"–adjust two points left and five up." I spoke calmly to Mack as he levelled his scope onto the valley beneath us. I kept the spotting scope steady on the make shift road that ran towards the facility they would not reach.

This was merely a few scientists and some rather unsavoury chemical material that needed to remain out of further reach. No matter which side this was for, I could at least agree that bioweapons were not a favourite of mine no matter which side used them.

The thermal gear and white ghillie suit was starting to itch. I resisted the urge to tear it off entirely and finish the targets myself. Patience.

"Roger." He murmured, making the adjustments beside me.

We still had approximately five minutes until their ETA. Mack kept his eye trained on his shot and reached his free hand into his pocket simultaneously to draw out a crinkling object. He slowly took a bite out of it and chewed against his scope. I smirked as he offered it to me wordlessly.

"I'm good."

"Picked this up in the States last month. Best jerky on the planet." He grunted, tearing off another bite with his teeth.

"I'll take your word for it." I murmured, inhaling the interesting blend of honey and barbecue over the dried meat. I supposed I would have enjoyed it if food appealed to me. 

We were silent for a few moments more, just watching the valley of snow covered trees beneath us in our covered enclave in the rocks. Mack adjusted his body carefully before settling back against the scope.

"So, you got a man, Fletcher?" 

I grinned. "I don't, Mack."

He chuckled, "Don't be such a virgin."

"I think it's safe to leave that skill with you." I returned calmly, resisting a smirk.

"When's the last time you got laid then?" He returned just as simply. 

Bloody mercenaries.

"48 hours ago. Target is two minutes out." I added, trying painfully hard not to laugh at the situation and his lack of seriousness towards it.

"Having a hard time believing you. Did you pay for it?" He asked.

I sniggered against the rock face this time unable to keep it together at this mortal's sheer audacity.

"Sounds like your Friday night, Mack. Or is it only work days they take you?" I drawled.

He giggled into the scope like a child. Then slotted a .50 Cal round into the chamber as the snow swept up in a cloud that showed us the closing convoy.

"If you want to fuck me, Fletcher, I won't ask for any money. How's that?" He murmured, tracing their trajectory.

I smiled darkly, watching the convoy speed and movement through my spotter scope. We would handle the last vehicle, the four others–including Ash's pair–would take vehicles in the middle and front. Armoured sides and windows which meant a few well placed charges on trees would allow us to compromise those windows. We were simply overwatch.

"If I need to pay you–we know something has gone very wrong." I murmured. His smile returned at my words, "–adjust three points left and maintain height." I finished.

"Roger." He answered in the same monotone. 

"Have you got someone special, Mack?" I said calmly, "–other than your right hand?"

He started shaking under the effort not to laugh and ruin his new scope zeroed on my words. I kept watching the three vehicles approach the detonation mark as he sobered himself and took a measured breath.

The charges went off.

Four trees fell around the convoy. The first destroyed the lead vehicles engine and caused the second to swerve wildly into the rear of it before rolling onto its roof. The last slammed the brakes and skidded across the ice as the trees blocked the rear.

Mack shot cleanly and the suppressor of the sniper hissed.

The rear's tyre exploded under his shot. He slotted the bolt back quickly preparing for what he knew would happen next. The first protection detail threw himself out the passenger side and drew his rifle.

Mack fired and he took the round through the chest despite the armour. Nothing stopped this calibre other than immortal skin.

He fell back against the vehicle instantly dead. Two more jumped from the vehicle to take hasty defensive positions and met the same fate. I had to give it to the man... he did not miss.

"Four more hostiles if you want them." I said calmly, watching them be engaged by our four operators on the ground. Ash emerged from the snow like a spectre with her team and they started dropping quickly however.

Mack fired off despite it and removed the last assailant before he could even point his rifle at her team.

"Maintaining watch on central vehicle." Mack murmured over our shared comm channel.

"Ack." Ash responded, moving with her three operators to close in on the central vehicle that no one had yet left under its over turned form.

I saw a flash from a muzzle then a splash of red paint the snow around the vehicle.

"Ash, status." Mack asked more hastily.

There was silence for a very long few seconds.

"All vehicles confirmed clear." She finally answered.

