Milk

Smoking is definitely Tejo's outlet whenever he is stressed.

Whether a mission goes wrong, or the party is a little too loud for him, he finds a private area and lights one out. He is a private smoker and doesn't smoke in front of people.

Brimstone often scolds him if he founds him smoking in a non-smoking area (He is a stickler by the rules) but he joins him regardless. This goes way back during their military days.

Currently in the Valorant Protocol, Brim warns him often not to smoke in front of the younger agents, much to Tejo's chagrin. He doesn't need to be told off and everyone's an adult, but Brimstone just has this dad energy around the younger agents.

That being said though, he doesn't offer smoke to the younger agents.

V and W doesn't mind but when the habit becomes too much, they become slightly concerned. They voice out their concerns sometimes. Veto with subtle remarks and Waylay downright complains that all she smells on him is smoke all the time, but Tejo being the man that he is likes to downplay things. He does try lessen his habits bit by bit.

Sage on the other hand often scolds him. She cares about all agent's wellbeing, Tejo included. She's the one thats been confiscating vices around the protocol. Tejo gets all annoyed, but doesn't say anything as he hands his cigs and lighter over. He knows she means well despite her being on his health all the time.

When Sage starts to crystalize and overworks herself, Tejo quits the habit. He also does the extra effort not to hurt himself often that much in battle. He doesn't want to put a strain on her further, as he is often a regular on the clinic.

Although he instinctively tries to light one up sometimes, especially after he got revived, but backs away from the idea immediately.

He switches to safer alternatives such as nicotine gums. Also instead of smoking, he tends to just drink coffee instead.

To be honest, there isn't much that will piss Tejo off. That man's patience is enormous and he doesn't show much emotion. And even then, the maximum emotion he can express is annoyance.

If you wanna press his buttons (although not advised), there are a few things that will set him off.

First would be someone poking through his past traumas and his emotional vulnerabilities.

He can take the anger and heat from others (especially Brimstone). You can judge his choices for all he cares. He already accepted that long ago. What's done cannot be undone. Atleast that's what he says to himself. He never really fully healed properly, and we all know that this man loves to hide his feelings and anything that he deems moments of weakness.

So when someone tries to show concern or asks him to get help, call him out, or confront his past, he gets a little defensive.

At first Tejo will deflect and brush it off with a dry laugh and sarcasm, but if they push him further his face will turn serious and will tell them to stop and mind their own business. He knows what's best for himself, and a stranger shouldn't tell him what to do.

He associates concern with pity. He doesn't like it when people look at him like he needs help or he's weak. He also isn't used to others showing care for him.

He absolutely hates it when someone tries to sacrifice themselves to save the team or himself (especially himself). If someone tries to pull off something like that he would definitely stop them and they would get an absolute scolding from him, especially when he's in charge of the mission and people's lives are in his hands.

After all why does he get a chance to live while they don't? Their lives are have more value and has more worth than his. So why try to waste it? He doesn't need saving. He's a man that has already come to terms long ago. People already died for his sake. People he once cared about. No more of that again.

Tejo knows he'll get hate for the things he's done and the sacrifices he has to make. But if someone says that he doesn't care about people? He'll get pissed.

He's the most fakest idgafer of all time. He remembers every comrade that has fallen alongside him through battle. Sometimes it haunts his nightmares. So for someone to say that would be an insult to his face.

Now if an ally pissed him off, he would distance himself from them. Expect cold remarks and blunt replies. He's a man that cuts off people easily. You could be on good terms until suddenly he treats you like a complete total stranger.

Whenever he's angry or experience negative emotions, he'll ask for a mission immediately. Doesn't matter how difficult it is or the risks or even the mission details. He needs to be on the field. Now. He's very impatient and doesn't like waiting.

He's the type of person that separates his personal life from his work life. He knows the risks. Due to that reason, I think he cut himself off from having any contact with his family to protect them (He still talks and cares about them very fondly). He also erased his name and past identity and any traces/records that could be exploited. It's a dangerous line of work, and he isn't the one to take any chances.

Doesn't form any deep connections and all his relationships are strictly for work only. He knows what it's like to wear your heart on your sleeve and treating your comrades like family in the battlefield and won't go through the hurt and pain of going through that again.

He finds the merc life liberating. Compared to the time he spent in the military and the Ragged Ravens with all the strict mission protocols and guidelines (We all know Brim is a stickler for rules). He is allowed to fully let loose and enjoys the freedom that comes with it.

He knows he's an old dog in the battlefield, and has a ton of experience. He is also aware there are more younger and skilled mercs than him. Due to this, he does his best to keep up with them. He does his best to keep up with technology. I like to think he is self-taught and was able to make modifications to his equipment.

Money isn't really his main driving motivation. Sure it is a part, but he mostly just likes the thrill of the battle. This is why he takes the most difficult jobs ever.

Speaking of letting loose, combat is a way to take out his emotions (This is a man that finds killing Brim's counterpart therapeutic btw 😭). A calm and normal Tejo is already dangerous on the battlefield, but a pissed off Tejo? That is a different story.

