Chapter 10 — The First Conflict
It was a crisp afternoon in downtown Seattle, the kind of day where the air smelled faintly of rain and asphalt. Arin walked beside Maya, her hand tucked lightly in his, their pace slow and unhurried. He loved moments like this — ordinary, peaceful, just the two of them.
But peace, as he knew too well, rarely lasted.
---
They passed a crowded marketplace, vendors calling out over the hum of shoppers. Arin's senses began to hum faintly, an instinctual warning deep inside him. He felt it before he saw it — a dark pulse of thoughts, sharp and restless, cutting through the background noise like a knife.
Someone is planning to steal… or worse, the thought screamed, unspoken but clear in his mind.
Arin froze mid-step. His eyes darted toward a man near a fruit stall, scanning the crowd. The man's hands itched, his gaze flicking toward a child's unattended backpack. Fear and greed intertwined in the boy's mind.
Arin didn't hesitate. Without thinking, he stepped forward, voice calm but firm. "Hey, watch your hands."
The man jumped, startled, looking around as if someone had seen him do something he hadn't. The child's mother, who hadn't noticed the danger, turned just in time. The man muttered something under his breath and walked away quickly.
---
Arin exhaled slowly, but that was when he noticed the people staring. Some whispered. A woman took out her phone, seemingly snapping a picture. A man muttered to his friend, "Did he just… know?"
His heart raced. He'd been careful before — using his powers subtly, never letting anyone see him react. But now, people were noticing, and the exposure felt dangerous.
Maya squeezed his hand gently, her touch grounding him. She typed quickly on her pad:
> "Are you okay? They're just curious."
He nodded, trying to calm himself. "It's more than curiosity. They might start watching me."
Her eyes softened, and she leaned close, brushing her shoulder against his. "Then let them watch," she typed. "You're with me."
Her presence steadied him instantly, the familiar warmth of her hand grounding him. He closed his eyes for a moment, focusing on her instead of the crowd. The chaos of other minds dulled to a hum. Around her, he felt calm — safe.
---
But he knew this wasn't over. Someone had seen him act on information they shouldn't have known. Arin's instincts told him that his visibility could attract dangerous attention. He could feel the subtle, lurking curiosity from a man across the street, a stranger whose thoughts brushed against his own — probing, calculating, curious.
He tried to ignore it, but his gift made it impossible. He sensed the stranger's growing awareness, a faint excitement that made Arin uneasy. He tugged Maya closer, slipping his hand through hers and holding it tightly.
"We should leave," he said softly, almost whispering.
Maya didn't hesitate. She typed quickly:
> "I trust you. Let's go."
They left the busy marketplace and wandered into a quieter street lined with small shops and cafés. The tension didn't fully dissipate, but Maya's presence made it manageable. Arin could feel the echo of his heartbeat syncing with hers, steadying him, reminding him that he wasn't alone.
---
As they walked, Arin's thoughts drifted to the implications. Someone had noticed his abilities — possibly for the first time. That meant risk. He wasn't just a man wandering through the city anymore; he was someone with a gift that could draw attention, and some people would want to exploit that.
He glanced at Maya, her eyes curious yet trusting. The sight made him grip her hand a little tighter. He couldn't let anything happen to her, not now, not ever.
They reached a small fountain in a quiet plaza. Arin leaned against the stone ledge, exhaling slowly, trying to release the tension knotting his chest. Maya sat beside him, her scarf brushing against his arm.
"I think…" he began slowly, flipping open his sketchbook, "my powers might be more visible than I thought. Someone saw me act today — how I knew the man was about to take the child's backpack. They didn't see anything obvious, but… they noticed something."
Maya tilted her head thoughtfully, then wrote:
> "And you're afraid?"
He nodded. "Not just afraid. Exposed. Vulnerable. I've been careful all this time, hiding… and now, someone might follow me, watch me, or even try to use me."
Her hand squeezed his, a silent reassurance. She typed again:
> "Then we handle it together. I trust you. And I know you'll protect us."
Arin's chest tightened at her words. Protect them — protect her. He realized how much he already cared, more than he had allowed himself to admit.
---
The fountain's water sparkled in the afternoon sun, the world feeling both heavy and light at the same time. Arin's mind replayed the marketplace incident — the startled man, the whispers of the crowd, the subtle probing thoughts of someone else. Each detail made his powers feel both vital and dangerous.
Without thinking, he leaned closer to Maya, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. She flinched slightly at first, then smiled faintly, her hand tightening around his. The kiss wasn't grand or passionate — it was a promise. A silent vow that no matter what threats came their way, they would face them together.
> "You always make me feel safe," she typed quickly.
"And you make me feel… human," he whispered. "Like there's a reason for this gift beyond the noise."
Her smile deepened, the sunlight catching in her eyes. Arin realized that no matter what external danger lurked, this — her trust, her warmth, her presence — was more important than any threat.
---
As the day turned to evening, they slowly walked back toward their apartment. Arin felt a mix of exhaustion and exhilaration. His powers had revealed danger, yes, but it also reminded him why he needed control, focus, and trust. With Maya, he felt capable, grounded, and alive.
That night, he opened his journal, writing:
> "Today I realized something important. My power isn't just a burden — it's a responsibility. And with her, I can face whatever comes. I will protect her, no matter what. She makes me stronger. She makes me… human again."
He closed the journal, feeling lighter than he had all day. Challenges were coming — he knew it. But for the first time in years, he felt ready. With Maya by his side, with trust and connection, he could face the world. No matter who was watching.