The office was heavy with a suffocating stillness, the kind that made even the faintest sounds feel deafening. The window remained shut, and the sofa near the door was a chaotic reminder of their earlier intimacy—Hannah's coat and black skirt draped over Kai's coat and black tie in careless abandon.
"So, they do have a hideout and warehouses here in Frankfurt?" Hannah asked softly, her voice trembling.
She sat curled up in Kai's lap, her arms loosely wrapped around his neck. Her black hair was tousled, and her flushed skin betrayed the remnants of their earlier passion. She wore only her black bra and black panties, her body language a mix of vulnerability and exhaustion.
Kai, equally disheveled, had thrown on his trousers and a t-shirt but hadn't bothered to fix his rumpled hair or the uneven hem of his shirt. His blue eyes, sharp and unwavering, were glued to the computer screen in front of them. His fingers moved methodically over the keyboard and mouse, navigating the digital maze of the dark web.
"Yeah... I guess," he muttered, his voice distant, as though the gravity of what he was uncovering hadn't fully hit him yet.
Hannah shifted slightly, leaning closer to peer at the screen over his shoulder. She flinched when Kai clicked on a link, her wide blue eyes locking on the images that flickered to life.
The screen displayed a series of grotesque snapshots—menacing warehouses filled with bound and battered captives. Some were children, their faces a mix of terror and numbness, as though their innocence had been stolen long ago. Others bore the vacant stares of those drugged into submission, their bodies limp as predators closed in.
"A..." Hannah's breath hitched.
Whatfuckfuckwhatdidijustsaw.
"What the fuck?" she managed, her voice cracking like fragile glass. Her wide eyes brimmed with tears as she clutched at Kai's shirt, her trembling hands betraying her terror.
Kai's jaw tightened, but his face remained a mask of stoic determination. He clicked through more links, uncovering story after story of people sold into a global network of abuse. Some were auctioned off to the highest bidder, while others were dosed with drugs to render them powerless, their torment broadcast for sickening profit.
"Kai," Hannah's voice wavered as she reached out, her hand covering his on the mouse. "Stop." Her words came out as a whisper, but they carried a desperate urgency. "Please... I don't think you should keep going."
She turned her head away, unable to stomach another glance at the screen. The tears she had tried to hold back fell freely now, and she clung to him as if his presence could shield her from the weight of the horrors they'd uncovered.
Kai stopped clicking, his fingers frozen under hers. He turned to her, his gaze softening for the briefest of moments. "I know it's unbearable," he murmured, his voice low but resolute. "But if we don't follow this trail, no one will stop them. We have to find out where they are, who's behind this."
Hannah buried her face against his shoulder, her sobs muffled as she gripped him tighter. "I can't... It's too much," she choked out.
Kai's hand moved to her back, tracing soothing circles as if to anchor her. "You don't have to look anymore," he said gently, his voice steady. "I'll handle it. Just stay with me."
She nodded against him, her body trembling as she let his calmness envelop her. The air between them grew heavier with each passing second, the darkness of what they'd uncovered sinking into their shared silence.
As Kai continued browsing, his left hand remained on Hannah's back, tracing gentle circles to comfort her trembling frame. Her soft sobs filled the room, muffled against his shoulder and the crook of his neck. She clung to him tightly, her fingers clutching his shirt as if letting go would leave her lost in the horrifying images replaying in her mind.
The tortured faces of women and children, the lifeless bodies discarded without care, and the shadowy bidders treating human lives as mere commodities—it was too much to bear. Each thought hit her like a tidal wave, driving her deeper into his embrace.
Kai's blue eyes stayed locked on the screen, his jaw clenched as he methodically navigated the dark web. Yet, his touch on her back remained steady, a silent reminder that she wasn't alone in facing the nightmare.
Finally, he stopped. Letting go of the mouse, he shifted to wrap both arms around her petite frame, pulling her close. His head tilted slightly, his cheek resting against her disheveled hair.
