The scent of gun oil and expensive cigars laced the air and it felt nauseating! It was an abandoned shipping yard on the outskirts of the city—where deals like these thrived in the shadows, away from the eyes of law and consequence.

Rusted containers loomed like the silent audience, their chipped paint and corroded metal bearing witness to countless illegal transactions. Floodlights flickered above, casting long, jagged shadows across the cracked concrete, while the distant hum of waves crashing against the docks filled the silence between hushed negotiations.

At the heart of it all, a group of men stood gathered near a blacked-out SUV, the trunk popped open to reveal a sleek, silver briefcase—containing whatever was worth killing for tonight.

The deal was in motion.

He was watching, eyes sharp and hooded, a predator lurking just out of sight. Jimin remained perfectly still, concealed by the maze of towering shipping containers. The dim glow of flickering floodlights barely reached him, casting jagged shadows across his black-clad frame.

Peering from the darkness, he took in the scene—two parties, tense and alert, exchanging hushed words over the silver briefcase resting atop the SUV's trunk. The men surrounding it weren't amateurs. They stood in a loose but strategic formation, hands hovering near their weapons, eyes scanning for any sign of interference.

Jimin smirked. Paranoid. As they should be.

His fingers flexed at his sides, itching for the moment to strike. He had already calculated his moves—silent, quick, precise. By the time they noticed the briefcase was missing, he'd be long gone.

At least, that's what he thought.

Because he wasn't the only shadow waiting for the perfect moment.

From the opposite end of the yard, she crouched atop a rusted container, her breathing steady, measured. Raven was no stranger to these jobs—watch, wait, take. The men below were predictable, focused only on their transaction, blind to what lurked just beyond their vision.

But unlike her previous missions, something felt off. Her fingers ghosted over the hilt of her knife, eyes narrowing slightly. Jimin remained unaware of her, just as she remained unaware of him. Two predators, watching the same prey.

And neither had any intention of leaving empty-handed.

Her sharp eyes studied the scene below. The mission was simple—secure the package before the deal was completed, leave no trace, and disappear before anyone realized what had happened.

She had done this before. In and out, no mistakes.

Same was on his mind. Jimin's leather-gloved hands adjusted the cuff of his jacket, his lips curving into something unreadable as he observed the same deal.

He had been given one order—take the package. Everything else was optional.

His plan was set, just as Maria's was.

Neither of them knew that their paths were about to collide in the most unexpected way.

The first sign of trouble came in the form of a shift in the air.

Jimin felt it before he saw it—a fleeting sensation, like someone else's presence brushing against the edges of his awareness. His instincts flared, honed by years of experience. Something was wrong.

From her vantage point, Maria sensed it too. She had been surveying the guards, memorizing their movements, timing her descent to the second. Still concealed, Jimin adjusted his stance, scanning the area without giving himself away. The dealers were still focused on their hushed negotiations, unaware that two predators were watching them from opposite ends.

The moment was coming.

The briefcase was lifted from the SUV trunk, its polished metal catching the dim light. That was the trigger.

Maria moved first.

Swift as a ghost, she dropped from the container, landing soundlessly behind a stack of crates. She weaved through the shadows, every step calculated. She had a window of mere seconds before the trade was finalized.

Jimin saw the movement.

His eyes narrowed.

Not one of them.

He exhaled through his nose, expression unreadable. There was no time to hesitate. Whoever this was, they weren't his concern—the briefcase was.

He pushed forward, raising his gun, his movements seamless and precise. His target was locked—the briefcase, nothing else. But just as his finger brushed the trigger, ready to take control of the situation, the shadow moved, faster than he expected.

She emerged from the darkness like a specter, already moving toward her prize. Her boots barely made a sound against the concrete, her focus honed on the case as if nothing else existed.

But Jimin wasn't one to let an opportunity slip away.

His gun shifted, his aim redirected—straight at her.

