On this particular morning, it seemed like it wasn't Agent's day. He awoke with a pounding headache and a spinning vision. Perhaps he should have taken it as a sign to rest, but being someone who never missed a day of work since he started under Victim's wing, he decided to push through the discomfort and head to work.

Well, not exactly "head to work," since he was already within the facility. Each of the mercenaries had their own apartment within the facility for quick access in case they were summoned by Victim. Previously, they resided in the city, but that meant a 30-minute drive to the facility, and sometimes they were needed at odd hours.

Now, the situation had changed. They were free to live in the city if they wished and abandon the apartments within the facility. However, having grown accustomed to the convenience, they opted to stay. With free food and electricity, not having to worry about bills, thanks to Victim's provision, it made sense to maintain their living arrangements within the facility.

Agent groaned as he struggled to put on his suit, his spinning vision causing him to stumble and reach out for the wall for support. With a sigh, he retreated back to his bed, opting to sit down and button up his suit slowly.

"Maybe I shouldn't go to work," Agent mused dazedly, rubbing his eyes and feeling the warmth radiating from his flushed face. As he began to unbutton his suit, he froze at the sound of loud knocking on his door, intensifying the pounding in his head.

"Tsk," Agent clicked his tongue in annoyance as he rose to his feet, the room swirling around him. Despite the dizziness, he ignored it and made his way to the door, swinging it open wide.

"Good morning, Agent!" Ballista greeted with a grin, his expression faltering at the sight of Agent's intense glare. "Good morning, Ballista. Next time, try not to break my door at 5 in the morning," Agent said, his voice low to spare his throbbing head.

"Oh, sorry," Ballista apologized, looking sheepish as he nervously twirled his fingers.

"But uh, just thought to ask you if you want to have breakfast with us.....Or with boss" Ballista smirked as Agent continued to stare at him, no longer having the energy to even glare at the smaller stick. Though the sound of breakfast does make his stomach roll slightly.

Agent stepped out of his room, closing the door behind him as Ballista beamed. "Great! I'm off to wake up Hazard. See you at the canteen," Ballista chirped, receiving a silent nod from Agent. He watched the smaller stick dash off towards Hazard's room before proceeding down the opposite hallway towards the elevator.

As Agent gazed at his closed door, his eyelids fluttered slightly, and his body started to lean forward.

Just before his forehead could meet the elevator door, an arm swiftly intercepted, preventing the collision. "Agent, I didn't expect you to be so exhausted that you'd resort to trying to bang your head on the door instead of getting some rest," Victim remarked, a smirk playing on his lips as Agent straightened up in surprise, turning to see Victim grinning at him.

"I wasn't–," Agent began to protest, but Victim gave his arm a reassuring pat.

"It's okay to admit you're still tired, Agent," Victim said, his voice taking on a strangely gentle tone. Agent stared at him, his vision momentarily blurring before a familiar ding interrupted the moment, signaling the arrival of the elevator.

With a small smile, Victim turned to Agent. "Come on, let's have breakfast," he invited, gesturing for Agent to follow. Numbly nodding, Agent did his best not to stumble as he followed and stood beside Victim.

"You're eating in the canteen?" Agent asked, looking down at Victim, who crossed his arms. "Is there something wrong with me eating there?" Victim tilted his head in confusion as Agent weakly shook his head, the pounding in his head persisting. Struggling to stay engaged in the conversation, all Agent really wanted was to drift away from the situation.

"No... why?" Agent queried, pausing for a moment before continuing, "To boost morale, of course," Victim beamed, looking at Agent as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Agent stared at him for a moment, the elevator chiming to signal their arrival at the correct floor. Stepping out, they both turned down the hallway.

"Boost morale..." Agent trailed off, sounding slightly dazed, before turning to Victim, who was grinning at him. "Why do you need to boost morale?" Agent inquired, prompting Victim to roll his eyes.

"I believe it's high time I establish connections with my employees, don't you think? Our conversation a few days ago helped me reach this decision," Victim explained with a smile, as Agent slowly nodded in understanding.

"I didn't mean to imply that you had to do it. You're still our boss, after all," Agent responded.

