Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Did you make it there in one piece?”

A gentle breeze kissed Dex’s face as he approached the double-door entrance. He looked upwards, taking in the archaic build of the academy exterior: brown stone, carved inlets, tall windows with sleek, clean glass. Groups of people passed him by, ages of all kinds present, as he stood a foot or two away from the short staircase.

“Yes, I did,” he answered, his eyes darting from one window pane to another.

“Do you have everything you need?”

“Yes,” he shifted his attention to his clothing: a form-fitting black track jacket free of any pin or label, form-fitting leggings with the same dark shade, and dark gray lace-up boots. The straps of his matching dark gray backpack rested perfectly on his shoulders, “Are you going to ask me if I packed a lunch next?”

“Don’t give me lip,” Irina’s voice was sharp yet chipper, “I’m just doing my job.”

“I know, I’m sorry.”

“You’re forgiven…but did you pack one?”

“Mom!”

“I’m just messing with you,” she laughed, “I know you’re prepared.”

“It’s one of the few things I took away from working for Dad. At least, I’d like to think I did,” the young man watched as men and women in similar gear rushed up the stairs, “...I can’t believe I’m here.”

“I’m proud of you, baby,” Irina cooed, “truly. You deserve this opportunity, and I’m glad my brother was able to give it to you.”

“I’ll be sure to give Uncle Valentin my undying gratitude,” Dex snorted gently, “but yeah, this is thanks to him.”

“Be careful in there, okay? Work hard, study, and please take care of yourself.”

“I will, Mom, I promise,” he began to approach the staircase, “...I should get going.”

“Okay, Dexter, I’ll talk to you later. I love you.”

“I love you too,” he hung up, slipping his cell phone into a nearby pocket on his backpack. He casually strolled into the building, electing to stand in a line off to the right. The sound of talking sat at full volume, filling the room with indistinct chatter and giggles. Students move one-by-one slowly, receiving an assortment of tools and goods from the staff seated in front of another set of double-doors. His focus proceeded to drift and blur at the edges the closer he got to the respective staff member at the front of the line. She looked him up and down once he stood a few inches away.

“Name, please,” her voice was aged, hoarse. Dex blinked rapidly, snapping back into some sense of reality.

“Dexter Heller,” he replied, stammering a bit. She ducked her head down, scanning a roster full of names, using a pink highlighter to cross his off. She dug through boxes that sat under the table, pulling out a lanyard and a few plastic cards. He noticed one with an image, a photo of him taken a week before, while the other was a clean, white rectangle. 

“Here's your ID,” she slid the lanyard his way, “Make sure you have it on you at all times while walking the academy grounds. The guards won't let you in anywhere without it,” she then passed him the white card, “and here is your keycard to get around the academy. It can open all general purpose rooms as well as your dorm.”

Dex stared at the firm plastic card in wonder, rubbing the material with his thumb. He donned the lanyard immediately, noting the navy blue fabric as it slinked around his neck. His picture was clear and present along with his full name and student ranking, noting him as a first-year. He nodded at the staff member before walking past her, opening the double doors and stepping outside. 

His eyes grew wide almost immediately as he took in his surroundings. Tall trees stood upright in perfect succession next to one another, the leaves chopped and curved to make large raindrop shapes. Bushes rested in between each tree, each one displaying a single color different from the rest. Pinks and blues sat across from one another, followed by purples and oranges, and then reds and yellows, the cycle repeating itself throughout the entire courtyard. As he walked down the cobblestone pathway, he observed the architecture that rose above the foliage: chapel-like structures, sleek black roof tiles, spears that cut into the clouds in the blue sky. It felt like something out of a movie, and it caused Dex to drift off once again: Look at you. You're your own man now.

That dream-like trance stopped when he suddenly collided with a short yet firm obstacle in front of him. 

“Ow…” his eyes focused on the young woman in front of him, noting her long brown hair tied back in a ponytail, hazel eyes, and rounded face. She rubbed the top of her head, the area that made impact with the young man, and he internally kicked himself, knowing full well that both Anna and Valentin will give him an earful later.

“I’m sorry,” he said sheepishly, “I wasn’t paying attention.”

“Clearly,” she huffed, staring at him, “...Oh.”

“Oh?”

“I know you, or, I know of you.”

“Do you now?” Dex snorted, “Well, right back at you.”

“Is that so?” the young woman looked Dex up and down, “My grandmother told me you get caught up in trouble. I just didn’t expect that trouble to be so…simple and self-inflicted.”

“I wouldn’t classify observation as ‘trouble,’ but okay.”

She extended a hand out to him, “Emma Drake.”

“Dex Heller.”

“You didn’t change your last name?”

“No? Why would I do that?”

“...Because you’re a Cassadine.”

“And? My…aunt? Cousin? She's one of the two, but I’m sure you know who Alexis Davis is-”

“Fair point,” Emma scuffed her boot against the ground, “I was just curious.”

“...Uh huh.”

She rolled her eyes, crossing her arms as she attempted to keep the conversation going, “So what prompted you to want to join the WSB?”

“Long story short, I needed a change. What about you?”

“Just following in my grandmother's footsteps.”

“Because you want to or because you'll be disowned otherwise?”

“Because I want to,” she rolled her eyes again, “Do you have this much snark when you speak to anyone else?”

Dex shrugged, opting not to give her a full answer. Emma's eyes darted around his face and body, studying him intently. Her remark left her mouth absent-mindedly, “...You look a lot like your uncle.”

“I sure hope I do.”

“Yeah, it's a little uncanny…and unfortunate.”

“Unfortunate? What's that supposed to mean?” Dex made a sour face.

“…I was just making an observation, that's all,” Emma let out a rough sigh, immediately fixating on a nearby open bench. She pointed her head in its direction, walking over. Dex looked between her and the rest of the courtyard before rushing to her side, “and it's not about your looks, just in case you're wondering.”

“Then what is it about?”

“You really want to know?”

“I don't think it's wise to backtrack after freely offering that kind of information.”

“...Okay,” she took a heavy breath, “well, Grandma told me that you were kept away from the Cassadines for a long time.”

“Correct.”

“So I presume you're not on the up-and-up with their history?”

“Not completely. I don't know all the historical lore or anything. I do know that my grandmother was pure evil.”

“We can only hope none of her worst traits are ingrained in your DNA,” Emma giggled, and Dex forced a laugh in response. She caught onto it, sucking in her lips, “The Cassadines…they have this…jaded darkness to them.”

Dex doesn't comment, averting his eyes, “I don't think we're all that bad…”

“I know. Spencer's one of my childhood friends, for one, and it seems like every member is, at minimum, a halfway decent person…but that darkness is still there.”

“...Why are you telling me this, exactly?”

Emma gave him a reserved look, brightness in her pupils. Dex's breath hitched in his throat, and part of him wasn't sure why. The sound of heels against stone snapped him out of his haze, and he watched as a few groups of students walked past them, heading towards the back of the courtyard. The pair exchanged looks before melting in with an approaching group, going towards a wide open stage and a number of white plastic chairs. Dex and Emma took their seats somewhere in the middle on the left, watching as a number of older men and women in crisp suits appeared onstage. One lone man stood in the middle, hovering over the podium in his ash gray suit and crisp eyes.

“Welcome to the World Security Bureau Academy!” he bellowed, his Australian accent thick, “It is my pleasure to greet you all and take in the potential new faces that will join the ranks.”

“That's not…?” Emma muttered loud enough for Dex to hear, prompting him to raise an eyebrow.

“I'm sure some of you are wondering why Frisco Jones is not standing before you today, as he was the director of the Bureau,” the man cleared his throat, “There has been quite a bit of… turnover recently, and he has left the Bureau altogether. I, Jack Brennan, as the new director, promise that the education you receive this year will be top-notch. I will also make sure that everyone's well-being will be properly maintained.”

“My grandmother never mentioned this…” Emma spoke up again, her voice still low, and Dex turned his head in response, “What the hell?”

“Big things lie ahead for each and every one of you. Some of you hail from Geneva, the lovely home of the academy itself, some of you come from neighboring lands, and some of you are overseas attendees. Some of you got in on your own merit, and others had a bit of a leg-up in admissions. Regardless of where you're from, how you got in, or why you're here, you'll all be working towards the same goal. It'll only be a matter of time before you'll graduate and rightfully earn your ‘agent’ title.”

Brennan scanned the crowd, hopping from student to student until he locked onto the specific area Dex and Emma sat, “Your purpose here is immense, and I seek to push you all to your highest level. I look forward to seeing which new recruits make the cut, and I hope you all have a studious, productive, and successful time at the academy. Thank you.”

“What the hell,” Emma swore as people dispersed around them. Dex remained with her, waiting for her to get to her feet. She eventually did, marching towards the closest bench she could see. She pulled out her phone, dialing ferociously. Dex slowly sat down on her left, waiting in muted anticipation, “What the actual hell…”

“What's the problem?” he asked.

“What's the problem?! You heard the guy: there's a new head of the Bureau!”

“And that's bad because…?” Dex dragged the word out before scowling at Emma's raised pointer finger. She held the phone against her ear as it rang, clicking after a few buzzes.

“Hello?” Anna's voice was crisp and clear through the static, “Emma?”

“Grandma,” she responded, “what's going on?”

“What do you mean?”

“Frisco Jones left the WSB?!”

“...What?” Anna questioned, “How do you know that?”

“This guy gave an opening speech and said that he was the new director.”

“Who?”

“Jack Brennan. Does that name ring a bell?”

“...It does.”

“You used to work with him?”

“We were on a couple missions together, yes, but we hadn't connected in years.”

“So you didn't know about this?”

“This is all brand new information to me. I certainly would've seen or heard something well before your first day.”

“...I see.”

“...Emma,” Anna's voice was stern, “don't. Focus on your education and training.”

“Is it bad that this guy is in charge?”

“Jack was quite the agent back then, so I have no doubt that the quality of your education will be top-notch.”

“That didn't answer my question.”

“Don't worry about this, okay? At least not now.”

“...Okay, but if there's anything shady I should watch out for, please let me know.”

“I will, and if there's anything shady going on, you tell me, and I'll handle it. For now, worry about your education,” Anna replied, “I need to attend to some business, so I'll call you later, okay?”

“Okay, love you.”

“Love you too,” Emma hung up the moment the sentence left her grandmother's mouth. She let out a sigh as she faced Dex.

“So,” he spoke up, “anything to report?”

“That's classified,” she answered, pocketing her phone, “You'll learn what that means soon enough.”

“Wow, rude,” he scoffed, an astonished smirk on his face, “I know what ‘classified’ means, thank you.”

“Good,” she gave him a cheeky smile. They stood and stared at one another for a beat, waiting for something to break the ice. A buzz from Dex's jacket pocket managed to do so.

“Who is it?”

“Uh,” Dex began to reply, fixated on Wallace's contact on his lock screen, “just…family.”

“I guess I should leave you to it, then,” the young woman approached him, reaching her hand out, “I'll see you around.”

“Yeah,” he hastily shook the appendage before marching off, leaving a confused and slightly flustered Emma behind. He rushed into the main building, walking towards the front staircases. Hiding underneath the steel steps, he opened his phone and read the message left for him.

From: Dad (10:59 AM)
Ich hoffe, dein erster Tag verläuft gut.

The young man inhaled sharply, shutting his eyes tight as he tried to keep the wave of emotion attempting to overtake him at bay. He slowly and shakily examined his phone, trying his best to formulate a response.

To: Dad (11:02 AM)
Die Dinge sind in Ordnung.

From: Dad (11:05 AM)
OK. Bitte pass auf dich auf. Wenn Sie etwas benötigen, kontaktieren Sie uns bitte.

Just as Dex was about to respond, a mix of voices latched onto his ear. He stole a few glances at the source, a crowd of older men and women surrounding the new director. Brennan managed to look back at Dex, a depth and gleam of determination and curiosity in his blue-green eyes. The young man felt a chill run down his spine, sending a response back before he made his exit, rushing up the stairs in search of his dorm room.

To: Dad (11:10 AM)
Wird tun.

Chapter Text

When Valentin arrived at the Devane residence, he was shocked to see that there wasn't a hole in the living room. Anna paced back and forth furiously, a hand on her hip and a knuckle on her bottom lip. He maintained his concerned expression as Felicia Scorpio walked up next to him, both of them stepping closer, prompting Anna to stop. 

“You got my message,” she greeted them.

“We did,” Felicia sighed sadly, “It's unfortunate that Frisco isn't with the WSB anymore.”

“Has he talked to you about it?”

“A little bit. Not much beyond how sudden it was.”

“When did he leave the Bureau?” Valentin raised an eyebrow.

“It had to have occurred a day or two before today in order to find a new director.”

“Why did he leave?”

“That's what we're trying to figure out,” Felicia replied, taking a seat on the sofa. Anna and Valentin join her, “Frisco called yesterday and left me a message about the WSB. I called him back and that's when he told me that he wasn't the director anymore. I tried asking him about why and how it happened-”

“And?”

“It was an eleventh-hour removal. He was contacted by the board and told that he was removed from his position. They were tight-lipped about why and hung up.”

“Does he have an idea of why?”

“He thought he broke a code or that the Bureau was going in a different direction from him.”

“But that makes no sense,” Anna cut in, “Things were fine under him. Why change things up?”

“That's what I thought too. I know you had no qualms with his leadership, so for the board to cut him loose…it makes no sense.”

“It could also have to do with the new director,” Valentin remarked, “I doubt the WSB is above corruption scandals.”

“That could be. The new director is Jack Brennan.”

