Pretty Boy Psycho

PART TWO: FIELD AGENT

Wow our safe place is amazing. I take a turn round our new pad admiring how huge it is compared to our poky cabin, which is grinding everyone down after two years of being confined to it.

“Is everything to your liking Mister West?” My contact, Delphine asks as she watches me sliding a hand along a pine bannister. I found her name in my dad’s little black book where he keeps his most important contacts. When I flashed some gold, she was quick to show me some secluded properties which were repairable and even more importantly maintainable. From there I picked this rickety wooden brute and she whipped up some architects who turned the brute into a handsome sturdy gentleman.

“I love it!” I hand over the last payment. “My friends are going to be really happy here.”

Delphine gives me a rung with four keys attached. “This place is all yours.” She taps her nose. “As is my discretion. It has been a pleasure conducting business with you.”

We leave the house together. Delphine leaves on her horse whereas I fly off on Sunshine. Last week we finished training with Jordan meaning we’re on our own. There is nothing else he can do for us. He’s done more than he gives himself credit for. Giving us secret lessons must have been a strain on him.

I land by our cabin where my three friends are sat in deep discussion. That’s because Geordie wants us to up our game to progress onto C-grade jobs.

“You’re gonna have to quit flying off at all hours whenever you fancy. We need to get serious.”

I’m all smiles. “Happy anniversary!”

“What you talking about?”

“Three years ago today we got chosen as field agents.”

“So?”

I drag those three into a group hug. They try shrugging me away. I am resilient. “So it’s the most special date for us ever right?”

“For you maybe. I’m more focused on our next assignment. They want us to fetch a food supply. The cheek.”

“At least it’s safe,” says Danny.

“No assignment is safe,” warns Charlie. “The pickup point is in a moderately risky area.”

“I bought you a gift.”

“Later. Charlie needs to plan a route.”

“But-”

“We’ve no time for gifts. I want us to fetch logistics’ food supplies in record time.”

“But-”

“Record time. We won’t get close to Yuki dragging our wings with these delivery jobs. Either contribute to this delivery assignment or be quiet.”

I stare at Charlie’s map of England, at the spot where our house is located. Charlie traces a finger down to Dover as though following an invisible path. Our house is in the countryside somewhere in Surrey. Took me ages to figure out the route from the air. It’s only a ten minute flight from HQ which is real ideal for us.

“Danny do you want to see your gift?” I say with my eyes still locked on the map.

“Later yeah. We’ve work to do mate.”

I sway from side to side. “Work. Work. Work. It’s just a silly old pick up. The food will be well hidden; won’t be wandering anywhere. Our anniversary is way more important.”

“I’m taking every job seriously from here on.”

“Geordie, I think this job’s a set up. I’m sure Thunders have a camp where these co-ordinates lead,” says Charlie.

“We’ve not been given a set up for ages. Why today?”

“It’s obvious. Team Cain have been sent overseas. They were protecting us from logistics, now they’ve gone no one with influence is looking out for us. What do you want to do?”

“You sure these co-ordinates lead to a Thunder camp?”

“The more I think about it the more certain I get.”

“A game. Right Charlie you take those co-ordinates directly to Courtney. Tell her clerical must have made an error ’cause these co-ordinates lead directly to Thunders. See what she says. Report back to me.”

“Then I can show you-”

“-What a slice of cake?” snorts Geordie.

“It’s not your birthday silly.”

“Let him show us this gift,” says Danny. “It’ll probably only take a few seconds.”

Charlie rolls up his map, gets hold of our co-ordinates, and heads to Courtney’s office. What a scary task visiting her.

“Show us this gift then,” says Geordie.

“I can’t now Charlie’s gone. It’s our anniversary, we all have to be here.” I give a sigh. “I don’t like it when you’re talking business. You get way too serious.”

“Our lives are serious. How you can switch off from the reality of our situation concerns me. Everything’s fun and happy with you until something bad happens then you panic, get serious, then fall back into silly all over again.”

“Someone has to keep things upbeat.”

“Not when we’re making plans. Doing jobs.”

“You want me to contain myself and be quiet till a job’s over. ’Kay.”

“No, I want you to...”

I press a finger against my lips. “Sssh!”

“Don’t shush me. You’re still at it being silly.”

“Quiet time Geordie. We have to be super focused and not make a sound unless we have ideas of great importance to contribute to our assignment.”

