#coda.task

The Informant : Hyunjin

Harper has yet to work closely with Hyunjin but that hasn’t stopped him from learning about the kind of person and agent they seem to be. He’s started piecing together what he knows about the informant and what he’s seen firsthand and feels a surprising kind of admiration towards them. Perhaps it’s because he can sense they have similar skills but Hyunjin is able to play the part way different than Harper has to.

The Driver : Nila

Harper loves to play games and Nila has been on the same page with him since day one. They work well together and he’s reminded of why he first joined when he’s with them. One second it’s harmless fun and the next it’s very real danger but they both love the adrenaline all the same. He hasn’t been very mindful of the rules when he’s with them and he knows that may get him in trouble but he really cant help it when they get along so well. If he had to rely on someone in a tough situation, it would be Nila.

The Combatant : Levi

Before CODA, Harper couldn’t imagine getting along with his boss or anyone higher in rank. He doesn’t like feeling controlled or having to put up with strict rules—he never had practice when he basically raised himself. It wouldn’t work if Levi wasn’t so easy to like. He carries himself confidently without being obnoxious about it. Harper hopes to learn more about the combatant.

The Hacker : Mortimer

Harper feels like he’s working double-time when he’s around Mortimer but in a good way (he likes trying to figure people out). There’s just a lot going on with him. He thinks Mortimer is essential to their team but finds it hard to label him. With some more time he’s sure he could figure out everything that goes on in Mortimer’s head, if only they worked together long enough.

The Historian : Vald

Harper has had the pleasure of teaming up with Vald already and finds the man extremely interesting. He enjoys hearing what the other has to say. For Harper, it’s easy to get along with the other thrill-seeking spies, but he’s most interested in gathering knowledge on topics he’s never had access to before. Vald fits right in and has held his own so far. Harper appreciates that.

The Thief : Bobby

Bobby’s particular skills are right up Harper’s alley. The stealth and trickery it takes to accomplish what the thief has so far is impressive to him. Harper hasn’t had an opportunity to learn much more about the agent but he knows to keep an eye out for him and hopes to get a chance to pick his brain some more.

The Weapons Expert : Eden

Harper rarely finds himself waiting for someone else’s next move with anticipation, so the weapons expert has been a breath of fresh air. Impulsive and daring—he’s happy Eden is a part of the team. A big part of his job is to study people and unfortunately (for him, not for the mission) people could be predictable and boring. The same cant be said about Eden and Harper likes that. So what if he’s only adding fuel to the fire?

The Codebreaker : Henry

Every interaction he’s had with Henry has left him amused and intrigued. Harper thinks Henry is incredibly important to the team but he can tell the codebreaker lacks that confidence. Part of him is jealous of how intelligent Henry is, would probably hate him if they weren’t on the same team, but another part just wants to help him with the social skills he lacks. He has never seen so many of his suggestive comments go over someone’s head. It would be frustrating if it wasn’t so endearing.

The Sleeper Agent : Lena

There is much more to Lena than meets the eye and Harper wants to know what it is. It always excites him to be around people with many layers and Lena is no exception. She’s beautiful, inviting, and she knows how to lead people on. While other’s may overlook these qualities, Harper knows the value in getting people to believe what you present to them.

The Fabricator : Noah

Harper is appreciative of Noah’s skills during a mission. He knows half of what they accomplished so far wouldn’t be possible without his expertise in forgery. Apart from work, Harper hasn’t gotten a chance to learn more about Noah. The agent seems like a quiet person or perhaps he’s just keeping his distance, it wouldn’t be the first time Harper’s role had someone cautious. 

The Assassin : Klara

So far Klara has been quite fun to be around. Even on a high stakes mission he knows he can count on her to get the job done and look good while doing it. Though he’s never voiced his opinion, he admires her role on the team and finds it most important. Harper knows that if it came to a life or death situation Klara could handle it. She is definitely someone he wants to have in his corner.

