Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Agent glared behind his shades as he watched Victim chat with another stick, a familiar smirk on his face that suggested he had everyone under his thumb. Agent narrowed his eyes and turned away, catching Primal’s gaze. She had been staring at him for a while.

“What is it now?” Agent asked, annoyance creeping into his voice. Primal smirked, her lips curling up and her eyes sparkling. “Nothing... Are you, maybe, a little jealous?” she teased, drawing the attention of Ballista and Hazard, who were focused on Victim.

“Did I hear ‘jealous’?” Ballista perked up, excitement in his voice. Agent felt his cheeks flush as Primal looked down at him, still smirking.

“Where did you get that idea?” Agent muttered, glancing back at Victim. The grey hollowhead was shaking with laughter, and Agent thought, If only I could make him laugh like that. His brow furrowed as he watched the orange hollowhead place a hand on Victim’s shoulder.

“I don’t see why you’d be jealous; that kid is like a brother to the boss,” Ballista said thoughtfully, tilting his head. Hazard nodded in agreement. “I’m not jealous,” Agent shot back, giving them a sharp glare.

“Agent’s just jealous because he can’t make the boss laugh like Second does,” Primal laughed behind her fist. Agent considered tossing her into the ocean for that comment.

Ballista let out an “oooooh” as Agent clenched his fist. “Watch your words, Primal. I don’t like being insulted,” Agent hissed, but Primal just winked and replied, “Whatever you say.”

Agent grumbled under his breath, completely frustrated by their comments.

“Agent, you don’t have to stay while I work, you know,” Victim remarked, his eyes glued to the papers in front of him. Agent stood beside him, momentarily frozen, blinking before turning to face Victim. “It’s fine,” he replied, relieved his voice didn’t shake. He always felt a bit nervous talking back to Victim.

“Hm,” Victim hummed, and for a moment, Agent felt a flutter of anxiety. What did that hum mean? Was it disappointment? Surely not—he was just standing there! Could someone really be disappointed in how he stood? (Agent unconsciously adjusted his posture.)

“Agent, I can hear your thoughts. Take a break, go outside, and get some fresh air,” Victim said, his voice flat. Agent shook himself out of his stupor. “It’s fine,” he cleared his throat, trying to hide his face behind his fist as he looked away. Victim sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose before glaring at him.

“Well, it’s not fine by me. I can’t handle you looming over my shoulder, so get out,” Victim insisted. Agent’s eyes widened.

Suppressing his disappointment and the slight ache in his chest, Agent nodded. “Of course. Call me when you need me, sir,” he said, walking out of the room and closing the door slowly. He glanced back to see Victim return to his papers, looking much more at ease.

Agent frowned and shut the door with a soft click.

Letting out a small sigh, he turned to the hallway, where stick figures bustled about, chatting and some rushing to their stations.

“Hey, Agent! Looks like you’ve got some free time!” Ballista cheered, holding two cups of coffee, with Hazard waving beside him. “Ballista,” Agent acknowledged with a nod, his expression unchanged, which made Ballista pout.

“Can’t you act happy I’m here?” the smaller stick whined, handing the other coffee cup to Agent, who accepted it gratefully. “I am happy,” Agent replied, taking a sip of his coffee and nodding at Ballista. Ballista laughed and turned to Hazard, clearly in high spirits.

"That's your happy face?" Ballista pointed at Agent, who raised a brow. "It is," Agent replied, taking another sip. Hazard shook his head as Ballista sighed. "No wonder the boss calls you boring. You don't even know how to show any other expression, aside from... well, that," Ballista gave Agent a pointed look.

"That's your happy face?" Ballista pointed at Agent, who raised an eyebrow. "It is," Agent replied, taking another sip of his coffee. Hazard shook his head, and Ballista sighed. "No wonder the boss calls you boring. You don’t even know how to show any expression other than… well, that," Ballista said, giving Agent a pointed look.

Agent frowned, discomfort creeping in.

"I see," he said, hiding his frown behind his cup as he took another drink. "Ah, don’t feel so down. The boss likes you a lot. Did you know there's a bulletin board on the first floor where anyone can stick notes?" Ballista’s voice dropped to a whisper.

"Okay," Agent replied, leaning in slightly as Ballista beamed. "There’s a question about who the boss’s favorite mercenary is. And there was a note that looked almost like the boss’s handwriting, saying it was you!" Ballista hopped excitedly, but Agent leaned back, his expression unchanged.

"Right," Agent deadpanned. As if that would happen. It was probably just some employee trying to mimic Victim’s handwriting. If Victim really liked him, it would show in his actions.

Agent sighed, crumpling the cup and tossing it toward the trash can.

"My shift has ended; I’m going to my room," Agent said, trying to mask his disappointment as he walked past Ballista and Hazard.

"Eh? Seriously? I thought the boss would need you more today! It’s only 2 PM! Shifts don’t end until 9," Ballista protested, and Agent paused, letting out a deep sigh that might have sounded a bit disappointed.

"We’re not really needed anymore," Agent explained, turning back to face Ballista and Hazard, who both looked pouty. "That’s mean," Ballista said, and Hazard nodded, looking offended too. Agent pinched the bridge of his nose. "I meant we don’t have any more missions to hunt Chosen. We’re past that," Agent clarified as Ballista scratched the back of his head.

"I still like working here, though. You do too, right?" Ballista asked, clasping his hands together and giving Agent a hopeful look.

"Of course," Agent muttered, turning around and walking away again. He does not take notice of the bitterness that churns in his chest.

“Looks like he’s sad,” Ballista mused, watching Agent observe the other stick figures at work. His face was as unreadable as ever, but if you looked closely, you could see his brow slightly furrowed and his lips pulled into a frown.

“He is,” Primal groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose and letting out an annoyed sigh. “I like the boss, but sometimes he’s just terrible at showing how much he cares about Agent.”

Hazard nodded in agreement. “I mean, honestly? The boss doesn’t call for us much anymore, except for helping out or delegating tasks,” Ballista added, tapping his chin thoughtfully.

“Right, and I think Agent is taking it harder than the rest of us. I mean, I enjoy relaxing—no more chasing Chosen or kicking kids around, you know?” Primal shrugged as Hazard snickered.

“Agreed, but it feels like the boss is just tossing us aside, doesn’t it?” Ballista said, and Primal nodded.

“Yeah, exactly,” Primal agreed, while Hazard let out a sad sigh, slumping forward. Ballista patted his knee.

“I like how things are a bit slower now; we get to hang out more,” Ballista said, grinning. “Me too,” Primal smiled, and Hazard perked up, raising his hand excitedly and nodding along.

“But I think Agent is just used to moving fast and following orders,” Primal shrugged. Ballista tapped his chin, humming in thought.

“Maybe it’s because he used to be around the boss all the time. Now he doesn’t really have a reason to stick by him,” Ballista said, his brow furrowing. Primal’s expression fell.

“Ouch,” she said, rubbing her cheek as they all turned their focus back to Agent, who was still watching the other workers intently.

“Maybe we should do something about it,” Primal suddenly suggested after a long pause.

“Like what?” Ballista asked, raising an eyebrow, and Hazard tilted his head, curious.

“How about we try to push them together? Let’s play cupid!” Primal grinned excitedly, and Ballista’s eyes widened.

“Hell yeah!” he cheered, pumping his fist in the air.

“This is a new mission for us mercs,” Primal said, drawing them in close, their faces nearly touching as she whispered.

“It has to work, right? We need to pull Agent out of his funk. I hate seeing him sad,” Ballista pouted. Primal gave him a determined grin. “It has to work. Everyone knows the boss likes Agent; somehow, Agent doesn’t see it,” she sighed, rolling her eyes, while Hazard gave them a thumbs up, nodding furiously.

“So what’s the plan?” Ballista asked, his curiosity piqued.

Agent came to a stop when he spotted Victim at the end of the hallway, engaged in a phone conversation. Victim’s voice was slightly lower than usual, making it hard for Agent to eavesdrop. Still, he slowed his pace as he approached.

“Okay, okay, fine, I’ll go there when I have the time, Second. I’m a busy man,” Victim groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Alright, bye,” he said, pocketing his phone. When he glanced around, he noticed Agent staring at him, moving slowly.

Shaking off his surprise, Agent walked briskly over to Victim. “Hello, good morning,” he greeted, handing Victim a cup of coffee he had brewed for him.

“Good morning, Agent, and thank you,” Victim smiled as Agent hid his face behind his cup, taking a sip of his own coffee.

Victim let out a satisfied hum, nodding at Agent as he took a sip. “This is good,” he said, while Agent simply stared back, his expression unchanged. Victim chuckled at the sight.

“What’s wrong?” Agent asked, sounding a bit confused as Victim wiped a tear from his eye.

“Nothing, nothing. It’s just funny how your face never changes. Tell me, Agent, do you ever feel happy, or are you stuck with that expression forever?” Victim teased. Agent blinked behind his shades, unsure how to respond.

Happiness? Agent pondered. He felt happy often, especially around Victim and the other mercenaries. He might not smile much, but he enjoyed their company. Just as he was thinking this, Victim patted his shoulder, laughing.

“I was only kidding, Agent. No need to think so much,” Victim said, his shoulders shaking with laughter. Agent took another sip from his cup, enjoying the warmth of Victim’s hand on his shoulder, feeling a small twinge of disappointment when he pulled away.

“I know you were kidding,” Agent replied, but Victim snorted and waved a hand dismissively.

“I can hear your thoughts from a mile away. Anyway, I’m leaving the corp to you. Second wants me to come to the PC,” Victim said, turning to walk away.

Agent frowned and followed after him, his footsteps silent against the loud tapping of Victim’s heels. “Of course,” Agent mumbled.

“Do you have any problems with that?” Victim asked, glancing back. Agent simply shook his head.

“Hm,” Victim narrowed his eyes, and Agent raised an eyebrow in response.

“Second personally invited you to come with me, but now I’m having second thoughts… no pun intended.” Victim shot him a glance, his expression faltering when he received no reply. He rolled his eyes and sighed.

“Do you still want to join me?” Victim asked again. Agent nodded silently.

“If it’s okay with you, I am your bodyguard after all,” Agent remarked, trying to lighten the mood.

“You’re not my bodyguard; I don’t need one, and you know that,” Victim said, raising an eyebrow as Agent continued to gaze ahead, offering no response.

“Well, I suppose we can trust the corporation to the other mercenaries. I have faith they won’t ruin everything while I’m gone… I hope,” Victim said, giving Agent a meaningful look.

“You can trust them,” Agent affirmed, his tone serious. Victim smirked in response.

“Good,” he replied, and they continued on together.

“Vic!” Second exclaimed, wrapping his arms around Victim in a warm embrace. Victim returned the hug, giving the orange hollowhead a gentle pat on the back. “Hello, Second,” he greeted with a slight smile. Second stepped back, pouting playfully. “Just ‘Sec’ is fine! I call you ‘Vic’ for cursor’s sake!” he whined, prompting a chuckle from Victim. “Alright, Sec,” Victim laughed as Second turned to Agent, waving his hands excitedly.

“You're here too! Fantastic!” Second said enthusiastically, grabbing both Victim's and Agent's hands and pulling them along. The two exchanged amused glances as they were led to a small table with two chairs situated across from each other.

“Sit down!” Second insisted, nudging them into their seats. Victim raised an eyebrow at him while Agent remained silent, hands resting on his lap, already anticipating Second’s next move.

Agent looked at the red fabric draping the table, the flickering candle in the center, and the neatly arranged plates before them. He observed Second animatedly chatting with Victim before dashing off with an excited giggle.

With a smirk, Victim turned to Agent and placed his hands on the table. Before he could say anything, Agent suddenly leaped over the table, pulling Victim out of the way just as a large object crashed down, shattering the table and the floor beneath them. They both stared in shock at the wreckage.

