The late evening cast an oppressive darkness over the road, the faintest moonlight barely able to penetrate the thick canopy above. Kai's car sat motionless, blending into the shadows, its engine off, headlights dark. The air was heavy with silence, and all around them, the woods seemed to stretch endlessly, their towering trees forming a wall of blackness beside the road.
The forest was dense, the trunks of ancient pines and oaks rising like silent sentinels, their leaves whispering nothing in the stillness. There were no signs of life, no flickering lights or movement. The dense underbrush was swallowed by the dark, and even the air felt thick with the absence of sound.
Kai sat unmoving in the driver's seat, his sharp blue eyes scanning the night, searching for anything that might give away the hidden threats in the woods. His fingers rested lightly on the steering wheel, poised yet relaxed, every part of him alert, as if the darkness itself was watching.
Beside him, Hannah remained equally still. Her blue eyes, wide and focused, never left the empty stretch of road. Her small frame was taut with readiness, her hand brushing the edge of her coat where her concealed weapon rested.
"I don't think we should stay here for too long..." Hannah said, her voice soft, tinged with a subtle hint of scopophobia. "They might find out..." Her words trailed off, growing faint as she shifted in her seat, unease crawling under her skin.
She turned her gaze to Kai, who was staring out of the window beside him, his blue eyes sharp, alert, and focused on the dark woods around them.
Kai didn't respond immediately. He inhaled deeply, his hand tightening on the steering wheel for a fraction of a second before he reached into the outside pocket of his coat. Without a word, he handed her his phone.
"Will you check their movements?" Kai asked, his tone calm but sharp, as he turned his attention back to the road ahead.
Hannah nodded, taking the phone from his hand. Kai started the engine, the sound a low hum that broke the silence, and began to pull away. Hannah's blue eyes stayed glued to the screen of the phone, watching the map and the red dot that blinked steadily in the center.
The dot moved.
"It moved," Hannah said, her voice steady, almost mechanical, but the underlying tension was clear.
Kai glanced at her from the corner of his eye. "Keep watching," he instructed, his tone firm as he reached for the car's smart device, swiftly dialing. The name Finn Weismann appeared on the screen as the phone rang.
With a quick tap on the screen the window closed, cutting off the cold night air.
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Finn's POV
The surrounding woods were eerily quiet, the darkness stretching endlessly in every direction. Finn sat in the driver's seat of his sleek black car, the engine and lights turned off, the vehicle a shadow against the backdrop of the night. Dressed in his usual attire—coat, tie, and a white t-shirt beneath—he remained still, his focus sharp.
Beside him, Julia Neumann sat poised in the passenger seat, her red eyes focused on the empty road ahead. Standing at 5'8", her long red hair cascaded down to her rear, covering her right eye in a curtain of fiery strands. Her posture was straight, her expression unreadable, but there was a tension in the air between them.
The silence in the car was broken by the sound of Finn's phone ringing. The name that popped up on the screen made his hand move instinctively—Kai Hashimoto Krause. Julia's attention flickered to the phone, but she didn't turn her gaze away from the road. Finn grabbed the phone from the seat, answering the call with a practiced calm.
"What is it, Colonel?" Finn's tone was steady, professional.
Kai's voice came through, low but clear. "Me and Hannah are repositioning… away from the dark. She's feeling nervous."
Finn didn't respond immediately, his gaze shifting momentarily to Julia, who hadn't reacted to the conversation. "Sure, Colonel. I'll update you if we see anything," he replied, his tone respectful yet firm.
"Understood," came Kai's calm response before the call ended. Finn glanced at the phone, noting the brief silence before putting it back down in the car's gearshift box.
Julia, her eyes still focused on the road but distant, spoke without looking at him. "What did he say?" Her tone was firm, her voice carrying a toughness.
Finn's gaze shifted to the darkness outside, his voice steady as he answered. "They repositioned. He said Hannah's feeling nervous."
Julia didn't respond right away, her red eyes scanning the surrounding woods as they remained still in the night, the weight of the silence pressing in.
A moment of silence hung between them, the stillness broken only by the faint rustling of leaves outside. Both of them remained alert, their eyes scanning the woods, watching for any movements or sounds. The car remained stationary, the engine off, and the world around them felt suspended in the darkness.
It was Julia who finally spoke, her voice cutting through the quiet. Her eyes never left the road ahead, her gaze sharp and calculating.
"Hey, are Kai and Hannah in a relationship?" she asked, her tone firm but laced with curiosity.
Finn raised an eyebrow, his fingers tightening slightly on the steering wheel. He glanced at her from the corner of his eye. "Hmm? Why do you ask?" His voice was low, tinged with confusion.
"Just curious," Julia replied, her voice softer now, her attention still fixed on the empty road before them.
Finn's gaze lingered on her for a moment longer, his blue eyes narrowing. "That's not part of the job," he said, his tone dropping to a near-whisper, almost soft, as he looked back at the road.
Julia turned her head to look at him, her red eyes sharp and filled with an emotion Finn couldn't quite place. It was the look of a woman who had been asked something she didn't want to hear. "Just goddamn answer it," she said, her voice low but tinged with annoyance.