Do they suspect anyone of being a double agent? With his role being what it is, he assumes he hasn’t garnered a lot of trust amongst the group nor has he trusted anyone. Harper would rather assume any of them could be a double agent than get tricked later on.

the historian ∙∙∙ vald

klara has a deep respect for vald and feels a true friendship with him. it made it easy from the start when she learned he could also speak swedish, which gave her an odd sense of camaraderie with him. but beyond just that she feels extremely comfortable with him and feels like he understands her. part of her wishes he didn't have to have this lifestyle because she knows how hard it can be. klara looks to vald like a true friend and someone she looks up to as she has not had many positive male role models in her life and oddly enough vald feels like one to her.

the informant ∙∙∙ hyunjin

out of most people on the team klara is afraid hyunjin might be afraid of her the most. she doesnt want to come across as scary or over threatening to her team since she hopes they will see beyond that. but with hyunjin she is afraid that she might see it the most. klara goes out of her way to make sure she is extra nice to her, just in case something in her fears are true. part of her is nervous that maybe hyunjin is over her heard, but she's learned over the years never to underestimate someone. she feels like that is the case with her.

the driver ∙∙∙ nila

klara could probably have a whole speech about how much nila bothers her. she thinks they are far too reckless for this job and to her it really feels like they don't care that much about what's going to happen. sure a mistake might happen and they'd be okay but what about the rest of the team? the team is most important to her and she wants to know they are going to be safe and she feels like nila is a liability for them. but deep down it all comes down to the fact that klara is incredibly jealous of nila. nila is the type of person who seems to be nothing but themselves. to her, they seem so confident and sure about who they are and what they want. they have this freedom that klara craves and wants, but she has no idea how to get. part of her wants to push through the wall of jealousy to get to know nila but right now that seems too hard.

the combatant ∙∙∙ levi

their fearless leader. often times klara does not do well with authority figures telling her what to do and how to do things. klara is used to working on her own, getting a job and doing it her way. coming into this assignment klara thought she might not get along great with whoever the leader is but that is the opposite of true here. klara has a deep respect for levi and how he leaders CODA. he has never thrown around his power but instead acts like just another member. klara also respects his skills and feels like he is one of the few people who understand her. it isn't easy doing what they do and she has never felt judged by him for that reason. right now, however, she really wants to see him relax. being tense and uptight can lead to bad decisions. she isn't sure how to do this but she'll find a way.

the manipulator ∙∙∙ harper

klara has enjoyed the time she's gotten to spend with harper, but feels like she hasn't really gotten to fully know him yet. she wants to but she's also curious to see if she will get to meet the real him or not. his role, while having similarities to what she sometimes has to do on a job, makes her wonder if she is really getting to know him or if it is just a part he is playing. despite this, klara finds him fun to be around and not as uptight as some of the other members of the group.

the thief ∙∙∙ bobby

klara is....very confused when it comes to bobby. he is reckless and a bit wild, just like nila yet somehow she finds it charming. when she's around him she doesn't feel like the killing machine she's supposed to be but she feels almost, normal. he brings out a fun side of her that she has been missing. and beyond his jokes and his flirting he really is good at his job, which klara respects. she has no idea what to do with these feels and thinks she might mess everything up if she says anything. so for right now she's just planning on going with the flow and figuring out what might happen. who knows?

the sleeper agent ∙∙∙ lena

another person who confuses her very much. on one hand, lena is like the friend she was never allowed to have. the friend she wanted to have when she was trying to live in the city. the two of them get along so well it might seem like to others they have known each other for years. but on the other hand, klara feels an attraction as well. she doesn't know what it is or understand it but she knows that it is there. klara has never really done relationships and certainly never one like this but that doesn't mean klara has gone out of her way to avoid lena, in fact, it's very much the opposite. she finds her presence very comforting and finds herself seeking it out.

the weapons expert ∙∙∙ eden

klara enjoys getting to spend time with eden, not only just because of what he can make her. she has a deep respect for anyone who can build weapons and who respects them not just as toys. despite his somewhat reckless attitude, she feels like eden does have a respect for the job and for what he makes, which puts him in a good light in her eyes. plus he is one of the few people that she does not feel judged or looked down upon because of what she does. it's something that feels so comfortable and welcoming for her. plus the fact that eden always seems to have candy or something sweet hidden away for her, that's always a plus.

the codebreaker ∙∙∙ henry

must protect. that was one of klara's first thoughts when she met henry and that idea has certainly held up as they have gotten to know each other more. henry is extremely smart and she envies his mind but she also envies the life he has, and she wishes that he didn't have to be part of this world. klara has found herself feeling that she needs to protect henry from some of the terrible things that can happen at this job, despite the fact that he's older than her. she knows what can happen and she doesn't want that to happen to him.

the hacker ∙∙∙ mort

ahhh her partner in watching soap operas. ever since finding out that mort also enjoys one of her favorite ways to relax she has enjoyed spending time with him. klara feels like they have been getting closer as they've spent many nights at 3 am watching their shows together and she hopes they will get to become friends. klara finds mort to be, while a little odd at times, very very good at his job. some of the things he explains to her goes right over her head but to him, it seems so easy. she's curious to see what else he can do and also curious about what is going to happen next with lisa on their soaps.

the fabricator ∙∙∙ sam

:// the historian → vald

Mortimer finds Vald an incredibly stress-free person to be around. He does worry about Vald’s safety on their missions, but nonetheless he’s glad the historian is around -- when he has an evening free, one of his new favorite ways to spend it is with a cup of tea, a good book, and Vald to bounce literature theory off of. So far, Vald is one of the very few people on the team that Mortimer can sit in comfortable silence with, and, as a bonus, he finds just about everything Vald had to say incredibly interesting.