“...No.”

“Yes.”

“No,” the man shook his head in disbelief, “that can't be right. Who told you this?”

“...Emma did.”

“Emma?” Felicia's eyes widened, “How would she have known that?”

“The Academy had their orientation today, and he gave the opening speech. She called me after that happened and asked about Frisco.”

“What did you tell her about Brennan?”

“Just that her education was in good hands, which is technically true.”

“Brennan was very skilled, but he was a loose cannon. Who's to say that won't influence how he dictates the Academy's curriculum?”

“He'd have to get the board to approve those changes, right?” Felicia questioned.

“Yes, but considering how they let him become the director, they could also approve any of his suggestions.”

“I think we might be catastrophizing a bit too soon,” Anna stated, “I don't disagree that in his heyday, Brennan wasn't one for conformity, but I doubt he'd be reckless enough to upend an established institution-”

“You know as well as I do that Brennan stuck to his own principles, no matter the circumstance.”

“You know that; you were closer to him than I was.”

“What principles did he have?” Felicia asked.

“Let's just say he was a fan of loopholes,” Valentin began, “If he found a way to skirt WSB's policies, he'd exploit it until he couldn't. It got him into trouble quite a bit.”

“And he kept his position with the WSB?”

“He did for a while. At some point, he was booted out. No one except the board knows why…” Anna gently bit her bottom lip, “which makes his grand return even more perplexing.”

“Were you two partners?” Felicia raised an eyebrow at Valentin.

“We worked together on a lot of missions, so we got to know each other fairly well.”

“Has his behavior ever affected you?”

“It’s certainly gotten me in trouble with the Bureau, yes. I was lucky enough to possess plausible deniability.”

“Wow,” the woman’s eyes widened, “What was he doing?”

“If I were to get into detail, we’d be here all day.”

“Let’s just say his circle of comrades was…not the best,” Anna gritted her teeth.

“I see, and I’m willing to bet that those associations were why he was finally kicked out.”

“That’s been the running theory for those of us who worked with him.”

“And you're concerned about his position solely because of his history?” Felicia looked back at Valentin, who doesn’t respond, “...I see. Someone deeply cares about his nephew, doesn’t he?”

“Of course I care about my family,” the man responded, “and I’m sure Anna filled you in on everything that’s occurred with my nephew.”

“She has. Dex has been through quite a bit.”

“I just want to make sure nothing happens to him.”

“What would Brennan want with Dex?”

“Hopefully nothing more than making sure he can graduate without a visit to the nurse’s.”

“You think something could happen to his heart?” Anna questioned.

“It’s certainly possible; he doesn't need any excessive stress,” he shot Anna a look, his face muted, “And I doubt you want Emma to endure the kind of chaos Brennan could bring about.”

“I won't argue with that.”

“Neither will I,” Felicia nodded, “but I know that Emma will triumph over anything Brennan will throw at her. I'm sure Dex will too.”

“He's a tough kid, even after what Victor did to him. I just hope he has the wherewithal to take care of himself. He is his father's son, after all.”

“I thought you and Wallace were close,” Anna crossed her fingers, donning a smirk.

“Oh, we are, but I’ll still call a spade a spade.”

“I heard Wallace is quite the gentleman,” Felicia laughed.

“A gentleman with a mouth, yes. Dexter definitely inherited his snark.”

“How is he, by the way?”

“Fine, I assume. I haven’t spoken to him in a while.”

“What about Irina?”

“Booze up, schmooze up: that's the game plan.”

Irina watched curiously as Wallace paced the floor in front of her, his phone pressed against his ear. She sat in a ball on the sofa, curled up in blankets. Part of her looked on in wonder, another part in fear, and a small part like a stranger. Months passed between her trip with Dex and the present moment, and while she was just as much a resident in the house as Wallace was, she still felt like a guest staying for her very first night.

“Senator Reynolds is a bonafide alcoholic,” he continued speaking into the device, “You saw it firsthand when he whipped out his flask in the corner. That's our in, because when his inhibition's down, his affability's up. You could weasel any information you wanted out of him with some whiskey and ego stroking.”

Irina tried to avert her gaze, her cheeks a bright pink as she wrestled feelings of frustration and intrigue as the man worked. She snuggled into the fabric around her, taking in the fresh fleece scent. 

“What do I want you to do?” Wallace scoffed in disbelief, “I want you to get intel on his party's platform. Get me dirt on how and why they're pivoting into this random, unknown energy company. It'll either be a shell or something we can put our own stake in. Remember: booze up, schmooze up. Got it?” he froze to hear the caller's response, “Good. Call me when you get something.”

“This is your job,” she remarked as he looked her way. He shook his head, donning a smile before sitting down on the opposite end of the couch, pulling her and the fabric she's wrapped in against his chest.

“It is my job,” he spoke softly, kissing her forehead, “and this is the umpteenth time you made that observation. You know you don’t have to keep saying that, right?” 

“I know, but…it’s still a bit unbelievable.”

“You'll get used to it.”

“Will I?” she looked up at him as he ran a hand through her blonde hair, “You have so many skills and talents and you're choosing the world of politics?”

“I'm not in the world of politics…not legitimately anyway,” he replied, “What I do, my love, is deal in secrets.”

“And that makes a difference?”

“I'd like to think so. Corruption, affairs, disease, my organization snuffs it all out, or, if we feel a bit frisky, we start it.”

“Frisky?” a smile immediately formed on her face as she giggled.

“Yeah,” he sighed bashfully, “I may or may not have said that on purpose, and it looks like I got what I wanted.”

“Oh, you're evil,” Irina turned to face him directly, planted on her hands and knees.

“Is that so?” Wallace smirked before he felt her lips touch his. They moved in perfect sync, his hands cupping her cheeks, swallowing her giggles and moans. 

She pulled back first, “I missed you.”

“I missed you too. I'm glad you're here.”

“Me too,” she got to her feet, meandering around the living room. She ran her fingers across a nearby bookshelf, stopping when she felt plastic against her skin.

“The scrapbook,” she murmured. Wallace stood by and approached her, pulling the book out. It existed as a laminated rectangle, blues and greens in stripes and polka dots cover the exterior.

“You've been avoiding this thing since you moved in,” he stated, “I mean, I probably shouldn't have tried to make you look through it when you were trying to get comfortable with everything but-”

“Let me see it.”

He handed her the item, watching as she retook her seat on the sofa. He joined her, wrapping an arm around her, his hand cupping her waist. She took a deep breath before turning the front cover over, her heart skipping a beat at the very first photo. A young boy, no older than five, laid on his stomach as he slept on a felt black surface, his face round and clean and his eyelids free of any creases. 

“This is the oldest picture I have of him,” Wallace said softly, “I took it the night we moved in. The cross-country car ride tuckered him out.”

“He's sleeping on…?”

“An air mattress. We ended up sharing that thing for a little bit before the upstairs was done.”

“This house wasn't even built yet?”

“It was; it was just abandoned.”

“Oh,” Irina huffed as she continued to turn the pages. Each image she saw of Dex tugged harder and harder at her heartstrings: school photos, family portraits, candids. A small lump began to form in her throat, “God…”

“We can stop if you want,” Wallace reached for the book.

“No, no, I'm glad I'm looking through it. It's nice to see that Dexter's childhood was preserved in these photos.”

“I did keep them for basic sentimental reasons, but, uh, I'd be lying if I said I didn’t also keep them for you to see.”

“You're always thinking of me,” she smiled sweetly.

“Not a day goes by that I don't,” he pulled her closer, holding her against him, “and I'll keep doing it. Because I love you.”

“I love you too,” she kissed him, turning back to the photos, “and I love our boy. These all seem like an entire lifetime ago.”

“Yeah,” Wallace leaned in towards the album, “even I can't believe he's in his mid-twenties. The years just flew by.”

“That they did,” Irina frowned as she caught teenaged photos, especially a few in the hospital, “What was this about?”

“That…” Wallace gulped, “was back when Dex was working for me. He got in a fight with a rival's son.”

“...Did he win?”

“He did.”

“I still can't believe you had our child working for your ‘business.’”

“It was a good idea at the time, and he was an excellent spy, but…it did do some damage to our relationship.”

“Maybe one day that damage can be repaired.”

“Maybe, but the ball's in his court, so he'd be the one to make it happen,” his voice then dropped to a mutter, “if he even wants it to happen.”

Irina raised an eyebrow at him when the sound of his under-the-breath babble caught her attention. His phone then buzzed in his pocket, and he got to his feet to answer. 

“What do you have for me?” he asked, pacing the floor, “...He what?”

“What is it?”

He lowered the device, gritting his teeth as he spoke, “Senator Reynolds caught my spy.”

“Oh…” 

“Clarke, where are you?” Wallace continued, “You're still at his office? Okay, how did he react? Does he know about the business?” the man relaxed his shoulders, “Okay, good…what? He's what?”

“Let me see,” Irina approached the man, reaching for the phone, “Hello? Yes, put the senator on the phone.”

“Irina-” Wallace stopped himself when she held up a finger to silence him.

“Hi, yes, Senator Reynolds. I'm so sorry for all this trouble. My son is a big fan of yours, a very zealous one considering your position on energy, and he got in over his head by approaching you and trying to commiserate. Rest assured that it won't happen again, and I'll straighten him out once he comes home,” she donned a wide smile, “Thank you, I appreciate your kindness and grace. I wish you the best, sir. Goodbye,” she ended the call, handing the device back to Wallace, “Your employee will have a lot to answer for once he comes here, I'm sure.”

“...I love you,” he pulled her into him, planting a heavy kiss on her lips. She giggled as she pulled back, her hands on his shoulders.

“I think I see why you got Dexter involved,” she half-heartedly admitted.

“Yeah, my men need some work,” he laughed in response, “but thank you. You really saved my ass.”

“Whatever you need,” she grinned.

“Even if it means helping out with the business?”

“...Yes,” she nodded, a defeated smile on her face, “I'll help with that too.”

“Thank you, liebling,” Wallace pulled her into a tight hug, “I appreciate it more than you know,” he stepped back enough, holding her hands in his as he wore a wide, excited smirk on his face, “and I think the first order of business will be a crash course on the in and outs of the business.”

“Lay it on me,” she replied before she followed him to his office, her education beginning the moment she shut the door behind her.

Chapter Text

“Glad to see you back in action.”

Sonny donned a classic smirk as he turned to face his office door. Brick stood tall in the door frame, hands in his front pockets.

“I'm glad to be back,” Sonny responded as his right-hand shut the door, taking a seat on the other side of the desk.

“Doctors gave you the all-clear or you're still in physical therapy?”

“All-clear.”

“Good. We can get right to work on retaliation. A certain German needs to pay for what he did to you and your family."

"It's all I've thought about since he p-put me in the hospital. That bastard injured me and reduced my stock to...to nothing. He tried to ruin me; the least I can do is ruin him in return."

"What do you want to do?"

"What did you say that Wallace deals in? It wasn't product-"

"Secrets. His business deals in political and corporate unrest."

"What's the likelihood that planting a fake scandal for him to exploit works?" Sonny rubbed his chin, "Wallace is many things, but he's not...naïve."

"There's a very good chance that it wouldn't work out in our favor."

"Does D-Dex still work for him?"

"I'll look into it-" a knock on the door interrupted them, and both men's heads turned in that direction. Tony walked through, Nina Reeves on his right. 

"Boss," he bellowed, "I'm sorry to interrupt-"

"Is it an emergency, Nina?" Sonny asked, beginning to stand up.

"Possibly," she responded, "Michael reached out to me."

"About what?"

"About reconciliation," Michael walked up next to her, hands in his front pockets.

"I'm in the middle of something," Sonny sat back down.

"Please, Dad," Michael bypassed Brick, looming over the desk, "we need to talk now."

"I'm not interested."

"You won't even give me a chance to explain myself?"

"There's nothing to explain. You hired a spy to take me down. You betrayed me."

"Dad-" Michael stopped himself when he felt Brick pull him back, a sour expression on his face.

"Hey, Michael," Sonny's right-hand began, "look, you know that I'd welcome this on any other day, in any other circumstance, but right now, because of you, we have to deal with Wallace Heller."

"I don't need the reminder," Michael shook his head, "and I-I know that Wallace and Dex caused some problems-"

"Caused some problems?" Brick raised both of his eyebrows, "Really? That man and his son are responsible for injuring both you and your father on top of torching your father's coffee stock."

"I understand that-"

"Then you'd apologize for it," Sonny remarked.

"You're not giving me the chance to do that!"

"We're wasting time," the kingpin stood up, "I'm in an important meeting right now, and I'm going to finish."

Michael doesn't respond, shaking his head in frustration as he stormed out of the office. Nina stood by awkwardly, watching the scene unfold.

"I'm so sorry," she spoke up.

"Don't be, Nina," Sonny took his seat again, "I'm sorry Michael bothered you with coming over here when y-you have the Metro Court t-to worry about."

"It's alright. Any excuse to see you is a good one for me," she forced a wide smile, glancing between the men. They stared at one another in complete silence for a beat, the woman breaking the silence, "...What's going on with Wallace Heller? Did something happen besides what he did to you?"

"No, no," the kingpin shook his head, "Brick and I...we're figuring out how to deal with it."

"And we need to work on this in private," Brick stared her down.

"...Oh," she chirped, "right, of course. I'll...I'll see you later, Sonny. I love you."

"I love you too," the man nodded, watching her close the office door behind her. Nina let out a heavy sigh as the door to Pozzulo's opened, Brando strolling in.

