Work Text:
—uno.
Alicia marched steadily, no mind to passersby much less Mia who immediately began blabbering about Viktor’s cheeky grin the moment she saw her. She huffed when Mia finally scurried off to a brand new victim in the shape of Mawar.
The phone rang insistently in her pinafore pocket, a rhythm she recognised to be a mission call.
Alicia sighed when she saw Ali, grumbling something incoherent even as she approached closer. Viktor was gobbling up Ali’s nuggets, though Alicia had a feeling that it had nothing to do with his ill temper.
“Ali,” Alicia started, stern. Ali’s face lifted up slightly, face scrunched in displeasure. He murmured something back before flopping head first onto the table. Viktor, like any too good best friend, started rubbing his back absentmindedly.
She huffed again, “Clean the library immediately.” Alicia ordered, slowly, so slow so there wasn't a chance for Ali to miss a single word even with his lazy stature.
Silence, Alicia thought Ali might just be smart enough to flock the order from his head.
Viktor’s eyes were on her now, a single raised eyebrow as he chewed cleanly. The gesture made Alicia uneased, not because he intimidated her or anything—a part of her only feared that information would just foam out if she were to peek or that, arguably on a more annoying but possible hand, Mia finds out, create some weird delusion, wouldn't have liked it very well and start ignoring her again.
Maybe Mia intimidated her.
Ali stands up abruptly, glaring daggers. His face wasn't as scrunched as it was before. Now he only had deeply furrowed eyebrows and a curt frown. He looked rather handsome like that, as terrible as that though sounds.
Almost too terrible it made Alicia forget the crude remark she left on her bitter tongue. “I’ll clean it whenever.” He snarked, storming off. Alicia’s eyes followed him, and for a moment she thought her heart fluttered.
Disgusting.
“What did you do?” Viktor asked, his tone not at all apprehensive, just curious. He stared at her not with that raging flame Ali would have if Viktor was in his shoes, but with a gleam of someone who notices too much.
“Punishment.” Alicia reasoned, brushing off the ironic blush she had for someone she despises. And Ali never did attend that mission, Alicia thinks it's for the greater good he didn't.
—dos.
“Bet you think you’re so cool then—” is one of the first things Alicia heard when she arrived at medbay. The tone was harsh, armed with a blade and meant to hurt.
The cruel remark was met with a shove, leaning slightly on her side she saw it was Ali who’s taken the blow. Her body stiffened, rooted at the very spot. She always knew Rudy and Jet had less than fond thoughts of Ali, yet she never thought it would be taken to bullying.
“Yeah! We’re better off if you just leave anyways, no one needs a burden like you slowing us down!” Jet spatted, so very mean and uncalled for. She thinks they've taken it too far, and as her eyes slowly land on Ali, who was staring right at them, Alicia knew something deep inside of her heart broke.
Ali looked so small, not even in the funny height way. He was shaking, yet the temperature here was nowhere near cold enough to cause that. Ali’s face turned away from them, brimming with tears. Rudy looked like he was going to seriously hurt him if he were to say anything back, while Jet had that look that assured her he would take every step in Rudy’s defense.
Ali knew that too, having seen it firsthand after all. So instead of indulging with his quick wit, he scurried, almost slipping in his quest to run away.
Alicia immediately thinks of fight or flight. Ali had always chosen flight when facing against bullies, but this? It was so different. It wasn't ecstasy in escaping Syed and Shaun’s wrath, it was fear. The young agents had pushed him in ways no one could.
She snapped out of her thoughts when Ali ran beside her, hitting her shoulder but she was too shocked to even chide him. Instead, Alicia stared at them: disbelief, anger, shock? She didn't even know.
“You guys are so cruel.” She managed to breathe out, catching only how Moon flinched and how Rudy gritted his teeth at her remark before turning her feet and running after Ali.
Ali didn't run far, he could never outrun her with his stubby legs anyways. “Ali, wait!” Alicia pleaded, pulling on his shoulder. Ali halted but paid her no mind, instead he rubbed his eyes vigorously, hiccups and pants slightly muffled.
Alicia’s eyes soften, “I'm sorry.” she murmured, pulling a hand away from his face. Ali stared at her, cheeks dribbling down tears and nose rosy. For a moment they lasted like that, quiet, with Alicia staring directly at him.
“For your words or theirs?” Ali finally voiced, his face, notably still very handsome—
She shivered at the thought.