Finn closed his eyes briefly, taking a deep, calming breath. When he opened them again, his voice was steady but quiet. "Yes, they are." He returned his gaze to the dark road ahead, the tension in the car palpable.
A moment of silence settled between them once again, both of them still alert, their eyes scanning the road ahead and the dark woods beside. The only sound was the occasional rustling from the forest, adding to the eerie stillness of the night.
Finn's blue eyes were fixed on the window across from him, his cheek resting against his fist, elbow propped up on the open driver's side window. His posture was relaxed, but the intensity in his gaze betrayed his focus.
Finally, he spoke, breaking the silence with a low, steady voice.
"What are your intentions?" His eyes never shifted from the woods, his tone calm but carrying an edge of curiosity.
Julia, who had been staring at the road ahead, shifted slightly in her seat before glancing at him from the corner of her red eyes. "Nothing really. Just noticed... they both seem to be really close," she said firmly. But the edge in her voice betrayed her, the firmness sounding more forced than usual.
Finn raised an eyebrow at her response, his expression unchanged. "Really?" His tone was still firm, his blue eyes unwavering as they stayed locked on the trees outside, his body unmoving.
Julia turned her body toward him, facing him fully now. But Finn still didn't look at her. "Yes, for real," she replied, her voice even firmer than before, as if daring him to press further. The words carried the defiance of someone who had been cornered, like a woman caught off-guard by a question she didn't want to answer.
Finn's eyes remained fixed on the window beside the driver's seat as his fingers casually slid into the pocket of his coat. He pulled out a pack of cigarettes, flicking it open and lighting one with a quick motion from the lighter inside. The flame flickered briefly before he tossed the box and his phone onto the backseat, his movements smooth but deliberate.
Julia's eyes tracked his every motion, her gaze narrowed with an unreadable expression.
Taking a long drag, Finn exhaled the smoke out the window, watching it vanish into the cold night air. "Doesn't look like that to me, though..." he said with a teasing smile, the smoke trailing from his lips as he took another sip of the cigarette.
Julia's eyes flashed with irritation, her teeth gritting. "Then don't believe it," she shot back, her tone firmer now, her body turning away from him as she refused to look at him any longer.
Finn chuckled softly, savoring another drag of his cigarette. "Tell me your intentions..." His voice dropped to a low murmur, almost a whisper, laced with a quiet challenge.
As Finn asked, Julia's jaw tightened, and her red eyes momentarily flashed with something more than annoyance. But before Finn could catch the shift, she turned away, the hard edge to her tone returning.
"Why does it matter?" she snapped, her voice cold despite the warmth of the car.
Finn's gaze didn't waver, his expression steady. "I'm just trying to understand where your head's at."
Julia's grip on her seat tightened, as if she could physically keep her emotions at bay. "My head's fine. Let's focus on the mission."
Finn didn't press her further, sensing the undercurrent of tension she was trying so hard to mask. Instead, he let the silence stretch, the only sound between them the crackle of his cigarette and the distant rustling of the woods outside.
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Kai and Hannah's POV
The world around them was quiet, the soft glow of lanterns casting a warm, golden hue over the small store across the road. The car was parked just off the main road, its sleek silhouette blending into the shadows.
Inside, the atmosphere was different. Kai sat in the driver's seat, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp, focused intently on the smart panel display in front of him. The map was lit up with a red dot that blinked every few seconds, a sign of movement somewhere in the darkness.
Beside him, Hannah leaned forward, her attention fully absorbed by the screen. Her long black hair cascaded down her shoulders, framing her face as she studied the shifting red dot. Her blue eyes never wavered, tracing its every movement, a slight frown tugging at her features.
The air was still inside the car, the soft hum of the engine and the faint glow of the display the only sounds. But outside, the world seemed to stand still, the lantern light flickering gently in the distance, casting long shadows against the darkened road.
Kai pulled Hannah closer, guiding her gently onto his seat, his movements calm yet firm. Hannah flinched at the sudden motion but quickly relaxed, allowing herself to be pulled into him. The two of them were now side by side, both seated in the driver's seat, a tight, intimate space.
Hannah glanced up at him, her blue eyes shining with affection, her gaze soft and loving.
Kai's arm wrapped around her waist, drawing her in even closer, his head tilting slightly as he rested her against his shoulder. "You tired?" His voice was quiet, almost tender, as he tightened his grip around her.
Hannah's head nestled against his shoulder, a slight nod the only response at first. "Yeah... we haven't gone home in two days... I miss Sofia," she murmured, her voice low, laced with longing.
Kai's smile was small but genuine as he stared out at the road in front of them. A single car passed, headlights briefly illuminating the interior of the car. He tilted his head and kissed the top of her head with care, not wanting to disturb her. "Don't worry... once this mission is over, we'll head back home, okay?"
Hannah gave a soft, almost imperceptible nod, her body relaxing even more against him. A few moments passed before she looked up at him, her eyes filled with warmth and sincerity. "I love you," she whispered, her voice soft but unmistakably genuine.
