That was the official story the agency told in order to cover up his agent survived.
His agent.
The agency had been searching the entire perimeter and rubble but there was nothing. No body, no signs of struggle aside from a trail that prematurely ends. As if someone took them to safety, away from the pain of the rubble.
"Still nothing?" He asked, heart slowly sinking at the sight of one of the rescuers shaking their head.
"Well, isn't this a bit inconvenient? You do realize that you're already skirting protocol with what you're pulling, yeah?"
"I already have a migraine. Don't add to it, agent." Agent Phoenix was laying on the floor of the hotel room, glaring at his obvious provocation.
Agent Ichor only sighed, reading papers as his green eyes darted towards the agent sprawling on the floor. "You have to go back. It's been a few days. Besides, I have a nightmare to deal with. No thanks to you, agent."
"You'd been aiming for Zoraxis to suffer and tank their value for a while now." They shrugged, only to wince as they aggravated their condition once more.
"Don't you have anything better to do? If the rest of the agency knows what I'm doing, what we're doing—"
"They won't catch us."
"You're going against agency protocol."
"We're already breaking it."
Ichor stared at Phoenix with resignation. "You know that our respective divisions are making bets on if we'll tear each other apart once we meet officially, right?" He was massaging his temple as he adjusted his glasses.
"You were an idiot to be that specific with an eye color."
"That detail is unforgettable and you know that."
"Still a bit of a rookie move of you."
"Didn't you say you have a handler to get back to?"
Phoenix's shoulder slumped as they sighed. "... I'm probably presumed dead already. Been missing a few days. Thanks for that. I think I recovered well but you insisted I rest a little longer."
"You were never supposed to be here."
"... I know."
"And now you're asking me to fabricate a whole person? Away from agency eyes, no less! Do you see how... ungrounded that is?"
"You and I both know how we both relate to that, Agent."
In a week-long cover mission, tensions arise from Agent Phoenix and another agent over a few details of their living arrangement within just days of being together.
Content Warnings: Yearning, Grief, Hurt no comfort, wishing for the past, flashbacks, Agent Phoenix has a name, They/she pronouns for Agent Phoenix, domestic disputes and arguments
"It's been two days." Agent Ichor sighed as the pair walked side by side. His blonde hair was tied as the gentle breeze played with it. "You still haven't given me my pillow back."
"... It's soft and comfortable, A. What can you do about it?" Agent Phoenix wore their hair down, brown eyes crinkling with slight amusement as they walked ahead. "It's big and fluffy and adorable."
"I'd prefer if I had something to sleep with. You're already taking up my bed."
"You insisted I take it." They mumbled, taking a deep sigh as they stared at their now dyed black hair. Their fingers touched the strands before letting it fall on the side. "And last I checked, you haven't told me to give it back."
"... What if I want to tell you to do so?"
The silence between the pair grew as they walked behind a background of green. The trees overcast a gentle shadow that protected them from the harsh sun. The pair walked side by side, yet distant enough for their comfort.
Fe walked ahead as she turned to her companion with a smile. "Come on, Ameri. Let me carry my bag. Do you want to give it back to me at least?"
Ameri chuckled, holding up the bag with slight amusement as he shook his head. "It keeps me from holding your hand. I don't want to get asked when's the wedding. Besides, I want to."
"You're busy with college overseas. You really should be resting. Home is where you're supposed to relax, not work. It feels embarrassing, honestly." Fe sighed, putting her hands on her hips. "Just because my college days start in your summer months... I'm sorry I don't have free time to spend with you. But I hope our folks keep you company when I'm busy." She sighed, brown hair framing her face as it was put up in a high ponytail to deal with the heat.
"Spending time with you is relaxing. Don't worry about it. I'm with you because everyone keeps asking me how I've been, Fe. You just allow me to... exist."
"I told you to call me 'Florian'. We've practically adopted you. We're not just classmates anymore. I brought you home."
"You make it sound like you're a young man and I'm your wife." His chuckle came back with a wince. "Ow!"