:// the informant → hyunjin

Plain and simple: Mortimer thinks Hyunjin shouldn’t be on the team. He finds her company pleasant enough -- more pleasant than he was expecting, actually -- but as far as vital specialized skills go, he thinks she should have communicated her knowledge to the CIA and left it at that. She’s a risk to the entire team, and he hates it. And that’s not even going into his irritated jealousy over her easy way with people, her gentle demeanor, and her curiosity. The more he interacts with her, the less he dislikes her, and that annoys him.

:// the driver → nila

Nila, in Mortimer’s opinion, is the epitome of Cool. Sure, they’re more reckless than they should be, and they don’t seem to take the job as seriously as they should, but there’s just something about Nila that Mortimer can’t help but think is... well, really cool. Maybe it’s their irreverent attitude, or the way they dress, or the way Nila is wholeheartedly, unapologetically themself. And there’s a large part of Mortimer that envies that.

:// the combatant → levi

The absolute last thing on Mortimer’s mind when he signed up for CODA was the possibility that he’d actually be interested in one of them. It doesn’t exactly happen often. But it happened. Levi is something of an enigma, and Mortimer always did love a puzzle. It doesn’t hurt that Levi’s incredibly easy on the eyes, willing to put up with him for more than five minutes, and easy to trust. Currently, Mortimer is desperately trying to tell himself that he’s totally cool with staying friends with Levi, even though his affection for Levi grows a little more every time they meet.

:// the manipulator → harper

Mortimer finds Harper somewhat intimidating. It’s not that he thinks Harper is a secret serial killer that’s about to turn on them all, but he just doesn’t understand how someone can be that good at people. Harper always seems to know what to say, and when to say it, and that kind of skill baffles Mortimer. He understands Harper is a vital part of the team, but still, for now, he’d prefer to keep his wary, confused distance.

:// the thief → bobby

Mortimer isn’t quite sure what to make of Bobby. He can empathize with the anti-authority attitude -- he has a little bit of that himself -- but he’s not thrilled with the way Bobby seems to be jockeying for the position of team leader. In Mortimer’s opinion, though he thinks Bobby is skilled, he’d be a poor fit for leader.

:// the sleeper agent → lena

Lena confuses the hell out of Mortimer. He kind of likes her, but he kind of hates her at the same time. He can see why she made it onto the team, but the apparent gaps in her knowledge baffle him -- and though he finds it relatively easy to spend time with her, he can’t shake the feeling that she’s a lot more than she lets on, and that makes him uneasy. She’s just a little too perfectly presented, a little too friendly, and he’s not sure what to make of it.

:// the weapons expert → eden

Mortimer has a considerable amount of respect for Eden -- anybody who designs interesting weapons for the CIA is worth a bit of respect -- and he can relate to him as an engineer who views their creations as near and dear to their heart. But Eden’s somewhat irreverent behavior makes him worry a little for the safety of the team, and he dreads to think what might happen if Eden decides to do his own thing in the middle of a mission.

:// the codebreaker → henry

If thoughts could be x-rayed and examined, Mortimer would love to do that to Henry’s brain. Henry has a talent for patterns that Mortimer doesn’t have, and he finds it fascinating to watch the codebreaker in action. He looks up to Henry in a way, but gets especially riled if Henry ever points out that he did something wrong, more so than if anybody else does it, and he’s not entirely sure why. 

:// the assassin → klara

Klara is one of the easiest team members to spend time with, Mortimer finds, even if her job does make him... somewhat uneasy. He does his best to put that out of his mind when they spend time together, though, and he’s come to be grateful for their occasional 3AM-soap-fest. She’s remarkably stress-free to be around, and he thinks she’s an enormous asset to the team.

