I don't own this, any of it. Also a little bit of a trigger warning, there is mention of guns in this story as well as mentions of gun violence. Turn back now, if that makes you uncomfortable.
xXx
"Can you teach me how to shoot a gun?"
The question had been so random. It had brought the activity in the room to a grinding halt.
Heinz Doofenshmirtz stared at his daughter as if she had grown a second head and Perry stopped in his normal, every day, grand escape to stare at her with a wide eyed look of surprise.
Perry had already thwarted Heinz's plans for the day. The fight had left both of them a bit bruised and the resulting explosion of the Inator had left the far wall a little scorched. Vanessa had walked in, just as Perry was about to swing down from the balcony to his hovercar, a few feet below it.
There had been no build up to the question. She walked in, said her normal "Hi Perry" and then stopped Perry from leaving by saying she had something to ask him. Then that.
"Vanessa… Sweetheart… Why would you- You're a little young." Heinz fumbled through that one. His daughter learning such a skill was difficult for him to even grasp.
Vanessa gave a sigh, looking a bit exasperated before she turned back to her father for a moment. "I'm going to college next year. I'll be out on my own, in my own apartment around lots of strange people, don't you think I should know how to defend myself? Perry is a secret agent, I trust him and he's probably armed to the teeth, I thought he was the best person to ask."
Perry stepped back down, off of the railing he was about to jump off of and hit the button on his watch that would send the car off to park for the moment as he gave the teen his full attention.
"Yes but… Vanessa, that's a little extreme." Heinz pointed out and Perry waved to get the man's attention.
I could teach her a bit of self defense.That wouldn't take long and she should probably know that anyway.
Heinz gave a grateful nod as Vanessa glanced back towards Perry, frowning at what he was signing and nodded.
"I would really appreciate that Perry. But I want to carry as well." Perry paused again, glancing over to Heinz and giving the man a rather helpless look. He didn't want to come between Heinz and his daughter on this one. This was Heinz's call entirely. He would never overrule the man when it came to this.
Heinz looked a bit uncertain and Perry paused, lifting his hands and wiggling his fingers for a moment. Clenching and unclenching his hands in a gesture that for him was as close to stammering as he ever came. He did it when he was very carefully placing his words.
I could take her to the shooting range.If she's going to do it anyway, I would rather her be safe about it and know what she's doing.
Heinz nodded slowly, looking a bit startled.
"Do you think this is a good idea?" Heinz asked bluntly, causing Perry to pause.
I think the bad idea is to send her off to college without any knowledge of self defense and have her buy the gun she wants anyway, without any idea of how to use or maintain it.That's how accidents happen and I would never want that to happen to Vanessa.
Heinz didn't look certain though Perry looked a bit more steady and a lot less taken back than he had.
It's not as if I'm taking her to buy the gun. I'll take her to the range and make sure she has the safety knowledge and I'll teach her some basic self defense.Which, by the way I teach along with taking her to the shooting range.
He signed, giving Vanessa a pointed look who paused for a moment and gave a firm nod. "That sounds fair." She agreed, a glance given to Henz and offered a pleading look.
"Please Dad?"
Heinz gave a deep sigh and after a moment nodded. "Alright… If Perry thinks it's a good idea, then it's fine with me."
Vanessa grinned and hugged her father, before turning to Perry. "When can we start?"
Saturday at seven a.m.
Perry signed with a nod and Vanessa nodded excitedly as Heinz dropped himself into a chair with a deep sigh and a soft "Curse you, Perry the Platypus."
xXx
Now, do you know how to hold one of these?
"Of course Perry, I've seen them before." Vanessa chastised, reaching for the pistol the agent was holding out. Which caused him to quickly pull it back with a rather flat look and set it down again so he could sign.
This isn't a gangster movie, Vanessa.You could really get hurt.I need you to focus.
Vanessa sighed and nodded to that, giving the agent her full attention. "Sorry Perry. I know this is serious. Would you please show me how to hold it?" She asked and Perry gave a quirk of a smile as he nodded.
