Footsteps from Cassian's loafers could be heard as he walked down the empty hallway within AU.
It was toward none other than his father's office, a call he had received to report there immediately. He didn't quite like going there due to how dangerously close his duality could be jeopardized.
For some strange reason, he felt anxious about this time around.
There was a list of things that could be the reason for this, some of which can be a new case, his performance review of the month, or just a general update chat.
Things didn't sit right because he just found out a week ago that the Convoy Incident and the attack on the headquarters were still under investigation, and he was not expecting AU to have such free time on that matter.
It was a possibility of further investigation on his plans, but the chances were still under ten percent.
Cassian relaxed himself before knocking on the door.
"Enter," his father's familiar voice followed.
Cassian took the doorknob, grabbed it tighter than needed, and entered the room. He saw the Head looking at reports and files that read "Headquarters' Incident."
Cassian's face definitely paled a little, but he was quick to don a mask.
"Cassian," his father said, not looking up from the document he was reviewing. "Sit…"
Cassian obeyed, sliding into the chair opposite the desk. The atmosphere felt denser than expected, though neither of them spoke for a moment. His father finished looking at the document and placed it neatly to the side.
"You've been keeping busy," Magnus began, finally looking up. "Your recent cases have been… productive. Results-oriented. Efficient."
Cassian nodded, keeping his expression neutral as he said, "I aim to meet the department's expectations."
"Exceed them," his father corrected, leaning back slightly in his chair. "You've done well, but there's always room for improvement. And lately, I've been observing some… inconsistencies."
"Inconsistencies?" Cassian repeated, careful to keep his tone steady.
"Yes. Your report on the Convoy Incident, for instance. It was thorough, yet there are gaps—gaps that, for someone in your position, should not exist."
'What gaps?' Cassian asked himself. 'What did they find?'
A million things crossed over his head as he tried to remember the slip-up.
"I cross-checked your report with independent findings," his father continued. "And while I don't doubt your competence, the discrepancies raise questions. Questions about your judgment. About your priorities."
"I assure you, any gaps in the report are unintentional. I can revisit the details and provide additional clarification if necessary."
His father leaned forward, folding his hands on the desk. "You misunderstand, Cassian. This isn't about clarification. This is about trust."
Trust? What did Magnus, a political head of the government, know about trust?
"I have given you responsibilities that many in this organization would kill for," his father said in a more sharpened tone. "I've placed faith in your abilities, in your loyalty. But trust is fragile, Cassian. It can be broken in an instant."
Cassian did not break the stare. "And I've never given you reason to doubt me."
His father tilted his head slightly, saying, "Perhaps not openly. But I've been in this position long enough to know that doubt doesn't always present itself as a glaring flaw. Sometimes, it's a whisper—a subtle shift in behavior, a detail overlooked. You're my son, Cassian. But you're also part of this organization. And no one, not even family, is above scrutiny."
That was a threat, a reminder that Cassian's position was also a fragile one.
"I understand," Cassian said. "And I'll do whatever it takes to ensure your trust in me remains untiring."
His father studied him for a long moment, then nodded. "No more mistakes… This organization has no room for any more foolishness."
Magnus then leaned back, signaling the end of the conversation. "You're dismissed. But remember, Cassian—I'm always watching."
"Understood…"
As he turned toward the door, Cassian couldn't help but give a slight smirk. Everything his father had said was only foreshadowing the game that he and his rebel group were playing.
Some time later.
"Shade…" Nia's voice came through the earpiece in Cassian's ears. Right now he was on a lunch break by a café. While he was still on shift, it was safe for her to contact him this way. "Can you hear me, sir?"
"Yes, what is it?"
"A letter from Libra just arrived a minute ago." Her voice sounded hoarse as if she couldn't believe what the letter contained. "It's kinda crazy!"
"What does it say?" Cassian calmly asked.
"Okay, it says, 'To Shade, Leader of TEC: The Libra Council has agreed to consider your proposal for collaboration. To earn our conviction, we request your assistance with an operation: moving indispensable supplies past AU patrols undetected.'"
Cassian nodded to himself, expecting this. He had to consider a few things.
'Why do they always have to go with moving stuff from AU's management? Is it so hard not to do it themselves? No… This is just a test.'
Nia's pitch grew higher as she continued, "A representative from Libra will join you to oversee the mission and ensure coordination. Success in this task will determine the foundation of our partnership. We look forward to your results. Regards, High Magistrate Lestrade, Second-in-Command, Libra"
"And a babysitter?" he replied. "They don't seem to have much hope in us."
"They don't trust us, period," Nia said, frustrated.
Cassian smirked. He couldn't blame them. To be fair, not even his own dad fully trusted him.
"You're taking this surprisingly well," Nia said in a tone of suspicion.
"Why wouldn't I?" he replied, looking at the time on his phone.
She sighed on the other end of the line. She tried to reprimand him on how this wasn't a game and that Libra could easily crush them if they chose. One slip-up and they could kiss their alliance out the door.
Little did Nia forget, Shade was also Cassian—son of the head and also the one who defeated the previous leader of TEC, securing his position without compromise.
"I didn't forget!" she suddenly said. There was a pause before she spoke again. "The letter said the job is a clandestine one. That means—"
"I know," Cassian acknowledged, interrupting her. "They want to see if I can outmaneuver my own organization."
"Yeah, that's right!" Nia confirmed. "It'll definitely be risky."
Cassian had long understood that the situation required a bit of care. It was often that AU was targeted, but ninety-nine percent of those attempts ended in failure. That one percent never went untold.
Libra wanted to see if he and his group could become that one percent, to assess his resourcefulness and skill in operating covertly.
Accepting the challenge, Cassian decided to proceed and instructed Nia to send a letter confirming his agreement to the terms laid out. Before ending the conversation, he emphasized the importance of confidentiality, insisting that no details of their discussion should be shared with anyone.
Needless to say, he saw the innocent combination of a ball, a cat, and a dog—pondering the potential complications that could arise from such a scenario.