Ali takes the chance to pull his hand away and sprint, and Alicia, again shocked to her root, turned too late. He was already gone.
A thought of hers urged to continue the chase, while the other, calmer, knew he would be better off.
—trez.
When Ali first came, he was confused but otherwise well. And now? He's apprehensive, barely meeting her gaze.
Alicia doesn't want to think he's a traitor but,
“Why would I bother protecting him anyways? So many people actually need my help right now!” Ali hissed, eyes blaring with hatred for the mayor and determination in his traitorous vigilance.
She wants to understand him, she does. But Alicia’s loyalty is strictly for Mata, who had raised her when no one would, who shaped her to be who she is all these times.
“What are you even saying?” Alicia voiced, the raw truth from her very heart, because who in their right mind could possibly go against Dato’ Othman? The man who build Cyberaya from the ground up and invented Mata to protect it.
Alicia thinks of Agent Fit and his team, who’s temper with Ali’s absence and suspicion is only thickening. Ali is in danger. The distant, handsome—
Stop it, Alicia.
The Ali she doesn't even know anymore is in grave danger and he's digging himself down even further. “They're looking for you.” she admitted, very uneased. “Ali, they're looking for you!” Alicia repeated again, firmer, but Ali remained unfazed.
Infact, his stunningly handsome face remained the epitome of nonchalance. He didn't care, not for Alicia’s warning nor the threat his own organisation posed. “I've heard enough.” he said monotonously, now Alicia was really sure she was left unheard.
Ali stands up, bag only half slinged on his shoulder. Alicia met his eyes, emotions contradicting his lack thereof. Unsaying, he turns away from her and slings the other side of his bag.
Alicia thinks he’s gonna just leave again, and she won't see him as often or maybe not at all anymore. Her heart stops at the imagination. Why was she more concerned than the man himself?
“Oh, and by the way,” Ali hummed, tone off from everything she ever knew as him. Alicia wants to take it easy and imagine him as someone else entirely, someone she wouldn't mind finding handsome or couldn't care too much about but she can't. It's still Ali, and she still finds him handsome.
“I don't want to be an Agent anymore.”
Alicia almost missed it, but when she does comprehend what he said, her mouth agape in shock.
And so it's confirmed, Ali is a total dumbass. If he actually was innocent, it's futile information, he'd still die from the extermination protocol.
“Idiot!” she snapped, hurling her fist on the table. He's so gonna die and her warning to avoid it was left unheard. “Stupid, stubborn, idiot.” Alicia grunted, fidgeting her neat bob.
—cuatro.
Alicia stormed off, turning deaf ears to the giggles and stupid teases.
She didn't mean it like that, she didn't mean to imply anything more than she should. Kim was way too attentive and noticed far more than she should, just like that cheeky airhead who just so happens to be Ali’s ultimate best friend.
Again with Ali. It's infuriating how rooted that boy is in her mind. Alicia can't catch a break from him, at all!
“Alicia!”
And speaking of the devil, if the devil was a tiny twelve year old boy with an annoying voice and fantastic genetics that is. “Alicia, wait up!” she hears, inching closer by the second. Alicia stopped and turned, only because she's curious about what he's so down to tell.
“Finally!” he panted, landing only a short distance behind her. “What is it?” she asked curtly, wrapping her arms around each other. Yes, nonchalance, fantastic job Alicia.
Ali lifted his head slightly, and raised an eyebrow. “Are you blushing?” he asked with a pout.
“What? Nonsense!” she retaliated, touching her cheeks as if it would prove her point. Ali stands up properly, a daring finger too far into her personal space, “Yes, you, are.” is all he says and now Alicia can really feel her cheeks heat up.
It's worse than she thought.
“You're delusional, and you ignored my question.” she huffed, because it's all she managed to do. Ali’s gaze lingered, before his finger drifted away, “Comot made me lose points and now I can’t choose my own team!” he grumbled in frustration, waving his arms around dramatically.
“It's not that deep.” she voices, a truthful thought, but Ali doesn't like her honesty very well. “It's so very deep!” he whined loudly, “Like what am I going to do when—”
Alicia snorted, a half grin plastered on her face. It's amazing how someone of his level could be so interesting. Soft jaw and big eyes, reckless behaviour and annoying personality. It's stupid, but Alicia thinks she might just be into him.