"This is my final decision, Agent. You didn't pressure me into anything," Victim retorted, rolling his eyes. They stopped in front of the canteen area, the doors wide open as a few sticks came and went. Some held cups of coffee, while others looked like they would rather be in bed than there.

"I guess I'm not alone," Agent thought to himself, fighting the urge to cough into his hand.

"Agent? Agent? Yahoo!" Primal lightly flicked Agent's hair as he continued to snooze, his face buried in his arms. "That's weird, I've never seen Agent sleep on the job," Ballista remarked, puzzled.

Agent stirred, sitting up and rubbing his forehead in confusion before turning to them.

"What is it?" Agent asked, his voice slightly hoarse from coughing earlier. It had gotten to the point where he had to retreat to the bathroom to cough, considering how congested and unpleasant it sounded. Agent preferred that nobody hear it.

"Are you okay?" Primal inquired, her brow furrowed in concern as Agent sluggishly rubbed his face. "I'm okay, just feeling under the weather, I suppose," Agent mumbled, as the three mercenaries exchanged worried glances.

"Why not just rest for today?" Ballista suggested, earning a small glare from Agent. "I was planning to, but someone decided to knock on my door at 5 in the morning," Agent grumbled, causing Ballista to blush and rub the back of his neck, while Primal shot him a disapproving look.

"How about it now? You can still rest, take the day off. We don't have much going on anyway. We can handle your workload if you have any tasks scheduled for today," Primal proposed, grinning and clasping her hands together.

For a moment, Agent felt a wave of gratitude towards the others, though he narrowed his eyes when he noticed Primal's smile and expression. "What?" Primal inquired, tilting her head as Agent squinted at her before shaking his head. "Nothing, you're right. Maybe I do need to rest," Agent groaned, placing a hand on his stomach as Ballista let out a sigh.

"Alright, do you need help? I can always assist you to your room," Ballista offered, fidgeting with his hands nervously as Agent waved a hand, declining the offer and shaking his head as he tried to stand up. Placing his hand on the desk for support, he stumbled, only to be steadied by Primal who grabbed his shoulders, preventing him from toppling to the floor.

"Yeah, rest is definitely necessary," Primal frowned, her brows knitting together as Agent fought the urge to roll his eyes.

Agent let out a sigh of relief, stretching his shoulders as he finally shed the stuffy suit he had been wearing. Now clad in a simple shirt and loose pants, he settled onto his bed, sipping tea and browsing something on his phone.

Aware that he should be resting, the absence of the uncomfortable suit and the quiet of his room seemed to have eased his headache. Agent breathed a sigh of relief, taking another sip of his tea and scrolling through his phone. He set his phone on the nightstand and placed the cup beside it, preparing to lay down on his bed.

Just as he was about to relax, he heard a soft knocking on the door. Agent froze for a moment, wondering if he had imagined it, as the knocks were rarely so gentle; they usually heralded someone ready to blast his eardrums.

Agent lay still, waiting for another series of knocks. When the silence persisted, he turned onto his side and curled up, only to snap his eyes open at the sound of another soft knock.

Fisting the blanket, he closed his eyes, tensing each time the knocking repeated. Half-tempted to shout at the persistent visitor to go away, he finally sat up and made his way to the door. Opening it, his brows furrowed and lips pulled into a snarl.

"Wow, you look kind of pissed," Victim remarked with a smirk, causing Agent to flinch in surprise, his expression dazed as he stared at the gray hollowhead.

"Victim... what are you doing here?" Agent asked, stepping back to let the gray hollowhead in. Panic flashed through him as Victim noticed his messy bed, prompting Agent to run a hand through his hair nervously.

"Looks like you were resting already? I hope I didn't actually make you stand up just to greet me," Victim remarked with a small frown as Agent shook his head furiously. "No, you didn't. I-I forgot to fix my bed earlier," Agent stammered, flushing as he hid his hands behind his back, while Victim offered him a reassuring smile.

"Okay, that's good. I brought some stuff for you, mostly medicine because Primal told me you were sick and didn't even bother to ask her to get some medicine," Victim explained, causing Agent to resist the urge for his eye to twitch in annoyance.