Perry turned out to be a very strict teacher, which shouldn't surprise her. The man was entirely no nonsense. What had surprised her was that he didn't take her to just any range. She had expected a pay to get in range or something of that nature but the one he brought her too was the OWCA range. There had been a few agents putting in their practice shots when they came in. Apparently every agent had to qualify, once a year.
Perry silently pulled his own sidearm, keeping his arm straight and stabilizing with his off hand as he demonstrated how to hold it and nodded towards the gun he laid down.
That was another thing that had surprised her, though it really shouldn't have. She had asked Perry to teach her BECAUSE he was an agent and probably had training on it already. So why it stunned her to silence when he pulled his own, standard weapon was beyond even her reasoning. She couldn't say why, just the sight of Perry holding a gun shocked her.
Maybe it was because she had never seen it before. Maybe it was because she had never really seen him as a secret agent. Even when she walked in on him and her Dad battling it out, Perry was Perry. Stern yes. Strict, absolutely. However, she never felt in danger around him. He would never hurt her. He didn't let her see the super violent parts. It occurred to her that even though her Dad was who he was… She may be a little sheltered.
In truth though, it brought home that what he did was dangerous.
Vanessa hesitated for a moment before picking up her own weapon, mimicking his posture. Perry laid his gun down and stepped back, resting his hand on her wrist and adjusting her hold just a bit. Then laid a hand on her back and pushed, indicating for her to stand up straighter. She made the minor adjustments and he gave an approving nod, then gestured for her to lower the weapon.
Good, now rule number one.Treat it like it's loaded, even when you know it's not.When it comes to firearms there are rarely second chances for mistakes.
Vanessa gave a quick nod as Perry held up a hand and once more drew his own sidearm. He pulled the clip, laying it down for now and held up the weapon for Vanessa to see.
Now, is it loaded?
"I just watched you unload it, Perry." Vanessa pointed out and Perry gave her a flat look.
He retook his stance and pulled the trigger at the target on the far end of the range that had already been set up for them. Vanessa fully expected to hear a click. So when the loud crack of the gunshot sounded off she jumped back with a startled look.
Perry gave her a pointed look and laid the gun down so that he could sign to her.
And what did we just learn?
"Not to trust an agent with a point to make?" Vanessa asked and Perry gave an agitated sigh, but still Vanessa nodded. "Right, sorry, sorry… Always treat the gun as if it's loaded."
First rule Perry pointed out. In this case there was a bullet still in the chamber.If I wasn't prepared for it, that could have been bad.
Vanessa nodded a bit and frowned before glancing over to Perry. "Alright, so how can I tell?"
Perry smiled at the question, once more turning over his own weapon and opening it to show her how to check it, once more going over the safety and how to load it, before he holstered his own weapon and picked up the one she had been handling.
He repeated the steps. They were a bit different. The one he was showing her was a Glock. Perry, had already explained that his was a Beretta. Apparently the side arm that an agent carried was left to personal preference and Perry had been carrying his since his military days.
If ever Vanessa had any thoughts about, point and pull the trigger they were most certainly gone now. Perry was meticulous and felt that she knew every single part. He had already told her that if she wanted to learn, she was going to learn correctly. That meant being able to take it apart and put it back together again and maintain the weapon so that it never backfired on her.
What she thought would be a quick lesson, turned into a grueling, four hour long study before finally he allowed her to hold the gun and aim it.
Alright.Now relax.You'll want to let the recoil happen.Tensing is only going to make it worse.
Vanessa nodded and took her stance again, carefully aiming at the paper target at the other end of the range.
Good.Now remember, both eyes open.You can't shoot with your eyes closed.Relax but hold steady and when you're ready… Fire.
Vanessa nodded, her finger twitching on the trigger for a moment, a deep breath given as she relaxed… When no shot came, Perry gave her a concerned look and after a moment she lowered the weapon, a deep sigh given.
"I'm sorry… I just…" She didn't know how to explain it, but Perry looked as if he already understood.
Trainee agents go through that every time.You don't want to hear the shot.
"Yeah, I guess." Vanessa muttered and Perry gave out a soft chuckle.
Remember you don't have to do this if you don't want to.Though if this is something you're serious about, it will be very difficult for you to come back to.
