Chapter 2

"What's on your mind, Giant." Agent 14 hated that Agent 8 always knew when he was thinking way too much about something.

"This attack, should we tell our Tech Masters?"

"Why? Let Victor, Annabell, Kingsley, and that quiet one, tinker with all the toys in the lab undisturbed."

Agent 8 didn't know Benji, and that was probably a good thing. Benji was the sass mouth when his attitude got hyped up and Agent 8 was the fiery one when he got challenged. Without even meaning to, Benji would cause an argument that would cause Agent 8 to get all fired up and end up with the two having to be brought into their own corners.

"Benji." Agent 14 said, as they entered the elevator to go to street level.

"What?" Agent 8 said obviously not following along in the conversation at hand.

"The quiet Tech Master is Benji, furthermore my Tech Master." Agent 14 pressed the importance of the relationship between him and Benji as much as he could. Without a Tech Master the Agent had no nothing else to rely on but himself, thus making himself limited and exposed out in the field. The biggest rule in the Academy was one the Agents knew among themselves as, don't disrespect a Tech Master.

"Fine, let Benji play with his toys." Agent 8 spat.

Agent 14 didn't press too far into the fact of Benji being disrespected by Agent 8, as his Tech Master had passed away only a year and half ago. Harvey was the oldest Tech Master that the Academy had, he was in all the original photos and happened to be the creator of the briefcase that allowed for printing of files in the field. He was such a great Tech Master that he trained all the Tech Master's that came in. The last one to be trained under Harvey was Annebell, she was four years older than Benji, and often made it her unofficial job to survey Benji as he began his Tech Master role. Agent 8 was on a mission when Harvey passed, he never really forgave himself or Harvey that he didn't get to say goodbye. Not that either of them could have done anything to change time. Since then Agent 8 kept away from the Tech Masters, not wanting to form any relations with any new ones, really the only one that talked to Agent 8 was Kingsley and that is because Kingsley made adjustments to the flight gear. The silence between the agents as they walked to their cars went on to long for Agent 14 not to acknowledge the unspoken thought though.

"Harvey would be glad you're back up in the air, Frost." Agent 14 said, peering over his door to his car.

"Thanks Giant." was all Agent 8 said, as he flipped down his helmet masking his bright blue eyes and sped away on his motorcycle down the way.

Agent 14 dialed through the car's radio as he started driving to Benji's place, hoping that things would have simmered down between the two since they talked in the lab. The traffic wasn't terrible as it usually was, but then again it was an hour later than the Agents normally got to go home. Pulling up to the townhouse, Agent 14 noticed the porch light was on as well as the bedroom light two stories above. Benji was indeed home as Agent 14 tripped over the end of the briefcase on the way in, his cat Lillix zoomed out from the shoe rack to the other side of the living room, peering back with his yellow eyes swallowed by the black of his fur of his coat. Agent 14 removed his shoes after putting the briefcase back to the wall, and took off his watch to lay it near his keys so as to not be bothered by work tonight.

"Benji!" Agent 14 called up as he climbed the staircase.

There wasn't answer as Agent 14 approached the bedroom on the third floor, the light from the room barely illuminating the hallway. Slowly Agent 14 opened the door, everything was just as it always was, the desk scattered with papers, Lillix's tower in the corner of the room, and the bed layered with blankets and pillows in no particular order. The only thing different about the room compared to any other night was that the sheer curtains were closed, the light from the lampposts on the street barely visible. Benji only did this when he and Agent 14 were going to spend time in the bed.

"Finally. You're here." Benji said, stepping out of the bathroom that was connected to the room in a towel, his hair still dripping from a shower.

"I told you I would be seeing you later." Agent 14 said, stepping toward the most seductive sight.

"Well, you know how your plans go. Here, there, everywhere." Benji ran his hands through his wet hair and pushed it out of his face.