“Creators above!” Victim yelped, regaining his footing with Agent’s help. They looked up to see Yellow and Red peering down from their floating base, wearing expressions of guilt.

“What the crapl?!” Second exclaimed, rushing toward them. His gaze darted between the ruined table and the two above, teeth clenched in frustration. “It’s alright, Sec. Agent got me out of harm’s way just in time,” Victim reassured him as Agent continued to watch Yellow and Red, his expression darkening.

Yellow and Red floated down, both rubbing the back of their necks as they spoke at once, trying to apologize to Victim.

Victim chuckled, “How about we discuss the dangers of your actions over there?” he suggested, narrowing his eyes at them. They nodded vigorously, caught up in their apologies, as Victim led them away for a serious conversation, leaving Second and Agent at the broken table.

“Aw man… To think Primal even trusted me with this,” Second muttered to himself, scratching his head forlornly. Agent glanced back, letting out a sigh.

Startled, Second realized Agent was still beside him. “I-I mean!” he stammered, but Agent cut in, “It’s alright,” he said shortly, causing Second’s eyes to widen. “So, you do know how to talk!” Second exclaimed, smiling brightly, but Agent merely stared at him, nodding before turning his gaze back to Victim, who was giving Yellow and Red a stern talking-to.

“Uh… technically, Primal asked me to arrange a meeting for you all here in the PC, and well… I suppose that didn’t go as planned. I should have picked a safer, quieter spot,” Second sighed, running a hand through his hair. Agent gently patted his head.

“It’s okay,” Agent reassured him as Second sulked. “Why not just ask Vic out?” Second suggested, crossing his arms.

Agent turned to him, a frown creasing his features. “I can’t do that,” he replied, causing Second’s expression to fall. “Why not? You like him, and he likes you,” Second reasoned, gesturing animatedly as Agent raised an eyebrow.

“He doesn’t like me,” Agent stated flatly, prompting a disbelieving look from Second.

“Seriously?” Second deadpanned, while Agent simply hummed, dropping his hands to his sides and shoving them into his pockets.

“Ugh, this is what Primal keeps saying. You keep denying the truth! Vic does like you! He always brings you up when talking about his life and work,” Second groaned, noticing Agent blush and avoid eye contact.

“I played a significant role in abducting all of you, so of course, I’m part of the story,” Agent explained, swallowing hard, still avoiding Second's gaze as heat rose in his cheeks.

“Uh…” Second hesitated, feeling a strong urge to march up to Victim and push him to ask Agent out. “I swear…” he groaned, dropping his head into his hands in frustration.

“Second,” Agent’s voice turned serious, catching Second’s attention. “Please refrain from this behavior. It goes against our contract; Victim cannot develop romantic feelings for any of his employees,” Agent explained, causing Second’s eyes to widen. “Oh…” he frowned, rubbing the back of his neck.

“It’s not healthy to indulge in fantasies, Second. It will only lead to pain in the end,” Agent advised, his voice softening as he looked away, a hint of disappointment flickering across his face.

“But…” Second began, only to freeze when Agent turned back to him, his expression tight. “Alright, I understand. I’ll stop indulging in fantasies,” Second said with a grin, trying to lighten the mood. Agent sighed, “I’ve given up hope anyway,” he muttered under his breath as he walked away.

Second frowned as he watched Agent move over to Victim, positioning himself behind rather than beside him. “Man,” Second sighed, crossing his arms before pulling out his phone and dialing Primal’s number.

“Well, that was enjoyable, wasn’t it?” Victim laughed, glancing back to see Agent nodding silently behind him. “Oh, come on! You didn’t have any fun? Geez, Agent, you’re becoming more and more dull every day,” Victim teased, waving a hand dismissively before turning back around, leaving Agent frowning.

“You really need to work on your expressions and responses, Agent. You have to learn to smile. In all the years I’ve known you, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile,” Victim remarked with a smirk.

Agent briefly touched his cheek before dropping his hand, silently agreeing with Victim’s observation.

I guess I’m quite boring, honestly . Agent thought to himself as he followed Victim. What Victim pointed out was true; he did come off as dull. Yet, his prowess in combat made up for his lack of verbal engagement. After all, who needs words when you’re skilled in battle?

Agent suppressed a sigh, his mind swirling with thoughts. Perhaps he truly needed to address this aspect of himself. If he wasn’t required for combat anymore, would Victim discard him for being too uninteresting? The other mercenaries boasted diverse and captivating personalities, far more engaging than his own.

While his combat skills surpassed theirs, in terms of being engaging or interesting, he felt like he lagged far behind. He was at rock bottom in that regard.

“What’s on your mind, Agent?” Victim’s voice interrupted his contemplation, causing Agent to halt his thoughts as Victim slowed his pace, walking beside him.

Agent’s eyes narrowed as he tentatively stepped back, but Victim rolled his eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Didn’t I tell you to stop walking behind me? I want you right here, beside me,” Victim said, grabbing Agent’s arm and pulling him close.

Agent felt a rush of warmth at the sudden proximity and the lingering touch of Victim’s hand on his arm.

“You know… I know that Second was trying to turn this into a date,” Victim chuckled, causing Agent to turn toward him in surprise. “What? You didn’t notice? The setup looked quite romantic, with only two chairs, just for the two of us,” Victim laughed, covering his mouth to stifle his amusement as Agent let out a sigh.

“I apologize if it made you uncomfortable,” Agent muttered, but Victim waved it off. “It’s fine. If it made Second happy, I don’t mind a pretend date,” Victim chuckled, his shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter.

However, Agent couldn’t hide the frown on his face as he looked away, trying to conceal the disappointment weighing on his chest. Pretend… huh?

Chapter Text

"Agent!" Primal grinned as Agent turned around with a frown, a stack of papers in his hands. "What is it now?" Agent asked, his expression guarded.

"What brings you here? I would have expected you to be by the boss's side by now," Primal grinned, tilting her head.

Agent gave her a tight-lipped look before averting his gaze and walking away, prompting Primal to let out a yelp and chase after him. "Hey, I hope you're not upset with the kid; it was me who asked him to do that," Primal sighed, scratching her cheek as Agent emitted a noncommittal sound.

"No," Agent mumbled, looking down. "No? No what?" Primal inquired, turning to him with a puzzled expression. It took a moment for Agent to process before he looked back at Primal. "I mean, no, I don't hate him. It's fine," Agent clarified with a frown, as Primal let out a sigh.

"Everything is always 'fine' with you, Agent. I'm genuinely starting to worry," Primal huffed, crossing her arms as she observed Agent stopping to place the stack of papers on an empty desk, securing them in place with a stapler to prevent them from flying off.

Turning towards Primal, his expression remained unchanged.

Primal rubbed her forehead and sighed, "Agent, okay, I really think you have this issue," Primal gestured, moving her arms around wildly as Agent gave her a perplexed look. "An issue?" Agent questioned, appearing slightly disgruntled, before Primal placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Hey, relax, it's not about you, it's just... well, I'm concerned that—" Primal paused as she gazed at Agent's expression, then sighed. "Never mind... sorry for alarming you. You're doing great," Primal said with a smile, patting Agent's shoulder, to which he nodded in response.

Primal massaged the back of her neck, noticing Agent subtly shifting on his feet, his face a shade redder than usual. "Agent..." Primal began, a realization dawning on her. "Agent can't handle a compliment?" Primal thought excitedly as she observed Agent squirming uncomfortably under her scrutiny, covering his face with his fist as he coughed awkwardly.

"What's on your mind, Primal?" Agent cleared his throat, meeting Primal's grin. "Nothing! Anyway, see you later!" Primal hurried off, narrowly avoiding bumping into a worker, apologizing loudly as she dodged them.

Agent rubbed his cheek self-consciously, acutely aware of the heat in his face.

"Hey, guys!" Primal called, waving her hand vigorously as Ballista and Hazard turned to her, both engrossed in their lunch. "Primal, join us for lunch!" Ballista grinned, making space for Primal to squeeze between them, her grin wide and infectious.

"What's got you all worked up?" Ballista asked with a smile, just before Primal slammed her fist on the table and blurted out, "Agent blushes when he's complimented."

Both Ballista and Hazard's eyes widened. "Wait, really?" Ballista started to say, but their conversation was interrupted by a familiar voice. "Is that so?" Victim asked, appearing before them, causing all of them to startle, except Hazard who emitted a blaring noise, caught off guard. Victim crossed his arms, waiting for an explanation.

"Boss! We were just, um..." Ballista began, stuttering, only to be cut off by Primal, who quickly interjected, "Just having lunch, boss!" Her smile wavered slightly as Victim scrutinized them, a smirk forming on his lips. "Is that right?" He tilted his head, prompting Ballista to open his mouth to speak the truth, only to be silenced by Hazard clamping a hand over his mouth to prevent him from revealing more.

"Yes!" Primal winked, giving Victim finger guns as his smirk transformed into a smile. "If you say so, enjoy your lunch," he said, waving a hand before walking away.

"We're doomed, he definitely heard it," Primal muttered, scratching her head as Hazard recoiled from Ballista when the other stick licked his hand.

"Isn't this amazing?! He's going to flirt with Agent for sure," Ballista cheered.

"Oh man, I'm toast," Primal groaned, burying her head in her hands.

Agent carefully set down the final stack of papers on the empty desk, turning around to find Victim approaching him with a smile. Suspicion flickered in Agent's eyes as the grey, hollow figure made his way over with a grin.

"Victim, is there something you need?" Agent asked, tilting his head as Victim simply shook his head.

"Not really, I'm just here for you," Victim replied, tilting his head slightly, causing Agent to blink in confusion.

"Oh... I'm not engaged in anything particularly fascinating. I'm afraid I can't offer much entertainment," Agent mumbled, lowering his gaze. Victim, however, placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"No, no, I enjoy observing you work, Agent," Victim smiled.

Agent blushed, taking a step back and nervously hiding his hands behind his back. His face gradually grew warmer as he gazed down at Victim. "I-I see," Agent stammered, clearing his throat and clenching his shaking fist.

Victim only smirked, striding up to Agent and seizing his arm, guiding him down the hallway. Agent could feel his face growing hotter as Victim led him along.

"Where... where are we headed?" Agent asked, swallowing nervously, his voice trembling slightly as Victim turned to him with a grin.

"Just for a walk and some fresh air, something we both could use," Victim replied, smiling.

"Okay, I don't mind joining," Agent mumbled, lowering his gaze to avoid meeting Victim's eyes.

As they strolled past notice boards covered in sticky notes, Agent's eyes caught sight of the note asking about who Victim's favorite mercenary is. 

"Hm?" Victim hummed, noticing Agent's gaze fixed on something. He then walked towards the note, pulling Agent along with him.

"The note," Victim hummed, gazing at the same note that had captured Agent's attention.

Agent could feel his face burning as Victim read the note, his eyes scanning the words before shifting to another note connected to it, declaring Agent as his favorite.

"I wrote that," Victim grinned, turning to Agent, who let out a small noise before coughing into his fist in embarrassment.

"You wrote that?" Agent pointed at the note, and Victim only smirked. "I did. Why? Does it feel odd to be my favorite?" Victim asked, smiling at Agent, who swallowed nervously, shaking his head shakily.

"N-no," Agent replied, avoiding eye contact.

"Could it be that my combat skills are why you prefer me over the others?" Agent suggested, to which Victim raised an eyebrow. "Agent," he called, prompting Agent to look at him.

"Do you truly think so little of me?" Victim tilted his head, causing Agent's eyes to widen as he vigorously shook his head, to the point where Victim was concerned his head might detach.

"I didn't mean to offend you, I apologize," Agent said apologetically, bowing his head. Before he could dwell on it further, Victim burst into laughter, wiping a tear from his eye.

"I was just joking, Agent, relax," Victim reassured him, reaching up to fix a stray strand of Agent's hair before stepping back.

