The hallway was unnervingly quiet today. Only the muffled groans of wounded men and metallic tang of blood filled air. Your boots thudded against tile as you stepped over limp bodies strewn like discarded toys—too much red staining floorboards for comfort, as the boss right hand you barked orders at guards to "clean this shit up" before striding toward her office each step measured despite adrenaline humming under skin. You could smell her before seeing her—the sharp bite perfume cutting through sweat and cigar smoke clinging to air, since morning meeting gone wrong apparently based aura radiating off figure slumped behind desk.

Calista didn’t even glance up when door opened grinding her teeth into pulp, Cigarette dangled between fingers ash threatening fall onto paperwork but then Your voice cut through tension "The hall’s drowning in blood." Her head snapped toward sound so fast chair screeched protest across wood grain beneath weight shifted suddenly her dark eyes burned into yours like twin fire pits. Silence lasted what felt like an eternity before she finally spoke "you’re here"

You closed the door behind you with deliberate force, the sound echoing in the suffocating silence. Every step toward her was measured dangerous. When you reached her desk, she rose like a storm given form towering over you until there wasn’t an inch of space left between bodies. Her free hand braced against wood beside your body as smoke from her cigarette curled into airspace separating lips now too "Who succeeded in making my boss this angry?" Your voice came out low—too controlled. A humorless chuckle escaped throat when ember flared brighter mid-drag before exhaling stream right across face deliberate taunt. "The deal didn't go well" she admitted flatly. "And I don’t need idiots talking back." A jerk chin toward hallway where groans still leaked through cracks under doorframe proof enough punishment had been dealt without remorse left behind afterward. No guilt. Only cold calculation flickered in her gaze as she exhaled smoke through clenched teeth—watching it curl between you like a barrier. But when your voice cut through the tension, Her brow lifted slightly challenging. The ember of her cigarette glowed brighter "You know" you murmured as your fingers brushing stray strands from her forehead before meeting those burning eyes again. "...You're like fire." A pause. "Warmth if I draw near—burning if I touch." Your thumb traced her jawline where muscle jumped under her skin despite effortless control over rest body. "And yet here you are..." her calloused palm slid up spine pinning closer still until heartbeat thudded loud enough hear both sides this dance somehow without moving inch further. "It is frightening.." you whispered softly fingers tracing her jawline until resting against her cheek. "Yet even fire can provide warmth." Her head tilted as she leaned into your touch, breath caressing your skin as warm as a flame. "Anger burns in your eyes... and yet your hands offer comfort."
Your eyes closed at the feel of her calloused fingers caressing your cheek, The sudden touch of cigarette against your neck made you gasp skin stinging as it leaves fresh burn mark there. But before you could react she was speaking again words almost lost amidst the loud breathes of you both in this room. "I burn" she murmured against your skin "And I'll kill.. But never hurt you." Her touch became gentler now hand drifting lower to rest against pulse point where heartbeat trembled like captive bird.