" I know you're upset. I don't blame you -"

"I shouldn't blame you either, it's your job. The same job you have had since I met you. Why should I expect it to change?" Benji said.

"True." Agent 14 said, still trying to figure out if there was a right thing to say at this moment, eyeing Benji as he undid the towel from his waist and wiped his torso from the water dripping down, "I wish I could be all you want me to be Benji."

" What is it that you think I want you to be?" Benji said, holding the towel just enough to cover himself.

"More open with you." Agent 14 began, undoing his tie and unbuttoning his shirt, he continued walking toward Benji, "Less distant both geographical and personal." Now shirtless and undoing his pants, letting them fall so that he was standing in front of Benji in nothing but his underwear, "More loving." ending his answer, Agent 14 took the towel from Benji and backed him into the wall space between the corner of the desk and the bathroom doorway.

Benji was pinned between sheetrock and a chiseled torso, his eyes leveled with Agent 14's collar bone. One of the Agents' arms held the back of his head from hitting against the wall, and the other kept him from escaping to the rest of the bedroom. Agent 14 nudged his face up with his nose until they were literally nose to nose, the deep green eyes peering into his.

"Am I wrong?"

"No." Benji said not blinking.

"No. What."

"Sir." Agent 14 smirked from hearing Benji's voice so soft and kissed him.

He pressed the rest of his body against Benji, feeling the excess water against the cotton of his underwear cause the smaller frame to stiffen but still somehow manage to put his arms up and round the Agent's neck . Benji, though he wouldn't admit it, loved being dominated. Agent 14 wasn't the best at it, but he seemed to make bossy work for him, the rest was pure sexual instinct.

"Tell me what I like to hear." Agent 14 said, still pressing Benji against the wall with his chest, and breathing down his lover's neck.

"I'm Handsome." Benji said, feeling Agent 14 slide down his underwear and step out of them, "I'm wicked smart." he continued as Agent 14 picked him up by the waist and leaned him between his body and the wall, "and I'm worthy of love."

" Yes. You. Are." Agent 14 kissed Benji as he ended his sentence, and instinctively, wrapped his arms around his boyfriends neck, so that Agent 14 could walk them to the bed.

Benji felt as is his heart was going to burst out of his chest, this was stupid. His idea of a poisonous pen was ridiculous, and he was to present to the Empress herself. Sure, she was the type of woman that looked like everyone's grandmother, but she was also the head of the Academy and someone you wanted to show that you belong here and it wasn't just luck of one invention. Benji squeezed the prototype pen tighter as the elevator to the testing labs dinged, looking over he let out a sigh as it was just Annebell. Her braided hair was dressed with silver jewels and tied back to keep out of her face. It reached to the bottom of her lab coat pockets, which always held some sort of notebook.

" Hey, Beni." She said pulling out a chair from behind the glass taking a seat, "I'll be seeing this invention as well. Empress should be down in a few, with I believe Agent 9 and Agent 8."

"What? Since when do Agents sit in on the presentations of prototypes." Benji said, now feeling his nerves hype up with the thought of two of the most well known Agents in the Academy coming to see his proptype.

"Empress has been out of the field for awhile, she thought it would be best to bring Agents that were still in the field to determine the efficiency. You'll be fine. The prototype worked before, and I doubt they will have any questions after they see that it works." Annebelle said before the elevator dinged again.

Out of the elevator stepped Empress, dressed in a pink suit and white scarf as perusal. Behind her stepped out Agent 8 who looked as he would rather be anywhere else, and Agent 9 looking around the lab like a kid in the candy store.

"Morning Empress." Annebelle said, pulling out a seat for her behind the glass display that held Benji and his dummy.

"Morning, Tech Master. What are we being shown this morning?"

"Tech Master Benjamin, has perfected a prototype for the Agents in the field. A poison dart."

" A Poison dart is nothing new, tribes have used them for centuries." Empress said, still sitting down and fixing her suit.

