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The night had stretched long, and the dim lights of Seph's apartment bathed the room in a warm, inviting glow. The scent of freshly brewed coffee lingered in the air as Natalia sat across from Seph, her legs crossed, her body language relaxed yet calculated.
Her emerald eyes watched him carefully, her fingers lightly brushing the rim of her coffee mug.
"Soā¦" She finally broke the silence, her tone smooth, laced with curiosity. "Why the sudden change of heart?"
Seph chuckled softly, the sound deep and rich, echoing in the quiet space. He leaned back in his chair, his golden eyes twinkling with mischief as he took a long sip of his coffee.
"Change of heart?" Seph repeated, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.
"Yes." Natalia's gaze sharpened, her eyes narrowing slightly. "You've been avoiding this conversation for a while now. And suddenlyā¦"
She arched a delicate brow. "You're ready to bare your soul?"
Seph let out a low laugh, setting his mug down on the table.
"I didn't think it was fair to keep playing this game with you," He murmured, his voice softer now. "I've teased you enough, and it's not like my life's some grand secret."
Natalia's lips curled into a slight smirk. "Teased me, huh?"
"Oh, don't act innocent," Seph teased, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "I know you've been dying to know."
"Maybe." Natalia tilted her head, her fingers tracing the edge of her cup. "But you don't strike me as the kind of man who gives away his secrets so easily."
Seph's expression grew more serious, his playful demeanor fading slightly.
"You're right." His voice dropped, his gaze distant. "Butā¦"
He met her eyes, his irises reflecting somethingā¦ deeper. "I've left that life behind. I'm trying to live a simple, honest life now. I don't want any trouble."
Natalia's eyes softened for a moment, but the flicker of curiosity still lingered.
"No trouble?" She echoed softly. "And yetā¦ trouble seems to follow you like a shadow."
Seph chuckled again, a hint of bitterness lacing his laugh.
"That's the thing about shadows, Nataliaā¦" He murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "They never really leave you."
Natalia sipped her coffee slowly, her gaze unwavering as she leaned back, crossing her legs with grace. "Go on."
Seph smiled faintly, his fingers drumming lightly against the table. "Alrightā¦"
He took a deep breath, his expression shifting into something moreā¦ vulnerable. "Let's start from the beginning."
"My name is Seph," He began softly, his eyes distant as memories flooded his mind. "As I told you before. But that's all I really knew for a long time."
Natalia's brow furrowed slightly, her expression attentive.
"My motherā¦" Seph's voice grew quieter, almost reverent. "Her name was Angela. But I barely remember her."
Natalia's lips parted slightly, her expression softening. "I'm sorryā¦"
Seph offered her a small, bittersweet smile. "She died giving birth to me."
His voice was calm, but there was an underlying ache in his tone. "I never even got to know herā¦ just her name. That's all my father ever told me."
Natalia's heart clenched. "Your fatherā¦"
Seph nodded, his expression shifting. "George."
A hint of warmth touched his eyes at the mention of his father's name. "He wasā¦"
He paused, searching for the right words. "An army man. Tough as nails. Disciplined. But he had a heart of gold."
"My parentsā¦" Seph's gaze softened as he leaned back, his voice taking on a nostalgic tone. "They weren't supposed to be together."
Natalia's brow arched slightly. "Why not?"
Seph chuckled softly, shaking his head. "My father was from a strict military family. My motherā¦"
His eyes darkened slightly. "She came from a wealthy, influential family. Her parents had other plans for her."
"Ahā¦" Natalia murmured, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Forbidden love."
"Yeah." Seph's smile was faint but genuine. "But they didn't care. They ran away togetherā¦ left everything behind just to be with each other."
"That'sā¦ romantic." Natalia's voice was softer now, her eyes reflecting a rare vulnerability.
Seph's expression grew wistful. "Yeahā¦ it was."
"After my mother diedā¦" Seph's voice grew quieter, his gaze dropping to the table. "My father raised me alone."
Natalia's eyes softened further.
"To provide for usā¦" Seph's jaw tightened slightly. "He became a mercenary."
Natalia's brows lifted slightly. "A mercenary?"
Seph nodded slowly. "He was one of the best."
His tone was filled with quiet pride. "Butā¦ that lifeā¦ it wasn't easy. And I grew up surrounded by danger."
"So, you followed in his footsteps." Natalia's voice was barely above a whisper.
"I didn't have a choice." Seph's smile was bitter. "By the time I was elevenā¦ I was already trained. By fifteenā¦ I was leading my own missions."
"Butā¦" Natalia's voice trailed off as she leaned forward, her gaze intent. "Why can't anyone find anything about you?"
Seph's expression grew darker, his eyes gleaming with somethingā¦ dangerous.
"Because I was never supposed to exist." His voice was quiet, but the weight of his words sent a chill down Natalia's spine.
"What do you mean?"
"Even as a mercenaryā¦ no one ever saw my face." Seph's smirk returned, but it was laced with bitterness. "I was a ghost, Natalia. A myth."
Natalia's eyes widened slightly. "A ghostā¦"
"Not even my enemies knew who I was." Seph leaned back, his tone almost amused. "They only knew the aftermath of my work."
Natalia's mind raced. "Soā¦ you were invisible?"
"Something like that." Seph's smile was faint. "No records. No traces. Nothing."
"Soā¦ why leave it all behind?" Natalia's voice was quieter now, her tone filled with curiosity.
Seph's expression grew distant again.
"Because I got tired." His voice was barely above a whisper. "Tired of killing. Tired of running. Tired ofā¦ being a ghost."
Natalia's heart clenched.
"I had made too many enemies." Seph's jaw clenched slightly. "And when I tried to leaveā¦"
"They came after you." Natalia's voice was barely audible.
Seph nodded slowly. "They didn't stop."
"Soā¦ what happened?"
Seph's expression shifted, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "I killed them."
Natalia blinked, momentarily stunned by the casual way he said it.
"All of them." Seph's tone was devoid of emotion. "But not without a price."
"You got hurt." Natalia's eyes darkened.
Seph nodded. "Yeah."
"And that's how I met Pepper." Seph's voice softened, his gaze warming as he mentioned her name. "She found meā¦ when I was on the brink of death... barely alive."
Natalia's lips parted slightly. "Pepperā¦ saved you?"
"Yeah." Seph's smile was soft now. "She didn't ask questions. She justā¦ helped me."
Natalia's expression grew unreadable. "And the rest is history."
"Pretty much." Seph chuckled softly, his golden eyes meeting hers.
For a moment, there was silence.
Natalia's fingers brushed against her coffee mug, her thoughts swirling.
"No wonderā¦" She murmured softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Seph tilted his head slightly. "No wonder what?"
Natalia's lips curved into a small, teasing smile. "No wonder you're such a mystery."
Seph chuckled softly, the warmth returning to his eyes. "I told youā¦"
He leaned forward, his tone playful. "I'm just a ghost."
Natalia took one final sip of her coffee before placing the cup down gently. She stood up gracefully, her movements fluid, her expression unreadable.
"Thank youā¦" She murmured softly, her eyes meeting his. "For trusting me with that."
Seph's gaze softened as he watched her, his golden eyes reflecting something deeper.
"You're welcome, Nat." His voice was gentle, almost affectionate.
Natalia's lips curved into a soft smile.
But beneath that smile was a dangerous game was still in play.
And Natalia Romanoff was walking a razor-thin line between her heart and her mission.
--- ā¦ ā¦ ā¦ ---
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