Chapter 4: Shadows of Moscow

The first light of dawn crept through the thin curtains, casting a muted glow across the room. Aizen stirred, the faint sound of Taeyang moving around rousing her from a restless sleep. She opened her eyes to find him already dressed, a dark hoodie pulled over his head, exuding a casual air despite the seriousness of their mission.

“Sleep well?” he asked, glancing back at her, a smirk barely masking the concern behind his eyes.

“Like a baby,” she replied dryly, swinging her legs over the side of the cot. “A baby who’s running a marathon.”

Taeyang chuckled, his eyes glinting with mischief. “You should thank me. I kept the monsters away.”

Aizen shot him an unimpressed look as she stood up and stretched, muscles aching from tension. “Just make sure you’re ready for the real monsters out there. We have a lead to follow.”

“Right,” he said, feigning a salute. “To the hunt we go.”

They moved through the bustling streets, the morning crowd a stark contrast to the dark shadows of the alley where they’d fought just days before. The energy of the city buzzed around them, but Aizen felt the weight of the mission pressing down, every passerby potentially a threat.

“Do you ever relax?” she asked, her eyes scanning the street as they walked side by side.

“Where’s the fun in that?” Taeyang replied, his voice teasing. “Life’s too short to be boring. Besides, the thrill keeps me alive.”

“You mean recklessness keeps you alive,” Aizen countered, keeping her tone steady, though a hint of amusement slipped through.

“Semantics.” He shot her a playful grin, but then his demeanor shifted, growing serious as they approached a nondescript building. “This is it. Coordinates match up. We go in quietly and keep our eyes peeled.”

Aizen nodded, adjusting her grip on her weapon. “Stay sharp. We don’t know what we’re walking into.”

Creeping through the entrance, they entered a dimly lit hallway. The air was thick with dust and decay, a stark reminder of the building's forgotten past. Aizen moved ahead, her senses on high alert as Taeyang followed, his usual bravado dialed down to a low hum.

“Remember, this isn’t a showdown. We’re here to gather intel,” she reminded him, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Yeah, yeah, but if we happen to run into some bad guys…” he trailed off, a wicked smile creeping across his face. “I’d be more than happy to throw down.”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself. We need to find out if this place is still operational.”

They moved deeper into the structure, carefully inspecting rooms filled with remnants of the past—faded graffiti, rusted equipment, and broken furniture scattered across the floor.

As they pushed through a door marked “OFFICE,” Aizen felt a chill run down her spine. The room was filled with old monitors and a dusty desk littered with papers. She stepped inside, scanning the screens still flickering with static.

“Looks like this was the nerve center,” she muttered, kneeling by the desk. “If they were running operations from here, there might be valuable intel left behind.”

Taeyang wandered around the room, fiddling with a rusty chair. “This place feels like it’s hiding secrets. I love it.”

“Focus, Taeyang.” Aizen flipped through the papers, searching for anything useful. “We need to be thorough.”

Suddenly, a faint sound echoed from the hallway—a shuffle, then a low voice.

“Did you hear that?” Aizen whispered, adrenaline surging.

“Of course, I heard it. I’m not deaf.” Taeyang’s voice was low, his demeanor shifting back to serious. “We should check it out.”

“Right. But quietly.”

They exchanged a quick glance before moving toward the door, Taeyang leading the way, his presence steady and reassuring.

As they stepped into the hallway, Aizen pressed her back against the wall, peering around the corner. There, in the dim light, two men were gathered, their hushed conversation dripping with tension.

“Do you think he’s really coming?” one of them asked, his voice low.

“Of course. He wouldn’t miss it,” the other replied, a hint of menace in his tone. “And when he arrives, we’ll be ready.”

“Let’s get a head start,” the first man suggested. “We can’t afford to let anyone interfere this time.”

“Let’s make sure to eliminate anyone who gets in our way,” the second one added, and Aizen felt a chill at his words.

Aizen and Taeyang exchanged a quick, understanding glance.

“Looks like we’re not the only ones interested in this place,” she whispered.

“Time for a little fun,” Taeyang replied, his voice dripping with mischief.

“Not your version of fun, please.”

“Fine, fine. Let’s do this your way first.”

With a nod, they crept closer, and Aizen prepared to make her move.

Suddenly, one of the men turned, catching sight of them. “Hey!” he shouted, reaching for his weapon.

Before Aizen could react, Taeyang lunged forward, tackling the man to the ground with surprising ferocity. “Guess the cat’s out of the bag!” he called over his shoulder.

Aizen wasted no time, pulling her weapon and aiming at the second man, who was frantically trying to draw his gun. “Don’t move!” she commanded, her voice sharp and commanding.

The man froze, his eyes wide. “Who the hell are you?”

“Your worst nightmare,” she replied coolly, stepping closer as Taeyang pinned his comrade. “Now tell me everything you know about the syndicate’s plans.”

“Like I’d tell you anything,” the man sneered, trying to break free of Taeyang’s hold.

“Really? You might want to reconsider,” Taeyang said, his tone playful but his grip unyielding. “I could make this very uncomfortable for you.”

“Why do you always have to make everything a joke?” Aizen snapped, her focus still on the second thug.

“It’s how I cope,” he replied nonchalantly, tightening his grip just enough to elicit a grunt from the man beneath him. “Plus, it’s a little more entertaining.”

“Just get the information,” Aizen urged, keeping her weapon steady.

Taeyang leaned closer to the pinned man, a wicked grin on his face. “You’re going to tell us everything, or this will get really painful.”

The thug's bravado faded. “Fine, fine! Just don’t hurt me!”

“Much better,” Aizen said, feeling a rush of satisfaction. “Now, what’s the syndicate’s plan?”

As the man started to spill details, Aizen felt a sense of urgency wash over her. This was the break they needed, but the feeling that they were being watched loomed over them like a shadow.

“Let’s hurry,” Aizen urged. “We need to get out of here before more of them show up.”

“Don’t worry, Aizen. I’ll protect you,” Taeyang replied, his tone laced with sarcasm.

“Let’s just focus on not getting caught,” she shot back, feeling a mix of annoyance and amusement.

Together, they prepared to dive deeper into the dangerous world of the syndicate, unaware of the secrets waiting to be uncovered.

Chapter end