Framed in Fuencarral-El Pardo
Alex was, for once in his life, behaving himself. Smithers had been banned from giving him anything more explosive than an explosive gel pen. Something about the repair costs for his missions getting exorbitant or something. Alex personally thought it served Blunt right for employing a teen in the first place. He was even eating a salad for Christ's sake! It was disgustingly healthy. There was fruit, nuts, and grilled chicken. Tom would never let him hear the end of it if he saw Alex eating it. Fortunately, he was a country away from his friend at the moment. On a mission. Investigating yet another billionaire.
BOOM!
Alex watched with a morbid sense of amusement and a faint sense of horror as the man's phone blew up in his hands. The head and hands had completely exploded. The torso had a gaping hole as well. Where there was once a man, there was now a bloody mess. Quite literally. It wasn't even five minutes before his phone rang.
"Alex, we said NO EXPLOSIONS!"
Alex held the phone away from his face. Crawley was just no fun. And he was being framed! Framed! "It wasn't me! I swear! I was eating lunch."
Alex could practically hear the man's skeptical expression. Okay, to be fair, that would have been something he would have pulled. Just. Further along in the investigation after he saw some proof of wrongdoing. He knew better than to trust Blunt to tell him the truth about the people he was investigating.
"Riiight. You know, every single one of your missions ends in an explosion. This will, of course, need to be investigated."
Alex pouted. Life wasn't fair. This
was ridiculous. "I'm being framed! You have to believe me."
There was a slightly rusty noise coming from his phone. It took Alex a second to realize that Crawley was laughing. At him. Fucker.
"Don't worry kid, it's not that serious. We understand these things here at MI6. Just, uh, try to follow instructions a little more next time. The worst that'll happen is you getting grilled come report time. Let's face it, you've heard worse. I'll see you when you land."
Alex huffed indignantly at the man and hung up. This was completely unfair. They didn't even give the pretense of investigating him. Sure, he blew up a few things but those had been justified. He leaned back in his chair and dialed the
number that he had been given for flights and mission logistics.
"Travel & Tour, how can we help you?"
Alex let out a slight sigh before answering. This was going to be short, at least. They were probably the most creepily efficient people he'd ever phoned. "Hi, I'm in Fuencarral-El Pardo. I need a flight back to Heathrow as soon as you can get it. Please cancel the additional days on my accommodations here."
There was silence as the person on the other end typed for a few minutes. The calls never lasted more than five minutes.
"Your hotel has been canceled after tomorrow morning. Your flight is at nine in the morning and the ticket has been sent to your work email. Is there anything else you need?"
Alex was unsure if the shudder that sent down his spine was a good shudder or a bad shudder. Welp, time to end that phone call before he did or said something stupid. "No, thank you. Have a nice day."
There wasn't even a pause this time. Alex sometimes wondered if MI6's logistics people were eldritch demons.
"Good day."
There was a click as he was promptly hung up on by the woman. Well, at least they were efficient.
"Ah, the logistics departments at agencies. So lifeless. So soulless."
Alex turned to see a blonde Australian striding toward him. Oh, for fuck's sake. "I thought you hated Spain."
Brendan Chase's obnoxious beaming face sat down in front of him. The teeth were unnaturally white. It was weird. "Only in the winter. The sangria here is great."
Alex folded his arms and glared at him. The man ignored his expression. "Good enough to hide poison, I assume."
Brendan let out an indignant huff. Bold for a guy who was well known for having people poisoned. Jet had been his contribution to the nightmare-inducing staff at Malagasto. "I resent that, I do."
Alex continued looking skeptically at the man. Brendan continued ignoring his obvious bad mood in favor of whatever Brendan wanted to do. "You mean like I resent getting framed for your
shit."
Alex narrowed his eyes at the man. Brendan's smile somehow widened. Alex was convinced that those teeth were either fake or bleached half to death. Brendan gave a half shrug and put up his hands. "I thought it was pretty genius, myself. After all, who would believe Agent Explosion didn't
explode someone."
Alex would dearly love to punch the man in his obnoxiously straight teeth. He gave Brendan an eye roll. "Is there a point you're getting to or are you here just to ruin my lunch?"
The Australian leaned back in his chair. Alex was suspicious. Deeply suspicious. "I didn't ruin your lunch!"
Alex rolled his eyes at the man. Chase had way too much time on his hands. Perhaps he could convince Walker or someone that Chase needed more paperwork in his life. Would they buy it if he told them that Chase had a secret paperwork fetish? Maybe. Gordon would spread the rumor either way. "There's a chunk of bloody skull in my salad."
Brendan sputtered slightly and let out a theatrical scoff. Alex wondered if he was doing this for his benefit or if Brendan was just naturally that theatrical. "I'll buy you a new one. Sheesh. Tough crowd."
Alex watched as the man swooped in on the nearest waitress and schmoozed her into bringing them food. He rolled his eyes. Chase was supposedly a notorious bisexual who would go after anything remotely pretty. Alex could see how he got the reputation. The Australian flopped back down after handing the woman a hilarious number of bills. "You overpaid."
Chase gave him an amused look. Alex arched a brow at him. "It's for service with a smile."
Alex pinched the bridge of his nose. This was embarrassing. At least he didn't work for the man. "You make that sound very sexual."
Chase looked thoroughly entertained but declined to reply as their food arrived. Alex's plate was promptly whisked away and walked toward the police officers that had just arrived. The rest of their meal was eaten in silence. Chase smirked as he ordered a dessert. Alex was very, very, done. The second he finished his ice cream, the man rose from the table and flashed him a smile. "I'll watch your career with interest."
Well, that wasn't creepy at all. Alex glanced around only to see that he had vanished. Great. He got framed by Scorpia. And an Australian at that. Welp, it was time to go home. Chase was right about one thing. Nobody was going to believe this.
Fin
Based on a prompt by Zyzyax (see story summary). This is the 131st work in the Winds of Change 2022 Alex Rider Prompt event, where a new prompt (plus a short 1-3K work) is posted every day. For more details, see the AO3 collection :) Want to discuss? Leave a comment beneath, or join the discord (Link on AO3 Fics or just PM me, lol). Want to take part in our Alex Rider anniversary celebrations in September? Join the WoC discord to take part in a fanfic event! Want to showcase your work to your fellow fans and authors? The WoC server has a new feature! Any author who joins can ask to join our authors' feed, which shows all the fics from the authors who opt in, including non-AR fics!
