Breathing Room
Aaliyah
The morning sunlight filtered through the large windows, spilling warmth across the suite. Aaliyah stretched lazily on the bed, her body still buzzing faintly from the adrenaline of the night before. She turned her head, watching Cruz at the dining table, her face bathed in the faint glow of her laptop screen.
Cruz was in her element, her expression serious, her posture upright, radiating quiet intensity. The black shirt she wore clung to her broad shoulders, her leather jacket hanging over the back of her chair. It was almost maddening how effortlessly she looked in control.
“Anything exciting?” Aaliyah asked, swinging her legs over the edge of the bed as she stood. She sauntered toward Cruz, leaning on the back of the chair across from her.
Cruz’s eyes flicked up briefly before returning to the screen. “Depends on your definition of exciting.”
“Mine involves less staring at a laptop,” Aaliyah said with a grin. “What’s the bad news?”
Cruz leaned back, crossing her arms. “Your father and fiancé are still looking for you.”
Aaliyah’s heart sank slightly, but she forced herself to keep her tone light. “Of course they are. The good news?”
“They think you fled to New York,” Cruz said, her tone even. “Which gives us some breathing room.”
Aaliyah’s lips parted in surprise. “Wait, really? They’re halfway across the world?”
Cruz nodded, closing the laptop. “For now.”
“Well,” Aaliyah said, her grin widening, “if they’re in the wrong time zone, does that mean we can finally have some fun?”
Cruz raised an eyebrow. “Define ‘fun.’”
--
They left the hotel after breakfast, wandering through Salzburg’s winding streets. Aaliyah loved the way the city felt alive—the cheerful hum of voices, the scent of pastries wafting through the air, and the distant chime of church bells. She walked a step ahead of Cruz, her mood lightened by the knowledge that, for once, they weren’t being actively pursued.
“You’re awfully quiet,” Aaliyah said, glancing over her shoulder at Cruz. “Still pretending you’re working?”
Cruz gave her a dry look. “I’m not pretending.”
“You could at least act like you’re enjoying yourself,” Aaliyah teased, slowing her pace until she fell into step beside Cruz. “You’re in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Try smiling.”
“I smile,” Cruz replied flatly.
Aaliyah smirked. “When? On Christmas?”
“Rarely then,” Cruz shot back, her tone deadpan.
Aaliyah laughed, nudging her shoulder. “Well, consider this my mission. Before we leave Salzburg, I’m getting you to smile. A real one.”
Cruz gave her a side-eye, but the faintest twitch of her lips betrayed her. “Good luck.”
--
At a flower stall, Aaliyah stopped, plucking a single pink carnation from the display. She turned to Cruz, holding it out with a playful grin. “Here. Something to brighten your day.”
Cruz looked at the flower, then at Aaliyah, her expression unreadable. “What am I supposed to do with that?”
“Take it,” Aaliyah said, stepping closer. She placed the flower firmly in Cruz’s hand, her fingers brushing against Cruz’s. “It’s called living a little.”
Cruz hesitated but finally tucked the flower into the pocket of her jacket. “Happy now?”
“Delighted,” Aaliyah replied, her grin widening. “See? I’m already succeeding in my mission.”
--
They found a quaint café with outdoor seating, the tables shaded by colorful umbrellas. Cruz chose the seat facing the street, her back to the wall, her eyes sweeping over the crowds with her usual intensity. Aaliyah, meanwhile, was content to enjoy the warmth of the sun and the smell of fresh bread.
As Cruz stirred her coffee absently, Aaliyah leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. She tilted her head, her green eyes locked on Cruz. “You’re really something, you know that?”
Cruz glanced up, one eyebrow arched. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Just that I’ve never met anyone like you,” Aaliyah said, her voice dropping slightly. “You’re so… controlled. It’s intriguing.”
“Controlled is just another word for boring,” Cruz replied, taking a sip of her coffee.
“Wrong,” Aaliyah countered, her grin mischievous. “Controlled is another word for mysterious. And I happen to find mysterious very… appealing.”