"Hey," he nodded at the woman, slightly out of breath, “is Sonny busy?”

“Uh, yes,” Nina ducked her head, gripping her clutch, “he is. He's currently meeting with Brick.”

“About?”

“Wallace Heller?”

“Of course,” Brando shook his head, “that guy and his bastard son must've done something else.”

“They're trying to find a response to the warehouse fire,” Nina stepped closer to Brando, “I'm concerned about all of this. I don't want things to escalate.”

“Neither do I, but you know Sonny well enough to know he's not going to let Wallace’s behavior go unpunished.”

“I know, but what if this turns into a war? That can put a lot of his family in danger! I know Sonny is able to protect us but-”

“Yeah…” Brando sighed, “that's the last thing any of us need.”

“Where are you-” Nina turned around as she watched Brando approach the office door, frowning when Frank obliged his request. The two men looked his way, surprise on their faces.

“Brando,” Sonny said, eyebrows raised, “what are you doing here?”

“I heard you're figuring out how to handle the Hellers.”

“We are,” Brick replied.

“I want in.”

“...Why?” the kingpin asked.

“They hurt my family, for one, and…” Brando looked at the closed door, “I want to avoid things spiraling out of control.”

“Out of control?”

“Nina's worried that a mob war could come out of this…and so am I.”

“We don't want to go to war with Wallace,” Brick chimed in, “at least, not now.”

“He's owed a response after attacking me and my property, Brando. That's what's going on.”

“I get that, but I'm sure Wallace would respond to that, and it'll just go back and forth and-”

“Brando, you know I protect my own. I'm not gonna let Wallace do anything to anyone. It'll be between me and him only.”

“I'm sorry, you wanted in on this?” Brick raised an eyebrow.

“I do. I was at the warehouse and found you and Michael; I saw all the damage they did. The least I could do, besides getting you two medical attention, is let them know how badly they screwed up.”

“I appreciate that, Brando, but-”

“I don't want to get in the way, but I want to help somehow. I told you, Sonny. I knew from the jump that something wasn't right with Dex when he ‘went after’ Michael.”

“We don't know if Dex still works for Wallace.”

“How could he not?”

“A lot has…gone down with Dex and-”

“Like what?”

“He's a Cassadine.”

“...Okay?” Brando raised an eyebrow, “I mean, you've dealt with that family before-”

“His grandfather, Victor, put him through all kinds of hell. Don't get me wrong, I-I'd love to take that bastard down for being a spy, but he wouldn't have done anything he did if not for Wallace.”

“So…what, Dex gets to go free? That's not like you.”

“He'll get his karma soon enough. He's just not as much of a priority as his father.”

“And he doesn't even work for his father, not anymore.”

Both men turned to Brick, who pocketed his cellphone in his muted cyan blazer.

“I got in touch with some contacts,” he explained, “and they did some digging. Dex left the organization by the time Wallace returned to Seattle. There’s no clear timetable, but he’s out.”

“And where is he now?” Brando questioned.

“He’s in Geneva, currently a student at the World Security Bureau Academy.”

“He’s going to work for the WSB? After everything he’s done?”

“I’m sure familial ties had something to do with it. Former agent Valentine Cassadine is his uncle, after all.”

“I g-get your concern, Brando,” Sonny sighed, “and if circumstances were different, I’d rope Dex into our response, but he had no role in what Wallace did.”

“...I still think Dex deserves some karma for being a mole.”

“His grandfather almost killing him is enough. Wallace is the bigger, more active threat,” Sonny ducked his down expectantly, staring directly at his cousin, “Do you still want to help or not?”

“I'll help.”

“Great,” Brick let out a heavy sigh, “Let's get this discussion back on track.”

“Any ideas so far?”

“The Heller organization isn't like mine; it d-deals in rumors and p-political secrets instead of…of product.”

“So…what, we plant a fake scandal? That might work.”

“Wallace Heller is a lot of things, Brando,” Brick shook his head, “but ‘stupid’ isn't one of them. There's very little, if any, chance he'll run with a planted scandal.”

“If we can't get to his work, can we get to him?”

“We could try an assassin. We'd have to be very picky on who to employ.”

“I'm sure I can get Selina to loan me a guy.”

“You want to get Selina Wu involved?” Brick raised a startled, concerned eyebrow.

“I don't need her…involved, I just need a favor. She owes me.”

“If we want to avoid a mob war, we shouldn't rope her in. Not until we absolutely have to.”

“Then we're back to the drawing board,” Brando sighed in irritation, “Wallace can't be this impossible to deal with.”

“He isn't,” Sonny replied, his tone low, “He's a pig who beats his chest to feel important and has no issue with putting his family in danger.”

“And we can't go after Dex…why?”

“He's with the WSB now; he'll have security. He's out of the picture.”

“And Wallace has no other family?”

“Based on my research,” Brick cleared his throat, “Dex is all he has.”

“We need to go straight for him,” Sonny remarked, “which means we'll need the best to take him down.”

“Frank and Tony are the best you got. I doubt you want to risk their lives.”

“I don't, and there are very few men in my business I trust to even attempt taking Wallace down. Asking Selina for help is the best move.”

“I still think it's a bad idea,” Brick shook his head slowly, “I suggest deploying the men you already have. We can go to Selina if they fail.”

“Are you sure that's the best move here?” Brando raised an eyebrow.

“I do. Dex is off-limits, Wallace is too smart for a fake scandal, and we're asking for trouble by going to Selina. I know it'll be a blow if your guys fail, Sonny, but that's the best we can do right now.”

“...Okay,” the kingpin nodded, “that's what we'll do. I'll give Drake, Hoffman, and Leonard a call and we'll work on prepping them.”

“Sounds good,” Brick and Brando stood up together, the young man grabbing the other's arm.

“Can we talk in private?”

The pair exited Sonny's office as he proceeded to make the phone calls, Frank closing the door between them. They stood right next to the lone booth in the restaurant.

“How certain are you that we can't get to Dex?” Brando questioned, his voice a sharp whisper.

“I'm certain,” Brick answered in kind, “Sonny doesn't want to put a target on the kid's back, and I don't want to deal with the WSB's security and technology in order to get to him. I know you have your gripes with the guy, and I can't say you're wrong for it, but Wallace is the issue. Focus your energy on him.”

“...Fine,” Brando let out an irritated sigh, “How certain are you that Wallace has no family besides Dex?”

“As certain as I am that pursuing Dex is a waste of time.”

“The Cassadines wouldn't count?”

“That's Dex's family, not Wallace's. And even then, last I checked, Dex's mother died when he was a teenager. I doubt Sonny would want to turn to grave-robbing.”

“Cassadines always come back in some way, shape, or form. I'm sure Dex's mom is out there somewhere-”

“Brando,” Brick's voice was deep, “I get you want to help, and I get that you have a bone to pick with Dex, but you need to relax. We're going to deploy Sonny's guys and see where that gets us. If it fails, we'll revisit this conversation, okay?”

Brando opted to stay quiet, watching the man leave Pozzulo's. He stayed put in the meantime, staring directly at the closed office door. A million thoughts raced through his mind, yet he couldn't land on a single one. He shook his head in disappointment before marching off, leaving the restaurant behind. A moment of silence passed before Brick walked back in, frowning at the sight of Brando's car speeding away. 

“Stick to the plan, kid,” he muttered to himself, “Things will work out the way they're supposed to, vendettas be damned.”

Chapter Text

Sweat ran down Dex's skin as he ran on the treadmill, the leather swiftly moving under his feet. A trainer stood by, his eyes going between the machine and a device in his hand, wires going from it to the young man's chest.

“76,” the trainer stated as Dex kept running. The numbers proceeded to increase, “81…89…”

Dex glanced over at the man, black dots appearing in his vision. The trainer's eyebrows shot up when he monitored the device, and he immediately shut the machine down. Dex gripped the sidebars the moment he felt his ankle hit his foot.

“What the hell?!” the young man swore, “Why'd you turn it off?!”

“94,” the trainer showed the device off, “You're working way too hard.”

“I was doing just fine.”

“You have a heart condition, Heller. You don't need to add any stress from exercise.”

“Isn't this supposed to be regimented? Am I not in a separate training group from everyone else?”

“You are, but edging up to 100 is not going to work.”

“I'm fine,” Dex stepped off of the treadmill, taking a seat on a nearby bench. The trainer moved closer to him, “I'm trying to get in shape.”

“You're already in shape-”

“With my heart, I mean.”

“Look,” the trainer sighed, “I'm not sure how exactly your heart issue developed, but you have it, and trying to force it to heal will only do the opposite.”

“I'm not forcing anything. I'm just exercising.”

“You're pushing your limits-”

“I'm trying to live my life-”

“Heller,” the trainer gripped his arm tightly, “listen to me. I know what I'm talking about. I've been at this for years, and you are not the first student to act like you can ignore your problems and live a ‘normal’ life here. You cannot put that stress on your body with your current situation.”

“And you cannot put your hands on a student like that.”

Both Dex and the trainer looked outward, staring up at Brennan. The man donned a firm expression, eyes cold as he cut through the employee. 

“Correct me if I'm wrong, sir,” the director approached the man, “but assaulting a student directly breaks the employee code of conduct, does it not?”

“I…” the trainer stuttered, “I wasn't assaulting him-”

“But you have your hand on him,” Brennan pointed to the young man, “and we don't tolerate that here.”

“I was just trying to explain to him that he shouldn't stress himself out-”

“He's in the regimented training program, sir. Doesn't that mean the exercise he gets here conforms to his health condition?”

“It does but-”

“And here you are, lecturing him. If he really did have a problem, wouldn't it be your job to adjust?”

“I stopped him-”

“You shouldn't have let him stress his body in the first place-”

“Director-”

“Don't argue with me, especially if you'd like to keep your position,” Brennan's glare intensified, “Now do us both a favor and take your leave. Thank you.”

The trainer glanced between the director and Dex, letting out a huff before marching off. Brennan sat down next to the young man, examining the gripped area on his upper arm.

“I apologize for that, young man,” the director replied, his Australian accent thick, “I'll make sure you're assigned a new trainer.”

“I…” Dex blinked, “I, uh, appreciate that, thank you.”

“Of course,” the elder man slowly ran a finger up and down the reddened skin. Dex's breath hitched in his throat as a response, “Such a shame he put his hands on you in such an unprofessional manner.”

“Yeah…um…” Dex ducked his head down, gently squirming in his spot. Brennan smirked at the sight, putting on a firm mask and pulling back when the young man looked his way again.

“How are you adjusting to the academy, young man?”

“Fine, I think. My heart isn't bothering me so I'll take that as a win.”

“Your heart, yes. I'm sorry that your grandfather put you through that hell.”

“How do you know what happened to me?”

“Word travels fast in the international sphere, and the Cassadines are quite well-known. Plus, your uncle and I have a history.”

“You and Uncle Valentin? You guys were partners?”

“We were, actually. He didn't tell you?”

“No, um, I mean, we didn't talk a lot about his days as an agent.”

“Really,” Brennan raised both of his eyebrows, “I should say that I'm not too surprised, though. My role as the director is quite new.”

“Yeah…yeah,” the young man nodded, “If I may, sir?”

“You may.”

“Why are you sitting here with me?”

“I find you…interesting, young man,” Brennan smirked, and Dex's eyes widened with surprise in response, “You're the child of a Cassadine and a renowned assassin-”

“You know my dad?”

“I don't know him personally, but I've certainly heard the name ‘Wallace Heller’ once or twice in my heyday,” the elder man leaned a bit closer, “You come from two extraordinary people, and to see you here, it's remarkable. We're blessed that you will get to develop and show off what your parents gifted you with.”

“We'll see,” Dex gave the man a toothless smile. Brennan mirrored it perfectly before getting to his feet. He eyed the young man one last time before exiting the gym, and the young man let out a heavy breath, relaxing the tension in his arms and shoulders. 

You're fine, he thought to himself, fixating on the ceiling lights, you're going to be fine. You know your limits better than anyone; don't lose sight of that.

“What's it like?”

The question came out of nowhere, pulling Emma out of her reading material. She looked to her right, taking in the young woman with bouncy, dirty blonde curls. They sat next to one another in the library, surrounded by full bookshelves and papers scattered on the wide square table. 

“I'm sorry?” Emma stuttered, “Are you talking to me?”

“Yes. I hope you don't mind.”

“I guess not…”

“Your name is Emma, right?”

“It is. And you are?”

“Don't worry about that. Did you hear my question?”

“What was it?”

“Which was what?”

“What's it like?”

“...What's my book like?” Emma held up the object, “It's about molecular dissection. Is that something you'd like?”

“Uh, no,” the blonde curls swayed as she shook her head, “not at all.”

“Then what are you asking me?”

“What it's like to be here.”

“To be at the academy? It's great. I'm sure you feel the same way.”

“I do…but that's not what I'm asking you.”

“Okay, then what are you asking me?”

“Really?” the girl frowned, “I'd like to think a Scorpio would be smart enough to figure things out.”

Emma blinked, her head devoid of any thoughts. She took a breath before responding, “...What does that have to do with anything?”

“Seriously?” the student snorted, “You really don't think that's related to why you're here?”

“If it's following in my family's footsteps, yes,” Emma huffed, crossing her arms, “but I know that's not what you mean. Why do you care?”

“I'm concerned that some people are here because they had an in instead of earning it, that's all.”

“Yeah? I'm not one of those people.”

“Your grandpa is a legend in the bureau. You had a leg up.”

“I got in on my own merit.”

“Oh please,” the young woman scoffed, “Merit or not, you have the name. That's all they saw and cared about.”

