first macriley short ever 🥺🥺 please please enjoy LMAO <3 this is very much based on episode 4x12
word count: almost 1K words
“riles.” that one word sent riley’s heart spinning, but she forced herself to push the feelings down. “you’re family mac.” she said softly, glancing at the blonde haired genius sitting next to her. “still...you didn’t have to do this.” almost a day ago, mac broke out a codex operative that was currently sleeping in the backseat, and stole tesla’s super weapon from phoenix foundation. and of course, because riley was a “ride or die” type of best friend, she helped mac escape with the weapon. and now they were headed directly to codex to betray their friends- or at least trick them into believing they were betrayed.
good undercover doublecrossing operatives don’t let anyone on either side know their true intentions. “mac. you’re my best friend. i’d do anything for you.” before mac could respond, scarlett stirred from behind them. “home sweet home.” she said drowsily, but the welcome back was not a pleasant one.
“hang on!” riley veered off into a sideroad to avoid being further shot at. “We tend to be a little wary of outsiders.” scarlett offered, but after the gunfire didn’t stop when she tried for peace, she settled in the back with a sigh. “well, that’s not good.” eventually, the trio got rid of the two attackers, and continued to the ranchhouse.
before roman and the soldiers could take out the truck, gwen thankfully recognized mac’s morse code. “hell..fire incoming. GET EVERYONE INSIDE!” as the operatives and their families ran to the ranchhouse and the secret city underneath, riley pulled into the gravel driveway.
“we have a gift.” mac said before anyone could say anything, and riley smiled softly, looking at mac. “got it bad huh.” scarlett teased her and riley quickly found somewhere else to look as mac uncovered shiva. “really roman. he brought us shiva and you were going to shoot him for it?” gwen reprimanded her head of security, and riley went to help mac load up shiva. “what’s that gonna do against a hellfire?” roman lowered his weapon and mac glanced over. “hopefully it’ll act as a mini missile defensive system. the electromagnetic pulse should scramble the missile guiding system.” “hurry!” scarlett stated the obvious from behind them.
riley and mac let out the biggest sighs as the missile flew right past the ranchhouse and crashed into the woods with the pulse mac shot at it. gwen and roman exchanged triumphant smiles but before anyone could say anything, riley stepped forward. “hey mac... how many missiles does a reaper drone carry?” the drone’s figure was nearing the group. “i’m guessing two.” he started to crank up shiva again, but the drone was approaching too fast, even for tesla’s superweapon.
mac stopped cranking and the group stared at the drone in terror. without a word, mac reached over and took riley’s hand. her heart exploded, but she didn’t dare look at mac’s face, or their intertwined hands. if this was the end, this was a hell of a way to go.
“thank god.” scarlett said, as the drone flew right over, crashing in a field. mac chuckled breathily, and exchange a knowing tilt of the head with gwen. “ella!” scarlett rushed towards her sister and riley smiled at the reunion, stepping a bit closer to mac. being separated from someone you love was the hardest thing a person had to go through, riley thought. “thank you.” the look in scarlett’s eyes was so desperate and grateful, that riley felt her sincerity in her body. “of course.” scarlett gave her a small smile about mac and riley blushed, looking down.
“so what changed your mind?” gwen walked forward with mac, riley on their tail. “as hard as i tried, i couldn’t find a hole in the logic of file 47. my mother was right, i’m glad you were here to show me that.” they paused and mac looked directly into his aunt, giving her a small smile. “so am i.” she smiled back, her eyes sparkling in the sunlight. “and your girlfriend?”
as much as riley would have loved mac to say she was her girlfriend, she spoke up. “you know i’m not his girlfriend.” but gwen simply gave her a small smile. were her feelings really that obvious? “you also know the skills she has to offer. we’re a package deal.” mac finished, smiling at gwen.
“then you both understand what a huge commitment you’re making? any lingering doubts?” riley swallowed hard, not wanting to say anything, but luckily mac answered. “we just betrayed our friends to stop a missile dropping on your heads so... i’d say that ship has sailed.”
“okay.” gwen chuckled then glanced at riley. “i can think of many other ships that have sailed... or that could sail.” with that she pulled out a transmitter of sorts and dialed in a number, leaving riley more confused than she had been before.
the wooden sides of the ranchhouse opened to a secret elevator that took them down to the underground city. “welcome home angus.” gwen disappeared and riley stammered. “this is... unbelievable.” cars and bikes filled the roads, and the streets were lined with coffee shops, markets and pedestrians. “so what now?” riley’s gut dreaded the answer. “improvise.”
“mac?” riley turned to him and mac looked at her. “yeah?” “please don’t leave me.” riley expected a “of course not.” or something of the sort, but didn’t expect the hug he pulled her into. “i dragged you into this mess riles. i’m not letting you go before we take this thing down.” he pressed abkiss to her temple and riley smiled in pleasant shock. “i’m glad we’re on the same page then.” she pulled away, and the two of them continued down the street in the same anxiety filled excitement stupor, ready to see what they’re tackling next.