“Enough, idiot. Do you want to mop around or do you want to buy me a drink?”
Ali pouted, “And why should I get you a drink?” he mocked, joining Alicia as they began to walk. Alicia smirked, “Because I'm younger and I'm a girl.” she said with total ease, glad to make use of herself even for something so very trivial. Ali huffed, murmuring gibberish.
“You're lucky Viktor chided me about treating women better!” he snarked finally, much louder. Alicia laughed until she doesnt, “Would you do it for Kim then?” she asked abruptly, surprising herself too as she disguised it as nonchalance. Is she jealous? But Kim just teased her about them so surely she posed no harm—and why is that an issue in the first place?
This is bad.
Ali raised his eyebrow, “Why are you asking weird questions?”
Alicia looked away, “Is it so bad that I'm curious?”
“Curiosity is fine, but you being curious isn't.” Ali stated matter of factly, pressing a button on the vending machine. Alicia’s face heats up in rage, “Excuse me?!”
“Usually you try to confirm or deny something by asking me weird and abrupt questions like this. Maybe instead of being vague, you just ask me straight up.” Ali said, a sputter of words that sounded too much like his best friend’s own poetic speaking.
Huh, they are so alike these days.
He hands her a drink, an apple soda, without mind. Alicia raised both eyebrows in surprise, she didn't expect him to comply so easily. “Oh, uh thanks.”
“Now, if you don't mind, I have sodas to give.” Ali hummed, grappling with an abundant variety of cans. “To who?” she asked immediately. Ali thought for a moment, “Khai, Rudy, Chris at medbay, Iman, Zass, Kim—”
“Oh uh, did you know that Kim suspects us of being in a relationship?” Alicia tried, following Ali’s advice and failing. Instead she only cursed her awkwardness.
Ali made a short look of surprise then utter consideration and finally something in between. “I guess I see it.” he merely shrugged, already ambling away. “Wait! Aren’t you.. like—disturbed?”
He turned slightly, “Why? It's not like we’ll ever be in a relationship anyways.”
Once again, something, arguably explainative on Alicia’s tongue, was swallowed back. Her mouth remained agape slightly, a single hand still cradling the soda he prized her.
Oh right.
They didn't have anything, not a spark nor a flame. They were friends, companions or whatever other platonic thing.
And for some reason, that realization hurts. A lot.
—cinco.
Alicia choked out a pained yelp, the hand, powered with its full potential, right there at her stomach. She was starting to get blearily, the lowest of her ribcage and the starting of her tummy possibly destroyed to bits despite the strong suit.
“A-li..” she croaked weakly, gasping. Ali paid her no mind, the suit that encased him blocking away from his usual sympathy. Satria had been hacked, and Alicia had warned him from that too. And like many times before, he didn't bother listening.
But right now, she wasn't even angry, just couldn't be, instead she tried her best to stay awake and denied Ali the chance of harming anyone more.
The sweet, handsome Ali, with blood of his own allies on his hands. Alicia chuckled, though it came out as something far more painful.
“I-s this really how you repay me?” she slurred, no mind for the fact Ali was far from listening and was only catching his breath before releasing something much worse.
Alicia wanted to chide him, curse him, but all that came out was a simple but raw,
“I l-love you..”
Which was only futile because Ali couldn't even hear her yet.
Her hand shivered as she reached to stroke his cheek, “Handsome but stubborn…” Alicia churned, barely aware but unfearful now that death or something close to sickly smelled near. A pained grin dawned her face, a sad attempt at acceptance.
Even with the suit, Alicia still saw how he tensed in confusion. She reached for Iris, who was furiously darting out information to stop him, as if he didn't have her sandwiched between a wall and his fist, completely immobilized and at his mercy.
The helmet unraveled bit by bit with her faulty override, who drained her much like the punch of its original owner. Now that Ali can finally see her, color drained his face and his eyes widened in utter shock. “Alicia…” he murmured.
Alicia wanted to tease him, wanted to tell him off for being so tense instead of his usual ‘coolly’ relaxed stature but she couldn't. Not now. Her vision was fading as quick as her consciousness, and as Ali freed her from his fist, her body slumped over to follow.
She reached for his shoulder but Ali had already grappled her body.
Alicia barely gasped for air, as if it would change the reality of how the boy she was falling for and found incredibly handsome had hurted her. Harmed her half to the grave.