:// the fabricator → sam

Mortimer has enormous respect for Sam’s talents, and he admires the way Sam is just able to put his head down and work, and not come up for air for hours. And, as a fellow socially awkward person, Mortimer finds Sam ironically easy to be around, as if their mutual awkwardness just sort of cancels each other out.

Do they suspect anyone of being a double agent? So far, no. But there are a couple of people who wouldn’t surprise him if they turned out to be double agents -- Harper and Lena in particular. 

The Sleeper Agent - Lena

At first blush, Levi had been hesitant of Lena but it didn’t take him long at all to warm up to her. He appreciates how seamlessly she can fit into whatever environment she chooses. She’s one of the ones he’s gotten to know the most so far and he likes to think of her as a friend. They got ‘married’ in Budapest and though he didn’t regret it, it did bring up some melancholy feelings about how spies could never have real relationships. Though emotions were brought up that Levi hadn’t been expecting to feel, there’s nothing for him at least that’s preventing them from becoming closer friends.

The Informant - Hyunjin

Levi sees himself in Hyunjin, a bit. Of who he once was, at the beginning of his tenure at MI6. They clicked very well right off the bat and work together fluidly. Together at the dinner with Vera and Deborah, they made a more than convincing couple despite not having done much prep work and Levi is impressed with how they work as a team. Levi aims to work alongside Hyunjin more in the coming missions.

The Assassin - Klara

Just like Levi, Klara was trained to be a weapon. He feels a sense of camaraderie with Klara that he doesn’t feel with the other members of the team. They’ve both seen (and done) things that most others couldn’t even imagine and it’s nice to have someone around that really gets it. He respects Klara’s skill though is a bit nervous about the fact that she isn’t associated with any sort of agency. Where Levi would work with Hyunjin, Lena, or Harper for more diplomatic missions, Klara would be his choice for any mission remotely physical.

The Fabricator - Sam

Sam is a tough person to get to know. Levi finds him reclusive and distant, but that may be because Levi hasn’t gotten to know him all that well. Sam’s job also makes him a bit nervous; sure, all spies lied, but the idea that a man could create any sort of document at a whim seems especially dangerous. Levi wants to keep an especially close eye on Sam especially since he hasn’t quite got him figured out yet.

The Hacker - Mortimer

Levi has always been drawn to Mortimer. He was interesting and quick-witted and genuine (if blunt), and his brain worked in a way that thrilled Levi. Levi couldn’t tell you exactly when that platonic attraction turned into something more. Currently, Levi is pining for something he knows he can’t have. He’s convinced there’s no way that Mortimer could return his affections and on the remote chance that he does, Levi can’t risk putting Mortimer in danger by becoming romantically attached to him. Though he knows it’s no use, he can’t get Mortimer out of his head (especially vivid is that night when a very drunk Levi had been overly tactile and the usually touch-averse Mortimer had responded in kind).

The Codebreaker - Henry

Henry is utterly non-threatening and Levi knows that’s the most dangerous kind of spy, the kind that could work themselves into whatever situation they wanted to without anyone giving them a second thought. If Henry had the social skills to make it work, Levi might have been more wary of him but as it was he’s not concerned that Henry is any threat to the mission. Henry is certainly an important asset and more than anything else, Levi is concerned with keeping Henry out of harm's way so that he can do his job without worrying.

The Thief - Bobby

Bobby has never been anything but a thorn in his side. Sometimes Levi thinks that Bobby wants to impede the mission. Other times Levi thinks that Bobby is just a prick and wonders how he passed the psych evals and ended up on the team. Whatever the case, Levi knows that in many aspects Bobby is more similar to Levi that different, which only further irritates him. If Bobby and Levi could get along they would be unstoppable. As it is, their frequent spats leave Levi frustrated above all else.

The Weapons Expert - Eden

Eden is chaotic and knows his way around every weapon under the sun, which makes him far more dangerous than almost everyone else on the team. Though his skill with weapons is crucial, especially for agents like Klara and Levi, his impulsive behavior makes Levi nervous. As long as Eden stays relatively under the radar, Levi is okay with just keeping an eye on him, but the moment he does anything suspicious Levi is likely to jump on it because if Eden were a double agent he would be one of the deadliest.

The Driver - Nila

Nila is a thrill-seeker, certainly, but they’re excellent at what they do and Levi can respect a person with that sort of dedication and skill. Levi knows what it’s like to feel that rush, and he’s a bit jealous that Nila can experience it so much more often than he can. He looks forward to getting to know Nila better and getting to hear about their past escapades.

