My Big Fat Spy Marriage

Four

Sebastian

AN: 14 years ago (Age 11)

Dad is doing another puzzle test on me and Silas because Silas is home on break for a little while. Every once in a while he'll create a code for us to break, a riddle for us to solve, or hide a prize somewhere and give us hints on how to find it. The prize is never something fun like Candy or video games. It's usually a spy gadget, a weight lifting set, new running shoes, or something of that nature. It's not about the prize but about winning. Sometimes I beat Silas and sometimes he beats me. I hate it when he beats me though. Not just because I'm a sore loser like my brother claims. Whenever I lose to him, my dad looks at me with such disgust and disappointment.

I'm already on his bad side because unlike perfect Silas I don't always follow the rules. On top of that he's not raising me to be director of Rex one day so I don't really matter. I'm also more laid back and take a more relaxed approach to things. My dad hates it. He says I'm similar to my mom in that way. That I always want to stop and take in the scenery before finishing my task.  He says it like it's a bad thing, but I don't care if he hates it because I like being like my mom. Even though I don't remember her, I was told she was kind and caring. My dad hated that but it didn't stop her. I admire her being able to stand up to him in that way. That's why I continue to break the rules or mess around during training. It pisses him off and i love it.

Today the test was a wooden puzzle box. We each got different ones and have to break into it. Cracking mine was pretty easy. I even did it faster than Silas. He's so cautious it makes him think deeply about each step in his plan. I'm more of a look while you leap type of person. Thinking is overrated at times. Sometimes you gotta trust your gut instincts.

Inside the box was a small slip of paper with a a set of numbers. At first I thought it was a message so I tried to decode it. It didn't match any of the code types my dad taught us so I think it's a password. I'm not sure to what. I tried all the computers already and now I'm stuck at a wall. I decided to sneak into the treehouse and take a break. Clearing my mind could help me solve it. It also gives me an excuse to play some video games. My dad is anti-fun because he says these things are a distraction. He's right but I don't care. Fun is fun for a reason you know.

He lets us go shopping in town sometimes for groceries and other stuff. It's to give us real world experiences. I sometimes secretly buy candy, action figures, and games.

Out of the corner of my eye I see my dad pulling into the driveway. I stash my DSi and grab the paper with the code. Seeing the car has made me realize the license plate number is the same as the code just rearranged. Maybe the answer is in the garage. I'm right and I'm able to get the prize of the day. It's a pair of boxing gloves. I needed new ones so it's pretty useful.

"You took 5 minutes longer than I expected you to."

That's his way of saying he's glad I finally did something right today. I can't wait for next month when I start my field agent training. My dad had Silas and I homeschooled and trained from ages 4-11 by him and a selection of approved teachers that he knew. He believed he could offer us even more resources than the standard youth training program at Rex could. The Fordham's are a wealthy family and unlike the Rex Training program there is no budget to our learning, so he wasn't wrong.

Unfortunately for my dad, I have to attend Rex's field agent program to take the agent entrance exam. I have to live in the agency provided facilities as well so I won't be under his roof. I can't wait. I feel trapped here. I mainly leave the manor for more training, attending an event for Rex shareholders, or occasionally observing my dad on missions. It doesn't feel like leaving the manor because unlike when he sometimes lets us go shopping, I can't pretend to be a normal kid. I still have to be the perfect trainee and represent the family.