"You okay now, love?" he asked softly, his voice tender, a gentle refuge against the storm in her mind.
Hannah didn't answer immediately. Her breaths came in shaky bursts as she tried to gather herself. Her muffled voice broke through, shaky and fragile. "I... I don't think so... Kai, it's too much."
He held her tighter, his hands soothingly brushing her back. "I know," he murmured, his tone filled with quiet strength. "I'm so sorry you had to see that. You don't have to look anymore, okay? I'll handle it from here."
"But it's still happening," she whispered, her voice laced with despair. "Those people... Kai, they're still suffering."
Kai inhaled deeply, his calm presence unwavering as he replied, "And we'll make it stop. I promise you, Hannah. They won't get away with this."
She lifted her head slightly, her tear-streaked face meeting his unwavering gaze. There was something in his eyes—a quiet determination that made her believe him. Without a word, Kai leaned in and pressed a quick, gentle kiss to her lips, his touch soft and reassuring. As he pulled back slightly, Hannah's eyes fluttered closed, and with a shaky breath, she buried herself back into his embrace, letting his warmth and strength shield her from the darkness that had momentarily overwhelmed her.
Kai's left hand moved slowly, rubbing her back in soothing circles, while his right hand returned to the mouse, his fingers steady as he navigated through the dark web. The screen was filled with cryptic codes and links, each click bringing him closer to what they needed.
"I'm just going to track a location we can head to," Kai said softly, his voice calm but filled with focus as his eyes scanned the screen. He was methodical, searching through layers of encrypted data, breaking down the complex web of hidden networks.
Hannah took a long, slow breath, her body still trembling slightly. She nestled her face deeper into his neck, the warmth of his presence grounding her. "Okay..." she murmured, her voice small, like a child seeking comfort.
Kai didn't respond immediately, his concentration absolute. He could feel her heartbeat calming beneath his hand, and it brought him a sense of peace as he worked through the encrypted links, carefully tracing the path to the information they needed.
Kai gently removed the high-tech watch from his left wrist, careful not to disturb Hannah as he set it down on the desk. With a quick tap, he activated it.
"Clark, connect to my system and upload the data to headquarters," Kai said firmly, his left hand continuing to soothe Hannah, his fingers tracing slow, calming circles on her back. His right hand never faltered as he worked the mouse, scanning through the dark web.
The watch beeped in response, and green letters appeared on the screen: "Connecting... to YZKAI," confirming the link to Kai's personal network.
Kai kept his attention on the screen, his focus unyielding. After a few seconds, a new link appeared: Upload to CLARK. Without hesitation, Kai tapped the link. The watch emitted a soft pulse as it shifted into a cloud-sync interface, transmitting the data directly into the headquarters' secure network.
As the data streamed into the system, Kai's eyes remained locked on the screen, monitoring the upload. Meanwhile, his left hand continued its gentle, comforting motions on Hannah's back, grounding them both amidst the growing tension. The data would be secure in their headquarters' device, a silent witness to the horrors they had just uncovered.
The watch emitted a soft beep, followed by a green checkmark. Kai swiftly disconnected the dark web connection and closed the app before shutting down the computer. Throughout the entire process, Hannah remained nestled against him, her head resting on his shoulder and her body straddling his lap.
Kai gently took the watch, slipping it back onto his left wrist with practiced ease.
"You okay now?" Kai asked softly, his voice calm as his left hand continued to massage soothing circles on her back.
Hannah pulled away just enough to look at him, her tear-streaked face still holding that fragile, childlike vulnerability. She nodded, her blue eyes still shimmering from the tears of earlier.
Kai smiled warmly, his gaze softening. "You look like a kid," he said with a gentle laugh, pressing a light kiss to her chin. As he pulled back, Hannah leaned into the kiss, her eyes meeting his.
"Later, we're going to save Mina and Clara, okay?" Kai's tone was reassuring, gentle as he guided her back into his arms, holding her against his chest like a child. Hannah nodded against him, pressing her bra-clad chest to his t-shirt as she whispered, "Love you."