"Is he teasing me?" Agent wondered, his face growing even hotter, his thoughts becoming a jumble. He felt his knees weaken, as if he might collapse, but Victim steadied him as he leaned in closer, only to quickly retreat as he realized the proximity.

"Well, if you want me to run my hand through your hair, just say the word," Victim teased, chuckling as Agent stood upright, his face visibly turning crimson.

"I didn't mean that... I thought you wanted to fix it since you're my boss," Agent explained, adjusting his own hair as Victim continued to chuckle.

"How about we head to the courtyard? We can get some fresh air and sit down. You seem like you're about to keel over," Victim suggested.

"This is quite pleasant, isn't it? The breeze feels nice, and the sun isn't too harsh," Victim sighed in contentment, leaning back with a small smile as Agent observed him.

When Victim opened his eyes and turned towards Agent, Agent flinched, quickly averting his gaze and staring down at his lap. His body tensed as he felt Victim rest his head on his shoulder.

"You're so tense, Agent. I just want to hang out with you; no need to be so awkward," Victim teased, poking Agent's cheek. Agent bit his lip, turning his face slightly towards Victim, their faces closer than usual.

"Agent, how has your day been?" Victim asked with a smile, as Agent's eyes focused on his face, soaking in the proximity and warmth emanating from Victim.

"Agent?" Victim called again, snapping Agent out of his daze as he quickly looked away. "Fine," he replied curtly, only to feel another poke on his cheek and a gentle breath on his neck from Victim, causing him to shiver slightly.

"Boringggg. Come on, Agent, anything fun?" Victim whined, prompting Agent to face him again, his lips pressed into a thin line.

"I don't engage in much beyond the facility, Victim," Agent replied, a tinge of disappointment evident in his voice before he could suppress it.

Victim gazed at him, his cheek pressed against his shoulder, his brow furrowed before breaking into a smile. "How about going out? What do you think?" Victim tilted his head, causing Agent's eyes to widen.

"O-Out?" Agent stammered, taken aback, as Victim sat up, causing Agent to try and conceal his disappointment as the warmth of the moment dissipated.

"Yes, let's go out," Victim grinned, and Agent furrowed his brow. "What about the corporation? We still have work to attend to—" Agent's protest was halted as Victim placed a hand over his lips, looking somewhat annoyed

"Agent, I'm trying to offer you a chance to unwind, and all you can think about is work?" Victim raised an eyebrow, observing Agent's reaction. He withdrew his hand and leaned in closer, a smirk playing on his lips.

Agent was taken aback, frozen in place as Victim inched closer. "Agent, you've been doing exceptionally well. How about some fun time with me?" Victim suggested with a grin, watching as Agent stared at him, his mouth slightly agape.

Suddenly, Agent stood up, his knees trembling, causing him to stumble awkwardly, eliciting a yelp from Victim.

Straightening himself, adjusting his suit, Agent peered down at Victim, his face now a deep shade of red.

Victim chuckled, while Agent looked away, feeling a hand run across his cheek, his heart pounding relentlessly. "What's the matter?" Victim pouted, whining, as Agent turned to face him, his expression markedly different from his usual unreadable and indifferent demeanor.

Now, Agent appeared incredibly red and flustered, covering his face with his hand. "Cute," Victim thought absentmindedly, only to raise a brow when he noticed Agent becoming even more flustered.

Victim's eyes widened in realization. "I said that out loud, didn't I?" he asked, as Agent nodded shakily.

"He said you were cute? Oh my creators! This is it! Maybe the solution was just you guys hanging out together!" Primal cheered, while Agent glared at them, casting a disapproving glance as Ballista and Hazard held hands, bouncing with excitement.

"This is the moment, our ship is about to set sail!" Primal exclaimed, turning to Ballista and Hazard, completely ignoring Agent standing behind them with arms crossed and a frown etched on his face.

"We're so happy for you," Ballista chimed in, and they all pivoted towards Agent, crowding around him.

Agent sighed, running a hand through his hair as they cheered. "This doesn't mean anything. Victim has always been flirtatious with everyone, or have you all conveniently forgotten that?" Agent hissed, visibly agitated and more annoyed than he had ever shown before.

Not even being thrown into the ocean by Chosen had made him that angry.

The other mercenaries froze, unsure of how to respond. "Uh, I mean... I'm sure it's not like that," Ballista said, turning to Primal, who was scratching her cheek awkwardly. "Don't misunderstand, Victim knows how to play anyone into his hands..."

Agent's expression darkened as he walked past them, his shoulders slightly slumped.

"Oh, man..." Primal sighed, while Ballista covered his face with his hand. "I thought he would take it well," Primal remarked, glancing at the other two, who simply shrugged in response.

"Why are you walking so far away from me, Agent?" Victim pouted as they strolled down the hallway. Agent merely shot him a look, choosing not to reply. Without warning, Victim slung an arm around Agent's shoulder, pulling him closer. "Hey, ignoring your boss? I might have to dock your pay for that," Victim teased, waggling a finger at Agent, who could only manage a frown in response.

"I'm not ignoring you; I just don't have much to say," Agent muttered, averting his gaze as Victim leaned in closer.

Victim huffed in disappointment, withdrawing his arm from around Agent, stretching both arms over his head and letting out a relieved sigh. "You've gone all cold on me. Is it because I called you cute? Feeling embarrassed, are we?" Victim teased, winking at Agent, who huffed once more, his face flushing with embarrassment.

"What a joke," Agent thought, struggling to contain his urge to scowl and glare at the other stick. What was Victim's game? Why was he doing  all of this? Was he merely toying with Agent? Was he so bored that he found entertainment in toying with Agent's emotions?

Was Agent just a plaything to him? These troubling thoughts raced through Agent's mind until he felt a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Hey, you're lost in thought again. Share what's on your mind," Victim said, his tone now gentle as he peered at Agent with concern.

"How can you tell when I'm doing that?" Agent asked, turning to Victim, who let out a chuckle.

"You have a certain look when you're deep in thought. I must admit, it's not drastically different from your usual expressions, but... perhaps I've observed you for so long that I can discern it," Victim said with a smile, causing Agent to blush. "You can't just say that... this goes against the boundaries of our agreement," Agent stammered, to which Victim simply laughed.

"Oh, to hell with the contract. Your duties have been fulfilled for almost a year now. I still can't fathom why you're sticking around," Victim remarked as they entered the courtyard, with Agent trailing slightly behind him.

"I..." Agent began, but then he shook his head and caught up with Victim, who was busy admiring the flowers along the path, his hands tucked in his pockets.

"What's on your mind? You were about to say something, continue," Victim turned to him with a gentle smile. Agent's brow furrowed. "Do you want us to leave?" he asked, facing Victim directly. "And who put that idea in your head?" Victim chuckled, but his expression turned serious when Agent remained silent.

"Hmm, I enjoy having all of you around, an added layer of security, I suppose," Victim mused, tapping his chin as Agent nodded slightly. "Alright... I appreciate that," Agent muttered, a faint smile appearing on his face.

"Is this what has been bothering you?" Victim asked, sounding somewhat surprised. Agent stayed quiet, prompting Victim to sigh. "You could have just talked to me. It's not that difficult to approach me and have a conversation," Victim grumbled, shaking his head and rolling his eyes.

"I wasn't sure how you'd react," Agent responded.

"Ah, good point. If the timing was off, I might have been a bit annoyed," Victim said, laughing when he noticed Agent's worried expression.

"Just kidding. My door is always open for any opinions or thoughts from you and the others, you know," Victim gestured casually.

"Hmm," Agent murmured, looking down at the flowers, nodding slightly.

"Wow, this is the first time we've actually had a conversation," Victim teased as Agent blushed deeply. "I wouldn't mind hearing your voice more often," Victim hummed, reaching into his coat pocket and pulling out a lollipop.

"Want some?" Victim offered, waving another lollipop in Agent's direction. Agent simply shook his head silently.

"Aw, okay, more for me then," Victim remarked, tucking the lollipop back into his pocket before unwrapping his own and placing it in his mouth.

"I thought you had a sweet tooth," Victim inquired, turning to Agent, who gave him a quizzical look. "I distinctly remember Ballista mentioning that you enjoy sweet treats," Victim raised an eyebrow as he removed his lollipop from his mouth and gestured it towards Agent.

Agent only hummed, "When I'm in the mood, I do indulge in chocolate... but that's about it. Chocolates are usually my go-to sweet," he muttered, prompting a thoughtful hum from Victim. "Chocolates are indeed delightful," Victim agreed, before licking his lollipop, causing Agent to freeze.

"What's the matter?" Victim smirked, licking his lollipop once more. Agent gaped and turned away, his face flushed with embarrassment, the atmosphere suddenly feeling a bit... warmer.

Agent buried his face in his hands, feeling flustered as he heard Victim chuckling beside him.

"Honestly, you're quite adorable," Victim remarked, causing Agent to peek through his fingers, his face still partially obscured.

"What do you want, Victim? Why are you purposefully teasing me like this?" Agent questioned, his voice edged with a hint of a growl.

Victim only smirked, twirling the lollipop in his mouth with his tongue. "Why not? I enjoy seeing you so flustered. It's a rare sight, after all," he chuckled, as Agent let out an exasperated huff.

Perhaps if Agent were a weaker man, he might have fainted on the spot when Victim teased him once more, licking his lollipop in such a seductive manner. However, instead of succumbing to the embarrassment, Agent chose to walk away, his cheeks burning as he heard Victim's laughter echoing behind him.

Agent halted in surprise when he noticed a basket filled with chocolates placed in front of his room, accompanied by a small gray card resting on top. Glancing down both hallways and finding no one in sight, he bent down, picked up the basket, and brought it inside his room, closing the door behind him.

Walking over to his desk, he set the basket down and picked up the gray card, flipping it over to read the message:

"I hope you like it. You can enjoy these when you're in the mood. If not, I can always introduce you to something even sweeter ;) - V"

Agent felt his face growing warm as he gazed at the chocolates and then back at the gray card. "That's not what I meant," he muttered, his cheeks flushed, placing the card back on top of the chocolates.

However, a fleeting thought crossed his mind about how Victim might taste... Agent quickly slammed a fist on his desk in frustration, his face heating up even more at the idea. "Stop it," he groaned to himself, running a hand over his face and letting out a deep breath to compose himself.

Chapter Text

On this particular morning, it seemed like it wasn't Agent's day. He awoke with a pounding headache and a spinning vision. Perhaps he should have taken it as a sign to rest, but being someone who never missed a day of work since he started under Victim's wing, he decided to push through the discomfort and head to work.

Well, not exactly "head to work," since he was already within the facility. Each of the mercenaries had their own apartment within the facility for quick access in case they were summoned by Victim. Previously, they resided in the city, but that meant a 30-minute drive to the facility, and sometimes they were needed at odd hours.

Now, the situation had changed. They were free to live in the city if they wished and abandon the apartments within the facility. However, having grown accustomed to the convenience, they opted to stay. With free food and electricity, not having to worry about bills, thanks to Victim's provision, it made sense to maintain their living arrangements within the facility.

Agent groaned as he struggled to put on his suit, his spinning vision causing him to stumble and reach out for the wall for support. With a sigh, he retreated back to his bed, opting to sit down and button up his suit slowly.

"Maybe I shouldn't go to work," Agent mused dazedly, rubbing his eyes and feeling the warmth radiating from his flushed face. As he began to unbutton his suit, he froze at the sound of loud knocking on his door, intensifying the pounding in his head.

"Tsk," Agent clicked his tongue in annoyance as he rose to his feet, the room swirling around him. Despite the dizziness, he ignored it and made his way to the door, swinging it open wide.

"Good morning, Agent!" Ballista greeted with a grin, his expression faltering at the sight of Agent's intense glare. "Good morning, Ballista. Next time, try not to break my door at 5 in the morning," Agent said, his voice low to spare his throbbing head.

