Chapter 5: Do You Want Me To Leave?

*Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!*

The first gunshot shattered the air like a thunderclap. The restaurant fell into chaos. People screamed, glasses shattered, chairs tipped over as patrons scrambled for cover.

Alex stood right there on the stage in shock. And in the next moment, his body moved without his will. It was Damien who had tackled him to the floor, rolling them behind an overturned table.

"Stay low! Alright? Alex look at me, please stay low," Damien added., his voice calm but a bit worried for just Alex safety despite the panic around the. "Follow my lead!"

Alex still in shock, he couldn't even breathe. His heart felt like it was about to explode out his chest.

Damien took a peek over the table. Five men, fully masked, heavily armed. Their rifles swept across the restaurant like hunting dogs searching for prey, that was when he saw a tattoo on the the arm of one of the men.

"The cobra!" Damien lamented.

"What? What was that?" Alex managered to ask.

"Nothing just stay behind me!"

“What do they want?” Alex whispered, trying to keep his voice steady.

“No idea,” Damien murmured. “But we need to move.”

Before Alex could process what was happening, Damien grabbed his wrist and pulled him forward.

They crouch-ran, weaving between overturned chairs and ducking behind the bar. The acrid scent of gunpowder filled the air, mixed with spilled wine and fear.

Just as they neared the exit, a figured blocked their way..

One of the masked men.

His rifle was already raised, aimed directly at them.

Alex barely had time to gasp before Damien lunged.

The attacker barely got a shot off before Damien’s fist collided with his jaw, knocking him off balance.

The gun went off—BANG!—the bullet hitting the ceiling, sending dust and sparks raining down.

The commotion seemed to give others a bit chance to try escape. Suddenly, people weren’t just running, some were fighting back.

A group of men tackled one of the gunmen near the entrance. A woman smashed a bottle over another attacker’s head. The scene descended into absolute chaos.

Alex tried to keep up with Damien, but in the frenzy, he lost him.

He stumbled through the screaming crowd, dodging panicked bodies and overturned tables.

His breath was ragged, sweat slicking his palms as he shoved past fleeing patrons. He needed to get out.

Then a strong hand grabbed onto his shoulder.

Before he could react, he was yanked back, spun around, and slammed against the wall.

One of the masked men towered over him, gripping his arm tight enough to bruise. The muzzle of a pistol pressed into his ribs.

“Where is he?” the man growled.

Alex’s mind blanked. Who?

“I—I don’t—”

The gunman shoved him harder. “Don’t play dumb, kid. Tell me where he is, and maybe you won’t get a bullet in your gut.”

That was when it kicked in, They weren’t here for the restaurant. They were here for Damien.

Before Alex could speak, another shot rang out close.

The man holding him jerked violently, his grip loosening. Blood splattered onto Alex’s shirt.

Alex barely had time to register what happened before the gunman collapsed.

Damien stood behind him. Holding a gun.

The barrel was still smoking. His face unreadable.

Alex stared at him, his breath catching. “What the hell!”

Damien didn’t hesitate. He grabbed Alex’s arm and pulled him toward the exit.

“Move.”

They sprinted out onto the street, the cool Parisian air hitting them like a slap. Behind them, the restaurant was in utter chaos, gunfire, shouts, sirens wailing in the distance.

They didn’t stop running until they were several blocks away.

Finally, Damien slowed, turning a corner into a dimly lit alley. He exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand down his face.

Alex bent over, hands on his knees, gasping for air.

His mind was racing. He looked at Damien, at the gun in his hand. “What the hell was that?”

Damien’s jaw clenched. He tucked the gun into the back of his waistband, his expression unreadable. “You should go back home, Alex.”

Alex’s stomach twisted. “What?”

“This isn’t your fight.” Damien’s voice was quieter now. Colder even.

Alex took a step forward, anger bubbling up through his body. “Don’t give me that cryptic bullshit. Who were those guys? Why were they after you? And why the hell do you have a gun?”

Damien didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, he stared at him,as if weighing something in his mind.

Then, after what felt like an eternity, he spoke.

“I told you,” he said, voice low. “I’m on vacation, go back to your hotel.."

And with that, he turned and walked away.

Back in his hotel room, Damien was in the bathroom he just finished taking a shower he walked back into his room, body still wet, water dripping down his spikey hair.

"Holy shit!" He added as he saw Alex standing right there in the middle of his room. "Alex? What the hell are you doing here, I told you to go take some rest, how on earth did you even find me?"

"Ooh clam down now captain, you dropped you phone, and I just wanted to return it." Alex added. "But there's just a single question I have," he said touching on the tattoo on the right chest of he pilot.

"And what might that be?" Damien asked.

"Well you see the thing is that your phone was unlocked when I found it and I kinda saw the grinder app on you phone." He added. "Soy question is why is our supposedly so straight captain on grinder?"

"Now what would people say when they find out that captain Damien is gay?"

The captain grabbed him and pushed him in unto the wall.

"You wouldn't dare!" He said staring into Alex's eyes like he was about to consume him whole.

He blinked trying to maintain himself.

"Look I think you should leave!"

Alex smiled and replied. "Well if I'm gonna leave you are going to let me go!"

"Do you want to let me go? Captain Damian."

The captain sent his hand all over Alex, from his neck to his face before loosing his towel, then grabbing and lifting Alex up like a baby and threw him on the bed.