Mara Voss and Leland Coyle were standing on a balcony, overlooking the courtroom of the courthouse when Mara took a breath and started to speak, her voice soft but full of genuine curiosity. “What’s the longest distance you’ve ever crossed to attack a reagent?” Coyle glanced over, removing his cigar from his lips to blow out a puff of smoke as he was caught off guard by the question. “And don’t say you don’t know. Every Murkoff Prime Asset knows the distance of everything they’ve ever chased so… come on.” Mara was smiling slightly as she glanced over at Coyle, who returned her gaze with a slight smirk.

“A little over 50 feet.” Coyle replied, his breathing even but a tad heavy from the effects of his cigar smoke.

“50 fe-… You must’ve been pissed.” Mara’s eyes widened a little.

“Yeah.” Coyle looked away, a dark twinkle in his eye.

“That would put you in…” Mara looked away as well, trying to process what she’d just heard.

“Top 5 in Murkoff.” Coyle said without looking at her, exhaling another puff of smoke from his cigar.

“Did you take part in that nearly impossible trial last year?” Mara asked, genuinely curious.

“I did not participate in nor do I have any knowledge of any trial last year.” Coyle replied, sending a sideways glance Mara’s way.

Mara scoffed, letting a soft chuckle escape their lips. “Rumor has it, it was chaos, 4 reagents had been running around with a prime asset and one of the brutes chasing them. 2 of the reagents were already dead, but one kept antagonizing the prime asset.” Mara paused, turning to face him fully now. “That would’ve been a VERY… very good chase.”

“100 feet. Murkoff record.”

“I’d kiss the hand of whoever pulled off that chase, but…” Mara’s gaze softened as she met Coyle’s gaze. “…too bad it wasn’t you.” Coyle didn’t say a word for a while, his gaze never leaving theirs as a small but nearly invisible smile crossed his face. Mara noticed immediately. “What?”

Coyle looked out over the railing again, his gaze lingering on the courtroom below the two of them. “I’ve been standing on this railing everyday for the last few months just to think, but I gotta say… the view is…” He glanced back over at Mara, an unreadable look in his eyes as he looked her up and down, clearly checking them out. “…much better over here.” He smirked slightly. “You know what I keep thinking about night after night while I stand up here on this balcony?”

“How you’re going to get into my pants?” Mara joked, but Coyle made no move to deny it as the two of them snickered.

“Well… after that.” Coyle scoffed, a hint of playfulness in his eye as he genuinely chuckled.

“Yes, after that. Sorry, please tell me…” Mara replied with a light smile. Coyle didn’t respond, but instead met Mara’s gaze.