Of course Primal would say that, Agent thought, scowling briefly before softening his expression as Victim turned to him. "I also have this tea that can help you sleep, though it looks like you were already drinking some," Victim remarked, noticing the half-drunk tea on the nightstand.

"It's fine, I can drink it later," Agent replied, his face flushing slightly as Victim smirked. "Or I can just make you some. Here," Victim said, picking up the cup. "Can I borrow your kitchen for a moment? Goodness, your room is so weird. Why is your bedroom close to the main door?" Victim chuckled as he made his way towards Agent's kitchen.

Agent made his way back to his bed and sat down. For a moment, he listened to the soft noises emanating from the kitchen, struggling to keep his eyes open. He glanced at his pillow, then at the direction of the kitchen before deciding to plop down. "I'll know when he comes out; I'll just sit up again," Agent thought wearily, blinking at the soft light spilling from the kitchen. He tugged the blankets up to his chest, curled up, and shut his heavy eyes.

A soft hum pulled Agent from his drowsiness, prompting him to open his eyes blearily. He looked up to find Victim seated beside his bed, engrossed in something on his tablet. Agent rubbed his eyes, feeling puzzled about why Victim was still there.

Despite his efforts to resist the weight of sleep, Agent found himself gazing at Victim's serene expression, a sense of calm washing over him. Meeting Victim's eyes, he saw a reassuring smile. "Just sleep," Victim whispered softly, reaching over to place a warm hand on Agent's forehead.

Agent closed his eyes, surrendering to the gentle touch of Victim's hand as it moved through his hair and then drifted down to his cheek.

Around 10 PM, Agent awoke feeling refreshed, devoid of sluggishness and fatigue, only to discover that Victim was nowhere to be found. He scanned his room, releasing a disappointed sigh. Clutching the blanket on his lap, he rubbed his face, recalling the tender touch of the other's hand.

With a deep exhale, Agent dropped his hand to his lap, then turned towards his nightstand. There, he noticed his cup, covered with a small plate to prevent spills, and a small gray note affixed to it.

Quickly reaching over, he plucked the note from the plate. It read:

"Sorry, I have to go. Someone apparently broke the vending machine on the third floor. Now I'm pissed :// - V"

Agent chuckled softly before tucking the note inside his drawer, securing it to the gray card he had received from Victim prior before, a faint smile gracing his lips. He then lifted the cup, taking a sip of the now cooled tea, emitting a contented hum.

Considering reheating it in the microwave, he found the taste rather pleasant. Perhaps he should ask about the brand of tea from Victim, Agent mused as he continued to drink, eventually shifting his focus to his phone.

Upon unlocking it, he noticed several messages from the other mercenaries, urging him to rest well. After a brief pause, he set his phone aside, swung his legs off the bed, and returned the cup to the nightstand, only to halt abruptly at the sight of a chocolate bar on his desk.

With a small sigh, Agent smiled as he picked it up, flipping it over to find yet another small note attached.

"Noticed the basket of chocolates in the kitchen; it was all empty. Have some chocolate until I can get you more again - V."

Agent blushed at the note before hurrying to the kitchen. There, he found the basket he had left on the side of the table, running a hand over his face in surprise and gratitude.

"Looks like you're feeling better already," Victim remarked as he walked over to Agent, who was engrossed in staring at the flowers beneath the tree. "I am... thank you for looking after me... though I didn't manage to use the medicine," Agent said, his face flushing as Victim chuckled. "It's fine, keep it, so next time you get sick, you have some medicine on hand," Victim replied with a smile.

"Thank you," Agent nodded gratefully, turning back to admire the flowers, noticing how the blue hues almost matched Victim's eyes.

As Agent gazed at the flowers, lost in thought, Victim suddenly spoke up. "You know, you talk in your sleep." This revelation caused Agent to freeze, snapping his head towards Victim with a puzzled frown. "What did I say?" Agent inquired, taking a step closer to the slightly shorter figure, who simply laughed in response.