Maria barely took a step before a bullet whizzed past her, so close she could feel the heat of it grazing the air beside her concealed cheek. Her body reacted before her mind did—she twisted sharply, drawing her second knife in one fluid motion, her instincts screaming at her to attack.

But the chaos had already begun.

The sound of the gunshot shattered the fragile tension that had been hanging in the air. The men by the SUV snapped into action, barking orders, weapons drawn as they searched for the source of the shot.

Jimin cursed under his breath. That wasn't supposed to happen.

While Maria slid behind the container keeping an eye on the chaos. She pressed a hand to her earpiece, her voice sharp and controlled despite the gunfire crackling around her.

"Frank, we have a problem."

The man—whoever he was—had a gun trained in her direction, his eyes locked onto the case. He wasn't with the deal party. That much was obvious.

"Talk to me" Frank's voice crackled in her ear.

"There's another player in this game." She wiped the sweat from her brow, steadying her breathing. "I thought we were the only ones hitting this place."

"We are."

Her blood ran cold.

"Then who the hell is he?" she hissed, peeking again. The man—black clothes, sharp gaze, moving with purpose—wasn't just some low-level thief. He knew what he was doing.

Frank cursed on the other end. "No idea. But if there's another party involved, get out. Abort."

Maria exhaled, pressing herself flatter against the container. "Not happening. We need that deal. I'm not leaving empty-handed." Another shot rang out, ricocheting off the metal just above her head.

Her eyes flashed with something between fury and calculation. "Really?" she hissed, backing up slightly as the men started spreading out.

Jimin adjusted his aim, but she was already moving—ducking behind a container, disappearing into the shadows.

A second later, bullets rained down.

The deal had collapsed. The men weren't just looking for the thief anymore—they were shooting at anything that moved.

Jimin barely managed to pivot behind the cover as bullets ricocheted off metal, sparks flying around him. He gritted his teeth, his grip tightening on his gun.

She was good.

She crouched low, her pulse steady despite the gunfire. That bastard had almost hit her. Almost. But instead of taking her out, he'd set off a domino effect, turning this clean job into a bloodbath.

She peeked out from behind the container, eyes locking onto the briefcase still sitting in the middle of the open ground.

Jimin saw it too.

Through the smoke and chaos, their gazes met.

His brown eyes met hers, dark and knowing, but she didn't need to see clearly to recognize the shift in his stance, the tension in his shoulders. He wasn't just another player in this game. He was here for the same thing she was.

A rival.

The realization struck them both at the same time. The air between them turned razor-sharp.

Neither spoke. Neither moved.

The sound of the chaos carried on, oblivious to the silent battle unfolding in the shadows. She tilted her head slightly, gripping her blade tighter as if conveying a message. Jimin's fingers flexed around his own weapon, a slow smirk tugging at his lips behind the veil.

This just got interesting.

She lunged first, slipping through the gunfire with precision, but before she could get close, Jimin was already moving. He fired off two quick shots, forcing the men back, using the chaos to his advantage.

But it wasn't enough.

The deal party was well-trained, ruthless. They weren't just defending the briefcase—they were hunting. Bullets rained down from multiple angles, forcing both to take cover, neither able to gain the upper hand.

He gritted his teeth. Fighting off these men was one thing, but doing it while another skilled thief was after the same prize? Nearly impossible.

Maria ducked behind a rusted crate, assessing the situation. She could take out the rival, focus on the mission, but that would leave her open. The men were relentless, cutting off every escape route.

Their rivalry had just become their biggest obstacle.

And the briefcase? Still untouched, sitting in the center of the bloodbath like a prize neither of them could claim—yet.

The gunfire was relentless, bullets slicing through the air, bouncing off rusted metal, sending sparks flying in every direction. The once-organized deal had turned into a battlefield, and in the middle of it, two thieves were fighting their way toward the same prize.

Jimin moved like a shadow, weaving between cover, his gun aimed with deadly precision. Every shot he fired wasn't wasted, each bullet meant to push back their attackers, to clear his path toward the briefcase.

