A few years ago,
The Phantom Europe Branch
Inaugurating Ceremony
Wearing an all-black suit, Blue styled his hair back and adjusted his tie. He just finished organizing all of his stuff. Blue unpacked his clothes and sorted them categorically: formal wear, semi-formal, casual, and special occasions. Instead of helping Blue, Rouge was just there to nitpick his brother and replay like a broken record that Blue has OCD.
"I prefer to have my stuff organized, Rouge. Get off my back and go back to your Boss." Rouge was chosen as an attendant of Primo Salazar; one of Trevor Hathaway's, the agency boss, close friend. It has been thirty minutes since Rouge left and Blue used that time to prepare for the event.
The room is spacious and minimalistic, which Blue liked. Squad captains have the privilege of having their rooms, which is less stress and burden on Blue. Blue doesn't want a messy roommate. Blue may be new, but Trevor saw a promising potential on Blue, so Trevor will test Blue's leadership and management by assigning Blue as a squad captain.
At first, Blue was hesitant. Becoming a squad captain as a newbie will surely create rumors; Blue even heard some of them earlier. Speaking of, that lavender-eyed man was the one who told his squadmates to shut up, so Blue is a little grateful for that. "Although, he's a rebel. This is a good opportunity. I will surpass Ryzel's stats and make him obey the rules of the organization. Recklessness attracts bad decisions and disorder."
Blue was in the middle of clasping his watch on his wrist when someone knocked on the door. Blue went to check who it is, and Blue was welcomed by an unfamiliar face. "Who are you?" Blue asked the man whose features were of Japanese descent. The man was also donning a suit and the agency's badge. Gold badges for squad captains, silver badges for elite agents, and bronze badges for regular agents. The man in front of Blue is wearing a silver badge.
"My name is Ken Takashima. The Madam asked me to fetch you and serve as your tour guide along the way," Ken informed Blue, and according to the files Trevor gave Blue, the Madam Ken is talking about is the head of the Phantom Europe Division, while Trevor is the overall Boss and makes the final decision. The Madam is also Primo Salazar's grandmother.
"Got it. I'll just grab my phone and we'll be on our way." Blue took his phone from the table and pocketed it, then stepped out. The rooms are locked automatically and can only be accessed through fingerprint scanning. "I've got to tell you, this building is so spacious, modern, and high-tech."
Ken nodded. "That's true. There are many amenities and facilities available to everyone, but there are also exclusive perks available to elite agents and squad captains. For example, Training Room A outside the building is exclusive only for Captain Ryzel and his squad. Boss Trevor had it constructed for Captain Ryzel since he has this tendency to beat people up when someone touches him."
Blue's brows drew together. "That's a rule violation, Ken. Just because someone touched you? How is he supposed to train then without contact?" That piece of information does not sit well with Blue. That's favoritism right there, and Blue's moral character cannot tolerate that.
"Captain Ryzel is comfortable with Seven and Jameson since they are harmless, according to Captain Ryzel, so those two became Captain Ryzel's training partners for close combat. Aside from that, Captain Ryzel excels in almost everything. He's the best of the best so Boss Trevor overlooks those violations."
Blue did not speak after that, in deep thought. Ken toured Blue to the cafeteria, the dining area, the entertainment center, the gym, the training rooms, the control room and they finished with the main hall.
"Ken, do you know why Ryzel doesn't like to be touched?"
Ken sat on their assigned table and shook his head. "No. Only the Madam and Boss Trevor knows. That's a secret we never want to know, or we'll end up dead, just like the agent who tried to corner Captain Ryzel."
Blue snapped his head to Ken. "What happened?"
Ken sighed and folded his arms. "That unnamed agent, under the pretense of asking Captain Ryzel for help, tried to touch-- when I say touch, it could count as sexual harassment because he was almost forcing Captain Ryzel. I don't know the exact story but--"
"That fucking agent was horny and wanted to have sex with me, so I crushed his balls and shot him in the head. Satisfied?"
Ken gulped nervously and paled, while Blue turned to the person who cut in and was met by an icy and emotionless set of lavender eyes. "Ryzel..."
Ryzel arched his brow. "Rumors fly fast. Instead of gossiping about me, mind your own business. I don't care about you and vice-versa. Let's keep it that way." Ryzel turned his back against the two and with a deep frown, brushed his silver hair back.
"Captain, why the frown?" Seven handed Ryzel a glass of champagne and Ryzel sat down.
