From the moment you and Aki were paired up under Makima's special squad, there was an unspoken connection that drew you closer than anyone else. The understanding you shared was effortless, an unspoken language that only the two of you seemed to understand.

As time passed, the bond between you deepened into something more intimate. Officially, you were just friends, but the lingering glances and the tender way you treated each other told a different story. Everyone around you could sense the charged atmosphere whenever you were together.

You both tried to deny it, to convince yourselves that it was just the alcohol talking after those late nights out with the squad. Yet, the truth was impossible to ignore. Those nights when you ended up in each other's arms weren’t just drunken mistakes. The way you sought solace in each other’s kisses during stressful times was more than just a coping mechanism.

This morning was no different. You woke up entangled in Aki's sheets, the evidence of your passion etched into your skin. But as always, when you walked into headquarters, you pretended nothing had happened.

Himeno, ever perceptive, glanced between you two with a knowing smile. "You guys are acting weird," she teased, her eyes glinting with amusement.

Aki, cool as ever, crushed his cigarette underfoot and shrugged. "It's nothing," he replied, his tone casual, but the way his gaze flickered towards you betrayed him. The tension, the unspoken understanding, was still there, and it was only a matter of time before you both had to face it.