It made sense. It was hard to re-confront something once you had chickened out once…
"No, I want to do this." Vanessa stated firmly, retaking her position. Perry reached out and nudged at her back again, making her stand up straight. She took a deep breath and pulled the trigger.
The shot rang out and she gave a jump, quickly setting the gun back down and taking a deep breath. She glanced over to Perry who was grinning at her.
Nice shot!
He signed and she blinked, glancing down towards the target. It was hard for her to tell but there it was. A bullet hole, less than an inch from the one that Perry had shot a few moments ago, almost dead center bullseye.
Now, I'm going to set up a fresh target for you.Once it's set up, I want you to empty your clip into it.
She nodded, waiting for Perry to set up the target. Once it was set up, she retook her position. This had drawn the attention of a few agents coming and the bit of an audience made her nervous but Perry told her to ignore them. He nudged her back again, to make her stand up straight. She was developing a habit and he was apparently intent on breaking her of it.
She took a deep breath and pulled the trigger.
xXx
"So, do you take all of your students out for Ice Cream?" Vanessa asked later, over a hot fudge Sundae, seated at one of her favorite ice cream parlors, not far from DEI.
No, Perry signed, over his own Sundae, a smirk crossing his expression. Just the ones who out qualify me on the first try.
Vanessa giggled as she spooned up a scoop of ice cream, grinning at the Agent as she gave a 'what can ya do' shrug.
"I'm sorry I out-shot you in front of all of your agent friends." She offered sheepishly and Perry gave out a laugh, a grin crossing his expression as he shook his head.
Now that I don't mind. I would rather you be able to out-shoot me and handle that weapon well, than for you not to know what you're doing.
Vanessa smiled and nodded as she turned her focus back to her ice cream for a long moment. The two fell into a comfortable silence until another thought crossed her mind, a frown crossing her expression.
She glanced up and Perry had definitely noticed her change in behavior, because he was watching her carefully. Waiting for her to say what was on her mind.
"You carry a gun… When you go out on missions." She started and Perry nodded.
I do.The agent signed honestly, leaning back a bit to be able to pull up the vest he wore enough to reveal the holstered sidearm he carried. The Beretta he had used at the range. When he leaned forward again, the vest completely concealed it. Which explained why he always wore it. Now that she noticed it… He wore it on every mission. It made her wonder if it was actually bulletproof.. Police wore bullet proof vests. Did agents do the same?
"So when you fight Dad…"
Perry firmly knocked on the table to get her attention, causing her to look up. He made sure he had her full attention before he signed what he wanted to say.
I use that as an absolute, last resort.Your father and I are Nemisis, yes but he has never and will never give me a reason to use it.However, I am an agent.Other people have given me reason to use it.Your father's schemes are a little crazy sometimes.However, I have never for a moment thought that he would ever seriously hurt someone.
Vanessa nodded slowly, thinking that over as she took another bite of her ice cream before another thought came to her.
"But… Other people have given you a reason…"
Perry paused for a moment on that and gave a nod. Yes, I have been forced to kill before.It's not something that I wanted to do.If there was another way, I would have used it.
Again, Vanessa nodded slowly as she watched Perry, watching her. As if they were both trying to read each other's minds…
"Have you ever been shot before?" She asked and Perry gave a long pause at that one before he nodded. After a moment's thought, he silently brought a hand up, pointing to a spot on his chest.
Many times.This one was bad.It almost killed me.Your father saved my life though.
Vanessa pulled in a soft gasp, eyes going wide and Perry smiled.
That's how I know, I'll never have to use deadly force on your father.He could have left me to die.No one would have blamed him.No one would have known.He could have called OWCA and told them to come scrape their agent off of his balcony.But… He didn't. I was on a mission that went bad quickly… I lost… Friends on that mission.Good people.Someone betrayed us and they knew we were coming.I stayed behind to give the others cover fire.One grazed my thigh, one hit my shoulder and the last one, here.
Perry paused and pointed to his chest then as Vanessa nodded, absolutely intent on the story.
