Work Text:
Miyuki knew that working in espionage wasn’t like the movies.
A disappointing fact he learned after hacking the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office. At fifteen. On a home built computer that he had managed to hold together, literally, with duct tape in some places.
When CIRO finally caught up to him, Rei had taken one look at his workstation, quirked an eyebrow, and asked, “What could you do with resources?”
Miyuki had answered with the brutal honesty of a cocky teenager.
“Burn the world to the ground.”
It had apparently been the correct answer. CIRO sponsored his scholarship to Todai. Miyuki double majored in Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science. He graduated at 19. Started working for CIRO a week later. And by 26 was the youngest branch head in CIRO history.
He protected his nation. He guided his agents. And, true to his word, he burned anyone who came after either.
---
Espionage in Japan mostly consisted of intelligence gathering.
Their 00 agents were technically licensed to kill but most went their whole careers without taking a life.
As for the Quartermaster of CIRO, intelligence gathering consisted of making sure the agents were in the right place at the right time. Sometimes that meant a little breaking and entering. Sometimes that meant some hacking. There weren’t any car chases or explosions or shoot outs--
The only exception to that rule was 002.
---
Miyuki was promoted to Quartermaster the day 002 died.
No one seemed particularly upset. In fact, Kataoka gave a put upon sigh before turning and walking out of Q Branch as if the death of his best agent was nothing more than an inconvenience. It was a rather cold response even from the head of CIRO.
Miyuki said as much to Rei and was surprised when she smiled back at him.
“There are three unsaid rules in CIRO,” said Rei by way of explanation. “002 is never really dead.”
Miyuki had his doubts about that. He had just watched the building 002 had been in explode. The agent’s tracker went dark not long after. But he also knew it was best not to contradict one’s superior--Miyuki wasn’t even going to bother with the pretense that Rei was merely Kataoka’s secretary.
“And the other rules?”
Rei’s smile widened at the joke that Miyuki didn’t understand yet. “When 002 gets back, don’t fall in love with him.”
Miyuki arched an eyebrow. “Do I even want to know what the last rule is?”
“Don’t kill him yourself.”
“Is that all?”
Despite his dry delivery Rei seemed to hear his sarcasm all the same. “Good luck, Q.”
She didn’t outright say, ‘You’re going to need it’, but Miyuki heard it all the same.
---
It took three weeks for 002 to come back from the dead.
The whispers that he was back preceded the appearance of the actual man. Even in the basement of CIRO headquarters where Q Branch was located, Miyuki could feel the hum of excitement in the air.
(It made his minions prone to gossip and idle chatter that, by Miyuki’s estimates, affected productivity by at least fifteen percent.)
Miyuki honestly didn’t understand what the fuss was about. Yes. It was impressive that the man had survived an exploding building. And yes, the man did have a reputation that made him by far the most interesting employee at CIRO. But…
It wasn’t like anyone was going to actually see 002.
In the seven years that Miyuki had worked at CIRO, his employment had overlapped with 002 for five of them. And in those five years, he had only caught quick glimpses of the man. Partially because 002 was so frequently out of the country. Partially because he reported directly to Director Kataoka. Mostly it was because he stubbornly worked alone.
Which made Director Kataoka’s appearance in Q Branch and subsequent orders all the more stranger.
“As soon as Takigawa is cleared by Medical, you are to outfit him.”
Miyuki set down his mug of coffee. “Sir?”
“Here are his mission parameters. You have two hours, Quartermaster.”
“Yes, sir,” was obviously the answer the Director was expecting. Kataoka gave a short nod before walking off. Leaving a trail of excited murmurs in his wake.
Miyuki picked up the bright red folder with the words ‘Top Secret’ stamped across it.
“Honestly,” said Miyuki as he skimmed the mission parameters before setting the folder aside.
He hoped his flat tone covered up his nervousness. Because as silly as it seemed to have a folder labeled ‘Top Secret’ it didn’t change the fact that no one here had worked with 002...since ever.
Miyuki sat down at his computer and decided to first find out what the folder would fail to tell him.
002’s personnel files were also considered ‘Top Secret’. Though the firewalls that protected them were about as effective as a stamp on the file folder when it came to keeping Miyuki out. Miyuki sipped at his coffee absently as he slipped past them.
002’s name was Takigawa Chris Yuu. Half American. The son of an Ambassador of the United States of America to Japan. He had grown up in Japan. His education was an impressive list of private schools. He moved to America to attend a prestigious college. His father’s alma marta. Of course.
And yet...he had used his dual citizenship to join the US Army where he rose quickly in the ranks. He completed two tours of duty in Afghanistan and one in Syria.
Miyuki half considered hacking the Pentagon in order to read an unredacted version of 002’s file. In the end, he decided it wasn’t worth it. It wasn’t like he couldn’t read between the lines. 002 had most likely been part of a special counter-terrorism taskforce.
It meant 002 wasn’t like the rest of the recruits in CIRO. Ex-police officers who had worked in one of the safest countries in the world. No. Not 002.
002 was a killer.
---
“Welcome back, 002,” replied Rei without looking up from whatever it was she was typing. Probably spying on government officials. Elegantly, of course. Like everything Rei did. “I take it the mission was a success.”