“Why are you being so dismissive?” Emma raised an eyebrow, “And who even are you, anyway?”

“Someone who knows nepotism when she sees it,” the student replied as a young man joined them, pulling a chair out to sit across from Emma.

“Oh, uh,” he stopped himself, which prompted their attention, “I hope you don't mind that I sit here.”

“Be my guest,” Emma responded. 

“Thanks,” he beamed, glancing between the women, “Was I interrupting something or…?”

“You're interrupting nothing,” she smiled.

“Oh, okay, cool,” he nodded rapidly, “I'm sorry, I just…I thought I'd be bothering you if I sat down here.”

“Why'd you think that?”

“Well, I mean, you're kind of royalty,” Emma flinched at his comment, “You're a Scorpio and a Devane. That's…That's pretty cool.”

“Double nepo baby,” the girl shook her head, “Why am I not surprised?”

“I know you mean well, but I'm still my own person.”

“No, no, I know. I'm just, like, in awe a little bit. It's really cool that your grandparents were big-time WSB agents and you're following in their footsteps.”

“Of course she is. They gave her the stepping stones,” the girl rolled her eyes.

“I did the same trials as you, I took the same tests as you,” Emma shot her a dirty look, “Nothing I accomplished in getting accepted had to do with my family.”

“Why are you getting so defensive?”

“You're the one jumping on my back about my grandparents. I don't have the right to defend myself?”

“The least you could do is acknowledge the privileges you have in who you're related to.”

“I do acknowledge it,” Emma nodded, “If not for my grandparents, I likely wouldn't even apply for the academy. I might not even want to be an agent-”

“That wasn't so hard-”

“But me getting accepted doesn't relate to them. I had the scores and abilities the school wanted, and that's why I'm here.”

“Uh huh,” the student rolled her eyes again, “People will totally know you as Emma Drake,” she turned to the young man across the way, “Is that how you know her?”

“Uh…” he glanced between the two women, “I…I guess not-”

“See?”

“You're a little too hung up on my family. That's weird.”

“I'm just pointing out the facts!”

“And I'm pointing out how little my family matters. I got in on my own. I didn't need help, and even if I did, I wouldn't ask for it.”

“I'm sorry,” the young man frowned, “I just wanted to sit here and study. I didn't mean to bother you-”

“You are not the one bothering me,” Emma answered, then turning towards the young woman.

“This isn't over,” she scoffed, collecting her belongings before walking off, intentionally bumping into Emma's chair. She passed by Dex, who appeared around the corner. He watched as the young man across from Emma got to his feet, grabbing his books and leaving her behind.

“Yikes,” Dex remarked, approaching the young woman, “what happened here?”

“This girl kept nitpicking that I'm a nepo baby,” Emma replied, rolling her eyes.

“And the guy?”

“He felt bad about sitting across from me and moved somewhere else.”

“Oh,” Dex looked around, “Can I…?”

“Are you going to obsess over my grandparents too?”

“Oh, please,” Dex sat down, “I have an uncle who graduated from here. You're not that special.”

“...Shut up,” a smirk formed on Emma's face, stifling a giggle as she responded to him. She looked him over, noting the thin layer of sweat, “Did you just come from the gym?”

“Yeah. It was…an experience.”

“What happened?”

Dex froze for a moment, biting his bottom lip as he mulled his words over, “My assigned trainer…just wasn't a good fit for me.”

“You have an assigned trainer?”

“I have some health issues,” Dex ducked his head down, “I try not to bring attention to it…and my trainer didn't like that.”

“So…what, you guys fought?”

“Sort of. It didn't go very far, though. Director Brennan stepped in and shut it down.”

“Really,” Emma frowned, “Was he called in?”

“No. He just…showed up.”

“Why?”

Dex paused for a beat, the images of Brennan next to him, singing his praises, plaguing his mind, “I don't know. As grateful as I am that he intervened, I know that I shouldn't get super comfortable with him, and hopefully I can avoid him coming to my rescue in the future.”

“Hopefully,” Emma nodded before she returned to her textbook. Dex pulled out his own materials to work on, and the pair sat in tense silence. While Dex's mind jumped between the work and the so-called rescue, Emma glanced at him in pensive concern, unsure of what to make of the incident and silently praying that, when all is said and done, the young man sitting across from her will be proven correct.

Chapter Text

“We got eyes on the shelter, sir.”

Sonny nodded his head as he viewed the scene through his goon's camera, Brick to his right. The right-hand strapped each one on their shoulder, the lens subtle enough to blend into the bulletproof vest, before they left, watching their every move as they took off from New York to Washington. They now sat on opposite ends of the target home in question, the camera picking up on its dilapidated structure. The walls were a rusted gray, meshing with the matching black roof. The windows, while darkened, were clean enough to get glimpses of the interior.

“Good, good,” the kingpin remarked, “Where are you and Leonard?”

“Roughly ten miles from Seattle,” the goon, deduced as Hoffman, responded, “He situated his home base in a fairly secluded area of the greater woodland.”

“I see,” Sonny then turned to Brick, “Whatcha got?”

“Nothing yet. Drake picked up a view of Wallace's car within the city limits and has been tracking that.”

“Where is the car?”

“In some café by Town Hall. Too risky to catch him while he's in a public setting.”

“Well, that's why you have Drake as the decoy, right?”

“Right,” Brick sighed, “I still don't think a fake story will work on the guy.”

“It doesn't need to work, per se, it just needs to get us into his home. Once he's in, then we can strike.”

“And we're sure that Wallace lives alone in that house?”

“Well, Dex is in Switzerland, and Dex's mom has been dead for years. Unless Wallace is seeing someone, it should just be him.”

“Okay…” Brick shook his head before turning back to the decoy goon. He switched on his headset, “Drake, any changes?”

“None yet…” the man replied, “I see him at the café counter…now he's moving…okay, he's sitting down.”

“That's your cue,” Brick nodded, and Sonny pulled himself closer to the monitor. They observed Drake walking towards Wallace, his sleek loafers clicking against the tile flooring.

“Excuse me-” the goon began, immediately catching Wallace's attention.

“Can I help you?” the elder man asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yes, actually. I work for an up-and-coming candidate on their grassroots campaign-”

“What candidate?”

“I'm sorry?”

“You said you work for an up-and-coming candidate. Which one?”

“...Brooks Yeager.”

Wallace blinked at the goon for a moment, processing the information, “...Okay.”

“Yeah, uh, so I was wondering if we could count on your support.”

“I'd have to look into this candidate before I'd commit to something like that.”

“Oh, well, if you have some time right now, I can give you the rundown of his positions.”

“Well, right now, I'm trying to enjoy a moment to myself with my cup of black coffee.”

“Maybe we can meet somewhere else once you're done? We could really use your help-”

“Don't rush me,” Wallace snapped, sipping from his drink, “You want my support, don't you?”

“Y-Yes…”

“Then be considerate of my time,” Wallace got to his feet, “Stay here; I'll be right back.”

“O-Okay,” Drake nodded, watching Wallace turn the corner by the café bathrooms. He awkwardly ducked his head down towards the camera lens, masquerading as a pin on his navy business suit, “He's pretty intense.”

“‘Intense’ is an understatement,” Sonny shook his head.

“There's no way he bought the fake candidate,” Brick mirrored his boss, “I don't believe it.”

“There's only so much I can make up, sir,” Drake stated, “I'm not sure how much more I can do.”

“Do what you can. If we're lucky, he'll bring you to his home base and that's when Hoffman and Leonard will strike.”

“Don't let him intimidate you,” Brick followed with, “Stay calm. Stick to the plan.”

“I'm ready.”

Sonny and Brick watched as Drake swung around, Wallace reappearing in the camera frame. 

“ Where are we going? ” the man asked as he and the kingpin exited the café.

“My office.”

“Good…” Sonny nodded, his voice quiet enough to not be picked up by the speakers, “good…”

“Oh, okay, uh, where in town is that?”

“It's not in town.”

“You work from home?”

“Something like that,” Wallace nodded as he extended his arm out. A car pulled up to the establishment soon after.

“You ordered a rideshare?” Drake questioned.

“How many questions are you going to ask me?” Wallace replied, “Get in.”

“Do what he says, Drake,” Sonny answered as Brick tapped in with Hoffman and Leonard. The right-hand caught the kingpin's attention immediately, “What?”

“There's someone else.”

Sonny and Brick checked out the second monitor, looking through the two cameras on the secluded men. They spotted a woman with long blonde hair in a white silk robe crossing by a set of windows near the front door.

“Who the hell is that?” Brick asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Looks like Wallace has some company,” Sonny muttered, “I'm surprised any woman would want to put up with him.”

“What do you want to do, sir?” Leonard questioned.

“Nothing yet. Not until we figure out who's in the house,” the kingpin answered, focusing on Drake's camera.

“I appreciate you squeezing me into your schedule,” the goon said.

“Well, I like to stay politically active. I take pride in it.”

“My boss will love your support.”

“Is that so? Why is he so keen on getting my support specifically?”

“Uh…” Drake stopped himself when he saw Wallace pull his phone out, clicking a speed-dial number. 

“Liebling,” the elder man greeted, “it's me. Are you home?”

“Get eyes on the house now,” Sonny commanded, to which Brick followed suit. The posted goons stayed locked onto the woman passing by the windows, and Brick zoomed in enough to see her on the phone. 

“I have a guest coming over to discuss an endorsement,” Wallace continued, “Are you able to set everything up?”

“The woman's an assistant?” Brick asked out loud.

“We're approaching the woodland right now,” Wallace nodded, “Yes, in my office. Thank you, liebling. I love you; see you soon.”

“It's a joint business?”

“Excuse me?” Wallace turned to Drake.

“You asked someone to set up your office. I didn't know that you had a partner.”

“She's not some random business partner.”

“No, I know. You said you love her; is your work a husband and wife business venture?”

“The less questions you ask, the better,” Wallace muttered as the car pulled up to their destination. Drake stepped out, his loafers hitting gravel as he followed Wallace inside, the blonde woman coming into frame.

“Who is she…?” Sonny asked as he and Brick focused on the monitor.

“Hi,” Drake greeted the woman, shaking her hand, “you must be Mr. Heller's partner.”

“Indeed,” she smiled, “Irina.”

“Irina?” Sonny raised an eyebrow, prompting Brick to step away, his eyes on his phone.

“I was speaking to Mr. Heller about the candidate I work for.”

“Who?”

“Brooks Yeager.”

“I'm not familiar with them,” Irina shook her head, her smile stuck in place.

“They're up-and-coming. It's a very…grassroots campaign.”

“I see, and you'd like our support?”

“Yes.”

“What's Brooks's platform?”

“Very big on…equality and fair pay.”

“Fair pay for what? Do they want to increase the minimum wage?”

“Yes! Yes.”

“What about housing? Or groceries?”

“Lower costs for both. I mean, obviously there's the…the big game of supply and demand and how the economy works, they want to fix all of that mess.”

“What about social causes?”

“Oh, uh, is that a big deal to you guys?”

“The economy matters to my partner, social causes matter to me,” Irina nodded, “After all, I think it's in everyone's best interest if the world was more accepting of everyone. Wouldn't you agree?”

“I…I would, yes, and so does Brooks.”

“Seems like Brooks is a stand-up politician,” Wallace nodded, “When can we meet them?”

“I…uh…”

“Oh, yes,” Irina nodded, “that would be great! Where is his office located?”

“I can call the candidate and have him come here…if that's okay?”

“Send us the address and we can get a driver ,” Wallace got to his feet, “I'll be right back.”

Drake and Irina sat in silence while the man walked around the couch, heading off to the right. Sonny did his best to meet the woman's eyes, a small pit forming in his stomach. 

Brick returned just in time, “Irina Cassadine.”

“What?” Sonny turned his way.

“That's the woman with Drake.”

“Cassadine…” Sonny glanced between his right-hand and the monitor, “She's…She's Dex's m-mother.”

“Didn't you say she was dead?”

“Irina,” Wallace appeared on the screen, “it seems there's something going on outside. Do you think you could go check it out?”

“Of course, dearest. I'll be right back,” she got to her feet, planting a kiss on his lips before exiting the house. 

“What's going on outside?” Drake asked, shifting in his spot.

“Well, it appears that we have an intruder.”

“Oh…uh…does that happen often?”

“Depends. Sometimes it's the wildlife around here, and we just try to lure them off the property.”

“Is that what's happening right now?”

“No.”

In a split second, both monitors glitch. A cascading sound of yelps and grunts exited Brick's monitor, turning into rabid static before turning off. Sonny's monitor is luckier, a loud bang preceding the camera tipping upwards. Wallace's face appeared in the shot, a freshly-used gun in his dominant hand. 

“What the hell…?” Brick growled as he and Sonny stood stunned by the working monitor.

“You know, Corinthos,” Wallace detached the camera from Drake's body, holding it in his free hand, “I find it rather insulting that you believe I'm dumb enough to fall for a plant.”

“Son of a bitch,” Sonny swore, shaking his head.

“I know you can see and hear me, so I'll make myself nice and clear. When I said that I was politically savvy, I meant it. Trying to best me in my territory earned you nothing but three fresh corpses awaiting shipment back to Port Charles.”

“Of course…” Brick pinched the bridge of his nose.

“At this point, I'm sure you've healed from your gunshot wound, so you're healthy enough to face me like a man. Or would you rather hide behind your goons and right-hand admins so you don't stain your hands?”

All the men could do was stare at Wallace's image, his expression smug and his eyes sharp.