"Oh, sorry," Ballista apologized, looking sheepish as he nervously twirled his fingers.

“But uh, just thought to ask you if you want to have breakfast with us…..Or with boss” Ballista smirked as Agent continued to stare at him, no longer having the energy to even glare at the smaller stick. Though the sound of breakfast does make his stomach roll slightly.

Agent stepped out of his room, closing the door behind him as Ballista beamed. "Great! I'm off to wake up Hazard. See you at the canteen," Ballista chirped, receiving a silent nod from Agent. He watched the smaller stick dash off towards Hazard's room before proceeding down the opposite hallway towards the elevator.

As Agent gazed at his closed door, his eyelids fluttered slightly, and his body started to lean forward.

Just before his forehead could meet the elevator door, an arm swiftly intercepted, preventing the collision. "Agent, I didn't expect you to be so exhausted that you'd resort to trying to bang your head on the door instead of getting some rest," Victim remarked, a smirk playing on his lips as Agent straightened up in surprise, turning to see Victim grinning at him.

“I wasn’t–,” Agent began to protest, but Victim gave his arm a reassuring pat.

"It's okay to admit you're still tired, Agent," Victim said, his voice taking on a strangely gentle tone. Agent stared at him, his vision momentarily blurring before a familiar ding interrupted the moment, signaling the arrival of the elevator.

With a small smile, Victim turned to Agent. "Come on, let's have breakfast," he invited, gesturing for Agent to follow. Numbly nodding, Agent did his best not to stumble as he followed and stood beside Victim.

"You're eating in the canteen?" Agent asked, looking down at Victim, who crossed his arms. "Is there something wrong with me eating there?" Victim tilted his head in confusion as Agent weakly shook his head, the pounding in his head persisting. Struggling to stay engaged in the conversation, all Agent really wanted was to drift away from the situation.

"No... why?" Agent queried, pausing for a moment before continuing, "To boost morale, of course," Victim beamed, looking at Agent as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Agent stared at him for a moment, the elevator chiming to signal their arrival at the correct floor. Stepping out, they both turned down the hallway.

"Boost morale..." Agent trailed off, sounding slightly dazed, before turning to Victim, who was grinning at him. "Why do you need to boost morale?" Agent inquired, prompting Victim to roll his eyes.

"I believe it's high time I establish connections with my employees, don't you think? Our conversation a few days ago helped me reach this decision," Victim explained with a smile, as Agent slowly nodded in understanding.

"I didn't mean to imply that you had to do it. You're still our boss, after all," Agent responded.

"This is my final decision, Agent. You didn't pressure me into anything," Victim retorted, rolling his eyes. They stopped in front of the canteen area, the doors wide open as a few sticks came and went. Some held cups of coffee, while others looked like they would rather be in bed than there.

"I guess I'm not alone," Agent thought to himself, fighting the urge to cough into his hand.

"Agent? Agent? Yahoo!" Primal lightly flicked Agent's hair as he continued to snooze, his face buried in his arms. "That's weird, I've never seen Agent sleep on the job," Ballista remarked, puzzled.

Agent stirred, sitting up and rubbing his forehead in confusion before turning to them.

"What is it?" Agent asked, his voice slightly hoarse from coughing earlier. It had gotten to the point where he had to retreat to the bathroom to cough, considering how congested and unpleasant it sounded. Agent preferred that nobody hear it.

"Are you okay?" Primal inquired, her brow furrowed in concern as Agent sluggishly rubbed his face. "I'm okay, just feeling under the weather, I suppose," Agent mumbled, as the three mercenaries exchanged worried glances.

"Why not just rest for today?" Ballista suggested, earning a small glare from Agent. "I was planning to, but someone decided to knock on my door at 5 in the morning," Agent grumbled, causing Ballista to blush and rub the back of his neck, while Primal shot him a disapproving look.

"How about it now? You can still rest, take the day off. We don't have much going on anyway. We can handle your workload if you have any tasks scheduled for today," Primal proposed, grinning and clasping her hands together.

For a moment, Agent felt a wave of gratitude towards the others, though he narrowed his eyes when he noticed Primal's smile and expression. "What?" Primal inquired, tilting her head as Agent squinted at her before shaking his head. "Nothing, you're right. Maybe I do need to rest," Agent groaned, placing a hand on his stomach as Ballista let out a sigh.

"Alright, do you need help? I can always assist you to your room," Ballista offered, fidgeting with his hands nervously as Agent waved a hand, declining the offer and shaking his head as he tried to stand up. Placing his hand on the desk for support, he stumbled, only to be steadied by Primal who grabbed his shoulders, preventing him from toppling to the floor.

"Yeah, rest is definitely necessary," Primal frowned, her brows knitting together as Agent fought the urge to roll his eyes.

Agent let out a sigh of relief, stretching his shoulders as he finally shed the stuffy suit he had been wearing. Now clad in a simple shirt and loose pants, he settled onto his bed, sipping tea and browsing something on his phone.

Aware that he should be resting, the absence of the uncomfortable suit and the quiet of his room seemed to have eased his headache. Agent breathed a sigh of relief, taking another sip of his tea and scrolling through his phone. He set his phone on the nightstand and placed the cup beside it, preparing to lay down on his bed.

Just as he was about to relax, he heard a soft knocking on the door. Agent froze for a moment, wondering if he had imagined it, as the knocks were rarely so gentle; they usually heralded someone ready to blast his eardrums.

Agent lay still, waiting for another series of knocks. When the silence persisted, he turned onto his side and curled up, only to snap his eyes open at the sound of another soft knock.

Fisting the blanket, he closed his eyes, tensing each time the knocking repeated. Half-tempted to shout at the persistent visitor to go away, he finally sat up and made his way to the door. Opening it, his brows furrowed and lips pulled into a snarl.

"Wow, you look kind of pissed," Victim remarked with a smirk, causing Agent to flinch in surprise, his expression dazed as he stared at the gray hollowhead.

"Victim... what are you doing here?" Agent asked, stepping back to let the gray hollowhead in. Panic flashed through him as Victim noticed his messy bed, prompting Agent to run a hand through his hair nervously.

"Looks like you were resting already? I hope I didn't actually make you stand up just to greet me," Victim remarked with a small frown as Agent shook his head furiously. "No, you didn't. I-I forgot to fix my bed earlier," Agent stammered, flushing as he hid his hands behind his back, while Victim offered him a reassuring smile.

"Okay, that's good. I brought some stuff for you, mostly medicine because Primal told me you were sick and didn't even bother to ask her to get some medicine," Victim explained, causing Agent to resist the urge for his eye to twitch in annoyance.

Of course Primal would say that, Agent thought, scowling briefly before softening his expression as Victim turned to him. "I also have this tea that can help you sleep, though it looks like you were already drinking some," Victim remarked, noticing the half-drunk tea on the nightstand.

"It's fine, I can drink it later," Agent replied, his face flushing slightly as Victim smirked. "Or I can just make you some. Here," Victim said, picking up the cup. "Can I borrow your kitchen for a moment? Goodness, your room is so weird. Why is your bedroom close to the main door?" Victim chuckled as he made his way towards Agent's kitchen.

Agent made his way back to his bed and sat down. For a moment, he listened to the soft noises emanating from the kitchen, struggling to keep his eyes open. He glanced at his pillow, then at the direction of the kitchen before deciding to plop down. "I'll know when he comes out; I'll just sit up again," Agent thought wearily, blinking at the soft light spilling from the kitchen. He tugged the blankets up to his chest, curled up, and shut his heavy eyes.

A soft hum pulled Agent from his drowsiness, prompting him to open his eyes blearily. He looked up to find Victim seated beside his bed, engrossed in something on his tablet. Agent rubbed his eyes, feeling puzzled about why Victim was still there.

Despite his efforts to resist the weight of sleep, Agent found himself gazing at Victim's serene expression, a sense of calm washing over him. Meeting Victim's eyes, he saw a reassuring smile. "Just sleep," Victim whispered softly, reaching over to place a warm hand on Agent's forehead.

Agent closed his eyes, surrendering to the gentle touch of Victim's hand as it moved through his hair and then drifted down to his cheek.

Around 10 PM, Agent awoke feeling refreshed, devoid of sluggishness and fatigue, only to discover that Victim was nowhere to be found. He scanned his room, releasing a disappointed sigh. Clutching the blanket on his lap, he rubbed his face, recalling the tender touch of the other's hand.

With a deep exhale, Agent dropped his hand to his lap, then turned towards his nightstand. There, he noticed his cup, covered with a small plate to prevent spills, and a small gray note affixed to it.

Quickly reaching over, he plucked the note from the plate. It read:

"Sorry, I have to go. Someone apparently broke the vending machine on the third floor. Now I'm pissed :// - V"

Agent chuckled softly before tucking the note inside his drawer, securing it to the gray card he had received from Victim prior before, a faint smile gracing his lips. He then lifted the cup, taking a sip of the now cooled tea, emitting a contented hum.

Considering reheating it in the microwave, he found the taste rather pleasant. Perhaps he should ask about the brand of tea from Victim, Agent mused as he continued to drink, eventually shifting his focus to his phone.

Upon unlocking it, he noticed several messages from the other mercenaries, urging him to rest well. After a brief pause, he set his phone aside, swung his legs off the bed, and returned the cup to the nightstand, only to halt abruptly at the sight of a chocolate bar on his desk.

With a small sigh, Agent smiled as he picked it up, flipping it over to find yet another small note attached.

"Noticed the basket of chocolates in the kitchen; it was all empty. Have some chocolate until I can get you more again - V."

Agent blushed at the note before hurrying to the kitchen. There, he found the basket he had left on the side of the table, running a hand over his face in surprise and gratitude.

"Looks like you're feeling better already," Victim remarked as he walked over to Agent, who was engrossed in staring at the flowers beneath the tree. "I am... thank you for looking after me... though I didn't manage to use the medicine," Agent said, his face flushing as Victim chuckled. "It's fine, keep it, so next time you get sick, you have some medicine on hand," Victim replied with a smile.

"Thank you," Agent nodded gratefully, turning back to admire the flowers, noticing how the blue hues almost matched Victim's eyes.

As Agent gazed at the flowers, lost in thought, Victim suddenly spoke up. "You know, you talk in your sleep." This revelation caused Agent to freeze, snapping his head towards Victim with a puzzled frown. "What did I say?" Agent inquired, taking a step closer to the slightly shorter figure, who simply laughed in response.

"Relax, you didn't say anything important if that's what you're worried about," Victim laughed as Agent's expression fell. "Why, did I scare you? Are you afraid to say something... personal?" Victim teased, a smirk playing on his lips as Agent shot him a look.

"I wasn't," Agent stammered, his cheeks flushing as Victim continued to chuckle, wiping away a tear. "No, no, don't worry, you were just mumbling nonsense," Victim said through giggles, causing Agent to sigh, cross his arms, and glance away. "Oh," Agent trailed off, taking a step back from Victim, who then moved closer, casually draping an arm over his shoulder with a grin.

"Don't feel so embarrassed now, Agent. You already fell asleep in front of your boss," Victim whispered into his ear, smirking as Agent's blush deepened, his head dropping in defeat.

"Don't worry, you look cute when you sleep," Victim teased, tousling Agent's hair and eliciting a soft, adorable noise from him. "That's not..." Agent began before letting out an embarrassed huff, which only made Victim giggle even more.

"I like it when you get flustered; you're just adorable," Victim teased, poking Agent's cheek, prompting a small groan from Agent as his face grew noticeably hotter, the warmth seeping through his suit. "Victim, I really should advise you to stop... doing this to me... if you want something, please just say it," Agent frowned, his tone serious as Victim raised an eyebrow in response.

Victim studied his expression for a moment before taking a step back, crossing his arms. "You think I'm doing this because... what? I'm only messing with you?" Victim tilted his head, observing Agent as he nervously bit his lip, eventually looking up at Victim and nodding slowly.