“As well as it could have gone,” replied Chris honestly. He dropped the file folder with his mission report on Rei’s desk. She immediately picked it up and started to skim through the contents. “Did I miss anything interesting while I was dead?”
It was mostly a hypothetical question, but Rei actually paused in her perusal of his report. She shot him a sly grin that immediately caught Chris’ attention.
“We have a new Quartermaster.”
“Oh?”
CIRO’s last Quartermaster had been a sweet but slightly cooky old man. Chris was pretty sure he had been trying to build a Gundam in the basement.
“You should meet him,” said Rei too casually for it to be anything less than an order. She then threw him for a loop by adding, “I think the two of you would get along.”
“Oh?” asked Chris again this time twisting the sound to reflect his speculation.
Rei set down the folder and picked up a different one from her desk. She handed it to him. “Your new assignment. The new Quartermaster will outfit you. And try not to get blown up this time.”
Chris smiled. “Yes, sir.”
---
Being a 00 agent for the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office wasn’t a glamorous job for glamorous people.
All of their 00 agents specialized in disappearing in a crowd. The most effective were quiet and unassuming by nature. People that would be forgotten about. Whose presence was unremarkable.
002 was, as Miyuki was quickly finding out, an exception to the rule. He was striking. Amazingly so.
It wasn’t just the way he walked or the way he dressed--the hard lines of him wrapped up in a perfectly tailored bespoke suit. He dressed like a man who not only had money but also class and style. A rare trifecta. Combined with his good looks and confidence and a swagger to his step that said he knew he was both--caused all eyes in the room to follow after him.
The overall image was marred by the green tinge of a healing black eye.
But not by much.
The agent gave a polite nod and a charming smile as he said, “Quartermaster.”
“002,” greeted Miyuki. “Do I still welcome you back if you’re headed right back out again?”
002 shrugged. The gesture was the perfect picture of nonchalance. “No rest for the wicked.”
“Or the dead, apparently,” replied Miyuki as he slid a silver tray across his workstation. “Your passport and plane ticket. Your sniper rifle is already on its way to your hotel in Bratislava.”
“My sniper rifle?” said 002 confused. “Interpol usually provides that.”
Miyuki was almost insulted. “We can take care of our own, thank you very much. I trust it will be to your liking.”
002 looked him over carefully and calculated. In a way that made Miyuki want to run or hide or maybe confess all of his secrets. Miyuki suppressed a shudder.
“Trust…” drawled 002. “Is not something I give easily.”
Miyuki snorted. “Then how about a leap of faith? I’ve read your file. With the number of rooftops you’ve jumped across...this should be easy.”
It took a moment, but the smile that formed on 002’s face was small but genuine. “Quartermaster.”
“002.”
---
Bratislava was a beautiful city.
Tucked between two rivers, the city center felt like all old European cities. The weight of their history could be felt in the architecture, in their narrow stone-lined streets, in the castle sitting atop a hill.
Not that Chris ever got to enjoy such things.
Instead, Chris was in the fringes of the city. In the shadows that clung to every beautiful city.
He had been watching the same window across the square for hours. Trying to stay loose and alert as he lay on his stomach; sniper rifle rested against his shoulder. Chris wasn’t sure how the new Quartermaster knew his preferences when it came to long-distance firearms but Chris damn near whistled when he unwrapped such a gift.
Maybe that was why he activated the comm device in his ear and said quietly, “Q.”
“002,” came the instant reply. The Quartermaster sounded alert and professional despite it being the middle of the night back in Tokyo. “Sitrep.”
“I’m in need of some information.”
“What do you need?”
There was the sound of a slight shuffle and Chris could imagine Q positioning himself behind a computer ready and willing.
“Chimney cake.”
“Chimney cake?” repeated Q obviously confused. “What is that? Code for some kind of explosive because I assure you, 002, the Slovakia government will not appreciate--”
The Quartermaster cut himself off and Chris waited.
“It’s a dessert.”
“I’ve heard it’s very delicious.”
“Let me get this straight,” and Chris could hear the strain in the Quartermaster’s voice. “You called me in the dead of night on a communication device whose R&D cost more than my yearly salary because you have a sweet tooth?”
Chris huffed a laugh as motion in the window caught his attention. “Sounds like you need to ask for a raise, Quartermaster.”
“That’s not the point!”
Chris blocked out the rest of the Quartermaster’s rant as he adjusted his shooting stance. Resting his cheek against the stock as he looked through the scope. His target stood in the window sorting through his mail. An arms dealer who had made too big of a name for himself. Landing him on several watchlists and eventually...within Chris’ crosshairs.
Chris took a breath and then another. In between the inhale and exhale of the next breath he pulled the trigger. He watched the window just long enough to confirm the kill before breaking down the rifle. The metal was still warm in his hands even through his gloves.
“And let me tell you where you can stuff your damn chimney cake--”
“Target down. Proceeding to the extraction point.”
Chris could hear the Quartermaster’s sharp inhale of breath. “Understood. Good work, 002.”
