My guys. Here's the update. Enjoy.

The consulate was silent.

His gun was still smoking.

The last tango was taken care of...

But at what cost.

Vigil quickly ran up to check on his teamate who was still clinging on to her life.

He tried not to look at her glaring wound as he cradled her into his arms with such care. He sat there in silence while guilt started to fill inside of him and eat him alive.

Why couldn't he just focus...

He was brought out of his thoughts as something started to grasp his hand. He looked down to see her hand intertwined with his glove.

The sight of her white nails with traces of blood on started to burn itself in his mind.

He always admired the color white.

He looked up to see her face that was adorned with a small smile. That smile never left as she slowly started to fade in unconscious.

He shouldn't have taken the shot.

Chul finally started to stir awake from his slumber. He noticed that he wasn't on a bed but on a couch.

He noticed that he wasn't awaken by sound of typing and tech from his usual roomate but silence and peace.

But what he really noticed was that he wasn't alone.

He looked down to see the sleeping form of Aria who was embracing him and had her head right on his chest. He tried to remember what happened last night but just seeing her sleep so peacefully was a bit distracting for him.

Her beauty certainly left a mark on him as he enjoyed the sight of her tan figure and her beautiful, short brown hair.

He always wondered how it felt.

He reached out to pat it...

Leave.

He stopped all of his actions and thoughts as a realization came to him.

He shouldn't be here.

He felt around his face to confirm his suspicions.

He was exposed.

He silently broke her embrace as he made sure that she was still asleep. He made sure to leave some pillows in her grasp to replace the feeling.

It was successful as she was still asleep.

He erased all the traces of his time here and silently left the room.

He traversed the halls like a spy who was infiltrating a building of sorts. His time in the field has certainly prepared him for this. He finally reached his quarters and quickly let himself in.

He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding as he basked in hi-

"Well, if it isn't the former Vigin."

"...Damn."

"Sooooo, how was your first time? You're not burning are you?" Grace asked with a smug grin.

"That's very disrespectful... and why are you so interested?" He fired back. Grace gasped in fake shock.

"Woah, are you seriously questioning me? You really are a changed man." She fixed her glasses.

"But with all this fun aside, are you finally satisfied with your distraction?"

"...I don't know what yo-"

"You don't even know if she feels the same." She said in a firm tone.

Chul remained silent as she continued.

"Think about it. You went into her room and fucked her but did you ever think of the reason for her actions? You probably don't even have a clue on how this thing works." She said.

Chul continued to listen.

"I mean sure, she could have returned your feelings, but this is Aria we're talking about. Who knows why she did what she did." She said as she got up from her bed.

Chul stood his ground. He wasn't going to speak until she was finished. He was a bit interested in his partners thoughts.

"A bet perhaps? Maybe to get back at someone who wronged her? Ohh! Maybe the drink persuaded her." She said as she made her way towards Chul until they were face to face.

"Or maybe she was just desperate for attention and needed something to put her mind off her problems...Like you." She finished.

He has heard enough.

"... I'm going out to the range." He said calmy as he walked past her and retrieved his weaponry along with his beloved mask. Grace shook her head and chuckled.

"Fine. Go ahead and do what you do best; hide behind that stupid mask and shield yourself from any promblems you face. Interesting things about mask is that they'll always come off sooner or later."

"I'll see you later Grace. Take care." He said as he started to walk out the door.

"I'll bet my pad that she doesn't even remember last night. You're getting distracted Chul, you can still turn back while you have the cha-"

*Click*

Her advice fell on deaf ears as the silent operator closed the door.

Grace sighed.

"And I'm the 'difficult' one." She said as she resumed her pastime on her technology.

Out in the hallway

Chul made his way to the range as his checked his weapon for any defects. He quickly looked up after the sound of boots caught his attention.

He looked up to see a familiar red beret along with some familiar short brown locks of hair.

