Arriving again at her cold, dimly lit apartment, Zhu was greeted by the unsettling pulse of the red-black void nightmare, its ominous swirl lingering in her mind. The voice still echoed in the corners of her thoughts—"Do you trust me?"—like a challenge, demanding an answer she wasn't sure she was ready to give. Her shoulders felt heavy, tensed, weighed down by the day's events.
"New Eridu is in chaos... same thing with my emotions," she muttered under her breath, the words tasting bitter. She reached for a cold beverage in the fridge, her hands slightly trembling as she pulled it out. She took a long gulp, hoping the chill could somehow wash away the gnawing anxiety still coiling in her gut.
Sitting down at her kitchen table, she absentmindedly reached for her phone, her fingers hovering over it, as though expecting a simple hello from someone. Elias. It had to be him. After everything, she was sure of it. He hadn't texted her, but maybe, just maybe, he was waiting for the right moment.
Her thumb hovered over the screen, and a ping interrupted her thoughts. She glanced down, expecting the familiar name of Elias. Instead, the message read, "Hey, you need company?" It was Jane.
Zhu blinked at the screen, a frown tugging at her lips. What's with Jane being clingy all of a sudden?
She sighed, her fingers already typing out a response. "No, Jane, I'm at my apartment now. Just need some rest so we can have a better meeting tomorrow."
She pressed send and leaned back, the cold beverage offering no relief. The ache in her chest remained. It wasn't Elias's message. And for some reason, it stung more than it should have.
After a light dinner, Zhu stepped into the steamy warmth of her shower, letting the water wash away the weight of the day. The pulsating ache in her chest had dulled a little, but it still clung to her like the heat in the room.
As she scrubbed away the last remnants of exhaustion, her phone pinged from the bathroom counter, startling her. She peeked over the edge of the shower, wiping the steam off the mirror to check her phone. It was Jane, of course.
"Come on, Zhu, you'll turn into an ugly gremlin. Your boyfriend might leave you totally if you keep on sulking. Let's grab something, I'll be at your apartment if you need company."
Zhu's heart sank for a moment, irritation rising. Seriously, Jane? But then, as if on cue, a small smile tugged at the corner of her lips. Jane's teasing always had a way of making her flustered. Despite herself, she couldn't help but find it endearing.
With her hands still wet from the shower, she quickly typed back, her voice dripping with mock annoyance. "Fine! What do you want?"
A second later, Jane replied: "No, what do you want? I'll bring snacks."
Zhu snorted, rolling her eyes even though she knew Jane was watching her from across the city with that sly grin. "I already had my dinner, Jane."
She set her phone down and sighed, feeling a tiny bit lighter. Jane may have been a headache sometimes, but at least she was consistent.
Zhu was just about to crawl into bed, wearing her soft pajamas and sinking into the comfort of her blankets when a sudden ding-dong echoed through her apartment. She froze, startled by the sound.
Who on earth...? She glanced at the clock: 11 PM. One hour before midnight. Don't tell me Jane really visited me? How did she even know where I live?
With a groan, she rolled out of bed, reluctantly walking over to the door. She peeked through the security camera's monitor and saw, much to her dismay, Jane—grinning like a mischievous cat—and, of course, Qingyi, standing beside her like the picture of serene indifference.
Qingyi? Seriously? Zhu's shoulders sagged, her mind scrambling for a way to avoid the inevitable. But the two of them were already standing right outside her door. No turning back now.
She sighed deeply, knowing there was no other choice but to open the door.
The moment she swung it open, Jane beamed at her, holding up a small bag of pastries. "Hey there, sexy! Brought you some sweets. You look like you need a little lift up of spirit."
Zhu's face remained serious, her eyes twitching with irritation. "What is this, Jane? You've gone full stalker mode. And Qingyi..." she shook her head, unable to believe her partner in crime had betrayed her personal sanctuary. "It's my bed time!"
Qingyi, who had the grace to look somewhat apologetic but not very remorseful, smiled politely, but Jane wasn't about to let up.
"Looks like you've got someone here? Did we interrupt something private?" Jane laughed, wiggling her eyebrows in that annoying way she did when she had one of her devious plans in mind.
Zhu shot her a glare, crossing her arms over her chest as she took a step back into the apartment. "No! I don't have a boyfriend, Jane. Can we just... NOT do this right now?"
Jane just laughed louder. "Aww, c'mon, Zhu, you're no fun when you're all serious. I swear, if we can't cheer you up, no one can."
