Joshua walked towards the back of the house, his finished mission file in hand. He had taken his sweet time to complete the mission. And he was really curious to see what Genevieve would assign him next. He wouldn't mind if this was another easy task, he really was not complaining like the others were. He didn't see the point in doing so, Genevieve has made it clear that she was doing this to protect them and if this meant doing simple tasks, he would do that. Joshua really couldn't understand why Derick and the others were so hard on her. Alright, everyone except Jessica, because she was somehow glad that she didn't have to go out on a mission. The attack, did really a number on her, and he agreed with Mychaell, if that bastard was really alive he wouldn't past him. He had done that and worse things to Genevieve, so it shouldn't shock him at all. The muffled sound of gun shots, echoed through the space. Genevieve was letting off steam, something that happened from time to time. Mychaell wasn't sitting at his desk, so he was probably in Genevieve's office. Which was not strange at all, again his fried was really protective of Genevieve. The same way he was about Jessica, not that she noticed that he was. But that was fine by him. He waited by the closed door, until the gunshot halted, then he knocked.

"Come in," That was Mychaell, and Joshua did just that.

"Hey, sorry, but I am just here to deliver my completed mission file." He said while holding up the file. As he walked over to the designated spot. "I know where to put it. And I wondered if you have another one for me?" He placed it on top, and turned around. It was then that he noticed the suitcases, and the bed inside the office. Did the two of them move in here? Which was not something he was going to ask out loud, it was simply none of his business. Genevieve shook her head, and he simply nodded. "Alright, that gives me some time to help Jessica out inside the store." He already made his way towards the door.

"Wait, that is it? No protest, no questions?" Mychaell asked in surprise, Joshua nodded.

"Yes, I am not going to bother. I know that you two have a pretty good reason for all of this, and I am not going to argue. I even took my time to complete the previous mission, so that I do not become a bother to Genevieve. This gives me some time with Jessica, because shocker, I do believe that there is something going on and that something might indeed be connected to her attack." Mychaell glanced over to Genevieve, who almost looked relieved. "Do not worry about her, because I will." He focused that towards Genevieve. Mychaell chuckled slightly, and Joshua narrowed his eyes. Not sure what could be so funny.

"I didn't know that you were in love with her," Mychaell finally was able to say. And Joshua simply shrugged, in his mind it was not a secret. Not that he ever said it out loud.

"Yes, but she clearly doesn't feel the same way about me. Let's not make it into a bigger deal, then it has to be." Mychaell stopped with laughing, and directly looked serious. Genevieve looked at him with a soft smile, the first one he has seen from her in months. Maybe this was because he was not bugging her, all the time. And this was something innocent, him just admitting that he liked a girl. "Well, I see the two of you later." He now really walked out of the office, he didn't even stop when Mychaell called him.

********

The store was closed, and Joshua was waiting for Jessica to finish her work. Vanessa already left for some kind of mission, she didn't get into too much detail and Joshua didn't ask. Derick only made a growling face when he shared that there was no new mission for him. He was still not sure what his deal was, Derick has always been the smartest of them all. But lately he was acting quite ignorant, something that didn't suite him at all. Maybe it was all an act, because that would be the only reasonable explanation.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

"Alright, I am ready." Jessica said, waking him up from his thoughts. "Ohh, where did Vanessa go?" Which was a slight punch in the gut, but he understood that she was not comfortable with only him.

"She had a mission," he responded. But then her face light up, was she glad that Vanessa wouldn't join them? Talking about mixed signals. He right now was not sure what to make of this, but he was going to roll with it. They just left the store, side by side, normally he would walk behind the two girls. Normally he wouldn't dare to walk so closely to Jessica. He was just scared that this would give her flashbacks, or other uncomfortable feelings. But she herself adjusted her pace to match his, which was already strange. They arrived at her house, he was about to leave the place, when she grabbed his hand.

"Do you want something to drink? Normally, Vanessa and I would sit and talk for a bit."

He looked at her hand wrapped in his, a feeling that he normally kept at bay rushed through his veins. She never indicated that she had feeling for him, so he shouldn't put words in her mouth, or feelings inside her heart.

"But I am not..."

"Please," she asked, her head slightly tilted towards the side. Her golden hair that was kept to that inside a ponytail moved with it, her amber eyes pleaded with him. One drink, what harm could one drink do? As long as it was none alcoholic, then he would be fine. Right?

"Why not," he replied. And they entered her apartment together, he has being here so many times before. Jessica loved to host meals, before all of this went down. And in many ways it felt like he was coming home, the plants crowding the window. The floral scent diffuser that was standing on the coffee table, and at various places throughout the house. The small kitchen, the large diner table filled with all kinds of crafting material. Another hobby of Jessica, and he chuckled when he saw the mess. She quickly rushed towards the kitchen. "Just some tea." He said before she was able to ask him what he wanted to drink. She nodded and placed the kettle on the stove. It didn't take long for the water to boil, she handed him his cup of tea. As he looked at her latest creations. Which was something made out of clay. "Looks good."

"It is not yet finished." She responded, but that didn't matter to him. It was made by her, so it looked good. She took a sip of her tea, and then took a deep breath. "So, what do you think about the whole Justin situation?" He was taken aback by her sudden question. "I have noticed that you haven't voiced it openly, like someone else we know." He nodded, he hasn't voiced it, apart in front of Genevieve and Mychaell earlier that day. But now in front of Jessica, he became a little nervous. Not that he was going to lie to her, but what she would think of him afterward.

"Alright, I believe Genevieve. There are freaking too many 'coincidence', to be just that. And I really do not mind the lengths she is going through to keep us safe. I for my part, have taken it upon myself to make myself as unimportant as possible. Taking my time, on completing missions and not making a fuss about how easy they are." He explained, she nodded. But that was not all. "I also have seen some people shadowing me, while I was taking my sweet time. I have seen them also in and around the shop, we are being watched. Also, if Mychaell is right, and that bastard is responsible for what happened to you. Well let say that I would do my best of killing him, if Genevieve, or Mychaell do not get to him first." She smiled softly at him.

"Ohh would you?" she asked and he nodded.

"I would kill every bastard that hurt you, because nobody deserves to live through that kind of hell. Especially not you, with your kind heart." he said. The smile faded slightly, but that was just for a split second. She grabbed his mug out of his hands, placed it on the table together with her own, and then kissed him. He was shocked at first, but he didn't fight her, instead he kissed her back.