Vixen - a dark romance story

Chapter 10

Christopher Bang/ Bang Chan

Christopher took a few steps closer, coming to stand beside her at the railing.

Leaning against the metal rod, he gazed out at the city skyline in silence, lost in thought for a brief moment.

It became a routine for him to seek Ray out in the dead of night following her missions. What started as simply checking up on her became an unspoken ritual over time. Christopher knew she needed to unwind, and he was here to provide grounding presence.

He eventually spoke up, a low utter breaking the quiet. "Everything went smoothly, I assume ?"

He already had the answer in mind, but he decided to ask anyway. His eyes briefly glanced at her before shifting back to the city. She appeared calmer than usual, her shoulders visibly relaxed from the adrenaline rush.

"Yes."

Christopher nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips. He knew her well enough to see past the stoicism in her answer. She was satisfied.

He stole another glance at her. The dim city lights cast a soft glow on her face, creating a play of shadows that accentuated her delicate features. In that moment, she looked more like an otherworldly being than a woman.

He found himself entranced. There was something about Ray that never failed to captivate him. She was a dichotomy of strength and fragility, an enigma wrapped in a mystery. Countless nights had been spent like this, watching her in silence, trying to figure her out that he almost missed the time when he could read her like an open book.

He swallowed the thought down, immersing himself in the present. "Tired ?"

She kept her eyes on the skyline and mumbled. "You talk too much."

Unfazed by her comment, Christopher chuckled softly. He was familiar with her post-mission behavior - the sharpness in her words was just a shield she used to guard herself and he understood it, even though it could sometimes be frustrating.

"And you don't talk enough." he retorted.

After that, a hush fell over them, broken only by the gentle sway of the night breeze. Christopher turned his attention back to her, resuming his staring.

The silence stretched on, and for a moment, he thought she wouldn't speak at all. But then, after what felt like an eternity, she whispered words so soft, he almost missed them.

"You shouldn't be up so late."

"And you should be sleeping, but here we are."

His words were met with a huff, a sound of mock annoyance. "I'm winding down."

She always said that when he called her out on her late nights. It was a lame excuse, considering her "winding down" usually included staying up for several more hours, training or working on her equipment.

He didn't mention it, though. He knew better than that by now.

Once more, the conversation lulled, enveloping them in a serene silence. Christopher sensed her stress dissipating, her frame gradually relaxing with each passing moment. The cool night air seemed to work magic on her.

He exhaled deeply, a subtle noise of frustration escaping his lips. He then cleared his throat, ensuring his tone remained casual. "How's the new gear working?"

It was a change of subject, a desperate attempt at redirecting the conversation away from dangerous territories.

He kept his gaze trained on the view, not looking at her directly, yet he couldn't help but notice every subtle movement she made, especially when she playfully swung her legs off the rooftop. He had scolded her multiple times for doing that, but she never listened.