Chapter 7: Harry Renton

Disclaimer: I do not own Alex Rider.

AN: Thank you Reviewers. Sorry for any slow updates. The plot is getting thicker, so there's more characters for me to take care of. Enjoy!

Deeper Conversation by Yuna

I've let my guard down for you
And in time you will too

And if you don't mind
Can you tell me
All your hopes and fears
And everything that you believe in
Would you make a difference in the world
I'd love for you to take me to a deeper conversation

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Source Details

Source Name: Alex John Rider

Source Alias: Alex Road

Operation Details

Location: Kensington, London

Source will befriend son of direct source, Harry Renton (See pg. 4 for details). The youngest Renton is the heir of John Renton. Current relationship between Harry and his father are unconfirmed due to the termination of previous source. John Renton is head of Nausikaa's foreign operations and has close ties with the president of said corporation, thus he must be treated carefully. Direct source has agreed previously to help MI6. Source should be able to find access, and if at all possible, retrieve incriminating itineraries and documents with the aid of John Renton. Source is expected to volunteer for any situation that may lead to a trusting relationship or closer involvement with Nausikaa's operations. Source's handler will provide details as necessary. Information should not be recorded or given without consent of the superior officer. Details and/or the role of the source may change in the case of unforeseen circumstances.

Dissemination to: SOD/ Confidential Unit

Disseminated by: Sheppard Ryan Dawson

Handling code: 523

Detailed Handling Conditions: All is clear. Continue operation as planned. Update report as often as needed.

John Renton sat comfortably in his rather large leather chair. His hand ran over the cold steel delicately as his expression creased in thought.

A firm knocking brought him from his stupor.

His hands were shaking as he quickly placed the gun back in the top drawer of his desk, locking it with a small silver key.

The knocking continued before the man could get a hold of himself.

The occupied man muttered obscenities as he opened the door to a young man.

He was the spitting image of his youth: wild brunette hair, keen cobalt eyes, and the expression of someone yet to be disillusioned by the world.

Noticing his father's bitter expression, the young man hesitated.

"What is it, Harry?" the graying man spoke roughly with impatience.

"There's a man here to see you," he smiled as though the tension between them was nonexistent. "He has this kid with him as well. Alex Road, I think it was-?" Before he could continue speaking, his father shoved past him.

"Go to your room, and stay there," he commanded without looking behind.

"Yes, captain," he mocked quietly as he saluted in the direction of his father. He was more than used to his father's work being private.

Yet the 18 year old grimaced as he walked towards his mansion of a room. He was torn between curiosity and his obedient nature. Susan, his x-girlfriend, once told him he had an authority complex. He couldn't quite understand what she meant considering she screamed it in his face when he had to cancel yet another date. His heart fluttered lightly as he thought of her, but it didn't take long for apathy to smother the feeling.

Having reached his bedroom, he closed the door gently behind him.

Sunlight casted a long shadow across the floor from the window. Dust floated and danced in the light. He went to his desk where piles of schoolwork were lying about. He looked with deadbeat eyes at the mostly unfinished work. Advanced biochemistry, economics, French, and advanced calculus seemed to be the theme lately.

He imagined his private teacher would be livid if he left it the way it was. Luckily he never encountered his teacher in such a state. He was the perfect student in hindsight, but in reality he had a terrible habit and temptation to do nearly everything the very last minute. He supposed there was a thrill in it, to nearly disrupt what's expected of him.

He smirked as he brought himself back from his own thoughts.

Shifting his attention, he opened a drawer full of CDs. He snatched up an old copy Susan loaned him. She had asked for it back, but he conveniently kept forgetting.

The mix of 90's electronica wasn't exactly his favorite genre, but he liked to remember her. Her memory was written all over it. He had a childish notion that she would come back to him. After all, it was only a week since they broke up, and truth be told it wasn't the first time it happened.

With the CD still in hand, he jolted as he heard a light knocking at his door.

"You may enter," he announced carelessly. The door opened slowly to reveal the mysterious young man he saw earlier. Harry's heart leaped when he saw the undoubtedly cautious expression the boy held. It was curious that anyone would have to feel cautious around him.

The young visitor was wearing an off-white shirt and dark, seemingly new jeans. There was some muscle visible in his arms, but over all he appeared a little too scrawny. He also noted how pale he was, his dark brown eyes more prominent.

"You're Alex, right?"

"Alex Road," he responded quietly before he noted the older boy's puzzled expression. "Your father hasn't told you?"

"What?" His blue eyes studied the young visitor with uncertainty.

"I-" Alex hesitated as he seemed to be looking at something just behind where Harry stood.

The young heir of Renton looked over his shoulder briefly to see nothing.

Turning his attention back on the boy, he asked, "Is something wrong? Did someone die?"

Alex Road frowned, his hands shoved into his jean pockets.

"I'm your distant cousin," he began, " Your father agreed to adopt me."

"Oh," the older boy spoke distantly. "…OK. So, uh, my Mother's side?"

"Father's."

The conversation was becoming surreal. Didn't his father say all his family was dead or gone?

But he supposed stranger things have happened.

His father was unaware of it, but Harry had taken a look at some of his work files during one of their many trips to the United States. He thought perhaps he imagined the content- some regarding proceedings and results of rather experimental drugs, including LSD. Worse, he thought he saw children listed as subjects. He could've easily misunderstood the context, though. Maybe.

"What happened to-?" Harry hesitated, unsure of how to ask.

"My parents?" The young blonde seemed so much older than Harry the longer they stood there. "Car accident."

"...Sorry. "

His supposed cousin ignored his awkward apology and looked curiously around his room. Harry could tell he was trying to relax as the boy's face began to soften.

"You- wouldn't mind being my friend, would you?" The vulnerable looking boy asked so innocently that something tore his insides. Little did he know, the young spy knew Harry had a hero complex and was thus preying on that notion.

"Yeah, of course!" Harry answered eagerly, "I always wanted a younger brother." He grinned so widely, that the hesitant young man before him returned a smile that almost seemed real. Harry barley placed a hand on his shoulder before the boy shifted away with a flinch.

"So, tell me about yourself," Alex spoke quickly.

It didn't take much effort on Alex's part as the eccentric young man took such a liking to him. Alex couldn't quite believe how trusting the older boy was. The young Renton was much different than what most people expected.

Harry began talking about himself, Susan, the neighborhood's best Indian restaurant, among other rather lighthearted things.

The weary blonde was less tense, but admittedly more tired, the more he talked. Which in turn, only encouraged Harry to talk more.

AN: Review pretty please.