Kai's heart skipped a beat. He smiled, a small but genuine curve of his lips. "I love you too," he replied, the intensity of his words matching hers. He pulled her back into his embrace, her head resting against his shoulder once again.
He kept his arm around her, gently rubbing her back as he spoke, his voice gentle but firm. "Don't fall asleep, okay?" His hand stroked her back a little more, soothing her as he settled her back into his hold.
Hannah nodded against him, her eyes still open, her gaze fixed on the road ahead, although it was clear her mind was elsewhere.
Kai, too, turned his focus back to the road, his attention divided between the mission at hand and the woman beside him, the one who grounded him even in the chaos of their lives.
Kai watched as Hannah's body relaxed further, the subtle shift in her posture signaling that she was finally surrendering to the exhaustion that had been creeping up on her. Her breathing softened, and soon enough, her head nestled deeper into his shoulder, the soft weight of her making Kai's heart flutter.
She'd been through a lot, both physically and emotionally, and he could feel it in the way she leaned against him, her muscles finally unwinding. Her hair, dark as midnight, cascaded over his arm, and he couldn't help but gently run his fingers through it, a silent comfort to her as she drifted further into sleep.
Hannah's breath evened out, soft and steady, her face becoming even more serene in slumber. Her lips parted just slightly, forming the smallest "o" as she breathed, and her expression was pure, unburdened, as though she were a child unaware of the chaos around her.
Kai's heart tightened in a way that made him feel both protective and completely in awe of her. In this moment, she was the only thing that mattered to him.
His arm instinctively tightened around her waist, pulling her closer, making sure she was fully supported as she slept soundly on his shoulder. He let her rest, knowing she needed it more than anything.
Kai's gaze softened as he looked down at Hannah, her body fully relaxed against him, her steady breathing the only sound in the quiet car. Her exhaustion had taken over, and he could feel her weight growing heavier as she drifted deeper into sleep.
He hesitated for a moment, wanting to keep her close but knowing she needed rest. He gently tapped the button to adjust the passenger seat, his fingers moving carefully so as not to wake her. The seat clicked and reclined, transforming into a makeshift bed.
Kai's heart gave a small pang as he looked at her, still cradled against him, completely unaware of the world around her. He slid one arm under her to support her as he began to carefully lift her off his shoulder. His movements were slow, deliberate, not wanting to disturb her fragile peace.
Hannah stirred slightly in his arms but remained asleep, her lips forming the tiniest smile as if she sensed he was there. He could feel her body relax even further, trusting him to move her without fear of waking.
Gently, Kai laid her down onto the reclined seat, adjusting her so that she was comfortable. Her head rested easily on the cushion, and Kai brushed a stray strand of hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear.
She shifted slightly, still asleep, a soft smile tugging at her lips, knowing it was him, and let herself be laid down without resistance.
Kai lingered for a moment, his hand on her shoulder as he watched her sleep. The sight of her peaceful, innocent expression filled him with a quiet sense of protection and tenderness. He stood for a moment in the stillness of the car, taking in the warmth she brought into the space, before settling into his own seat.
With a final glance at her, he whispered, "Rest easy, Hannah. I'm here." Then, he leaned back in his seat, allowing himself to relax for the first time in what felt like ages, his focus still on the woman sleeping soundly beside him.
The peaceful silence of the car was shattered by the sudden ringing of Kai's phone. His instincts kicked in immediately, muting the volume from the backseat to avoid disturbing Hannah's slumber. He glanced over at her—still peacefully asleep in the passenger seat, her expression soft and innocent. Her steady breathing filled the quiet space, and Kai felt a pang of protectiveness as he took a deep breath, steadying himself. He looked down at his phone screen: Finn Weismann.
Kai swiped the screen to answer, his voice calm but firm, as he glanced at Hannah once more, unwilling to wake her. "What is it?" he asked, his tone sharp yet controlled.
Finn's voice came through, low but urgent. "We need to act now. Cassian just updated me—his silent drone went unnoticed, and the warehouse is dark... but it's still guarded."
Kai's eyes shifted back to Hannah, her serene face still undisturbed, and a sense of unease washed over him. He didn't want to leave her alone, not now, not when she was so vulnerable. His voice softened as he replied, "Okay... let's meet in my position." Without waiting for further conversation, he ended the call, slipping his phone into his coat pocket.
A thought lingered in his mind. I don't want to leave her alone.
Kai took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment. He leaned forward, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of her head. Her peaceful expression remained unchanged as she slept, the faintest of smiles tugging at her lips, even in sleep.
Hannah stirred slightly, murmuring softly, "V... Safe..." Her words were barely audible, a comforting sound that made Kai's heart tighten with both love and a deep desire to protect her.
Kai froze for a moment, watching her with tenderness before slowly pulling away. A soft smile curled at his lips as he whispered, "I'll be back soon." His eyes lingered on her one last time before he stepped out of the car, the weight of his responsibility pulling him toward the mission. But a part of him wished he could stay with her, watching over her, keeping her safe.