---
Chris found the Quartermaster in the shooting range. That in itself was a surprise considering that Chris was usually the only person who used the range.
The Quartermaster was dressed in a mustard yellow cardigan. It was a slight improvement over the ill-fitting brown suit he was wearing when they met.
Though it didn’t matter what his sartorial choices were. Not if he could shoot.
His shooting stance was steady and sure. Elbows locked. Leaning into the recoil. A firm grip, but not squeezing the gun. He fired off rounds at the paper target in quick succession. Finishing off the magazine before setting the gun down on the tray before him.
Chris slipped off his earmuffs and waited for the Quartermaster to do the same before saying, “You seem to know what you’re doing.”
It was a bit of an understatement. The Quartermaster had a decent grouping.
“Oh, please,” replied Q complete with an eye roll. “Playing with dangerous things was half the appeal of working for CIRO.”
“You don’t say?”
And Chris couldn’t quite keep the flirtatious lit out of his voice. He understood why Rei thought they would get along.
This Quartermaster was interesting.
And there were very few interesting things in Chris' life.
---
Miyuki returned to shooting after 002 left. He finished off the next magazine and set the gun down on the tray before letting out a long sigh.
“Oh.”
---
Chris looked up as an alarm sounded through Q Branch. He glanced at Q and was surprised to see the Quartermaster looking delighted.
“Oh, 002, It’s your lucky day.” Q shot him a grin. “Care to see what we get up to in Q Branch?”
Q didn’t wait to see if Chris would follow. He didn’t need to with an invitation like that.
“What’s going on?”
“The North Koreans are test-launching missiles.”
That made Chris stop in his tracks. “What?”
Q waved him off. “I’ll admit they have gotten pretty good at making missiles. Their guidance systems, however…”
The Quartermaster trailed off as he approached his workstation. And for at least ten minutes completely forgot that Chris was there. It was not, at all, a situation the agent was used to.
Chris split his attention to watching the overhead screen and watching the Quartermaster’s back. It didn’t matter that Chris didn’t have any idea what Q was doing. It was obvious that he was a commander of a battlefield that Chris couldn’t see and couldn’t comprehend even if he tried.
With a few definitive keystrokes, the Quartermaster sent the missile horribly off course. It splashed down somewhere in the Pacific in International waters.
“Note the location and send the coordinates to our American friends to pick up.”
Q’s eyes looked bright and alive as he turned from his computer. High on the adrenaline of the victory. The sight was familiar to Chris but it was not an expression he had ever expected to see on the Quartermaster.
Interesting.
“What happens when they finally fix their guidance systems?” asked Chris more than a little curious. It was...difficult but not impossible for him to sneak into North Korea--
Q shrugged and said in that steady, blunt way of his, “Then I hack into their weapons manufacturing facilities, cause an electrical shortage and burn the place down. I’ve already left a trigger in their systems. It just needs to be activated.”
Q accepted a fresh cup of coffee from one of his minions. He didn’t even look at them. Just held out his old cup and accepted the new cup without turning away from his computer screen.
“I would have done that already...but then they’d just move the facility and it’s a pain in the ass to find it again. So many surveillance satellite hacks…”
Chris arched an eyebrow at that.
Q shrugged again. He looked utterly and completely unashamed at admitting to commandeering foreign surveillance satellites. “You have to work with what you got.”
Which was a sentiment that Chris appreciated probably more than Q realized.
---
Another bar. Another suit. Another martini.
Chris had lost count how many times he had done this. In too many cities on too many continents. Paris and Mexico City and New York and Bogota and Sydney and Dubai...
The only difference now was the voice in his ear.
“So what’s your best line?”
Chris smiled as he sipped at his martini absently. He watched the sun go down through the large window of the bar. Watched as the colorful lights of Shanghai came alive with the night.
He had been sent after an heiress and tasked with finding out if she was using daddy’s money to bribe government officials.
Instead of a gun and some sort of comms device, Q had handed over what looked to be a normal cell phone and a few condoms.
There was an unprofessional quirk to Q’s lips as he added, “Do try to bring back your equipment in one piece.”
Chris had been thinking about that quirk the whole plane ride from Tokyo.
“There is no line.”
He could hear Q huff through the phone. “You’ve got to have a gameplan or a strategy or something.”
“You in need of dating tips, Q?” teased Chris. “They have apps for that, you know.”
“I do just fine, thank you, 002,” muttered Q. “I just figured you’d have a system for this kind of mission.”
Chris hummed. “How could there be a system? Everyone is different so what they find appealing is different. It’s more about how well you can read the person.”
Chris had kept an eye on the heiress out of the corner of his eye for most of the night. She seemed smart and funny...and utterly charmed by her date. Her file hadn’t mentioned a boyfriend, but they had all the hallmarks of being in a new and exciting relationship.
“Un-huh,” replied Q flatly. “And I’m sure the fact that you’re so good looking has nothing to do with it.”
“I’m flattered, Q,” replied Chris, not bothering to curtail the way his voice dropped into a purr.
“Please,” shot back Q and Chris could imagine the accompanying eye roll. “Modesty doesn’t suit you.”
“Oh? What does suit me?”
“A Walther PPK.”
