Things we’re not going as Lie Ren had hoped. Quite frankly, they were running headlong in the exact opposite direction of where he’d been hoping they’d go. He couldn’t say he knew exactly who to blame either.

While he knew that many might try to blame Nora, they’d have been mistaken… mostly.

Even if she was cackling like a mad woman as they moved desperately to lose the flashing lights of the car following in hot pursuit behind them, standing in sharp maniacal contrast to the constant and steady wail of the car’s siren. Or the sloth-like mask she still held over her face, even as they charged blindly ahead.

His mind played back over the series of events that had led to this predicament.

They’d left the bookstore, same as everyone else. Nothing out of the ordinary, just preparing to help take down a criminal syndicate. Surely standard academic affairs. Probably worth a little extra credit. Not that his GPA would ever see it. He was even pleasantly surprised by the accommodations. They weren’t as cramped as he feared they’d be.

Without much stopping them, he and Nora carried on to their first destination, thoughts of food and adventure filling their heads. Though he would also admit that worries of what tonight might bring were also there, lingering in the background like a dark cloud. Though Nora’s usual bubbly cheer had been enough to ward it off. Like rays of tawny haired light hammering their way through.

Then they arrived at the first location they were to be investigating. Ren believed himself a decent judge of character, and thought going in that it wouldn’t amount to much. Everything was too obvious and open to be capable of hiding much. The cashier had even been an open and pleasant conversationalist. As much of one he could be expected to be, given the questions Ren was asking.

Which ended, when Nora kicked open the back room door and found the White Fang squatting back there. Slowly arming themselves for a fight.

Then everything flew out of control, and Ren had no idea where the brakes were.

Before he’d even had a chance to react, Nora had thrown herself at everyone hiding back there. He’d moved to help her, or more accurately keep her from going overboard, when a thought occurred to him. If they were back there, the cashier would’ve needed to know about it. Which was then confirmed when the man tried to shoot Ren in the back. Had Ren not realized it at the last moment, he wouldn’t have been able to dodge it when he had.

Of course, then the entire store exploded.

In hindsight, letting Nora into a room full of unstable explosives hadn’t been his greatest moment.

Despite that, the two of them managed to pull through. A little soot covered, a little rattled, and Nora’s jacket still smoldering. But beyond the superficial, they’d managed to avoid the worst of it.

As had the White Fang. Who they’d dealt with shortly after. They’d been much closer to the blast. Ren was surprised they’d even survived as well as they had.

Unfortunately for the both of them, it completely buried anything either Ren or Nora could’ve gleaned under a mountain of rubble.

Then the police had decided it was time to show up.

And there they were, holding the proverbial bag.

And now they were running.

He could only hope the police had bothered to leave someone behind. Considering what the real problem was.

“Six isn’t gonna like this.” Ren grunted, feet pounding across the pavement as he and Nora leapt over a crosswalk, peerlessly dodging the oncoming traffic as they did. Jay-walking, another crime they could tack to the list.

“I know, it’s gonna be hilarious!” Nora shouted, leaping over a passing truck, its horn screaming as it swerved to avoid them. Ren was half blinded by the lights of a sedan that bore down on him to the left, only narrowly avoiding it as the two leapt onto the sidewalk at the other side and kept going, dodging and weaving amongst the throngs of confused onlookers.

The cops were closing on them, quickly.

Ren’s arm snapped out and grabbed Nora by her shoulder. With a yank, he tried to redirect her mid-stride. When Nora dragged him another half dozen feet, she slowed down, and followed where he was pointing. The pair proceeded down an alleyway. A quarter of the way down, the lights of the cop car fell on them, but began to grow distant. There were cries from the streetwalkers and civilians who’d been simply going about their business. Now turned into a barrier to buy the two of them a few moments of running space.

“We need a place to go.” Ren said. “We’re not going to lose them by just running.”

“Open to ideas.” Nora said, easily keeping stride with him, mask flopping loosely on her head. He was genuinely surprised she could see out of it.

The pair was nearly down the other side when they heard the engine of the police car gun behind them. Ren felt his mind begin to race with it. Surely the police wouldn’t run them down, but how could they escape-

Nora drew her weapon, flipping it over her shoulder. It unfolded into Magnhild’s familiar Warhammer form, the hammerhead planting itself at an angle against the ground.

A pit opened up in the bottom of Ren’s stomach.

It sucked everything into it when Nora grabbed his shoulder.

“Adventure!” Nora squealed.

“NO!” Ren shouted.