"I love you too," Kai replied, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. His voice was soft, full of affection as he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close.
For a long moment, Hannah remained nestled against Kai's shoulder, her body pressed close to his, finding comfort in the steady rhythm of his hand gently massaging her back. His other hand rested possessively on her rear, holding her against him as though she were something precious, fragile—his to protect.
Breaking the silence, Hannah's soft voice muffled against his neck reached his ears. "Can we eat... lunch?" Her words were barely more than a whisper, but the softness of her tone made his heart ache with tenderness.
Kai's response was gentle, his own voice a comforting hum. "Yeah, are you hungry?" He didn't stop massaging her back, the steady pressure meant to ease the lingering tremors of distress in her.
"Yeah," she murmured, her breath warm against his skin. It was a quiet affirmation, and Kai could feel the weight of it—the unspoken need for normalcy, for something simple and grounding.
Slowly, Kai pulled away, just enough to meet her gaze. Her blue eyes, no longer shimmering with tears, now held a softness that made his chest tighten. Their bodies were still pressed together, their lower halves still in close contact. He couldn't help but smile at the small, vulnerable expression she wore. His voice was low but insistent. "Kiss."
Hannah didn't hesitate, her lips finding his in a kiss that was full of tenderness, a silent promise between them. Kai's hand rested on her rear and waist, pulling her closer, as the kiss deepened, slow and loving. For that moment, the world outside didn't matter. It was just the two of them, and that was enough.
When they finally pulled apart, both smiling softly, Hannah's eyes met his with quiet affection. "I'm just going to put on some clothes..." she said, her voice gentle, though still a little weary.
Kai nodded, his gaze lingering on her. "Take your time," he replied, his tone soft, giving her space but still holding her in his attention.
Hannah pulled away from him, rising to her feet and walking toward the sofa to retrieve her coat and her skirt. She slipped into her skirt and found a t-shirt from the closet, tying the shirt loosely around her waist. She stood before the mirror, adjusting her hair, taking a moment to smooth it down. As she did, Kai watched her from the seat, his expression soft but intense, taking in every movement.
As Hannah adjusted her hair in front of the mirror, Kai quietly rose from his seat. His steps were silent but purposeful, moving toward the sofa where their clothes were scattered. As he passed by her, Hannah glanced up at him, her eyes flickering briefly as he caught her gaze.
Kai didn't acknowledge the look, his focus instead on retrieving his tie and coat. He untangled the tie and expertly began to fasten it around his neck, then slipped on his coat, carefully adjusting the sleeves. The soft rustle of fabric filled the quiet room as he fixed his appearance with practiced ease.
As they both finished making themselves presentable, Kai broke the silence. "Let's go now?" he asked, his voice steady as he took Hannah's hand and intertwined their fingers.
Hannah eagerly intertwined her fingers with his. "Yeah…" she replied softly, her voice barely above a whisper, her lips curving into a smile that was sweet and innocent, like a child obeying a gentle request.
Kai nodded, leading the way as he reached for the doorknob. They exited the office together, Kai closing the door behind them with a soft click.
As they walked down the hallway, Hannah squeezed his hand every few seconds, her grip reassuring and warm. Her eyes occasionally flickered up to Kai, though he seemed focused ahead, looking across the hallway with a calm, purposeful expression. They reached the stairs and began to descend, moving from the third floor to the second floor and finally to the first.
Hannah, lost in thought, didn't realize when they entered the cafeteria. Her eyes remained on Kai, who had already looked around the room and now turned to her.
The Cafeteria is crowded of agents eating lunch.
"What do you want to order?" Kai asked, his voice bringing her back to the present.
Hannah flinched slightly, startled by the interruption, then took a second to think. "Oh, hmmmm…" she murmured softly, her gaze thoughtful. "I'm craving some seafood, actually…" she added, her tone low and almost wistful.