Mack relaxed into his position and flexed his trigger finger. But a sense that went beyond what I could describe honed my senses back to the rear vehicle. Call it immortal instincts or other such relentless senses but I felt the movement before I saw it.

"Hostile rear vehicle." I spoke calmly over the line gaining every mortal piece of attention and turning them all around as a mortal in civilian clothing raised a pistol in their direction.

All four operators cut him down on the ground before Mack could rescope. He stared down it regardless and stared at the mortal that dropped before them. The rear vehicle suddenly exploded and even I flinched.

"Deadman switch!" Ash called, as the operators scattered to cover into the trees expecting a secondary explosion. None occurred. We all waited for the next surprise these mortals had for us. When the winds continued to howl and snow continued its fall they slowly returned to positions near the vehicles.

"Good looking out, Fletcher." Ash's voice retuned down the comm.

Mack turned to me slowly and offered me his gloved hand in a bizarre expression of his own respect. I shook it awkwardly over the scope before we both resumed our oversight through scopes. 

"Clear."

"Clear." We mirrored.

"Assets recovered. Heading back to extraction point. Team Bravo you are good to clear." Ash informed us.

Mack nodded, already packing up his sniper.

"Ack. With you in half an hour."

Then we were moving. As simple as that I had concluded my first operation under Vanguard. As simply as that I was on my way back to London. I glanced at my watch under the ghillie suit. 1545, not bad at all.

"What gave him away?" Mack blurted, as he unscrewed the lengthy suppressor. 

I considered this, what could be seen and what couldn't. How could someone sense an adversary this far from the crash site? Then I decided on the truth.

"Instinct." I answered, packing the scope into my backpack and slinging it onto my shoulder as I waited for him.

He glanced at me and nodded. "Useful skill."

"It's kept me alive." I agreed, more truthful than he would realise.

He slung his rifle case over his should and tore his snow-camo hood back. He clasped my shoulder firmly as he passed me and lead the way back where we came through to our rocky perch covered in snow.

"I'll help you get some, Fletcher. And you watch my six, how about that?" He remarked over the wind.

I did laugh this time, shaking my head as I watched him traverse the rocks.

"I already have someone, Mack–"

"Nah, nah there's no point lying now. See, I know what you're doing–" he lost his footing as the wind slammed into his flank. I darted forward in a blink to grasp his forearm and throw him back against the rock face. He exhaled sharply as rocks tumbled roughly beneath us both and snow rushed across the winds. He was too preoccupied with death to notice my speed anyway. 

We waited until the gust passed us. I held up a finger before that mouth of his could fill the air again.

"Get back onto the snow and then insult my intelligence." I stated, glancing at the forty foot drop beneath us.

He nodded quickly and resumed his trek with much more focus now.

This mortal had a death wish.

The rest of our re-org and return to country was thankfully less eventful. I didn't want anymore incidents that would put me in a position to expose too much early on. When our helicopter finally touched back down in Canary Wharf, Mack was still smirking at me. His appraisal of me had been entertaining to put it mildly. He leant forward on his forearms with a dangerous look in his eyes, one that mortals often wore right before they–

"We're having squadron drinks tomorrow night." He blurted as the rotors wound down and before I had the chance to escape my seat.

Mortal drinking habits. Why did this sound so familiar...?

"Completely voluntary, of course." Ash cut in, with an exasperated look at Mack.

I kept a neutral expression and nodded between them. Despite my better wishes, integrating with mortals at work had kept me sane once–and I might have missed it. Not to mention the live wire sat in front of me was quickly becoming someone I could trust outside of Quinn–despite his outlandishly crude remarks. Or maybe because of them.

"I'm in." I answered simply. 

Mack clasped his hands together with that rogue brow waggle.

"Of course you are. We're taking it down to The Ship in Vauxhall. You know it?" He asked, full of amused doubt.

Mortal, I know more drinking holes in this city than you have kills on that roster of yours.

"I'm familiar." I drawled.

"Good work today, Fletcher." Ash added around Mack's amusement. "–the opportunity for that to go south was more than present... We'll see you tomorrow night." She nodded, before kicking Mack in the shin. I snorted and exited the helicopter before I could witness their relationship outside of working hours. They were already arguing in hushed tones before I was off the helipad.

I glanced back at my watch. 1800. 

Back in time for dinner indeed.