There was a deafening burst of air and sound as Nora launched the both of them into the air. Normally, Ren would find himself prepared for Nora’s antics and energy. He’d had most of a lifetime to get used to them.

Then came the times where he had to wonder if that was really the case.

With the force of Nora’s weapon, the two rocketed through the air, sailing just narrowly over the traffic below them. It was only through long practice with his aura that Ren understood how to control himself. His careening course through the air slowly twisted and turned, evolving into something controlled and deliberate.

The two crashed into a building on the opposite side, breaking through a store front window. But the manner of their landing was safe, at least.

Though the same could not be said for their surroundings, as the two skidded to a stop. They crashed through displays and mannequins of something soft, both in texture and color. The shelves, tables, and other furnishings scattered around them in a thunderous clamor, followed almost immediately after by the soft and dull flap of the clothes landing against the ground. Ren was only barely able to hear it over the ringing in his ears.

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Nora hadn’t stuck the landing as nicely as him, he observed. She’d hit the ground and rolled with the momentum like a cackling bowling ball, ending when she crashed through a series of mannequins like oversized pins.

As he went to admonish her though, he began to properly take in their surroundings. As he’d observed, they were in a clothing store. Many mannequins and displays of clothing, all in intricate and colorful styles. Nothing that would be so otherwise distracting.

Except the one they’d landed in was for lingerie.

Ren blinked, observing his surroundings properly. He wasn’t one to be embarrassed for setting foot in such a place. He’d spent enough time around Nora to not be as embarrassed about it as most. Certainly he wasn’t comfortable with it, but there was nothing to be embarrassed by. It was just clothing. Meant for very specific circumstances. There existed only one set of circumstances he might find himself given pause.

With a heave, Ren rolled onto his side, looking deeper into the store, after Nora. A brief glance assuring they were alone for the moment. “Was that really-”

The words turned to ash in his mouth as he spoke.

Nora lay sprawled a few yards away from him, against tables and racks, dismembered mannequins around her. She was still giggling like a madwoman. Her crash landing had scattered the lacey, and ludicrously expensive, undergarments around her. A vibrantly pink brazier had even landed on her head, folding over it like an oversized pair of earmuffs. Her color, Ren couldn’t help but idly think.

But the thing that had caught his attention was what had landed on her. Draped over her chest, crudely running down to her waist, was a short, lacey nightgown. The material nearly see through, a shade of black embroidered by a pink floral pattern along the hems of the chest and lower edge. It sat splayed over her, as she was sprawled out over the display, her giggles slowly subsiding. Under different, perhaps normal circumstances, it would’ve been ludicrous. She was fully dressed, she was streaked with sooty debris, and she was still wearing that sloth mask.

But absolutely none of it stopped the image of her, wearing nothing but that nightgown from flying into his head like a bullet. The impact was enough to cause his brain to completely freeze on itself, locking like gears with a wrench stuck into the teeth. Precious seconds passed, the image refused to leave, and he couldn’t force himself to move.

It wasn’t until Nora finally regained her composure that she looked across the sales floor to Ren. Appraising him, sloth mask with its small, perpetual smile. Ren couldn’t see what kind of face she was making, or the kinds of thoughts running through her head at that moment. But he could see the vague process of it. How she paused, looking at him for a moment. Then seeing her head crane downward, towards herself. Which must have been the point she saw the garment laying over herself. Which was only added to as the brazier slid off her head and landed inappropriately over her chest.

Another moment passed.

Then immediately, Nora curled over on herself in a covering fashion. “Don’t look!” She snapped, her voice an embarrassed squeak.

Despite himself, Ren whipped back towards the street. It wasn’t as though she’d suddenly changed clothing. She’d just crash landed, it’d caught him by surprise. No inappropriate thoughts in his head. None at all. He was a chaste young man. Nothing but wholesome thoughts and sunshine.

Those thoughts grew less wholesome and sunny as he saw the cops, still across the street, their cruiser idling in the alleyway.

Then the doors on either side swung open, and a pair of uniforms stepped out.

“We need to leave.” Ren said, turning around and quickly scanning the room for an alternate way out. As he failed to find one, Nora came to her feet, quickly bounding over to him, seeing as well that the officers were now attempting to cross the street after them. The only thing that bought them time was a random sedan, which nearly ran the officers down, a response to their hubris of running into oncoming traffic.

Seeing their only opening, Ren grabbed Nora’s hand and pulled her with him as he leapt back through the broken window. She followed him without urging, and they resumed their flight down the street, quickly putting the moment of indiscretion behind them. Attempting to, as Ren found.

