In the Shadows of Care

The morning sun streamed through the office windows, casting soft rays across Aelira's desk. She settled in, catching Arthur's eye from his office across the way. He couldn't help but admire her elegance as she worked, her calm focus and natural beauty melting the walls he'd built around his heart. He found himself watching her, lost in his thoughts, until his assistant Edwin arrived, bringing him back to reality.

"Boss, here's the schedule for today. Take a look," Edwin said, handing over the agenda.

Arthur waved it off, his eyes still on Aelira. "Edwin, ask Aelira to bring the documents for the meeting to my room. I'll look at them there."

A short while later, Aelira entered the meeting room, holding a stack of documents. But to her surprise, Luna was already there, standing a bit too close to Arthur, discussing the upcoming art exhibition. Aelira felt a spark of jealousy flare up, though she tried to mask it with professionalism.

"Excuse me, sir," Aelira said politely.

Arthur glanced at her, his usual calm cracking into a slight smile. "Come in, Aelira."

Luna continued her chatter, touching Arthur's arm lightly as she finished briefing him. She flashed Aelira a cool glance before she finally left, the room filling with silence. Aelira moved closer to Arthur's desk, spreading out the documents. The tension was palpable as she leaned over, the distance between them narrowing.

Arthur's heartbeat quickened, a warmth spreading through him as he caught a whiff of her light perfume. But then, suddenly, he felt a sharp ache in his chest. He clutched his hand over his heart, his face paling.

"Aelira," he managed weakly before collapsing onto the floor.

Aelira gasped, her fear flooding through her. "Arthur!" She rushed to his side, calling for help. Workers and staff swarmed the room, and within moments, they were rushing Arthur to the hospital. His unconscious form seemed so fragile, so vulnerable.

Hours later, in the sterile hospital corridor, Arthur lay in a quiet, dim room, unconscious. His doctors had found a minor heart issue but assured everyone it was under control. Outside, Aelira paced nervously until she saw Luna approaching, a haughty expression on her face.

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"What are you doing here, Aelira?" Luna snapped. "You don't have any business being here!"

Aelira took a deep breath, biting back a retort. She waited outside the room until Astron arrived, giving him a brief, worried look. "Astron, Luna told me I shouldn't be here. But I can't just leave."

Astron gave her a reassuring nod. "Don't worry about her. You care for Arthur, and that's what matters." Together, they entered Arthur's room, Aelira feeling relief to be near him again.

As the night wore on and most visitors left, Aelira chose to stay, keeping vigil outside his room. Her shape-shifting assistant, now in hamster form, nestled quietly in her backpack, offering silent company. Around midnight, she noticed two men dressed as doctors entering Arthur's room with odd expressions. Something was off. Using her X-ray vision, she saw them reaching into their bags for syringes.

Her pulse raced as she stepped into the room, her voice cold and firm. "What exactly do you think you're doing?"

The men turned, startled. "None of your business. Leave," one of them sneered.

"Sorry," Aelira replied, "but my 'business' is making sure Arthur stays safe."

The taller of the two men advanced on her, reaching out, but she swiftly dodged, her reflexes heightened. With a calculated strike, she sent him sprawling against the wall. The second man lunged with a syringe, but Aelira effortlessly sidestepped, grabbing his wrist and twisting it until he dropped the weapon with a painful gasp.

"Who sent you?" she demanded, her eyes flashing.

They said nothing, attempting another attack. But Aelira wasn't about to let them succeed. She unleashed a burst of strength, sending one crashing into the wall and the other sprawling on the floor. With a swift gesture, she transported both men, dazed and defeated, to a dumpster outside the hospital. She brushed her hands off, feeling a surge of satisfaction.

Back in Arthur's room, he stirred slightly, opening his eyes to see Aelira's face hovering over him. In his groggy state, he reached up, brushing a strand of hair from her face, murmuring, "Aelira…?"

Realizing he'd seen her, she quickly composed herself as his doctor entered to check on him. Arthur sat up, disoriented but slowly coming back to himself. Once the doctor left, Aelira returned, her face softened with genuine concern.

She couldn't help but tease him a little. "So… you don't have anyone to sit by your side while you're recovering?"

Arthur gave her a dry smile. "I take care of myself. I don't need anyone."

She raised an eyebrow. "Why are humans always so… stubborn?"

He looked at her, a bit taken aback. "Wait, did you just say 'humans'? Where are you from?" His voice was sarcastic, though there was a flicker of curiosity in his eyes.

"Oh, nowhere special," she replied smoothly, but his question made her feel strangely exposed.

That night, Aelira settled in a chair near Arthur's bed, refusing to leave him alone. Around midnight, she noticed him stirring restlessly in his sleep. His breathing grew quick, his forehead glistening with a faint sheen of sweat.

"Arthur," she whispered, leaning over and placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay?"

He opened his eyes, looking a bit lost. "I don't know why, but… I feel this strange anxiety. Like something's looming."

Without thinking, Aelira leaned closer, brushing her hand gently over his arm. "Look at the stars," she said softly, her eyes glinting with a familiar glow.

He raised an eyebrow. "Through the ceiling?"

She chuckled, then subtly used her powers. Within seconds, the ceiling above them transformed into a mesmerizing view of the galaxy, complete with shimmering stars, planets, and colorful nebulae. The vast beauty of space hung over them, calming Arthur instantly.

He blinked, awe lighting up his face. "This… this can't be real. I must be dreaming."

"Maybe," she whispered with a smile, "but sometimes dreams can be closer to the truth than you think."

They watched the galaxy above them in peaceful silence, a rare connection forming between them as he slowly drifted back to sleep, a small, contented smile on his face. For the first time, Aelira felt a warmth she couldn't quite explain—a feeling that went beyond her mission or her alien identity. She wanted to protect him, not just out of duty, but something more.

As the stars twinkled above, she sat by his side, watching over him through the night.