Zhu could feel her resolve breaking as she couldn't hold back a small grin. Jane always had a way of cutting through her walls. Still, she wasn't going to let Jane win this one.
"I swear, you're both trouble," Zhu muttered, but she was already stepping aside to let them in. "Fine, come in. But only because I can't trust either of you to leave me alone."
Jane made herself right at home, confidently strolling into Zhu's apartment, barely taking a breath before she noticed the plaques and awards lining the walls. "Well, well, look at you, Captain Zhu," she teased with a smirk, as if she'd been invited to an exclusive museum tour.
Zhu shot her a half-exasperated glare. "That's my spot, Jane," she muttered, watching Jane settle into her couch like she'd claimed it long ago.
Qingyi came in right behind, flashing Zhu a grin that spoke volumes—this was their intervention. Zhu narrowed her eyes, catching on. "Qingyi, Jane... what exactly is this?"
Jane gave a little shrug, patting the seat next to her on the couch. "You needed some company. I just knew it."
Zhu crossed her arms, defensive. "I don't need company. This is my bed time. I don't do... work visits here."
"Oh, it's not work, silly goose. Seth and Qingyi told me you were, well... broken-hearted." Jane's eyes sparkled with mischief as she threw out the accusation.
"Br—broken-hearted?" Zhu spluttered, nearly choking on her words. You two! The nerve, talking behind her back! Making a death glare at Qingyi, "I'm not broken-hearted!" she protested inwardly. I'm just... stressed!
Jane grinned, eyes gleaming with mischief. "Stressed? Perfect. I brought desserts—those two words spell backwards for a reason. Let's turn that stress into something sweet," she teased, nudging the pastry box toward Zhu.
Zhu's fists tightened as she hovered by the door, still hesitant. Jane added with a wink, "Alright, fine. We'll talk shop if you insist... while we enjoy some pastries."
"Captain, come on," Qingyi coaxed gently. "You need a little girl talk to shake off that tension."
After a sigh of resignation, Zhu closed the door, already questioning what opening up would cost her tonight. She nudged Jane aside, swapping her spot with Qingyi—sitting next to Jane still felt like inviting too much trouble.
Settling into the couch with her arm propped up, chin resting on her fist, Zhu finally relented. "Alright. Girl talk. Let's get this over with."
Both women stared at Zhu, the unspoken pressure hanging in the air. She was the one who should be opening up, yet she stubbornly clamped down on her feelings. Jane sighed, rubbing her temples. "Alright, alright... I'll break the ice for you," she muttered, flipping open the pastry box with a little more flair than necessary.
As she dug into a pastry, she began her story with an exaggerated grin. "There was this one mission, a long time ago. Undercover, of course. I got tangled up with a ridiculously charming gang member. Honestly, he was way too good to be involved with that crowd."
She paused, shaking her head at the memory, her lips curling into a smirk. "Turns out, the guy was an HSO undercover agent. My mission? A total mess."
She looked back at Zhu, a gleam in her eye. "I mean, come on. He was way too good for that life."
Zhu gave her a sharp look, her patience running out. "And then?" she pressed, feeling the weight of the cliffhanger as Jane casually sliced into the pastry.
"Eat the dessert first, you silly! No wonder you're stressed—just inhaling J.D.'s desserts like you're on a mission," Jane teased, handing her a slice of cake.
"When you're indulging in sweets, take your time. Let yourself enjoy them. If you slow down and savor it, your brain will start linking desserts to relaxation, not just stress."
Well technically she's right.
Qingyi finally chimed in, her laugh light and carefree. Zhu shot her a sharp look, her cheeks tinged with irritation. "Why are you laughing?" she grumbled.
Qingyi smiled, not missing a beat. "Jane's right, you've been scarfing down J.D.'s desserts without slowing down."
Jane casually tapped her belt, drawing attention to a small, neatly packed pouch. "This is why I always have snack bars with me." Her smile was almost smug as she pointed to it.
Zhu's gaze was sharp as she reached for the pastry, her brows furrowing in mild irritation. "Okay, what's next?" she muttered, half-expecting Jane to drag things out even further.
Jane, without missing a beat, handed Qingyi a pastry—slowly, like she was savoring the moment of teasing Zhu. Watching them both, Zhu's patience finally snapped. She took a bite, the sweetness momentarily distracting her. Jane observed quietly, letting the silence stretch between them.
"Okay, after the successful mission..." Jane's voice cut through the tension, "... he officially asks me on a date."
Zhu shot her a sidelong glance mid-bite. "Really? How are you two getting along?" She swallowed the pastry, feeling the weight of the conversation bearing down on her.