After a brief pause, Victim gave him a searching look before letting out a thoughtful hum.

"Victim... I have seen how you operate at times. You've used this approach with multiple people before when you needed something from them. What is it that you want from me? You know I will always follow your orders," Agent stated with a frown, his expression serious, as Victim simply laughed.

"Oh, Agent, you're quite oblivious, aren't you?" Victim giggled as he approached Agent, grabbing him by his tie and pulling him closer, their faces mere inches apart.

"W-What?" Agent breathed out, his voice wavering slightly as Victim locked eyes with him. "I don't need anything from you, Agent. Can't you trust that I'm doing this because I like you?" Victim's sweet smile softened his features as Agent stared back, disbelief written all over his face.

"Like... me?" Agent stammered, taken aback, as Victim nodded, tilting his head. His gaze shifted to Agent's lips before returning to his eyes, a smile playing on his lips. "Why? Don't you believe me?" Victim inquired, a hint of a pout in his voice, prompting Agent to shake his head in response.

Agent stuttered, his thoughts racing too quickly for his words to keep up. "How... what—I mean..." he stumbled over his words, his confusion evident. "Easy now," Victim reassured him, placing a soothing hand on his cheek.

This gesture only served to further fluster Agent. "What... kind of like?" he managed to ask, his voice soft and shaky as he involuntarily leaned closer to the slightly smaller figure. Victim smirked, placing a finger under his chin, pretending to contemplate as he hummed, his gaze lifting upwards.

Agent's eyes drifted down to Victim's lips, a fleeting thought crossing his mind...

Before he could dwell on it further, his focus snapped back up as Victim laughed. "What do you want it to be? How about I ask you that?" Victim proposed, tilting his head as he leaned in closer, their lips almost brushing before they both leaned back as footsteps approached, interrupting the moment.

"Sir Victim, the Chosen One is in the lobby asking for you," a gray stick announced, freezing upon seeing Agent stumble back and hide his face, and Victim looking slightly flushed.

"Oh? The Chosen One is here? Alright then," Victim responded with a smile, while Agent hastily adjusted his tie, his face burning red, hands trembling, and legs feeling like they might give way beneath him.

The gray stick's gaze shifted between them before nodding and hurrying off.

"How about we discuss this in my office later?" Victim suggested, turning to Agent, who nodded unsteadily. Victim then produced a lollipop from his pocket, unwrapped it, and placed it in his mouth, smirking at Agent.

"I did say I would let you taste something sweeter," Victim winked at Agent before strolling away.

"H-Huh?" Agent stammered, his mind grinding to a halt at the implication of Victim's words.

Chapter Text

In the end, neither Victim nor Agent managed to have a conversation after that near-kiss moment. “It wasn't a kiss,”Agent thought, exhaling slowly, though the memory of the Victim's lips almost touching his left a faint warmth on his face.

Briefly, he brushed his fingers against his lips, then ran a hand through his hair, imagining what it would be like to kiss the grey hollowhead. He knew the Victim took self-care seriously; their lips always appeared healthy, unlike his own, which tended to dry out if he forgot to hydrate.

Soft, he mused. Blushing, he dropped his hand to his side. If only he had leaned in closer, he might have discovered what it was like to kiss the other person, wouldn't he?

"Do you think he's alright? He's been lost in thought for days now. I suspect the boss said something to him," Ballista murmured, casting a sharp glance, while Primal rolled her eyes. "I highly doubt that. He looks like a lovestruck teenager—just look at how red his face is!" Primal chuckled, before they all straightened up as Agent turned to them, his expression turning into a frown.

"I can hear both of you, you know," Agent stated, glaring at the pair.

They then turned to each other and started snickering. Agent sighed, looking away and clicking his tongue annoyedly as he heard them whispering to each other. Footsteps approached from behind, and a hand landed on his shoulder. Turning towards Primal, he found her grinning, with Hazard excitedly bouncing on his heels beside her, and Ballista appearing ready to jump in excitement.

"So, I did see you guys a few days ago," Primal began, prompting Agent to raise a brow and motion for her to continue. "And you know," Primal made kissy noises, causing Agent to physically recoil in surprise, unable to hide his embarrassment as he heard Ballista giggling.

"Did you two kiss?" Primal asked, grinning as Agent sighed and shook his head. "No," Agent grumbled before he could stop himself. Hazard snapped his fingers in disappointment, and Ballista let out an 'ughhh' to the side.

"What, seriously?! But I saw you and the boss's faces so close to each other, and you're telling me that wasn't a kiss?!" Primal exclaimed, waving her hands around wildly. Agent looked around and noticed a few onlookers staring at them strangely before turning back to Primal with an annoyed expression.

"Yes, Primal, why don't you broadcast to everyone that we almost kissed," he said, tilting his head as Primal flushed in embarrassment.

"Oops, my bad, but come on, I'm just... disappointed, okay?" Primal pouted as Agent frowned, silently concurring with her. "Don't tell me you aren't. Like, come on, you guys were this close," Primal said, making a pinching gesture with her thumb and forefinger. "Aw, man, I really thought it already happened," Ballista sighed.

"I am disappointed," Agent deadpanned. Of course, he was disappointed that he hadn't taken the initiative to lean in at least a little bit closer. But it had already happened, and besides, Victim promised him that they would talk about it.

Agent blushed at the thought before rubbing the back of his head, a gesture that was unfamiliar for him or even anyone for that matter. "Uh oh, did the boss say something? I feel like there's more to it," Primal said, raising a brow as Agent gave her a look. "He said we would talk about it," Agent replied as they all glanced at each other with a grin.

"When?" Ballista asked. "He forgot," Agent deadpanned, causing the other mercenaries' faces to fall.

"How?!" Ballista growled, while Hazard placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. Primal only palmed her face in annoyance. "Is it because Chosen is here?" Primal asked as Agent nodded silently, his expression darkening slightly.

Of course, he was still slightly upset at Chosen for throwing him into the ocean when he clearly wasn't even trying to attack the other Hollowhead. And now, he had taken Victim away from him. Agent sighed, halting his thoughts.

"Not 'took,'" Agent corrected himself before running a hand through his hair.

Victim was not "his" to be taken from in the first place. Agent did not own him, nor was Agent anyone to him... yet.

Agent gritted his teeth as the other mercenaries watched him express so many emotions in such a short time. "Man, that's the first time I've seen him show that many expressions," Ballista whispered to them, flinching when Agent turned towards the vending machine and punched it, causing the sodas inside to fall continuously.

"Yeah, he's pissed," Primal snickered as Agent grumbled under his breath in front of them, looking absolutely furious.

"So, it was you who broke the vending machine on the second floor," Victim mused as he sneaked up behind Agent, who was busy stapling a couple of papers together. "I didn't," Agent said, looking up at Victim with a bored expression.

Victim smirked. "Really now?" he said as he grabbed an empty chair beside Agent's desk and sat down, crossing his legs. Agent only narrowed his eyes in response. "Honestly, Agent, I wouldn't mind if you broke a few vending machines, if only you tell me the reason why you decided to punch it in the first place," Victim teased, his smirk widening as Agent sighed.

Victim observed as Agent continued to staple more papers together, remaining silent. After a moment, Victim sighed. "Okay then, just know I'm not angry; I'm just curious as to why you would do that," he said, tilting his head as Agent nodded silently.

"Hmm, how about we talk now?" Victim asked, causing Agent to snap his head towards him in surprise. Victim only smirked as Agent gaped at him, standing up. "Come on now, I know I've been quite busy showing Chosen around; I hope you didn't mind," Victim grinned as Agent placed the papers back on his desk, his heart beating loudly as he also rose to his feet.

"It's fine," Agent mumbled, pushing his chair back to his desk, not before Victim let out a small chuckle. "Really now? Are you sure the broken vending machine isn't the reason for that?" Victim tilted his head as Agent diverted his gaze, choosing to admire the painting on the wall instead.

In front of him, Victim laughed again. "Oh, Agent, you're just so adorable," he remarked as Agent frowned at him.

"Sit down," Victim ordered, gesturing towards the plush seat at the side. Agent raised a brow before complying, his movements hesitant as he settled into the chair, his body tensing when Victim took a seat beside him.

"Is it better now? We're alone, here in my office... we can do anything, you know," Victim purred, leaning in close to Agent, who averted his gaze, feeling the heat rise in his cheeks.

"What are we here to talk about?" Agent cleared his throat, trying to maintain a professional demeanor as Victim smirked.

"Hmm, I don't remember either. Do you?" Victim tilted their head, studying Agent who nervously bit his lip, gripping the fabric of his pants to steady himself, fighting the urge to fidget.

"I-I don't," Agent stammered, his voice trembling slightly as Victim inched closer, their bodies almost touching, the air between them charged with unspoken tension.

"You don't remember? I thought you had a good memory," Victim pouted, causing Agent to swallow hard, his fingers instinctively reaching to loosen his tie, a physical reaction to the rising warmth spreading through him.

"N-No, not that," Agent said, placing his shaking hands back on his lap, attempting to still their tremors. He met Victim's smirking gaze, his heart pounding in his chest.

In that moment, his breaths quickened slightly. The proximity between them seemed to intensify the heat coursing through him, his mind growing a touch hazy.

Suddenly, Victim placed a hand above his, calming his trembling hands.

"You're a marksman, yet your hands shake at such a simple thing as being this close to me," Victim whispered, locking eyes with Agent, his gaze hooded with something else.

"I'm not—" Agent started, only to feel Victim take his hand, running a reassuring thumb over his knuckles.

"Relax, Agent, I'm only teasing you. Calm down, I can hear your heartbeat from here," Victim chuckled, placing his free hand on Agent's chest, savoring the rapid thump-thump under his palm. Agent stared at him, his face flushed, though his expression remained composed.

"I wonder," Victim began, his mind wandering. Would he be able to change it? If he pushed the right buttons, would he find Agent writhing underneath him, calling out his name, pleading for more—

Victim chuckled to himself, surprised by the thought, as Agent gave him a puzzled look. "Is, uhm, something the matter?" Agent cleared his throat, seeking clarification as Victim shook his head, laughing softly and placing a hand behind his neck, his shoulders shaking with amusement.

"Nothing, just... had an interesting thought," Victim smirked, looking at Agent, who flushed once more. "Right... about what exactly... I hope it's not you... lowering my pay," Agent said, lowering his gaze as Victim chuckled.

"Not really, I have something much better in mind," he grinned, reaching up to push a strand of hair behind Agent's ear.

"Do you remember now?" Victim purred, leaning closer as Agent stared down at him. "N-No," Agent looked away, blinking rapidly before flinching when Victim grabbed his shades, pulling them away from his face and placing them on the small table beside them.

"I think it's better for me to see your eyes," Victim explained as Agent gaped at him, his legs now bouncing with nervous energy.

"Maybe I should try... helping you remember, you know," Victim suggested, tilting his head and reaching towards Agent's tie, pulling him closer with a gentle tug. Agent let out a small noise of surprise, meeting his gaze again as Victim only smirked.

"You still don't remember?" Victim asked, as Agent shook his head vigorously, before letting out a yelp when suddenly Victim tugged him even closer, their faces mere inches apart.

He could feel Victim's breath on his face as he bit his tongue, resisting the urge to breathe as he gazed into Victim's eyes, his heart pounding so loudly that he could hear it in his ears. "Still nothing?" Victim whispered, his voice low and breathy.

Agent only shook his head, leaning closer as he found himself looking down at Victim's lips.

This is it, he could do it now. Even if this was just Victim teasing him, even if he was merely being played, he could kiss his boss and be done with it.

He could taste him, even just a little bit. Agent thought, slightly frenzied, certain that his eyes were now pinpricks, betraying his nervousness and the chaos within him.