The Manipulator - Harper

Harper is easy to be around. He’s one of the CODA agents with actual social skills and after interacting with the more introverted team members, it’s nice to chat with someone who knows how to make small talk. Beyond that, Harper’s usefulness in a pinch cannot be emphasized enough. Along with Lena, Harper is one of the team members he’d trust for detailed undercover work.

The Historian - Vald

Vald is crucial to the mission and that makes him crucial to Levi. Levi is intensely in tune with Vald’s assignment and his well-being. After spending time as his ‘translator’ at the gala in Paris, Levi has gotten to know Vald as a person a bit better, which has made him feel more comfortable about Vald’s role in the mission. Although the gala hadn’t been the best experience for Levi, he found that hanging around Vald had been pleasant enough.

Do they suspect anyone of being a double agent?

Levi doesn’t necessarily suspect anyone in CODA of being a double agent per se, but he’s worried that someone in the know is leaking information. The murder of Thursday had been too close to home for comfort. The team members he’s currently most wary about are Bobby (because he’s never been anything but an annoyance) and Eden (because he’s a little bit too unpredictable and dangerous for Levi’s comfort).

What do they believe happened to Agent Thursday?

—————

The buzzing fluorescents cast the room and its occupants in a sickly glow. The room was sterile—white walls, white tiled floor, a shiny silver table, and a drain in the center of the floor than Levi didn't want to think about too hard. He shifted uncomfortably and risked a glance at the people around him. There were three, two men and one woman, and they were all wearing the same things Levi was given: a white t-shirt and khaki pants. All looked as out of place as Levi felt. He was halfway through convincing himself to talk to one of them when the door swung open and the man from the fencing club walked in, a briefcase in hand. He set the briefcase on the table and clicked it open and inside were—

Guns?

Five of them. Handguns. Black and metal and as impersonal as they come.

Levi grew up with a police officer for a father so he'd seen guns before, but he'd never actually held one and seeing these up close made Levi balk.

Without speaking a word, the man took one of the guns and with deft motions took it apart, setting the pieces purposefully on the table. After a heartbeat, he reversed the whole process until he was left holding the handgun all in one piece.

"No one is leaving this room until they can take their gun apart and put it back together in under two minutes," the man said flatly.

Two minutes? Levi was hardly able to follow the blur of the man's hands, and now he was supposed to do it for himself?

"Well?" the man spoke again, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall. "Better get started. This is the easiest thing we're going to do today."

—————

Levi was dripping with sweat and gasping for air. A sharp pain in his side told him that at least one rib was broken. He hardly managed to block the next swing before stumbling back.

In a moment of sheer spite, he spat some of the blood in his mouth into Michael's face.

Bad move.

It turned out, Michael had been holding back. He sure as hell wasn't now. In a flurry of blows Levi couldn't even begin to follow, Michael had Levi pinned to the wall with his hands an iron vice around Levi's neck. Levi kicked and scratched at Michael's hands, but his grip only got tighter. Just when he was on the edge of passing out, the pressure was gone and Levi slumped to the ground, barely conscious.

A hand on his chin forced him to open his eyes and swimming in front of him wasn't Michael but Command.

Command scoffed and pulled back.

"Again."

—————

After a particularly grueling day of combat training, they all found themselves piling into a taxi and warming up a booth at their favorite local bar.

Patrick had gone off to fetch another round of drinks and Alice had just made a crude joke that had Jordan in stitches. Levi laughed along with them, draining the last of his beer.

The next generation of England's greatest spies all piled into one booth in the trashiest of dive bars.

Levi wouldn't have had it any other way.

—————

It was so simple.

A mission. A target. Information to be extracted ... by any means necessary.

Still, with the man gagged and bound and wriggling at his feet on a stretch of crinkling blue tarp, Levi couldn't bring himself to make the first move.

"C'mon, kid. Don't have all day," Michael grunted. When Levi continued to hesitate, Michael rolled his eyes and snatched another knife from the bag for himself. He knelt next to the struggling man with a terrifying smile. The man's eyes looked ready to bulge out of his head.

"Now, Mr. Anderson," Michael started, dragging the blade down the target's chest. "I hear you've been naughty." The knife came to a halt on Anderson's stomach. "What's a bloke like you doing with millions of pounds in offshore bank accounts?"

Anderson tried to speak through the gag and Michael dug the knife in harder, drawing blood through the shirt. "What was that?" he asked sweetly, tugging the gag from Anderson's mouth.