"Yes. However, after you see Benji's prototype you might see it as beneficial." Annebell said, pressing the microphone so Benji could hear them in the lab, " Cue Benji."

"Uh- Morning Empress, Agents." Benji began with an awkward wave, "Today I have a demonstration of a poison dart."

"Yes, we know. Where is it?" Agent 9 said, peering around the glass interested in the new toy.

"Indeed, Tech Master, I thought you would be ready for us." Empress said, peering into Benji's soul like he was wasting her time.

"Wait, you mean you don't see it?" Benji said looking confused at all of them through the glass.

"No. I just see two dummies in a glass box." Agent 8 spoke bored.

Empress pushed the button to silence the mic to the lab, "Who's Tech Master is this?"

"He is assigned to Agent 14." Annebell said hoping the answer reassured Empress to listen and pressed the button to the mic again, "Go ahead and tell them Ben."

"It is here." Benji presented the pen that he took off the pocket of his dress shirt.

"Whoa, the pen is the dart!" Agent 8 said.

"Precisely, Agent. Able to camouflage in with your suit jackets, and not look out of the ordinary." Benji continued, "It is tiny, light weight, but powerful. Able to hit a target across a room."

"There is no way…" Agent 9 began but was silenced by Empress now intrigued by the tiny Tech Master.

"The trick was trajectory, the ability to fly across the room. Without losing any power…" Benji explained the weight of the pen was what released the poison on impact of the skin. "Well, poison but I have been filling the vial with tranquilizers as well."

Finally when it came to showing the crowd what they came to see, Benji pointed the tip of the pen at the dummy and clicked it. Out shot the dart that stuck to the dummy and released a dye that was meant to be the poison.

"Amazing." Empress said, "The power in a hand held item, and it's so convenient to carry"

"But does it work on humans?" Agent 8 said looking unimpressed, "There is no way that tiny amount of substance can be useful to anyone that we come into on the field."

"Would you like to be a human trial Agent?" Benji teased, reloading the pen, "I'll use a light dose of tranquilizer, out for 10 minutes max."

Agent 8 wasn't about to say no to the challenge and entered the glass box, staring at Benji who was smiling at him. Benji was even shorter compared to Agent 8 than Agent 14, the blue eyes glared at the Tech Master, "Well." He said after what seemed eternity of just being stared at rather annoyed.

"You wait there, I'll walk to the other side of the room. Agent 9, you might want to come catch your friend as he falls." Benji said as he walked to the other side of the room, Agent 8 stepped in behind Agent 9, "Alright Agent brace yourself."

Benji clicked the pen and the cartilage pierced his neck, in a blink of an eye the frame of Agent 8 was being lowered to the ground by Agent 9.

"I can not wait to get one of these!" Agent 8 said grinning at Benji and letting Agent 9's frame drop as soon as he was at waist level. Benji did everything to keep from laughing, that he a tiny know it all Tech Master took out a rather strong looking Agent.

"That makes two of us." Empress said, stepping into the glass room and extending a hand to Benji.

"I'm glad you think it's worth the investment, Empress." Benji said.

"You're worth the investment Benjamin. How would you like to be reassigned as my Tech Master."

"I'm sorry?" Benji said his eyes flashing up to Empress then to Annebelle.

"I need a Tech Master, The Ones Above expect a blitz attack on the Academy and I need a reliable Tech Master should the need arise."

" A Blitz attack on the Academy?" Benji repeated, as he began to feel overwhelmed about the information and also the reassignment to Empress. When she asked, she was really ordering it, there was no choice in the matter, "What about Agent 14." He asked.

"Agent 14 will be assigned another Tech Master." Empress said, eyeing Agent 8 as he was waking up, "Meet me in my office Tuesday morning to be briefed."

