Chapter Text
Somewhere outside the Academy, not exactly near and not exactly far a man in a long overcoat glanced at his watch. He frowned, someone was running late and it wasn’t him. He mechanically flicked his eyes back and forth over the darkening street, where he finally saw his assistant skittering towards him, she stopped umbrella clutched in her hand but not yet unfurled.
“Sir.” She said quickly as a greeting, standing up a bit straighter and holding the umbrella out for him to take, which he did.
“Well?” He said impatiently, checking his watch again just so that she knew just how late she had been.
“Andrew Stryker has been terminated. It was Number 2 that killed him I believe.” She reported briefly. The man nodded not surprised in the least.
“Of course, what did the invaluable Mr. Stryker tell him under Number 3’s influence?” The mousy assistant opened her mouth and closed it a few times, irritating him further “Today, please. Miss. Anthea.” She shut her mouth firmly and nodded once.
“Everything he knew.”
“Good. Not much then.” He allowed himself a laugh, it came out more like a bark. Opening up the sleek black umbrella and pulling it into position above his head, as soon as he was protected under the umbrella the sky opened up and water began to fall in sheets, Anthea was instantly drenched, the man looked at his watch again. “We will wait for a while then. No point in furthering the plan when Number 4 is so heavily incapacitated. You are dismissed.” He looked at her expectantly without lowering his watch hand, she opened her mouth as if to respond but disappeared without a flash or a sound. The man nodded once firmly to himself as he looked at his watch once more, “Andrew made it 3,550 minutes. 720 less than I thought.” He said to no one, letting his hand fall back into attention at his side. He made no motion that he was going to move. He simply stood there, in the pouring rain, on the dark empty street, waiting for something no one but him seemed to expect.