Work Text:
Jin was right. Border wanted Yuuma's Black Trigger because they didn't like the idea of Tamakoma having two, but you had seen how precious the Black Trigger was to Yuuma, and a part of you didn't want them to be separated. You knew the pain of being forcibly parted from something so dear, and it was something you refused to see again. Besides, from the exchange you've had with Yuuma, the Neighbour was a nice kid looking for his father, not the threat Border kept pushing him to be.
Exhaling, you follow the other A rank agents, wrestling with yourself. You are an agent of Border, you pledged yourself to the organisation but you know this mission you've been sent on is wrong. When the time comes, who will your crosshair land on?
"Are you feeling alright, L/N?" Kunichika's voice sounds over the comms.
"I'm fine." You reply quietly. "Just nervous about facing Jin."
"Don't worry. Tachikawa-san will make sure you won't get hurt because he's just that subtle about his feelings for you." Izumi snickers.
"At least I have a girl." Tachikawa's remark promptly shuts Izumi up, and you giggle to yourself. "But the idiot's right. You don't have to worry about Jin, I'll take care of him."
"He has Fujin." You frown, activating Bagworm as you split off from the group to take up a sniping position.
"I have two Kogetsus."
"Very reassuring."
Taking point, you set up, an Egret resting in your hands. Peering through the scope, you spot Jin and Arashiyama squad and let your crosshair rest on Jin.
"In position." You report. "I see Jin and Arashiyama squad with the exception of Satori."
"Alright, stick to the plan, and remember our objective is to capture the Black Trigger." Kunichika says.
Waiting quietly on your chosen rooftop, you observe the situation while keeping an eye out for Satori. Jin separates from Arashiyama squad and you move to follow him, still unable to decide who to side with. The others should be fine against Arashiyama squad, it's the fight with Jin that you're worried about. To turn against Border would be to fight against your own squad and especially your own boyfriend, but you also want to protect Yuuma. Fortunately, you don't have to do anything yet. Jin isn't in a favourable spot to snipe, so you still have some time to make up your mind.
Yuuma is just a kid who doesn't understand the politics he's been thrust into.
Border wants to maintain the power balance and remove any potential Neighbour threats before they harm civilians.
Yuuma wants to find his father.
Border wants to protect Mikado City.
Yuuma wants to keep what's precious to him.
Then Kodera and Narasaka begin to shoot as Tachikawa and Kazama move in. Toma leaves to join the fight against Arashimaya squad, saying something about his sniper pride and you take aim with the Egret. Training takes over and you calmly aim down your sight, firing when your target moves into your crosshair. taking everyone by surprise. Your bullet pierces through Utagawa's shoulder, giving Jin the opening he needs to slash with Fujin.
"L/N?" Confusion fills your earpiece.
"Border is wrong in this case. I'm siding with Jin." You reply before ripping the earpiece out, murmuring a quiet apology to your squad. You get up and move, using Grasshopper to speed up your repositioning. You know the location of the two snipers, but they would have moved already. Neither of them would risk letting a potential enemy know their positions.
Activating Bagworm once more, you wonder if you should switch to a Kogetsu for a surprise attack but after seeing Fujin's true power when Jin decapitates Kikuchihara, you decide to remain as a sniper. Jin has close combat covered at a much higher level that you, the least you could do without getting in his way is remove the sniper threat.
Kazama and Utagawa slip into stealth mode as Tachikawa fully engages with Jin, causing you to scowl. Two stealth mode Attackers were a threat, and now you had four people to watch out for. Two snipers, two Attackers. Jin had his hands pretty full with Tachikawa refusing to let him breathe, so you were on your own.
Gaze flicking around to check for threats, you cautiously move to a rooftop that oversees an empty garage. On the way, you fire in the direction of the other sniper shots, hoping to hit someone at best, and at worst force them to move. Jin seems to notice your movements and moves towards the empty garage, luring Tachikawa in.
He is now perfectly in your line of sight.
Your finger curls around the trigger as you exhale slowly, ready to shoot but then your heart skips a beat when you see your boyfriend's signature smirk and you remember that your target is the one you love. Your hand shakes and your shot goes wide.
Shit.
Your instincts barely save your skin when a sniper shot is fired at your position, grazing your arm. Looks like they've decided to take you out too. Only a quick Grasshopper placement moves you out of the way of the shot and you look in the direction from where the shot came from, firing a shot of your own while midair. A Bailout occurs from where your shot connected and you grin.
One less sniper. Jin should have less pressure now.
