Kryptonite

The Exchange

"You what?" Lauren exclaimed.

James could only shrug in response as he finished explaining what had happened.

"Good thing it all worked out," Ivan commented.

Lauren rolled her eyes as she glared towards James. "Good thing? There's nothing good with what happened! You could've gotten fired, James. And if that happened, there fucking goes your chance to avenge your parents."

"I know," James responded with a huff. "No need to remind me."

"Hold on--I thought you hated her. You kept venting about how much of a brat she is and everything she's been doing to get you fired," Lauren reminded. "Bakit mo siyang tinulong?" 

"Lauren, chill. I'm sure he has his reasons," Ivan said as he placed a hand over her back. 

James shot Ivan a thankful look as he bent his head down, his fingers clasped together as he tried to figure out how to best answer such a question.

"It's not like I haven't forgotten my plan. Looking at him today made me angry and I wished I could've just ended it right there," James began. "I...think getting along with her will be beneficial."

"For who?" Lauren spat. "Her relationship with her father is broken and siding with her, even if her father's the target, isn't going to do you any good."

"Lauren, James has a point," Ivan stressed. "If Nadine trusts James and goes along with whatever he does--which is carrying out what Ron wants--then it'll look make James look good in the eyes of Ron."

"I thought James hated emotional manipulation," Lauren snarled. "Remember the mission where X wanted him to date this girl to investigate the company's malpractice of their workers? He couldn't do it."

"It's not like he's going to pretend to be in love with her," Ivan said, eyeing James who was silent as Lauren continued to berate him.

James knew he took a risk in helping her. And even with Ivan there to clear up the mess, the outcome depended on Ron suddenly not being mad at him taking Nadine out rather than James' own calculations and analytical thinking.

Taking a deep breath, James stood up and placed a hand on Lauren and Ivan's backs. "Lau, you're right. I fucked up, but like Ivan said, in the long run, this will help with getting close to Ron. I'm sorry for being careless; I'll try to be more cautious so as to not put anything at stake."

"James," Lauren said in a softer tone. "I'm not as mad as I am worried. Knowing how you've been waiting for this day, I don't want you to have the opportunity just slip away."

"It won't. Trust me," James assured. "There's nothing that will get in the way of me seeking revenge on him. For all he's done, to everyone." 

Ivan pressed a hand on James' shoulder and squeezed it as he exhaled. "Just be careful, that's all we're saying."

"I will," James replied.

"And," Ivan began as he glanced side to side to look at both his friends.

"Do what you know is right."

James' lips curved up ever so slightly as the three embraced the other. He was lucky to have had them with him during this mission and all the others before. There were no other teammates he could have ever wanted. Perhaps there were stronger, smarter assassins he could've been grouped with, but Lauren and Ivan were by far the most trustworthy.

He didn't want to disappoint them either knowing how much confidence they had in him. Which is why he knew he had to be more careful going forward.