Fire and Silk [A Ben Hardy/Four Fanfiction] ON STANDBY

5

Friday PM
Managua, Nicaragua

I was in my room getting ready for the mission. I hopped into some dark ripped jeans and pulled down a satin burgundy tank top on my back. I didn't have nice shoes, so I just put my old reliable Adidas sneakers on.

I had prepped the whole equipment the night before. I was ready to hack into some dickhead's phone. I tucked my enhanced phone into my pocket and grabbed the communication devices I had to distribute before the night. I had already explained a good part to Two and Three, which consisted of a few simple bugs and a micro-card they would have to place over Pérez computer's network card, which was probably the most difficult part when you don't know your way around a computer.

Fortunately for us, we were able to... "borrow" a computer tower from the hall downstairs and I showed them both how to do it. Obviously, not all computers are the same, but with this basic knowledge, they would be able to place it securely and rapidly without Pérez noticing.

I knocked on their door, gave them two sets of throat mics and earpieces, along with the micro-card I had to set up last night and the bugs. I stopped at One's room, gave him the comms, then Five and Seven.

Seven was all smiles and no stress when he opened the door. He looked genuinely happy to get going. I shared his enthusiasm, but a ball of anxiety lodged itself in my stomach. I couldn't fight it, it had followed me all my life, whether at school or at work, it always showed in stressful situations.

"Hey, don't worry, I'll have your back." Seven softly told me, probably noticing the livid expression on my face. "Like your guardian angel I guess, up in the sky." He winked at me and pointed the ceiling.

I showed him my gratitude with a warm smile.

            "Thanks, Seven. I appreciate it."

He nodded and I went my way. There was one last person I had to distribute the equipment to, and I didn't want to see him. But I had no choice, nor did he.

I knocked on Four's door, hoping the exchange would go rapidly. He didn't answer. I knocked again, getting impatient. I knew there were a few hours left before the mission, but my mind was still racing. I had so many stuff to put in order that I would probably double-check everything, and waiting for Four to open his goddamn door was just keeping me from doing so.

I knocked for the third time, louder than before. He eventually opened up, his hair wet and a single towel around his waist.

I swallowed with difficulty, trying to focus on his face more than anywhere else. Although I tried, my eyes fell down on his chest, then his sculpted abdomen to finally come right up to his eyes, ashamed. He didn't seem to notice.

            "Do you always answer the door half-naked?" I blurted out, raising an eyebrow.

"Didn't really have a choice now, did I? I'm bloody sure you would have kicked it down if I hadn't." He replied half-teasing half-serious.