My car has a button in it.An emergency autopilot.When I hit it, it's supposed to go back to HQ.However, when I was getting in the car, I was still being shot at… They shot my Auto Pilot.I was losing blood, barely awake… I keyed in an address.I don't remember keying in your father's address but I must have.
He could have left me for dead but he held pressure on the wound.I know I woke up in a panic and fighting but he never mentioned it.I was gone for three months.In that three months, he learned an entirely new language just so it would be easier for us to talk.
Perry paused and gave a faint smile.
All of that, is why I can say with certainty… I might carry weapons with me when I fight your father, but… I'll never have to use them.
Vanessa took all of that in, a slow nod given as she finished off her ice cream.
"He likes you too, you know." Vanessa pointed out, causing Perry to give her a startled look.
"You smile when you talk about him. It's obvious."
Don't tell your father. Perry signed, a roll of his eyes given.
"I won't. But I think you should."
Perry sighed and gave the girl a flat look. I'm an agent.Relationships are difficult in the best of conditions.
Vanessa nodded slowly, seeming to consider that for a moment as she frowned. "Do you have a family, Perry?"
Now you know, I can't answer that. Perry pointed out and Vanessa nodded.
"I don't need to know their names just… Do you have someone who would notice that you were gone?"
Perry was quiet for a long while, seeming to think on how to answer that. I do.
"What happens if something happens to you then?" She asked and again, Perry wasn't sure how to answer that. After a moment, he went with honesty. He wasn't sure where this was going but… She had asked.
I don't have a significant other.I do have family though.If anything happened to me, they would send an agent, posing as a police officer.They would be told I was dead.They would make up something that would likely reflect the condition of my body.If I had died that night on your father's balcony, they had an officer ready to tell my family that I had been involved in a drive-by shooting.
Vanessa looked horrified at that, but she still nodded.
He knocked on the table to get her attention, silently pointing to his own eyes, then to hers, indicating that he wanted her full attention on this.
Because of the nature of what I do, I can never have an open and honest relationship with my family.They think I work for the government.I work long hours. I haven't had a vacation in years. I've missed birthdays, holidays, important functions… I've disappointed more people in my life than I ever care to think about. I've gone home with black eyes and bruises and broken bones and when asked what happened I've had to shrug and tell them it was a bar fight.I can only accept that disappointment and their 'when will you ever grow up Perry?' I haven't slept through the night without a nightmare in… Well, honestly the only time that happens is when I've been medicated after getting shot.I have severe PTSD, night terrors and depression and the only thing that keeps me going is the fact that I can make a difference.I am making a difference.
He paused for a moment as he let her take that in, her eyes wide with wonder that he even shared any of this with her.
I'm telling you this, Vanessa… Because I trust you. I'm telling you this, because I know you won't use it against me.The reason we have to hide our families as we do, is just for that reason.If anyone connected who I was outside of the agency I would have to be relocated.Memories would be altered… My family would be told that I had died so that I could never come back.
He explained, another knock on the table given to get her undivided attention before he went on.
I'm also telling you this, because I am a senior agent.There is not much that goes on in the agency that I don't know about… With that in mind, I've already seen your application to OWCA come across my desk.
Her eyes went wide at that. Her breath caught and for a moment she looked like a child caught with her hand in the cookie jar.
Your father is my nemesis, Vanessa. I've watched you grow up.You must have known that they would ask my opinion about your application…
He pointed out and she nodded slowly.
"I guess I did I just… I didn't expect that they would come right to you with it, I guess. I thought I would have more time. Perry, please don't tell my Dad…" She pleaded and he smiled, a shake of his head given.
I won't. It's not my place.I do think you should tell him though.
She calmed down slowly, a nod given to that. "I will, I just… I wanted to be sure before I told him. He gets excited over nothing, ya know?"
Perry nodded a bit, able to understand that well enough. He tapped his fingers against the table for a moment, seeming to be carefully placing his words before he signed to her.
