Beyond the mission

Raven gave Jason the grand tour-though 'Grand' wasn't the right word. Above ground, the agency looked like any top-tier intelligence facility. But below the surface... that's where the real world existed.

Beneath layers of steel and secrecy was the true core of the organization-a brutal training ground for assassins. As they descended, Raven explained the ranks, the rules, and the reality: this place wasn't about saving the world-it was about doing what others couldn't.

Jason's journey began that day.

Now, one year later, the time had come-his first official ranking.

D-rank. The bottom of the barrel.

It stung.

Despite a year of sweat, bruises, and near-death drills, Jason was still labeled a rookie. Worse? Everyone in the agency already had an opinion of him. Arrogant. Rude. Uncooperative. He wasn't exactly making friends-and he didn't care to.

They ignored him. Some mocked him. Most just hoped he'd quit.

But Jason? He had no intention of backing down. Because deep down, he knew something they didn't-

'He wasn't meant to stay at the bottom'.

Jason sat alone in the cafeteria-like always-poking at his food, lost in thought. The chatter around him buzzed, but no one dared come close.

Until someone did.

"Hey, D-rank," a calm voice said behind him. "Mind if I join you?"

Jason didn't even look up. He figured it was another clown trying to get a laugh at his expense.

"Get lost, would you?" he muttered. "I'm not in the mood for games."

But when he finally glanced up, his words froze.

The guy standing there wasn't just anyone-he was wearing a black badge. S-Rank.

Jason's eyes narrowed. "What's an S-Rank doing down here? Don't you have elite missions or something?"

The stranger chuckled and sat down anyway. "Can't a guy take a break without getting interrogated? Name's Simon."

Jason leaned back, unconvinced. "Yeah, sure. Spare me the friendly act. You know exactly who I am. I've got a reputation around here-bad enough that half the room's probably whispering about me right now."

Simon gave a smirk of his own. "That's exactly why I'm here."

Jason narrowed his eyes. "What's that suppose to mean?"

Simon leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, calm but direct. "You stand out. Not because you're D-rank, but because you don't care that you're D-rank. You walk around here like you're untouchable... like the system doesn't apply to you."

Jason scoffed. "Because it doesn't. The system's rigged for people like me to fail."

Simon tilted his head slightly, amused. "Or... it's built to see who can break it."

Jason paused, the words hanging in the air.

Simon continued, "I was like you once. Loud, angry, alone. Then I figured something out: people fear what they don't understand. You've already got that part down. Now you just need control."

Jason looked at him, skeptical but listening. "Why are you telling me this? You don't even know me."

Simon smiled. "Not yet. But I know potential when I see it. You've got fire-raw and untamed. I just want to see what happens if someone actually fans it instead of putting it out."

Jason looked down at his tray, then back at Simon. For the first time in a long while, he didn't feel completely alone.

"...So what, you're offering to train me or something?"

Simon paused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "You know... I was actually hoping we could be friends. Companions, at least."

He gave a half-awkward laugh, trying to downplay the sincerity. "So... what do you say? Wanna be friends?"

Jason blinked, caught completely off guard. 'Friends?'His cheeks were already warming up-not that he'd admit it.

He scoffed, trying to mask the blush. "Why would I want to be friends with someone like you?"

Simon smirked, clearly seeing through the act. "Alright, alright..." he said dramatically, standing up like he was offended. "If you're gonna break my heart, I'll just leave."

"Wait!" Jason blurted out, a little too fast. He looked away, flustered. "I mean... if you're serious, I wouldn't 'hate' the idea. I... I guess I wouldn't mind being your friend."

Before he could finish, Simon grabbed him in a sudden side hug. "That's it-we're best buds now!"

Jason's face went scarlet. He shoved Simon off with a scowl. "Hey! Who said you could just jump on me like that? I said we could be friends-not start a bromance!"

Simon laughed, backing off with his hands up. "Alright, alright! No bromance. Just a solid handshake and maybe a fist bump."

He reached out jokingly. "Or a hug? Just a little one?"

Jason narrowed his eyes, instantly suspicious. "Touch me again and I'll break your leg."

"Fair enough," Simon said with a grin-just before Jason lightly kicked him in the shin.

"Ow-yep, I deserved that."

Jason chuckled-for the first time since joining the agency.

And just like that, a real connection had begun.

Four years. That's how long it had been since Jason became friends with Simon.