Jane's lips curled into a soft, almost teasing smile. "We're good. Happy." She leaned back, eyes sparkling. "How about you, Captain?"
Zhu sighed, the heaviness in her shoulders betraying her growing unease. "I don't really want to share anything personal, especially as Captain of Janus Quarters," she admitted with a deep breath, her voice heavy. "But fine... I'm just confused."
Qingyi, mid-bite, paused and watched her intently, while Jane's playful smirk didn't fade, despite Zhu's somber tone.
Zhu, realizing they weren't about to let her off the hook, continued, her words slow and careful. "Qingyi and I were working on a cold case about weapons smuggling. Desperate for intel, I stumbled onto this guy. He's an agent, just like you."
She stopped for a moment, eyes glazing over as the memory played out. "I arrested him for a public order violation, along with someone you probably met. Made up this whole story about me being a bad cop." She let out a small, humorless laugh. "I guess it worked. He cracked pretty easily."
Jane chuckled, leaning in a little as if enjoying the unraveling of the story. "Yeah, I know the guy. See, I'm just trying to help."
Zhu paused, her gaze turning inward as she considered the implications of Jane's words. The suspect had been surprisingly forthcoming, likely with Jane's... help.
"What's next?" Jane prodded, her voice light, but her attention fully fixed on Zhu.
"Well..." Zhu hesitated, running a hand through her hair, brushing it back behind her ear. "Turns out, he really is an agent working a major case. Once we realized that, I offered help." She took another bite of the pastry, her words muffled as she chewed. "He was hesitant at first, but eventually, he gave in... and gave us a lot of details about his case."
Zhu's expression grew more serious, her fingers clinging to the pastry wrapper as she spoke. "Some of his files were linked to our cold case. We found out he was after a black market device—military-grade decryptor. We suspected he might be a rogue agent."
Jane listened intently, her brows raising slightly as she processed Zhu's words. Her gaze never wavered. "Go on."
"We ran a background check, with the team's help," Zhu continued, her voice quieting slightly. "Turns out he's connected to The Sons of Calydon, and his name's Jaxon. Left the gang for a weapons smuggling syndicate. Caesar King—she was furious with him. After that... Jaxon ghosted me."
Zhu looked down, taking another slow bite. "I tried reaching out, tried to keep things moving with the case, but... nothing. No word from him since last week."
Jane rubbed her temple theatrically, grinning. "I thought you were gonna share something personal, Zhu. But nope, this is just a work thing." She leaned back, giving Zhu a knowing look. "Told you it's all work."
Zhu shot her a look. "See? I told you I'm confused!" Her voice tinged with frustration, realizing Jane was right.
"Alright, alright. Tell us about the guy—the agent," Jane teased, a playful glint in her eye. "How does it feel that he ghosted you?"
Zhu froze, biting her lip. She hesitated, the word broken-hearted almost slipping out, but she felt too embarrassed to admit it. "I... I don't know. I just felt... left out." Her voice trailed off as she looked away.
Jane leaned in, her expression no longer teasing but more earnest. "No, no, no. Work thing again. We need the real answer, Zhu. What do you feel?"
Zhu raised an eyebrow, her breath catching as she stammered, "Frust? Frustrated?" Her voice faltered on the last word, as though saying it aloud made it feel too real.
Jane let out an exaggerated sigh, but there was a trace of warmth in her eyes. "Frustrated about?" She pressed on, her tone gentler now. "But why? Why'd you feel that way?"
Zhu's shoulders slumped. She glanced down at the floor, her hands subconsciously twisting the pastry wrapper in her fingers. "He left me without notice," she murmured, the weight of the words pressing down on her. She quickly corrected herself, though it didn't change the sting in her chest. "I mean... us. Not just me. He left us."
Qingyi, who had been quietly observing the exchange, finally spoke up, her voice soft but insistent. "No, Captain. There's something else bothering you. Please, be honest with us."
Zhu shot her a sharp look, her eyes twitching slightly in irritation. She took a deep breath, clearly fighting to keep her composure. "What do you want to know? Really?" Her voice was tinged with frustration, her guard still firmly in place as she glared at Qingyi.
Qingyi pulls out a small device from her pocket, and with a mischievous grin, presses play. Her calm, sober voice fills the air:
"You know, I regret working with you! You're too shady! You're playing with my emotions! And probably my... heart!"
Zhu's eyes go wide. Her face turns as red as a tomato, panic evident in her expression. She leaps toward Qingyi, hands outstretched. "Give me that, Qingyi!" she demands, voice cracking slightly as she tries to grab the recorder.
