Zava: The Unexpected

Author's note: Setting is Zack and Ava's first mission, way before the group even started.

A midnight blue shade colored the sky, with stars shining far in between. The night grew quieter - too quiet for Zack's liking. He had been waiting in the alleyway between a few abandoned warehouses since dusk. He was tipped off earlier that the ominous dark trade had chosen that spot tonight. Much like a black market, the items offered for purchase were illegal and often times dangerous. The underground affair wasn't of Zack's interest though; instead, he was pursuing a possible suspect whom he believed would be there.

Zack heard three loud plops, much like water dripping that echoed through the alleys. All of the sudden, people appeared from different nooks and crooks and began to fill the once-deserted pathway. Each of them adorned some sort of guise: be it a cloak, fedora or a fake mustache - as long as they appeared unrecognizable. A buzz of excitement rose as the trading started. Zack pulled his cloak tightly around him, making sure that his face was shadowed. He blended into the crowd easily, browsing through the exotic findings from different merchants.

He was immediately relieved when he identified the suspect he was pursuing. Dr Winters had disguised himself to seem one foot taller that he actually was, but Zack knew to look for the two left limps in his gait. Although the suspect did not posses any real leg defect, he pretended to have one to be recognized by his partners included in the dark trade.

Zack calmly paid for an item by the stall he was at, while keeping a close eye on the  suspect. He was caught by surprise when he felt the money was pushed back into his palm.

"Better check what you're buying before taking it," a voice whispered in his ear. Zack turned around and cringed when he saw Ava, who waved away the snake heads from the grim-looking trader. "Next time." She spoke to the merchant, whose lips curled in discontent.

"Ms. Kyle," Zack spoke formally.

"Scott," she reciprocated. She took his arm and guided him slowly through the midst of the buyers. She seemed to know that he was surveying the suspect, when they lingered two stalls away from Dr Winters.

"What are you doing here?" Zack cornered her. She had worn a curly brown wig and a fake mole by her lip.

"Same thing I should be asking you."

"You stalked me; so, you would know why."

"I wouldn't call it stalking," she replied nonchalantly. "I followed you when I had a hunch that you didn't tell me something. You simply didn't notice me."

Zack grew silent. It was true that he wanted to rid Ava from his work for a while. He had found her dominating stance suffocating. If Mr. H hadn't partnered them together, Zack would have given her the boot a long time ago.

"Besides, did you really think I wouldn't notice if one of my men was gone?" Ava continued, as she examined a rare breed of opium apples.

"Nothing can escape you, Kyle."

Ava sensed the sarcasm in Zack's voice and stopped talking. She nudged him to look at the suspect, who was quietly examining a palm-sized gadget. There wasn't much of a crowd around him.

"Let's go," she said.

"I don't want us to confront him yet."

"Well, what's your plan then?"

"I want to observe him in his natural state. Watch how he acts. See where he goes."

"Oh. You want to profile this guy?"

"Yea."

"So, is this about getting more points with H? If you get some key information, you'll add something to your name?"'

Zack tightened his jaw. It wasn't enough that her tone was condescending, but she was actually correct on his motives. Ava had been upstaging him in the mission since they started a week ago. He desperately needed to stand out so that Mr H could see his foresight and credibility.

"If you don't agree with the plan," Zack begun. "You're welcome to leave."

"I certainly would not. This is my case. I've searched for this guy months before you did."

"Then follow my lead on this one."

"We haven't had a discussion -"

"There isn't time for that - Look, he's out." Zack tilted his head towards the opening to the main street, where they both saw the suspect, who had discarded his getup, turned around the corner. Without another word, Zack and Ava followed suit. After losing their disguises, they began walking a good distance away from the suspect. The crowd was sparse with midnight closing in, making it difficult to maneuver themselves without being noticed.

Zack and Ava criss-crossed between the few drunks and beggars, keeping an eye out for possible followers. Once or twice, they had to hide or blend in with the non-existent activity amongst them to not look suspicious.

"I can talk to H, you know," Ava said softly, when they had entered an empty street. There was no hiding now, it was just them and the suspect. Zack tried to make it seem as if they were simply walking home. But Ava was making it difficult for him to focus. "I can say something about you - prod him into giving you a lead on a squad of your own -"

"It's none of your business."

Ava scoffed. "Well, you need to reconsider that. This mission, and how I think of you is a major part of the grade."

"I know that." Zack said gruffly.

"For one," Ava whispered hoarsely. "I can't always be digging for information from you."

"I'm willing to share if you stop being so patronizing."

"Oh, don't give me attitude. I've given you chances -"

Zack could feel the blood in his veins rising. "Drop it, okay? He might be able to hear us."

"We're bickering like civilians; it seems more natural than to snoop in silence, right?"

Zack restrained the urge to choke her. "Just -"

Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the doctor looking at them. Acting on instinct, Zack pulled Ava towards him and kissed her. He closed his eyes, praying that the suspect would think it was for real and move on. When he released Ava, the first thing he saw was her shock-filled eyes.

"I'm sorry," Zack said hurriedly. If the suspect was watching, he needed to make it real. "It's just that - I... I would never see that girl again. You're the only one... Babe" He added bitterly. To his relief, he saw glee swept across Ava's face. He mentally pleaded with her to play along.

"Why... babe," she sneered. She hung her arms around his neck, and pulled herself dangerously close to Zack. "Nice to see you lose that fat ego of yours. What makes you think you have another chance?" Zack knew she was enjoying her time to make him as uncomfortable as possible. Well, two could play that game.

"Simply because you're 'in love' with me." Zack cooed. Ava rolled her eyes, much to his amusement. He saw the suspect had started to back away into the shadows, but did not appear convinced by their act. Zack dove in blindly for another kiss, capturing her lips, but this time Ava was not playing nice. They fought for control, for who to lead the kiss, for which sides their faces would tilt. When Ava bit his bottom lip, Zack growled - and all of a sudden, their inhibitions melted. The kiss became more fluid and passionate and intense.

Ava pulled back breathlessly, looking away from the man. Zack let go of her, realizing how far they went. He could feel the blood in his face and his ears, the tap of his heartbeat growing faster, and the absence of her hair in his fist. He looked across the road and realized that the suspect was gone.

"Agent Scott." Ava called him in her strictest voice.

"Agent Kyle." Zack awkwardly tipped his head towards her. "The doctor's left."

"He couldn't have gotten far."

"Yeah."

"I'll take the east alley and you can follow him up from Drake street."

"Sounds good." Zack said formally. He could have argued with the plan, but he didn't want to break any more boundaries for the night. There was a pause between them, before they both muttered that they would update each other.

As Zack turned the corner on the street, he caught Ava's silhouette in the dark. He touched the bruise on his lip, and felt his blood raced again.

Crap. What had he gotten himself into?