Change of Heart (BCAD)

[Kitten]

"No," Will said as he forced himself to relax. They were fine. If someone wanted to really get to Isaac then there was nothing that rushing around was going to do. Somehow knowing that the other was watching him made the man feel like he needed to look calm. "I'm heading to this place, they have good chicken fajitas. Sound like your thing?" He wasn't planning on making multiple stops, but the little shack sold their fajita meat and tortillas in bulk, and you didn't get to be his size by eating small portions.

At his office Spencer was fiddling with his phone, working up the courage to give Max a call. He'd been playing the video on his computer over and over ever since someone had sent him the link and panicking about the content and then panicking over panicking. It was a vague video and might not have anything to do with Isaac's early morning signing of their contract. Just some fuzzy picture and distorted audio about 'getting the traitor' from inside one of the houses they had bugged. The shadowy figures were vowing to 'get him before he could squeal' and 'make an example of him'. It could have been anything, talking about anyone.

It could very well have been sent to Spencer to spook him, send him running to Max and Will or even his superiors and trick them all into further danger or into giving up Isaac. As it started to play again someone from accounting came in and he had slapped the mouse to another email. If he looked suspicious or nervous the woman didn't seem to notice or care. He should take this straight to the higher ups, but he was pressing Max's number in his phone before he could watch it all the way through again, if only to hear the others calming voice telling him to do just that.

[BCAD]

"I don't think I've ever ate them," Isaac admitted. It wasn't that he was picky with his food, but he ate little and when he did, it was usually whatever his chef prepared. Chicken fajitas had not been on the menu before. He had tended to serve up fancier dishes to please his super villain boss. "But I will take your recommendation."
He looked out of the window, his mind going over his options again and again. He wasn't thinking traitorous thoughts, not yet, but he was thinking pragmatically about how the next few days and weeks were likely to pan out. The immediate future would be the most dangerous. There would be an initial sense of outrage from other villains, he could only hope that it would die down in time.

Max pulled his phone out of his pocket. It was Spencer.
When Spencer called him during work hours, it was usually important. Despite them being close friends, the younger man was professional and took his work seriously. He wouldn't just call out of boredom or on a whim.
"What is it?' He asked. He immediately had a bad feeling about this. Before Spencer even had told him, he could sense in his gut that whatever the reason was behind the phone call, it would have something to do with their newest 'team mate'.

[Kitten]

"Good," Will rested his arm on Isaac's seat and lightly pet the back of his neck. It was obvious that the genius was thinking about something, probably turning some problem over in his brilliant mind and trying to figure it out. "You're safe with me you know," he said absently, color coming to his cheeks as they pulled into the parking lot. "I mean, we're teammates and..." lovers was on the tip of his tongue. You're mine was in the back of his mind, but those both could come later, when things had calmed down. "Well I'm looking out for you." He cleared throat and turned the car off. "Right, stick close, these guys are pretty fast so just come in with me." With that he got out and headed into the dilapidated building that served the best damn fajitas in town.

Spencer drew in a deep breath and it came out with a sob. "I'm sorry," he said into the phone, fingers tapping shakily on his keyboard. "It's nothing, it's probably nothing." He said after a moment of collecting himself and wiping his eyes. "It's just, I mean someone's probably just trying to scare me but... check your email. I got this message, sent to my private email, about..." He glanced at the clock, heaved a steadying breath. "An hour ago. Just to me."

He was a professional, and his job was dangerous, but it had never bled into his personal life like this. No one knew where his shitty apartment was, what way he took walking home, none of it. He gripped the gun he kept at his desk and waited for Max's voice like a lifeline. "Are Isaac and Will back yet?"

[BCAD]

Isaac blinked back into the physical world as he felt Will's hand rest on the back of his neck. He looked at the other man, face blank for a moment before he smiled. "Yes, of course. I'm not worried."
He could be a very convincing liar at times, but this was not one of those times. It was clear that the reality of everything that had happened today was weighing heavily on his mind. He got out the car, not needing to be told to stick close to Will as they went inside the rather unimpressive (to Isaac's mind) looking establishment. However, he was starving, and that made him inclined to eat just about anything.