A single hand pillowed her upper half while the other struggled on where to lay. Its owner, Ali, looked as terrified as he was when he had to choose between her or the mission. A memory seeming so distant despite only being a few months of age.
“S-top him, Ali, stop Satria.” she begged, trailing as the deepest of her determination to stay awake, faded. The last thing she saw was Iris’s emergency shutdown and Ali’s handsome face.
What a way to die, she thinks.
–|–cero.
Ali shoved his bag near the medbay cabinet, grunting.
But upon seeing her, frail yet very alive figure, his shoulder slumped. “I didn't have the heart to hang out with Viktor today.” he admitted, disappointed because he always did try to make room for Viktor as of late.
“It's just.. too weird without you.” Ali continued, taking the empty visitor seat. His eyes landed on the IV, pierced through her skin, a contrast to her milky white hand, who faces tiny injuries as well.
Gazing upwards, he faintly smiles, before dropping back to a pathetic frown. “Viktor and Sasi have gotten quite close.. Sasi always pairs up with him now.” Ali chuckled, “So basically he has two fans while I have.. none.”
It's silent when Ali stops talking, so he continues.
“And I think I know why you asked me those weird questions.” Ali started, a finger grazing the bed’s gate mindlessly. “You had a crush on me right? No, I'm not being delusional or stuck up, you actually do. And it's—”
Ali hummed, eyes darting away as he slumped over the chair “It's nice.” he said, distantly. “Like really nice.”
She would definitely give him a piece of her mind if she caught that, any bit so. But she didn't.
Alicia had a face of pure serenity etched on her, so perfect and so in peace, far away from anger. A state of mind she can never have when she's properly awake, Ali thinks, that's the only good thing in her being in a coma.
Ali wanted to lean in, stretched his hand away until he could cradle her cheek, so soft and full of love. Just like she'd done before, but he can't, with all the cameras and the weird angle, it would surely be impossible.
So instead his eyes brimmed, reaching over to cup her hand instead, no mind to the IV now trapped between them. “I think I like you too.” he murmured softly, different from his usual pip.
“Like a lot, to the point I really do think it's love.. It's weird, I couldn't accept the fact that I actually do-” he trailed, “—love you to that extent..”
It was anticlimactic. Nothing happened after, no more declarations or much of anything. Ali removed his hand from hers, he didn't know what he expected from admitting something so vulnerable to someone who couldn't even hear him much less respond.
Ali bit his lip to suppress his tears.
“I got first place in the finals. Sasi was so jealous..” he tried, sputtering as he clenched his fists. “But we both know you'll beat me just fine if you were there.”
Silence again. Ali continued talking, about neonimos, about little bits in between that didn't even matter anymore.
“Wake up idiot,” Ali croaked, finally broken as tears trickled down from his eyes to his lap. In his defense, he did try to stop them but it wouldn't stop coming, the stress from Satria, neonimus escaping his grasp again, the looming stares from the other agents, the sad sad eyes from everyone that loves Alicia just as he does.
It pressed down on him, and he couldn’t look back up or bother to move.
Until she did.
And it all happened so fast, one second Ali stood up in utter shock, then joy and then he found himself running away from medbay screeching in happiness. He tugged at Agent Razman, bumped Agent Rajesh, until he reached General Rama and Agent Rahul mid-convo, all repeating two words.
“She’s awake!”
They all followed his pace, reaching the medbay just in time to see Alicia’s rubbing her head slowly while Agent Geetha stood beside her, whispering things Ali can't make out from afar.
General Rama scurried, admitting his worries through overwhelming and continuous chatters. “General.” Agent Geetha called, tired but firm. As he left, Ali took his place with a smug grin.
“Pretty good aren't you?” he teased, shoving his fist in her distance. Alicia had a weird look on her face, confused with his actions. Ali’s fist faltered in the air, and he was going to give her the benefit of the doubt—
“What?”
General Rama had a horrified look on his face, Ali took it as a que to come over there to find out what was so bad. As he opened his mouth to ask, Agent Geetha beat him to it.
“She's stable but..”
Now that no one was by her side, Alicia stared in front of her, to their tiny clutter in that same, odd look. Her eyes were soft but not scared, more like– she was trying to reason with herself in her head. Maybe a sick monologue after surviving the hectics of the hell on earth Satria had caused?
Ali thinks its plausible, but that doesn't sound very Alicia-like—
“Who are you guys?”