Criminals

 “I SAID THAT’S ENOUGH!”

Cho looked away from the brawl. Every time it happened she shook her head. Yeah they all needed to blow off some steam but it was safer to stay under the radar. How else were they supposed to get out? 

Her eyes landed on a man she’d never seen before. He sat alone with his eyes downcast. Then he looked up and his eyes flitted around the room before going back down. There was something odd about him. His shoulders were curled forward but it took effort for that, Cho could tell. 

New guy. 

His jet black hair and nationality matched that of almost everyone else in the room; Asian like hers. Federal crime. 

Interesting.

He looked up once again and his eyes met hers across the room. Those dark eyes and sharp jaw made him fairly beautiful. Cho held eye contact, waiting for him to glance away again but he held out.

For the first time since her teen years, Cho felt a blush start to burn across her cheeks. She looked away, angry at herself. What was wrong with her?

Cho waited a few minutes before sneaking a glance back at the new guy. He was looking down but as if he sensed her gaze, he looked up. A smirk came to his lips so Cho shot him a deadly glare. He was mocking her. If they were anywhere else, she would have made him pay. Instead she approached him slowly.

The new guy grinned when he saw her coming over, a sight so foreign in this place that Cho faltered a step. Forcing herself to continue, she sat down across from him.

“What’s your problem?” Cho asked quietly so as not to draw attention.

“My problem? You’re the one that came over here.” His voice was melodic and soft, so different from most people Cho wouldn’t exactly call friends.

Cho glanced around at the guards along the walls. One of them was eyeing her suspiciously. She never talked to anyone so forward. She needed to blend in more.

Elbow on the table, Cho gave the new guy a look of challenge. 

“Up for it?”

“Is that how things go here?” He asked rhetorically. “When you find a guy attractive you go in for an arm wrestle.”

“Wrong.”

“Okay fine.” He put his hand in hers. “I’m Kaede by the way.”

“Shut up. Just listen.”

“I’m all ears. When does this thing start?” He looked at their locked hands.

Just because, Cho slammed his hand on the table. “Two out of three. That’s already one for me.”

“Cheater. What’d you do to get here, huh?”

Cho’s anger flared and she put pressure on his palm but this time, Kaede was ready for it. “You don’t belong here.” She grunted, surprised by his strength. “I can already tell and you’ve been here for five minutes. Something’s up.”

Kaede smiled and Cho lost the match. Stupid, stupid man with his stupid smile.

“I’m not hard core. Yet.” 

“What’d you do, not pay a speeding ticket?” Cho shook out her arm and put it out for the final round.

“You know, you could be funny.” Kaede put his palm in hers once again. They began muscling their way millimeters one way then the other.

“And you couldn’t be a bigger idiot.”

“See what I mean?” 

Cho flared her nostrils. This man was so arrogant. “You belong in Hollywood where all those lines will mean something.”

“And you belong in Hollywood so all those cameras can capture something beautiful.”

Cho refused to be flattered. She used her annoyance to press his arm closer to the table.

“What if I told you I’m a spy?”

Cho snorted. “That’d make you the worst spy in history.”

“Listen. I’m here for you.”

“Right. And I’m here for killing the last unicorn.”

“The commander sent me in. You’re needed back for a new mission.”

Cho growled at him, giving him a nasty look. So he was with the agency. “What do you think got me in here?”

“And now we’re getting you out.”

Cho’s strength faltered allowing Kaede to get even again. 

“Stop.” Cho glared at him. “I’ve been here for four years. And I’m not going back just to wind up here again.”

“You won’t.”

“Liar,” she sneered. “That’s all I’ve ever gotten from the agency is lies.”

“We—”

Cho slammed his arm onto the table. A quiet cheer went around as she won. She shoved away from the table and left him sitting alone.

Cho would get out. But she didn’t need his help to do it.

That night, in the darkness she crept. Tonight was the only chance she had to get away from the prison and the agency. Kaede would drag her back to the commander before she had the chance at her own escape.

Past the cameras, take out the guards, over the fence, and a five mile sprint to the city where Cho would get lost in the crowds.

In the hallway after picking the cell lock, Cho was discovered. She heard footsteps behind her and more in front. She would be trapped and surrounded in minutes. 

A hand around her wrist made Cho react with an elbow to the windpipe. She turned with her fists closed and found Kaede choking in breaths.

She stifled a gasp and grabbed his hair.

“Why are you following me?”

“I’m helping you escape. Come on.” He shook off her grip and grabbed her arm. 

“I’m not going back.” Cho wrenched herself free and ran the opposite direction. More footsteps headed her way and she froze. Trapped. 

Her memory brought her back to a glass building and a gem encased in bulletproof glass. The display showed off everything except the camera hidden inside the casing. Surrounded then. Surrounded now.

Arms grabbed Cho around the middle and hauled her away from the guards coming her way. She couldn’t fight back, her mind was panicked. Cantgobackcantgoback. Please no.

Then she was falling. Darker than before. Instincts forced Cho to catch herself on the cement ground. Kaede dropped in beside her.

“Are you alright?”

Cho began to shake. She couldn’t answer.

Kaede crouched down next to her and brushed the hair from her face. “It’s okay, you’re safe.”

“NO!” Cho scrambled away from him and ran, she didn’t know where she was but she knew she had to get away.

“Wait!” 

Cho heard his pursuit and pushed herself to run faster. He caught up to her easily and grabbed her around the waist. He pulled her off her feet and she fought him.

“Let me go!” She screamed.

“I’m trying to help you!”

“Stop trying!”

Kaede shoved her to the ground and pinned her. Cho struggled against him with everything she had.

“It’s a dead end! You’d have fallen over the edge and drowned.”

Cho took a few deep breaths to calm her throbbing adrenaline. Okay. She had a spy from the agency on top of her, trying to force her back to the commander for a new mission and no way to get away from him without outright killing him. Perfect.

She forced her face to soften. “Kaede…”

When she said nothing more he tilted his head towards her. “Yeah?”

“I won’t run. Just get off me. Please.”

Kaede got up slowly, not breaking eye contact. “So you don’t want to go back.” It’s not a question. “But you’re the best spy we’ve got.”

“No.” Cho snapped. “How would you know anyway?”

“I learned everything from watching you.”

Cho rolled her eyes. Right. “Flattery doesn’t work on me, pal. Now would you tell me where we are so I can get the heck out of here.”

Kaede sighed heavily. “We’re in the catacombs. The city will be north from here.” He watched her. “My orders are to take you willingly…or unwillingly.”

Cho balled her fists ready for another fight. She raised her hands waiting for him to come at her. “I’m not going back.”

“I know.” Kaede looked down. “Now get out of here so I can tell them you got away from me.” 

That shocked Cho for a second and her fists lowered. He was letting her go. Against his orders. It was kinda sweet of him. Unless that's what he wanted her to think and it was a trap. 

When Kaede looked up, he saw the hesitation in her eyes. He gave her a hint of his smile and her mind flooded with thoughts of how handsome he was. Cho softened more. Not good. 

“It’s not a trick. Just go.” The sincerity in his voice was touching and there was something else. Disappointment?

Cho took a step back but couldn’t force herself to turn away. Then she found herself brushing the hair from his face so she could plant a featherlight kiss on his temple.

“Thank you. I hope to see you again one day,” she whispered before running through the tunnels towards the city where she would finally find freedom.