July 9, 8:12AM. USA.

Alex stared at the wall slightly to the left of his mother's head.

" -did I say about reckless stunts? I know you have a talent for those, courtesy of your father I imagine, but... Alex!" Julia finally snapped. Her tolerance for his disregard was getting dangerously low.

Spy, son, and teenage boy. Why is it so difficult to account for all three at the same time? Julia tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, irked.

"Yes?"

Alex ignored the mention of his father. Any questions about him always left his mother sad-eyed and a strange mixture of wistful, angry, and regretful. John Rider was a known traitor to SCORPIA, and he was dead. That's all there was to it, as far as Alex was concerned.

He snapped his eyes back to her face and determinedly didn't let a hint of his inattention show on his face. His poker face couldn't, and likely never would, rival his mother's but it wasn't entirely terrible.

Julia stared at the bandages visible beneath his long-sleeved shirt. Her eyes drifted up to the bruise on his cheekbone and she sighed in impatience.

"You aren't a child, Alex. Don't start acting like one now,"

Alex nodded in acknowledgement and bit down on the urge to respond with something snappy.

Right now, he was an asset who had almost killed himself on a simple mission, for the third time in a row. He had come very close to jeopardizing SCORPIA's reputation and there were consequences for that. His mother was treating him as such.

Later, Alex knew she would sit down next to him on the couch and run her fingers over the bruise on his cheek and give him a good night kiss on the forehead. A perplexing ritual for someone as cold as Julia Rothman normally was, but a comforting one nonetheless. Though she was a woman with few motherly instincts, she was still his parent.

Until then, he would have to take his punishment without complaint.

"You'll be taking a break from missions for a while. Expect to stay at a designated safe house while I deal for business elsewhere for a short time. Then, you'll be sent back to Mologosto for a few more lessons."

Alex frowned and nodded. I guess that means I'll be training with some of the students. It could be worse.

Julia dismissed him from her office and Alex stumbled a little upon exiting. Outside of the stifling atmosphere of the meeting, it seemed like a completely different world. SCORPIA agents and regular office workers completed their duties side by side, though still secretively, as this base of operations was a series of high-rise office buildings in the middle of a large city.

Its proximity to several large docks and chains of suppliers made it worth putting up with the regular civilians, though if anyone asked Julia, she would claim otherwise. Alex dodged to the left as a flurry of people in suits, some of which he could visually identify as having seen in SCORPIA labs or meetings, rushed past him and dispersed to find their respective destinations.

A few gave him strange looks, but he went mostly ignored. The benefits of being a teenager, Alex groused.

He slipped into the already full elevator and felt a hand splay across his lower back. Nile. Alex stifled his grin. His mother's second hand was an intimidating man; his height made him easy to find in any crowded room and vitilogo didn't help.

He could feel Nile making subtle hands signs across his back and tapping out a message. He concentrated.

Meeting. Boss. Leave. How did the meeting go?, Alex translated. Of course he'd be curious.

Alex lifted his hand to scratch the back of his head. Bad. Trouble.

The elevator doors opened with a soft ding and the crowd began rushing out anew. Nile nudged his side twice. Talk later.

Alex watched the workers leave before descending one more level. He stopped to chat with the man sitting at the reception desk, a sweet older civilian with two adult kids who was planning on retiring soon.

After a few minutes, the receptionist alerted Alex that he had a car waiting for him. Alex wished him a happy retirement and headed out. There was a long car ride ahead of him to the airport, and later, a plane to a safe house somewhere. He would have a lot of time to think.

.

.

.

Author's note: Hey all! Sorry the action and plot hasn't really started yet. There should be some of that next chapter. I hope you're all enjoying this fic. Thank you for any reviews, follows, and faves I've received so far. They really do brighten up my dad and give me inspiration to write :^)

Drop a review and let me know what you think of my characterization and pacing or whatever caught your eye. Critiques and spur of the moment thoughts are always welcome.