Chris couldn’t help the laugh that escaped him.
Chris seduced people for work. Flirting was second nature to him. He didn’t know how much of his reputation Q had heard. He assumed all of it because they both worked in Intelligence and Q wasn’t an idiot. So he wasn’t sure what to make of the fact that Q seemed to be flirting back.
“Regardless,” said Chris. “I don’t think the target’s new boyfriend seems the type to share.”
“That could be a problem,” replied Q in the clipped tone that he slipped into when he was working. “Any chance of getting close to her anyway?”
“Sure,” said Chris with a slight shrug that Q couldn’t see. Or maybe he could. Chris had no doubt that Q could hack the bar’s security cameras. “With enough time. It would probably be faster to target her brother.”
Q hesitated just long enough for Chris to notice. “Is that going to be a problem, 002?”
“Not in the slightest,” replied Chris as he glanced at the bar where the target’s brother was working through his third, top-shelf whiskey. “He’s younger. Less successful. Living in the shadow of his more glamorous sister. The new boyfriend is just another thing she has over him.”
“How can you know all that?”
“By the way he’s drinking.”
Q scoffed and Chris could hear the sound of typing. “Sorry, I’m not about to just take your word for it.”
Chris finished his drink and headed towards the bar for another. He leaned up against the bar next to the brother and signaled for another drink.
“I would never dream of that, darling.”
The sound of typing stopped. “Excuse me?”
“I know that your work is important to you, but I wanted you here with me.” Chris glanced at the brother who paused in lifting his glass to look back at him. Chris glanced over him appreciatively and shot him a slow smile. “The view is excellent.”
Q groaned. “That’s your opening line?”
Chris’ smile was a little bit more genuine as he said, “I’ll call you later.”
“Please don’t.”
“Love you too. Bye.” Chris hung up the cell phone and slipped it into his inside jacket pocket before turning towards the brother. “Can I buy you a drink?”
---
Miyuki wasn’t going to hack the security cameras in the bar.
A simple honeypot mission didn’t require his full attention.
But he had to admit, at least to himself, he was a little curious.
002 had a reputation at CIRO. One that even Miyuki couldn’t avoid hearing about. The agent was supposedly just as skilled in seduction as he was in any other aspect of his spycraft. It was especially impressive considering that Miyuki had watched him snipe a target from 500 meters away in light wind and through glass.
With the flimsy excuse that Miyuki was only trying to learn his agent’s process better and thus could serve as a better Quartermaster, he hacked the bar cameras.
The quality wasn’t the greatest but even in the blurry image 002’s presence was magnetic. Then again Miyuki had met the man in person so maybe he was just projecting. Miyuki leaned back in his office chair as he watched 002 chat up the original target’s brother.
002 was right. There was no one line. Instead, there were small, seemingly insignificant moments carefully built upon each other.
002’s attention never wavered as he listened as if fascinated. His eyes only broke contact to watch the brother lick his lips after taking a nervous sip of his whiskey. The conversation between them seemed easy and unguarded. 002 laughed subtly. Just enough to light up his eyes. The fake but believable fluster when the brother touched his knee. Combined with the shy almost tentative recovery. The coy smile. The subtle lean into the touch.
Miyuki sat with eyes wide. Not quite believing what he was seeing. 002 made it look easy. As if placing a hand on the brother’s lower back as he whispered something in his ear--something that made the brother blush--was the most natural thing in the world. 002 pulled back. He paid his bill, smiled again at the brother before walking away.
The brother couldn’t follow after him fast enough.
Miyuki closed his laptop. Suddenly glad for the 1,096 miles between him and 002.
It stopped Miyuki from following after him too.
---
“Q.”
“Sitrep, 002.”
Chris let out a sigh of relief at the crisp response. “I need an escape route.”
“Do I even want to know what went wrong?” asked Q. His voice was calm, but the sound of his typing was frantic even over the comms. “You had to walk less than a mile to the drop point.”
“Rival favela gangs, you know how it goes,” said Chris as he jumped from one tin roof to another.
The weather in Rio de Janeiro was sweltering. The humidity was clinging to Chris’ skin. He could feel the beads of sweat running down his spine as he cleared another roof.
“Rival favela gangs. Of course. How silly of me,” replied Q. His voice was flat and distant but only because his focus was elsewhere. “Go right. Now. What is with you and rooftops. Honestly.”
Chris turned, jumping to a lower roof. He could hear the sound of his pursuers still behind him but closing in.
“Not the time, Q.”
“Another right. Hmm. Good. Now get off of the roof--”
Chris cushioned the fall with a tuck and roll. He grunted as he found his feet and took off down the street. Ducking behind another building just as the gunfire sounded.
“Left through the alleyway. Across the street there’s a rather obnoxious Lamborghini. Get in it. I’ll start it from here.”
“You can do that?”
“Please. Do you have any idea how weak the firewalls are on a car?”
Just as Q said there was a bright yellow Lamborghini sitting across the street. The door unlocked as Chris approached it and it roared to life as Chris got behind the wheel.
“You do realize a car like this in this neighborhood can only belong to the drug cartel.”
