A Ghost With No Name- Bl- Officer and Thief

The bar was dimly lit, the air thick with cigarette smoke and the stale scent of spilled liquor. Zev leaned against the counter, arms crossed, eyes scanning the room for potential customers. He didn't have the luxury of waiting around tonight—he needed money, fast.

He had just locked onto someone—middle-aged, well-dressed but with the telltale signs of someone looking for trouble—when the wail of sirens split through the night. The whole bar tensed. Conversations stopped. Then chaos.

Drug dealers and other criminals scrambled to gather their things, slipping out the back doors or melting into the crowd. Zev, however, didn't move. He wasn't stupid enough to run—that would make him look guilty. Besides, he wasn't part of whatever the cops were really here for.

He exhaled through his nose, rolling his eyes as he saw who walked in.

Elias.

Of course.

Two other officers flanked him, scanning the bar, their hands resting near their holsters. The tension in the room spiked, but Elias wasn't barking orders or dragging anyone out. This wasn't a raid—it was an investigation. Zev caught pieces of their words. A suspect sighted in the area. A man who fit the police's profile of the thief and possible serial killer. The one making the news.

Zev watched as Elias moved through the bar, questioning people, jotting down notes. It was almost strange, seeing him do actual police work instead of just being the guy who wouldn't leave him alone.

At least, for once, their meeting was an accident.

Still, Zev tensed when Elias turned and their eyes met. He saw the way Elias's gaze flickered with recognition, then something unreadable. Elias said something to one of the officers before striding over.

Zev sighed, already bracing himself.

"Name?" Elias asked, professional and distant, like they were strangers.

Zev tilted his head, unimpressed. "You already know it."

"Procedure," Elias replied, tone unreadable.

Zev hesitated, then exhaled. "Zev."

Elias nodded and continued, pen poised over his notebook. "Last name?"

Zev responded, his voice barely audible. "Laurent"

He hated saying his last name. It made him think. He hadn't even said his last name out loud in a long time, it made him feel weird. Maybe because the people sharing his last name had all left him, one by one.

Despite his tone, Elias kept going."Where do you live?"

Zev scoffed. "On Earth."

Elias gave him a flat look. "Zev."

Zev sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Depends on the night."

"Where were you three nights ago?"

"Alive."

Elias exhaled, his grip tightening on his pen. "Zev."

"Why are you even asking me this?" Zev leaned in slightly, voice lower. "You think I'm your guy? That I'm running around robbing people and killing them? Be serious."

Elias didn't answer right away. He studied Zev for a long moment, gaze flickering over his pale skin, the way exhaustion clung to him. When he finally spoke, his voice was quieter, but firm.

"I have to ask. You know that."

Zev's jaw clenched. He did know. That didn't make it any less frustrating.

Still, he answered the questions. Gave vague but true responses. Elias didn't push too hard. When they reached the end of it, Elias hesitated for just a second before closing his notebook.

"Be careful, Zev," he muttered.

Zev scoffed, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Yeah, sure. I'll add that to my list of priorities."

Elias lingered for another moment, like he wanted to say something else, but instead, he turned and walked back to his officers.

Zev let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He watched as Elias continued working, but something gnawed at him.

For the first time, Elias had approached him not as someone concerned, not as someone trying to help—just as a cop.

And Zev wasn't sure why that made his chest feel tight.

I'm sorry the chapters are short, I'll try to write longer ones.