"Sira." Fe shook her head and fought back the urge to laugh. "This is why everyone thinks we're dating!"
"Messing with my best friend is literally my only lifeline. Let me have this one, Florian."
The pair just laughed as their pace matched down the sidewalk shaded by vendors with those umbrellas.
As the trees provided shade for the pair, Agent Phoenix's eyes were shadowed by the silence. It wasn't the comfortable silence of laughter's aftermath.
"Are you sure I can't keep it for a few more days?"
"You're not the only one who slept alone for a long, Fe."
Phoenix's steps faltered, pausing to watch Ichor do the same. His fists clenched as he took in a breath.
The man in front of her doesn't have the eyes of a trickster, only the green that hid, like a grass field covering up the scars of a battle. His suit was stiff, well pressed. It wasn't like the softer suits that felt comfortable to hug.
The pair's hands met halfway, him dragging them for a few more steps in silence. Their palm felt warm in his but the fingertips felt cold as their shoulders shook.
"... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to intrude on your life all over again."
Their feet kept in step with his, never faltering. Yet their mind was elsewhere. They wanted their husband, not whatever this situation is. Not whatever cover they're now playing.
The corners of their eyes felt chilly as the wind brushed off the beading tears. They stared at him, his back turned away from them as the only sound between them returned to being footsteps down on a stone path.
"This whole situation is messed up but I hope we can endure whatever this is. It's not your fault you intruded on my life in this way. You can keep the pillow."
"But you need it to sleep."
"I can buy another one. I know where to get it. For now, just treat our shared housing like home. You're there to recover from your implant, after all. It wouldn't do well if you're too stressed out to sleep. And don't give me that."
Phoenix's hold on his palm tightened slightly. "I'm not. But we both know I can't fully relax in this place."
"I know. But just rest where and when you could."
Phoenix took in a deep breath, barely whispering the words. "I'll try."
Anyone got any theories? Does anyone have a guess on the pair's relationship? >:3
I might rewrite this scene as I purposely added some context which would have been explained in an earlier chapter but I definitely wanted to write this scene a lot. I needed to get this out of my system so badly.
This idea made me feel things so I hope it made you feel things too.
The rain came on suddenly. It wasn't exactly enough to cause wide enough damage but the precedent is the worrying. As far as I can tell, this area isn't used to the beatings of the rain like where I came from.
"The downpour is quite something, isn't it, Phoenix?" Agent Ichor stood beside me as we looked out the break room window. "The weather's on shuffle mode for some reason. Got some people who can give an explanation about it?" He was leaning on the counter with a cup of the same malunggay tea I brewed myself.
I shook my head, giving him a look. Crossing my arms should be enough to get my displeasure across.
"No dice with the NSDB?" He gave me a look before sighing and taking a quick sip of the tea. "Why do you have such a look on your face? Fine. I guess they don't have a stake in this country."
No, they don't. Unless there's a science collaboration between countries. As far as I'm aware, the majority of effort is focused more on computers due to Dr. Prism's groundbreaking work on the data structures to be able to make a parser. The neural networks there—
"Earth to the pediatrician?" He grinned, letting go of his hand on my shoulder. His blond hair was getting longer again. "Hah. You seem to always snap out of it when I call you that."
Do I look like Dr. del Mundo to you?
He chuckled as we settled back to staring at the window. "You know, the sight's nostalgic. Remembering when they announce class suspensions but then it doesn't rain. Then, the next day of class, class gets canceled halfway. We were a bunch of sad wet chicks."
The static of the rain hitting the glass filled the room. The glass was insulated enough to shut out the cold, unlike the design of our classroom that still let rainwater in.
The mugs added to the warmth, aside from the fact we were standing beside each other; the counter feels like a backrest. The room were filled with a grey haze, coating the counters, table, and communal fridge from how the sky seemed to mourn.
"Still not talking?" He chuckled, his green eyes looking at the yellowish-green of the tea. "You're not obligated to talk but..." He gently placed down his mug before turning to me. His brows were furrowed slightly as he soon looked up at the ceiling. "What was it like in that booth during college?"
