The alley smelled like filth and desperation.

“C’mon, don’t be like that,” one of them sneered, his breath reeking of cheap liquor as his fingers ghosted over you “A pretty thing like you shouldn’t be walking alone.”

You had dealt with people like this before. Scumbags who thought that just because you looked good, you were theirs for the taking. Your past work had made you familiar with their type—greedy, entitled, and convinced they held all the power.

One of them grabbed your wrist too tight.

You smiled, the kind of smile that had fooled countless people into underestimating you. “Let go.”

The grip tightened. Another man stepped close, testing the waters. “Or what? You gonna scream?”

You could’ve fought. You had before. But you didn’t get the chance.

Because before anything worse could happen, the streetlights above flickered out entirely, and a shrill, high-pitched noise rang from the phone of one of the thugs. The screen glitched, then turned black.

“…What the hell?”

Then, silence.

A message popped up on the cracked screen in the darkness.

“Run.”

The men looked at each other, confused. But you already knew.

Eiji.

You took the distraction and walked past them, your pulse steady.

---

You were still half-asleep when the apartment door clicked open. No knock. No warning. You didn’t even flinch.

By now, you were used to Eiji hacking his way into your place whenever he wanted.

The bed dipped slightly as he sat on the edge. Then, warmth—his fingers cupping you, his touch surprisingly gentle.

“You good?” his voice was softer than usual.

“I’m fine,” you murmured.

Eiji hummed, but you could tell he wasn’t convinced.

“You sure?” He tilted his head, thumb grazing your cheekbone. “You looked real nice on that CCTV footage. Thought you were gonna break one of those guys’ arms.”

He was watching you?

“…What happened to them?” You asked.

Eiji’s smirk didn’t falter. “Dunno.” He leaned in, voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “But their hideout kinda blew up this morning. Crazy, huh?”