(A/N: I got way too hyped for the show, proceeding to binge watch the first two seasons. I cannot wait for season three to come out. I wish there was more good Mrs. Jones fics but most cast her as bad. Anyway, if you guys like Alex Rider, you should check out Cherub.)
Tulip Jones had sustained a remarkable career in the Agency. She had rose through the ranks from ground up and all of her superiors- whether they liked her or not- could say that she didn't do a damn good job. Working in the agency taught many people many things. One being that it was best to leave your moral compass at the door and get the job done. One of them many things that Tulip Jones disagreed with morally, was using a grieving fourteen year old child as an agent. It hadn't been her call. Alan Blunt had saw the skill and potential that his own then deceased agent taught his nephew, and harnessed it. While Jones wouldn't normally fault the man for blackmailing an asset, said asset had been a minor of their own country. Tulip had probably done equally or worse to others in her field days, so it wasn't that she could sight being morally right. Alan Blunt had gotten what he wanted, and Tulip could only protest in small portions with a fierce bite. Alan Blunt knew just where she stood with Alex Rider. The same could not be said for nearly anyone else though, Alex assassination attempt on her life proving a good point.
That was why, when she was meeting with a diplomat on 29th and Shands, in London England, she was a tad bit surprised when-
Alex sat with Tom at a café doing homework for Math. Tom was great at many things but math wasn't one of them and Alex, himself, had fallen behind working unwillingly for 'a bank'.
"Don't forget the negative" Alex remarks as he notice Tom start doing the next step without it.
"Thanks, mate" Tom sighs, frustrated.
"Do you want another coffee?" Alex asks.
"Tea, please, I feel all jittery inside and I can't tell if its from the espresso or from sheer nerves for the Math quiz tomorrow. I'm doomed to fail." Tom shudders. Alex snorts a laugh but goes and places their order. Alex waits at the counter for their order and glances outside. He frowns as he see's a bald man wearing a suit yelling at someone, rather aggressively.
"Alex" A female voice calls out. Alex snaps his gaze back to the counter to see a young woman holding his drinks.
"Thank you" Alex says and he grabs them from her. He walks to the table and sits the drinks down, keeping his attention outside.
"You see that?" Alex asks Tom, motioning outside. Tom glances up to Alex and then out the window.
"Hey is that Mrs. Jones?!" Tom gapes.
"Wha-" Alex looks from Tom's angle. Alex didn't have really any affection for Mrs. Jones per se but he's been liking her a quite bit more now that she was Director of SI. It could be that she hardly used him, and didn't blackmail him into doing any missions. She definitely had a honey to vinegar approach, unlike Blunt.
"Wait here" Alex tells Tom as he headed outside.
"Should you really get in between?" Tom asks. A good question, indeed.
Mrs. Jones didn't see him coming, too aware of the man in front of her. An informant that wanted to speak with her. Tulip had known the man for a good decade, that was the only reason why she chose to honor the mans wishes of her coming alone. Now though, with his ire over something Tulip still wasn't sure of, she began to regret it. It wasn't that she couldn't handle her own, but they were in broad daylight in a downtown district. While crowded, people tended to mind their own business. Yelling matches weren't uncommon and unless it got physical, people would look the other way.
"-You're going to pay!" William yells as he steps forward, his arms in rotation to either hit or grab her. Tulip didn't quite no which he would've done because he was yanked back with such force that he had to stumble to catch himself. Tulip shift her gaze to the blond that stepped in front of her. His body angled to face William but also be able to shift his head to talk to her. Alex. Tulip made sure not to show recognition to Alex, something he seemed to understand.
"It's rather rude to assault a woman" Alex says as explanation. William doesn't take too kindly to being man handled.
"It's none of your business, boy" Willian snarls, getting in Alex's face, moving closer to try and make Alex step back. A supposed sign of submission that was actually rather childish in Tulips eyes. Alex, however, didn't step back. Alex stares at the man for a second before tilting his head.
"Would you like a mint, your breath stinks?" Alex questions. Tulip sighs as William reacts. No form nor tact against a military and spy trained young adult, no contest.
"What is this?! He's with you!" William roars angrily. Alex rolls his eyes.
"Look, mate, I'll let you go as long as you leave. You can't be screaming at some lady just because you feel like. I don't know if you're on drugs or what, but I don't know either of you." Alex says, not letting anything slip.
"Yeah, then why are you here!?" William counters. Tulip would actually like to know as well.
"Not that I owe you an explanation when you're the one in the wrong, but I'm with a friend across the street at that café, getting drinks and studying." Alex explains. Ah, Tulip thinks, High School.
"Whatever, just let me go" William grumbles, letting it go. Alex glances at Mrs. Jones, who nods her head just so, before Alex let the man up. William straightens his coat, looking at both of them with anger and distrust.
"You better watch yourselves" William threatens as he left. After the man was long gone, Alex faces Mrs. Jones completely.
"I'm not going to ask who he was or why you were meeting him," Alex says, because he knew he wouldn't get an answer, "But where the hell is your security" Alex asks. Tulip rummages through her purse and pulls out a tin of mints. Only after she had one and returned said tin back to her purse did she dain to answer.
"That William Beck, a diplomat to Yemen. I have worked with him in both the field and in the political field for about ten years." Tulip informs causing Alex to blink at her, because that was a non-answer.
"Was he on crack?" Alex had to ask. Mrs. Jones shook her head.
"No, but he was over reacting. I'll have some people handle it" Mrs. Jones states. Alex knew what she meant.
"Are you okay?" Alex thought to ask. Tulip almost looks surprised at the question.
"Yes, thank you" Tulip answers after a minute.
"You know," Alex says, "With all the bugging you guys do, it's a wonder you don't have a constant tail, considering" Alex says. And that was a good point.
John Crawley had the opportunity to watch as Tulip Jones deck an agent that had shoved Alex Rider against the wall because the kid 'took his spot'. It had beautifully brutal. Something which was odd, because Director Jones, in all the years that Crawley had known her, was not known to initiate physical fights, no matter how many warning she had given for the man to drop the matter, or unhand the boy. Security had been called for once the agent had not obeyed. Crawley eyes the man holding his nose, whining about being hit, then looking at Alex looking in stunned disbelief at Director Bones, whom was shaking her fist out. Then again, it seemed like Alex brought out the mother in normally closed off woman.
"Would you like ice for that?" Crawley asks, sounding far too amused.