Cybernetic Cookie Control

Chapter 5 - Business

"So explain to me what exactly we're doing here?" Kyung asked running his hands through his freshly dyed hair. It was no longer bright carrot red but a deeper shade of auburn. It gave him less of a young ruffian look and more of a suave debonair one.

"Whats there to explain? Its a pawn shop. We have shit to sell and they buy it." Pyo said with a chuckle.

"So I had to get all cleaned up and ruin my hair to go to a pawn shop for the drop you cats do once a week?"

"Oh believe me your hair isn't ruined now." Pyo said.

"Aye man don't hate!" Kyung chuckled and fell into step with Pyo.

"Alright this is the place. You make the deal with Ava while I handle something else." He said.

"What are you handling? These girls causing trouble or something?"

"Seriously? Come on man..." Pyo was starting to get annoyed.

"Uuuugh! Can't believe I left Han's for this." Kyung said still smiling and in a good mood. Pyo didn't say anything as the two walked into the building.

A bell dinged alerting the girls of the boys presence and Ava was the first to pop into view.

"Hey Pyo, stranger." She said with a friendly nod to each of them. What I can do for you today?" She said with a quiet smile. Kyung's smile became wide and toothy when he saw her. Pyo looked at Kyung and nodded with his chin for him to make the deal. Kyung took a deep breath as he was about to start talking then stopped with a confused grin. He took another deep breath then locked eyes with Ava who was watching with interest. She knew her handy work was about to be paid a compliment. Kyung noticed this and made a mental note.

"Oh my god..." He started softly. "This has to be the freshest smelling air I've ever had." Pyo chuckled at Kyung then gave the store a look over.

"Thanks. I mod-ed it myself." Ava said crossing her arms and not trying hard at all to contain her cocky smile.

"No shit." Kyung smiled without his teeth this time and then made to change the subject but hesitated when he noticed Pyo was gone. A slight panic came over him until he saw his back behind the counter. Kyung had to make a quick decision - stall to let Pyo grab what he needed to, or get down to business and risk her turning around and seeing him. Either one could bust. He didn't know anything about her or how she would react.

"What kinda unit did you mod exactly? If it was one of the N.A.C-10's then it's not very impressive." He said attempting to knock her down a notch or two.

"It was an L.A.C-4." She said cooly listing off the 12 year old model that had been sold to low income level homes when it debuted.

"Damn girl that is impressive!" He said but a business like enthusiasm that contradicted his words.

"I try." She shrugged with a cool smile.

"Could you make the same quality of air come through an M-3?"

"Why is that the model your Momma uses?"

"How did you know!" Kyung's loud words carried all the way to the back where Pyo was watching Violet work on a monitor.

He didn't know how to get her attention without startling her. He also felt like there was no way to do that with her wearing her headphones. He had come slightly prepared though, and pulled out a paper rose from his pocket. He tapped on her chair and she removed her headphones and turned around. Her eyes went wide when she saw him but the he put the rose to his nose and her shock left her.

"I'm sorry, can I help you?" She asked with a calm indifference.

"Can you rid a guilty conscious?" He asked looking down at the flower.

"I don't know what you mean." She asked turning red just from looking at him.

"I feel like I startled you yesterday. Am I right?" He asked stepping closer to her and looking down at her.

"You did. I know what you and your gang do. I'm not stupid. I'm just- confused. We've always helped you boys, why would you-" She said as strongly as she could muster but he cut her off by raising his palm in surrender.

"I make a living doing bad things." He said with a shrug and a smirk. "But I'm not all bad." He said handing her the flower. She took it and he brushed his fingers against her exposed wrist then grabbed it gently.

"I wasn't trying to scare you. I was just doing something nice. Letting you know that - we appreciate y'all doing business with us." He said with such a delicate tone the bass in his voice almost made it hard to hear and understand. "Look, you heard about HyukJae right?" He asked.

"Only that the police are still looking for him." She answered with a pounding heart.

"The way things are looking for guys like me, I've either gotta go down on this sinking ship of Jae's or high tail it out of here."

"Running's not so bad." She said quietly and suddenly looking far away in thought. Pyo took this as her being vulnerable and went for it.

"You say that like you know from experience." He said tilting his head.

"I do... We do. That's why when Ava says we can't do any more for you, we just can't. What we have here is good. We don't want to risk anything." She said.

"I understand." He said with a small sympathetic smile then he made to go join Kyung.

"Thank you." She called to him and he turned around.

"For what?" He asked having been so caught up in his own thoughts he'd already forgotten about

"Yesterday. And the flower, and just for understanding." She said.