The random gunfire definitely broke the moment; Raliya's fennec ears flattening automatically, her body going rigid again. The sound of bullets on windows was a reminder that outside this room, there was still war and death.

  She pulled out a rifle from underneath her desk and pointed it at Kirsi, her Miracle Eyes swirling with fury. "Did you set me up?!"

  Kirsi didn’t even flinch at the rifle suddenly pressed against her. Instead, she let out a quiet sigh, like this was exactly what she expected to happen.

  Her eyes stayed locked on Raliya's as if trying to convey something in that single glance: "I would never."

  Then, without looking away from Raliya’s face, Kirsi reached slowly into her own coat pocket and pulled out a small device, a transmitter with blinking red light. She placed it gently onto the desk between them before saying calmly: "They're targeting both of us now...because your enemies know we were meeting here.”

  Kirsi's expression didn't change—no fear, no anger. Just...sadness. A deep, quiet understanding as she stared down the barrel of Raliya’s rifle without flinching.

  She exhaled slowly; voice still steady despite the weapon aimed at her. Then, deliberately slow so Raliya could track every movement, she reached into her own coat pocket and pulled out a small communicator device with a blinking red light on it before placing it gently onto the desk between them.

  The unspoken question hung heavy in the air: Do you really think I'd set myself up to die too?

  Raliya's grip on the rifle tightened, just for a second. Her eyes flickered between Kirsi and the blinking device, her tail lashing once in frustration as she struggled to reconcile everything happening at once.

  She wanted to believe Kirsi...but trust was something Raliya had burned too many times before now; especially when lives were on line.

  Then came another burst of gunfire against the windows, closer this time, and that seemed enough to make up her mind for now because after a tense beat? She let out a sharp breath through her nose before muttering: "...Fine." The rifle lowered slightly but not all the way yet; still watching warily while adding under her breath: "Prove it wasn't you."

  Kirsi didn't hesitate. She snatched the communicator off the desk and pressed a button, activating it with sharp click before tossing it back to Raliya as she said coldly:

  "Scan that."

  Raliya blinked, then stared down at the device in her hand…because if Kirsi was telling the truth? Then those bullets weren’t just some random attack…they were targeting both of them specifically now because someone wanted this meeting to end violently.

  Raliya's ears twitched again; her grip on the rifle loosening slightly as conflicting emotions warred across het face for a second longer...before finally muttering under her breath: "...Fuck.”

  That single swear was enough to make even Kirsi react; golden eyes going slightly widen with surprise, but quickly hidden behind her stoic expression.

  Kirsi was quiet; letting Raliya process the truth of the moment. This attack wasn't some random coincidence; they were being hunted now because someone, presumably a high ranking former Elbrastrian military officer, wanted this peace talk to end badly.

  Kirsi inhaled deeply; that question clearly weighed heavily on her mind too. She kept her voice calm though, clearly trying to act like none of this was bothering her at all.

  She leaned back against the office wall like all of this was happening thousands of miles away from both of them; golden eyes studying Raliya carefully. Her voice was still soft and steady though, as if trying to reassure the Fennec woman that everything was okay: "We may have bitten off more than either of us bargained for.”

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  Raliya let out a bitter scoff; that was an understatement of the century. Her tail lashed again, the movement still making it clear how tense she was under the surface.

  She wanted to deny the truth; to pretend that everything was okay. But that would be lying to herself. So, instead, she just shook her head slightly, exhaling heavily before muttering: "That's an understatement."

  Then, after a moment of tense silence, she finally asked the question on both of their minds: "...Now what?”

  Kirsi's expression remained calm, but there was a flicker of something, calculation, in her golden eyes as she considered Raliya’s question.

  She pushed off the wall and stepped closer again, voice dropping to a near-whisper: "Now we survive." Then, quickly before Raliya could protest or demand details, she pulled out another device from her coat; this one small enough to fit in palm but blinking green now instead of red.

  "Distraction," Kirsi said while holding it up between them for a brief second before pressing a button on the side that made a sound like faint static crackle fill the air around them...before suddenly? Every gunshot outside the office stopped dead silent mid-shot.

  Raliya stared at Kirsi blankly for a moment after the realization hit: That wasn't just any distraction. That was an actual weaponized signal jammer capable of shutting down enemy firearms.

  "...You came prepared," Raliya murmured slowly; equal parts impressed and suspicious again.

  Kirsi smirked faintly then replied: "Always."

  Raliya exhaled heavily, almost in spite of herself. It was an impressive display of resourcefulness, the kind most soldiers would envy...though that didn't mean she trusted Kirsi completely yet either.

  Her ears still flat against her head; her body was taut like a taut rope with tension...until a faint hint of irritation flared in her eyes. "You just happened to be carrying a signal jammer with you today?" Raliya asked slowly, eyebrow raised.

  That drew a quiet chuckle from Kirsi, she almost sounded amused at the suspicious question. "I was a soldier not too long ago, Raliya," Kirsi responded with a hint of a dry smile.

  Then, after a brief second, she sighed briefly: "You never know when your enemies will target you, so...you prepare for every possible scenario. It's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it."

  That was a practical answer; Raliya had to at least respect that.

  The tension in Raliya's body eased slightly at that answer. Despite her initial distrust, she couldn't deny how reasonable Kirsi's logic was...and her past career as a soldier made perfect sense.

  Her tail still wagged like a dog unsure of someone holding a treat, wary and nervous but too curious to look away, before finally muttering: "I hate that you make sense. So...care to go outside?”

  Kirsi's smirk widened slightly, she could practically see the gears turning in Raliya’s head as she weighed her options.

  "Careful," Kirsi murmured, voice low and teasing now. "That almost sounded like you're asking for my help."

  Raliya's ears flattened at that; tail giving another irritated twitch before she huffed out a breath through her nose: "...Don't push it."

  But despite the gruff words? There was no real heat behind them anymore...just reluctant acceptance of reality here.

  Kirsi just chuckled quietly again before gesturing toward the door with one hand while keeping the signal jammer active, where it steadily pulsed green against fabric seamlessly hidden from view.

  Raliya shot Kirsi a sideways glare at the amused reaction, but it had almost no heat behind it now. The tension between them was slowly but surely diffusing...and despite everything that had just happened? She still found herself agreeing to go outside with Kirsi: "Shut it. You're not that charming..." She rolled her eyes again, this time in feigned annoyance instead of genuine disdain now, before adding. "Let's just go before I change my mind.”

  Kirsi couldn't keep the grin off her face now, it was clear Raliya's attitude was starting to grow on her.

  "Awww. Is that your way of saying you can't deny I'm charming?" She teased lightly while holding up both hands in surrender. "Okay, okay. I’ll behave."

  Once Raliya shot her an exasperated look, almost like she really was annoyed with Kirsi now, Kirsi just smiled innocently before heading toward the door. "Coming?”

  Raliya let out another sharp exhale through nose; tail twitching. She'd walked right into that one...though couldn't deny she was impressed by Kirsi's quick wit and charm now.

  "I'm coming," she muttered back slowly, her ears flattening slightly. "Just try not to get us both shot while we're out there."

  As Kirsi pushed open the door, Raliya moved close behind her, still tense and alert as they stepped into the hallway, her rifle up, but not aimed anymore. "Stay behind me," Raliya muttered.

  Kirsi glanced back over her shoulder at Raliya as they left the office, eyes flickering with a hint of concern. She nodded quickly to show that she understood; taking position behind Raliya like a good soldier would.