“So?” replied Q. “I’ve sent the coordinates to the Japanese Embassy to the GPS. Safe travels, 002.”
Chris laughed as he shifted the Lamborghini into gear and gunned it down the street.
---
Miyuki collapsed on his workstation.
It wasn’t something he was about to advertise, especially since it seemed Takigawa had finally started to see Miyuki as a resource, but he had never walked an agent through an escape like that.
Miyuki was so high on adrenaline his hands were shaking.
Behind him Rei said, “You did well, Quartermaster.”
Miyuki didn’t jump but he also hadn’t known she was there. “Are you sure I can’t kill him myself?”
“You like him.”
The statement was delivered with a certainty that was devastating.
When Miyuki had no reply at the ready, Rei gave a short nod before turning and walking out of Q Branch. Her heels clicking sharply against the floor. Leaving Miyuki alone with his computers and screens and hacked satellites and adrenaline and...admiration.
Not that Rei had ever been wrong before, but Miyuki wished she hadn’t been so right.
He watched the little red dot that represented 002’s tracker as it moved through the streets of Rio de Janeiro.
This had been just a taste of Takigawa’s world.
Terrifying and exhilarating.
And Miyuki wondered if he’d ever get enough.
---
“You haven’t seen a single movie star?”
“I’ve been stuck in an FBI building for the past week,” said Chris into the comms. “When would I have seen any movie stars?”
Chris had been brought in as a consultant. There was a smuggling ring suspected of moving guns through Los Angeles to Hawaii and finally to Japan. Chris had done all he could here and now would have to pick up the thread back home.
“Besides,” added Chris as he tapped his fingers against the steering wheel of the rental car. “When do you think I’d have time to watch movies? Even if I saw a movie star I’d probably not recognize them.”
“You do spend a lot of time on long flights,” pointed out Q. “Make a left at the next intersection.”
Chris was supposed to be on his way to the airport. Not that Chris minded a slight detour. He had to admit he was curious to find out what Q was up to. He also wasn’t looking forward to flying out of LAX. The Los Angeles airport was a product of a bygone era. Not designed for or equipped for modern travel. It made flying in and out of it an utter nightmare.
“I sleep on long flights.”
“Sounds like a waste of free time. Stop here please.”
Chris did so. Parking in front of a bakery. “What am I doing here?”
“You wanted a chimney cake, didn’t you?” replied Q. “You never did get one in Bratislava.”
“Q,” said Chris in a tone of voice that was dangerously fond. “I didn’t know you cared.”
“Yes, well, all in a day's work. Do try to make it to the airport without blowing anything up or jumping off of any rooftops or shooting anyone.”
“Oh. So this is a bribe?”
It sounded like Q tried not to laugh and failed. “Will that be all, 002?”
“Yes, Quartermaster.”
---
Miyuki built the security system in his apartment.
He thought he had perfected it over the years. Would have--had been betting his life on it keeping him safe.
It was why he almost called Rei when he came home and found a box sitting in the middle of his coffee table. He would have if it wasn’t for the accompanying note that stated simply: Thank you. Takigawa.
Miyuki still considered the box for longer than was necessary before he flipped the lid open. He let out a short laugh.
002. License to kill. Had brought him back a chimney cake.
Miyuki collapsed on to his sofa. He was still staring at the desert in disbelief when his cats finally decided to greet him. Zelda investigated the box. She sniffed it tentatively before deciding it wasn’t interesting and walked away. Peach curled up in Miyuki’s lap. Bumping her head against him.
“Do we need to discuss our security protocols again? Hmm? The two of you need to start pulling your weight,” said Miyuki as he scratched under Peach’s chin. “Or did the scary 00 agent seduce the two of you?”
Peach purred. Her tiny chest rumbling as she kneaded his leg.
Miyuki sighed. “Can’t say I blame you.”
---
Chris stumbled as he struggled to yank open the passenger side door of the powder blue 1958 Chevrolet Impala. The car was in immaculate condition. A real thing of beauty. Chris had no idea how the Quartermaster had gotten a hold of the car but it had been waiting for him in the Havana Airport parking lot as promised.
Not that Chris had any time to appreciate the car’s beauty at the moment.
“Q?” Chris collapsed into the passenger’s seat. Already fumbling with the buttons of his shirt. “Have you ever heard of pastel de tres leches?”
Q let out a long drawn out sigh. “If I look this up, is it going to be some kind of weapon, dessert, or sex thing?”
“You know, it’s really not my fault you’ve never heard of a reverse cowgirl. That’s like the basics of--”
“002, why is your heart rate spiking?”
“Ah, well, I got a little bit poisoned.”
“You got a little bit poisoned,” parroted back Q in the dryest, coldest inflection Chris had ever heard. It made his next outburst all the more amusing, “What the fuck, Takigawa?”
“It happens.”
“Often?”
Chris hesitated. “How often does it have to happen for it to be considered ‘often’?”
“I think you just answered my question,” grumbled Q. “In the glove compartment. Do I even want to know how you got poisoned?”
“Remember when I mentioned pastel de tres leches?” asked Chris.
His fingers were starting to feel numb as he opened the glove compartment; shoving aside the road maps and a pair of cheap sunglasses. His hand finally curled around the black case that was tucked in the back of the compartment.