Benji watched Empress as she followed the two agents, Agent 8 being led by Agent 9 who was still laughing at his fellow Agent being all deranged. This was not what he wanted, he only wanted his idea to be great, not for his assignment of being the Tech Master of Agent 14 to change. If the attack was true, Agent 14 would be in the field with someone he didn't know. Benji began to think about all the other bad situations that could arise, despite wanting to celebrate being given a huge promotion he wanted to talk to Agent 14, about not being told that there was an attack looming and the huge space that was about to be inserted into their relationship.

"That went well!" Annebelle said hugging Benji as he came out of the glass box, the hug wasn't returned as Benji was preoccupied with all that just happened.

"I. Cant." Benji said as Annebelle released him from the embrace.

"What do you mean? Benji to Tech Master for Empress herself is a huge promotion. Harvey would be overjoyed!"

"I'll take your word for it, I barely knew the guy." Benji said, it was true whenever Harvey was mentioned he just pictured the man who was bed ridden days after he welcomed Benji into the rankings of Tech Master, "Sorry, I know you two were close and he taught you everything."

"You're fine, I can't blame you for being detached from someone you didn't know. I meant that even someone as skilled as Harvey did not reach the point of being a Tech Master for Empress." Annebelle said, fixing his lab coat, "Don't worry about Agent 14. He will be fine, he is one of the best Agents in the Academy."

"Will you be his Tech Master?" Benji asked as they approached the elevator.

"I can't guarantee that I'll be placed as his Tech Master Ben."

"No, but he can."

"I suppose Agent 14 does have some sway in requesting a new Tech Master. Being that he is always on the most important missions."

"So, is that a yes." Benji pressed as they stepped into the elevator.

"Yes." Annebelle agreed as the elevator closed.

Agent 14 watched the clock tick by as he waited for anything to come from the meeting that Benji had with Empress. He sat back and spun in his chair, knowing that he had to work on the files of the last mission but was too distracted to do so. The door to the debriefing room opened and Agent 9, was still leading Agent 8 around.

"What happened to him?" Agent 14 asked.

"That tiny Tech Master challenged him to be a human test dummy. Took him out in five seconds flat with the really cool pen he made." Agent 9 dropped Agent 8 in a chair and let him slowly adjust to the chair.

"He's too smart for his own good." Agent 8 said through his teeth.

"Perhaps you'll remember this the next time you say he just plays with toys downstairs." Agent 14 grinned catching Agent 8's eyes before he rolled them in annoyance and let his head lay on his desk.

"So Benji is getting the chance to construct the gadget at mass?" Agent 14 asked, looking over at Agent 9.

"I'm not sure. Empress stayed down there to talk with him, I led this one up here." Agent 9 said now heading to the corner of the debriefing room for a donut.

Agent 14 got up from his desk and went down the hallway to the elevator, pressed the button. It opened to Annebelle and Benji , Agent 14 instantly staring at Benji with a smile on his face,

"So. It went well?" He asked, backing up so that Annebell and Benji could step off the elevator.

"Ben did amazing with his presentation. Literally brought Agent 9 to the floor." Annebelle said.

"Yeah, he is at his desk still recovering. That's good news." Agent 14 said with his eyes moving from Annabelle to Benji, "Why are you not excited?"

'There was some semi-bad news. I'll let you two talk, see you tomorrow Ben." Annebelle hugged Benji before brushing past Agent 14.

"Do we need privacy?" Agent 14 asked, already knowing the answer as he stepped into the elevator. Benji nodded, still not wanting to meet Agent 14's eyes. The elevator started to descend to the labs below, but paused as Agent 14 pressed the level buttons simultaneously.

"It went great. That's good." Agent 14 started slowly turning to face Benji who was still holding the pen in his grip, "That's not loaded is it?" Agent 14 asked, grabbing his hand caringly.

"No. It's not." Benji said, sounding like a kid who just got his favorite toy taken away from him, "We are being told to separate Agent."

"What do you mean?" Agent 14 said coldly, "They don't know about us do they?"

"No, of course not." Benji said looking up with sad eyes, "Empress asked me to be her personal Tech Master."

