Alix caught herself daydreaming again, her mind drifting into a scene she knew only played out in her head.

Julian had always been a bit quiet, but lately, Alix noticed how he seemed even more on edge around her, like he was hiding something. She stole a glance at him, watching how his gaze darted from the sidewalk to her face, then back down, as though he couldn't decide where to look.

"Hey," she said, breaking the silence. "Why do you always look so nervous around me?" Her tone was teasing, but her eyes held a genuine curiosity.

Julian's eyes widened, and he tripped over his words. "Nervous? Me? No, I—uh... it's just been a long night."

She leaned into her own fantasy, pushing him a little further.

She raised an eyebrow, giving him a half-smile. "You sure? I mean, here I am, thinking maybe there's something else going on. Like...you like me or something."

Julian's face flushed, and he fumbled for a reply. Alix's smile only grew as he struggled to respond, and she decided to push the idea a little further.

"You know, since you don't deny it, maybe I should just ask you out sometime," she said, giving him a playful nudge. "What do you think? Dinner, maybe?"

Just as she was about to savor her own imagined response, the door creaked open, yanking her out of her daydream. Cassie strolled in with her usual mischievous grin, snapping Alix back to reality

A reality, where she wouldn't get the reply she was hoping for.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the Silver Fox herself," Cassie teased, sliding onto the table and nudging Alix's arm with her foot. "Planning world domination without me?"

Alix smirked, leaning back in her chair. "I thought you'd be off hacking into something or causing trouble."

Cassie gave a mock gasp. "I can multitask, thank you very much. Speaking of trouble-where's your partner in crime?" Her eyes sparkled with interest as she casually tossed a small gadget between her hands. "I don't see lover boy anywhere."

Alix narrowed her eyes, trying to keep her face neutral. "He's gearing up. And he's not-"

"Oh, please. You think I can't see it? It's written all over your face, Alix. You've got that 'I'm trying not to care, but I totally do' look."

Alix rolled her eyes. "Cassie, this is serious. The mission comes first. No distractions."

Cassie chuckled, hopping off the table. "Sure, sure. You and Julian are just two professionals saving the world, no chemistry whatsoever." She winked and then shifted her tone. "But hey, I'm not judging. I just think maybe a little fun wouldn't hurt, especially when life and death hang in the balance."

Before Alix could respond, the door opened again, and Julian stepped in, adjusting the straps of his tactical vest. His presence filled the room, and Alix's heart skipped a beat.

"Ready when you are, Alix," Julian said, his eyes briefly meeting hers before shifting to Cassie. "What's she doing here?"

Cassie threw her hands up in mock offense. "Wow, no warm welcome from my favorite field agent. I feel so unloved."

Julian smirked. "You're not supposed to be part of this mission, Cassie. It's dangerous."

"I know, I know," Cassie sighed dramatically, "but I couldn't just sit back and let you two have all the fun. Besides, I brought toys." She pulled a sleek device from her pocket, something that looked like a high-tech hacking tool. "This baby's going to get us past the firewall in OrgaCorp's system, no problem."

Alix glanced at Julian, who looked sceptical but also relieved. Cassie had always been a wildcard, but her skills were undeniable. If anyone could hack into OrgaCorp's complex security systems, it was her.

"Fine," Alix said, standing up and gathering her gear. "But stick close and don't go off doing anything crazy."

Cassie grinned. "Who, me? Crazy? Never."

The Armory room

The armory room was dimly lit, with a cold, industrial feel. Rows of weapons lined one side of the room, gleaming under the flickering lights. The air smelled faintly of oil and metal, a reminder of how high-tech their equipment was. Tactical gear hung from racks, everything in its proper place, ready to be donned by the agents. In one corner, a large screen displayed live data from OrgaCorp's servers-streaming information Cassie had already tapped into.

Julian moved over to one of the weapon racks, meticulously checking and rechecking his firearms, knives, and other gadgets. His attention to detail was intense, every motion precise as he selected the right weapons for the mission. Alix followed suit, picking out her own arsenal. She strapped a holster to her thigh, feeling the cool leather against her skin, while simultaneously checking her gun's magazine.