“I mean be more -”

“-Sssh! That is not constructive for the assignment. Ssshsssh.”

Geordie cracks. Bursts into laughter, which is exactly the reaction I was after. Laughing is good for the soul. I have to keep dragging my Geordie back from the grey. Being a field agent can really mess with a person’s true personality. His laughing makes me giggle.

“I don’t know why you two are laughing.” Charlie returns to us holding a new note with a fresh assignment scribbled onto it. “I told Courtney our co-ordinates led straight to a Thunder camp. She said this was correct. When I asked, how could there be a food supply there, she told me the assignments briefing had been mixed up rather than the co-ordinates. Someone switched the briefing on purpose.”

“What’s the real briefing?” asks Geordie.

“Make those Thunders move away from Dover.”

“Awesome. B-grade job already.”

“This job is not awesome. We have not worked towards this grade. We lack experience. They clearly want us dead. If it’s so awesome you tell me how we get twenty Thunders to move away from Dover?”

Doesn’t sound as though we’ll be going home anytime soon.

“I’m waiting.”

“Chunk could scare them off.”

“Twenty Thunders? Be realistic.”

All I want to do is show my friends I found us a place to live. Taking on twenty Thunders does sound like an impossibility. Charlie’s right we’ll end up killed. Unless of course the Thunders don’t see what we’re up to. “Let’s just burn their camp down quick then I can show you your gift.”

Geordie gives me his smirk. “Burn it down. You’re onto something there Al lad. What do you think Charlie boy?”

Charlie scowls at the name. “If the tents are in close proximity of each other burning them down could work. We need to see the layout before we make any decisions.”

“In any case Al fetch your lighter; we’ll probably need it.”

“We should take our crate table too and the bunk for wood to start a blaze,” I say.

“Definitely not. That’s the only furniture we own,” says Charlie.

Ooh I really want to burn the crate. Never mind carrying it to Dover would be a hassle for one of our griffons anyway. I grab my lighter. By the time I’ve got it everyone else has mounted up, waiting to leave, nope they’re leaving. Even Sunshine’s left. “Hey, aren’t you forgetting someone?” I call. “Without my lighter you won’t have fire.”

Sunshine disappears into thick grey cloud, going super fast without a rider. Shhhhooowwwooo his dive is insane. He’s going so fast looks as though he won’t pull up in time. His talons skim the earth, as I grab hold, jumping on while he’s still in flight. Up. Up. Up. Up. We rush by Hotaru, skimming his feathers, while we’re still in the barrier.

“Careful,” Charlie calls after us.

“Sorry Hotaru.” Ot-oh. “Move it Chunk!” Chunk’s going nowhere in fact he’s getting more in our way on purpose. It’s going to feel like a long flight to Dover.

The grey cliffs of Dover! Looks as though a giant sat on them as they are flat and crumbling. They don’t look much like cliffs. Did they ever? I’m not even sure I’ve seen a real cliff before. Geordie and Danny stare out at murky ocean. Oh yeah North Lundune side lads. This must be their first viewing of the ocean.

Charlie’s more interested in the cliffs. “The clouds were further away from those cliffs when I was here.”

“When were you last in Dover?” I ask.

“Nine years ago, when the ship dropped our family off from America.”

“That crossing must have took forevers.”

“Several months.”

I crane my head back to get a proper look at the top of the cliffs. “A lot can change in almost a decade hey?”

“This change scares me. The clouds are getting closer to the ground like what was happening in America. Nowhere to hide.” Suddenly Charlie’s attention snaps away from the cliffs. “Geordie, don’t wander off. There’s a Thunder camp on the other side of these cliffs.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah doesn’t fill me with confidence. We need to do this job quickly with precision. Geordie.” Charlie takes some breaths as though counting to ten. “Not listening to me, is he?”

Danny hangs back from venturing closer to the ocean and comes over to us. “Didn’t take in a syllable. It’s best to let him kill his curiosity.”

“His curiosity will get us killed. Al not you too.”

I stand with Geordie on the remnants of a pier. Look down at waves rippling round pebbles and driftwood.

“Are we on the edge of the world?”

“Nope just the edge of England. You can take a ferry to France or big boat to America, Japan, or Aussieland.”

“Have you ever been on the ocean?”

“Once. My dad was away on business then my mum got this big job of her own in France. She had no option but to take me along; that got Dad narked.”

“Job with who?”

