Chapter Text
His pulse thundered in his ears as Zalan yanked the flash drive out of the socket and violently stomped on the hard drive as the sound of thundering footsteps coming up the metal steps to the roof reached him. Cursing he ran towards the edge of the roof, shoving off the ledge and leaping across to the next rooftop as the police burst onto the roof where he’d just been standing.
“I told you that they were on their way up. Why do you always wait so long.” Harding’s voice crackled through his earpiece as he rounded a corner of a big ac box, the gravel sliding under his feet. He pushed toward, running low and hopping down onto the lower level roof of the building.
“Now’s not the time Harding.” He hissed, running to the next ledge and jumping up to a ladder connected to the side of an adjacent building. “Please tell me your brilliant brilliant mind has a route for me.” There was a loud ‘ha’ that came through the earbud before the sounds of a keyboard clicking replaced the silence.
“Take a left at the top of that building, there should be a skywalk that connects it to the Daathrata building. You can get away from where it looks like most of the police traffic is if you slide down the west side of the building. If head towards me you should be able to get onto the Faustus corp high-rise.” Her instructions were sharp, that meant she had maps up, her binocular headset on, and was pinging movement from the police radios. Which meant they were in more trouble than he’d realized.
“Sounding a little tense there Harding.” He teased, pushing himself faster as the crow vaulted over the ledge and landing in a roll on top of the bridge between buildings. Popping up he sprinted the distance, a shout behind him meant they were still after him. “Should really get you some vacation time, you work too hard.”
Jumping and gripping the ledges of the large artistically corporate building Zalan scaled the wall, jumping and climbing from ledge to ledge. He could hear an angry huff through the line but she stayed quiet as he raced to the far side of the building, dodging around pipes and electrical boxes.
Ducking under a pipe and rounding a doorway that exited onto the roof an arm shot out and Zalan bit back a curse as he was closelined, his body snapping and back hitting the ground. The woman in the city’s protection force uniform must have been working security for the building. Zalan gritted his teeth and kicked out, knocking her legs out from under her as he scrambled to his feet, kicked the gun from her hand and rushed to the building’s edge.
This side of the building was sloped and he didn’t hesitate, jumping down and sliding along the steel at almost too fast a speed.
“I’d be less tense if you remembered to call for backup. Where’s Ilene? You know she’ll drive for you if you need her.” Harding’s voice came through disjointed, she must be on the move finding a better vantage point. He cringed at her suggestion. The other crow was a fantastic getaway driver but he wasn’t the biggest fan of motorcycles and she’d been pissed the last time he’d called in her help. But it hadn’t been his fault a squad of agents had come after them, he was just bad at planning ahead enough to get to her with more time to get away. Maybe it was his fault, just a little, but he’d promised no more high speed chases so he hadn’t called her in.
“She’s… probably still mad at me from the last time,” he laughed, landing and rolling to his feet before running down along the zigzagging pattern of stairs and railways leading to the shorter buildings of the city. “Besides a little jog over the rooftops is good for the soul.” He added before a few bullets ricocheted against the metal of the building. Harding was cursing through the headset and then there was return fire from his lookout. She wasn’t big on killing if she could help it so he knew she’d be shooting near them as a distraction or to make them take cover.
Hopping a little fence and turning to bolt up a service ladder back up to the roof on the next building he thanked Harding, her fire was drawing them off and he was getting farther away.
“There’s a unit to the south closing in Zalan. I have to move positions again but you might need to ditch the gear and go stealth mode. Building up ahead should have a roof access hatch. I’ll meet you down below, good luck.” And with that she cut out and Zalan was alone as he rushed the next jump, nearly stumbling as he skidded to a halt to yank open the door to the interior of the building.
He climbed down and as soon as his shoes hit the swanky business carpeting he yanked off his hat and mask, stuffing them into his backpack and power walked to the closest elevator, clicking on a camera scrambler in his pocket. The doors pinged open and in he went, shedding clothes as the doors slid shut.
//
Harding was leaning against a pillar just inside the expensive office building she’d directed Zalan to. She had a compact open, ostensibly for the lipstick she was applying, but really to watch the elevators. She tugged on a sleeve, she disliked the slacks and button up but it was the best thing to blend in with. And she hoped the crow would be down soon, they needed to book it.
A squad of police waltzed into the building and the elevators opened for Zalan to walk out, dark suit fitted to his frame, expensive watch and rings catching rays of sun as he walked slowly over to her as though they were just meeting up after work, no problems here officers. His backpack was slung over one shoulder and he leaned down to give her cheek a peck, watching over her shoulder as half the officers went up into the elevator and half up the stairs. Looping his arm through hers he led them both outside and Harding thought maybe her heart could slow down now finally.
Zalan tugged on the sleeve of the oversized mustard cardigan she’d also worn because she liked color and couldn’t stand just the black and white of business attire.
“Sweater is a nice touch. It looks good on you.” He mused, a smile cracking his serious face. She rolled her eyes at him trying to will her heart to calm down as they got farther and farther from the scene.
“You seem pretty sanguine about the whole debacle.” She chided, glaring up at him, knowing he still wasn’t sweating it despite almost getting cornered and potentially caught.
“Eh, it really could have gone way worse, at least I got the data.” He said it with a shrug and a cheeky smirk which made her elbow him in the ribs, resisting the urge to do it again when it only elicited a chuckle.
“Either Viago or Ilene’s going to smack you when we get back once I tell them what happened.” She threatened, her scowl softening as no sounds of pursuit echoed through the city and no flashing lights lit up the mirrored buildings, meaning once again somehow they were getting out scott free.