The Protocol Unmasked (Valorant X Male Reader)

Chapter 9: Stranded in the Shadows

Brimstone stood in the heart of the command center, his steely gaze fixed on the towering array of monitors that flickered with an array of mission data. The dim glow of the screens cast a faint halo around his rugged silhouette, emphasizing the gravity of his responsibility as the overseer of the Protocol's critical operations. Despite the low hum of activity within the room, a palpable tension seemed to envelop Brimstone, manifesting as a slight furrow etched across his weathered brow. His brows knitted together as he absorbed the mission updates flashing before his eyes, his jaw set in a resolute line, betraying the unease stirring within him.

As Brimstone's gaze remains fixed on the monitors. The camera discreetly captures the concern etched on his weathered features. Just then, Jett, with her trademark energy, bursts into the command room, a steaming cup of coffee in hand.

Jett's voice is laced with genuine worry as she offers the coffee to Brimstone. "Here, Brim. You look like you could use this. What's wrong?"

Brimstone's sigh is heavy with apprehension as he grapples with the unsettling situation. "It's about Viper and (Y/n)."

Jett's curiosity is piqued as she leans in closer. "Oppa!? What about him?"

Brimstone's response is laced with a mix of concern and frustration. "They are late. It's been 15 minutes since their estimated arrival, and there's no sign of them."

Jett's concern momentarily gives way to amusement as she recalls an anecdote about (Y/n)'s tendency to misinterpret time. "Don't worry too much, Brim. You know how Oppa is. Remember the time when we had that training at 2 p.m., and Oppa showed up at 2 a.m.? He thought 'p.m.' stood for 'Past Midnight,' and there he was, waiting for all of us in the wee hours of the morning." Her giggle breaks the tension in the room.

Brimstone's sigh deepens, his worry still palpable. "If it's only (Y/n), I probably wouldn't be so concerned. But we're talking about Viper here. And Viper, she's never late."

Jett's initial light-heartedness fades as she too begins to comprehend the gravity of the situation. "Now that you mention it, yeah... Viper was never late. So, have you tried to contact them?"

Brimstone's expression remains tense as he displays the conversation thread between him and Viper on the screen, sharing the troubling update with Jett.

"I did. I texted her a message via our secure com link. This is what she said," Brimstone explains, showing Jett the screen containing his recent conversation with Viper.

B: Mission update?
V: Got stuck in the traffic, we'll be late.

Jett hums thoughtfully, taking in the message. "Well, she said she'll be late."

Brimstone's concern deepens as he emphasizes, "That was 30 minutes ago."

Jett's expression shifts to concern, mirroring Brimstone's apprehension. "Oww, that is concerning."

Brimstone's resolve is unwavering as he decides, "I need to get to the bottom of this." Turning to Killjoy, who is diligently working at her console, Brimstone seeks her assistance. "Killjoy, could you give us a live feed on their truck location? I need to see if it's really traffic or not."

Killjoy, with a determined nod, swiftly accesses the live feed, projecting it onto the large screen in the command room for everyone to see.

Jett observes the traffic blocking the truck's path and remarks, "This seems like good proof, right?"

Brimstone's doubt lingers, his intuition telling him that something might be amiss. "I feel like we're missing something here."

Jett, deep in thought, offers a suggestion. "I think I have an idea. May I?" She gestures toward the communication console that Brimstone had used to contact Viper.