Aleks and Toni returned to GSO headquarters right after their unexpected discovery, and before they finished reporting, it was already the middle of the night. Regan ordered them to get some sleep as it would take some time before they could prepare and launch the assault team. Toni was still weak after his last encounter with Rioters, so he needed all the sleep he could get.

But Aleks was too restless. She got some shuteye but was up as soon as other people in the building started to move around, busy with their daily schedules. Even after showering, she felt only half-alive, so she wandered downstairs to the little cafeteria. The halls of the dormitory building were tranquil. After the announcement two days prior, many agents took time off to reconsider their careers. No lessons or training were scheduled this week either, so Aleks felt as if she was walking through the ghost town.

She was still wondering how she would fill the time till the evening when the assault team would finally be ready to roll out. Not that she would be part of it, as Regan didn't fail to remind her. The thought of all those innocent people kidnapped and being left to face some crazy and repulsive experiments at the hands of the Rioters made her skin crawl. But she knew they couldn't just charge there head-first. The last fight proved that deviants were not easy opponents.

"Well, someone looks like sunshine today." The familiar voice took her completely off guard, and she blinked several times to clear her head.

"Yuliya? What are you doing here? Getting a second shift as a bartender?"

A petite blond woman shrugged. "It's not like I have anything to do now, with all the doom and gloom hanging over GSO. What can I get you today? I can recommend a flavoured latte." She leaned over the counter, lowering her voice. "I found all different syrups hidden away in the pantry. I bet Mrs Callaghan hid them from us. Probably afraid of what we could do on a sugar rush!"

Aleks couldn't help but smile. Yuliya's cheerful nature never failed to lift her spirit, no matter how down she was. "That sounds great, but I'll have just plain black coffee, thanks."

"Gee, you are no fun! Suit yourself. I save my mad bartending skills for someone else," she grumbled but grabbed a cup and turned on the coffee machine.

"I'd rather have you here in GSO than in some fancy cafe," Aleks countered with a smile but then realised she didn't know her friend's plans for the future. "You are staying in the agency, right?"

Yuliya smiled at her so charmingly that even celebrities would get jealous. "Of course, I'm staying, silly. Where else would I go? Besides, it's not like I use my gift excessively to be in any danger. I guess you and I are pretty similar in that regard, no?"

"Yes, I guess we are."

Yuliya turned around and put two takeaway cups on the counter.

Aleks raised a brow. "Do I look like I need two?" She rubbed her yes. "I know it's not my best day, but...."

"Don't be ridiculous. One is for you, and the other is for your cute Brazilian guy," Yuliya explained with a mischievous smile.

Aleks' cheeks flushed, and she scowled at her friend. "I won't bother him this early morning to force a coffee on him. I don't even know if he drinks coffee."

"Oh please, he was the one who suggested you should have coffee sometime."

Aleks narrowed her eyes. "Did you spy on me?"

Yuliya burst out with laughter. "Do you seriously think I'm using my gift to spy on my friends? Because that would be such a deviant thing to do."

"I don't know." Aleks sipped her coffee. "You seem like the type to do that."

Yuliya crossed her arms and pouted. "I was sitting two rows behind you, so I just happened to overhear your conversation."

Aleks raised a brow.

"Fine, I was listening intently, alright?" Yuliya shrugged. "You can't blame me. This place has been dreadfully boring lately. No gossip, no secret lovers sneaking around and hiding from Mrs Callaghan." She sighed. "I miss the times when we were recruits and life was simpler."

"Me too," Aleks admitted. It's been just a few years since the first gifted manifested and GSO was created, but it felt like a lifetime now.

"Okay, enough sulking. Take your coffee and go get the guy."

Aleks rolled her eyes. "I don't even know which room is his."

"Door number fifteen on the second floor." Yuliya grinned. "You're welcome."

***

Aleks stood at Diego's door and tried to figure out how to knock and not spill the hot coffee all over herself. Finally, she decided to stack one cup on top of the other and use a free hand to knock gently. She waited for a moment, but no sound came from the inside.

Maybe he's still asleep? I knew it was a stupid idea.

She wanted to walk away, but then she realised that while stressing about how Diego would react seeing her, she forgot the pressure of oncoming assault momentarily. When she entered the world of gifted, she was ecstatic. But occasionally, Aleks caught herself missing normal, insignificant life, where the most significant issue was what to make for dinner tonight. The last couple of days were tough, and she deserved a break. And getting coffee with a cute guy was the most ordinary respite she could think of right now.

Aleks raised her chin and knocked one more time, this time harder, making sure it was heard inside. But all her determination brought her nothing but silence. She frowned and then reluctantly turned the handle, slowly opening the door.

The room was empty.

The bed was made, and there were no personal things anywhere. Whoever occupied this room has already vacated it.

"Are you looking for Diego?" A voice behind her made her jump, and the cup on the top wobbled dangerously. A young girl with red hair effortlessly raised her hand, and the coffee froze in place, held by an invisible force. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."

"It's alright. You know where he is?"

"He left yesterday."

"Left?" Aleks asked and couldn't hide her disappointment.

"Yeah. After the announcement, Diego got upset and said this is not a place for him." Her big eyes stopped on the takeaway cup. "Can I have that coffee instead of him?"

Aleks frowned. "Are you old enough to drink coffee?"

The girl scoffed, and with a flick of fingers, the cup flew to her hand. "I'm almost seventeen," she said with dignity and strolled down the hall, not sparing Aleks another glance.

"Kids these days...."

Aleks was disappointed, of course, but there was also something else. Cold vines of dread coiled in her stomach, making her feel even more uneasy. If Diego left GSO, he was on his own. And he was already on Rioters list, so it wouldn't be a stretch to say he could be in danger. The thought of him being kidnap by deviants and dragged to that awful place made her nauseous.

She looked at her watch. It was still early morning. She could afford to take a trip to London and be back before the assault team was on their way. She'll quickly visit his place to see if he's alright.

***

In theory, Aleks shouldn't know where Diego lived, but since she researched him, she saw all his basic information, including where he lived. She entered a detached house hosting several student apartments and took narrow stairs to the first floor. As it was noon, the building was quiet. People were out to work or college. Aleks knew she might miss Diego at home, but some instinct pushed her to go there first.

Aleks stopped in her tracks as she noticed that the thin white doors to Diego's apartment weren't closed but opened a fraction, revealing an askew bolt as if someone had forced them open.

"No, no, no," Aleks mumbled helplessly, pushing the door open.

The place was trashed. The apartment was small but cosy. Now the little kitchen table and two chairs were on the floor as if someone tried to hide or use them to keep the intruders at a distance. Aleks walked in, and broken glass from shattered plates crunched under her sneakers.

She was too late.

Aleks hid her face in her hands and tried to slow her breathing, to force down raising despair. It was stupid of her to think she could have these ordinary moments stolen amidst the crisis. Rioters were out of control, and she felt she could take a break when life became too stressful. The truth was, as long as those lunatic deviants were running rampant in London, there were no timeouts. They need to be dealt with once and for all.

And she would be damned if she was benched for that assault.