Max's eyes widened slightly in worry as he heard Spencer sob from the other side of the phone call. 'Hang on, Spence." He said, moving quickly over to his laptop and flipping it open. He opensd his emails and the video attachment that Spencer had forwarded to him. What he saw confirmed his worst fears. His jaw clenched and for a moment he cursed that devilish raven haired villain for bringing Spencer into the firing zone. Everyone had seen Spencer on television and the newspapers with Isaac, and he was almost as much of a target as Isaac himself was now.

He tried to calm himself down, to force himself to sound collected for Spencer. "They're not back yet, but I got a message from them minutes ago saying that they're on their way. Spencer, I don't want you going home tonight. It's just a precaution, but once you've told the higher ups about this, I want you to spend the night in the apartment."

[Kitten]

Will wasn't convinced, but he kept that to himself and kept one hand on Isaac as they ordered, just touching the small of his back or his shoulder, the back of his neck. Just to help the other feel grounded. True to his word the full gallon of fajita chicken and two big packs of tortillas, along with some a large side of beans and rice, was served up in a bag less than ten minutes later and they were soon back on the road. He continued to look around for trouble, the dark haired man had that feeling in the pit of his stomach that he sometimes got, something was wrong.

Spencer pushed his hand through his hair as though he could physically push the thoughts away. Max sounded so calm that he started to feel more calm as well. When he finally answered his voice was firm and steady. "I'll bring my go bag." There was an upside to always being on the move after all. He sounded a little clipped but professional as he sent the email to his direct supervisor and closed down his computer.

"I'll text you from the parking garage," he'd never drive his nice car around his bad neighborhood so he always left it at work and hoofed it home. "It takes me fifteen minutes to get to your place, twenty in traffic. If I'm not inside," his voice cracked but he pushed on. "The office thirty minutes after I text you then something's gone wrong. Okay?" He grabbed his bag and headed for the cubicle entrance, wishing he had something more to say to keep the other on the line, but he knew Max needed to contact the others. "Call Will, make sure he knows."

[BCAD]

Max didn't like this. He could hear the fear in Spencer's voice, even if the younger man wa trying his very best to sound calm and professional. He couldn't see his face over the phone, but he could picture it well enough. He could picture the fear that would be on it.
"No, Spencer... I don't like this. I'll come and meet you, I'll bring you back to the apartment myself. Okay? No arguing. Just wait for me and I'll be there as soon as I can. I'll call Will on the way."

Before Spencer could argue, Max hung up and called Will. If he knew Will, which he did, then he would have stopped for lunch around now. He waited impatiently for his partner to answer. Luckily, despite the man's monster appetite, he wouldn't let that get in the way of work.

Isaac was rather overwhelmed by the amount of food. He had a funny feeling that he would only be eating about 10% of the ridiculously huge portion that they'd been given. Not that Will would struggle with the remaining 90%. He was just about to comment on it when Will's phone began to ring.

[Kitten]

"Wait you don't," Spencer had to laugh just a little as the call ended. That was so Max. He straightened up and adjusted his glasses before going to talk to the higher ups. The briefing was quick, then the department head was called and Spencer assured them with his most convincing smile that he was fine. He didn't need someone to watch the apartment, someone to head home with him, he was the golden boy after all and golden boys didn't need help. At least, not help from within.

After a few conversations he assured everyone that he was fine and they assured him they'd get to the bottom of this while he took the rest of the day off for everyone's sake. Luckily no one followed him down to the ground floor where he waited for the other, hand's white knuckling the bag and eyes anxious.


Will grinned at the other. It was more than enough for the three of them to split, but the chicken was just as good the next day. "Hey kid don't worry about it. There's pl-," he froze for just a second, the car slowing down before he grabbed his phone. "Hey we're almost back what's up?"