Maria, on the other hand, was a ghost. Quick, silent, unpredictable. She used the chaos to her advantage, slinking through blind spots, her knives flashing in the dim light as she took down anyone who got too close.

But they weren't just fighting the deal party anymore.

They were fighting each other.

Every step closer to the case put them in each other's crosshairs.

Jimin slid across the concrete, dodging a burst of bullets before vaulting over a crate, landing just a few feet from the silver briefcase. His hand shot out—

A knife sliced through the air, embedding itself into the ground just inches from his fingers.

Jimin's head snapped up, eyes locking onto the other figure, now he was sure it was a female, who stood across from him, her remaining blade gripped tight in her hand. Her feminine breath came fast, her chest rising and falling through the tight clothing as she stared him down, the tension between them thick enough to cut.

Neither of them moved.

If he reached for the case, she'd strike.

If she lunged for it, he'd shoot.

A perfect stalemate.

But the men closing in didn't care about their rivalry. A shout rang out. Then—more gunfire.

She flinched as a bullet ricocheted off the metal beside her, too close for comfort. Her fingers flexed around the hilt of her knife, her heartbeat steady despite the chaos. If she wasted another second on this standoff, they'd both be dead before either of them touched the case.

Jimin saw it too. The second he shifted his stance, she knew what he was thinking.

They had two options. Kill each other and let the case fall into back into enemy hands... or—

She moved first. A sharp pivot, her gun rising not toward Jimin—but toward the man behind him. A single shot cracked through the air.

Jimin felt the heat of the bullet as it zipped past his ear—then the sickening thud of a body hitting the ground behind him. He turned, just in time to see the armed guard crumple, blood spilling from a fresh wound in his skull.

Jimin snapped his head back to her, their faces fully concealed behind masks hid everything, making it hard for each other to see the change of plans. His mind racing to process what had just happened.

He wasn't the one bulleted in head laying dead.

Why?

She didn't wait for an answer. In one swift motion, she stepped forward, her back pressing firmly against his as she reloaded.

His lips parted slightly, caught between shock and confusion but then the way she pressed her back to his and started reloading the gun. He figured it out! He turned without a word, pressing his back to hers.

They had to team up to survive this chaos and stay alive to get their hands on the case. The enemies around them barely had a second to react before the two thieves struck as one.

The moment their backs met, an unspoken agreement solidified between them.

Bullets rained down, but neither of them hesitated. Jimin pivoted first, raising his gun and firing off two precise shots, taking down the closest attackers. Maria followed in sync, her own bullets finding their targets with lethal accuracy.

They moved like two halves of a whole—one covering the other's blind spots, shifting seamlessly through the gunfire.

She ducked low, sweeping her leg under an oncoming guard and driving her knife into his throat before snatching his spare magazine. Jimin took advantage of the opening she created, grabbing another attacker by the wrist and twisting his arm until a sickening snap echoed through the air.

They didn't speak. Didn't need to.

Every movement was calculated, every step leading them closer to the silver briefcase still lying untouched in the middle of the chaos.

One shot. Two shots. A body dropped at her feet.

Jimin glanced over his shoulder, catching the way she wiped blood from her sleeve before pulling another magazine from her belt. Efficient. Dangerous.

She wasn't just some low-level thief.

Neither was he.

The number of enemies was dwindling, but the remaining ones weren't fools. They adjusted, spreading out, forcing them both into a tighter circle. The moment of advantage was slipping.

Her grip on her gun tightened. "We're getting boxed in." She signaled with her hands instead of using her words.

Jimin fired another shot, barely sparing her a glance. "Noticed." He signaled back.

More men closed in. Too many. Their chances of escaping with the case unscathed were getting slimmer by the second.

"I'll break for it."

His jaw tightened. "You won't make it alone." He signaled back in hurry.

She scoffed. "Then keep up."