“Whatever you opt to do, I'd like it if your organization exercised even the slightest bit of intelligence in retaliating against me. I love a good challenge; planting a fake candidate with a group of goons not fit enough to change a lightbulb is a cakewalk. Step it up.”

“I'll get you, you slimy bastard,” Sonny hissed, “It'll only be a matter of time.”

“I look forward to hearing from you soon. Ciao!”

The camera immediately went black, the glass and chips breaking apart under (presumably) Wallace's fist. Sonny and Brick exchanged looks, unsure of what to say.

“...You were right,” the kingpin mumbled, “We need a Plan B.”

Brick nodded solemnly, half-expecting his boss's response, “Any ideas?”

Chapter Text

All Wallace could do was shake his head as he and Irina rested the last goon on top, noting the other two and their stone-cold faces. He and Irina exchanged a knowing look before shutting the crate, keeping all of Sonny's goons tightly inside. 

“Child's play,” Wallace scoffed, “Disappointing.”

“How low does he think of you?” Irina sighed.

“It's not that he thinks poorly of me, it's that he thinks he's smarter than me.”

“Planting a fake scandal certainly doesn't give any credence to that, does it?”

“Not at all,” Wallace pulled her into his arms, kissing her gently, “Neither does everything else he's pulled.”

“Everything else?”

He pulled back, eyes wide. She raised an eyebrow, staring him down. He backed off, turning his attention towards the crate.

“Wallace,” her voice boomed, “talk to me.”

“He's…definitely tried his best to decimate my family.”

“You had Dexter spy on him, right? Did something happen?”

He doesn't reply, giving her a look he knew she'd despise, and despise she did.

“...What happened? What did he do to my baby?”

“Torture.”

“That bastard,” Irina hissed, slamming her fists on the top of the crate, “That depraved, evil bastard!”

“He…” Wallace took a deep breath, running a hand through his dirty blonde hair, “strung Dex up on a meat hook and held him hostage in a freezer.”

“Why?”

“He somehow figured out that Dex worked for me. I doubt Dex left him any clues, and the man isn't smart enough to figure that out on his own.”

“He has help.”

“Most likely.”

“Did you rescue Dexter?”

“I certainly tried. I showed up to where Sonny had Dex and tried to reason with the guy to let him go, but…Victor beat me to the punch.”

“And that led to…” she gulped, wincing as a pair of memories flashed in her mind. Wallace opened his mouth to speak, but her raised hand cut him off, “Don't. I know how sorry you are.”

“Good.”

“If I may?”

“No permission needed.”

“Why did you decide to pursue Sonny Corinthos in the first place?”

“In a word? Chaos.”

“Chaos?”

“Don't get me wrong,” Wallace took a seat on the cushioned chair closest to the crate. Irina slowly approached him, “I do love Seattle. I run the business here, I raised Dex here. As far as I'm concerned, it's home.”

“But?”

“I can only do so much in one place. I have no intentions of ever leaving, but I don't want the business to remain stagnant.”

“So you wanted to expand?”

“Yes. The only issue was where, and lo and behold, Sonny's knucklehead of a son put out a formal request for a mole.”

“I see,” Irina nodded her head, getting closer to the man. He pulled her in, perfectly perching her on his lap, “and now look what's happened since you took that ad.”

“Sonny may not be the brightest, but he's made things fairly interesting for me.

“It's be more interesting if he were more savvy in conflict.”

“It would, but I won't deny how I enjoy his lack of intelligence.”

“Neither will I,” Irina kissed Wallace's cheek, then looking at the crate, “So, are we ready to send this back to Port Charles?”

“Not yet. We need a response.”

“This isn't adequate?”

“No. This is a courtesy. We could've easily disposed of these bodies in the woods.”

“Sending them back to Sonny is a statement.”

“It is, but not enough of one.”

“What do you propose we do, then? What would count as proper retaliation?”

“Hm,” Wallace rubbed his chin, “I'm not sure.”

“I think sending the bodies back is enough. Sonny will respond however he likes, and we'll match it.”

“No,” he shook his head, “we have to do more. I promise you, Irina, doing more is better for us.”

“...Okay,” the woman sighed, turning her back to Wallace, her eyes rolling. She then shut them, doing her best to brainstorm. It hit her almost instantly. She looked his way once more, “Dearest?”

“Yes?”

“Do you happen to have any further intel on Sonny's business?”

“In terms of…?”

“Employees.”

“All I have is the fact that a sizable majority of his employees are bodyguards and goons.”

“But he has to have some kind of inner circle, right? Wasn't Dexter inching his way into it?”

“Sort of,” Wallace pulled out his cellphone, “The information on that is limited; Dex didn't get all that much on it.”

“But he still got something, right?”

“Yes,” Wallace swiped on his device until he located a file, passing it to Irina for her reading pleasure, “Frank is Sonny's personal bodyguard and is in charge of the subordinates in that circle-”

“And Brick is the main source of intelligence information,” she stated, her focus locked into the contents on the screen, “which makes him our main point of attack.”

A smirk spread on Wallace's face, “Are you thinking what I'm thinking?” 

Irina mirrored him perfectly, “Let's shut that man down.”

“Of course it's you. You're at the scene of the crime when something goes wrong.”

Anna's eyes darted between Robert and Valentin, and she wasn't sure whether to roll her eyes or bite her bottom lip. Felicia rested a hand on her friend's shoulder, donning the latter expression. 

“Nothing's gone wrong,” Valentin scoffed with a smirk, “not this time, anyway.”

“You have direct ties to the WSB's new, last-minute approved director. How can I not think this has to do with you?”

“Brennan and I haven't spoken since we were partners. That was decades ago.”

“And yet he's in charge right when your nephew and my granddaughter enter the academy.”

“It's certainly a striking coincidence, isn't it?”

“Valentin,” Anna snapped, gritting her teeth, “stop.”

“I'm sorry, darling. I just couldn't miss an opportunity to be a thorn in your ex-husband's side.”

“You believe him?” Robert asked, raising an eyebrow. 

“...I do. In fact, when Emma told me Brennan was now in charge, he didn't take it well.”

“Brennan's always been a loose cannon agent; giving him this much power will prove disastrous.”

“I don't disagree. He certainly has an agenda with his usurpation.”

“Any idea as to what it is? Did Dex or Emma mention anything?”

“No, and no.”

“We're not involving them,” Anna stated hastily, “They need to focus on their studies.”

“What studies? With Brennan's track record, there's probably barely any curriculum left!” Robert replied, “And even then, they can help us.”

“The last thing Dex needs is something to tank his health, and the last thing you'd want is for Emma to get into trouble.”

“I don't dispute that, but they know Brennan becoming the director wasn't cut and dry, right?”

“Yes.”

“If they can let us know what they see and hear, we can get somewhere.”

“I actually agree with Robert on this one,” Valentin nodded, “Emma's a smart, resourceful young woman, and Dex is much stronger than you're giving him credit for. The more they can help, the better it is for all of us.”

“You're sure about this?” Anna asked softly, “Both of you?”

“Yes,” they said in unison, prompting an exchange of bitter glares.

“...Okay,” she sighed in defeat, “The next time Emma calls, I can bring her in.”

“Does that apply to you and Dex?” Robert kept his eyes on Valentin.

“He and I don't talk much. I'm sure Emma can ask Dex on her own,” Valentin looked to Anna, who nodded. 

“Lovely,” Robert sighed, looking at Felicia, “Any thoughts?”

“I echo what these two said,” she pointed her thumbs at Valentin and Anna, “If we can get Dex and Emma involved, we'll have a leg-up on just how and why Brennan is the director.”

“You said Frisco was fired last-minute?”

“Something like that, yes. There was no notice or warning and no rationale behind the decision. If he were a litigious person, I think he'd have a solid employment lawsuit.”

“Maybe we should start there: figure out why Frisco was removed so ceremoniously.”

“The only logical explanation would be a formal complaint. The board knows that firing Frisco with zero foundation will get them in trouble, so there had to have been something tangible they used to do it.”

“There's only two reasons a director would be dropped like that: misconduct and corruption.”

“There's no way it's for misconduct,” Felicia shook her head defiantly, “Frisco would never.”

“All he did was attend meetings and stay in his office,” Anna nodded in agreement, “so that means the allegation was for corruption.”

“Wouldn't that not work either?” Valentin questioned.

“You'd think, but he had advisors and assistants,” Felicia answered, “Maybe one of them is compromised?”

“If that were true, we would've seen some kind of change in the direction of the bureau,” Robert said, “Nothing's changed. And why do we think the claim is even true?”

“Robert's right,” Valentin followed with, exchanging looks with the man beside him, “Frisco was removed to put Brennan in, and we already know the reputation he has.”

“Looks like we have a starting point then,” Anna nodded, “We need to figure out what Brennan did or said to get Frisco removed, and that'll hopefully lead us to how he was appointed and what his plans are.”

“Right,” Robert nodded, Felicia mimicking him. 

“What's our first move?” Valentin asked, a smirk on his face.

“Well, we'll have to call Emma and Dex and get them involved-”

“Anna,” Robert raised a hand, noticing her reaching for her phone, “I think Valentin should take the lead here.”

“Take the lead?” Felicia raised a confused eyebrow.

“He said earlier that he and his nephew don't talk all that much. I think he should change that.”

“Robert-”

“It's fine,” Valentin released a heavy sigh as he reached for his phone, dialing Dex's number. It rang a few times before clicking.

“Voicemail, great,” Valentin muttered under his breath, shaking his head, “Dexter, it's me. There's something I'd like to discuss with you. Give me a call back once you hear this message. Thank you.”

“At least you tried,” Felicia offered a smile, prompting Robert to roll his eyes.

“I'll call Emma,” Anna got to her feet, searching for her granddaughter's contact on speed dial as she walked out of the living room.

Robert turned his focus onto Valentin, “Good attempt.”

“Hopefully he calls me back,” the man stared at Dex's contact.

“If Anna gets ahold of Emma, he will,” Felicia replied, “I'm sure he'll be happy to know he's needed for something as important as this.”

“Mhm,” Valentin nodded as Anna returned. He watched her walk back to her seat, “Is she on board?”

“My call also went to voicemail.”

“They're probably just busy,” Felicia stated, “They'll call you both back, I'm sure.”

“They will, and once we loop them in, we can formally get started and restore what Brennan destroyed.”

Chapter Text

Emma stopped in her tracks, her voice low in her throat as she scanned the cafeteria, “Goddamnit.”

Dex barely heard her mutter as he followed her gaze, looking around at all the different groups perched around their respective tables. He raised an eyebrow at what she claimed to see, unsure of where to put his focus on.

“What?” he finally asked out loud.

“Come on,” she pulled the young man to a table closer to the front right corner, small enough to exclusively host them.

“What's the problem?” Dex repeated himself.

“Stay here,” Emma snapped, leaving him alone. He let out a sigh as she walked off towards the lunchline, roughly grabbing a tray and assimilating herself at the end. Dex rolled his eyes before digging into his backpack, searching for any work he could do to pass the time. It wasn't long before a familiar presence loomed over him, tapping his fingers against the lunch table.

“Dexter Heller,” Brennan donned a smirk as the young man met his eyes, “Hard at work, I see.”

“D-Director,” Dex dropped his pencil, “Hi.”

“I hope I'm not bothering you.”

“No…no,” the young man shook his head just as Emma looked his way, eyebrows high on her head as she watched their interaction, “I was just…getting ahead of some studying.”

“Oh, well, don't let me interfere with that,” Brennan grabbed an empty chair at a nearby table, pulling close to Dex, “I just wanted to inform you that the trainer who put his hands on you is no longer with this organization. I don't tolerate anyone who dares assault a student, and I certainly don't tolerate anyone harming you.”

“Oh, uh, thank you. That's…that's good news.”

“But?”

“There's no ‘but,’” Dex replied, his tone more assured, “He was an ass.”

“Good boy,” Brennan kept his smirk in place, “I'm making sure that the next trainer assigned to you will not only be an expert in cardiovascular care, but will listen to you and respect that you know your limits.”

“You haven't found anyone yet?”

“Unfortunately, no, but rest assured that I have been searching and I will not rest until I find the perfect match for you.”

“I appreciate that, sir.”

“I'm glad! I need you healthy,” Brennan looked the young man over. 

“You do?” Dex fronted a sense of confidence.

“You possess some strong genetics from both of your parents. I want nothing more than to see you reach the potential deep within you.”

“It sounds like you've been reading my file. Are you stalking me?”

“Well, someone's got a mouth on him, doesn't he?” Brennan got in Dex's face, and all Dex could do was flinch, “...I like that. And for the record, I don't call it ‘stalking.’ I'm keeping tabs on the students that I think will go far in this academy, students who will make excellent agents. It's one of the few things the former director did that I decided to keep. You should feel quite special, young man.”

“You've been visiting other students like this? Not just me?”

“Correct.”

"Right…” Dex nodded slowly, prompting Emma to scowl. A flash of familiar dirty blonde curls was caught in her peripheral vision, and the reason for her hasty behavior came back to her in an instant. 

“I didn't know Director Brennan socialized with the student body like this,” the student snorted, “Whoever he's talking to must be a big deal.”

“You could say that,” Emma turned around, formally collecting a few sweet rolls and mashed potatoes.

“Do you know him?”

“Unfortunately.”

“Who is he?”

“Dex Heller.”

“Uh huh,” the girl looked at Dex, “interesting…”

“Don't get too excited,” Emma rolled her eyes, “You and I both know how you feel about nepotism.”

“He's a nepo baby?”

