Crypto was running as fast as he could, shots were fired in his direction as he tried to avoid them. Some missed and some connected, sending him into a world of pain but he couldn't stop; if he stopped, he died. Well not literally dying since the Apex Games sent you back to a medical ship waiting for the match to end.

That would still mean he loses and he is not here to give the win so easily even more now that he knows everything is rigged. Crypto was quick to hide inside an abandoned house; he sat in a corner keeping eyes on the entryways and spots where people could shoot. The hacker then started patching his wound, it was way too calm. Either the squad chasing him encountered a third party that tried backstabbing them or either they were laying a trap.

Suddenly a shot rang through the air and a bullet missed his head by an inch. Trap it was and Crypto rolled out of the way to dodge whatever was in store for him but nothing came. Weird thought the hacker as he repositioned inside the house and took his drone to spot his enemies.

Going around the house he spotted someone rushing the house and Crypto panicked, logging off his drone and tumbling away from the door but while doing so he failed to recover properly and was met with the barrel of a gun. ''That's why we don't let rookies on the battlefield.'' it was Bangalore, the ex soldier and she had a lot of anger toward the hacker. ''Now I got y'a. '' She said as she was about to press the trigger. ''Don't get ahead of yourself beautiful he's mine… literally.'' A sensual woman's voice interrupted the soldier and as she turned around she was met with a silver cane to the face. ''And that's for threatening my little hacker.'' the voice said firing with an R-301 and killing the soldier. ''Having fun without me darling ?'' The voice was none other than Loba Andrade, the best thief of the apex games and also Crypto's girlfriend. ''Thank you'' he muttered. ''Not even a kiss as a thanks. You're hard to love but even more hard to hate you know that ?'' She said taking a syringe and patching him up running a hand in his hair while doing so. ''It was reckless'' she whispered. ''I know.'' He simply answered ''you could've died'' she said. ''It's not real I would've been ok'' He answered and Loba snapped at his comment.

''And what if it was ?! What if you really died you thought about that ?! I'm your girlfriend for god's sake. Do you realize how crushed I would feel. I already lost my parents to that bastard. I can't lose you too.'' What started as a yell finished as a silent whimper, tears rolled from her eyes. Sounds of footsteps closing reminded them that they weren't in private, wiping her tears Loba steadied herself and prepared for what was about to be the last fight.

A fight they ended up losing, it was close but somehow Crypto wasn't focused and neither was Loba. The little break down the thief had, made things complicated for the both of them.

After the battle not a word was said as the drop ship took them all back home Crypto was toying with his device twisting it in every way trying to fit the cubes of same colors together he was silent as always but his look was more gloomy.

Loba on the other hand wasn't seated in her usual fancy corner. She was looking through the glass window lost in thought her snap at her boyfriend was maybe overdone but she was still very scared of losing him, the thief hadn't felt that since she lost her parents. Of course she would be angry with him being reckless.

Back safely Loba locked herself in her apartment, closing the door with a loud thud to give even more signs that she wasn't to be bothered. ''Wow hacker boy did you say something about her hair or something else ?'' Mirage teased and only got a murderous glare ''None of your business old man.'' He spat. ''Woah woah ok calm down kid.'' Mirage said before leaving. ''You should talk to her though,'' Wraith, who was next to Mirage, said and left with the decoy user in tow.

Crypto sighed, burying his hands in his pockets and marching toward her room knocking once, no answers. He knocked twice, still no answer so he knocked three times rapidly. ''Whoever it is get out or I will swing my cane in your face so hard your mom won't recognize you.'' Well she made her point. ''It's me Loba, I want to talk.'' Crypto said softly as silence was the only answer. He sighed and was about to leave but the door clicked and opened slowly revealing a Loba with disheveled hair and puffy red eyes she had cried and looked really messy.

''Enter." She said as she stepped aside. and he did in complete silence as Loba closed the door behind and locked it. "I'm sorry I should have considered your feelings." he apologized as they were standing awkwardly in the middle of her living room. "I shouldn't have snapped at you" Loba answered and Crypto shook his head ''No you were right If you hadn't snapped it wouldn't have hit me as hard… Seeing you yell at me made my heart throb painfully. I was not able to process that last fight and you saw it." The thief sighed at her boyfriend's confession. "Tae Joon, tell me… Do you love me ? Be honest" her tone was firm yet unsure.

''If I love you ? I have to admit at first I really didn't know why I stayed by your side. I didn't know why I loved you but I was sure of one thing I wanted to find out. Now I know I couldn't live without you, I'm not the best at expressing feelings but I can't lose you either.'' He whispered approaching her she instantly pulled him into a hug crying into his chest. She never showed her vulnerable side; it was only for him to witness.

''But you have to know I won't stop what I'm doing.'' He said kissing her forehead and stroking her hair. ''I know I'm not asking you to stop I'm just asking you to be less reckless and to allow me to stay around and protect you.'' Crypto nodded knowing there was no way around this.

Silence soon filled the room but unlike the beginning it wasn't an awkward silence it was a soothing one as Loba embraced him letting her defenses down and just feeding off his warmth. Soon Crypto lifted her chin with his fingers and kissed her slowly and passionately making her numb to his love. ''That's my thank you kiss.'' he said as they separated to breath

''More'' Loba simply asked and he simply nodded leaning toward her and kissing her again this time a little fiercer as he held her tighter the kiss engulfed both of them in a warm inferno of passion only stopping once they broke for air.

''I love you Tae'' she whispered.

He would whisper back every time.