I'm the Secret You'll Swear to Keep

/Twenty-Three/

Ryan darts around the track, finishing his last lap with a sense of power.

"Nice work, Ross!" Coach throws him a towel.

Ryan wipes his face down, smiling at Brendon. "I never thought I'd say this, but I really missed running."

Brendon rolls his eyes. "You just got cleared, of course you're excited to move. You'll hate it by tomorrow."

Ryan grins, slinging his arm around Brendon's shoulder. "I'm starved."

"You've still got to lift," Coach crosses his arms.

Both boys deflate, and Coach releases a sigh. "Go on, I'll let you go early."

The two didn't even try to question it. They quickly thank Coach before escaping. It's no wonder Coach let them go early. The last two weeks have been odd.

Since that last raid, there hasn't been another since. The Bloodhounds have practically fallen off as a threat. It sure makes the agents lives easier.

Hell, Pete even let Patrick run some practice raids. The strawberry blonde was getting good at them. He was a stronger fighter with the aim and accuracy like no other.

The agents didn't stop training. The Clandestines kept raiding the Bloodhounds, but received no backlash. It's not like they're slacking off, but the constant feeling of urgency is disappearing.

During a recent practice raid, Brendon and Ryan didn't go out. They stayed in bed, curled up under the blankets to drown out the noise.

But not everyone has this same calmness.

"Boys!" Laura snaps, heels clicking as she walks over. "Shouldn't you be training?"

"We did," Brendon nods. "Coach let us out early."

"There's no reason for everyone to relax," She frowns.

"Come on, the Bloodhounds haven't--"

"They will. They've done this before. If Will keeps letting you out early we won't be prepared!"

"It's okay," Brendon says gently. "It's only this once. We'll be ready, Laura. We always are."

"You better be," She crosses her arms. "Their next raid will be big, and I have a bad feeling about it."

"You have a bad feeling about everything," Ryan smirks.

"I don't understand what is so funny, Ross. We could lose several agents," Her eyes flicker to Brendon.

Ryan straightens. "Laura--"

"Just be prepared. Tell everyone. Nobody slacks off in this agency," She clicks back toward the elevator.

~~~

"What does she mean?" Pete frowns. "Everyone slacks off in this agency."

"Not to be that guy," Patrick pauses to swallow a bite of burger. "But you haven't seen slacking off until you've been to public school."

"I kind of agree with Laura, guys," Andy pushes the salad around with his fork. "It's unlike the bloodhounds to do this. I feel like they're planning something."

Patrick feels his stomach sink. It makes a lot of sense. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that they're probably going to attack us when we least expect it."

Patrick sets down his food, swallowing hard. "We can't keep slacking then."

"Don't worry about it," Ryan rubs his back, shooting daggers at Andy. "We'll be fine."