Chapter 14: Under Pressure

The tension in the air felt thicker than ever.

D lay on the couch, his mind replaying the mission that had brought him and Amir together in the first place. Even though they'd found something real between them, something worth fighting for, the danger was always lurking. Their enemies weren't stupid. They knew who D was, and they were coming for him. For them both.

It was early evening, and the dim light from the setting sun filtered through the curtains, casting shadows across the room. D's thoughts were far from the peaceful space he'd come to find in Amir's arms. The calm moments were becoming fewer as their lives escalated once again.

Amir walked into the room, a concerned look on his face. He was always so observant, always reading the mood before D even said a word. Today was no different.

"You've been quiet all day," Amir said, his tone gentle but probing as he sat next to D, his hand immediately reaching for his. "What's going on in that head of yours?"

D squeezed his hand, grateful for the warmth but not ready to let go of the anxiety gnawing at him. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself before speaking.

"I'm just thinking about everything, man. The crew's slipping. We're running out of time before they make a move. I can't keep you safe if we don't handle this first."

Amir's grip tightened, and D could feel the energy shift between them. Amir didn't speak at first, just waited for D to process his thoughts.

"You don't have to do this alone," Amir said, his voice steady and unwavering. "We've been through too much for you to push me away now."

D's heart ached with the words. He didn't want to push Amir away. He *wanted* to pull him closer, wanted to shield him from everything. But that wasn't realistic. Amir had a life of his own—a past that was darker than D could understand, and the danger was bigger than just them.

"I'm trying to keep you safe, Amir. I've seen too many people I care about get hurt." D's voice cracked slightly, betraying the raw emotion he didn't like to show.

Amir cupped his chin gently, guiding his face so their eyes met. The look in Amir's eyes was intense, but it was full of understanding. "You can't protect me from everything, D. You don't have to. But I'm not backing down. Not from you. Not from this."

The sincerity in Amir's voice hit D like a wave. His mind told him to hold back, to stay guarded. But his heart, the part that had always been the most vulnerable, pulled him closer to Amir.

Without a word, D leaned in, closing the space between them until their lips met in a kiss that was soft at first, tentative, as if they were both searching for reassurance. But as the kiss deepened, D let himself melt into Amir's touch, feeling the storm of emotion and pressure inside of him start to calm, if only for a moment. Amir's hands slid around his neck, pulling him closer, as if nothing else mattered except the space they shared right then.

When they finally broke the kiss, D rested his forehead against Amir's, breathing in the familiar scent of his skin. His heart pounded in his chest, but the nervous energy was replaced with something else—something powerful. They didn't have to talk about everything that weighed them down. For once, they could just be.

"I just don't want to lose you," D whispered, his voice soft but sincere.

"You won't," Amir replied, his fingers gently tracing circles on D's shoulder. "Not if I can help it."

---

**Later That Night:**

The night crept in faster than either of them expected. After their quiet moment, the reality of their situation set back in. The crew had been quiet for too long, and D couldn't ignore the gut feeling that something was about to go wrong.

Amir, always by his side, was ready. The two of them sat at the kitchen table, mapping out their next move. But even amidst the planning, D couldn't shake the feeling of being torn between the life he'd known and the love he was beginning to build with Amir.

"We need to move fast," D said, his tone sharper now as he leaned over the table, looking over the intel they had on their enemies. "There's no time to waste. They're coming for us."

Amir's voice was calm, but the tension in his posture spoke volumes. He had always been the quiet strength D needed, the one person who could make him feel less like he was carrying the weight of the world.

"We'll be ready," Amir replied, his hand resting on the map, his fingers brushing over D's as if it were second nature. "You don't have to do it all on your own."

D didn't look up at him right away, but he felt the warmth of Amir's touch, grounding him. As much as he wanted to keep Amir safe from all of this, he knew the reality: Amir was already involved. He had always been involved. And now, they were in this together—no turning back.

When D finally met Amir's eyes, he saw the same determination reflected back at him. They would make it through this. Together.

"I'm not letting you go," D said quietly, his words more for himself than anyone else.

Amir gave him a small, knowing smile. "You don't have to. I'm not going anywhere."

---

**The Next Morning:**

The morning light hit the city streets with an eerie calm. The calm before the storm.

D and Amir walked together through the safe house, preparing for the inevitable confrontation. The crew had gathered, each person on edge, waiting for the next order. But D's mind kept drifting back to Amir, who stood beside him, always by his side, his presence a quiet comfort amidst the chaos.

As they prepared to face the enemies who had been circling them for days, D pulled Amir aside for just a moment.

"Stay close to me," D said, his voice low, but with an intensity that wasn't there before. "No matter what happens, don't let them separate us."

Amir's gaze softened, but his resolve was unwavering. "I'll stay right by you. I promise."

The weight of those words, the commitment in Amir's eyes, made D feel like they could face anything together. Even as the storm gathered around them, even as the threats closed in on all sides, D and Amir had each other.

And for the first time in a long time, that felt like enough.

---

**End of Chapter 14.**