Victim could unravel him, and he would allow it. The other could run his hand over his body, and Agent would relish it.

Agent let out a shaky breath as Victim placed a hand on his cheek, his other hand still gripping his tie tightly, preventing him from moving. "Do you remember now?" Victim asked as Agent slowly nodded, placing a hand on Victim’s knee as he leaned closer, their lips almost touching.

Victim only grinned wildly, his hand curling in the back of Agent’s hair as he drew him nearer.

Before they froze when Victim’s phone began ringing.

"Son of a bitch," Victim cursed as Agent frowned, the hands on his tie and in his hair loosening as he leaned back.

Agent nervously attempted to smooth down his disheveled hair as Victim let out a sigh, turning towards Agent, who avoided meeting his gaze.

"I'm sorry, I thought I had my phone off," Victim grumbled, prompting Agent to turn to him. "It's okay... if you want—" He paused, his face flushing a deep, dark red.

Victim glanced at the clock before sighing, "It's already getting late... unless, well..." He smirked as he pulled a chocolate-flavored lollipop from his pocket, noting it was just what Agent preferred, then proceeded to unwrap it.

"It is late..." Agent mumbled, feeling a tinge of disappointment as he heard Victim chuckling beside him, unaware that Victim was now enjoying a lollipop with a plan in mind.

"We can always do this another time, maybe tomorrow, when all the windows are closed, no more employees calling for me, and my phone on silent," Victim teased, as Agent simply stared at him.

"What do you say? Just us, together," Victim purred, slipping an arm around Agent's shoulder as he moved closer. "Uhm..." Agent stammered, observing as Victim removed the lollipop from his mouth and smirked at him.

"What? You don't want to?" Victim pouted, before Agent nodded, his face flushed as he openly admitted he wanted to kiss his boss. "That's good, I've always known you wanted this," Victim smirked as Agent coughed, "I-what?" the taller figure stuttered, while Victim giggled, putting the lollipop back in his mouth.

"I'm not blind, Agent. I see the way you look at me, almost predatory. Tell me, have you been thinking of... tasting me?" Victim teased, leaning closer with a grin.

Agent let out a surprised breath as he watched Victim stick out his tongue, pulling out the lollipop. "How about now?" Victim said, slowly pushing the lollipop towards Agent's lips.

"Come on, open up," Victim grinned, implying something more, as Agent complied, letting the other push the lollipop into his mouth.

"It's chocolate, just how you like it," Victim tilted his head as Agent flushed, his tongue instinctively trying to taste the lollipop before realizing it had just come from Victim's mouth.

"I—" Agent started, only to duck his head and hide his face in his hands. He felt Victim grab both sides of his face, forcing him to look at him. "I'll make sure you get the actual one tomorrow. For now, you can have some of me," Victim smirked, his eyes wandering over Agent's face, savoring the warmth of his skin and the tremble in Agent's eyes.

Agent stared at the lollipop stick, his hands shaking, before letting out a long, drawn-out groan as he slammed his head on his pillow repeatedly. "Fuck," he whispered before setting the stick down and burying his burning face into his arms.

It was the last thing he had expected. Sure, he had anticipated a kiss, but this? This was... Agent bit his lip as he unconsciously licked the roof of his mouth, still tasting the chocolate from the lollipop. The mixture of Victim's saliva made his face flush and his body warm in response.

Another groan escaped from Agent as he picked up the stick again, staring at it before placing a hand on his lips.

He would have tasted like chocolate too, Agent thought, recalling how long Victim had the lollipop in his mouth before passing it to him.

If Agent had chosen to kiss him at that moment, he would have savored two incredible sensations at once. Agent's face flushed at the notion as he shut his eyes tightly, attempting to forget the image of Victim being so near and the anticipation of how Victim might kiss him.

Would it be rough? Agent pondered hazily.

Would Victim grasp his tie again? Would he pull on his hair while they kissed? Given his actions earlier, it seemed like there was more planned. Agent shifted onto his side, curling up, and touched a finger to his lips as he envisioned how Victim might take control of the situation.

Agent possessed strength; he could easily overpower Primal if he wished, despite her greater height. He might even manage all the mercenaries at once. Certainly, he could overpower Victim without difficulty.

The notion of the other stick pushing him down forcefully and taking charge... it stirred unfamiliar sensations within him.

For Agent, physical contact often equated to pain. However, with Victim, he found himself willing to endure discomfort or even roughness. Surrendering control to the other person seemed oddly appealing.

Agent buried his face into his blanket, releasing a trembling breath.

Touch remained a perplexing concept for Agent, yet the vivid fantasies involving Victim kissing and touching him proved overwhelmingly compelling. The mere thought of it left his mind hazy and his hands unsteady.

Perhaps Victim was the sole individual who could touch him in such a manner. Agent blushed, recalling how Victim had held his hand, gently rubbing his thumb over his knuckles.

Chapter Text

It was around 5 am, Agent spotted Chosen wandering about, his interest piqued as he observed his surroundings. Upon noticing the taller stick, Agent's voice carried a hint of accusation, "You're still here," he remarked, causing Chosen to arch a brow in response.

"You make it sound like I'm unwelcome," Chosen retorted, noting the tension in Agent's expression.

"In this scenario, you're not. It would be preferable if you leave," Agent muttered under his breath while walking past the black hollowhead.

"Unfortunately, Victim wants me here," Chosen replied, a slight smirk playing on his lips as the taller stick halted, turning back with a frown.

"Did I ask?," Agent shot back, fighting the urge to confront Chosen physically. Chosen, undeterred, wore a smug smile, tilting his head provocatively, "Rumors swirl among the staff here. Seems like someone has a soft spot for my brother," he insinuated, prompting Agent to narrow his gaze in suspicion.

Agent couldn't believe the audacity of Chosen in presuming a sibling relationship with Victim. Grateful for his shades concealing his eyes, he struggled to contain the urge to stop his eye from twitching. "And?" Agent asked, tilting his head, his fist clenched behind his back.

"It was you, wasn't it?" Chosen grinned, arms crossed, receiving no response from Agent. Chuckling, Chosen hid his smirk behind his hand before approaching Agent.

"Quite bold of you to assume that Victim reciprocates your feelings," Chosen remarked, his voice lowered, just as Agent seized the front of his shirt, hoisting him up. "Say that again, and I'll ensure you experience agony for a month," Agent growled, pulling Chosen nearer as the dark figure simply smirked back.

"That wasn't what you said when I tossed you into the ocean," Chosen cackled, as Agent growled, "I was distracted," retorting before stumbling back when Chosen pushed him, his hands losing their grasp on Chosen's shirt.

"I'm just here to remind you that you're merely someone who works under him," Chosen huffed, rolling his eyes as Agent stared at him. His heart beat slightly at the notion before he let out a small, low hum, refusing to show Chosen how much that had affected him.

"You don't really have the right to have a say in what Victim wants," Agent responded after a few seconds of pause.

Chosen's grin widened as he cracked his knuckles. "Perhaps I do, perhaps I don't. How about a friendly spar to determine that?" He tilted his head, eyeing Agent who narrowed his gaze.

"Neither of us holds sway over his decisions," Agent reiterated firmly as Chosen chuckled.

"Just for old times' sake. Our last bout wasn't quite fair. How about a rematch?" Chosen suggested with a grin, but Agent exhaled, keeping his composure and resisting the urge to roll his eyes.

"It's early morning. I'd rather not," Agent replied, turning on his heel and striding away.

"Fair enough. Maybe another time," Chosen called after him, a hint of amusement in his voice as Agent remained resolute, refusing to glance back, continuing on his way.

"Victim—" Agent's voice trailed off as he caught sight of Chosen and Victim engaged in conversation, sharing laughter. Chosen turned to him with a smug smile, while Victim greeted him warmly, "Ah, Agent, please join us. It's been too long since you two have had a chat." Victim gestured for Agent to take a seat in the office.

Silently, Agent complied, sitting beside Victim and leaning forward, giving Chosen a pointed stare as Victim initiated a discussion about reconciling and fostering friendship between them.

"I agree. Our last encounter ended poorly. I'd genuinely like us to be close friends," Chosen stated with a smile, a peculiar glint in his eyes as Agent glared at him, flinching slightly when Victim placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"Come on, Agent. There's no need for animosity anymore. Remember, we're not in the business of hunting him down now," Victim quipped, lightening the mood as Chosen chuckled, adding to the tension in the room.

"I wouldn't mind the thrill of the hunt again, just for amusement," Agent growled, prompting Victim's eyebrow to arch as he faced Agent, who directed a fierce glare at Chosen, who responded with a smirk.

"Really? I must admit, I found the chase rather exhilarating," Chosen leaned in, provoking Agent who clenched his jaw, his expression contorted into a sneer, while Victim observed them both with a hint of confusion.

"Is there something going on between you two that I should be aware of?" Victim inquired, reclining slightly, studying Agent as he sneered and exhaled in frustration. "Nothing," Agent snapped, his gaze fixed on Chosen, who simply offered a sweet smile before turning to Victim.

"Not at all, we're just enjoying each other's company, aren't we?" Chosen grinned at Agent, who continued to glare, refusing to reply.

"Alright..." Victim's voice trailed off, his brow furrowing as Agent distanced himself from Chosen, who playfully attempted to remove Agent's shades.

Victim narrowed his eyes.

"Don’t touch me" Agent growled as Chosen attempted to drape his arm over Agent, who swiftly evaded the gesture, stepping back and fixing a stern glare on the black hollowhead, who only grinned in response.

"Aw, don’t tell me you hate touch? Or perhaps you prefer Victim's touch?" Chosen feigned disgusted gag, provoking Agent who shot daggers with his eyes.

"That's disgusting. You're insinuating that's the only reason I like him," Agent growled, the urge to slam the hefty folder into Chosen's face growing stronger by the second.

Chosen's smirk only widened, goading Agent further, causing a twitch to form on Agent's forehead. Without further ado, Agent made the decision to forcefully slam the thick folder into Chosen's face.

Later, if asked by Victim whether it was intentional, Agent simply claimed he tripped and accidentally smacked the entire folder into Chosen's face. Victim, though skeptical, decided to let it slide, despite harboring doubts about Agent's "accidental" tripping.

"I sense some serious animosity between those two," Primal murmured, observing Agent clenching his fists as Chosen casually perched on his desk, swinging his legs and carelessly nudging Agent's chair with his foot.

"Definitely seems that way," Ballista commented, scratching his head as he witnessed Agent rising from his chair and forcefully pushing Chosen off the desk, resulting in a loud yelp and a resounding crash echoing through the room.

"We might need to intervene somehow," Primal suggested, scratching her cheek, but Hazard shook his head firmly, gesturing with an X sign using his arms, indicating his reluctance to step in between the two and risk getting caught in the crossfire of their conflict.

"Hell no, I prefer keeping my head attached to my body," Ballista retorted, vigorously shaking his head as Chosen kicked Agent's chair just as he was about to sit down, sending the taller figure sprawling onto his back.

"We better make a quick exit before things get out of hand," Primal suggested, swiftly grabbing Hazard and Ballista in her arms before dashing out of the room.

"A spar, and I'll stop bothering you," Chosen proposed, perched atop the courtyard wall, peering down at Agent, who clenched his fists in frustration, meeting Chosen's gaze with intensity.

"When someone declines, it means no," Agent growled, his eyes locked onto Chosen's fiery red gaze.

"Is that so? Deep down, I know you crave it too. A duel. If you win, I'll leave you in peace with your infatuation for my brother. But if I win, you steer clear of him. I've always despised the feeble-minded," Chosen smirked, goading Agent who gritted his teeth in response.

"I'm not a fool, Chosen. I won't be manipulated by your ploys, using my feelings for Victim to provoke a reaction from me," Agent asserted, raising an eyebrow at Chosen before turning his gaze to the serene blue flowers nearby, taking a moment to appreciate their beauty, exhaling slowly as he collected his thoughts.

