A Deadly Diversion
Alex was all but writhing in anticipation as he and Tom finished the preparations for the car. He did not appreciate being taken out of school again. This was just going to be a harmless prank. He heard the car backfire as he walked back into the school building. The men who had tried to remove him from school would have just gotten a face full of powder.
Tom had been great, helping him out like that. Tom was grinning excitedly at him as they went back to class. Alex waved at his friend. "Thanks, mate."
Tom waved before turning and sauntering off back to his class. Alex felt a wave of fondness pass over him as he went back to class. The teacher scowled at him. Alex let out a sigh. "Sorry, as it turns out, they didn't want me after all. Think they got me confused with the other Alex for some sort of scholarship?"
The teacher looked close to facepalming. Hopefully, nobody would check that story out too closely. Alex doubted anyone in MI6 would contradict him. "Alright, get back to work for all five minutes you'll be back in my class."
Alex felt like the teacher had earned the right to be a bit snippy. Between the budget cuts and his already spotty attendance record, Alex decided to just slink back to his desk. There were other classes to get through for the day, anyways.
The final bell of the day rang a bit later. Alex all but ran out of school to meet Tom at the front. Tom was waiting for him, leaning against a pillar. "Ready to head to your place?"
Alex swung his backpack back over his shoulder. It was a pity that they hadn't replaced his bike yet. He enjoyed biking alongside Tom to get home instead of taking the tube. Tom gave him a look. "You know, it's a nice day. Do you want to ride behind me?"
Alex grinned at Tom. He was the best. Biking was way better than the tube. "Are you sure you don't want me to be the one peddling? I'm kind of heavy."
Tom rolled his eyes. Alex knew he was going to refuse. "Pfft. One of us needs to have leg day. And you're on the rowing team this year, so you can let your legs turn into noodles."
Alex looked at Tom. Tom looked triumphant. "Tom. This is why you're failing biology. What do you think holds my arms and torso up?"
Tom snorted slightly before they headed for the school bike rack. Alex followed closely behind. "Rude. But probably accurate. You should have seen your face, though."
Alex watched Tom get on the bike. He was pretty sure his best friend also needed to go bike shopping. They had both grown this past year. Then again, Tom's parents might throw a fit if Alex bought him a new bike. They were a pair of shitbirds. Alex thought they were made for each other, personally.
Tom was looking at him. "Are you good there?"
Alex slowly climbed onto the back of the bike. He leaned against Tom. "Yep. Just trying to decide how best not to capsize you. You have toppled over while-"
"THAT WAS ONE TIME! AND IT WAS BECAUSE I HIT A ROCK ON A HILL!"
Alex grinned against his friend's collarbone. His arms were loosely around Tom. "Sure, Tom. Whatever you say."
Tom let out a huff. Alex leaned with him into the turn. "You're the worst. I don't know why I still offer you rides."
Alex let out a breath as Tom whipped down the bike lane. He was a bit of a speed demon. Alex had enjoyed racing him before he had outgrown his bike. "Because you love me. Besides, we need to go bike shopping soon. I am not losing the annual unofficial bike race."
Tom took a corner without slowing down. Alex clung tighter to him. "That's what you think, Alex."
They had tied the previous few years. Tom braked just in time for Alex's house and slid onto the pavement. "You're a hoodlum, Tom."
Tom shoved him lightly as they headed for the door. Alex unlocked the door to find a very unhappy-looking Jack. "Mr. Jones is her. And this time she wants to speak to both of you."
Alex folded his arms. Jack closed her eyes. "Hell, no."
Tom looked faintly alarmed. Alex was glad that some of his stories about MI6 being crap had sunk in. "Alex. She said that Tom would go to jail if you didn't."
Tom blanched behind Jack. Alex felt himself clench his fist. If Jones sent Tom with him, he was going to be committing murder. Alex offered his hand to his best friend. He stepped into the living room, careful to keep himself between Tom and anyone else present.
"Come in. Sit down, boys."
Mrs. Jones' tone was notably frostier than Alex was used to. Was this some sort of front for Tom? She turned on the news without warning.
"...two men were hospitalized after having an allergic reaction to some sort of paint. This seems to have been placed in the car as some sort of prank. The condition of these men remains serious and it is unknown whether they will make full recovery. This report-"
Tulip switched the TV off. Tom was an unusually pale shade. Alex knew that he wasn't far behind. "I think you boys get the point. I want you to know that if you ever pull anything like that again, there will be consequences. We may need you, Alex, but Tom here is just an ordinary schoolboy. You would do well not to involve him in any more pranks."
Alex felt himself nodding along. Tom looked utterly terrified. Alex felt a slight pit form in his stomach. He hadn't even known people could be allergic to paint. Wasn't it normally peanuts or something?
Mrs. Jones' tone warmed slightly. "You may go, Tom. I still have things to discuss with Alex."
Tom let out an eep before getting up and leaving the room. Alex felt a stab of guilt as his friend left.
"Now, speaking of child assassins…"
Fin
Based on a prompt by Zyzyax (see story summary). This is the 328th 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. We have an index of all the prompts used in this event so far and going forwards - join the discord to get access to the online index (and to take part in our events, chat about everything and anything, and meet a load of awesome people!