I shrug. “No idea. I was only little. About five.”

“And you remember the trip?”

“The scary parts.” I close my eyes, lean forwards. So far forward Geordie grabs my jacket to pull me back. “There was a body in the water.” Urrrh flashback. I close my eyes tighter trying to remember. “The captain refused to stop the ferry to begin with. My mum made him turn around. Was too little too late. The body was gone. I remember... a streak of blue in the barrier. No one believed me. I didn’t know what it was. I do now.”

“What?”

I open my eyes. Look out to sea. “A blue griffon. Chillchill saving Cain.”

“Cain’s backstory woo.” Geordie pushes me along the pier towards land. “We’ve our first proper job to get done. If we’re successful, Court has to start taking us seriously. We might even get a decent commission.”

“Their camp is just around the cliffs,” says Charlie.

“I know you’re on repeat. Let’s go take a look.”

“Just like that?”

“We need to see what their set up is Charlie boy, to get our fire started. We should burn down all their camps and houses like they did to Cloud High.”

“We need to be subtle. You did tell Chunk to keep out of sight didn’t you?”

“Of course I did. Wherever he will or not is down to him.”

We manage to fall silent as we get to the foot of the cliffs. We stealth our way round. Treading carefully over shingle. Waves creep towards my toes. A salty breeze blows my hair. My lips grow dry. This stretch of manky beach is longer than it looks. The salty breeze blows tendrils of smoke off course, meaning they already have a controlled fire. Round the next bend will be their camp. Geordie holds up a hand to halt us, then motions at us to get down, as he and Charlie have a look at what we’ve got to work against. I fumble with my lighter inside my jacket pocket. In half a minute Charlie and Geordie crouch with me and Danny.

Charlie unrolls a map he brought along with him. Takes a pencil from behind his ear. Sketches a quick plan onto the back of his map. “There are approximately fifteen tents. Four are located in the centre along with a gazebo. Al you’re to light up those tents then get out of there back here. Amidst the confusion us three will destroy what we can.”

“And keep an eye on you throughout. Make sure you gotta safe path,” adds Geordie. “Kill anyone who gets in your way.”

I peer at the plan. “I need to get there?” I poke the middle triangle tents.

“Yeah. I’ll get you there.” Geordie stands and heads towards the camp. I go with him. Danny branches off to the left while Charlie goes right.

“This plan isn’t very detailed,” I whisper as Geordie pulls up the hood on his cloak. I copy his action.

“Best to keep plans simple. Stay close behind me until I get you to the middle tents then you light them up and run.” Out comes Geordie’s sabre. He’s off fast.

What we’re doing is way dangerous. I don’t know if I can follow. I mean a Thunder could waltz over to us at any time. We’re sneaking into their camp. The quicker I go in the sooner I can go home and be normal for a few hours. I duck behind a tent as two Thunders on patrol march by. We both hold our breath, scared we’ll be seen. Counter attack strikes. A yell comes from Charlie. The Thunders on patrol sprint over to him. Practically the whole residents of the camp charge over there.

An opening. I run right by Geordie to the middle of camp. No one notices me. I whip out my lighter.

Click. Click. Click.

Where’s the whoosh? I shake the lighter. It’s fresh outta fluid. Ot-oh. Not happening. I can’t cause confusion without fire.

Charlie must have gotten himself into trouble because Danny runs by, slashing at ropes holding up tents, on his way. Has failed to notice a Thunder going after him. Geordie has little choice but to stop covering me to chase after Danny and his pursuer.

Click. Click. Click.

“Come on.” One little flame would do. Just one.

Danny swerves, coming back round to strike down new tents, as Geordie puts his sabre into the back of the pursuing Thunder. Where’s Charlie? Oh, there he is running over to join those two; his sword glistening with blood. When he reaches them Geordie leaves. Runs, looking as though he’s going someplace important.

Too many Thunders are advancing. I leave my post of setting these tents on fire, to cover Danny and Charlie. Can’t get to where I want to stand because Thunders are in my way trying to kill my friends. Swish. Poke. A switchblade jabs though the back of a neck. I pull out while swishing with its twin. Hit an arm.