"Relax, you didn't say anything important if that's what you're worried about," Victim laughed as Agent's expression fell. "Why, did I scare you? Are you afraid to say something... personal?" Victim teased, a smirk playing on his lips as Agent shot him a look.

"I wasn't," Agent stammered, his cheeks flushing as Victim continued to chuckle, wiping away a tear. "No, no, don't worry, you were just mumbling nonsense," Victim said through giggles, causing Agent to sigh, cross his arms, and glance away. "Oh," Agent trailed off, taking a step back from Victim, who then moved closer, casually draping an arm over his shoulder with a grin.

"Don't feel so embarrassed now, Agent. You already fell asleep in front of your boss," Victim whispered into his ear, smirking as Agent's blush deepened, his head dropping in defeat.

"Don't worry, you look cute when you sleep," Victim teased, tousling Agent's hair and eliciting a soft, adorable noise from him. "That's not..." Agent began before letting out an embarrassed huff, which only made Victim giggle even more.

"I like it when you get flustered; you're just adorable," Victim teased, poking Agent's cheek, prompting a small groan from Agent as his face grew noticeably hotter, the warmth seeping through his suit. "Victim, I really should advise you to stop... doing this to me... if you want something, please just say it," Agent frowned, his tone serious as Victim raised an eyebrow in response.

Victim studied his expression for a moment before taking a step back, crossing his arms. "You think I'm doing this because... what? I'm only messing with you?" Victim tilted his head, observing Agent as he nervously bit his lip, eventually looking up at Victim and nodding slowly.

After a brief pause, Victim gave him a searching look before letting out a thoughtful hum.

"Victim... I have seen how you operate at times. You've used this approach with multiple people before when you needed something from them. What is it that you want from me? You know I will always follow your orders," Agent stated with a frown, his expression serious, as Victim simply laughed.

"Oh, Agent, you're quite oblivious, aren't you?" Victim giggled as he approached Agent, grabbing him by his tie and pulling him closer, their faces mere inches apart.

"W-What?" Agent breathed out, his voice wavering slightly as Victim locked eyes with him. "I don't need anything from you, Agent. Can't you trust that I'm doing this because I like you?" Victim's sweet smile softened his features as Agent stared back, disbelief written all over his face.

"Like... me?" Agent stammered, taken aback, as Victim nodded, tilting his head. His gaze shifted to Agent's lips before returning to his eyes, a smile playing on his lips. "Why? Don't you believe me?" Victim inquired, a hint of a pout in his voice, prompting Agent to shake his head in response.

Agent stuttered, his thoughts racing too quickly for his words to keep up. "How... what—I mean..." he stumbled over his words, his confusion evident. "Easy now," Victim reassured him, placing a soothing hand on his cheek.

This gesture only served to further fluster Agent. "What... kind of like?" he managed to ask, his voice soft and shaky as he involuntarily leaned closer to the slightly smaller figure. Victim smirked, placing a finger under his chin, pretending to contemplate as he hummed, his gaze lifting upwards.

Agent's eyes drifted down to Victim's lips, a fleeting thought crossing his mind...

Before he could dwell on it further, his focus snapped back up as Victim laughed. "What do you want it to be? How about I ask you that?" Victim proposed, tilting his head as he leaned in closer, their lips almost brushing before they both leaned back as footsteps approached, interrupting the moment.

"Sir Victim, the Chosen One is in the lobby asking for you," a gray stick announced, freezing upon seeing Agent stumble back and hide his face, and Victim looking slightly flushed.

"Oh? The Chosen One is here? Alright then," Victim responded with a smile, while Agent hastily adjusted his tie, his face burning red, hands trembling, and legs feeling like they might give way beneath him.

The gray stick's gaze shifted between them before nodding and hurrying off.

"How about we discuss this in my office later?" Victim suggested, turning to Agent, who nodded unsteadily. Victim then produced a lollipop from his pocket, unwrapped it, and placed it in his mouth, smirking at Agent.

"I did say I would let you taste something sweeter," Victim winked at Agent before strolling away.

"H-Huh?" Agent stammered, his mind grinding to a halt at the implication of Victim's words.