Chapter 4: The Deception
The door swung open and Michael stepped inside, watching it close behind him. He twiddled his thumbs anxiously, waiting for Percy to turn around and face him. Michael knew how to lie out of his ass like the best of them, but he still felt uneasy doing it to his boss. Percy swiveled around in his chair and looked at Michael.
"You wanted to see me, Sir?" Michael asked unassumingly.
"Yes, I did" Percy echoed cooly.
"What about, Sir?" Michel questioned.
"It has come to my attention this morning that you had a rather late visit to one of our newest agent's apartments last night. Nikita Mears?" Percy emphasized her name. Michael smiled and took a breath, ready to recite his rehearsed lie.
"Yes, I did Sir. Is there a problem with that?" Michael posed.
"Well it just so happens that every file of footage recorded after your initial arrival has been deleted," Percy explained maniacally, obviously hoping to catch Michael in a lie, "Isn't that curious?" Percy thought out loud.
"Birkhoff told me that there was some sort of malfunction with Shadow-bot. You know, something computery like that, and it deleted some random footage of a lot of surveillance files actually" Michael explained without hesitation.
"Hmm," Percy sighed methodically, "That's unfortunate. What did you and Nikita talk about during your visit?"
"I just stopped by to debrief on her last mission. I designed it after all, and I didn't get a chance to see any of the agents involved before they left last night so..." Michael said innocently.
"And that's it?" Percy questioned skeptically.
"Yes Sir," Michael confirmed, "I left a few minutes after that footage was taken."
"Okay then," Percy conceded, "I trust you. Sorry to have wasted your time."
"No problem Sir," Michael offered, "I very well know that you can never be too careful."
"Right you are" Percy nodded in agreement as Michael turned to leave.
Michael took the elevator back to Level 8 and went straight into the main control room where most of the on-duty agents resided, looking for Nikita. He found her leaning over agent Thomas's computer, laughing, and watching him show her how to do some hack or another. Michael frowned. He didn't like seeing her with other guys, especially since no one knew that they were together, so they assumed that their flirting was innocent. Nikita looked up and smiled when she saw Michael. She threw her hand up to wave at him but stopped it in mid air when she realized how odd it might look to everyone else if she waved at their boss when no one ever did before. Michael strode over to Thomas's station seriously.
"Nikita," Michael cleared his throat authoritatively, "May I speak with you please?"
"What's up?" She asked, in mid giggle. Michael glared at Thomas, and then turned back to Nikita.
"In private," he clarified, "In my office." Nikita turned to Thomas and smiled apologetically.
"Looks like the funs over," she giggled, "Thanks for your help!" She called as she jumped up and swaggered off towards Michael's office. As soon as they were both inside, Michael slammed the door and whipped around.
"What the hell was that out there? With Thomas?!" Michael demanded.
"What?" Nikita asked incredulously, "How about what was up with you out there? I mean, I know I said business as usual, but you were acting like I'm some sort of dumb recruit out there!"
"You need to be more careful!" Michael yelled, "Fawning over Thomas like that! You're practically screaming 'hey look at me! I'm in a relationship with a coworker! Come cancel me!'" Michael mimicked.
"Wow," Nikita breathed haughtily, "Jealous much?"
"Oh please," Michael snorted, "I am not jealous of that tool"
"Sure seems like it to me" Nikita accused.
"He's a baby! Barely been an agent two years" Michael scoffed.
"Then why else would you practically accuse me of having an affair with him when you know perfectly well who the only guy I've ever had feelings for here is?" Nikita asked accusingly.
"Birkhoff knows about us" Michael admitted.
"What?" Nikita breathed, terrified.
"And Percy suspects, or doesn't suspect. I can't really tell" Michael continued.
"How?" Nikita asked, sitting down on top of his desk.
"Well apparently the surveillance footage of your place last night raised some red flags with Shadow-bot. Long story short, Birkhoff watched it and then deleted it."
"Eww. Birkhoff watched us?" Nikita cringed.