“His uncle was an agent: Valentin Cassadine.”

“He's a Cassadine?” the student's face soured, “And he was let in with you?”

“Sorry to burst your bubble, y'know, just in case you still found him attractive,” Emma collected the last of her lunch, an apple and cuts of grilled chicken, before walking off. 

The girl followed her with a similarly-built tray, “He's definitely got a pretty face, but that doesn't fix everything else.”

“Excuse me?” Dex raised an eyebrow as he and Brennan noted the women approaching them. 

“I'm so sorry to interrupt, Director Brennan,” the girl frowned before she turned to the young man, “Dex Heller, right?”

“Yes. Who are you?”

“An annoying thorn in my side,” Emma muttered as she took a seat across from Dex.

“I don't mean to question you or your authority, sir,” the student remarked to Brennan, “but I was curious as to why exactly you allowed nepotism to take root in the WSB Academy.”

“What do you mean?” the elder man asked. 

“Emma Drake is a Scorpio and a Devane, and Dex Heller is a Cassadine. I have concerns that their family ties gave them spots in the academy that more deserving applications should've had.”

“While I'm under no obligation to reveal how and why this student body was put together,” Brennan stood up, leering over the student, “I find it rather unfair that you would look at your fellow peers and think they didn't earn their admissions from the merit they possess. The WSB doesn't deal in cutting corners or free rides, certainly not where the academy is concerned.”

“You also know as well as I do that a Cassadine shouldn't be here, not after everything that family's put the world through-”

“Dexter here is not a representative of his family's past,” Brennan gestured at the young man, “and for you to insinuate that, well, I find that quite insulting. You earned your spot the same way that Emma and Dexter did, and if I were you, young lady, I'd be grateful that I'm here rather than running my mouth as slickly as you have.”

“I…”

“Now, I imagine you'd like to keep yourself in the academy, no? I suggest you run along before things escalate.”

The girl looked from the man to Emma and Dex, shooting daggers at the former before marching off. Brennan didn't respond, turning to take in the students below him, his eyes lingering on Dex before he exited the cafeteria.

“Wow,” Dex huffed, closing his textbook, “she was a bitch. Is that why you were in a mood when we got here?”

“Yeah. Hopefully she'll leave me alone now that Brennan snapped at her. If there's one thing I'll thank that bastard for, it'll be getting her off my back.”

“Why are you so bothered by her saying you're a nepo baby? I mean, it's objectively true.”

“I don't want me being here and becoming an agent to be all about who I'm related to. I earned my spot and I'm earning my badge because of the work that I put in.”

“Okay, but you can do that and acknowledge that you have agents in your family. Getting defensive doesn't solve anything.”

“How would you feel if someone got in your face and said you only got accepted here because of your uncle?”

“I wouldn't give a damn,” Dex shrugged, “I know I got in on my own. Trying to change people's minds by refuting it makes them think it's that much more true.”

“...Whatever,” Emma took a bite of the potatoes, “Why was Brennan over here?”

“He told me that my trainer was gone.”

“Do you have a new one?”

“Not yet, but he's been looking.”

“He's been looking? Not the Board or someone beneath him?”

“That's what he said.”

“And you're not worried?”

“I mean…no? He removed the other guy. Why should I think he'd hire someone who's worse?”

“Dex, this is the second time Brennan's been sniffing around you, and you're not even the slightest bit worried about why?”

The young man paused, a slight tinge of guilt on his face. Emma softened at the sight, “...Did he do something to you?”

“...No. At least…not yet-” he took a breath, “Look, I am a little concerned, okay? I haven't done anything to warrant his attention like this, and while he hasn't really crossed any lines yet…”

“You should tell someone. We can call Grandma and-”

“No.”

“No?”

“Don't pull her into this. Don't pull any of them into this.”

“What?” Emma's eyes were wide with a mix of shock and offense, “Why not?”

“We just got roped into helping them spy on the guy, right? They called us about it?”

“Yeah?”

“Let's stick to that.”

“You could be in danger-”

“I've faced much worse.”

“That doesn't mean anything.”

“Emma,” Dex's green eyes glowed with determination, “I'm a grown man; I can take care of myself. Let me handle whatever Brennan's deal is with me on my own, okay?” 

“...Fine,” Emma snapped, eating a sweet roll, “Speaking of, it seems like the only thing we can do to help is to spy on him.”

“Which is fine,” Dex shrugged, “They're better equipped to handle taking him down than we are.”

“I suppose, but knowing how he got his foot in the door, on top of everything he's been doing now…” Emma tapped her chin, “It's just not enough for me.”

“I get that, and maybe, eventually, you'll get a chance to be the one to put a bullet in his skull,” Dex leaned over, taking her other sweet roll.

“You know you can get your own food, right?”

“I could, but that roll was begging to be eaten.”

“God, you're annoying.”

Dex stifled a laugh as he continued to eat the roll. Emma shot him a hard glare before attempting to pivot, “So, uh, I know I called Grandma back about the plan. Did you call Valentin back?”

“I did. He filled me in as well.”

“That sounds pretty matter-of-fact.”

“He was pretty matter-of-fact in his delivery, so…”

“Are you guys close?”

“Kind of. I'm closer to him than the rest of my family.”

“Was that a deliberate choice or are things still a bit new?”

“Mm,” Dex hummed, finishing the roll, “technically the former. He got close with my dad and sort of got ‘close’ to me as a result. I mean, if not for him, I likely wouldn't even consider trying to become a WSB agent.”

“I mean, your mom is his sister on both sides, right?”

“Yes…” Dex paused to think his response over, “yes.”

“So then what about the other Cassadines in Port Charles?”

“We were all so focused on taking my grandfather down that the ‘bonding’ stuff never actually happened. Nikolas and I butted heads, for one. I talked to Spencer and Charlotte once or twice, and that was pleasant.”

“Everyone else is just…there?”

“Well, yeah. And before you ask,” Dex raised a hand, “yes, if there's a chance I can get closer with them, I would…besides Nikolas.”

“What about your dad's family?”

“What about them?”

“Really?” Emma raised an eyebrow, “Only the Cassadines matter?”

“Only the Cassadines exist.”

“There's really no other Hellers roaming the Earth right now?”

“None related to me and my dad.”

“...Oh,” she quickly shut her mouth, stuffing her face. 

“You didn't insult me,” Dex laughed, “They all died way before I was born.”

“You haven't even met your grandparents?”

“My dad never even met them. It's just him and me.”

“I…can't imagine that,” Emma shook her head, “I have Grandma and Grandpa, and my aunts and uncles all on my mom's side. Plus my dad's side too.”

“Not every family is close-knit like yours is,” Dex sighed, getting to his feet, “and for what it's worth, I'm pretty jealous of that.”

“...Don't make me like you.”

“Too late. I already like you.”

Emma flinched as she caught Dex's confident smirk, watching him collect his materials and exit the cafeteria. She finished off what was left of her lunch in complete, pensive silence. Part of her wanted to pull Dex back in, part of her wanted to call her parents, and part of her wanted to rat Brennan out to her grandparents. She eyed her cellphone, fighting tooth and nail to keep quiet or spill her guts, and as another hair passed her by, she disposed of her tray and exited, the silence permeating the air around her until the day ultimately ended.

Chapter Text

“Well, well, well, look who it is.”

Irina couldn't stop herself from rolling her eyes, a smile forming on her face semi-consciously. Nikolas and Spencer sat together on the main sofa in Wyndemere's grand living room, keeping a few inches of distance between them.

“It's nice to see you two,” she remarked, “It's been awhile.”

“That it has,” Nikolas nodded, “How are you?”

“I'm doing well, enjoying what Seattle has to offer. How are you?”

“We're…” Spencer shot his father a glare, “surviving.”

“Surviving?”

“Things haven't been the same since Victor's reign of terror.”

“Still trying to rehabilitate our family image?”

“...Baby steps,” Nikolas replied, “All in due time.”

“This is what he's devoting his time to after his and Ava's divorce, by the way,” Spencer scoffed.

“Oh, I heard about that. I'm so sorry.”

“Don't be. It had to happen.”

“Spencer,” Nikolas hissed, “enough.”

“Well, what about you, Spencer? Anyone special in your life?”

“As a matter of fact, there is someone, and words wouldn't do her justice.”

“Who?”

“Her name's Trina Robinson. She works for Ava at the Jerome Gallery here in town.”

“Considering your opinions on your father's former marriage, something tells me he isn't keen on your relationship.”

“If you can believe it, I'm fully supportive,” Nikolas chuckled, “Trina's a wonderful young woman. If anything, she deserves better than Spencer.”

“Rude,” Spencer rolled his eyes, trying to suppress the blush that would've otherwise affirmed the comment.

“I'm glad you're supportive, Nikolas. Even if that's likely the only relationship you're giving approval to.”

“Wallace is…who he is.”

“What's wrong with Aunt Irina and Wallace?” Spencer glared at his father.

“Oh, come on, Spencer, don't act like the man's pleasant to be around.”

“I thought you looked at Dex like that.”

“He definitely doesn't approve of the men in my life,” Irina shook her head with a smile, “but he's entitled to that opinion…even if it's wrong.”

“How is Dex, anyway?” Spencer questioned, “I know Valentin was having him join the WSB.”

“He's doing fine; he's a student at the academy.”

“Have you talked to him?”

“I did when he first started, yes.”

“Maybe when you call him again, you can get him to reach out to the rest of his family,” Nikolas huffed.

“Oh, now you care about the guy?” Spencer laughed, “What's wrong with you?”

“Gentlemen-” Irina spoke up, her mouth shutting when she caught Valentin's video request in the top right corner of the screen, “I have another call to take. It was nice to speak to you, and I hope we can do this again. I love you both.”

“We love you too,” Nikolas nodded, smiles on both men's faces before they hung up. Irina took a deep breath before accepting her brother's call. Valentin mirrored her toothy smile, seated perfectly in his gray-toned living room as they communicated through video-call.

“Long time, no see,” he remarked, chuckling.

“It has been awhile,” Irina nodded, “I'm glad you called.”

“Any call to family is a call worth making. Well, to the family I like, anyway.”

“I appreciate that,” she giggled, “How are things in Port Charles?”

“Things are good. Charlotte is adjusting well from the boarding school Victor trapped her in.”

“I'm happy to hear that. Is she around? Can I say hello?”

“She's out with some friends, but I'll pass along your message. How are you?”

“I'm doing well. Seattle is a far different environment than Port Charles.”

“What makes it different?”

“Lots of rain, bigger city atmosphere…”

“ ...And Wallace.”

Irina bit her bottom lip, trying to suppress her brush.

“He's treating you well, I presume?” Valentin questioned.

“Like a queen, but I expected nothing less.”

“That man is only capable of loving very few things.”

“He's a softie at heart, you know that.”

Valentin rolled his eyes, prompting Irina to laugh, “He's certainly able to be vulnerable, I'll give you that.”

“I can't tell if you hate him or if you're just being cheeky.”

“Yes.”

“Lovely,” she laughed, and he echoed her, “At least someone besides me has affection for him.”

“Are he and Dexter still estranged?”

“Unfortunately. Don't get me wrong, I support Dexter putting his well-being first, but…”

“You want your family whole; I understand. Have you talked to Dexter recently?”

“No, and I hate that I haven't. Have you?”

“I have.”

“May I ask about what was discussed?”

“Are you sure you want to know?”

“...What did you do?”

“There's been some…extreme changes going on,” Valentin began, “and the WSB is in a new ‘era,’” he made air quotes with his fingers, “Anna and I have been looking into it.”

“And you put Dexter on notice?”

“Yes, and we asked him to help us get to the bottom of it.”

“Oh, God, Valentin!” na's granddaughter have a health condition like Dexter does?”

Valentin let out a gentle sigh, “Nothing will happen to Dexter. I promise.”

“You can't guarantee that. I know you'll do right by him and by me to make sure he's safe, but what he's dealing with…it's unpredictable.”

“I get it, dear sister, I do. You love your son, and God forbid anything happens to him. I feel the exact same way about Charlotte-”

“Valentin, I just reunited with him. Letting him go off on his own, where we're a million miles apart, was hard enough. What Victor left him with makes it that much harder.”

“I know, I'm sorry.”

“I just…I can't lose him again. I can't.”

“I understand, and believe me when I say that Anna and I will do everything we can to make sure he's safe and sound,” the man took a deep breath, “And even then, Irina, he's a grown adult. He can make his own decisions.”

“...I know,” Irina sighed in defeat, “You're right.”

“The last thing I need is both you and Wallace coming after me,” he laughed half-heartedly, “and I love my nephew. Things are going to be alright.”

“...I'll take your word for it,” Irina frowned, “I spoke to Nikolas and Spencer earlier, and now you. Should I expect a call from Alexis and her daughters?”

“No. Alexis is busy running her newspaper, and her daughters are fairly disconnected from the family. I think you've checked in with everyone.”

“I'm glad that everyone is doing well! It brings me a sense of security.”

“And we're happy that you're doing well. I'm sure you're enjoying all the relaxation and pampering Wallace is giving you.”

“Pampering? Yes. Relaxation? Eh…”

“Is his business causing problems?”

“...It was.”

“And now it's not?”

“Not anymore.”

“How so?”

“Well…I'm helping him.”

“Really?” Valentin raised both eyebrows. 

“I know it makes me look like a hypocrite since I was so upset over Dexter being in the business, but…it just fits for me.”

“That makes sense, considering how our mother raised you.”