Before he could argue, she moved.

A burst of gunfire erupted as she sprinted toward the briefcase, zigzagging through the scattered debris, forcing the remaining men to redirect their fire.

Jimin cursed under his breath, pivoting to cover her, taking down anyone who aimed at her exposed back.

A bullet grazed her shoulder, a visible flinch and tremble rang through her but she didn't stop.

Closer. She could almost touch it—

Then a heavy force crashed into her from the side.

Jimin's gun whipped toward her just in time to see one of the last standing guards tackle Maria to the ground, his knife flashing as he aimed for her throat.

She gritted her teeth, catching the blade just before it plunged into her. The sharp metal sliced through leather of gloves on her hands and slashed through the layers of flesh.

A hiss of pain escaped Maria's lips as the blade bit into her palm, warm blood seeping through her torn glove. The sting was sharp, but she couldn't afford to falter. The guard was stronger, pressing down with brute force, his knee digging into her ribs as he tried to drive the knife deeper.

Her muscles burned, resisting with everything she had, but the blade inched closer, glinting menacingly under the dim light.

Jimin watched. The thoughts in his screaming for him to grab the case and run. That was his initial mission. But he didn't move.

His grip tightened around his gun, every second stretching unbearably long as he watched the other struggle beneath the guard. The briefcase was right there—unguarded, within reach. His mission, his prize.

Yet, something in his gut twisted as he saw the knife pushing closer to her throat. His mission had been clear. But so was the choice he made. His gun raised, his finger squeezed the trigger. One clean shot.

The guard's body stiffened before slumping over, dead weight pinning her down. The knife clattered to the ground, the metallic ring swallowed by the chaos still echoing in the shipping yard.

She exhaled sharply, shoving the corpse off her with a pained grunt. She barely had time to catch her breath before Jimin was towering over her, gun still raised, smoke curling from the barrel.

For a moment, neither of them moved.

Jimin stared down at her. The faceless figure who had taken the risk of trusting her rival. What a fool! He thought. She met his gaze through the dark slits of their masks, chest heaving.

His thoughts should have been on the case. The escape. The mission. But, why is he there still sticking to being a team. He didn't need her now it was obvious. Jimin huffed a breath, somewhere between amusement and irritation, but his eyes flicked past her.

The briefcase. Still untouched. Still waiting.

And now, they were on opposite sides of it.

Before either could make their move, a fresh round of gunfire shattered the moment. The sharp crack of bullets striking metal sent sparks flying. Jimin ducked instinctively, his reflexes honed from years of surviving moments exactly like this. But Maria—she reached for the case.

"Tch—" He cursed under his breath and grabbed her arm, yanking her up while she kept a tight grip. The case was already in her grasp.

And now, they were running.

Their boots pounded against the concrete, weaving through the towering shipping containers as bullets tore through the air behind them. The last surviving members of the deal party were relentless, chasing them down with reckless desperation.

"HUNT THOSE RATS DOWN! THEY ARE NOT LEAVING ALIVE!

Jimin heard them while his grip on her arm tightened for a fraction of a second before he let go, trusting she could keep up. Because holding onto eachother like this was slowing them down only. Her breath coming fast as they raced towards the nearest exit route. The docks loomed ahead, the faint glow of city lights reflecting off the water.

Then—

A black SUV screeched around the corner, tires skidding against the pavement.

Jimin's jaw clenched. "Shit."

More reinforcements.

Maria didn't slow down. If anything, she ran faster, calculating her next move. The case was heavy in her grip, but she wouldn't let go. Jimin glanced sideways at her, then back at the approaching vehicle. They weren't making it out of here without another fight. But they didn't have the ammo or number to deal with it. Instead of fighting back they must focus on escaping now... alive.

Gunshots rang yet again! Yet they didn't stop.

Jimin didn't hesitate. The second he saw her bolted from cover, he followed, laying down cover fire as she made a break for the nearest SUV.