[BCAD]

"Hey," Max breathed a sigh of relief when Will picked up. He had enough faith in his partner to know that they'd be alright, but he wanted to let Will know what was happening as soon as possible. "Look, I don't want to alarm you but Spencer's been in touch. He sent me a video that he was sent, only him. It contains a threat by an unknown group of people saying that they're going to make a certain 'traitor' pay. Obviously, we can both guess who they're referring to."

As he spoke, Will stepped into his car and buckled up. "Look," he ran a hand through his mane of hair and leaned back into the seat. "I'm going to go get Spence, he's a bit rattled, and have him spend the night. Make sure you two get back safe, okay? We can talk more about it then. I've got to go. I'm in a rush."

Isaac could only hear the odd word from where he was sitting in the car, but it had obviously been Max. It sounded serious.
"What is it?" He asked, trying to decipher the other man's expression after he had been hung up on.


Meanwhile, Max arrived outside Spencer's office building. He parked outside and immediately left the car, taking brisk strides to find his friend waiting for him just outside the ground floor lobby.
"You got everything you need?" He asked him, a hand squeezing Spencer's shoulder. His voice was still calm and collected, but it was clear that he had come here as quickly as he could, and he had no intention of letting Spencer out of his sight until this was all dealt with.

[Kitten]

Will nodded even though the other couldn't see. "Thanks for the heads up. If you're going to be longer than an hour shoot me a text or I'll come back out for the two of you." He would normally get in a jab about Spencer not needing to sleep on the couch, but it didn't seem appropriate. The blue eyed man unconsciously reached out to pull Isaac a little closer, not letting it show in in his face what kind of trouble they might be in.

When Max hung up Will turned to Isaac to give him a serious look. "There's a situation. We're going to keep you safe," he hurried to say and turned his eyes back to the road, turning into a residential area. It wouldn't throw off a good tail, but it might give them some distance. "Some of your former colleagues could be after you, it's early to say but I guess Spencer got a pretty scary message today. Look," he sighed softly. "Max is going to be pissed, but no matter what he says when he's pissed this isn't your fault. This specifically, not whatever you did before. But he's a good man and he won't let you get hurt. You let me handle him. Just get all the way into the apartment, I know you remember the codes after seeing them once."


Spencer bit his lip when he saw Max arrive and forced himself to not run into the other man's arms. "It was silly," he said quietly but let the other keep a hand on him. "I shouldn't have bothered you. Should have just had someone here hang out with me." He wouldn't have let someone come home with him, but then he wouldn't have had to bother anyone, and Max wouldn't have heard him cry on the phone. He curled in a little closer to the other, feeling better already. "But.... thanks for coming anyway." Green eyes focused on the ground, it was obvious that the other had dropped everything to be here, always seemed to come when he called. It made him feel weak and embarrassed and just really happy. "Yeah," he said as an after thought and held up his bag, moving his coat to show the other his holstered weapon. "I've got it all."

[BCAD]

Isaac ran a hand through his messy bird's nest of a hairstyle and sighed. So they had already started to make their move. He wasn't entirely surprised, but it put him on edge all the same. Rather than Will's promise to keep him safe, he was glad he'd also brought a gun. He didn't know who was behind whatever had spooked Spencer, but scaring Spencer had just been an added bonus for them. They clearly were going to let him know the consequences of turning traitor.

"Mh," he nodded. He wasn't so sensitive that what Max would have to say to him would really upset him. "Thanks."
Will was calm, but serious. Isaac almost felt touched at seeing how serious he was about keeping him safe. He supposed that this was why Will was a hero.


"Don't worry about it," Max assured him, wanting to wrap his arms around the clearly spooked man and hug him tight. It might make both of them feel better. "I'm glad you called me." He meant that. Despite his concern for the situation, he did feel a certain warmth at having been the one Spencer turned to for help. He wrapped a strong arm around Spencer's narrow shoulders and began to walk him to the car. He knew that the other had every right to carry his work issue firearm, but he'd be damned if he let things get so dangerous that Spencer had to use it.

"Just be careful with that thing, okay? You won't need it. Will and I can handle this." He assured him firmly as they got into the car.