Cruz set her coffee down, her expression unchanging. “Is that your way of flirting?”
“Maybe,” Aaliyah said with a shrug, her smile playful. “Is it working?”
Cruz’s lips twitched, but she didn’t answer. Instead, she leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. “You’re relentless.”
“It’s part of my charm,” Aaliyah quipped. “You should try it sometime.”
Cruz shook her head, her smirk more pronounced now. “I’ll pass.”
--
That evening, back at the suite, Aaliyah wasn’t ready to let up. Cruz stood by the window, her usual spot, her gaze distant as she scanned the street below. Aaliyah stretched out on the bed, the plush pillows cradling her as she watched Cruz.
“You’re going to wear a hole in the floor with all that pacing,” Aaliyah teased, propping herself up on her elbows.
“I’m standing still,” Cruz replied without turning.
“Exactly,” Aaliyah said with a grin. “You’ve been standing there like a statue for the past hour. Come sit with me. The bed’s more comfortable.”
Cruz turned slightly, her brow furrowed. “You’re on the bed. I’ll take the couch.”
Aaliyah rolled her eyes dramatically. “You’re impossible. It’s not like I bite.”
Cruz raised an eyebrow. “That’s debatable.”
Aaliyah laughed, sitting up fully. “You’d know if I did.”
Cruz froze for half a second, her expression unreadable. “You’re a lot.”
“But,” Aaliyah said, her voice softer now, “I haven’t run you off yet.”
Cruz didn’t respond, but the faint flicker of a smile passed across her face before she turned back to the window.
Aaliyah’s chest tightened as she watched Cruz, her mind racing. She wasn’t sure if Cruz understood what she was doing, but she wasn’t ready to stop. Not yet. Not until she got the answer she was looking for.
Cruz
The city was too still for Cruz to relax. Even in a place like Salzburg, with its charm and cobblestone streets, quiet didn’t mean safe. It meant the calm before the storm. She sat at the dining table, scrolling through intel on her laptop, the faint glow illuminating her face in the dimly lit suite
Her contact’s update was short and to the point—just the way Cruz liked it. Aaliyah’s father and fiancé were looking for her, but their search had led them to the wrong continent: New York. For once, the odds weren’t stacked against them. Cruz leaned back in the chair, her shoulders easing slightly as the tension in her chest loosened.
“You look almost human when you relax,” Aaliyah’s voice cut through the quiet, light and teasing. She had a way of slipping into Cruz’s space without warning, her presence magnetic and impossible to ignore.
Cruz glanced up briefly as Aaliyah approached the table, leaning on the back of the chair across from her. “I’m not sure how to take that,” Cruz replied, her voice dry.
“It’s a compliment,” Aaliyah said with a grin. “I think.”
Cruz resisted the urge to smirk, turning her attention back to the laptop. “Your father and fiancé are still looking for you.”
The playful energy in Aaliyah’s expression dimmed slightly, but she covered it well. “Of course they are,” she said, her tone breezy. “What’s the bad news?”
“That is the bad news,” Cruz said. “The good news is, they think you fled to New York.”
Aaliyah’s eyes widened in surprise. “Wait, really? They’re all the way in New York?”
“For now,” Cruz confirmed, closing the laptop.
“Well,” Aaliyah said, her grin returning, “if they’re in the wrong time zone, does that mean we can finally have some fun?”
Cruz raised an eyebrow, leaning back in her chair. “Define ‘fun.’”
--
Salzburg bustled with its usual charm as they strolled through the streets. The faint chime of church bells echoed in the distance, mingling with the hum of tourists and the scent of fresh pastries wafting from nearby cafés. Cruz kept her steps steady, her hands in her jacket pockets, her gaze scanning the faces in the crowd.
“You’re awfully quiet,” Aaliyah said, turning to walk backward in front of her. “Still pretending you’re working?”
“I’m not pretending,” Cruz replied without breaking stride.
“You could at least act like you’re enjoying yourself,” Aaliyah teased, slowing until she was walking beside Cruz again. “You’re in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Try smiling.”