"Magandang hapon, mga kamag-aral at aming tagapakinig. Batay sa mga ulat ng Weather Bureau, may paparating na Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal #3 sa ating lungsod dala ng Bagyong..."
The name of the typhoon that hit our area eludes me now. I can likely look at the archives but I know it was the fourth of the year. The local name started with a D. We hit U that year.
There wasn't much damage in the buildings at all. But the coordination it required was high. I have no idea how we pulled it off.
"Fe, nakausap mo na ba yung mga sa kabilang lalawigan?"
"Oho. Nabalitaan na rin po sila tungkol sa mga ulat." I was looking through my bag to distract myself from the station that caused me to shiver. The other lines took a significant time away from the worst case window before acknowledging our transmission. "Pinapauwi na nila ang mga mag-aaral."
Unlike the other radio staff, I don't live in the dorms. Let's just hope the plastic envelope keeps my papers safe. I better head out soon or else I won't be able to catch a jeepney home due to the rain.
"Mainam. Mag-ingat ka, hija. Mas lalo na sa panahon na ito." He gave me such kind eyes before handing me my umbrella.
"Kayo rin ho. Basa na po ang daan. Maaaring may madulas sa panahong ito." I took the umbrella to head down the floors. I might need to get a long detour if I don't want to get my socks wet.
The adminstration really should focus on the flood control since we're beside a river. It'll be a miracle if the lower floors didn't flood.
But I remember in my four years of study there, there'd always been problems in the budget due to bureaucracy and other such—
"That's... enough." Ichor held my hands as his green eyes furrowed. "You were signing." He tried to chuckle as he took in a few deep breaths for me to follow. "Wow. You're shaking. You there? Not getting dizzy from the high blood pressure?"
His hands are warm as he took in a few moments to make sure I was actually breathing normally.
"Better?"
I gave him a nod, gently pulling my hands away from his.
"Guess I hit a sore spot."
You absolutely did, Ichor. It's because of this specific kind of thing that I'm with the agency in the first place.
He rubbed his hair slightly, wearing a slightly wry smile. His stupid dimples were showing slightly. "Your mission in that country's delayed. You caused a paperwork nightmare. The least you can do is bribe me with flan for dealing with it."
I popped my cheek twice before giving him a grin. It was satisfying to see him deflate slightly. Hah.
"Fine. Fine. Guess you're too lazy to. I think you can take another field mission before I'm done with the papers."
The twinkle in his eyes gave me shivers as he continued drinking his tea. "How about poking around at what Zoraxis is doing? After all, they made a blizzard machine. Who's to say this weather is not their fault?"
My narrowed eyes only caused him to laugh. Him and his bet ideas.
"Got me. If it's Zoraxis, you owe me that flan. If not, my treat when we get to Binondo. Yes, we'll get pancit. But fine, I'll pay for the ingredients of the flan."
He knows something, doesn't he?
"Maybe... I provoked that crab again. Who knows? It's off the record anyway."
This is why I don't want to play with you nowadays.
Yes, malunggay or moringa tea exists. I drink it fairly often.
NSDB - National Science Development Board. The precursor to the current Department of Science and Technology.
Dr. Fe del Mundo (may she rest in peace) was a well known pediatrician. My Phoenix's nickname in this AU is Fe. Yes. It annoys them.
The Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) uses Signal Numbers 1 to 5 as a warning system for strong winds and storms. A Signal Number 3 (wind speed of 89 to 117 km/h or 55 to 73 mph and a warning lead time of 18 hours) cancels classes for all levels. You can read more about it here.
Typhoons get a local name from a preset list and only get it if they get inside the area of responsibility. The system used is "local names for when they enter the area of responsibility and international names for proper identification worldwide".
Apparently, popping the cheek can mean "I'm too lazy to do it." X
Binondo apparently has one of the oldest panciterias in the Philippines.
"That crab" refers to Operative Weaved. I will not explain myself. (Yet.)
In case anyone asks, yes. This is how I'm coping with the recent things. I'm fine though.