Certain thoughts were harder to ignore than others.

Certain things were harder to ignore than others.

‘She really makes that top work. It makes her eyes and hair-’

“Down, boy.” Ren muttered. Escape first, ogle later.

The two leapt back onto the street and took off at a dead sprint, their aura empowering their stride, making them faster with every step. Something they knew would also be true for the officers now pursuing them on foot. Evading them had been easier when they’d been limited by the vehicle, and the places it couldn’t go.

Now they were on even footing.

Ren and Nora broke back onto one of the main avenues and continued running. Ren guided Nora as they ducked and weaved through any crowd they could find. As they did, he could hear the police behind them. They were beginning to shout, ordering them to stop running. Ordering people to get out of their way. It wouldn’t be long before the officers caught up to them too.

They needed options, but Ren struggled to think of any. Run, hide, or fight. Those were always the options. There wouldn’t be any bargaining their way out, not in this situation. Fighting was right out too, They weren’t doing this to fight the police. They were already running, and that wasn’t working. If they could break sight with them for long enough, it’d be over. But while Ren knew he could deftly climb and run almost anywhere, Nora couldn’t. She was light on her feet, but he’d always been the more mobile of the two. He wasn’t going to leave her behind either.

The only option left was to hide. But how?

As the police continued to gain on the two, Ren and Nora found themselves briefly passing the front of some fancy restaurant. Warm lighting, open seating, the kind of place where the air is close and inviting. Ren’s eyes scanned the area before them as they went. What few seats were outside, in the open air, were taken by small groups, mostly doubles, couples. People out to enjoy a quiet evening in the town. Date night, as it were. Inappropriate though it was, the image of trying to take Nora to one flashed briefly through his head. Dim lighting, soft music, Nora’s eyes reflected over the candle light as she tore viciously into a steak.

He tried to dismiss the idea.

Then, he didn’t.

“I’ve got an idea.” Ren said, just as he spied another alley, immediately past the restaurant. Without missing a beat, he ducked down it, releasing Nora’s hand. They wouldn’t have long. He turned back towards his sloth-faced partner, removing his own mask. “Take your mask off.”

“Huh?” Nora chirped.

“Do it, quickly.” Ren instructed, quickly scanning the alley, knowing they had precious seconds. He spied a garbage bin nearby and went to it, peeling the lid off. He tossed his mask into the bin, and quickly removed the slips of cloth that sleeved his arms. After a moment more, Nora complied, removing her mask, leaving her tawny hair disheveled over her wild eyes

“What are we doing?” She asked.

“Improvising, I think.” Ren answered.

Then he took his green over vest off, leaving only his black undershirt on.

He saw Nora’s eyes widen as he stuffed it into the garbage bin as well. He’d retrieve it later, if they somehow made it out of this. Seeing the pattern, Nora threw her mask into the bin, then followed it with her own jacket. Though he saw she was getting flushed, all the running was catching up with them. He hoped it would explain why he was feeling a bit warm too.

Ren slapped the lid down and gave a final look back the way they’d come. Any second.

“Act natural.” Ren said.

“Huh?” Nora chirped, again.

He then pulled next to her and locked his arm over her shoulder, pulling her close. He felt the way Nora stiffened under the sudden embrace. Hoped she would understand as they went.

Then they stepped back out onto the street, and he felt his heart race. If this backfired, he would feel quite stupid.

Nora followed along as Ren weaved them back through the crowds. His gaze half on her, half on the crowd, looking for the police that’d been following them.

Five steps away from the alley, the two officers came crashing through the crowd. Running straight up to them.

At the last moment, Nora suddenly came back to herself and hauled Ren out of their path. The two officers carried on, bolting down the alley.

“Watch where you’re going ya bums!” she squawked.

Ren couldn’t suppress the smile on his face. Almost out of the woods.

Before the officers could react, or Nora could object, he turned and led them both to the entrance of the restaurant. There didn’t appear to be a queue they’d need to wait in, so it was as simple as walking up to the front counter, a hostess waiting for them.

“What’s the plan?” Nora quickly asked, looking around. Ren tried to ignore how soft Nora felt under his arm.

“Well, it’s not Noods, but it’ll work, right?” He asked.

Nora looked at him curiously for a moment, then back to the hostess. The redness of her cheeks seemed to redouble, in Ren’s eyes. Perhaps the change in temperature.

He looked up at the hostess, who observed them quizzically. “Table for two… please?”