"Unravelling Tension"

Finn interrupted the moment, holding the folder with his usual relaxed expression. "Is she crying?" His tone was steady, though there was a subtle curiosity in his eyes.

Kai glanced at him, his hand still gently moving in circles on Hannah's back. "Yeah, just leave the folder inside. I couldn't talk to her properly with you here..." His voice had a touch of lightness, but it was strained. He could feel the weight of her sobs, and his heart ached with every tremor that passed through her.

Finn let out a quiet laugh. "Good luck," he said, stepping into the debrief room, leaving them alone in the hallway.

Kai pulled away from Hannah reluctantly, his eyes meeting hers. She was still crying, her teary eyes shimmering with an emotion he couldn't quite place, but the guilt hit him hard. I promised her I wouldn't leave her like this... "Hey, don't worry, okay?" he said softly, brushing the hair from her face, his tone steady but full of affection. "I'll make it up to you. You just have to go with Julia. Block the escape routes with her, and Finn and I will head west. It's simple... I promise, I'll be safe."

His words were meant to reassure her, but the guilt was overwhelming. If anything happens to me... I couldn't bear to hurt her like that. She deserves more than I can give, but I'll keep her safe. I'll always keep her safe.

Hannah didn't respond, her gaze fixed on the carpet beneath her. The words seemed stuck in her throat, her voice barely audible when she spoke. "I'm scared... You know what I always feel when we go through high-stakes missions," she whispered, her tone trembling with the weight of her fear. There was a crack in her voice, as though the walls she'd carefully built were beginning to crumble.

Kai kissed her forehead gently, his lips lingering for a moment as if to reassure himself more than her. I'll come back for you. I have to. "Don't worry," he murmured, kissing her temple softly before pulling her back into an embrace. "How about we head back to the room now? I'll go over the mission details for the agents. Just... stay close to me for a little longer, okay?"

Hannah melted into him, her body soft against his, though her mind was racing. She wanted to feel comfort, but the fear of losing him wouldn't let her go. I know his mission is dangerous. Mine is simple, but his... it's never simple. I can't lose him. I won't be able to survive it. She nuzzled against his chest, her sobs starting to fade but still heavy in her heart. "Just be safe later, okay?" Her voice was shaky, fragile with worry.

Kai pressed his lips to the top of her head, his hand caressing her back slowly. I love her more than anything in this world. More than my own life. "Of course," he said softly, his voice steady, though inside, the weight of his promise was like a stone lodged in his chest. "I'll come back to you, I promise."

He held her close, unwilling to let go just yet, and the silence between them was filled with unspoken words, each heart carrying the burden of love and fear. He knew what was at stake, but in this moment, he would rather die painfully than fail her. I'll keep her safe. I'll do whatever it takes.

Kai reluctantly pulled away after the moment, his grip on her hand tightening, as if holding onto her would keep the world from falling apart. "Don't cry now, okay?" His other hand gently brushed away the remaining tears, his fingers lingering a moment longer than necessary, trying to soothe the pain that had settled in her eyes.

Hannah nodded, a small, almost imperceptible gesture, like a child trying to reassure their parent. She squeezed his hand in return, the action so simple, yet full of meaning. "Okay," she whispered, her voice trembling, barely more than a breath.

"Let's come back now, they're waiting," Kai said softly, his voice a quiet command, though his heart was still heavy with worry.

Hannah forced a smile, her lips trembling with the effort. "Okay."

Together, they walked back to the debrief room, where the weight of the mission pressed down on both of them. The moment they entered, all eyes turned toward them. Finn was leaning casually against the table, his eyes flickering over to Kai with a knowing look. Julia seated at her seat, her eyes also traveled on them.

Kai gently guided Hannah to her seat, his touch lingering just a moment longer than necessary before he let go. He stood in front of the table, looking down at the folder laid out before him. His voice was steady, but there was a quiet tension in his words. "I'll look at this intel first." He glanced at each of the agents in the room before focusing his attention on the folder and opening it.

His eyes scanned the contents.

---

Mission Update: Black Lotus Investigation

Objective: To extract valuable intelligence on Black Lotus operations.

Details:

We couldn't reach you in time. Cassian Liechtenstein has already made a move. He approached one of Black Lotus's salesmen, pretending to be a buyer of their illegal products and human trafficking victims.

The salesman has shown interest. Once he takes the bait, we will capture him and force him to talk.

A full-scale operation isn't possible yet—we still don't have a key location. For now, we'll follow this plan.

Alexander Hoffman-Klein

(Approving Signature)

---

Kai closed the folder with a sharp exhale, his expression darkening as a surge of anger rose in his chest. "Hey, Finn, is this what they sent you?!" His voice cut through the room, filled with frustration and worry.

Fuck... if we don't make it in time, we won't reach Mina... and she'll be sold worldwide.

The room fell silent as everyone's attention turned to him, even Hannah and Julia, their gazes filled with curiosity and concern.

"L-Lovey?" Hannah reached out, her voice trembling. Kai flinched slightly, not meeting her gaze, and handed her the folder without a word.

Hannah hesitated, unsure of what to do, before she began reading the contents. Her eyes quickly scanned the paper, her expression turning serious.

Finn's curiosity piqued as he observed the change in Kai. "Y-yeah, why?" he asked, his voice quiet but his gaze fixed on Kai, noticing the fury burning in his eyes.

"This plan... it's a fucking blunder," Kai growled, his voice laced with anger. "Mina's been kidnapped. If we don't act fast, she'll be sold off worldwide. Report back to them—now!" His command carried an undeniable authority.

Finn didn't hesitate. He grabbed the folder on Hannah, his face set in determination, and quickly exited the debrief room.

The tension in the room was palpable as Finn exited, leaving an air of unease behind. Kai leaned against the edge of the table, his hands gripping it tightly as if trying to keep himself grounded. His mind raced, calculating their next steps while the weight of the mission loomed over him like a storm cloud.