Nepenthe

They were back to their facility’s breakroom in minutes. It was a large complex, not often comforting in its long, stretching hallways and harshly-colored lights- but for Raven, at least, it was home. In the lounge, the comrades took their stay for what it was. They knew they wouldn’t be there for long.

“That guard broke too easy.”

Fox took a good look at his companion of about a year. He was shorter than him- about his age, hardly an adult- but Raven had this look in his eyes like nobody else he’d ever seen.

“Everyone breaks easy around you. I still remember when you just stared at that one Military Police jobber until he went crazy.”

Raven snickered. He was, at least, capable of laughter. And even with how seriously he treated his work- not to mention how flippantly he took his own well-being- Fox always thought the boy had an air of innocence to him.

“He was fine after a glass of water.”

“That wasn’t the one you waterboarded too, was it?”

“So a few glasses of water. Hey, he was a sicko, alright?”

…Innocent as a hired gun could be, at least. Didn’t make him any worse of a friend to him. If anything, he was a better partner for it, at least.

After a breif glance at the floor, Fox thought it time to ask him again, even if it’d be a futile effort.

“Hey… you’ve been going on what seems like every mission that goes up for grabs these days. I get you’re okay with… putting yourself at risk, but- don’t you think you could… go for a break anytime soon?”

Raven hardly moved in his chair. He already knew how he was going to respond to his partner’s incessant remarks, but the intercom cut him off before he even had time to.

“Agent Raven to Director’s Office. I repeat, Agent Raven to Director’s Office.”

“I have to go.”

Fox scoffed like he cared less than he did.

“Suit yourself then. It’ll be a lonely funeral the day you wind up dead in the field, you know that?”

“I won’t.”

The hatchling marched off.

In the perpetual darkness of his office, lit only by the ambient red of his computer systems, the Director closed the interrogation footage on his monitor after an intensive second and third watch.

“If I may, sir…” The AI spoke freely from her home in the base’s internal hardware. “I believe this might not be the best team for the job. Might I suggest Viper and Bones instead?”

“The system will determine what’s best, Q. The system will determine the order.”

He brought up the participants’ files.

“Jacob Adkins. Raven.”

The boy in front of him had made a stop on his way here to pick up a small piece of equipment.

“You may remove your mask.”

Raven obliged, hesitantly showing the tightened, anxious face he’d tried to hide at the Director’s order.

“It’s come to my understanding that Fox had to come to your aid once again.”

“I- did exactly what you asked of me. And- I swear, I was almost perfect… just… one more chance, and-“

“You will be where you belong. And there will be no more chances.” The infuriated boss tapped his fingers on the desk. “I expect you to be ready, Raven. If the path changes, you must adapt.”

The child stood frozen like a log.

“It’s the only way you will survive.”

“-You will see me succeed.” He eagerly claimed, frightened though he was.

No praise came to the boy in return.

“I hope to see you execute your mission.” His cold voice decreed.

“I’m not doing this. It’s suicide.” Even though they were already on their way to the armory, Fox was vehement in his opposition to the campaign. He only continued walking there to keep up with Raven, who was dead set on crushing the objective for good.

“And I’m ready to do it with or without you.” The operative firmly set his hand on the storage room ID reader.

“You’re always doing this- you keep doing this- Jake, if you-“

Raven shot him a glance.

“Fine. Have fun dying alone, then.” Fox didn’t follow him into the room of guns and gadgets, but it didn’t stop him from hearing the voice of Q from inside.

“To go against the mission, Fox, is to go against the Director himself. I urge you to consider the long-term consequences of your actions before you make a decision.”

Fox stared down at his lucky converse.

“Present one good reason why we can’t do the mission.”

He knew that whatever he said to his partner, it wouldn’t matter.

Raven nodded as expected.

“Let’s get it done.”