"Going out to the range I see?" Aria asked.

He nodded his head.

"Good, it's mandatory to have sharp aim in our line of work. I'm glad that you followed my tips."

He nodded his head again.

"Well, I don't want to waste your time so I'll leave you be." She said as she ealked past him.

Chul stood there as he watched her retreating figure.

He didn't know why but something about their conversation left him...sadden. It was if he was expecting something but he never received it

She was acting so casually, as if nonthing has happened between them.

Maybe Grace was right...

Chul quickly jogged to range, he xould feel his fustrations starting to boil over.

At the range

Rat tat tat tat

A whole clip was used.

Thirty bullets with one in the chamber.

Thirty connected with the head while one connected with the neck.

All lethal shots.

Chul admired his precision as he brought the target to his spot. He could feel the mess of frustration leaving him. A voice called out to him.

"I don't remember teaching you how to shoot like that."

Chul turned to see his former mentor, Craig Jenson AKA 'BlackBeard'. Out of all Chul's peers, Craig was definitely someone he had no promblem conversing with.

"Hello Jenson."

"Still calling me that huh? We're teamates now Chul. No one is above the other so you call me Craig. So, whats got you shooting like this?" He said as he marveled at his clean shooting.

"A little more practice...and some help." Chul said. Craig chuxkled a bit.

"Oh yeah. Chandler told me about that. Aria offered you some tips and you took that to heart. It seems she has made quite an impression on you."

"... Why do you say that?"

"It's not everyday you listen to someone who you rarely talk too... especially if it's a woman." He said with a smirk.

"...I had to make sure my aim is accurate. I usually get the first shot on my enemies so I need to make it count." He said in his defense. Craig simply rolled with it.

"Alright Chul, whatever you say." He said as he started to leave.

"Hey Chul... Don't get distracted."

Hearing that made Chul wince a bit.

Does he know?

"...Excuse me?"

"I said 'Keep up the practice'. Also clean up in here when you're done, it was a mess of bullets the last time and six wasn't too happy with it."

"Yes Jen-Craig." He corrected himself.

"Alright, also you got an op for tommorow. It's gonna be you, Jalal, Liu, the new guy from down under and Aria."

"...Oh."

Chul always looked forward to operations with Aria but this time he feared it. Their conversation today certainly left a mark on him.

"...Is it mandatory that I go on this operation?"

"Of course! And why are you asking anyway? Do you have a promblem with someone on this list?... Maybe the only female operator?"

"I'm sorry...what?"

"I said that this operation is completely optional. I just figured that these operators would be perfect for this assignment... especially the combination of our two key roamers in you and her." He explained.

"Very well. I accept it." Chul knew he couldn't refuae his former mentor.

"There's the attitude I've seen years ago. Stay safe out there." Craig said as he patted him on the shoulder and left the gun range.

Chul nodded his head as he got back to work and set up his next target. He prepared himself mentally as he took aim.

Before he pulled the trigger, a hand made it's way onto his shoulders.

He turned to see nails with white polish on them.

Before he could say anything, his mask was quickly yanked and a pair of lips were upon him. He already knew who the culprit was...only she wears white nail polish.

The culprit deepened the kiss as she stuck her tongue in his mouth and raised the intensity of their intimate action by caressing his cheek.

Even though it wasnt that long, he missed this feeling he had right now. The feeling of her.

When he's with her, nothing matters.

He wasted no time as he reciprocated her actions. Many minutes passed as the two agents shared an intimate moment.

This lasted for a few more minutes until the culprit broke up their contact and whispered in his ear

"Meet me in my room in ten minutes. Don't keep me waiting~." She said as she released him left the range.

Chul was conflicted, confused and concerned...yet his cutosity got the best of him as he hung up his rifle and followed through with her demands.

He never wants to let go of this feeling.

My guys y'all are great for being so patient man. I'll make sure it doesn't take me this lomg again. See yall later my guys.