He plunged into the press of bodies, crushed between shoulders, wrapped in chatter that closed on him like a vice. His cheeks compressed under the crush, chest strained. A flicker of her cloak flashed ahead. His fingertip grazed the fabric—almost. "C-c'mon… just one more push." A heel slammed onto his foot. "Ow!"
The crowd surged, shoving him sideways in jab after jab. His eyes locked on the far end of the throng. Eve smirked, arms crossed over her chest, tongue poking out. A vein bulged across his forehead as his teeth ground into a crooked smile, forcing his way against the tide.
At last, his breath tore out in short bursts, sweat cooling on his brow as he clutched his knees. V snapped his head right, then left. "Where did she go now?"
"Yoo-hoo—looking for me?" she whistled. His ear twitched, head snapping to the right. His gaze shot up to the tall lamppost where Eve perched. She rose to her feet, cloak swaying in the wind. "Tired already? The game's just starting, dude!" She stuck out her tongue with a devilish smirk.
V straightened his back, but before he could move, Eve leapt to the side—vaulting over two lampposts with effortless grace before landing lightly. She glanced back over her shoulder, lips curling in a smug grin. "Slowpoke."
V's brows arched, lips twisting into a crooked grin. "Alright, fine… have it your way!" He vaulted onto the lamppost. Eve was already in motion, springing from one post to the next with effortless leaps.
"Wait—" His foot slipped. He slammed face-first into the concrete. A warm trickle slid from his nostril, pain burning through his nose.
His eyes snapped upward just in time to catch Eve vaulting onto a fire escape. She latched onto the rails and hauled herself higher, cloak whipping behind her.
"Tsk." V swiped the blood away with his thumb, his glare fixed on her shadow above.
The chase stretched on. Eve darted along the window ledges, vaulting from sill to sill. She sprang across the gap, tucking her knees in, rolling onto the fire escape of the next building. Eve's lungs huffed. Without breaking momentum, she sprinted along the rails. The rail clanged from the stomp of her hard-soled boot. She hurled herself at the drainpipes.
Metal groaned beneath her grip. One pipe hissed as it burst open. Her hand slips, "Whoops, my bad!" She caught herself and scrambled upwards.
V chased her shadow, kicking up a notch. Lungs burned with each breath, yet his eyes locked on her every move. "She's fast—" His shoulder collided with someone, causing him to twirl sideways.
His feet slid across the floor, flailing his arms, catching himself before the concrete caught him. The passerby shouts,
"Hey! Watch it, brat!". V flashed a clenched smile, palms pressed into a slap in mock apology. "So Sorry!".
He pushed off before the passerby could respond, Legs churning. His brows furrowed, teeth gnashed. His throat dried up, and he glanced down at the concrete.
"Geez. This is not the time to—" His gaze shifted up. His soles skidded, screeching against the harsh concrete, the sound stabbing through the chaos of the chase. His eyes darted left and right." Where did she go?" His chest froze, jaw unhinging.
From the rooftop, Eve leaned her elbows against the railing, cheek resting on her palm. Her eyes followed V's tiny figure on the street below, wandering like a lost child. A cold breeze toyed with her hair, but she didn't mind the chill against her skin. The corner of her lips curled into a sly smirk. "Heh—"
A shiver rippled across V's shoulders. His head jerked up, eyes darting from rooftop to rooftop. Streetlights painted the neighborhood, yet the roofs above remained drowned in shadow.
"You'll never land a date if you're that bad at finding a girl!" The voice cracked down his ear. His gaze snapped forward—onto Eve, lounging on the rooftop above him, her mocking eyes gleaming with mischief.
Eve's brow twitched, her smirk deepening. "He's sharp…"
"Might as well give up now, V. It'll be years before you can catch me at that spee—"
The concrete cracked beneath V's sole as he crouched, chest swelling with a gulp of cold air. His bangs fell forward, shadowing his eyes. Fingers grazed the ground, muscles knotted, tendons pulled taut like wires primed to snap.
His exhale steamed into the night. Eve blinked—and he was gone.
A metallic clang tore through the rooftop, rattling the pipes, vibrations buzzing into Eve's palm. She snapped her head right.
A shadow crouched on the railing, hunkered low. His breath streamed out in white puffs, lips parted. Wide, unblinking eyes locked onto hers.
"Found you." V leaned forward, his feet featherlight. A cold breeze stung Eve's nape, sending a shiver down her spine.
"Ack—" Her jaw slackened, her left eye twitching as a bead of sweat traced her cheek.
Did this kid really just jump? Here!?... Seriously?
V glanced over his shoulder, turning to her with a relieved grin. "I caught up to you at last." He let out a low sigh, chest loosening as the chase's tension melted away. His steps eased forward, lighter with each stride.
"He ain't even fazed!…" Eve's brows drew together as she pressed her fingers to her forehead. She sighed, scratching the back of her head, then broke into a weak smile. "Well, well… guess I underestimated you, huh."
"But I'll have you know…" V's brow quirked up, halting him mid-step. Eve's hand slipped into her back pocket—ting—a coin flicked through the air, its metallic note hanging sharp between them.
V caught the coin, a cold tingle spreading through his palm. His fingers eased open, revealing a silver coin stamped with a palm tree that seemed to stare back at him. He brushed his thumb over the grooves.
"What is this—" He glanced up. She was gone.
The wind slapped his cheek, whipping stray hairs into jagged tufts. His hand dragged over his face, trembling.
"Hello, world… I am a dumbass."
A single tear slipped past his palms, tracing down to a smile that cracked hollow beneath it—one that never touched his eyes. He stepped forward, leaning against the railing. He scanned the streets, the crowds, the food stalls, the alleyways.
"C'mon… not again." His brow drew together with each passing moment.
A whistle shot through his ear; his eye darted down.
"Whatcha doing up there?! Get your ass down already!" Eve turned around, sauntering forward.
"Man… I'm beat," V muttered, rubbing his forehead. He vaulted over the railings. The wind clawed at his clothes, tugging at his ribs, roaring in his ears louder than his own thoughts. The ground rushed up to meet him, his iris sharpening like a cat's.
His shoes slammed against the concrete, shock jolting up his legs. Dust sprayed as he sank into a crouch, one palm bracing the ground.
V let out a steady breath, concrete groaning beneath him as he stood, dusting off his shoulder.
"Eve, we gotta stop fooling around or Kevin's gonna get mad." Eve kept sauntering, hands laced behind her head.
"Yeah, yeah, I hear you, dude…" Her eyes flicked to a sign across the street. A spark lit in them, she snapped her head back, grabbed his wrist—warm to the touch—and tugged him into the crowd.
"Wha—" His feet stumbled over each other, dragged forward by her grip.
"Let's take a look over there, c'mon, c'mon!"
V's furrowed brow melted away. His eyes widened, heartbeat slowing as if time itself bent around them. Eve turned her head toward him, lips curled up into a smile, her skin glowing beneath the lights. Her gaze softened, pupils blooming wide.
Her grip loosened for an instant, palm brushing palm, before her fingers threaded into his.
"We've got all the time in the world…"
The crowd blurred. Their heartbeat drowned out the noise. Lights surrounding them shimmered brighter, painting them in a private spotlight.
V's fingers closed around hers. Each step lightened, as if carried by the current she pulled him into. His lips finally parted into a smile.
"This… is so fun."