The hum of fluorescent lights buzzed overhead as Kai leaned against the edge of Eli's desk, flipping a pen between his fingers like he had all the time in the world.
Eli was less composed.
he sat stiffly, replaying the patrol in his head the laughter, the orders, the look in Kai's eyes when he talked about the crash.
"You good?" Kai asked, glancing sideways.
Eli blinked. "Yeah just thinking."
"That's dangerous around here," Kai said. "Might get you transferred to evidence duty."
Eli cracked a tired smile, but it didn't last long. The bullpen was quieter than usual. Some officers were out on rounds, others buried in reports. Still, the place had that same cold weight the kind that settled on your shoulders whether you noticed it or not.
"I still don't get how you're so calm about all this," Eli said under his breath
Kai shrugged. "I'm not. I'm just good at pretending."
He pushed off the desk and stretched like he was trying to shake the station off of him.
"Come on," he said. "Let's get out of here."
Eli raised and eyebrow. "We allowed to do that?"
Kai was already heading toward the back exit. "We're not breaking rules. We're just... taking a long lunch."
The café sat on a quieter street near the middle of the city, a little run-down but clean, with a rusted-out bike rack and mismatched patio chairs. It didn't look like much, but it smelled like real food something warm and made with care.
Kai parked out front, "You work here?" Eli asked, Glancing up at the sign. It just said Milo's in faded blue print.
"Sorta," Kai said. "I help out. Fix things. Cover shifts when Milo's out. It's a place."
Eli followed him inside.
The café was small, only a few tables, an old jukebox in the corner, and a half-broken fan spinning lazily above. A girl behind the counter looked up as they entered, her eyes locking on Kai first and then flicking to Eli with quick interest.
She had a short ponytail, gloves, and grease smudged across her jeans like she'd just climbed out from under a machine. "Well look who actually showed up."
"I bring a guest." Kai said.
Mira grinned. "That's new. He doesn't usually have friends."
Eli opens his mouth to respond, but Mira's already grabbing two mugs and pouring coffee like she's known them for years.
As they talk, Mira asks questions, a lot of them. She wants to know how the bikers they've seen looked, and what kind of bikes they ride, and asking kai if he still knows the backroads around the checkpoints. Kai answers vaguely, brushing her off, but Mira keeps digging.
"You know.. I've been thinking about getting a bike. Something small." Mira mentioned
Kai laughing. "You, getting a bike, That's funny."
The line hangs there for a moment. It's not just about learning to ride. Mira's looking for something maybe freedom, maybe danger, maybe just a way to not feel stuck between two sides.
Eli heads out, the bell over the café door jingling behind him. For a second, there's quiet just the low hum of the fridge and the clink of a mug being rinsed.
Kai stays, arms folded, leaning against the counter.
Mira without looking up, "Your friend always that tense?"
Kai says "He's just got a lot on his mind."
Mira wipes her hands on a towel, then turns and looks at Kai directly not teasing this time.
"I wasn't kidding earlier. I really am serious about getting a bike."
Kai raises an eyebrow. "Yeah?"
"Junkyard specials what I'm thinking. gonna cost me every dime but It's worth it." Mira says excitedly.
Kai sighs. "Sounds like a death trap."
Mira grins. "That's why I need your help. You used to ride so, teach me."
Kai shifts slightly. That part of his life feels like another person's now.
"That was a long time ago."
Mira questions. "So? I'm not asking for miracles. Just... how not to crash on day one."
she tosses the towel over her shoulder and leans forward
"I know the stories. About the riders from your side. I've heard the name Dax Calderon. I know there's more going than just traffic stops and checkpoints."
Kai doesn't respond. She presses on.
"I don't want to sit on the sidelines forever. I want to move. I want to ride. You get that don't you?"
There's a pause
Kai quietly. "...Yeah. I get that."
Mira steps back, pretending not to smile too much.
"So you'll teach me?" Mira exclaims.
"Sorry no, find somebody else I'm a cop now not a teacher." Kai says.
Mira looks down. "You're no fun,"
"I should get going, bye." Kai said quietly.