Chad: When you said little you meant-
Val: Physically Small Yes.
Chad: Well, what is it?
Val: That- is a baby.
Chad: I can see that, I meant-
Val: Oh it's a girl.
Chad: A girl, wow... And she's-
Val: Yours too, yes.
Chad: Because of the-
Val: Extra X chromosomes. Thanks for that by the way.
Chad: Were you ever going to tell me?
Val: It honestly really depended on if you ever asked.
Chad: Why is she wearing a onesie?
Val: She looked cold.
Chad: Does she have a name?
Val: Still work-shopping it.
Hinoki: Hey Baby, did we order a helicopter?
Fynn: Ughh What? No- Fuck, Maybe? What's wrong?
Hinoki: No Reason. It's just-
Hinoki: That woman looks so familiar.
Leanne: Ready to head out?
Val: You ready to go home?
Chad: Yeah, Hey- Did you by any chance reprogram Leanne?
Val: I thought you two deserved a fresh start.
Chad: So you hit ctrl+F, searched for Chad, and hit delete?
Val: Let's just say it was a rush job.
Chad: You're the worst.
Val: And you're the best. Ready?
Ready.
Val: Back home if you would please, Leanne.
Leanne: Of course Sir. Any stops along the way?
Val: Maybe we could find somewhere to stop for breakfast once we're out of the city.
Leanne: Very good sir. Please prepare for take off.
In the spare room of the Plott's Oasis Springs Mansion Private Agent Chad Chinsley absentmindedly fiddled with the the piece of gold circling his left ring finger- the word echoing in his mind.
Completely.
So much had changed since he found himself sitting gloomily in his apartments at UNIT HQ reading Val's letter on New Years Day.
Things that once seemed scary and unknown had become clear, a light bursting forth to guide him to his own chosen path out of the darkness.
And things that were once comforting and familiar had decided to stab him in the back nine times with a size five stiletto.
Poppy: Well-
Chad: Respectfully Director, the success of this operation is directly because of Poppy's plan.
She's the smartest, most resourceful person I've ever met- and while I must decline your offer, I can guarantee there has never been any person more fit to take my place.
Argent: And would you call that a fair estimate 005?
Being the offended party that spent a bit too much time in the steam room this morning, that is.
Vera: Director Argent, I watched her take down a man three times her size with no back up and no proper training.
I would say it's more than a fair estimate.
Director: Well then, it's settled.
And just to save me some paperwork, we'll keep it simple. Swing by my office tomorrow morning and I'll get you set up.
Argent: Welcome to UNIT Agent 009, Miss Poppy Plott.
Valerian quietly removed Chad's hand from his face, cradling it gently in his own as he traced the back of the Agent's knuckles lightly with his index finger.
"We have a lot of enemies. If we slip up, if the League catches on, it could be dangerous."
"Let them try to take us down."
"Then let me tell you this Special Agent Chad Chinsley-" Valerian's gaze was steady and focused on the man in front of him as he slipped the the ring, a future promise, around Chad's finger.
"I am yours completely. As long as I breathe, I will fight for you, by your side as long as my lifespan will let me. And someday in the distant future, not today, not tomorrow, but when we're ready, if you'd let me, I would like to call you my husband."
"Do you agree to my terms?"
"I do."
"Then there's been something I've wanted to do for a very long time."
💌🎵
Like two beautiful and terrible asteroids set on a predestined course, at this very moment in an elevator stopped between the second and third floor of the Starlight, there was nothing in the world that could stop them from colliding in an explosion of light and color.
"I love you Chad."
Chad laughed, smiling. The weight lifted from both their chests and the story line.
"I love you too Valerian."
And they of course they meant it. Every single word.
Poppy: Oh wow, that uh- hmm. I uh- Y'know, I really need to get to this debriefing. It's kinda the first one where I don't have to take notes or fetch anyone coffee. I really shouldn't miss it.
Sooo this has been great! You're great, of course. I uh-
Ale: It already sounds like a lot more fun than dealing with the Selvadoradian Embassy, but just one more thing- real quick, before you go.
Poppy Plott liked to keep most people she encountered at an arms length. There wasn't man or woman on the planet that could make her settle down.
The whole unfortunate concept of legacies, huge families with sticky screaming children, was simply not something she ever could see getting on board with.
It was why keeping up the legacy heir charade was such a pain when it came up constantly in conversations with her mother.
But as Assistant Researcher Alejandro Florez pressed a quick parting kiss to her cheek, she felt the smallest crack in her chest; from which a little bit of light started shining through- from her softening heart.
Not enough to fill a room, but just enough to break the surface.
The contents of the hotel pool rushed into the Vault, flooding the lower floor with half a foot of chlorinated water.
Sean: Now that we've got your attention Miss Starlight, there's a couple people we'd like you to speak with.
Dick: And after we're done, you'll all be escorted to a comfy little maximum security cell block while I will be out buying my agents a round of drinks to celebrate a job well done.
Vera: Well, that all sounds perfectly reasonable to me, what about you Doctor?
The cavalry had arrived - the other slightly worse for wear half of the team had entered the vault through the comically large hole in the wall that led into the room from the inside of the now empty basement pool.
This was bad for the League of Evil sure, but Valerian couldn't help but let Vexus' cold focused demeanor slip in that moment as a wave of powerful relief washed over him.
Chad was okay, he wasn't injured, or dead like Valerian had feared, but was looking back at him from the upper catwalk with a small soft apologetic smile, trying not to draw any attention to himself or distract from the matter at hand.
