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What the hell? and Oh no with a little bit of What do I do? thrown in for good measure raced through Zhao Yunlan's mind one right after the other. He'd never been in this situation before. Never crossed his mind as a mere possibility.
He'd been chasing a Dixingren suspect alone through the dark streets and alleyways of Dragon City. Not the smartest idea in retrospect, but not the dumbest by a long shot. Zhao Yunlan came across the suspect by accident on his way to grab some take out for dinner, the guy bolting the moment they made eye contact.
With no chance to call backup, Zhao Yunlan was pleasantly surprised when Hei Pao Shi popped up from no where stopping the suspect from fully pinning him against the wall with dark energy. By the time he got his barrings back, the suspect lay on the ground unconscious with the powerful Envoy looming over him and his cloaked back to Zhao Yunlan.
Zhao Yunlan smiled with a sigh of relief. “Wonderful timing as always, Hei-laoge.” He began walking towards the Dixingren, the other still not turning around. “I believe this is the guy responsible for...”
Words failed Zhao Yunlan for the first time in years. Tapering off as his boot kicked something, the odd scraping sound causing him the look down. The black and silver mask innocently looked back from the ground. A good four feet from the person it was suppose the be attached to. At least his behavior made sense now. The Envoy didn't always look him in the eye when they spoke, but he usually at least faced Zhao Yunlan to show he was paying attention. He continued switching his gaze back and forth between the mask and the man finally realizing the visible tension swathed in black.
“Are you alright, Chief Zhao?” the Envoy asked still not moving.
It took Zhao Yunlan a moment to register the question. “Uh, yeah. I'm fine.” His book of sarcastic and (admittedly) flirty remarks he tended to pull from when dealing with the Dixing ambassador had vanished. Wiped clean from existence.
When silence settled in the alleyway for a beat too long, the Envoy finally turned his head slightly; not enough to reveal anything covered by the hood much to Zhao Yunlan's relief and disappointment. “Chief Zhao, if you would?”
“Ah, right right,” came the elegant reply. He took a couple steps away from the mask and turned his back fully. “Okay, you're good.”
A rustle of cloth and near silent foot steps echoed against the brick walls drifting closer and closer. It would be a total lie claiming he wasn't tempted. The powerful and mysterious Hei Pao Shi's face free of obstruction and only a quick movement away from being revealed. But if Zhao Yunlan turned around right now, it wouldn't be the Envoy's choice. Considering how the night was going, he obviously didn't want Zhao Yunlan to see.
Maybe one day he'll gain the Dixingren's trust. But not today.
So Zhao Yunlan waited patiently until a clearing of a throat sounded from behind signaling he could turn. When he did, Hei Pao Shi stood tall; arms loose at his sides and mask perfectly in place as if it never left.
He nodded once. “Thank you.”
Zhao Yunlan rubbed the back of his neck in a oddly nervous gesture. “Don't mention it. Chasing someone for nearly half a mile is enough excitement for one night.”
Without another word, Hei Pao Shi walked back to the unconscious suspect and summoned a portal with an stretched out hand. But before disappearing, Zhao Yunlan felt the surge of an overwhelming need to say more and called out before his conscious mind could stop his mouth.
“Hei-laoge!”
The man stopped mid step looking back expectantly. Okay, just because he wanted to say something else didn't mean he knew what to say.
“I, uh... thanks. For the save I mean.”
“My pleasure.”
“And,” he pushed on, “perhaps next time I won't need to turn around.”
The Envoy starred at him for a moment, portal swirling behind like a backdrop. Before Zhao Yunlan could back track and avoid an inter-dimensional incident, the Dixingren gave an expression that could only be described wickedly teasing as he spoke in a voice to match.
“Perhaps.”
Then he, along with the suspect, was gone. Portal closing shut leaving a quite baffled Zhao Yunlan behind. He probably stood there for a good two minutes before wandering out of the alley with a goofy grin plastered on his face. He'd finish the paperwork in the morning. Now? Now it was time to grab some take out for the night and ponder the possibilities of that one word.