," he replied smoothly.
"Oh…" she exhaled. "Right." And another silence followed.
But this one wasn't uncomfortable, it was heavy.
Hazel finished wrapping his leg and sat back on her heels. "You'll need to rest. No unnecessary movement, and do not try to put pressure on it" Hazel gave a strict warning that got Richard chuckling.
"You're giving me orders now?" He smirked
"I'm helping you," she corrected. "There's a difference." Hazel stated while preparing the pillow she found for him.
A faint smile touched his lips again, soft but Dangerous that remains mysterious.
Hazel stood, dusting her hands. "You can sleep on the couch. I'll take the room."
"I don't need sleep." He answered sharply.
Hazel rolled her eyes. "Everyone says that until they pass out. Richard didn't argue this time " and oh what is your name ?" Hazel asked
"Richard" His deep voice answered and Hazel just nodded her head Instead.
"You can take the couch and I will sleep in the bedroom just call my name when you need something, do not pressure your leg " Hazel warned once again and Richard smirked.
"So innocent " He thought
"Okay Goodnight "Hazel waved but he only answered with a nod.
He watched as she walk toward the small bedroom, her figure disappearing behind the thin door.
The moment it closed. His expression changed, not the soft look he had on earlier but a dangerous look Completely, the softness has vanished. What remained was something cold, calculating and ruthless.
Slowly, he reached into his coat and pulled out a sleek black phone the one that definitely didn't belong to a man who "couldn't manage" on the street, He dialed a number, It rang only once before it was picked up
"Sir," a voice answered immediately from the other end.
Richard's gaze drifted to the closed bedroom door. His voice dropped.
"Did you find them ?." He asked in a commanding tone.
"Yes sir, Our men are taking them to the dungeon, Should we proceed?" The voice from the other end asked.
Richard's eyes darkened slightly.
"No for now"he said slowly, almost thoughtfully, "we still watch, they might still have a mole around" He ended the call and looked around his eyes darted to the notes carefully plastered on the walls, each word of affirmations ending with hers and her best friends name.
And for the first time since entering that apartment Richard smiled.
Not the faint, controlled smirk Hazel had seen.
This one was different.
Colder.
More dangerous.
Because whatever game he was playing Hazel had just become the center of it.
And she had no idea.