Agent X, a secret operative working for SHADE, has just been given his breakthrough case. Even with the help of a super-coder, Hacker, and his superior, Sheaf, this mission will be the most challenging one X has ever taken up.
The task is simple: i...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The next day brought on its own set of challenges with it. Apparently, Sheaf and Hacker had run away from SHADE's HQ when the cops had surrounded them. But the problem had come in when both of them had tripped and banged into the walls of the narrow alleyway they were escaping through.
They'd gotten pretty hurt, but being trained operatives, they managed to push the pain aside and somehow get to Agent X's house. The throbbing had ceased for a while due to all the adrenaline running through them, but when they woke up the next morning, their wounds flared to life as well and began bugging them endlessly.
It was this story that was recited to X during breakfast when both of them took turns telling the tale with puppy eyes inserted in between to make X forgive them for not telling him sooner.
In the end, both of them made goo-goo eyes and stared at him until X sighed, forgave them, and got the first aid kit to treat them.
'I've treated the majority of the wounds, but you guys need to take it easy to ensure that you don't move around too much and disrupt the bandages.' X told them as he wrapped up the last piece of cloth around Hacker's hand.
Both of them nodded over eagerly and he sighed at their silliness.
While trying to think if he missed anything in their treatment, he began playing with his earring absentmindedly and staring off into space.
X suddenly noticed Hacker eyeing his earring carefully, and he remarked with a laugh, 'What, did you like this earring so much you want it for yourself?'
Hacker flushed at being caught and shook her head bashfully. 'Nah, I was just wondering why you're wearing it in the first place. I mean, you're not much of a jewelry person, you know?'
X took a deep breath as he remembered how Sheaf had asked him the exact same thing and he'd promised to tell him the story later. Perhaps it was finally time to reveal the earring's story.
'Yeah, I know that. There's actually a deeper meaning behind me wearing this. I'd promised Sheaf that I'd tell him the story once the time was right, and I actually almost forgot about it till now.' He started with a sheepish chuckle. Then he cleared his throat and started what was an obviously painful memory for him.
'It had been an ordinary day actually. We'd gotten up and gone for work as usual, but that day she'd forgotten to wear one of the earrings of a favorite pair. I kept it in my pocket, thinking I'd give it to her later, but that later never came. When I found out that she was killed, I started wearing it as a reminder of her, 'cause I ended up missing her a little less when I wore it.'
Hacker and Sheaf looked at the earring from a different angle after listening to the story. Was there even a small part of his actions that weren't connected to his wife's death? They felt bad thinking of how X had made the pain an integral part of his life and lived every day punishing himself for her death. Nobody should have to live with such sorrow and misery.