"Fucking rumors again, Seven. Is there any way to exterminate all of those gossipers?" Ryzel downed the glass in one go, and Seven and Jameson know that their captain is in a bad mood and is now a ticking time bomb. One wrong move and they will be the ones receiving their captain's wrath.
"By the way, Captain," Jameson diverted the topic and received a thumbs up from Seven, "did you know that a new squad captain will be announced tonight?"
That got Ryzel's attention, but he couldn't care less, actually. Still, Ryzel turned to Jameson. "Who?"
Seven and Jameson, in a subtle manner, released a sigh of relief. Distraction successful! "It's the newbie we were talking about earlier, Captain. Blue Winters."
Ryzel furrowed his brows. "Who again?" Ryzel doesn't know anyone by that name, and before Jameson could explain, the host of the celebration began the program.
"Let us welcome, the Big Boss, Trevor Hathaway!" Trevor was welcomed by cheers and warm applause when he finally got to the stage.
"Hello, everyone. Good evening. Tonight, we will welcome new addition to our family. They are the ones who proved to us that with their exceptional skills, grit, and intelligence, they belong here at The Phantom Europe Branch." Another round of applause filled the hall. "Before I announce the newcomers, I want to give a special mention to my best agent, Ryzel Thompson. Come on up here, Ryzel."
Ryzel stood up and with a shadow of a smile on his lips and a brief moment of shine in his eyes, Ryzel went to the stage; proud, strong, and confident. Wearing a deep-red shirt and black pants in a pair of black boots, Ryzel sauntered up the stage in his signature indifferent look.
That may be so, but Blue caught everything. Blue has been watching Ryzel like a hawk since the time Ryzel approached them, and for some reason, Blue cannot take his eyes off Ryzel. Ryzel emits an indifferent and cold aura, but that aura softens when Ryzel is with Seven and Jameson. Blue got the name of Ryzel's companions from Ken.
Ryzel's frown deepened when he felt a burning stare. Unlike the usual stares Ryzel receives, this one is not uncomfortable. Nevertheless, Ryzel borrowed the mic from the host. "Hey. Stop staring, whoever you are, or you'll wake up with only darkness in your vision," Ryzel threatened which earned a soft chuckle from Trevor. Muffled gasps and murmurs can be heard, while Seven and Jameson buried their faces on the table, embarrassed.
"So close, Jameson."
"I know, Seven. Anyway, do you know who's he talking about?" Jameson asked Seven in a whisper.
"Probably the newbie. He was glaring hard at Captain since earlier. I didn't tell him because he's already in a sour mood."
Blue's chocolate brown eyes shone in amusement as he fixed his burning stare on Ryzel. Still, Blue did not forget that Ryzel is a rule-breaker and that his mission is to set Ryzel straight and achieve his desired result.
"Just so you know, Ryzel is not kidding, so if you want your eyes and your limbs intact, keep them to yourselves," Trevor said casually but his voice was dripping with unsaid threats. The audience paled and gulped hard at their Boss's casual threat. Ryzel's lips tugged upward in a subtle manner as he glanced at Trevor full of admiration.
Trevor has been Ryzel's role model since Ryzel was first recruited and his loyalty for Trevor is deep and unwavering. Ryzel is willing to lay his life on the line to pay back his debts to Trevor.
Something flickered in Blue's eyes as he stared at Ryzel. "Ken, does Ryzel like Boss Trevor?" Blue asked with a creased forehead and for some unknown reason, the thought irritated him.
Blue justified it as something that should not be tolerated within the organization; that a Boss and an agent should not be romantically involved with each other because it could mess up the missions. However, Blue's heart was not convinced because the restlessness remains.
Ken, who was sipping on his drink, choked and coughed at Blue's sudden and random question. "What? Not a chance. There were rumors that Boss Trevor has someone he has set his eyes on."
"Really?" Blue's unsettled heart calmed down, and a confused frown wrinkled his forehead.
"Not sure about Ryzel, though. He's very loyal to Boss Trevor and is willing to go to great lengths to impress him," Ken added, and the irritation returned, causing Blue to glare at Trevor. "Hey, Blue. You okay, man? Even the greatest painter of our generation won't be able to paint your scrunched expression."
It was then that Blue caught himself, blinking slowly. "Uh, yeah. I was just thinking of my last mission," Blue shortly replied and even if Ken knew that Blue was lying through his teeth, Ken let it go.
Blue took a deep breath and squeezed his eyes shut. What the fuck is happening with me? It's not me to feel unsettled. I need to find the reason why I feel this way.
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