City of Thieves

Chapter 12: Do I Have Your Attention Now?

Laura was frozen solid in fear, unprepared as she heard Aron's footsteps restlessly grow closer to the office.
With little to no stamina, seeking out a place to hide, if any, was her only chance.
She would need a weapon too, but quickly. She only had a matter of seconds, Aron was quick and to strong for her. 

She revolved her head around the room, looking for a weapon. Desperate she improvised , she picked up a stapler, which was better than nothing and hid in the closet.

Seconds later, Aron abruptly struck the door open. Laura's breathing slowed, Aron now looking around and inspecting the room. What was supposed to be a quick check turned into a skeptical search as he saw signs of someone being near. Aron felt a presence, a kind of 6th instinct everyone has planted in them, but for a thieve it was stronger, exercised over time making it more vigorous.

Aron became restless, looking in the cabinets and under the desks, checking the windows for fingerprints to see if anyone had opened them to crawl out. Then he saw the closet, the most obvious place for an outsider to hide.

He slowly walked out of the room, closing the door behind him kneeing down next to it. Waiting furtively.
He heard her get out seconds later, she came close to the door, leaning her body against it to hear out of a sign of him. She slowly began to open the door being careful not to make it creak.
She stuck her head out, then her body and before she had time to react, she was tackled to the ground.

The first thing she heard the the sound of her head hitting the wood floor, and then her eardrums started violently buzzing from the impact. Looking up Aron was on top of her, he gave her a smug smile.
"Guess we meet again"
"GET OFF" she yelled.
Aron's expression changed, he gave her a fixed look, the tension was heating between them.
Up till now he couldn't do anything until she calmed down.
He refused to knock her out or forcefully drag her to another room to be locked away.

Laura kept squirming, restlessly she fought to get free. It felt helpless with her arms pinned with Aron on top of her. Aron got an idea, he had the perfect plan to catch her off again and to gain her attention.
Without thinking twice Aron lured his head close and engulfing his lips into Laura's then slowly creating a soft kiss.

Laura was caught off guard, there was nothing to do to pull herself away, she could only lay there, one part of her not wanting to pull away, which made her grateful that she didn't have the chance to because she wouldn't want to.
Aron slowly pulled away.

"Do I have you're attention now?" He asked softly. She could feel her cheeks burning up and blushing deeply, the feel of the kiss still on her lips. She quietly nodded, not breaking eye contact.
"Can I trust you to get up and NOT run?" He asked.
She nodded again, he got off her and she stood up.
"Sorry, I needed your attention" he said apologetically.
She only nodded again.
Looking down she spotted the stapler she dropped after being tackled, Aron was looking into the office not paying attention.
"What were you doing in there anyway?"
She didn't answer, and he didn't look up at her. He only looked deeper into the room.
Laura lured her self down slowly keeping her eyes on Aron as she picked up the weapon.

Giving her the perfect chance to hit him in the back of the head and run, giving her the perfect chance to take revenge.
But she just stood there, she just couldn't.
She couldn't do it, not after what happened.
"Hello? Laura.. was it?"
She stayed silent. He inched toward her and put his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes.
"Look im sorry, I know I must be some sort of asshole to you, but I promise-"
He was cut off as Laura threw her arms around him hugging him tight and started to cry.
After a second of shock he just hugged her tight back.
"I just cant do it.." she whispered.
"Cant do what?" He asked.
Suddenly, Laura dropped the stapler to the floor, breaking it open.
"WHAT THE HELL..WERE YOU GOING TO KNOCK ME OUT" he asked surprised.
"was...."
She whispered not letting go of the hug.
"I just couldn't do it.." she whispered.
He paused not knowing what to say. He just hugged her tight. Aron had unleashed something he had never felt before, the willingness to protect another human being.