“It's in my bones to be disruptive, I suppose,” Irina forced a laugh, “but thankfully, Wallace isn't forcibly molding me to cater to his whims. I have some freedom in what I'm able to do.”

“And what do you do?”

“I do joint-work on his political schemes.”

“You're basically his right-hand then? You help him plot things out, facilitate discord, things of that nature?”

“Essentially. The business is still Wallace's, after all.”

“I understand that, and I'm glad he has you involved. It'll make his work actually worthwhile.”

“Oh, is that so?” she donned a smirk.

“Very much so. You and I both know you're the best part of him.”

“I'll tell him you said that.”

“Go ahead. He knows I'm right,” Valentin shrugged, “Speaking of, where is he? What's he up to?”

“Oh,” Irina playfully smirked, half-rolling her eyes, “just taking care of business.”

“Sir, there's a shipment for you on the docks.”

Sonny turned to the employee relaying the message, Brick and Brando seated with him in his office. They all exchanged looks before the kingpin nodded, which promptly sent the employee away.

“Were you meant to get a shipment today?” Brando asked.

“I was. New coffee beans.”

“Oh. Anything new hitting the Corinthos Coffee shelves?”

“We'll see,” Sonny exited the office first, “Depends on what they gave me.”

“And we're sure it's coffee beans?”

“You ask a lot of questions,” Brick remarked as the other two men followed.

“I just don't want this shipment to be some kind of false flag.”

“They're all screened before Sonny sees them.”

“...Okay,” Brando huffed as he and Brick got into the backseat of Sonny's private car. The trio settled into the ride from Pozzulo's to the pier, taking in the skyscrapers and nature Port Charles had to offer. The younger man broke the silence as he leaned towards Sonny's right-hand, “How did the attack on Wallace go?”

“We deployed our men to his headquarters in Seattle,” Brick responded curtly, “...and we ended up running with your idea of a fake story.”

“Did you,” Brando did his best to suppress his smirk, “Did he buy it?”

“He did exactly what I expected him to do,” Brick shot him a glare.

“...Oh. Well, uh, did the guys at least get a hit? Or maybe some eyes on him?”

“They noted both him and a woman in the house.”

“A woman? He's dating someone?”

“Something like that,” the right-hand muttered before turning away. Brando wore a look of concern before he opted to look out of the car window. Eventually, they arrived at the pier and made their way to Sonny's respective dock. A number of workers and employees stood around a few large crates, some writing on clipboards while the others tried pulling the wood apart. 

“How do things look?” Sonny approached the harbormaster, Vince, with Brick and Brando in tow.

“Good,” Vince nodded.

“Is it the usual or do we have something new?”

“Two crates of the original, and one with a sweeter, lighter blend.”

“Good, good,” Sonny nodded slowly, looking around the area, “Looks like it's just the usual three shipments…”

“Not quite.”

“Excuse me?”

“A fourth crate came.”

“Where?”

Vince pointed to a wood-like crate closer to the edge of the water. The kingpin raised an eyebrow at the sight, gesturing for Brick and Brando to follow him. They strolled up to the object, watching and waiting as employees took it apart. The sight they take in horrifies them.

“Oh my God,” Brando growled as he observed the small pile of bodies. Each man had bullet wounds in the center of their foreheads and chests. One kept his eyes wide open, his face in agony, while the other two rested solemnly. 

“That son of a bitch,” Sonny shook his head, face growing heated.

“Do you see what I mean now?” Brick turned to the young man, “Wallace Heller isn't someone to take lightly.”

“I didn't think he'd go this far!”

“He was always capable of going too far, and this is just him responding to a fake story!”

Brando shook his head, glancing away as he tried to erase the corpses from his mind.

“There is no limit to what Wallace can do,” Sonny looked their way, “We all know that.”

“Then we need to escalate things.”

“How?”

“If you suggest going after Dex…” Brick held up a finger.

“I thought we agreed to not do that.”

“We need to meet the guy at his level, Sonny,” Brando argued, “Fight fire with fire. And Dex is a traitor!”

“I don't disagree-”

“Then we need to go after him, y'know? Show him what a lack of loyalty gets him.”

“Dex is a pawn,” Brick retorted, “a tool. He's not the main target-”

“And Wallace is, I know. But what better way to weaken the guy than to attack his family?”

“We're not attacking Dex,” Sonny's voice boomed, “That is done and over with.”

“...Fine.”

“We all agree that Wallace needs to go down.”

“Right,” Brick nodded, “How do you want to do that?”

The computerized image of Irina flashed in the kingpin's head, and a smirk developed on his face, “Even though Dex is off-limits, his blonde ‘friend’ isn't. I say we do what Brando suggested and hit him where it hurts; his family.”

Chapter Text

If Dex could chuck his phone across the room, he would. The buzzing was incessant, rattling against the cold black steel of the nearby nightstand. 

“Ugh…” he rolled onto his stomach, burying his face in the pillow. Every joint in his body popped while he laid there, reaching for the device. Turning onto his back, he scanned the plethora of missed calls from Emma. He dialed her number in an effort to respond, getting her voicemail after a few rings.

“Hey,” he yawned, “it's me. I missed your many, many calls. Give me another one when you get a chance. Thanks.”

A knock at his door caught his attention as he ended the message, and the sound of the lock snapping caused him to stand at attention. 

“Dexter,” Brennan chuckled, “you're up bright and early, I see.”

“You knocked on my door…so…”

“Right, yes, well, I wanted to speak with you as soon as possible. It's quite important.”

“In my dorm room?”

“In a private location. Where exactly we are doesn't really matter.”

“...Okay. What do you want to discuss?” Dex sat down on his bed, Brennan joining him.

“In my heyday with the WSB, a few select students from all levels of training get selected to go on a…let's call it a ‘field trip,’” the elder man began, “We'd get shipped off to another country and simulate a sting operation. To my surprise, when I became the director, the academy discontinued these trips for no discernible reason.”

“So you're reviving it, I assume?”

“Correct, and I'm letting you know that you've been selected to join this group.”

“Really,” Dex raised an intrigued eyebrow, “Based on what?”

“Many factors: your strength, prowess, skill. I think you'd be an asset. And it's not just you who's going either,” Brennan nodded at the young man's cellphone, which lit up to show off Emma's contact, “Ms. Drake is exceptional as well. Once I get a few more names on the list, I'll see you all off.”

“Where are we going?”

“Italy. Rome, specifically. What exactly you're doing there will be revealed in due time.”

“I see,” Dex donned a small smirk. Brennan mirrored his impression, “I appreciate the offer.”

“But?”

“That's just it. I appreciate the offer, and I accept it.”

“Excellent!” Brennan bellowed, resting a hand on the young man's shoulder, “I'm glad you're going. I know you're going to do great things.”

“You have a lot of faith in me.”

“I have faith in all students I think are worth the investment.”

Dex gulped as Brennan leaned in, watching as the elder man scanned his face. He then got to his feet, dusting off his suit, “Have a good day, Mr. Heller. I'll see you soon.”

Dex scrambled for his phone as the door closed, placing a second call to Emma. This time, their connection clicked.

“You finally picked up,” Emma chided, “For a second, I thought something happened to you.”

“Something did happen,” Dex replied.

“Wait…really? Are you okay?”

“I'm fine. Brennan dropped by for a visit.”

“He visited you in your dorm room? That has to be some kind of violation or something. Too bad I can't ask my grandma about it.”

“He didn't do anything weird. He…” Dex looked at his door, “He offered me a spot on this trip to Italy.”

“He did? I'm going to be stuck with you in another country?”

“Oh, shut up. You love me.”

“No comment.”

Dex rolled his eyes playfully as he got to his feet, keeping his phone between his cheek and his shoulder as he searched for a clean uniform, “Yes, you and I will be on the team going to Italy.”

“Did he happen to mention why we're going?”

“No. He said we'd find out eventually, probably from whoever is leading this thing.”

“Grandma never mentioned any kind of field trips, at least not one she did as a freshman.”

“Maybe she wasn't picked as a freshman? Brennan said they happened when he was a student.”

“And you're going to believe him?”

“C'mon, Emma, do you really think he'd be dumb enough to set a death trap and rope me into it? After all, you're the one who said he's got his eyes on me.”

“...Whatever.”

“Hmph,” Dex hummed smugly, then opting to pivot, “How did you find out that you got picked for the trip?”

“I got an email from who I assume is the faculty in charge of it. We're supposed to meet in the courtyard after regular academy hours. I was calling you to share the good news, but since you're going…”

“Ha-Ha,” Dex mocked her, rolling his eyes again, “Funny.”

“I am funny, thank you,” Emma remarked, “I assume Brennan told you personally?”

“He did.”

“Are you sure you don't want to clue Grandma and Valentin in on him? They could save you from something dangerous.”

“Yes, I'm sure. I'm a big boy, Emma. I can handle Brennan.”

“But-”

“Stop it. I'm fine, and I will be fine. Let it go and let me deal with it.”

“Okay, okay, I will,” a small beat of silence fills the static, “I gotta go. I have Molecular Biology in thirty minutes.”

“Good luck with that. I'll see you later.”

“Bye,” the line clicked off. Dex let out a rough sigh before changing into the next available uniform in his closet. He exited his dorm room, taking a brisk walk towards his assigned academic wing in the academy. A few turns around corners to his left later, he arrived at an indoor shooting range, and he couldn't help but lick his lips in anticipation. 

“Welcome in,” a faculty member waved at a stream of students coming in behind him, prompting Dex to move to the lane right against the opposing wall. Everyone else selected the next available lane, lining up to await instruction. The faculty member cleared their throat, a bright smile on their face.

“I'm ecstatic to have you all here today,” they began, “All of you have made significant progress in your studies and training, especially with the disabilities and conditions you have to deal with personally. Being able to get you all into the shooting range, which has normally been reserved for able-bodied students, is quite exciting.”

They scanned the row of students, one in each lane. Dex eyed the small selection of guns in front of him as they continued to speak, “Getting you all here wouldn't have been possible without an accepting, supportive group of board members signing off on this wholeheartedly, and none of this would've happened without the approval and endorsement by our new director.”

“Anything to help integrate this group, I'm happy to do.”

Dex froze immediately, eyes wide as he turned towards the door. Brennan entered casually, dusting off his suit before he stepped up next to the faculty member.

“You all deserve a chance to be in the spaces that the majority of students already occupy, regardless of your disability or health issues,” he responded, “and your fearless faculty instructor here, well, they spearheaded all of it. They deserve the credit they likely gave to me and the board.”

“Why, thank you,” the faculty member blushed while Dex and Brennan exchanged firm looks.

The director donned a hardened face, “I'd like to see everyone's opening shot with the gun of their choice before the lesson begins, please.”

Going from the lane closest to the door, each student took their aim and fired at the distant targets, with many missing the tarp, striking out of bounds, or hitting the outer areas of the black silhouette. Eventually, it was Dex's turn, and he ran a finger across the silver handgun, taking in the dimensions as he aimed for the head.

Eyes closed, breathe in, he thought to himself, following those orders before his eyes broke wide open, and…release!

The bullet ripped from the gun, twirling until it nailed the direct center of the head. The group of students cooed at the sight, while Brennan wore a smug smirk. The lesson proceeded as normal, the director observing each student from behind. While some kept missing, others steadily improved, and he kept his focus on the young man at the end, hitting each and every target with slick precision and ease.

“Just as I suspected,” the man remarked from behind, “Your aim is impeccable.”

“Thank my dad for that,” Dex slid a few bullets into the handgun.

“I'll be sure to,” Brennan stepped up directly behind the young man, a hand on his back. He gradually moved it downwards, “but he has my gratitude already.”

Dex tensed up, panic spiking inside of him when the director reached the small of his back. His limbs felt loose and tight, his senses clouded at the sensation.

“Why'd you stop?” Brennan whispered in his ear, “The lesson isn't over.”

The young man shuddered as he felt the director's hand press against that area. 

Eyes…closed…breathe…in…

“Hit the right elbow,” a clean hole formed from the fired bullet in the spot. The elder man smirked and kept it going, “Now the top of the forehead.”

The bullet strikes perfectly.

“The heart.”

It hit the center of the chest with ease.

“Excellent,” Brennan cooed, causing Dex to flinch. The elder man pulled back when he heard footsteps echo nearby.

“How are things over here?” the faculty member questioned.

“Good, good,” Brennan nodded, “I must say, Mr. Heller has an incredible aim, but his posture is lacking.”

“I'm glad you're helping him with that! He's one of our most promising students.”

“I'm glad we're of like minds in that regard,” Brennan finally dropped his hand, causing Dex to let out a relieved sigh. The staff members walked away, further engaged in discussion, and when the young man turned his attention to his lane, his eyes blurred from dizziness. He wasn't sure when the class ended, or when the rest of the day passed him by. A haze rested in his head when he walked to the courtyard, silently praying that he wouldn't see that man's face whatsoever. 

“Hey,” Emma waved as Dex approached her, “just in time.”

“Of course,” he answered, turning to face the advisor in charge, who stood alone.

“Now that we're all here,” the man began, his voice rich and deep, “I want to welcome you to the Italy deployment. You are here because Director Brennan believed you were the best representatives the WSB Academy has to offer. This is a privilege that I hope none of you take for granted.”

“Is Director Brennan joining this meeting at some point?” one student asked, causing Dex to shoot her a glare.

“No. He has other matters to attend to,” the advisor then paced the ground, “so it'll just be us.”

Thank God, Dex let out a quiet sigh, ignoring Emma's intrigued glare.

“Our goal in Italy is busting an ongoing gambling ring. Rome is currently home to a bustling casino that allegedly hosts the central core of this ring. If we infiltrate it, then we can shut it down.”

