𝙂𝙤𝙙𝙆𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙧 𝙄𝙄: 𝘿𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙖•𝙻𝚞𝚔𝚎 𝙲𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚊𝚗✔

Adding the 'extra' in 'extraction'.

"I hope you never have a cold side of your pillow anymore," Alex cursed his brother who simply flipped him off.

Y/n glanced at the rearview mirror, noting the other cars keeping pace with them. They were in a secure convoy, part of the larger rescue mission to retrieve Tuma. It made her feel a bit like a celebrity or a high-profile politician, albeit one who was more likely to face mythical monsters than paparazzi.

The car hummed down the highway, and the tension inside was thick enough to cut with a knife. Jericho's eyes darted over the map while Alex's fingers drummed a restless beat on the car door.

"We need to get in and out fast," Jericho said, not looking up. "No detours, no distractions. The extraction point is just outside the city, and we can regroup there."

Alex rolled his eyes. "Great plan, but what if the kid freaks out? We can't just drag him through the city like some kind of luggage. We need to be prepared for him to need some time to adjust."

"And what exactly do you suggest we do? Stop for a picnic? We don't have that kind of time."

"I'm just saying we need to think about the kid's state of mind. He's been through a lot. Maybe showing him some normalcy could help."

Y/n gripped the steering wheel tighter, the leather creaking under her fingers. The bickering was getting them nowhere. She took a deep breath, then cut in, her voice firm. "Enough, both of you!"

Both boys turned to look at her, surprise halting their argument.

"After we get Tuma, we're going to take him to that café we saw earlier," she said, her tone brooking no argument. "Get something to eat, make him feel comfortable. It's not a picnic, but it's a compromise. We need to show him he's safe now."

"A café? In the middle of a mission?" Jericho blinked, clearly taken aback.

"Yes," she replied, meeting his gaze. "We can't just yank him out and throw him into another stressful situation. He needs to see that not everything is chaos. We need to show him that there's normalcy, that we care about his well-being."

Alex nodded, a smirk playing on his lips. "Finally, some common sense. It's a small detour, but it could make a big difference for Tuma."

Jericho looked between them, still unsure, but the conviction in her voice seemed to sway him. He let out a sigh and nodded slowly. "Alright, we'll go to the café. But we need to be quick. No lingering."

She felt a wave of relief wash over her. "Thank you. Now let's focus on getting there in one piece."

The rest of the drive continued in a tense but focused silence, each of them lost in their own thoughts. The vibrant streets of Durban zipped by, a stark contrast to the gravity of their mission. As they navigated through the bustling city, the convoy maintained its tight formation, a small fleet of cars moving as one.

When they reached their destination, Y/n parked the car in front of a worn-out but sturdy-looking house. The paint was peeling in places, and the garden looked like it hadn't been tended to in years, but it was a place where someone lived and tried to make a home.

Jericho and Alex were already getting out of the car, the mission taking over their thoughts once more. Jericho's golden bow glinted in the sunlight, ready for action, while Alex's eyes were sharp, scanning the surroundings with practiced ease. The other cars in the convoy pulled up behind them, and their companions stepped out, each one ready for what lay ahead.

Y/n grabbed the doorknob and pulled.

The door refused to budge and she immediately felt a blush creep up her cheeks. It was a fucking push door, curse her luck.