Chapter Text
“Go and scout out the place,” Pip mimicked in a high pitched voice as they hid behind the machinery. “Do this, do that. I may as well breathe in the air for them whilst I’m on. They’re taking the mick out of me. It’s not Aegis who risks their neck every single time we go out while they go and hide ‘Keeping watch’.” Pip used their fingers to quote Aegis’s constant excuse.
They quietened as they passed into another area of the factory. The smell of oil was thick in the air. The silence was just as heavy, almost touchable, Pip thought. “Coward. That’s what they are,” they mumbled, peering over a crate. “Too frightened to be a hero but happy enough to pick up the medals I’ve earned.” They stopped and sighed, but they heard movement, they were sure it came from above them.
“If things are that bad then maybe you should leave?” Mal said smoothly behind them. Pip made to turn around but they felt the barrel of a gun press into the back of their neck, pushing their chest against the crate they hid behind. “A word of advice, don’t talk to yourself when you’re trying to be stealthy,” Mal continued.
“What can I say?” Pip winced, “Sometimes I need an expert opinion. Let me guess, you’re out scouting too?”
“I am. Now hands up.”
It was funny to them that Mal was also out looking. Maybe that was just part of the job written in the small print. They just did whatever they were told no questions asked and sometimes if they were really lucky, they’d help their respective partners when they inevitably got in trouble doing a two-man job by themselves.
Pip did as they were asked and brought their hands up to the back of their head. “Be cool, okay? I’m not going to try anything. I value my life a little more than some.”
Mal handcuffed them with one hand. Pip didn’t move a muscle until they were forced to. With their hands secured behind their back, Mal dragged them backwards by their shirt and pressed the gun against them a little harder when the crate was no longer in front of them. “Walk.” Pip was careful not to startle them as they were marched away.
That thick silence returned, like plaster, and Pip could almost feel two eye-shaped holes burning into their back. “Can I ask you something? Sidekick to sidekick?”
Mal raised an eyebrow. They looked around for a threat, thinking it was the lead up to an ambush. “Go on,” Mal said slowly.
“Does Vesper treat you like a skivvy? Telling you to do all the hard work while they sit back and watch?”
“No. We split the work equally. I’m treated as an equal.”
Pip frowned, “well that’s just not fair.”
“Does Aegis?” Pip could hear the amusement in Mal's voice, but something else too. Annoyance?
Pip almost nodded until they remembered the gun. “Yeah, every night. I only stick around because at least I know I’m helping people out. I wouldn’t trust Aegis to empty a bin.”
Mal snickered, “Come to think, without you, we’d have bagged Aegis years ago.”
Despite the gun at their head, Pip didn’t feel so threatened. That was an insurance policy against them. As long as they were calm there didn’t seem to be a danger. “I think I’ll take that as a compliment.”
It wasn’t long until they found Vesper by one of the exits. Mal made them sit down against a crate.
“Nice work,” Vesper complimented, they looked harder into Mal’s face, looking for blood or bruises. “No trouble?”
“Not a thing. Easiest thing I’ve done for a long time.”
“Okay, okay! Don’t rub it in, sheesh,” Pip huffed.
Vesper smiled. “You look a little fed up.”
Pip bit their lip to hold in their rant, but their frustration showed in the redness of their face.
“Oh, they are. And it’s given me an idea for some fun and might even get Aegis out of our hair for good.” Mal answered. Pip looked to them in surprise and swallowed hard.
“I’m listening,” Vesper inclined their head.
Mal looked at Pip as they shuffled uncomfortably on the ground. “I wouldn’t worry- actually, this might be a benefit to you.”