He started babbling, the words tumbling out while tears streamed down his face. "I don't know what you're talking about I have a family I don't do anything like—"

"That's enough from you, Philip," Michael said and shoved the gag back into the man's mouth. He sobbed pitifully into the fabric. Michael's tone was no longer teasing and his eyes glinted dangerously. "Now my friend here," Michael drawled, glancing up at Levi and narrowing his eyes. "Is going to ... encourage you to let us know who your contacts are."

Michael got back up and fixed Levi with a chilling stare. Levi clenched his jaw and dropped his gaze. With a deep breath, Levi fell to his knees beside the man, his hands white-knuckled around the hilt of his knife.

"Remember, Mr. Anderson. All you have to do is give us their names and this will all be over." Michael nodded at Levi. Levi squeezed his eyes shut before rucking up Anderson's shirt, taking the blade and slicing it deeply through the muscles of Anderson's stomach.

The sobs turned into screams and as blood began to pour over Levi's hands, each cut came easier than the last.

Anderson broke faster than Levi'd expected and once he was done speaking, Michael wordlessly handed Levi a gun.

Levi looked at the gun like he'd never seen one before in his life.

"But you said—" even as Levi said it, he felt the naivete creeping in.

"I know what I said. End it."

"But—"

Michael snapped. He slammed the gun into Levi's hand, grabbed him by the back of the neck, and shoved him forward. "Do it, Agent," he snarled.

With blood still smeared across Levi's shirt, his pants, and his hands, he looked Anderson in the eye and pulled the trigger.

—————

Levi, Jordan, Patrick, and Alice all stood at attention, backs straight and chins up.

Command stalked in front of them, his hands clasped behind his back, watching them with narrowed eyes. Michael leaned against the wall behind Command with his arms crossed over his chest, looking more bored than anything else.

"Patroclus."

Shit.

"Michael told me what happened on your last assignment," Command went on conversationally. He paused, his dark eyes drilling into Levi's before walking away to stalk down the line again. "Did you find the assignment too ... challenging?"

"No, sir, I—"

"Too violent?"

"No, sir—"

"Then why—" Command snapped, turning on his heel to glare once again at Levi and make his way back over. Out of the corner of his eye, Levi could see Jordan's jaw clench. "—did you hesitate to pull the trigger?"

"Sir, I thought the conditions were—"

Command barked out a laugh. "Conditions? I thought I taught you better than that, boy." Out of nowhere, there was a gun in Command's hand and he fired off two shots. There was a searing pain in Levi's side and thigh. He gasped and stumbled backward, but Command was there and he fisted a hand in Levi's shirt before he could fall.

Beside him, Patrick, Jordan, and Alice still stood at perfect attention, but Levi could see the way Patrick's hands were trembling.

"Conditions mean nothing." Command's voice was quiet in his ear. "There are no conditions here. You do the job cleanly or you don't do it at all. There are no loose ends. You have to know when to pull the trigger." 

He sighed and leaned back as if it pained him. He brought a hand to the side of Levi's face and the gentle touch was in sharp contrast to the pain radiating from Levi's leg, his side. "Son, there is nothing I want to see more than for you to succeed, but if you pull something like this again the consequences will be more severe than a couple of flesh wounds."

Levi's jaw clenched and he nodded once. "Yes, sir. Thank you, sir."

Command whisked away and stalked down the line once again like nothing had happened. "I'm glad we see eye to eye. You're dismissed. Oh, and you should probably get someone to look at those wounds, Agent Patroclus."

—————

Levi couldn't remember the last time he wasn't in pain. He'd been in the Heracles Project for ... what, two years? Three? It had all blended together into a blur of fighting and training and blood. So much blood.

Which brought him to now, bouncing on the balls of his feet in front of Michael, waiting for the older agent to make the first move. He did, but Levi could see it coming and he ducked out of the way, landing a blow of his own before blocking one of Michael's.

The fight dragged on and the look on Michael's face went from cocky to shocked. See, Levi had spent a lot of time in the past few years doing hand-to-hand with a whole spread of people and he'd learned that everyone, everyone, had a tell.

And he'd found Michael's.

Before long, he had Michael pinned to the ground and he put up a valiant struggle before he slumped and tapped out. Levi got back to his feet and offered Michael a hand.

He took it and nodded once at Levi. "Nice fight, kid," he muttered before walking away.

Command was a few paces away and leaning against a stack of mats. He smiled and walked over, settling a steady hand on Levi's shoulder.

"Good job, son."

Levi's heart soared. Three words that flooded him with more joy than Christmas morning.

Levi smiled back and there was a glint of something sharp in his eyes.