TWO FACED

14 - THE WORRIES

      as the wongs returned to their headquarters, a palpable tension hung in the air, thick with unspoken questions and concerns. xaver, his demeanor unreadable, retreated to his office without a word, leaving gray, rhemi, and alex to exchange worried glances in his absence.

      "he seems... off," gray remarked, his brow furrowed with concern as he paced the length of the room. "do you think he's okay?"

      rhemi's expression mirrored gray's worry, his eyes dark with apprehension. "i'm not sure," he admitted quietly. "he seemed on edge back there at the firm. something's definitely bothering him."

      alex, ever the voice of reason, remained silent for a moment, lost in thought as he considered their options. "we should give him some space," he finally suggested, his tone measured. "but maybe one of us should check on him later, just to make sure he's alright."

      gray and rhemi nodded in agreement, a silent understanding passing between them. despite their differences, they were still siblings, bound by loyalty and blood. and if xaver was in trouble, they would do whatever it took to help him through it.

      as they continued their discussion, the sound of xaver's office door closing echoed through the hallway, a final barrier between him and the outside world. with a heavy sigh, gray, rhemi, and alex exchanged one last glance before dispersing, each retreating to their own quarters to prepare for whatever challenges lay ahead.

      but even as they went their separate ways, the worry for their brother and leader lingered, a shadow that loomed over them all. for in the world of espionage, where danger lurked around every corner, the bonds of brothers were more important than ever, a beacon of light in the darkness that threatened to consume them all.

      alone in his office, xaver sat at his desk, surrounded by the dim glow of the lamplight, his brow furrowed in deep concentration. the events of the past mission weighed heavily on his mind, but amidst the chaos and uncertainty, there was one nagging suspicion that refused to be ignored.

      with a sigh, xaver reached for the stack of files on his desk, the weight of them heavy in his hands. for hours, he pored over the documents, dissecting every detail in search of the truth. but no matter how many times he reviewed them, the same troubling pattern emerged, each piece of evidence pointing towards a conclusion he was reluctant to accept.

       frustration gnawed at xaver's insides as he slammed the files shut, a growl of frustration escaping his lips. he rubbed his temples wearily, his mind racing with a million questions and no clear answers in sight.

       'could it be possible? could the very organization they had sworn to protect be involved in something so sinister? ' xaver shook his head, trying to dispel the doubts that threatened to consume him.

      but deep down, he knew that he couldn't ignore the truth any longer. with a heavy heart, he leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling with a sense of resignation.

      "hoping won't change anything," he muttered to himself, his voice tinged with bitterness. "i need to find out the truth, no matter where it leads."

      with renewed determination, xaver reopened the files, his mind focused and his resolve unwavering. whatever secrets lay hidden within their pages, he was determined to uncover them, no matter the cost. 

      as xaver delved into the depths of the files, his concentration was shattered by a sudden knock on the door. startled, he glanced up, his brow furrowing in confusion. before he could respond, the door swung open, revealing rhemi, standing in the doorway.

      "hey," rhemi's voice was gentle, his eyes filled with concern as he stepped into the room. "you doing okay in here?"

      xaver's initial surprise melted into a weary smile as he gestured for rhemi to take a seat. "yeah, just... going over some things," he replied, his tone tinged with exhaustion. "you know how it is."

      rhemi nodded, his expression sympathetic as he settled into the chair opposite xaver's desk. "yeah, i do," he said, his voice soft. "but i also know when something's bothering you."

      xaver hesitated for a moment, torn between the desire to confide in his brother and the fear of burdening him with his own troubles. but as he met rhemi's unwavering gaze, he knew that there was no hiding the truth.

      "i've just been... going through some stuff," xaver admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "things from the mission, and... other things too."

      rhemi listened in silence, his expression unreadable as he absorbed xaver's words. for a moment, there was only the sound of their quiet breathing, the weight of the unspoken conversation hanging heavy in the air.

      finally, rhemi spoke, his voice gentle but firm. "you don't have to face this alone, you know," he said, his eyes searching xaver's for any sign of weakness. "we're family, and we're here for you, no matter what."

      as rhemi and xaver sat in quiet camaraderie, the soft sound of another knock echoed through the office. before xaver could respond, the door creaked open, revealing gray and alex standing side by side.

      gray entered first, his usual mischievous grin tempered by concern. "we thought we'd check in," he said, his voice a blend of youthful energy and genuine worry. "seems like this is where all the cool kids are hanging out."

      alex followed closely behind, his steady presence a calming influence. he nodded in agreement with rhemi, his eyes meeting xaver's with a look of unwavering support. "rhemi's right, xav," alex said, his voice firm but kind. "you don't have to go through this alone."

      xaver's chest tightened at his brother's words, a swell of emotion rising within him. for so long, he had carried the weight of his burdens alone, but now, with them by his side, he felt a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness.

      gray perched on the edge of the desk, his expression serious. "look, vy, we all know you're the one who takes the brunt of the responsibility. but we're a team. if something's bothering you, it's bothering all of us."

      rhemi nodded, his hand resting reassuringly on xaver's shoulder. "exactly. we've faced worse things together, and we've always come out stronger."

      alex crossed his arms, his gaze never leaving xaver's. "and we will this time too. whatever's going on, we'll figure it out together."

      xaver's eyes flicked between his brothers, each of them radiating a different kind of strength. he felt a surge of gratitude and a renewed sense of determination. they had always been his anchor, his reason for pushing through even the darkest of times.

      "thanks, guys," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "i mean it. i was just... overthinking some things from the mission. i have some suspicions, and they're not sitting right with me."

      gray's curiosity piqued, he leaned in. "what kind of suspicions?"

      xaver took a deep breath, ready to share the burden that had been weighing on him. "there are inconsistencies in the files from our last mission. something about the intel doesn't add up, and i'm worried that there might be more to it than we're seeing."

      alex nodded thoughtfully. "then let's go through it together. four heads are better than one, right?"

      rhemi gave xaver's shoulder a supportive squeeze. "we'll figure this out, xav. just like we always do."

      with his brothers by his side, xaver felt a renewed sense of purpose. they would face the challenges ahead together, and no matter what they uncovered, he knew that their bond would carry them through.