Unspoken Bonds

Part 1: The Assignment

The cold November air bit at the edges of the block as Kion leaned against the wall outside the warehouse, one hand tucked in his hoodie pocket, the other holding a half-smoked blunt. His eyes scanned the street lazily, catching every small movement. His face was cold, unreadable, like he'd seen too much to care about anything. The tip of the blunt burned orange as he took another pull, exhaling the smoke in a slow stream. He wasn't in the mood for whatever "urgent meeting" the boss called him for, but ignoring a summon wasn't an option.

The sound of sneakers scuffing on concrete pulled Kion's attention to the figure walking toward him. A tall dude with a cocky smirk, hair tied back in thick dreads, hands stuffed in the pockets of a puffed black jacket. Kion's eyes narrowed as he took another hit, keeping his words to himself.

"Yo, you Kion?" The dude stopped a few feet away, his smile widening. "Boss told me to link with you. I'm AJ."

Kion let the smoke sit in his lungs a moment before letting it out with a low "Tch." He didn't respond, just flicked his blunt against the wall and watched the ashes scatter. He wasn't about to play friendly.

AJ raised his eyebrows, his smirk shifting into something more amused. "Aight, I see how it is. You one of them 'quiet killer' types. Bet."

Kion's expression didn't change, but his jaw tightened slightly. He pushed off the wall, finally speaking. "Boss said what?"

AJ chuckled, his tone playful. "He said I'm rollin' with you tonight. Some lil' mission he put together. Don't know the details; he just said, 'Follow Kion's lead.'" AJ paused, looking Kion up and down like he was sizing him up. "You got a plan, or you just gon' stand there all mean and mysterious?"

Kion ignored the jab and started walking toward the warehouse door without another word. AJ let out a soft laugh and followed, keeping pace.

Inside, the boss laid out the job—some easy money. A rival crew had been spotted slipping up, leaving product stashed in an abandoned house on the south side. All Kion and AJ had to do was retrieve it before anyone else got there.

The details were clear, but the vibe between Kion and AJ? Tense. AJ couldn't seem to keep his mouth shut, cracking jokes and throwing little comments Kion's way. "So, you always this serious, or is it just me bringin' out your best side?" AJ teased as they headed to the car.

Kion shot him a glare, opening the driver's side door. "Shut the fuck up and get in."

AJ threw his hands up, laughing. "Aight, bossman, chill. I'm just tryna get to know you."

The car ride was mostly silent after that, with AJ tapping beats on the dashboard while Kion stared ahead, his grip tight on the wheel. The tension wasn't anything new to Kion; he thrived in it. People usually got the hint and backed off. But AJ? He seemed to feed off it, like he was testing how far he could push.

When they finally pulled up to the house, Kion turned to AJ, his voice low but firm. "Stay close. Don't make no noise."

AJ gave him a mock salute. "Yes, sir."

The two moved quickly, slipping through the back door and into the dimly lit space. It smelled like mold and dust, the floor creaking under their weight. Kion led the way, his steps calculated and quiet. AJ followed, uncharacteristically serious for once.

In the living room, they found the stash—a duffel bag stuffed with bricks of something that could make or break the night. Kion grabbed it without hesitation, slinging it over his shoulder. "Let's go," he muttered.

But just as they turned to leave, the sound of footsteps outside froze them in place. Kion's hand went to the piece tucked in his waistband, his eyes flicking to AJ, who nodded, his expression hardening.