The Resistance || Money Heist

The Morning Of || .004

          The Professor drilled the lesson into their minds with such fervor that one might assume Ava would have learned by now not to sacrifice her sleep before the heist they had meticulously plotted for the past five months. The morning light seeped through the curtains, casting a pale glow in the room, but Ava's eyelids fluttered in futility as she fought to stay awake even as weariness enveloped her like a thick fog. The very moment she managed to close her eyes the night before, they felt forced to spring open again, betraying her desperate need for rest. A low groan escaped her lips as she sat up, cradling her throbbing head—an unwelcome reminder of the sleepless nights that had seeped into the days before the operation. The mattress beneath her was an unforgiving slab, and she longed to escape its uncomfortable embrace.

           At the tender age of two, Ava had been embraced by a family that showered her with love and warmth, a stark contrast to the hardships endured by her birth parents. Their home was a sanctuary of joy, filled with laughter and celebration. Each birthday was a grand affair, with decorations that sparkled and a mountain of presents waiting to be unwrapped. Christmas mornings bloomed with the promise of surprises, and family gatherings were filled with the warmth of shared stories and laughter. Despite the idyllic façade of her upbringing, a subtle darkness began to creep in as she transitioned into her teenage years—an evolution that was as much a product of her own choices as it was of her circumstances. 

            The turning point struck after her fourteenth birthday, a day that should have been filled with joy but instead heralded an emotional upheaval. Her parents dropped a life-altering bombshell: they were relocating, moving halfway across the country. The news shattered the protective bubble she had lived in, and a sense of loss enveloped her as she grappled with the thought of leaving behind her childhood home. Most painfully, it meant distancing herself from Berlin—a connection that had stirred and blossomed in her heart. She hadn't anticipated it, but the mere realization that she would be far from him sent her spiraling into confusion and heartbreak.

         Despite her attempts to move on, the universe had other plans. On her sixteenth birthday, a glimmer of hope arrived in the form of Berlin, his youthful face still etched in her memory, now with the faint traces of adulthood. As he stood before her at the age of nineteen, all the feelings she had carefully tucked away flooded back with a vengeance, igniting a flame that had never truly been extinguished. In that moment, the world around her faded, leaving only the weight of their shared past and the undeniable chemistry that sparked between them once more.

         Ava laced up her sturdy black combat boots, ensuring the straps were snug against her ankles, a small yet crucial part of their meticulously planned heist. She couldn't afford any distractions, least of all a shoe malfunction, to disrupt the flawless execution they had envisioned. With a determined breath, she opened the door to her room and stepped into the bustling corridor, making her way towards the dining area where her team was gathering.

          As she walked, her keen eyes scanned the ornate hallways, taking in the sight of her teammates emerging from their rooms, their expressions a mix of excitement and anxiety. The air was thick with anticipation, everyone's nerves palpable as they exchanged hushed conversations. Yet, Ava understood that once the adrenaline kicked in, those fears would fade into the background, overshadowed by the thrill of the moment.

         Her gaze caught on one specific room—Berlin's. She noticed the door slightly ajar, and her heart quickened as she glimpsed him inside. He was just waking, the early morning light casting a soft glow around him. With his shirt discarded carelessly on the floor, he was adjusting his belt, the lean muscles of his torso on full display. Ava felt an involuntary rush of heat rise to her cheeks as her eyes lingered; it was as if she were a starstruck teenager, captivated by her own pop culture idol.