LEO

IT should be illegal to have to work on a Monday.

Especially a Monday like this.

Grey, dreary fog weighed down on me like a lead blanket, moisture seeping through my curly brown hair and making me look like a drowned rat dredged up from the sewers. I shivered in the wilting sun, desperately wishing I'd bought a thicker coat and maybe an umbrella–

A car zoomed past, its wheels ran through a puddle and sent a large spray in the air. I should have been able to dodge it, but the cold had frozen my muscles and I could only watch as everything below my knees was doused in frigid water.

"Oh come on!" I yelled at the sky, throwing my hands up. "Are you kidding me?"

A cloud passed over the metallic sky. I could've sworn it looked like a giant middle finger.

Grumbling profanities that would have made my dearly departed grandmother weep, I pulled my flimsy jacket more firmly around my body and persevered through the dingy alleyway, praying that the Agency would have a wonderfully slow day and I could spend my time happily typing up mission reports or hanging out with my friends.

Sadly, life did not work out the way I'd wanted it to.

"Agent Marino." My supervisor- Chief Haddel- eyed my soggy outfit with the same look I give when changing my nephew's diapers. "We have a job for you."

It's always we isn't it? Never I. As if the soul-sucking corporate machines want to give a sense of team spirit with us underdogs and make us feel important when, really, they kick back with their martinis and laugh as we run around doing menial and dangerous jobs. I couldn't wait until I'd finally received my well-earned promotion and live a life at the top of the working food chain.

God, I could use a coffee right about now.

With a boldness borne out of stubbornness, I tilted my chin up and met the slate-coloured eyes of the man I hated most in this place. "What would you like me to do, Sir?"

Haddel turned to the side and snapped his fingers like he was calling a dog. "Come here."

For a split second, I thought the shadows had moved and taken the form of a young woman. With a blink, I realised she had always been there, waiting and watching like a predator about to strike. I wondered how I didn't see her earlier- she certainly wasn't unnoticeable with her striking red hair and light-coloured clothes- and decided to put it down to exhaustion.

"I'm Camilla." She offered a hand and raised her head to meet my gaze. "I assume you're Agent Marino?"

I forced myself not to stare at her eyes; they were of two different colours, one a wild and crazy blue while the other was a deep brown. I shook her hand with a curt nod and turned to Chief Haddel.

"Camilla here has been placed under our protection. A few weeks ago, she witnessed a murder committed by the Scarlett Sapphires–"

Camilla snorted. "Scarlet Sapphires? That's their name? I'm fairly certain there's an alcoholic drink named that."

Haddel's eye twitched and he took a deep breath, his fists clenching and unclenching behind his back. "Miss Camilla, I have gone over this three times in the last thirty minutes–"

"Yeah, I wasn't really paying attention." She stretched and sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. "You have a very... boring voice, I will not lie."

I coughed in my fist to disguise my laughter and cleared my throat. "Chief, what is it I am being asked to do? Am I being tasked with tracking down the Scarlet Sapphire members–"

"Oh, no, you misunderstand. You will be in charge of protecting Camilla until the trial."

**

"So." Camilla drew out the word as we went downstairs. "Where're we going now?"

My head throbbed and I took three deep breaths. Grandma always said that you never made a good decision unless you take in a good amount of oxygen. But she also said that peaches were the fruits of the devil– it was fun trying to decide which advice of hers I should listen to, and which I should blame on her medication.

I did not want to be stuck on babysitting duty. Bad enough that my promotion got passed on, but now I was being stuck with the most menial job?

However, I had bills to pay so I couldn't afford to be picky. No matter how much I wanted to scream and throw a tantrum about it.

Adulthood really sucks.

"I suppose we stay here." I shrugged and grabbed a cup of coffee from the side table. "I need to sort out some documents—"

Camilla rolled her eyes and let out a huff that caused a few strands of hair to frame her face. "Boorring! Is it part of the Agency's policy to live like they've got a stick shoved up their arse or something?"

I choked and inhaled a mouthful of coffee. Dabbing my mouth, I managed to cough out an incredulous splutter of defence and gesticulations. "Do you not understand that– ack!– we are possibly the only reason you're alive right now? If the Scarlett Sapphires– please stop laughing– catch you, they won't just kill you. They'll destroy you."

She scoffed and adjusted the cuffs of her bright blue shirt. "I doubt it. I'm quite good at hiding."

"Then how come the Agency was able to track you down so easily?"

"Simple. I wanted to be found." Her gaze slid to the large crowd gathered around the elevator and tilted her head. "What's going on there?"

"Ah. That is our betting pool." I grinned and signalled to my fellow Agent, Emma, to place my usual. "Two members of the establishment are always at each other's throats. Whenever they're alone together for more than ten minutes, we bet on who will make it out alive."

"And who did you bet on?"

"Analyst Ada Wilson," I declared, crossing my arms. "Sure, her opponent is a Special Agent, but that lady is terrifying. Oh, look! Here they come now."

With a soft ding! the metal doors slid apart and I was disappointed to see both Analyst and Agent had emerged unscathed. A chorus of groans went around the room and I sighed, pouring myself a consolatory cup of coffee.

Camilla's breath hitched in her throat and her eyes widened. With trembling fingers, she pressed her mouth and ducked her head, letting out a bitter chuckle. "So that's what she's up to these days."

I sipped my drink. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing." She gripped my arm and her voice dropped several octaves. "Come on, Agent Hard-ass. Why don't we go for a little walk? I'm absolutely dying for some fresh air." 

********

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Stay safe and thanks for reading :)