As Agent stood by the blue flowers, he opened his eyes to see Chosen descending onto the brick floor, approaching him until he stood beside him.

"I've already lost one of my brothers. I won't lose another to someone like you," Chosen muttered, prompting Agent to turn to him with a frown.

"I make sure that Victim is always safe," Agent murmured, his gaze dropping as Chosen let out a scoff.

"If there's someone stronger than me, someone who could best me effortlessly, and now they pose a threat to Victim, what would you do?" Chosen asked, his voice softening into a whisper, a hint of vulnerability creeping into his tone.

"You know perfectly well what I would do," Agent growled, his voice laced with anger. "I am his shield, his weapon, dedicated to his protection above all. You dare to question my ability to protect him when I had managed to capture you so easily from the start."

Chosen chuckled, a smirk playing on his lips. "I admire your strength. Facing you has always been a challenge for me. I knew I'd suffer greatly encountering you, hence why I couldn't resist tossing you into the ocean when the opportunity arose," he admitted, watching Agent closely as the tension in the air thickened.

"You stand no chance against me, Chosen. While you were crafted by a human, granted power, in the end, you lost to me," Agent asserted, his tone deadly serious, his fist clenched.

"If you can demonstrate that to me. No powers and no weapons then perhaps I'll reconsider," Chosen proposed, turning towards Agent, who simply huffed in response. "Still a no," Agent muttered, turning away and striding off, his resolve unyielding.

"Agent, it's quite late. It's unusual to see you still here at your desk," Victim remarked softly, observing Agent lifting his head from the desk, his sunglasses slightly askew as if he had unintentionally dozed off.

"Victim... I wasn't—" Agent began, rubbing his eyes in confusion, only to be interrupted by Victim's gentle chuckle.

"It's alright, but it would be best if you decided to rest now. What kept you up so late?" Victim inquired, tilting his head as he pulled up an empty chair from a nearby desk and rolled it next to Agent, who shifted over to make room for him.

"You were clearly preoccupied with Chosen... I was waiting for you," Agent stated, narrowing his eyes slightly as Victim blinked in surprise.

"Oh goodness, you were waiting for me? You should have said something. You know how easily I get engrossed in conversation with Chosen. He always has such intriguing tales to share," Victim giggled, covering his smile with his hand as Agent let out a sigh in response.

"You seemed to be enjoying your time with him, and I didn't want to disrupt that," Agent mumbled, averting his gaze, only to startle when he felt Victim's hand on his.

"Your hands are icy cold. You really should consider wearing a thicker coat," Victim remarked, gently rubbing his hand against Agent's freezing ones. "And no, you could never intrude. Even if you barged in because you misplaced your favorite mug, I would still hold you in high esteem."

Agent blushed at Victim's words, glancing down at their intertwined hands before deciding to curl his fingers around Victim's.

Victim turned to Agent, his expression frozen, as he noticed a faint smile playing on Agent's lips, a sight that left Victim breathless. It was the first time he had seen Agent smile so genuinely over something so simple.

"Your hands... they're soft... I like it," Agent whispered softly, prompting Victim to unconsciously run his thumb over Agent's knuckles.

"Gloves have been a lifesaver for me," Victim chuckled lightly, observing Agent as he gazed intently at his hands for a moment before redirecting his attention.

Witnessing Agent's sudden change in demeanor, Victim furrowed his brows, concerned. "What's the matter?" he asked, tilting his head as Agent, the usually towering figure, looked down with a visible frown.

"Nothing is the matter," Agent replied numbly, withdrawing his hand from Victim's and placing them in his lap, a sense of distance creeping between them.

Internally, Agent grappled with Chosen's words echoing persistently in his mind. I have no right to demand anything from Victim when I am merely in his service, nothing more than a subordinate.

"Is this all you can do?" Chosen's voice boomed as he looked down at Agent, who struggled to catch his breath, his body quivering from exertion, his mind reeling. "One more," Agent managed to pant out, determination flickering in his eyes despite his evident fatigue.

"You're distracted. This isn't how you fought in the past. Every move you made was deliberate. Why are you so haphazard now?" Chosen growled, scrutinizing Agent as he laboriously got back on his feet.

"I am not distracted," Agent retorted, a sneer in his voice, though Chosen only let out a derisive laugh. "You are. Is it because of what I said a few days ago?" Chosen probed, observing Agent struggle to maintain his balance.

"What if it is? What you said is the truth," the taller figure admitted, placing a hand on his knee as he bent down, taking a moment to steady himself, his breaths deep and deliberate.

Chosen hummed thoughtfully, arms crossed as he approached Agent. "I never pegged you as someone with low self-esteem," he remarked, his tone carrying a hint of surprise, prompting a dark chuckle from Agent.

"Walk a mile in my shoes, being forged into a weapon since childhood, then we'll talk about self-esteem," Agent shot back bitterly.

Chosen's demeanor softened at Agent's response. With a sigh, he slowly lowered himself onto the mat, looking up at Agent before patting the space beside him. "Sit down. You look like you might collapse," Chosen advised gently.

Agent complied, sinking down beside Chosen and propping himself up on his elbows, his breathing ragged and uneven. "I'm okay, just... need to catch my breath," Agent managed between shaky breaths, focusing on calming his racing heart as he tried to regain his composure. 

The sparring session between Agent and Chosen had stretched on for nearly four hours, with Agent winning three times and Chosen five. Initially, the fight had favored Agent, his proficiency evident in hand-to-hand combat. However, as the session progressed and Chosen began to weave in mentions of Victim and his vulnerabilities, Agent's focus wavered.

Midway through, Chosen's words seemed to chip away at Agent's resolve, causing him to lose some of his edge. And this distraction had contributed to Chosen securing five consecutive victories, a fact that weighed heavily on Agent's mind as he lay on his back, gazing up at the bright lights above, his expression distant and vacant.

Beside him, Chosen let out a sigh. "In all honesty, I was just testing you. Everything I said and did was a trial to see if you would go the extra mile for Victim," he explained, his tone earnest.

Agent turned towards Chosen, irritation evident in his expression. "Thank you for attempting to shatter my self-confidence, Chosen," Agent retorted, his voice laced with sarcasm, to which Chosen responded with laughter

"I have to admit, it seems my efforts did have an effect," Chosen teased, a smirk playing on his face as Agent sat up with a groan, adjusting his shades and shooting a disdainful look at Chosen. "They did not," Agent growled, his frustration palpable, though Chosen couldn't help but chuckle at the response.

"Alright, Mr. Low Self-Esteem," Chosen teased, wiping away a tear of laughter as Agent glared at him.

"Victim likes you too, you know. Since I arrived, he's been singing your praises non-stop," Chosen remarked, prompting Agent to avert his gaze. "To be honest, I'm getting tired of it. Just get together already," Chosen added, rolling his eyes dramatically and dropping down to the ground, resting his head in his hands.

"We haven't even kissed yet, and you're already jumping to that conclusion. How delightful," Agent deadpanned, prompting a shocked reaction from Chosen. "Wait, seriously? You two haven't kissed? Oh, for the love of code! Is this what Sec has been hinting at?" Chosen exclaimed, slapping a hand to his face in exasperation as Agent let out a sigh, resting his cheek in his palm

"There have been numerous close calls... I had hoped we could have a conversation today... but you were clearly in my way," Agent glared at Chosen, who met his gaze with a smug grin.

"That actually was intentional, I must admit. But really, I had no idea you two hadn't even shared a kiss yet. That's... quite unfortunate," Chosen remarked, a hint of sympathy in his tone, though Agent simply shook his head, weariness evident in his expression. "I'm accustomed to it. I've known him longer than you have, after all."

"Ah, quite the flex," Chosen teased, flashing Agent a playful smirk. Their conversation was interrupted as the door swung open, revealing a visibly perturbed Victim. Reacting swiftly, Agent rose to his feet, a hint of unsteadiness in his movements, only to be steadied by Chosen's grasp on his arm.

Victim's gaze narrowed at the proximity between Agent and Chosen, his expression bordering on fury.

"Agent, I've been trying to reach you for two hours, and this is where I find you?" Victim's accusatory tone cut through the air, his gaze shifting between Agent and Chosen. Chosen, feeling the weight of Victim's scrutiny, averted his eyes and nervously scratched the back of his neck.

"We were just sparring, Victim. I left my phone and coat aside. I apologize," Agent murmured, straightening his disheveled attire and attempting to tame his unruly hair, evidence of the intense spar that had left him looking disheveled.

Victim's expression remained inscrutable as he regarded Agent, the unspoken tension thick in the room. He then redirected his attention to Chosen. "I never expected you to try to take someone important to me," Victim stated, his voice carrying a weighty undertone.

"In fact, I didn't take him. He followed me willingly," Chosen retorted, a mischievous wink directed at Agent, who seemed lost in the unfolding exchange. "I'm sorry, what's going on?" Agent interjected, his confusion evident as he observed the intense standoff between the two hollowheads.

Agent let out a hiss as he felt something cold meet his shoulder. "To think you would spar with Chosen without asking me first," Victim mumbled, spreading the cool liquid on Agent's back as the taller man shuddered, relishing the warmth from Victim's fingertips, his eyes closing involuntarily.

"Agent," Victim whispered, placing a finger under Agent's chin as the other man blinked up at him blearily. "Sorry, did you say something?" Agent mumbled tiredly as Victim sighed, focusing on Agent's bruised shoulder where Chosen had thrown him off the mat by accident earlier. "Be careful next time, and inform me of your whereabouts," Victim said, gently digging his fingers into Agent's shoulder.

Agent gritted his teeth, releasing a silent breath before nodding. "Of course," he muttered before Victim pulled away, wiping his hands on a spare towel and looking back at Agent, who still appeared as though he had been tossed around multiple times. Despite Agent's efforts to flatten his hair, it stubbornly stuck up, the bath he had taken rendering the hair gel ineffective.

Victim sat beside Agent, the bed bouncing slightly. "I feel slightly betrayed that you would spend more time with Chosen," Victim teased, as Agent turned to him, looking extremely disgusted at the thought. Victim snickered as he watched Agent try to smooth out his expression, only for it to twist back into disgust. "I'm kidding," Victim poked Agent's cheek, eliciting a sigh from him.

"He's been annoying me to spar," Agent grumbled, his face heating up as he recalled getting bested. "Chosen is always like that. He's just extremely lonely... though I wish he'd find another man to bother," Victim narrowed his eyes as Agent looked at him strangely.

"What—" Agent started before shaking his head. He grabbed his shirt from the side and slipped it on, letting out a small grunt as his shoulder ached. He froze when Victim took his hand, calmly running his thumb over Agent's knuckles.

"Your knuckles look red and bruised. Did you two engage in hand-to-hand combat without any protective gear?" Victim asked, a hint of concern in his voice as Agent, slightly embarrassed, confirmed his nod. 

Victim sighed softly, taking Agent's hand in his own, fingers expertly massaging the sore knuckles. Agent's tension visibly eased, his eyes closing in relief as Victim continued his ministrations.

"Next time, be more careful," Victim whispered, his touch moving from Agent's knuckles to his wrist, guiding him to the center of the bed before gently pushing him onto his back.

A soft sound escaped Agent's throat as he gazed up at Victim, who drew closer, his expression inscrutable.

"Agent, tell me... what do you truly want?" Victim's soft voice lingered in the air as his hand traced a path across Agent's chest, then cradled his cheek tenderly. Agent's breath caught in his throat, his gaze locked onto Victim's piercing blue eyes, uncertainty and longing flickering within them.

"I—" Agent attempted to speak, his voice faltering, words struggling to escape as he met Victim's intense gaze.

"Come on, I want to hear it. I want you to know that I'm not here solely for pleasure," Victim urged, leaning in closer, his lips ghosting over Agent's ear before retreating slightly, a rosy hue spreading across Agent's cheeks. In a barely audible murmur, Agent uttered something indistinct, his heart racing in his chest.