“The WSB does this kind of stuff?” Dex muttered to Emma.

“They take a ‘violence-second’ approach here. It would behoove you to adapt to it,” she replied.

“We'll be gone for a few days, and all credits will be covered per the administration. Specific assignments have been determined through extensive discussion with the director and the board, and they'll be announced during travel. We leave at midnight, so I suggest packing now.”

The group disbanded almost as soon as it formed, leaving Dex and Emma behind. The pair stood firm in their spots, the sky slowly turning from purple to black and stars appearing in the sky.

“We're busting a crime ring,” a smirk formed on Emma's face, “Pretty exciting, huh?”

“Yeah, it's…certainly something,” Dex didn't look her way.

“You don't like it?”

“I never said that.”

“I'd like to think you'd be all over this. Weren't you a spy for your dad once upon a time?”

“I was.”

“Then I don't get why you're so distant,” she scanned his face, her mood dropping, “Are you okay? Did something happen?”

“I'm fine.”

“...What did Brennan do?”

“It's fine.”

“No, it's not. Something happened. Did he interfere with any of your classes? Did he say something slick?” Emma scowled, “Did put his hands on you?”

“Don't worry about it-”

“Oh God, he did, didn't he?!”

“Emma-”

“He needs to be reported, big time. There's no way he should get away with this, not at all! We should go to the board or whoever's above Brennan and-”

“Just drop it, alright?!” the young man snapped, his glare hot. Emma jumped back, her skin cold as she took in his terrifying form. He then inhaled deeply, “I told you a million times already: I can handle Brennan.”

“But-”

“Can you trust me on this? Please? I know you hate my guts and think I'm an ass, but you need to let me deal with this. Butt the hell out.”

“Dex-” the young man turned away and marched off, leaving the young woman stunned. She stayed put for a few minutes, a sinking feeling forming in her stomach. She pulled out her phone and swiped for Anna's number, hovering over the call button. She then pocketed the device and walked off towards her dorm room in the opposing corridor. Brennan observed her movements, and once she disappeared into the building, he then focused on the area that held Dex's dorm room, licking his lips before he vanished into the dim hallway behind him.

Chapter Text

This is going to suck.

The second Dex stepped into the casino, his face contorted into an expression of displeasure. The strong stench of beer and cigars filled the vast space while miscellaneous chatter harshly struck his ears. Emma stood next to him, her eyes wide with wonder as she observed her surroundings. 

“Oh my God,” she said, “look at this place!”

“Yeah…” the young man grumbled, toying with the ends of his suit sleeves. The group all wore an assortment of high-end formal garments: the men wore a mix of black, navy blue, and burgundy tuxedos and the women donned different sequined lavender and fuchsia dresses. Emma dusted herself off, running her hands over a few fuchsia sequins on her torso, adjusting her posture accordingly. 

“Alright, crew,” the advisor, blending in with a black suit, stepped in front of the student group, “there are currently five poker games occurring at the main tables. One of these tables holds our target,” he showed off a photo of an older bald man, a small gray beard perfectly circled around his face, “This is Ulrich Sidwell. He not only operates this location, but he operates the greater gambling ring we're aiming to take down. If you're lucky enough to be at his table, keep an eye on any tricks he'll pull to guarantee a win at the expense of others. Are there any questions?”

The sound of the patrons chatting with one another fills the space.

“Okay, great. I want you all in pairs, so pick your partner and get to work. If you need to reach me, use your device,” the advisor flashed a silver pager in his hand before walking off. The group disbursed, leaving Dex and Emma alone at the entrance.

“Well,” Emma turned his way, “what's the plan?”

“What's the plan?” Dex scowled, “What do you mean? We're going to play some poker.”

“We're going to do it sober?”

“Are you even old enough to drink?”

“In Italy, I am. Alcohol will help us blend in and ease our nerves,” Emma winked, “Stay here.”

Dex rolled his eyes as she walked off, approaching the big mahogany bar littered with patrons. He took a deep breath before walking into the crowd, dodging the people going the opposite direction. He did his best to ignore the coos and flirty gazes of the older women who eyed him down, taking a seat at a table in the far left corner. The moment he sat down in the firm leather seat, he locked eyes with the man of the hour.

“A newcomer, I see,” Ulrich Sidwell's British accent was sleek as he noted the young man's presence, “What brings you to my table?”

“I…” Dex took a deep breath, glancing at Emma, who remained at the bar, “wanted to try my luck.”

“Is that so?” Sidwell smirked, turning to the employee at the table, “Deal him in.”

Dex turned to Emma once more, formally locking eyes this time around. She took a deep breath before sipping on a glass of scotch, waiting for the young man to join her. A mix of couples occupied other barstools, hanging all over each other, the chatter loud and crudely flirtatious. She was lucky the seat next to her was free…until it wasn't. 

“Vodka on the rocks, please.”

A scowl crossed her face as she turned to her left. A young man with lightly-tanned skin, a chiseled jawline and sharp brown eyes looked at the bartender with a smirk, his black suit fitting like a glove. Emma eyed him, unnerved at his confident posture.

“Like what you see?” he asked, keeping his smirk in place as he took in her expression.

“Excuse me?” she responded.

“You were staring at me. I was simply making an observation.”

“...Really,” Emma pursed her lips, “Well, if you must know, I don't.”

“Well, that's unfortunate,” the young man leaned in, “because I like what I see.”

“I'm not interested.”

“Are you sure?”

“I mean, it's hard for me to like a guy who steals seats.”

“Oh, someone was sitting here?” the young man stood up, “My apologies.”

“Mhm,” Emma sipped on her scotch, shooting a glance at Dex, “He's currently wrapped up in a game, but that's his spot.”

“Oh,” the young man followed her gaze, “Is he with you?”

“Yes-” she stopped herself, “No. I mean, we're not a couple or anything, we just work together.”

“Ah, okay, and what is it you do for work?”

“We're…cosmopolitans,” Emma forced out an answer, “We travel the world and share our observations and experiences with the world.”

“Really, because I could've sworn that you were undercover.”

The young woman froze in her seat, dropping the sip of scotch back into the glass. The man sat back down, sliding his glass to the bartender for another pour. 

“...Was it that obvious?” Emma sighed.

“A little bit.”

“Great. We're barely going to get through this mission, then.”

“Mission?”

Shut the hell up, idiot, Emma winced, opting to keep her mouth closed. The young man looked her way, figuring out his next steps.

“I don't mean to pry,” he said, “and I don't mean to overstep.”

“Well, you already snuffed me out, so there's not much I can keep secret anymore, is there?”

“You don't have to tell me, just knowing you're undercover is enough. That's definitely something you have to work on,” the young man winked, “but you've talked enough. I think it's only fair that I share something about myself in return.”

“What illustrious information are you going to share with me?”

“I work in the modeling industry. I'm here on a courtesy invite as part of a scheduled shoot.”

“You're a model?” Emma scoffed, “Really?”

“Yep. A rising star, as they say.”

“And what inspired you to be a model?”

“My mom. She was a pretty big model herself: a big hometown celebrity. Maybe you've heard of her?”

“What's her name?”

“Brenda Barrett.”

Emma's eyes sparkled as a smirk crossed her face, and the young man mirrored her. 

“You know her,” he said.

“I absolutely do. If you can believe it, her mom and my mom are best friends.”

The young man extended an open hand, and Emma indulged, “Alec Barrett.”

“Emma Drake. Emma Scorpio-Drake.”

“I definitely know that name,” Alec laughed, “It's very nice to meet you, and I apologize for interfering in your work.”

“...You're forgiven,” Emma smiled, “but don't do it again. At least not tonight.”

“I won't. Scout's honor.”

Dex shot daggers at the bar, scowling as he watched Emma chatting away. He let out a sigh, turning back to the game, frowning at the scarce amount of chips in front of him.

“You're not very good at this,” Sidwell chuckled.

“I'm just rusty,” Dex quipped, “We're only a couple games in, after all.”

“There's a lot of rust.”

“It's coming off. Be patient,” Dex threw a card, a red seven of diamonds, onto the green plush. Sidwell bared his teeth as he threw a black ten of spades on top. 

Of course…just my luck… Dex thought, shaking his head. He turned to Emma again, who met his gaze and downed the rest of her drink.

“Damnit,” she swore, getting to her feet. Alec mirrored her and they walked towards the table. Dex breathed a sigh of relief as she approached him, “What's going on here? Indulging in gambling again?”

“Gambling?” Sidwell asked.

“I apologize for my husband, sir. He can't help himself when it comes to poker. I certainly hope he hasn't lost all of our money.”

“Well, sweetheart,” Dex replied through gritted teeth, “luckily for us, I still have some cash on me. You caught me before I got too deep into it.”

“Good. I think it's best if you stop yourself before you really do get in too deep.”

“Good idea,” Dex grumbled, standing up. Alec passed him by, settling into the seat. Sidwell eyed the young man, raising an intrigued eyebrow.

“A new challenger?” he questioned.

“You could say that,” Alec nodded, “Deal me in.”

“What are you doing?!” Emma whispered sharply while Dex shot daggers.

“Watch and learn,” the young man replied. Dex and Emma exchanged glances as Sidwell passed a deck of cards. Alec lifted the stack, smirking at his selection as the game began. 

“Who is this guy?” Dex asked, turning Emma's attending away from the young man's jawline.

“Alec Barrett,” she answered. 

“That doesn't really answer my question.”

“What answer are you looking for?”

“Why were you spending so much time with him when we're on a mission?”

“I…got caught up!” she replied, her whispers flustered, “I was trying to ease into the mood and he sat in your spot-”

“My spot? When I told you I wasn't going to go along with your stupid idea?”

“It's not stupid-”

“You wasted time flirting with this dude,” Dex pointed his thumb at Alec, who picked up a few poker chips, “while I was trying to weasel into Sidwell's circle.”

“You were struggling, first of all, and I bailed you out before you made an even bigger fool of yourself.”

“I was doing fine.”

“Yeah, sure, okay.”

“What the hell?!”

The student agents turned to the table, observing Sidwell's present anger. Alec donned yet another smirk, revealing his hand: a royal flush.

“How is that possible?!” Sidwell hissed as Alec pulled the chips and money left in the center of the table, “Your hand…!”

“The luck of the draw,” the young man winked, getting to his feet. Sidwell did the same.

“This is not over,” the man swore, stepping away. A few players joined him, heading off to the far left corner. Alec approached Dex and Emma, flaunting the cash.

“How much of this is yours?” he asked.

“...Just keep it,” Dex huffed, marching towards the bar. 

“What's his deal?”

“He's just butthurt because he's stubborn,” Emma shrugged, “Don't worry about him.”

“Is he undercover too?”

“Yep.”

“Looks like you both have things to work on.”

“Good thing we're students,” Emma grinned, looking at Dex. She frowned as she watched him down shots of gin, “Oh no…”

“Hm?” Alec followed her gaze, walking with her to the bar.

“Dex,” the young woman began, “you good?”

“Leave me alone,” he sighed.

“What's the matter? Are you that upset that things went sideways?”

“Uh, yeah? We have a mission, a strict goal, and you decided to booze up and let a stranger embarrass us!”

“I didn't mean to cause you trouble,” Alec frowned, “I was trying to help.”

“We don't need your help.”

“You don't need his help. I welcome it.”

“Of course you do,” Dex rolled his eyes, downing another shot. 

“Hey, y'know, with Sidwell gone, you could look for someone,” Emma nudged his shoulder.

“Pass.”

“There's plenty of attractive women here,” Alec looked around, “I'm sure they'd love to-”

“Pass!”

“Are you also mad about me and Alec?”

“Pfft, no. You do what you want.”

“Really.”

“You've been doing your own thing since we got here,” Dex shrugged, “and who you get with is none of my business.”

“As long as it's not you.”

“Exactly.”

“Are you really not interested in anyone?” Alec asked.

“I'm not thinking about that.”

“Have you ever thought about it?”

Dex paused mid-sip, dropping the glass onto the counter. He wiped his face free of gin and cleared his throat.

“Dex? Can I call you that?” the young man asked gently.

“...You guys have a nice night,” the student agent abruptly got up, swiftly exiting the casino. Alec and Emma exchanged looks, standing in complete silence.

“Did I say something wrong?” the young man asked.

“Dex is…an enigma,” the young woman responded, “There's always something…interesting with him.”

“Even if that interest is in the form of a lack of…?” Alec gestured with his hands, making a juggling motion. 

“I guess? I don't know.”

“Do you want to go after him?”

“Mm, I think if I did that, he'd kill me.”

“...Okay,” Alec nodded slowly, “well, is there anything else you need to do here?”

“I don't think so,” a smirk crept onto Emma's face, “Do you have any ideas?”

“I may have one,” the young man winked, grabbing her hand. He guided her through the floor, going towards the elevators in the right corner. His touch was warm and encompassing, and a fierce blush spread across her face. As they stood by the elevator doors, waiting for them to open, Alec's hands cupped Emma's face.

“May I?” he asked suavely.

“...You may,” her response was soft, and his lips felt the same way. They gently moved in sync as the door opened, stumbling inside and heading up to the fifth floor. They continued to push against one another, Emma's hands running over Alec's body. He stepped back, holding her hand again as he rushed them through the hallway, stopping in front of Room 510. 

“Last chance to back out,” Alec smiled, and Emma mirrored him, shaking her head. Her laughter echoed off the walls as he pulled her into his hotel room, the door shutting behind them, locking them in for the rest of the night's events.