A D Tier's Breaking Point

Chapter 20

Alex woke slowly, in time with the sun shining through the bedroom curtains, casting a gentle warmth he took a moment to bask in. A habit he had picked up from being shapeshifted into a cat, true, but it felt good no matter what form he was in. And with the way his past 24 hours had gone, he more than deserved some silly little comforts. He twisted and stretched, scrubbing a hand across his face to try and shake off the last of his dreams. Which was when he noticed something, a small niggle in the back of his mind that was quickly growing. He did a quick physical scan of his body, and everything was right and in check. His room was exactly how he remembered. Frowning, he rolled over to check on...an empty bed.

Alex was on his feet and halfway down the stairs before the duvet had landed back on the bed, skidding to a stop by the kitchen when he heard the dull thud of a frying pan on the stove. 'Morgan?'

Janice looked up, still in pyjamas and a satin dressing gown, holding the frying pan. 'Afraid not dear,' she whispered, and then gestured to the table.

Alex stepped in, his panic turning to confusion when he saw a sleeping Joey curled up on the table, with a hastily folded letter and a small device next to his head. Alex summoned the letter to his hand, leaving the button and the sleeping henchman as Janice continued to prepare for breakfast.

Morning,

So I was going to wait until you woke up, but I remembered that I still needed to debrief Team B after yesterday, and take stock of the new loot, and I really need to check the damage on Monday (thanks for that by the way).

I got Joey to bring a spare network button, if you want to check out my new lair. (Oh yeah, I have an actual lair now. It's pretty cool.) It's keyed into the right coordinates so just press the button when you're ready.

Okay, catch you later,

Morgan

'Are you kidding me?' Alex read through the letter again, then at his mum. 'They just up and left?'

Janice nodded, 'I told you. They try to keep busy. Can you grab the bacon for me?' Alex started for a moment, then went to the fridge as Janice continued, 'You remember how whenever they did a heist they would insist on going over the debrief themselves? It's that, but with bigger crimes comes bigger payout-'

'And higher risks,' Alex finished, passing over the bacon. Janice nodded, and Alex sighed, 'Have they ever heard of a holiday?'

Janice chuckled, 'Maybe you can convince them to take one.'

'Good luck with that,' a sleepy voice murmured. Alex turned to see Joey picking himself up off the table, yawning and rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. 'Morning Boss. Morgan left a letter for you.'

'I've read it,' Alex frowned, 'Why are you calling me Boss? You've been working for Morgan for a year now.'

Joey shrugged, 'Morgan's Morgan. Feels weird to call them Boss or Ser or whatever the others do.' He yawned again and went to stand, 'Hope you don't mind me crashing here. Sleep is not a thing the lair does when Morgan's on a mission.'

'Not at all. Would you like to stay for breakfast?' Janice asked.

Joey immediately sat back down again. 'I'd love to.'

Alex reached for the spatula, 'Wait I said I'd cook breakfast.'

Janice winked at Alex, 'I won't tell your dad if you won't. I'll just whip up something simple, but would one of you mind taking Morgan a plate?'

Joey smirked, 'Is that two square meals within 24 hours for Morgan? That has got to be a record.'

Alex groaned, 'Please don't tell me they're living on cup noodles again.'