"Can you say that again?" Victim's head tilted slightly, prompting Agent to gather his courage, his voice trembling as he whispered, "You... I want you..." The words hung in the air, laden with unspoken emotions.

A soft smile tugged at Victim's lips as he leaned in, rubbing his nose against Agent's hair affectionately. "I know," he murmured, a gentle reassurance as Agent closed his eyes, savoring the closeness before reopening them to find Victim leaning back

"Can I try something?" Victim's question caught Agent off guard momentarily, but as he comprehended the request, he nodded eagerly, his eyes reflecting a mix of anticipation and nervousness. Victim chuckled softly, noting Agent's racing heart. "Relax, your heart is racing again," he teased, placing a hand gently on Agent's chest.

"It's... It's because you're here," Agent confessed, his gaze locked with Victim's, revealing the effect the other had on him. "Oh, is that so? Well, in that case, know that mine does the same," Victim responded, taking Agent's hand and guiding it to his own chest, allowing Agent to feel the rapid thumping of his heart.

"You never betray it on your face," Agent remarked softly, withdrawing his hands to rest by Victim's thigh. Victim merely hummed in response, his touch moving to Agent's neck, fingers tracing along his skin with a tender caress.

A shiver ran through Agent as Victim's warm touch traversed his skin, causing his eyes to flutter shut. "Your skin always feels so cold, Agent," Victim observed, his hand trailing down the back of Agent's neck, eliciting another shudder from Agent, who released a shaky breath.

"Let me know if you want me to stop," Victim's soft whisper filled the space as Agent nodded shakily, his eyes fixated on Victim as he felt his hands slide beneath his shirt, the warmth of his touch meeting the coolness of Agent's stomach.

"Cold, are you sure you're not a snake?" Victim teased lightly, a smirk playing on his lips as Agent could only manage a soft hum in response. "It's... nice," Agent mumbled, his gaze fixed on Victim, his senses overwhelmed by the sensation of closeness.

Victim's thoughts wandered as he admired Agent's skin, his hands trailing along Agent's waist, causing his shirt to ride up slightly, revealing glimpses of his trembling chest at each touch.

"Does it feel good?" Victim askred, redirecting Agent's attention back to him, though Agent seemed lost in admiring Victim's features. "Your touch always feels comforting," Agent murmured, his eyes fluttering shut as he tried to draw closer to Victim's neck, a soft sigh escaping him as Victim involuntarily shuddered.

With a subtle move, Victim withdrew his hand from under Agent's shirt, gently pushing the fabric back down. Agent's gaze lingered on him, a palpable sense of disappointment emanating from him in waves.

"I've always noticed how few people have the privilege of touching you skin to skin... only me," Victim's voice was a soft purr as he placed a hand on Agent's neck, his thumb tracing his pulse gently. "Only you," Agent breathed out, his voice laden with emotion as Victim leaned in closer, their faces almost touching in the charged atmosphere.

"Do you want to? Kiss me?" Victim's question hung in the air, his tone gentle as Agent, dazed but suddenly focused, met Victim's gaze with widened eyes. "Y-Yes... if you'd allow me," Agent whispered, his hand tentatively moving toward Victim's waist, a silent plea in his touch.

Victim chuckled at the intensity in Agent's eyes. "How about the magic word?" he teased, observing Agent's raised eyebrow and the odd look he received before Agent let out a sigh

"Please," Agent deadpanned, prompting laughter from Victim. "It lacks emotion, Agent," Victim teased, tickling Agent behind his ear, eliciting a shaky breath and a stifled chuckle from him. "Please," Agent tried again, but his tone remained flat.

Victim rolled his eyes, pouting playfully at Agent's lackluster attempts.

"Do you have a thing for me begging?" Agent suddenly asked, catching Victim off guard, his face flushing crimson. Surprised by the question, Agent blinked as Victim chuckled in response, a hint of embarrassment coloring his cheeks.

"Well, if you phrase it like that," Victim chuckled, the tension between them palpable as Agent's gaze flickered down to Victim's lips before meeting his eyes once more.

"Please," Agent breathed out, the word laden with need, causing Victim to freeze, his hand unconsciously tangling in Agent's hair, pulling him closer. "Again," Victim demanded, his tone insistent as Agent's eyes widened, meeting his gaze.

"Please," Agent repeated, his voice soft and pleading, his breath growing whiny as Victim drew him closer, their lips finally meeting

Agent's eyes widened, a soft noise escaping him as he closed his eyes, feeling Victim's hand trail across his chest, gently guiding him onto his back as Victim loomed over him.

Sensations heightened as Agent felt a tongue probing at his lips, seeking entrance. With a barely audible hum that resembled a moan, Agent yielded, parting his lips to allow Victim's tongue to explore his mouth. 

His hands instinctively grasped at Victim's suit, trembling with a mix of nerves and desire as Victim continued his exploration, his taste reminiscent of grapes, likely from indulging in lollipops throughout the day.

Victim eventually broke the kiss, both men left breathless in the aftermath. Agent panted beneath him, his breath shaky and his face flushed, his hair now in disarray from the earlier tugging.

"That was..." Agent trailed off, his voice barely above a whisper, his eyes wide as he gazed up at Victim

"Was it good?" Victim smirked, tilting his head as he observed Agent licking his lips, a silent request for more evident in his actions. "Again... please," Agent murmured, only to yelp softly as Victim's lips met his once more, a rush of sensations flooding through him.

Victim's tongue traced along Agent's lips before he leaned back, leaving Agent momentarily confused. Suddenly, Victim straddled him, leaning down to remove the pillow from under Agent's head, prompting a puzzled noise from him.

"Hn?" Agent let out a bewildered sound as Victim gazed down at him, his hands delicately trailing along Agent's neck, a mix of caution and intent in his touch.

"I'm going to try something. If you don't like it, push me away or tell me to stop, okay?" Victim's voice was soft as he sought Agent's consent, receiving a shaky nod in response. He gently took Agent's chin, tilting his head to expose his neck.

"Do you want me to continue?" Victim whispered, his warm breath caressing Agent's skin as he nodded shakily, his plea for more evident in his voice. "Please," Agent urged, his anticipation palpable as Victim leaned closer, his lips brushing against Agent's neck, eliciting shudders and tremors beneath his touch.

Agent's hand flew up to Victim's waist, weakly holding onto him as he released shaky breaths, feeling the gentle suction of Victim's lips on his skin, a breathless giggle escaping him at the sensation.

As Victim leaned back, his face flushed with surprise, he noted, "I've never heard you laugh before," observing Agent with a newfound sense of discovery. Agent, looking embarrassed, admitted, "I'm ticklish," prompting laughter from Victim.

Leaning down, Victim planted a kiss on Agent's nose before pressing a chaste kiss to his lips, a tender gesture amidst the escalating intimacy.

"You're so adorable, Agent. You might have to stop me if I actually go further," Victim teased, his words laced with a mix of playfulness and desire. Agent gazed up at him, his eyes hooded with a silent plea for more.

"I would let you do anything with me," Agent mumbled softly, his words carrying a hint of vulnerability.

"Hmm," Victim smiled, affectionately nuzzling his cheek against Agent's before settling beside him, pulling Agent closer as they lay down together. "I would never do anything that you don't want to do," Victim whispered softly.

Agent turned to his side, facing Victim, his eyes blinking rapidly as he tentatively placed his hand on Victim's waist, then sliding it up his back to draw him nearer. "If it's with you, I'm fine with anything," Agent murmured, seeking closeness and comfort in Victim's presence.

"Still, tell me when you don't like it. Be more honest with me, Agent," Victim urged gently, prompting a nod from Agent as he pulled Victim close, adjusting on the shared pillow.

"You threw my pillow away," Agent grumbled as they tried to find space on the single pillow.

Victim simply giggled, running his finger behind Agent's ears. "Don't you want to share the pillow with me, Agent? It's much more romantic," he whispered, prompting Agent to cuddle closer, unwilling to let go. "I like it," Agent mumbled contentedly as Victim smiled softly in response.

"Me too," Victim whispered in agreement.

Victim hurried down the hallway, his heart racing as he arrived at the infirmary, where Primal, Ballista, and Hazard sat on the floor, their suits disheveled and stained with blood. "Boss... Agent's..." Ballista began, his voice trembling, catching Victim's attention. Without a word, Victim turned towards the closed door of the infirmary before pushing his way inside.

"Sir, I'm afraid you have to wait outside," the nurse informed him, holding a bucket of bloody water. Ignoring the request, Victim growled, "No, I'm staying. Where is he?" His tone brooked no argument as the nurse gave him a sorrowful look, gesturing towards the lone bed in the corner where the curtains were drawn.

Rushing towards the bed, Victim flinched at the sight of Agent as he opened the drapes, his body wrapped in bloody bandages, his complexion ghostly pale. "Agent," Victim called out, his voice laced with worry and urgency as a few nurses hurried over, attempting to gently coax Agent back onto the bed. However, Agent, despite his weakened state, waved them away.

"I'm fine," Agent growled through gritted teeth, a hint of pain evident in his voice as the nurses persisted in their efforts to make him lie back down. Despite his protests, their insistent touches prompted Agent to push them away, his eyes reflecting discomfort.

As the situation escalated, Victim stepped forward, his presence commanding attention. "Enough," he growled, his voice authoritative as he addressed the nurses. "Leave, all of you. He can clearly handle it," Victim snapped, his tone brooking no argument, and the nurses, understanding his directive, quickly exited the room, leaving Victim and Agent alone.

"V-Victim," Agent mumbled, attempting to sit up and swing his legs off the bed, his determination evident despite his weakened state.

Before Agent could move further, Victim placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, ensuring to touch an uninjured area. "Don't stand," Victim ordered firmly, his concern for Agent palpable in his voice as he sought to prevent further strain on Agent's already injured body.

"What happened? You look like a mess," Victim asked, his hand reaching out to cup Agent's cheek gently. Agent could only groan in response, his eyes betraying the pain he was in as he sought comfortby leaning closer to Victim's chest.

"Some kind of copycat of the Chosen, trying to terrorize the city, and we were passing by... I got burned when I pulled Hazard out of the way," Agent mumbled, nestling closer to Victim's chest and releasing a relieved sigh as Victim tenderly ran his hand through his hair, offering a soothing touch.

"Goodness, Agent, that is not part of your job," Victim scolded gently, his concern evident in his tone as Agent merely hummed in acknowledgment, closing his eyes in exhaustion. However, Agent then surprised Victim by grabbing his suit and pulling him closer.

"I want you to lay with me," Agent whispered, looking up at Victim with a pleading expression, a small frown creasing his brow.

Victim's soft smile lingered as he gently cupped Agent's face, leaning in to plant a small kiss on his lips. Agent, caught up in the moment, grasped the front of Victim's suit, pulling him closer until they were interrupted by a sudden noise.

Startled, both Victim and Agent turned towards the door, where they spotted Hazard standing, holding a water bottle while another lay forgotten on the floor. Victim smirked as Agent scowled, ready to protest, but before he could speak, Hazard dashed out of the room, eager to share what he had witnessed.

With a resigned groan, Agent turned back to Victim, who moved around the bed and settled beside him, sitting down and opening his arms. "Come on, you can rest on me," Victim encouraged, his smile warm and inviting. Agent, mindful of his injuries, carefully shifted closer, laying his head on Victim's chest.

"Next time, give me a heads up when you all decide to play hero," Victim teased lightly, a hint of amusement in his tone as Agent groaned in response, offering a grumble before nuzzling closer to Victim, his eyes closing as he chose silence over a reply.

Feeling Victim's gentle hands running through his hair, Agent relaxed further, the tension of the day gradually melting away as he was slowly lured into a deep, much-needed sleep.