Doesn't show it but loves the feeling of adrenaline as he gets grazed by bullets, the feeling of blood running down on his face. He sometimes have 0 self preservation on the battlefield and it shows on the scars and shrapnel injuries he got from it. (He may or may not have a death wish)

He's a very resourceful man, and the thing he hates the most is seeing talent and potential go to waste.

He tries his best to remain calm and professional, but on really good days where he's starting to enjoy himself he'll be smiling and laughing throughout. He gets more riskier and dangerous and his enemies will be begging for mercy when he's trigger happy and he keeps raining down endless barrage of artillery. This is a very rare occurance and he tries his best not to lose his head.

Waylay was probably one of his targets at one point and they clashed (due to her life as a past criminal), however he saw potential in her and saw her powers were too valuable so he arranged some sort of deal with her to work together.

He saved Veto at one point, and saw the potential in this man after seeing his fire and also because he keeps asking him about joining the mercenary life.

So you have two smug, smooth-talker, cocky, and confident men that will use their charm and skills at their disposal to do whatever their goal is. I think they both represent the two sides of the same coin for this character archetype.

While Chamber has lots of things to hide and might seem like he always has ulterior motives, Tejo on the other hand is the opposite. He's a very honest and blunt person that doesn't really care and takes what he wants. It's a indirect vs. direct methods vibe.

I like to think that during their first encounters, they both have their guards up while they say endless hollow flattery, praises, and compliments to each other.

Over time tho, I think they share a relatable bond and found out they have more things in common than they would like. Especially in how they integrated themselves into the Protocol. I think Chamber was actually the first to offer a friendly hand around when Tejo first joined (Brimstone was too busy being pissed at him, and the other's are still suspicious of him).

He'll often lighten the mood and say things like "Don't worry about them mon ami, this is the typical warm welcome we provide for our guests. I speak from experience." Which Tejo will reply with a chuckle and says he feels at home already.

On the battlefield, they respect each other's skill greatly and have a deadly synergy. Those deadly missiles will force you to get out of hiding only to end up between Chamber's crosshairs.

They share a common interest in style and fashion. Has different tastes but they respect each other since they wear their outfits pretty well. They sometimes gift each other hair products, colognes, or even clothes.

I have a funny hc that when they have missions where they have to go undercover on a ball or gala, they will be in charge of the younger agents dressing up and how they act and will be very uptight about it. This gets on Yoru's (and sometimes Phoenix) nerves bc they judge the minute details such as the creases on his suit, his tie being too tight, or that he frowns too much (Social gatherings are not really his tea).

Tejo takes other's shit a lot in the protocol, especially food. At first he keeps taking your food that you labeled specifically in the fridge with your name on it, much to your annoyance. But once you grew closer over time, he leaves your stuff alone.

If you blame him when someone else took your food he'll give you the most offended and hurt look ever.

He even shares things with you, offers whatever snack he's munching on (something he probably stole on the fridge), even asks you first if you wanna put on your music even if he usually runs his playlist without hesitation or asking anyone.

People in the protocol are either baffled or amused on how Tejo lowkey is considerate towards you since they do not receive that treatment at all or even show that side of him (Often gets raised eyebrows from Veto or Brimstone and an amused smile from Waylay).

You two do bets / competitions on the most random things ever. From who shoots the most targets during training, to having a race contest on who's the fastest to tick off Brim, or sometimes even betting on other agents like KJ and Raze, which one will be the first to make up during an argument.

He is very gossipy and will share all the random tea he overheard that are interesting (Nothing gets past this man, he is an intelligence consultant for a reason).

If you have a height difference, Tejo loves to put his arms around your head like an armrest. Whenever he gets happy or excited he'll sometimes put an arm around your shoulder.

Always checks on you and patches you up with care after missions, those strong burly hands can be surprisingly delicate and gentle as he wraps bandages over your injuries. He will also nudge you to go to Sage if you still need healing.

You two have an established hangout spot, whether its on a secluded rooftop or that special table in the cafeteria, one of you will always catch the other there after missions or just hanging out on breaks.

Will hype tf out of you when you're in charge of missions. You plan the craziest and chaotic plan ever and he'll suggest an even crazier and unhinged strategy.

Loves to tease and ragebait you or getting a reaction out of you. He finds it very entertaining and amusing.

You rarely give him compliments, not because he's terrible. But if you do give him one, he'll never shut up about it the entire day. Expect him to be more cheery than usual and double the already inflated ego.

He's the type to wait for you outside when your on a meeting / debrief.

When you're having a terrible day, he'll invite you out to drink coffee or grab some snack. If you prefer to drink alcohol, he'll be your rant and drinking buddy in one.

If he's having a terrible day and wants to get away from everyone, he'll often be found with you. Either hides away in your lab or in your room, or somewhere outside HQ.

If he's gone for a long time during missions or traveling to another country, he'll often bring you some souvenirs.

Speaking of souvenirs and gifts, whenever his family sends some, he'll share them with you. Loves to talk about his family a lot and will sometimes show you pictures. Will also share bits of his culture with you.

Takes a while to open up about his past in the military, but eventually will tell tales once he's comfortable enough with you.