"Yeah" Michael chortled.
"Wait, if he deleted it, then what's the problem?" Nikita asked, "And why would he delete it for us?"
"Birkhoff and I are friends. He didn't want to see me in trouble," Michael answered, "And the problem is that he missed the tape that shows me arriving at your place, so someone else saw it and showed it to Percy."
"Oh my god. This is awful!" Cried Nikita, "What are we going to do?"
"Don't worry, I already talked to him," Michael assured her, "I think I successfully got him off our scent. But we can't be too careful."
"Right, extra careful." Nikita agreed. Suddenly she sat up, smiled, and got a mischievous grin on her face. She stood up and walked up to Michael. "Does that mean I can't do this?" She asked teasingly as she ran her hands down his lower back and into his pants.
"Hey" He cried warningly but happily, "You know we can't do that here." Nikita's face dropped.
"Aww you're no fun!" She pouted, giving Michael the puppy dog eyes.
"That's not fair," Michael countered, "You can't use emotion to sway me."
"Then maybe I can use something else" Nikita smiled as she wrapped her arms around his neck and began to kiss him all over.
"Now that's really not fair" Michael smiled as he pulled her in tighter. She wrapped her legs around his chest and he walked her over to his desk and set her down. He leaned over her as they continued to kiss vigorously. Michael pulled his shirt off quickly, and he had just pulled off Nikita's when a knock came at the door.
"Yo Mike, it's me" Birkhoff's voice came muffled through the door. He turned the door knob and opened to the door to find them both frantically putting their shirts back on.
"Whoa!" Birkhoff called out, "Seriously guys? You're gonna do that here, right after the events of this morning?"
"Don't you knock?" Michael shot back, buttoning up his shirt.
"Seriously Nerd, ever heard of a little thing called privacy?" Nikita teased.
"Privacy doesn't exist when you work at Division!" Birkhoff countered. Nikita rolled her eyes at him and giggled.
"Laugh all you want Niki, but sooner or later this little game you two are playing is gonna bite you in the ass, and don't come crying to me when that happens" He wagged his finger warningly at them.
"I think it's time you switch to decaf, Nerd. You're a little tightly would today" Nikita taunted him as she pulled her shirt back over her head.
"Whatever," He said annoyed, "But just so you know, that could have been anyone at the door just now, and you two would have been exposed" He warned.
"No one else has the balls to barge in on my office except you, Birkhoff" Michael argued. Nikita laughed as she slipped her shoes back on and ran her hands through her long, jet black hair to smooth it out.
"Why don't I let you two boys duke it out" She smirked as she stood up to leave. "We'll continue this later" She whispered seductively in Michael's ear as she pulled him in for a goodbye kiss.
"I heard that" Birkhoff groaned, annoyed.
"See ya later, Nerd!" Nikita laughed as she rustled his hair on her way past him as she sauntered out the door. She turned her head and winked at both of them as the door shut behind her. Michael stared after her, grinning like a fool.
"Yo! Earth to Mike!" Birkhoff called, waving his hands in Michael's face.
"What? Oh, sorry" Michael said, coming out of a daze.
"She's really got you wrapped around her little finger, doesn't she?" Birkhoff said disapprovingly.
"It's not like that," Michael retorted, "I'm the one that instigated last night."
"Yeah, but don't tell me you didn't notice her coming on to you ever since she got here?" Birkhoff countered.
"She's not a slut, Birkhoff" Michael growled angrily.
"I'm not saying that man," Birkhoff said defensively, "But she's also not innocent."
"So what if she's a little outgoing and bold?" Michael asked innocently, "That's what I like about her. She's not afraid of who she is. She embraces it."
"Yeah, but that un-shyness is gonna get Niki killed one of these days, and I don't want to deal with the aftermath of your guilt for being the cause."
"We're being careful, okay?" Michael assured him strongly, hinting that the conversation should stop there."
"Just don't say I never warned you, dude" Birkhoff sighed as he left the room.