“Please don’t tell me you got poisoned because you have a sweet tooth. Because I don’t care what Rei-chan told me, I swear I will kill you myself.”
“Rei-chan?”
“Focus, 002.”
“Q?”
“I’m running the analysis from your tracker now. Take the blue EpiPen and inject it into the heart.”
Chris scoffed. “I always knew you’d break my heart, Q.”
“I’ll do more than break your heart if you don’t take that antidote right now--”
Chris stabbed the pen into his chest. He sucked in a lungful of air. He wasn’t sure how long he sat in the Impala. Struggling to move. Struggling to breathe. Chris felt like...well...like he had very recently been poisoned. He was soaked with sweat and yet his skin was clammy. And he was still having a hard time catching his breath, but he had skirted death and come out on top one more time. And this time it was because--
“Welcome back, 002.”
Chris let out a hoarse laugh. “Glad to be back.”
“Do try to be more careful with what you put into your body.”
“I make no promises, Q,” said Chris as he pushed his damp hair off of his forehead.
He could hear Q sigh in a way that was becoming more than familiar. “A pleasure as always, 002.”
Chris grinned. “Likewise, Quartermaster.”
---
“I’ve never really understood the point of Christmas.”
Miyuki pulled at his collar. It was psychological but it felt like he wasn’t getting enough air. Not in the tuxedo he was wearing. Not in this elevator. Certainly not standing next to Takigawa.
The irony was he had insisted on being on this mission.
Technically they weren’t allowed to spy on the Americans and technically the Americans weren’t allowed to spy on them either. That was the name of the game. And it was Miyuki’s job to find out if the American tech company was using its devices to gather information on Japanese citizens.
Compared to the missions Takigawa usually ran this must be easy. Miyuki had gotten them onto the guest list of the company’s Christmas party and now it was just a matter of finding and accessing their closed systems.
Takigawa glanced at him. “Stop fiddling with your bow tie.”
“Easy for you to say.” Miyuki dropped his hand with a huff. “Weren’t you born in one of these things?”
“My parents waited until I was at least six months old before they put me in a tuxedo.”
“You know, the worst part about that is that I can’t tell if you’re lying.”
Miyuki was rewarded with one of Takigawa’s rare laughs. The one that wasn’t him performing for someone. The one that was a genuine, tangible, honest reaction.
Miyuki savored the laughter probably more than was professionally appropriate. Then again, what else was new when it came to Takigawa?
The elevator opened and Takigawa stepped out before signaling to Miyuki that the coast was clear. Miyuki followed Takigawa down the halls. He had meticulously studied the layout of the building and specifically this floor. If Miyuki was going to hide a bank of servers that were secretly storing illegally obtained information on civilians it would be on this basement level. More specifically behind this door.
Miyuki fished out a keycard from his wallet and swiped it. The lock on the door lit up yellow for a moment before turning green. Miyuki opened the door and gestured to Takigawa.
“After you.”
“I thought the security would be stronger,” replied Takigawa.
“I laid most of the groundwork already,” said Miyuki absently as he pulled out his keys and inserted the flash drive that only looked like a key into the right server. “The security cameras are on a loop. The elevator was unlocked. I hacked the door and reprogrammed the lock. The rest…?”
Miyuki shrugged as he typed in the command keys. He just needed to leave a little something behind. Something to spy on the spies and if the data got a little corrupted along the way then all the better.
“It’s a matter of arrogance. Who would dare?”
“Who, indeed?” replied Takigawa dryly as Miyuki removed the flash drive and pocketed it. “Are you done already?”
Miyuki grinned back at him. “Yeah. Who do you think I am?”
“Someone who would dare.”
Miyuki liked the sound of that.
They were almost back to the elevators when they dinged. Miyuki realized that meant someone was getting off on this floor. Takigawa grabbed his hand and dragged him to the stairwell. They climbed the stairs together. Takigawa easily. Miyuki...a little less so.
He was breathing heavily with two more floors to go to the ground floor. It was a good thing that Takigawa’s spatial awareness wasn’t compromised because the door to the stairwell opened one floor above them. And Miyuki would be impressed by his reaction time--if he had any way to process what was happening.
One minute he was struggling for breath and the next Takigawa shoved him up against the wall. He pulled apart Miyuki’s bow tie and mussed up his own hair. And Miyuki was about to say something snarky about messing up his bow tie but he never got the words out because Takigawa was kissing him.
And Miyuki was suddenly breathless for a completely different reason. Because seduction was another well-honed weapon in 002’s arsenal. A weapon that Miyuki had no defenses against. Any walls he had crumbled as Takigawa’s body pressed against his own. As firm and steady hands were untucking his shirt. As lips and tongue devoured--
Miyuki arched into every touch. Willing to give whatever Takigawa wanted to take. His own hands wound around Takigawa’s neck. His fingers carding through his hair. And he tugged sharply. Feeling the following gasp against his lips.