The agency has been my life for a very long time.I didn't go right into it.The moment I graduated from high school, I walked into the first military recruitment center I could find.OWCA, head-hunted me from my first tour of duty.I have life-long friends in the agency.It's a rewarding career and you will make a difference.That being said… The agency owns you for life.It's never out of your thoughts.It's never out of your nightmares.Every scar I have is one I am proud to carry.However, it's also a brand.I have no doubt in my mind, you would go far in the agency.You're smart, you're kind, you're an amazing person. I'm telling you this because I trust you to make an educated choice. I'm telling you this because I want you to know all of the facts.I want you to know the facts that I didn't know when I joined.If I knew then, what I know now I may have chosen a different path.We do what we can with the cards we are dealt.If I had known all the cards on the table, I might have held a different hand.That's why I want you to know all of your options and all of the risks.
Vanessa nodded slowly, a hard swallow given. "You're giving me a peek at the house cards." She muttered softly and Perry smiled, a nod given to that.
I am.
Vanessa sighed softly, though she smiled, a look of gratitude at Perry. "Thank you Perry."
Perry smiled and nodded to that, a thoughtful look crossing his expression.
I have no doubt you would make a good agent.If you want me too, I'll sign off on your application. I'll reference you right into the best training programs.If that is where you see your life, you are old enough to make that choice.I just want you to know all of the facts.
Vanessa nodded to that, for a moment studying a spot on the table before she answered. "Thank you Perry. I'll think about it." She promised and smiled softly. "I suppose the first step of being an agent is going to be, being brave enough to tell my Dad I want to be an agent." She mused and Perry chuckled, a gesture of 'bingo' given to her.
Vanessa leaned back in her seat, mulling that over as Perry paid for their food and ordered a to-go cupcake to take back to Heinz. She couldn't help but smile at that. She swore both men were absolutely blind…
A few minutes later, they were walking in companionable silence back to the DEI building. They had driven up to the front of the building but Perry had gotten an abrupt sweet tooth. Vanessa had thought it was funny at first. Now she understood the agent's real reason for taking her. He had wanted to talk. She was glad he did.
"Perry?" She asked as they walked and she instantly had Perry's full attention. That was the thing about Perry. When you asked for his attention he gave it to you. Full focus. She felt heard. "Do you think my Dad would ever forgive me if I did become an agent?"
Perry gave a smile to that and nodded. It would be hard for him, I'm sure. I'm not going to lie to you about that.However, I think in the end he would be proud of you, just for being you.
Vanessa smiled and nodded, a deep breath taken. "I'm gonna tell him then. Tonight. I know I have to make this choice but, if what you're saying is true and it's that hard on your family… Maybe he should have some input too."
Perry mulled that over for a moment, a nod given as he gave her a pointed look. You still need to make it your choice.
"I know, I know. I just need someone to bounce ideas off of and maybe I need to trust that my Dad just wants what's best for me too."
Apparently that was the right answer, because Perry smiled and nodded as they stepped up to the front doors of the building.
Perry reached into a pocket of his vest, taking out what looked like a business card and silently gave it to Vanessa, along with the cupcake for Heinz. That's my direct contact.If you have any questions, call me. I'll do my best to answer them. The agent signed, a pause given. You're welcome to use that in emergencies too. Don't hesitate.
"Thank you Perry."
Next Saturday we start self defense lessons by the way.
She laughed softly and nodded as she walked inside. "Wouldn't miss it. I'll see you later Perry."
As she ascended the building in the otherwise silent elevator, her mind wouldn't stop spinning. So much to think about in one day…
As the doors opened to the quiet apartment, she paused to listen and stepped inside. She could hear her father working upstairs and she smiled.
"Dad! Perry sent you a cupcake!" She called out and she chuckled as she heard a quiet, metallic thump and a curse before Heinz answered.
"Thank you sweetie, I'll be there in a moment!"
She smiled, setting the cupcake on the counter as she walked around the kitchen, grabbing a glass and going to the fridge to pour herself a glass of juice.
"How did your lesson go?" Heinz asked as he stepped into the room.
"Great! I out-shot Perry." She offered smugly and Heinz grinned.
"That's my girl!"
She paused then, taking a deep breath as she reigned in her nerves a bit.
"Dad… There's something important I need to talk to you about."
In the end, Perry was right. If she wanted to be brave enough to be considered an agent… She had to be brave enough to tell her father that she wanted to be one.