“I smile,” Cruz said flatly.
“Sure you do,” Aaliyah shot back. “On Christmas? Maybe your birthday?”
Cruz didn’t respond immediately, her lips twitching faintly as she glanced at her. “Rarely then.”
Aaliyah laughed, the sound warm and unrestrained. Cruz hated how much she noticed it—how the sound lingered, softening the edges of her usual vigilance.
--
At a small flower stall, Aaliyah stopped suddenly, plucking a pink carnation from the display. Cruz frowned slightly, her hand brushing her jacket as her eyes swept their surroundings. But when Aaliyah turned and held the flower out to her, Cruz blinked.
“Here,” Aaliyah said, her voice playful. “Something to brighten your day.”
Cruz stared at the flower, then at Aaliyah, unsure of how to respond. “What am I supposed to do with that?”
“Take it,” Aaliyah insisted, stepping closer. She pressed the flower into Cruz’s hand, her fingers brushing briefly against Cruz’s. “You could use a little color in your life.”
Cruz hesitated before tucking the flower into the pocket of her jacket. “Happy now?”
“Delighted,” Aaliyah said, grinning like she’d won something.
Cruz shook her head, turning her gaze back to the street. She tried to ignore the warmth settling in her chest, telling herself it was just the lingering adrenaline. It wasn’t anything else. It couldn’t be.
--
The café was picturesque, tucked away under colorful umbrellas with a perfect view of the bustling street. Cruz chose her seat carefully, her back to the wall, her eyes on the crowd. Aaliyah, on the other hand, seemed perfectly at ease, leaning forward to rest her chin on her hand as she watched Cruz.
“What?” Cruz asked, finally meeting her gaze.
“Nothing,” Aaliyah said with a smirk. “You’re just so serious all the time. I’m trying to imagine what you’d look like if you actually smiled.”
Cruz raised an eyebrow, taking a sip of her coffee. “You’re annoying, you know that?”
“It’s part of my charm,” Aaliyah quipped, undeterred. “Do you even know how to smile?”
Cruz leaned back slightly, her lips twitching. “I smile.”
“Barely,” Aaliyah countered, her grin widening. “Do you even know how?”
“Why are you so invested in this?” Cruz asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Because you’re intriguing,” Aaliyah said simply. “I’ve never met anyone like you.”
Cruz didn’t know how to respond to that. She shifted slightly, glancing down at her coffee. “You need better taste in role models.”
“Oh, you’re my role model now?” Aaliyah teased, leaning closer.
Cruz shook her head, biting back a small smile. “You’re relentless.”
“Thank you,” Aaliyah said with a wink. “I try.”
--
Back at the suite, Cruz took her usual spot by the window, the city lights casting faint reflections on the glass. Her mind was still sharp, scanning for any possible risks, but the knowledge that Aaliyah’s family was across the ocean gave her a rare sense of relief.
“You’re going to wear a hole in the floor with all that pacing,” Aaliyah said from the bed, her voice teasing.
Cruz turned slightly, raising an eyebrow. “I’m standing still.”
“Exactly,” Aaliyah replied, stretching out on the bed. “You’ve been standing there like a statue for the past hour. Come sit with me. The bed’s more comfortable.”
“You’re on the bed. I’ll take the couch,” Cruz said, her voice even.
Aaliyah rolled her eyes dramatically. “You’re impossible. It’s not like I bite.”
“That’s debatable,” Cruz replied, smirking faintly.
“You’d know if I did,” Aaliyah shot back, her grin widening.
Cruz froze for half a second, her mind catching on the unexpected weight of Aaliyah’s words. “You’re a lot.”
“But,” Aaliyah said softly, “I haven’t run you off yet.”
Cruz didn’t respond. She turned back to the window, her reflection barely visible in the glass. Aaliyah’s persistence was relentless, but it didn’t feel suffocating. If anything, it felt… steady. Like she wasn’t just trying to get under Cruz’s skin—she was trying to see what was underneath.
Cruz still wasn’t ready to let her.