Geordie’s coming; brandishing a beam of flaming wood. Ooo he must have gotten that from their controlled fire. A Thunder with a spear aims to throw it at him. No one impales my best friend. I skid over there, smacking into the spear thrower’s shoulder, put him off balance. We both tumble over. The spear bounces into the gazebo. The gazebo bursts into flame thanks to Geordie lighting it up. The spear thrower pushes at my chest trying to get me off him. An easy task. I’m shoved onto my back. Squelch, Danny’s katana goes through spear thrower’s back. I crawl from underneath an almost corpse.

“Get outta here,” yells Geordie.

All the tents I was supposed to light up are blazing with more included. Operation get rid of pop up camp in Dover is a success. Danny waits till I’m on my feet, then he’s running after Charlie, towards the shingle. I make it to the edge of camp when Chunk crashes down and tears through the tents, Danny cut down, trying to completely flatten them.

“Chunk, we’re leaving,” calls Geordie as Thunders turn around to throw sharp objects at the night black griffon with velvet blue eyes. “I said leaving.”

Swipe, Chunk swats away pointy objects then carries on clawing at tents.

“You know he delights in breaking things. This is the perfect mission for him,” I say.

“Not another word from you. Chunk now!”

One last defiant slash and Chunk bounds over to Geordie. Spits a wooden peg out at him then takes to gliding over the ocean so low he’s skimming the water with his talons.

I think those Thunders are feeling threatened by Chunk because they make no move to follow us.

“What the hell happened Al?” demands Geordie when we’re off the shingle, away from the cliffs.

I hold out my lighter. “There was no fluid left. Empty.”

“Empty! You didn’t think to check there was some left before we set off?”

I shake my head.

“You’re such a ditz. Is everyone in one piece?” Seeing no major injuries have occurred Geordie grumbles. “That was a shambles. Al you epic failed. Danny you got complacent; I had to leave my area to intervene on your behalf. And what the hell were you yelling at Charlie?”

“There was a griffon head mounted on a pole.”

“At least the job got done,” I say.

“Not a word.”

“We can leave, and I can show-”

“-Zip it.”

He’s mad at me. I’m not surprised. Sleuthing about doing these kinds of jobs doesn’t come easy to me. “Sorry I messed up. Perhaps our anniversary gift will cheer you up.”

“No Al. A small gesture of cake, or guitar, or picture, or summat, ain’t gonna distract me from your stupidity.”

Sunshine wanders over to Geordie. Flops his head onto his shoulder while purring.

“Acting cute won’t work. Let’s return to HQ and find summat to eat.”

I stocked our cupboards at home. No one seems in the mood to go someplace new with me. Tough for them. We’re going. “If you want me to shut up you’ll come look at your anniversary present ’cause I worked hard to get it right.”

“Fine just don’t talk to me on the way there.”

“I don’t know the way from here. You’ll have to show me to HQ and I’ll take us from there.” I wince as I get the glare.

Finally, almost there. So excited to get home. Sunshine lands just short of several hills which keep our house hidden real safe. You wouldn’t be able to find our location unless you were already lost.

“Why’ve you brought us to the middle of nowhere?” sighs Charlie.

“It’s a picnic isn’t it?” says Danny.

I tilt my head back seeing how we’re doing for light. Have a couple of hours left yet. Awesome. “You’ll see in a minute.” I take them over to the hills. Keep walking until we’re at the house. Pheew the, Welcome Home, banner hasn’t fallen down.

“Why’ve you brought us to someone’s house?” asks Geordie.

“Not just someone’s house our house silly. Haven’t you read the banner?”

“Welcome home. Are you having a joke Al?” says Charlie as he stares at the big wooden house nestled between two hills.

“Nope, no joke. We’re a family. A family needs a house. That cabin is way too small and I can’t slum it in a tent.” I give my hair a flick.

“But getting a house to be this liveable would take months, longer.”

“Eighteen months exactly. My dad’s got loads of contacts. This lady, Delphine, got me new wood imported, rounded up some architects, to put this old house safely back together. She’s the only one who knows the house was repaired for Corey West and wouldn’t blab. It’s all legit and totes safe.” I hold a key out to Charlie. “Go have a look round. We’re low on furniture but I ran out of cash and daren’t take any more from my parents’ vault.”

“This is where you kept disappearing to,” says Danny.

I give him a key too. “To visit Delphine to check on the build, yes. Go look.” I push Danny and Charlie towards steps leading onto the veranda then turn to Geordie who’s stood staring at our house transfixed. “Do you want to see inside?”

He shakes his head. “Our house to live in?”