"Wait, so that's why you are all upset, Babe."

"It's not gonna work with us."

"What do you mean?"

"The added space. I barely see you outside of missions and the closest I get to you anymore is being the stupid voice in your ear."

"Benji, nothings going to change. Tech Mastering for me is just something that happened, we were dating before then. Besides, Empress is the most important person in the Academy, who else should be a Tech Master for her." Agent 14 pulled Benji into an embrace, noticing that Benji wasn't looking up or attempting to hug him back,

"That's not all, is it?" Agent 14 said resting his chin on top of Benij's head.

"When were you going to tell me about the Ones Above expecting an attack on the Academy?" Agent 14 breathed contemplating the answer.

"I wanted to, but I also didn't want you to worry."

"I don't worry." Agent 14 chuckled, "Much." Benji concluded by wiping his face.

"Yes, it is looming on when it will happen. You are the labs below ground so you are safe down there."

"And you?"

"See worrying already."

"14."

"Agent 9,12, and 8 are always near me, together we are ready for anything. You have nothing to worry about, okay."

Agent 14 watched Benji breathe heavily collecting himself and finally look up at Agent 14, "And nothing is going to change how I feel about you. You'll be back Tech Mastering for me after the attack has been stopped, and Empress is not in current danger." Benji smiled, and rushed at Agent 14 forcing him into the wall of the elevator, his face in his chest.

"Can you do me a favor till then."

"Depends on what you ask."

"Request that Annebelle be your Tech Master, she's the best and Harvey taught her everything."

"Fine. I'll request Annabelle."

"I'm good now. You?" Benji asked, kissing Agent 14 shortly.

"No." Agent 14 said abruptly, "Please don't take out one of the Agents on my team again."

"He volunteered, you don't know how hard it is to get a human test subject." Benji said laughing leaning against the wall as Agent 14 restarted the elevator.

"He deserved it." Agent 14 smirked, kissing Benji one last time, before the elevator doors reopened to the Academy, "Don't wait up tonight, I'm sure that Empress will wanna brief me into this new Tech master Business."

It wasn't till 5 that evening when the call came from the empress that Agent 14 was indeed needed to go to her office. No surprise, Agent 14 knew what they were going to talk about already. The changing of Tech masters were always hardest on the Agent, because they were so used to having the voice in their head, watching out for them. Yet at the same time they were a soothing thing to hear, trapped in a cell, in the desert, on a highway speed chase an Agents tech master was always soothing to hear. Agent 14 couldn't count the times that one of his Agents had nothing but a Tech master help them keep their sanity in highly dangerous situations. Thankfully, Agent 14 had never been in those situations where he was trapped. If anything Agent 14 was the one always sent to get people out of those trapped situations. The last one he was on was when he was sent out to rescue Agent 11, who had been nabbed in the retreat of a mission in the Atlantic Ocean. Agent 14 was probably the most scared that he had ever been on that mission simply due to the fact that he was not a fan of water. He learned to swim. Yes, in the academy they teach you everything from scaling walls to navigation, but the water is what caused Agent 14 to lose his brother. Agent 7, was the only relative that he had, when the hurricane swept through the landmarks of the mission that he was on he got separated from his team and was never seen again. For a period of time there was numbness, the loss of his brother had really taken a toll on him. There were no long conversations at dinner, no random races in cars to stupid locations, and no role model. Agent 7 was the best at everything, he taught Agent 14 all that he learned so that way his little brother would be prepared for anything. Now, all Agent 14 had to look up to was the sky, hoping that somewhere up there his mother, father, and brother were still looking out for him. If Agent 7 only was lost in action 5 years later they would have had the tracker device that Harvey invented to keep a location of an Agent, 7 years and they would have had Harvey invention that allowed for a Tech Master to communicate with his assigned agent and most likely would have been able to bring him back from the mission. Yet, time was not his side, it never was.