AU where Ivan survived!
Out of every possibility you had imagined, there was one that would have never crossed your mind. The Resistance—or, more specifically, Hyuna—had somehow managed to bring Ivan back alive.
Yes.
Ivan.
The person you hated the most.
And now he was here. Breathing. Alive. As if fate had decided to play the cruelest joke imaginable.
And, as if that weren't enough, he was still the same asshole who, during the round against your Till... had kissed him.
That memory alone was enough to make your jaw clench every single time you looked at him.
Ever since they brought him into the infirmary, you rarely got too close. You preferred leaning against the wall or standing by the doorway, watching him from a distance while he remained unconscious.
You never said a word.
You simply watched.
With disgust for everything he had done to you and the way he had treated you in the past.
With revulsion because he had kissed... well, the love of your life.
And with a quiet, simmering rage that was becoming harder and harder to keep under control.
More than once, an intrusive thought forced its way into your mind.
Cross the room.
Wrap both hands around his neck.
Squeeze until he stopped breathing.
There was even one moment when you took a step toward his bed while he was still unconscious, convinced that no one would be able to stop you.
But before you could do something you might never be able to take back, Hyuna's voice called your name from the hallway to discuss a new plan.
It was the only thing that kept your hands from ending up around his throat.
You hated him.
And he hated you.
Or at least, that's what everyone assumed.
From Ivan's point of view, you had stolen Till from him, which had only created an undeniably turbulent relationship between the two of you.
You remained silent while Isaac performed yet another routine checkup on Ivan. You watched every movement with little interest, letting out a quiet sigh as soon as the doctor finished.
At least he was still unconscious.
That made the atmosphere a little more bearable.
Isaac packed up his things, gave his patient one last glance, and finally left the infirmary, leaving you completely alone with him.
You looked away for a moment, giving a slight shrug before turning toward the door, ready to leave as well.
You had already wasted enough time here.
Then—
— "You're alive..."
The voice, weak and hoarse, shattered the room's fragile silence.
You froze.
Of course.
This was the exact moment Ivan had to wake up.
With a slow sigh, you turned back to face him, expecting to find the same look of contempt he had always worn whenever he looked at you.
Maybe even disgust.
Hatred.
Anything but...
That.
Because the expression meeting your eyes wasn't one of anger.
It wasn't mocking.
It wasn't even indifferent.
For a brief moment, the only emotion reflected on Ivan's face was something you never would have expected.
...Relief?