Green light flashes in the empty garage at the same time and you see Tachikawa's Trion body leaking copious amounts of Trion. You crouch on your new rooftop, taking aim just as Kazama and Utagawa emerge from stealth mode. You pull the trigger, hitting Kazama in the side as he clashes with Jin. Then another figure appears in your crosshair. A heavily injured Tachikawa. Even with a broken Kogetsu, he was still going to attack and kill Jin.
Your crosshair moves before you know it and your finger pulls the trigger, the drive to protect Jin so that Yuuma will continue to be safe taking over. Your bullet connects with its target just as a green slash slices through the air. Fujin slices off Kazama's leg and Tachikawa's arm and your bullet pierces a hole straight through Tachikawa's Trion supply system.
Jin smirks, Fujin humming in his hand before glancing up at where you are. Your hands are shaking as you watch Tachikawa Bailout alongside Kazama, heart hammering in your chest. Giving you a thumbs up, Jin calmly makes his exit and you collapse onto the roof, deactivating Egret.
Will Tachikawa be mad at you? Will he kick you out of his squad? Where will you go if he does? Tamakoma does have an open slot, maybe they will take you in. You did help Jin out after all. Arashiyama Squad is full, you can't join them. Other squads may not want you since you did betray your own squad.
Letting out a groan, you roll over onto your front before pushing yourself up. You should at least go back to HQ and get the official verdict.
Anxiously, you knock on the door before entering the operation room, unsure of what to say. You open your mouth, searching for a word to start things off but then Izumi comes over, ruffling your hair with a huge grin on his face.
"A midair snipe after using Grasshopper! Only our sniper could pull that off!"
"Welcome back!" Kunichika beams. "Good work out there!"
"I sided with Jin and shot Kei." You mutter. "Am I not kicked out of the squad for turning against you all?"
"Kicked out? How else will we carry all of Yuiga's dead weight?" Izumi snorts. "Although Tachikawa-san is pouting in the back so you might want to do something about that."
Kunichika gestures to where Tachikawa is and shrugs, looking rather apologetic before pushing Yuiga away, preventing him from saying anything. Izumi follows her, hauling Yuiga by the collar so that you and Tachikawa have some privacy. You smile softly, watching the trio leave the room and feel a little better. Maybe you won't be kicked out, but there's still the captain left to confront.
"Um…hi." Your throat tightens as anxiety takes over once more. You did shoot him, a direct hit to his Trion supply system which is a kill, despite being his girlfriend.
Silence.
"I'm…sorry. I couldn't let Jin get hurt so I just shot the biggest threat which was you at the time. I didn't think. I understand if you want to kick me out of the squad for siding against you, and completely get it if you want to break —"
"I can't believe my girlfriend shot me."
"What?"
"My own girlfriend shot me." Tachikawa flops onto the couch, pouting. His arms are folded across his chest, and he's giving you the saddest look he can possibly muster.
"I'm sorry." You shuffle anxiously.
"She's too good of a sniper to let go of, taking advantage of my distracted attention and critical condition to pull off a snipe she knew she would hit." Tachikawa suddenly wraps his arms around you, pulling you on top of him. "Unfair."
He buries his face into your hair, nuzzling you.
"You're…not going to kick me out?"
"Why would I?"
"You'll have to explain to HQ why your sniper turned against you."
"Nobody saw that."
"I killed Kodera."
"And me. Therefore, none of it happened."
"That doesn't make sense."
"It does. I didn't die, therefore Kodera didn't either."
"But —"
"Stop worrying and let Jin handle. it."
Jin? Since when did Tachikawa entrust things to Jin?
Tachikawa lets out a hum of contentment, pressing a kiss to your temple. "Jin said he'd ensure you don't get into any trouble, so you'll be fine."
"Kei…"
"The others have left, right?" He plays with your hair, messing it up even more than Izumi has.
"Yeah, they left."
"Good. Some privacy at last." He happily cuddles you. "You cannot be replaced, understand? No one else can cover me as well as you can."
"Izumi can also shoot."
"Shoot? He blows everything up. That's not called shooting." Tachikawa snorts. "I don't have to worry about your bullets hitting me, the bullet idiot will blow me up along with the enemy."
You can't help but laugh, and Tachikawa smiles, giving your cheek a poke.
"I like that you're not afraid to stand up for what you believe in."
"Even if it means we're on opposite sides?"
"You know I'll always side with you. Unless you side with Jin. Then I'll end Jin and take your side."
"Sure you will." Your thumb brushes over his cheek. "If you can end Jin."
"I will. Especially for you." He gives you a peck on the lips. "Because you're mine, and it's irritating when I see you stand next to him."
"You're mine too." You press a proper kiss to his lips. "Want to spar when the others get back?"
"Anything for you, little mochi."