Four years of grinding, training, and being constantly overlooked.

And yet... he was still a D-Rank.

Frustrated and restless, Jason knew something had to change. If the system wouldn't lift him, he'd find out why-and there was only one person he trusted enough to ask.

He found Simon in the gear locker, suiting up-fully armed, dressed in all black. He was prepping for something big.

An S-Rank mission.

Jason's eyes lit up as he approached. "I'm coming with you," he said, sparkles of hope in his voice.

Simon froze, then turned sharply. "What? No way!" he barked. "This isn't some training run, Jason-it's an S-Rank mission. You can't just tag along.This mission's classified S-Rank only, your still a D "

He ruffled Jason's hair, trying to lighten the mood. "Your time will come, man. You're gonna be great-I know it."

But Jason wasn't having it. "No, I'm done waiting. I've been here for years cleaning up after higher ranks-doing garbage work. I want a real mission. I need to prove I'm more than a D-Rank."

Simon's face tightened. "You know that's not how this works. It's risky, you step out of line and you get kicked out. And you know what happens to people who get tossed."

Jason clenched his fists, then sighed. "...Fine. Guess I'll go train. Again."

As the S-Rank team prepared to leave-Amelia one of Simon's trusted allies, walked over to Jason, she had seen the whole thing

"Hey," she said, offering a soft smile. "Don't let it get to you. Simon'll be back before you know it... and when he is, you'd better be ready for the hardest training of your life."

Jason forced a grin. "Thanks, Amelia," he muttered, though it didn't reach his eyes.

Amelia turned to Simon. "Come on-we're up."

The team moved out, leaving Jason standing there, surrounded by silence... and frustration.

But just as the door closed behind them, Jason's eyes locked onto the large black case by the exit-the weapons crate for the mission.

His heart raced. Don't think. Just move.

Without a second thought, Jason cracked open the lid, climbed inside, and sealed it shut from within.

He was going. No matter what.

His heart pounded. Logic screamed no-but his gut said go.

Without a second thought, Jason pried the crate open and slipped inside, sealing it shut from the inside.

He was going.

But in the shadows above, perched silently on a beam near the ceiling, a figure watched him-a girl with piercing eyes.

She smirked to herself.

"Bold move, D-Rank."

And just like that, Jason was smuggled into his first real mission-

and someone else had just taken an interest in him.

The S-Rank operation had finally begun!.

The convoy rumbled through the hot afternoon,shadows flickering across the metal walls of the armored vehicle. Inside the crate, Jason's heart hammered against his ribs-half excitement, half fear.

He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to steady his breathing. This is it. No more waiting. No more hiding.

The crate jolted as the vehicle stopped. The sounds of footsteps and voices filled the air outside. Jason pressed his back against the cold metal, every nerve on edge.

Jason stepped out of the crate unnoticed, the mission beginning-and the real test of who he was about to start.

Gunfire tore through the air inside the dark compound, bullets ricocheting off walls and slicing through debris. The mission was chaos.

The S-Rank team was pinned down.

Their objective: retrieve a highly classified file from the enemy vault. But the enemy wasn't making it easy-they were everywhere, firing relentlessly, giving no room to breathe.

Amelia ducked behind cover, gritting her teeth. "Simon! We're boxed in! Do we push?"

Simon, reloading with mechanical precision, glanced over at her between bursts. "No. Not like this. We'll get shredded."

She knew what that meant. "Plan B?"

Simon nodded once. Bait and steal. One draws fire-one grabs the package.

Before she could respond, Simon had already sprinted into the open, drawing the attention of half the enemy force. Bullets chased him as he weaved through crates, flipping over a barricade with deadly grace.

Amelia moved fast, slipping through the chaos and disappearing down a side corridor toward the vault.

Meanwhile, deep in the enemy's command zone, their commander narrowed his eyes. Something didn't add up.

"They're pushing too hard," he muttered. "Why aren't they retreating-wait..." His face twisted. "They're distracting us!"

By the time he shouted, "They're going for the vault! Stop them!" it was too late. Simon was already sprinting back, file in hand.

"They've got it!" a soldier yelled.

"Don't let them escape!" the commander roared. "Light them up!"

As Simon and Amelia ran for the exit, gunfire followed like a swarm of wasps. But amid the chaos, one of the enemies spotted movement near the wreckage.

"Sir... there's a kid. Is he with them?"

