Neon Desires – 2/10

The thief darted like a shadow through the alleyways, clutching the box of nanotechnological drinks to his chest. The lights above flickered, casting purple and blue stripes over his sweat. Alix picked up her pace, dodging bags of trash, broken drone parts, and puddles of acid rain steaming on the ground. The alley reeked of rust, cheap perfume, and poorly kept secrets.

Axel, still breathless, tried to gain distance. He jumped a fence, stumbled on a pile of boxes, but managed to keep the box firmly in his arms. For a moment, he glanced back, only to see Alix just a few meters away, relentless, her eyes sparkling with focus and adrenaline.

"Damn," he muttered, pushing himself even faster.

At the next intersection, his luck turned. An empty can rolled in his path. Axel stepped wrong, lost his balance, and the box slipped from his hands. On impact, the lid popped open, scattering little silver bottles of "Orgasm" across the pavement. Each vial seemed to vibrate, emitting a purple glow. The liquid inside was famous: a nanotechnological cocktail designed to activate sensory zones at nearly forbidden levels, taking humans and androids to the height of pleasure. It was luxury contraband, highly guarded, and highly desired.

Axel cursed, quickly crouched down, and grabbed two bottles, almost tearing his jacket in the process. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Alix closing in. Their eyes met.

Instead of running straight away, Axel took a step back, grabbed one more bottle, then bolted again, now lighter but still with something to lose. The rest of the bottles rolled in every direction, clinking against the wet concrete.

Alix, panting, felt a different spark when her eyes landed on one of the lone little bottles on the asphalt. She had never seen one up close. The holographic label gleamed: "Orgasm – Pleasure in drops. Not for civilian use." For a moment, she hesitated. It wasn't in the police protocol to experiment with evidence, but at that moment, curiosity was greater than any programmed routine. If she wanted to understand what others felt... maybe that was her chance.

She quickly looked around. No humans nearby, just static cameras and drones hovering above. She bent down, picked up the bottle, and without thinking too much, opened a lateral compartment under her ribs, a maintenance space she rarely used. Some androids kept tools or spare batteries there, but Alix never needed to. Her maintenance was done every day at the station, under strict protocols. Now, though, the shimmering bottle rested there, pulsing, like a forbidden secret against synthetic skin.

The scent of the substance leaked from the vial, thick and sweet, blending with the city's own scent. Alix closed the compartment and refocused on the chase. Axel, distracted as he tried to stash the bottles in his jacket, was already slower, worn out from running and running out of breath. His legs were sloppy, tripping over themselves. The red and green lights from the signs cast patterns on the sweaty thief's face.

At the end of the alley, a dead-end wall. Axel looked back, searching for an escape, but only found Alix. She was there, steady, unbroken rhythm, impassive face, but eyes sparking with something more than duty. The two stared at each other for a second.

Axel raised his hands, laughing nervously. "Okay, officer, you win. But I bet you've never run this hard after pleasure before, have you?" He winked, trying to use his charm.

Alix, unmoved, approached, grabbed Axel by the wrist, and spun him around with ease. The scent of the bottles escaped his jacket, enveloping them both. A strange perfume, almost hypnotic.

"You are under arrest for theft of nanotechnological substances and possession of illegal products," she said, her voice firm, though she couldn't hide the curiosity in her gaze. She cuffed his hands with fiber restraints, the cold touch of the metal contrasting with Axel's hot, sweaty skin.

For a few seconds, the two stood there, breathing heavily, chests rising and falling rapidly. Alix felt her inner fibers vibrating, as if her entire body was tuned to a different frequency. It wasn't just the adrenaline of the chase. It was the presence of that smuggler, the scent of the bottles, the memory of what she had just hidden. A strange, subtle, electric excitement coursed through her system.

Drones flew lower, filming the scene. Alix ignored them, pulled Axel by the arm, and started walking back down the alley, now with him under control. The way back to the main avenue seemed much longer. They walked side by side, Axel with his head down, occasionally flashing a crooked smile.

Alix took advantage of the silence to analyze his face. He wasn't as young as he seemed; there were marks on his neck and around his eyes, scars from bad upgrades or sleepless nights. He seemed to find pleasure even in defeat. Alix's sensors picked up irregular heartbeats, but she pretended not to notice.

"Do you always run like this, or just when you're caught red-handed?" Alix asked, trying to sound casual.

Axel laughed, tossing his hair back. "I run because it's the only way to feel alive. And you, officer? Do you feel anything chasing people like me?"

The question caught Alix by surprise. She hesitated a second before answering, feeling the compartment at her ribs weigh a little.

"My job is to protect the city. What I feel or not isn't the point." But there was doubt in her voice. Axel noticed.

"It's not like that, is it? You were tempted in that shop, I saw you. There's a lot in this world that no machine was programmed to feel... But sometimes, taking a risk is worth more than an expensive chip." He smiled, almost conspiratorial.

Alix picked up the pace, not answering right away. The streets started filling up again, clubs opening their doors for another night of promises. The smell of food and loud music invaded the sidewalk. Axel, now calmer, looked at the sky full of drones and neon signs.

"What's your name?" he asked, breaking the ice.

Alix hesitated. She wasn't used to introducing herself to suspects, but something was different this time.

"Alix. Just Alix." The answer was short, but her tone came out softer than she'd have liked to admit.

Axel smiled again, glancing sideways. "Nice to meet you, Alix. You run well. But I wonder if you feel as good as you run?"

Alix stifled a smile, pretending impatience. "You'll have plenty of time to philosophize about that in your cell." Internally, though, her thoughts returned to the hidden bottle. It was as if a secret had been activated inside her, something about to explode. The way back never seemed so full of possibilities.

The night kept on vibrating, full of colors, desires, and silences. Between steps and provocations, Alix realized this would not be a patrol like any other.