First message
The Equalist hit the rooftop hard, rolling once before catching himself on one knee. Behind him came the metallic snap of a police cable.
"Persistent."
Dragon glanced over his shoulder. There she was again. The same officer who had been chasing him across half of Republic City for weeks.
His ribs still ached from the last time she'd caught him with one of those cables.
"You know," his muffled voice carried through the mask, "I'm starting to think you enjoy this."
The cable shot toward him. Dragon twisted aside, closing the distance instead of running. Two fingers nearly struck the pressure point beneath her shoulder before she blocked him.
Good.
His mask hid the grin spreading across his face.
Hours later, Renzai Zhen lounged outside the pro-bending arena, his gym bag thrown over one shoulder. The burn covering half his face was impossible to miss beneath the streetlights.
Then he spotted her.
That same officer.
Ren's long canines appeared beneath a slow, charming smile.
"Officer."
He stepped directly into her path.
"You're looking rough."
His eyes flicked innocently over the fresh scuff on her uniform—the one he'd put there.
"Long night?"