It was a reaction that felt so right, so natural that Miyuki’s mind reeled with the implications of it. That maybe, possibly he hadn’t been the only one who had felt this thing that had been between them. That, maybe, possibly--
Takigawa pulled away and Miyuki found himself chasing after him. It wasn’t until he noticed the two embarrassed security guards that he remembered this had started because someone had walked into the stairwell with them. Miyuki groaned quietly as he buried his face into the crook of Takigawa’s neck.
“This area is off-limits.”
Takigawa ducked his head. “Sorry. We...um...got a little lost.”
A giggle slipped out of Miyuki and Takigawa tightened his hand on his hip as a warning.
“Un-huh,” replied the guard flatly. “The ground floor is two more floors up. Let us escort you.”
“Thank you,” said Takigawa, sounding believably chastised. “Come along, dear.”
Miyuki wanted to roll his eyes and somehow Takigawa knew because he pinched Miyuki’s side. They climbed the last two flights of stairs and walked out onto the ground floor lobby.
“Have a nice night,” called one of the guards amused.
Miyuki made it out the front door before he let out a bubble of laughter. “So much for my promising career in espionage.”
He felt giddy...and a bit invincible. So he pressed himself back against Takigawa. Capturing his lips again. Riding the high and the excitement that made him bold and confident and willing to just dive into whatever this was.
“002.”
Takigawa smiled back at him. “Quartermaster.”
“My place or yours?”
---
Chris watched as Q took in his apartment. Issued to him when he started working for CIRO. Not much had changed about the place. The bland furniture. The impersonal artwork. It looked more like a hotel room than a place where someone lived.
It looked nothing like the Quartermaster’s own home. Filled with personal items and personal touches and two cats who more or less greeted whoever walked through the door.
The Quartermaster looked good in a tuxedo. Like Chris always knew he would. He wore the finary a little awkwardly but there was no denying the beauty of him. That under all of his rumbled cardigans and cheap suits there had been a strength to him. Unbending. Unbreakable. A will of steel that melted under Chris’ hands.
“Love what you’ve done with the place,” said Q as he turned back towards Chris with a wry smile on his lips.
“Are your cats going to be okay?”
Q hesitated as he reached out for Chris. He gave a huff of a laugh before his hands settled on Chris’ hips. “I have an automatic feeder set up for Zelda and Peach since my work schedule is so weird.”
Chris had leaned down to nip at Q’s ear but he pulled back in order to look at the Quartermaster when he asked, “Zelda and Peach?”
“They’re princesses,” explained Q hurriedly. “I don’t want to talk about my cats.”
“What do you want to talk about?”
“I don’t want to talk at all.”
And that was a direction Chris was more than happy to follow.
---
Miyuki stretched out as Takigawa traced his fingers up and down his spine.
He had watched Takigawa with marks. Had understood the power of his charm. Had expected great but predictable sex. Something that felt like a step by step process. He hadn’t expected generosity or tenderness or laughter.
He hadn’t expected the dissatisfaction he would feel as Takigawa gasped out, “Q.”
And Miyuki felt something akin to pity towards every mark Takigawa had been sent to seduce. Who spread their legs and spilled their secrets. Because Miyuki was no better than they were. Not when he found himself saying,
“Miyuki Kazuya.” He turned to glance at Takigawa. “That’s my real name.”
Takigawa’s hand stilled as he studied him for a moment. “It’s nice to meet you, Miyuki.”
Miyuki snorted. “It’s nice to meet you too, Takigawa.”
“You should probably call me Chris by this point,” replied Takigawa as he ran his fingers through Miyuki’s hair.
And Miyuki knew that that concession didn't mean the same thing to Takigawa as it did to him. Not after so much time spent in America. Not after spending most of his time outside of Japan. But, here and now, Miyuki let himself pretend that it meant something more.
Miyuki yawned as he curled up against Takigawa’s side. “I’ve been curious. Why Japan? Why not work for the Americans?”
Miyuki didn’t think Takigawa was going to answer. When he did, his answer was even more surprising.
“It seemed like no one else was looking out for her...so I thought...I could.” Takigawa laughed and Miyuki could feel it rumbling in his chest. “Sounds silly when I say it out loud.”
“Not silly at all,” mused Miyuki who then fell asleep thinking about how maybe they were more similar than he originally thought.
---
“002.”
“Quartermaster.”
Miyuki slid the silver tray across his workstation. “You’re comms device and pocket knife. You’ll find it has something for every occasion.”
Chris smiled as he picked up the pocket knife. “I’m looking forward to seeing what it can do.”
Miyuki swallowed. His grip on the edge of his worktable was so tight it was turning his knuckles white.
“I have your passport in my office. If you’ll follow me.”
Miyuki turned without seeing if Chris listened. He threw open the door to his office and stalked into it. Running his hands through his hair as he listened to the door click close.
“Is something wrong?” and Miyuki could hear the puzzlement in Chris’ voice.
“Is something wrong?” scoffed Miyuki before he rounded on him. “You’re being sent, all alone, into the lair of a warlord in the middle of the jungle where there are no computers and almost no satellite coverage--where I cannot help you--and all I can give you is a comm with a limited power supply and a damn pocket knife.”
Chris examined the pocket knife in his hand. “Does it at least explode?”