The remaining guards caught on quickly. Gunfire exploded around them, bullets sparking against metal and concrete. They weaved through the chaos, the case clutched tightly in one hand as she ducked behind the nearest vehicle.

Jimin was right behind her, reaching the SUV just as she yanked open the driver's door.

A startled guard inside barely had time to react before Maria slammed the butt of her gun into his face. He grunted, slumping against the wheel. Without missing a beat, she grabbed his collar and hauled him out, shoving his unconscious body onto the ground.

Jimin wasted no time climbing into the passenger seat, twisting around to fire at the remaining enemies. "Move it, sweetheart!" he spoke through the altered voicebox for the first time.

An eye roll was what she gave and threw the case into the backseat, then gunned the engine. The tires screeched as she reversed hard, slamming into one of the guards who had been rushing toward them. He crumpled to the pavement with a curse.

Gunshots peppered the back of the SUV as she twisted the wheel, shifting gears, and floored the accelerator. The vehicle lurched forward, nearly knocking Jimin into the dashboard.

"Shit—" he grunted, gripping the door handle for balance. "Ever heard of smooth driving?"

She shot back a glare and pressed onto the race, eyes now fixed on the road ahead.

The SUV barreled through the narrow shipping yard, dodging containers and stacks of crates. Behind them, the other vehicles roared to life, headlights blinding as they gave chase.

Jimin reloaded, rolling down the window just enough to fire back at their pursuers. "We've got two on our tail," he said. "Make that three."

Maria swerved sharply, nearly clipping a rusted container. A hail of bullets rattled against the rear of the SUV. Maria cursed, tightening her grip on the wheel. They wouldn't last long in a straight chase—she needed a way out.

Then, she saw it.

A ramp leading up to a loading platform. Beyond it? A chained fence—and the open road.

Her lips curled into a reckless grin. Jimin's head snapped toward her. "Oh, hell no—"

Too late.

She floored it. The SUV roared, hitting the ramp at full speed. The vehicle soared through the air for a split second before crashing down, metal groaning as the suspension absorbed the impact. The fence didn't stand a chance. It burst apart under the force, and then—they were free.

Jimin let out a breath, turning to glance behind them. The other SUVs skidded to a stop at the broken fence, unable to follow.

She laughed breathlessly through the sweat that was beading on her forehead, her knuckles white against the wheel.

Jimin exhaled, shaking his head. "That's one hell of a ride on a first date."

Her grip on the wheel tightened at his words, but she didn't respond. Instead, her eyes flicked to the rearview mirror, ensuring they'd put enough distance between them and their pursuers.

Jimin, however, had other plans.

Without warning, he lunged for the silver case in the backseat, fingers curling around the handle. Maria's instincts screamed she reached with the wounded hand latching on to the case, meanwhile, he threw the door open. He twisted his body, jerking the case away with enough force that something snapped off her wrist.

A thin silver bracelet that dragged along stuck to the handle of the case.

Before she could grab him, Jimin was already moving.

The door swung open, and he jumped out without a second thought, hitting the pavement in a rough roll before bolting toward the alley. The case was still in his grip.

Maria's pulse spiked. "Son of a—"

Her foot slammed the brake, the tires screeching in protest. But the hesitation cost her.

Another set of headlights flared behind her. The remaining pursuers weren't done yet.

Jimin barely had a second to process his rough landing before hearing the roar of an approaching engine. He turned just as another SUV veered toward him.

Maria cursed under her breath, yanking the wheel to spin the car around.

She saw him darting toward the alley between two warehouses while waving her goodbye. The case was heavy, but he held onto it as his life depended on it. Because it did.

The pursuing SUV swerved to block her path, cutting off her line of sight.

Jimin kept running.

The roar of the engine filled the air, but when the noise died down, all she could see was the empty alleyway. The last thing she'd caught of him was the blur of his figure as he slipped into the shadows, swallowed whole by the dark, leaving only the echo of his footsteps behind.