Jane leans back, crossing her arms, a teasing smirk spreading across her face. "So, you're in love with this agent, huh? This is getting juicy." She taps her temple with mock seriousness, sighing as if she's solving the world's biggest mystery.
Zhu's face flushes even deeper, now standing, her body tense with a mix of irritation and embarrassment. "Er... I don't know! -I was tipsy during that undercover mission!" she stammers, her words tripping over each other as she tries to justify the recorded confession, but the awkwardness of the situation only deepens the tension in the room.
Qingyi raises an index finger, waving it in the air with a playful yet pointed look. "Captain, please be transparent about your feelings instead of hiding them. You know, we might let Jane take the lead on the case we're working on," she warns, her tone light but serious.
Zhu's eyes snap wide as she quickly interjects, her voice defensive. "You can't do that! You're my assigned partner!"
Qingyi's expression softens but her words are firm. "Captain, you're totally into Elias the first time you met him. You act completely out of character whenever you talk to him face to face," she adds, teasing with a knowing smile.
Zhu stares at her for a moment, clearly flustered. "Okay, in my defense," she begins, rubbing the back of her neck, clearly uncomfortable. "He's got the charm. I wouldn't be like this if you and Seth hadn't been teasing me from the start." She huffs, crossing her arms. "I probably just fell for him because of that."
Jane raises an eyebrow, leaning in with a mischievous grin. "You fell?" she asks, her voice laced with teasing intrigue.
Zhu's face flushes, her hands gripping the edge of the table for support as she shrugs helplessly. "You know... fell for his tricks," she mutters, looking anywhere but at her teammates.
Jane shakes her head with a dramatic sigh. "No, no, no, that's not it at all. You fell in love," she corrects her, making a soft clicking sound with her tongue for emphasis.
Zhu's face flushed red as if she had a fever. She crossed her arms tightly, looking as if she were ready to explode. "Okay, that's it. I'm going to bed. You two can leave my apartment now!" Her voice was dramatic, and she didn't even bother to correct Jane's earlier statement—she was too caught in the trap. She was done.
Qingyi, however, leaned back in her chair, putting on her best concerned face. "No, Captain. We're not leaving until you're fully resolved. You can set aside your feelings, you know, without it affecting the case," she chimed in, her voice carrying just a hint of sincerity.
Zhu stared at her, then let out a dramatic sigh, the pout on her lips deepening. "Okay, fine! I admit it... I fell for his tricks, him, love or whatever. Is that what you want to hear?" She slumped back in her chair, defeated.
Jane, lounging casually, gave an exaggerated fan motion with her hand as if she were being told the greatest gossip of the day. "Was that so hard to admit, Captain Zhu? See? Address your feelings instead of denying them. Bet you'll wake up feeling better tomorrow." She winked, and Zhu was almost ready to throw her out.
"Really? With him ghosting me?" Zhu shot back, her words dripping with sarcasm. "Yeah, sure, I'll wake up all sunshine and rainbows." She sighed again, slumping further.
"Okay, so are we resolved now?" Zhu asked, clearly done with the conversation, though part of her was still reluctant to face the truth.
Before she could even finish her sentence, a loud click echoed through the room. Zhu's eyes widened in horror as she turned to face Qingyi, who was casually holding up her recording device. "Got 'em," she teased with an exaggerated grin.
Zhu jumped to her feet, flustered beyond belief. "I'll end you, Qingyi, if that recording leaks in our Quarters! Imagine—I fell for a rogue or double agent? That's so embarrassing." She glared, though the irritation was softened by the absurdity of the situation. Admitting her feelings had lightened her mood more than she realized.
Qingyi raised her hands innocently. "Hey, no promises." She gave a mischievous smile, still holding the device as if it were her greatest treasure.
"...And oh, Captain," Jane added, a sudden shift in her tone, "You know my story earlier?"
Zhu blinked, confused. "What?"
Jane grinned widely, leaning in as if about to reveal some big secret. "It's not true. We're not dating."
Zhu's eyes narrowed, and before Jane could react, Zhu grabbed the nearest pillow and threw it at her with full force. "This is why I don't trust you!" she yelled, her face flushing again, this time from pure embarrassment.
The pillow hit Jane with a soft thud, but her grin only grew wider. "Come on, Captain. You know you love me."
Zhu threw herself back on the couch, exhausted from the emotional rollercoaster but somehow in a much better mood. At least she'd finally admitted it—whether she liked it or not.