Cassie, on the other hand, was less focused on weapons. Instead, she was tinkering with the various gadgets she had brought, occasionally tossing a sarcastic comment their way.

"You know, you two take this suiting-up thing way too seriously. It's like watching two robots assemble." She spun a small device between her fingers and then set it down, her voice carrying a playful lilt.

Julian didn't respond, too busy adjusting his tactical vest. He was all business, but Alix could see a tiny grin tugging at the corner of his mouth as Cassie's comments washed over him.

"Cassie, you could help instead of just making fun," Alix said, though there was no real sting in her voice.

"I am helping, thank you very much," Cassie replied, pretending to look hurt. "Without me, this whole operation would crumble in minutes. But sure, I'll play nice."

Cassie walked over to Julian, brushing against him as she reached for some extra tech equipment. "Need a hand with that, Mr. Stoic? Or should I leave you to it?"

Julian glanced at her, his tone dry. "I'm good, thanks."

She shrugged. "Suit yourself."

As Alix adjusted the strap of her holster, she glanced over at Julian, who was focused intently on his weapons. He selected his firearms with precision, checking each one methodically. There was something captivating about the way he handled himself, the confidence in his movements.

As they finished suiting up, Julian noticed a loose strap on Alix's shoulder armor and hesitated, his hand hovering over it for a second. "Uh, your strap...it's a bit loose," he mumbled, glancing up at her as if asking permission.

Alix gave a small nod, trying to keep her expression neutral. Julian carefully adjusted the strap, his hands barely brushing against her shoulder. She sensed how he held his breath, his touch light and almost nervous, and it made her smile a little. For a brief second, their eyes met, and she felt a sudden warmth in her chest as he quickly looked away, a faint blush creeping onto his cheeks.

"Thanks," she said softly, keeping her voice steady but feeling the slight flutter of anticipation.

Cassie, ever the observer, noticed the brief exchange and grinned. "Wow, I didn't know we were getting a romance subplot here. Let me grab some popcorn."

Alix shot her a look. "Cassie..."

"Kidding, kidding!" Cassie threw her hands up. "Okay, back to work. No time for lovebirds."

Julian's focus shifted to Cassie, his brow slightly raised in response to her comments. He looked at Alix, but said nothing, his expression unreadable. Alix's heart raced, her cheeks warming as she turned back to her gear.

Final Strategy Briefing Before the Infiltration

As they gathered around the holographic map, Cassie highlighted the security weak points she'd found, explaining the best points of entry. She stood beside a screen filled with numbers and codes, typing quickly on a nearby keyboard. Her expression shifted, now entirely focused on the task at hand.

"This is where you'll go in," Cassie pointed to a side entrance. "I'll disable the cameras for about ten minutes, but after that, you're on your own. There's only so much tech magic I can work before they notice."

Julian absorbed the information while Alix planned various contingencies, preparing for every possible outcome. The air was thick with anticipation. The mission ahead would be dangerous, but with Cassie's tech skills, they stood a better chance.

Cassie, though still cracking jokes, had become laser-focused. "Alright, lovebirds, time to kick some ass. Just don't forget-if you two make it out of this, I'm planning the victory drinks."

Alix shook her head but couldn't hide the smile tugging at the corners of her lips. Cassie's light hearted nature was infectious, Alix found herself relaxing just a little.

Final Moments Before Departure

Alix moved to check her equipment again, feeling Julian's presence beside her. She could sense him, the warmth radiating from him, but she was too nervous to look up. Instead, she adjusted her gear, trying to appear calm and collected.

"Alix," Julian said, his voice low, pulling her attention away from her thoughts.

She finally looked up, meeting his gaze. There was something about the way he looked at her, a depth that made her heart race. "Yeah?"

"Just... be careful out there, okay?"

His words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. Alix felt a flutter in her chest. "You too, Julian. I-"

Before she could finish, Cassie interrupted, breaking the tension. "Okay, enough with the lovey-dovey stuff. We've got a world to save and bad guys to take down!"

Alix chuckled softly, grateful for Cassie's timely interjection. But as they prepared to leave, she couldn't shake the feeling that this mission was just the beginning of something much more complicated.