Chapter Text
1
Is too “nice” to be true.
If it weren’t for the quick shout and tackling to the ground, Curt would probably be on the receiving end of the surprise bullet spray instead of the wall of crates his partner crashed them behind. The thought is mildly disturbing.
“Are you alright, love?” Owen asks, keeping one hand on his gun and one hand on Curt’s shoulder, a bit bruised from the sudden impact. His face is cool and professional, his always perfect hair is only slightly ruffled up, his eyes are twinkling bright hazel, and they just survived their first near-death experience.
Curt offers a shaky grin. “I’ll live.” He welcomes the warmth of his partner’s hand, shivering only a slight bit in the cold Moscow air seeping through the factory they were infiltrating. “You didn’t have to do that, you know,” he adds, collecting his gun scattered on the ground. “I could’ve made it.” It’s a lie, they both know, so it’s harmless to tell.
Owen scoffs and rolls his eyes. “I trust your competence, Mega. I just happen to trust my own a little more.”
“Jerk.” Curt scans the place looking for a way out.
“Moron.” Owen mirrors him on the other side.
“Showoff.” The sources of the bullets show themselves and start spreading out.
“Hero complex.” More of the nefarious foes are closing in, it looks serious.
“HEY-”
Owen tugs Curt’s hand and they run out of the building with a few bullets left to spare.
Conveniently, the timer on the bombs they implanted stops ticking.
“We did it,” Curt pants, staring back at the fresh pile of rubble burning before them. “We did it.”
“We did it,” Owen repeats, slumping onto the colder ground. “Now to wait for our agencies to yell at us and ship us elsewhere.”
“Ah, cheer up, old pal.”
They sit beside each other comfortably, neither one having anywhere else they particularly want to go. In a few moments the quiet will all be gone and another mission will take precedence but right now, right now is their moment.
“I could’ve died,” Curt muses, mind scanning the last five hours. “You were on the opposite side of the building. You really didn’t have to do that for me, Owe. But you did.” He looks across at his partner, just as suddenly quiet and observing as he is now. “Why?”
Owen’s eyes dim into a soft glow. “I’m not gonna stand and watch my partner fall, you know that. If you have to jump into something stupid, the least I can do is follow.”
“Huh.” Curt responds softly. “Thanks.”
“Of course love.” A hint of amusement spreads on Owen’s face. “Besides, someone has to keep you from making a fool out of yourself half the time.”
“That’s so nice of you, so nice.”
They smile at each other a little longer than necessary, but neither comment on it as the cars start coming to take them in. Instead they pat each other’s shoulder and stand up.
“Why only half the time?”
“Because. The other half is simply too amusing to try to stop.”
“Owen--”
The twinkle steals back into those hazel eyes. “I’m your friend, how could I otherwise?”
They laugh, and a ruined building smolders in their wake.