“Our safe house for when we’re not on jobs. Seen as I could access the funds thought it would be a waste of our time saving up commission for a place.”

“You’re willing to live here with me?”

“You’re my brother. I want to live with you.” I hold out a key to Geordie. As he takes it he pulls me into an embrace.

“Thanks. I’ve never really had a proper home before. Jim’s apartment never felt safe. Only privileged people get decent houses to live in.”

“You are privileged because I’m a firm believer in sharing the wealth. It’s not all good there is a problem with the house,” I say on showing Geordie inside. “There’s no running water system. I’m not sure where our nearest water source is. Might even be the well at headquarters.”

“No worries,” breathes Geordie as he stares wide eyed into the spacious lounge at the fireplace.

“Sorry, the only furnished room is the kitchen.”

“This is awesome. Even better than staying in a dorm at headquarters. As long as we can find stuff to burn we won’t be cold through winter. You’re well smart putting all this together on the quiet. The location and everything.”

We move into the kitchen where Danny is prodding at the stove while Charlie is marvelling at half full cupboards.

“I can cook us a happy anniversary dinner,” I say.

“No you won’t,” says Charlie. “I’ll make dinner. Geordie’s going to pick up our gear from the cabin, while Danny reports our mission done to Clover and picks up a couple of tents.”

“Tents why?” asks Geordie.

“No one else can know we’re living in a house or logistics will want to know how we could afford this, meaning Al’s alibi will be compromised. To cover ourselves we tell Courtney we’re fed up of the cabin and would prefer a tent.”

“Get ya. We’ll have to take it in turns visiting HQ in the morning to see if there’s any jobs for us.”

“As long as logistics believe we’re camping we’re safe. We can use our commission for food and other essentials. No need to scrimp around saving for accommodation,” says Charlie.

“Thanks Al mate.” Danny pats my shoulder on his way out.

“Living like this we’re gonna surpass Team Cain sooner than I thought. Gotta real edge on the other Cloudys.” Geordie gives me his smirk on leaving with Danny.

“Want me to do anything Charlie?”

“Whatever you like.”

I sit at the table. Watch Charlie chopping vegetables, wondering what he is going to do with them. We’ve no water. I hope Geordie figures to fetch some. When done prepping food Charlie joins me at the table. We watch each other for a couple of minutes then laugh at the awkwardness. I cross my eyes so I’m staring at the tip of my nose. “We have to make Geordie feel much wanted. He’s only really had his alcoholic dad as family before, so this house will probably feel strange to him.”

“He’s managed with the cabin.”

“That was shabby. Big rooms make him feel out of place. I don’t think he feels he deserves a nice place to live because of where he came from. He’s wild, always will be, but has gradually gotten less rowdy. Have you noticed?”

“He’s as rowdy as he’s always been. It’s you. You have the ability to talk him down. Don’t think I haven’t noticed.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” In response I get Charlie’s slanted smile. Why do I feel he knows something about my own self I am ignorant of? “Why won’t you give me a proper answer?”

“All I said was you have the ability to talk him down. What are you reading into that sentence?”

“Don’t get philosophical with me. You’ll make my brain hurt.”

“Philosophical, that’s a big word for you Al lad.” Geordie enters the kitchen holding a bucket of water.

“Charlie’s fault. He’s being smart again. Tell him to stop.”

“No being smart round the dinner table,” snickers Geordie as he takes a seat next to me.

“Court, was curious to know where we’d be pitching our tent,” says Danny as he joins us at the table. “I shrugged at her.”

“Nosey cow. It’s none of her business.” Geordie leans across the table and flicks Charlie on the nose.

“Fu- that hurt.”

I giggle. “Ooo you nearly said a swear.”

Charlie darts his eyes between me and Geordie. “I’m scared. You two are going to gang up on me, like back in Cloud High.”

“Nothing’s changed,” puts in Danny.

“It’s changed. A house, home, changes everything, because we’ve got a place to be normal. Their normal is ganging up on me.”

Me and Geordie burst into laughter at the same time. It’s totes true. We keep up laughing as Charlie boils some water and cooks up his prepped veggies along with whatever else he’s putting in the pot. Sooo hungry. Living off Jordan’s sandwiches got well old.

“Are you going to cook for us every night?” I ask an hour later when Charlie places a bowl of soup in front of me.

“Definitely not.”

“That’s too bad. Geordie will end up poisoning himself.”