Run: 2026-02-19-01KHTQTTM337SKF5S7DABC8TNH

The door to The Raven's Nest swung open, letting in a burst of laughter and chatter from the street, along with a cool breeze that ruffled the edges of the maps on the wall. A tall, familiar figure stepped into the dimly lit bar, his gaze darting around the room as if searching for something. Silas, perched on a stool at the far end of the bar, straightened up, recognising the stride of an operative in the flash of an instant. Years of training didn't fade as he eased his knee, ready to spring into action should the need arise. A young woman emerged from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel. Her straight black hair, a stark contrast to her bright blue eyes, was tied back in a tight ponytail. Seeing the new customer, she approached with a casual smile, her stride confident. "Hey! Haven't seen you around here before." Her Welsh lilt added a warm tone to her voice. The man, tall and slender, with grey-streaked auburn hair and a matching trim beard, looked surprised. "You... work here?" He squinted, studying her like a puzzle he couldn't quite make out. The woman's smile softened, revealing a hint of recognition. "Brendan's girl?" She asked, her voice almost a whisper, tinged with disbelief. "Rory?" He nodded, his eyes widening at the sound of the nickname. "Laila? Bloody hell, it is you! What are you doing here? You look so..." His voice trailed off, his mind seemingly scrambling to process the transformation. "Workin', same as you, I reckon." She chuckled, a soft, musical sound. "Times have changed, Si. Everyone's gotta make a livin'." She gave him a cheeky grin, her friendly demeanour not matching the cold edge in her eyes. "Thought you'd retired from the old 'intelligence community'." "I did," he said with a hint of pride in his deep voice. "What about you? Law graduate. Cardiff. Did you..." His voice trailed off as he hesitated to ask about her legal career, his eyes flicking from her face to the bar's neon sign, searching for a hint of the woman he once knew. "I left Cardiff, and law school," she said, her voice matter-of-fact. "Did some travel, worked a few jobs, and here I am." She waved a hand around the bar, her fingers dancing briefly in the neon light. "Somehow ended up here, of all places." She hid a bitter smile behind her hand. "Cardiff didn't turn out as planned, huh?" Silas took a step towards her, his eyes softening for a fleeting moment. Rory's laugh was bitter. "No, Si. It didn't. I ran." His eyes narrowed, curiosity etched across his features. "Ran?" "Eva called me, said my mum'd be better off seein' me go. Didn't take much convincin'. Packed my bags and jumped on the first train. Figured you'd know. Your lot are supposed to be everywhere and know everything, yeah?" His brows furrowed, the weight of her words settling on his shoulders. The air between them crackled with the tension of unspoken stories and shared histories. "I heard rumours. Intermittent reports only, could have been anyone." He paused, his gaze flicking to the faded crescent scar on her wrist. "Glad you got away, though. Sorry I couldn't have helped." She shrugged, turning to dry some glasses, the silence heavy between them. "Hey, you could do with a drink after that welcome, yeah? Your usual or something new?" "The usual will do, thanks." He cleared his throat, his voice a little hoarse. "Double, please." Rory nodded and moved behind the bar, efficiently pouring the drink. "So," she said, placing the glass in front of him. "You're not gonna tell me it was all in my head, are you?" He took a long sip, savouring the whisky's burn in his throat. "No. I'm not. Things got... messy. But I'm out. I'm trying to leave all that behind." "I didn't think you got out of 'the Game'." She put air quotes around the phrase with splayed fingers, her voice laced with sarcasm. "Thought you'd be stuck in it for life. How'd you manage it? No thanks to you lot, I'm sure." "I got lucky," Silas admitted, his voice low and gravelly. "Forced retirement, you might say. Prague. My last assignment didn't go as planned. Wasn't even supposed to be there. Came back with a knackered knee." He adjusted himself on his stool, subconsciously trying to ease the old injury. "Lucky, huh?" The edge in her voice had softened, a hint of sympathy seeping through. "Kinda like me, I guess. Dunno if I'd call it luck, but if that's what it takes, I'll take it." He studied her for a long moment. The years had changed her, filled her with a resilience he hadn't expected, a resilience born of experience. "You've been through a lot, haven't you?" Rory nodded slowly, her eyes fixed on her hands as she dried a glass with purposeful attention to detail. "Life happened. Some good, a load of bad. Changed me, for better or worse." "I can see that." Silas's deep voice filled the space between them. "You're strong. Stronger than most." He paused, considering his words. "But you've still got some fire in you. I see it in your eyes." She looked up sharply, her expression unreadable. The neon sign cast a green glow across her face, highlighting the stark contrast between her dark hair and bright blue eyes. "Some of us learn to survive, even if it means burning down to the ashes." Her voice was steely and faint, fighting to mask the vulnerability beneath. "It changes you." "It does." Silas's voice held a note of understanding. "It's a hard road, full of dark places and desperate decisions. But it's yours now. Own it." A burst of laughter from a group of patrons broke the moment, and Rory gave a crooked smile. "Thanks for the pep talk, but I don't need one. I'm fine. Now, I better get back to work, or the boss will have me neck." She gave him a cheeky salute before turning away. "Hey, Rory," Silas called after her, "I'm not with them anymore, but I can put a word in if you need any... professional services. Different business, of course." He held her gaze, his eyes warm. "For what?" She spun around, her eyes challenging him. "To solve my problems? Finish them off?" "No. To leave them behind. To make peace with them. That's where I can help now. My offer stands." She stared at him for a long moment, the weight of their shared past drawing them closer. "Thanks, Si. I might just take you up on that." Her voice was quiet, almost to herself, as she turned and walked away, leaving Silas alone with his thoughts and two empty glasses.