"The classic Fischbrötchen maybe?" Kai suggested, a small smile playing on his lips. "Fresh herring with onions and pickles. Or, if you're in the mood for something more filling, how about Kutterfisch—a hearty fish stew with potatoes?"
Hannah nodded, her eyes lighting up slightly at the thought. "Yeah, I think Fischbrötchen sounds perfect…"
Kai pointed toward their usual seat, situated in the middle of the room near the window, and gave Hannah a soft smile. "Wait for me there, lovey." His voice was gentle, almost soothing.
Hannah nodded with a warm smile, her eyes shimmering with affection. Without a word, she made her way toward the seat. She walked with purpose, moving gracefully toward the familiar spot. As she sat down, her eyes locked onto Kai, watching him with that usual intensity, like she was fully attuned to his every move.
Kai stood for a moment, letting his gaze linger on her. There was something comforting about how she looked at him, like no matter what was happening in the world, she was right there with him. A quiet smile curved his lips as he turned and made his way toward the counter.
The usual cafeteria worker greeted him with a nod as Kai approached. "Two fishbrötchen and two Cokes, please," Kai ordered, his tone steady yet warm.
The cafeteria worker nodded, and without hesitation, went to prepare the order. "Two fishbrötchen and Cokes coming up," he said, retreating into the kitchen behind the counter.
Kai stood by the counter, his hands slipping casually into his coat pockets. His gaze flicked over to Hannah, who hadn't broken her intense stare from him. He smiled to himself, a soft, quiet chuckle rising in his chest at how she always seemed to be watching him so closely.
Moments later, the cafeteria worker returned with the order, placing a tray down in front of Kai. On the tray, the two freshly made fishbrötchen were neatly wrapped in foil, accompanied by two bottles of Coke.
"That'll be €18.00," the worker said, looking at Kai with a polite but professional smile.
Kai nodded, taking out his wallet and sliding his card into the reader. The transaction completed with a satisfying beep, a green light signaling success.
With a small nod of thanks, Kai picked up the tray, turning toward Hannah. Her eyes still locked on him, her smile warm and expectant.
Kai walked toward Hannah, setting the tray down carefully before sitting across from her. Hannah, however, didn't immediately reach for her food. Instead, her gaze stayed fixed on him, following his every movement as he unwrapped his fishbrötchen. Kai caught her watching and smirked, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
"Come on, don't just look at me, eat," Kai teased, his chuckle soft and warm as he peeled off the foil.
Hannah's smile grew wider, her eyes shining with affection. "You're handsome," she said, almost dreamily, as she finally reached for her own fishbrötchen and unwrapped it.
Kai chuckled again, his gaze softening as he watched her. "You always say that," he said, his tone steady but affectionate. "But you're more beautiful."
Hannah blushed, her smile deepening as she took a bite of her fishbrötchen, savoring the taste. "Mhmmmm... this is good," she hummed contentedly, her eyes closing for a moment in bliss as the flavors hit her.
Kai's heart fluttered at the sight of her so content, and he chuckled again, the sound warm and full of affection. "You look more tasty," he teased, his voice playful.
Hannah raised an eyebrow, holding her fishbrötchen in one hand as she playfully smacked him with the other, a pout on her lips. "Hey, no teasing!" she exclaimed, but the softness in her tone made it clear she didn't mind the attention.
Kai laughed, thoroughly enjoying the lighthearted exchange. "You're too easy to tease," he said, his smile never faltering as he took another bite of his food.
The discovery of the horrifying images, the mission that loomed ahead, all seemed to fade away in the warmth of the moment. The memory of tortured faces and the chilling reality of their task slipped further into the background with every bite, every glance exchanged between them. The quiet hum of conversations around them in the cafeteria became distant and irrelevant, as if the world had narrowed to just the two of them. For now, the nightmare they'd seen online, the terrifying truths they were about to face, were replaced by something simpler: the soft laughter shared between them, the comfort of being together. In this fleeting moment, nothing else mattered.