The commander didn't even blink. "What part of 'kill them all' don't you get?"

Jason stood frozen, heart in his throat. This wasn't training. This was death.

The enemy soldier raised his rifle, aiming right at his chest.

Jason couldn't move, couldn't think. His legs locked. His voice cracked as he screamed-

"SIMON!"

In a blink, something slammed into him. Not a bullet-a body.

Jason hit the ground hard. When he looked up, Simon was standing over him, shielding him.

Blood poured from Simon's side. He turned slowly, smirked weakly, and said,

"Idiot... I told you not to come."

Then he collapsed.

Jason caught him, shaking. "Simon?! Simon-!"

The building shook violently. A distant explosion roared as support beams cracked and the ceiling began to cave.

Outside, Amelia turned at the sound. Her eyes widened.

"Simon's still inside."

Without hesitation, she sprinted back toward the crumbling ruins-unaware of the boy standing inside... cradling the man who'd just taken a bullet for him.

The ceiling groaned above, chunks of concrete crashing down around them. Dust and smoke filled the air, but Jason didn't move.

He was frozen-kneeling beside Simon's body, still cradling his mentor's weight in trembling arms.

"Simon... wake up... please..." his voice cracked.

Simon's blood soaked through Jason's sleeves. Another chunk of the ceiling collapsed just feet away, snapping him back.

He looked up-the whole place was coming down.

Jason clenched his jaw. No... I can't leave him here.

Suddenly-a burst of static in his earpiece.

"Jason?! Jason, answer me! Are you in there?!" It was Amelia's voice, panicked, coming through the comms.

"I-I'm here..." Jason rasped. "Simon's hurt... really bad."

"You have to get out NOW," Amelia said. "The building's seconds from going under. Move!"

Jason looked down at Simon's pale face, then gritted his teeth. "No. I'm not leaving him."

The tremors got stronger. Fire crept along the edges of the hallway, eating its way toward him. Jason's heartbeat pounded in his ears. The panic...the fear...it started to shift-into something else.

Jason's world slowed to a crawl.

The roar of fire, crumbling steel, and collapsing walls faded into silence as he stared at Simon's body-still, broken, and drenched in blood.

His lungs tightened. He couldn't breathe.

He dropped to his knees, trembling. "Simon... no, no, please..."

Then-a weak touch on his arm.

Simon opened his eyes slightly, blood on his lips but a smile on his face. "Jason... you're safe. That's all I needed to know."

Jason's lips quivered. His voice came out small. "Don't say that. Don't talk like that. You're going to be fine, I'll get you help-just hold on."

Simon gave a dry chuckle, coughing hard. "I always figured I'd die on some badass rooftop or mid-air explosion. Not... under a pile of cement with your loud crying in my ear."

Jason laughed through his tears. "Shut up... shut up and hold on."

Simon's hand tightened on his arm. "Jason, listen to me... the building's not gonna hold. You have to go."

"I'm not leaving you," Jason whispered, panic rising again.

"You have to." Simon's voice cracked, fading. "You're gonna do great things, kid. You're stubborn, reckless, arrogant as hell... but you've got something the others don't. Heart."

Jason's vision blurred. "Please don't leave me. I swear-I'll listen next time. I'll do whatever you say. Just stay."

Simon exhaled slowly. Then, with a weak grin, he said,

"Before I go... just one thing."

Jason leaned in, heart pounding.

"I totally cheated in our last game," Simon whispered. "Swapped cards when you blinked."

Jason let out a sharp laugh, tears still falling. "You think I didn't notice? I just let you have that one."

Simon's grin widened, faint but real. "Heh... punk. That's the last thing I needed to hear."

And with that... his eyes closed.

Gone.

Jason froze.

Then-the scream ripped from him.A raw, aching sound no one should ever have to make. He clutched Simon tightly as the world collapsed around them.

Just as the roof gave in, Amelia burst in. Her eyes locked on the scene, and without a word, she grabbed Jason and dragged him out.

Outside, the building caved in behind them.

The other S-Ranks stared in stunned silence as Amelia, bruised and bleeding, carried Jason-eyes empty, arms limp, tears still rolling.

No one spoke.

Someone finally asked, "What the hell happened in there?"

Amelia answered, voice hoarse she filled them on what had taken place

Jason didn't say a word.

He just stared at the ground-knowing this from this moment on...

Everything has changed.