“Of course it explodes,” scoffed Miyuki before he shook his head. “Don’t do this.”
Chris had the gall to look amused. “Are you asking me to refuse a direct order, Quartermaster?”
Miyuki slammed his palms on his desk. “This is a suicide mission.”
Chris’ expression sobered but he still smiled, slow and confident, and Miyuki wanted to believe him when he said,
“Don’t you know? Resurrections are my specialty.”
Miyuki shoved his glasses up so he could pinch the bridge of his nose. There was a war raging inside of him. Duty and honor and responsibility clashing with feelings and emotions and...attachment. He was never--this was never--
It was paralyzing. The fear.
It made Miyuki’s voice harsh and brittle. “Haven’t you given enough?”
Chris looked him over. Cold. Distant. Clinical. And Miyuki knew he wasn’t seeing Takigawa Chris Yuu. This was 002. Japan’s best and most efficient killer.
“I’m an assassin, Miyuki. An assassin that my country whores out to other nations in exchange for favors and information. Don’t forget what I do. Don’t forget who I am. Do your job and I’ll do mine.”
Miyuki straightened his spine. He was the youngest Quartermaster in CIRO history. He had clawed his way to the top by being the smartest and the most ruthless--by being the fucking best they had ever seen.
He could burn the world to the ground.
And Takigawa Chris Yuu would simply walk through the flames.
“Understood,” replied Miyuki. “Do try to bring back your equipment back in one piece.”
Chris gave a clipped nod as he grabbed the passport. “Quartermaster.”
“002.”
Miyuki watched Chris walk away from him. He waited until the agent was out of sight before collapsing against his desk.
“Bring yourself back too,” muttered Miyuki to himself because there was no one else around to hear him.
---
Miyuki dropped the half-built computer in his hands as the comms lit up and the familiar voice of Takigawa Chris Yuu said,
“Q.”
Miyuki scrambled to his workstation. He pulled up Chris’ vitals onto the main screen. He had been monitoring them since Chris had disappeared into the jungle two weeks ago. Afraid and waiting for this moment.
Miyuki watched the heart rate monitor line on his screen. The sharp, rapid peaks that signaled an elevated heart rate. It was dipping into dangerous levels.
Miyuki’s fingers shook but his voice was calm as he opened the comms channel, “002.”
“Hey.”
Miyuki let out a short disbelieving laugh. “Hi.”
“Target down. Had to blow up half the compound to do it. I’m sorry to report that your pocket knife did not survive.”
“Screw the pocket knife,” muttered Miyuki and he could hear Chris laugh. He sounded winded...or hurt. “ETA to the extraction point?”
Chris hummed. “Well, that’s the trickier part…”
Miyuki closed his eyes. “002.”
“Quartermaster?”
“You better come back,” said Miyuki fiercely as if he could make it true by willpower alone.
“For you, Quartermaster, always.”
Miyuki didn’t have eyes on Chris. There was nothing to hack. No miracle he could perform. The only thing he could do was watch Chris’ vitals. His heart beating just as quickly as Chris’. And then--nothing. The flatline signaling another tracker destroyed...or death.
And Miyuki felt as if it were his own heart being ripped out of his chest.
He took a slow and steady breath. And then another. His voice was even as he said, “Agent down.”
---
Miyuki had hacked every satellite known to man. Had piggybacked off of a few American social media companies. Had run facial recognition on thousands of hours of security cam footage. Had tried every way he could possibly think of to resurrect the dead tracker.
And after one month, one week, three days, twelve hours, thirty-seven minutes and forty seconds the door to Q Branch slid open.
It was late. Later than anyone else stayed. All of Miyuki’s minions had gone. Rei had come to check on him hours ago, looking concerned and telling him to go home. Miyuki had agreed and then stayed. Just a little bit longer had bled into the dead of night. It was something that kept happening...ever since 002 disappeared.
It was why Miyuki couldn’t trust his eyes, couldn’t trust his heart. The way it kicked into high gear. Beating wildly in his chest, in his throat. Reminding him that after weeks of feeling numb that he was, in fact, alive.
“You know, when I was promoted to Quartermaster, Rei-chan told me there were three unwritten rules at CIRO.” Miyuki pushed up his glasses so he could rub his eyes. “The first was that you were never really dead.”
Takigawa Chris Yuu looked back at him. Looking worse for wear despite the fresh light gray suit he was wearing. His hair was longer than usual. His hands were covered in scrapes and scabs. His right arm hung limply in a sling. He was holding himself carefully. Favoring his left side.
He looked damn good for a dead man.
Chris set down his broken comm on the silver tray that sat at the corner of Miyuki’s workstation. “And the other two rules?”
“That I couldn’t kill you myself. And...and I couldn’t fall in love with you.” Miyuki looked at the broken comm and sighed. “Two out of the three isn’t so bad.”
“Are you going to kill me, Quartermaster?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
Miyuki reached across the table and pulled Chris in by the lapels of his jacket. He kissed him with all of his worry and frustration and anger...and love. He kissed him to reassure himself, to reassure Chris, that he was here, that he had come back, that he was home.
“Welcome back, 002.”
Chris smiled. “Good to be back.”