What I Do For My Country - chapter 1
Disclaimer: Alex Rider isn't mine. Rob is though. And the idea.
Alex blinked. Then blinked again, trying to rid his vision of the sleek black car that was parked outside his house.
For all his trying it was still sitting there.
He paused for a few seconds, then sighed and finished closing the front door, hoisting his bag further up his shoulder.
He should have known that this was too good to be true. He hadn't been contacted for any type of mission ever since his eighteenth birthday and Alex had thought...had hoped...that they had forgotten about him.
He should never have been so naive.
And now, here he was, standing on his front doorstep and staring at an innocuous car that could, quite literally, mean his death and having to make a decision as to whether or not he would willingly go to face that death, or go to college and be dragged kicking and screaming instead.
He really wanted to run...but then the back door popped open and Alex knew that he had taken too long and his decision had been made for him.
Giving one last wistful look towards the road, he sighed again and slowly made his way down the driveway.
After all, he didn't want to seem willing in all of this.
Unfortunately, he reached the car all too soon and without any small explosions to distract his collectors Alex found himself clambering through the door. Slamming it shut behind him he slumped in his seat, not bothering to look at the agents that had been assigned to collect him. It was dangerous to just jump into such situations without taking full stock of the things around him but Alex was tired.
Tired of waking up in the middle of the night from half-remembered nightmares of past missions, but most of all just tired of having the life of a spy.
The car smelt of new leather, factory fumes and the cloying, overwhelming scent of cheep aftershave. Alex felt the beginning of a headache start throbbing behind his right eye.
"Tut tut, Alex. That wasn't very prudent of you. What if we were someone else?"
Alex tensed as he recognised the voice, his headache increasing. Rob.
What on earth was that moron doing here?
In fact, what on earth was Blunt doing sending that moron to pick him up? He knew they had history.
Bad history.
Pushing down the memories that were threatening to resurface, Alex made himself relax and stared out the window as the car started to move through the streets.
He shrugged, keeping an eye on the reflection in the glass. "Knew it was you."
He watched as the man raised an eyebrow and pretended to look curious, his voice calming and patronising, "Oh? And how is that?"
Alex fought down a smirk, keeping his face and tone of voice blank. "Could smell you from the front door."
The corner of his lips twitched as Rob's calm facade dropped and he let out an almost silent snarl. "I'd be careful if I was you, Alex."
Alex schooled his features and turned around. "I'll be sure to remember that, Robert."
They glared at each other.
The rest of the ride passed in silence and, after what seemed like an age, the car pulled up outside the Royal & General. As soon as he was able to Alex opened the car door and got out.
"What? No thank yo-"
Alex cut off Rob by slamming the door shut in his face then quickly turned and made his way through the entrance. He really didn't want to see what Rob would do in retaliation, though he did smirk at the thought.
The bank was as it always was. Full of people standing waiting for their turn and workers bustling in and out of a checkpoint that was manned by some deceptive security. Even after all this time he still couldn't decide whether the customers were real or not.
After a second or two to think about it he shrugged it off. It's not like it really mattered to him whether it was a front or not - it didn't alter the fact that it wouldn't get him out of this meeting with Blunt.
It was then that he realised that he had no idea how to get through security to get to his meeting. Usually he was escorted there and Alex realised belatedly that Rob may have been the one who was supposed to do that and that he may have been a bit hasty in slamming the car door in his face.
He sighed and decided that he just couldn't be bothered with it all. He was eighteen and should be in class right now. Besides, Blunt should've known not to send Rob.
Disregarding the consequences he walked up to the nearest security guard who was eyeing him in suspicion. Alex smiled winningly at him. "Hello there. I need to speak to Blunt."
The guard stared at him. "I'm sorry, Sir. There is no one here that goes by that name."
Yeah, Alex thought, I know a few names that he goes by...
"Look," he said instead, the smile being replaced by boredom, "I don't care what you've been told to say - the fact still remains that I need to speak with -"
"Alex?"
"- Blunt." Alex blinked at the sound of the familiar voice, though this one much more welcome. "Fox?"
Ben smiled at the shocked look on Alex's face, "You know," he said conversationally, "you really should call me Ben. After everything we've been through."
Alex just blinked at him, a little at a loss for words, "Uh, yeah...I guess..."
The security guard interrupted him. "Is this boy with you, Sir?"
Alex bristled at the term boy but Ben just smiled at the guard. "Yes he is. Could you let him through please?"
The guard reluctantly moved aside and Alex had to dodge around him to avoid brushing up against him. Ben grinned at him and motioned for him to follow.
Once they were far enough away to avoid being overheard he turned to Alex, "So, why were you trying to get through security that way? What happened to your escort?"
Alex shrugged and kept walking, watching Ben out of the corner of his eye. "They sent Robert."
Ben winced, "Oooh..." he breathed out in a sigh, "so what happened? You're obviously in one piece - can I expect the same for him?"
Alex grinned "I slammed the car door in his face."
Ben rolled his eyes. "One piece then, but majorly pissed off." He sighed, "Well, at least you didn't punch the guy in the face. Again."
Alex didn't reply, instead choosing to savour the memory.
After a while Ben decided to speak up. "I assume that you have no idea why you're being called...?"
"No. Robert didn't even tell me that Blunt wanted me - just chose to show up at my house."
"Then how did you know that Blunt wanted to meet with you?"
Alex shot Ben a sardonic look and said wryly. "It's me. Who else, other than Blunt, would call me here?"
"Touché."
There was a pause, only broken by the sound of footsteps echoing down the corridor.
"Do you know why I've been called?" Alex asked, his curiosity piqued.
To his immense annoyance Ben just started to snicker and wouldn't look him in the eye. "I think..." he said after he managed to get himself under some control, "I think you should wait and hear it from Blunt directly."
Alex glared at him, his eyes narrowed. Ben took one look at him and started to snicker again, not even stopping when they both reached the door to Blunt's office.
"You're coming in?" Alex asked with some surprise, just a little bit put out when Ben wouldn't stop laughing at him to answer properly and just nodded his head.
Alex rolled his eyes and opened the door, forgoing the knock.
A small part of Alex hoped that Blunt was busy and would send him away. Unfortunately Blunt was sitting calmly behind his desk, his mouth hidden by his clasped hands.
"Ah, Alex. Wonderful to see you. Please, have a seat."
Alex squashed the urge to roll his eyes. Blunt was being nice to him...that meant that he wanted something.
Fortunately, Alex was legally an adult now, and whilst Blunt might be able to make his life difficult, he couldn't outright force him to do anything he didn't want to do anymore. He was not fourteen years old anymore.
Nevertheless, Alex was curious as to what would make Blunt call him after a five month silence.
This is the only reason, Alex thought, that I'm still here and haven't told him where to shove it.
After a seconds pause Alex made up his mind and sat in the chair facing Blunt, Ben coming and sitting in the chair next to him.
"Alex." Blunt started, "You have a mission."
His tone immediately irritated Alex; it was as if Blunt thought that Alex would jump through any hoop that he held out without thinking. It raised his hackled and Alex through any plans of staying to find out what difficulty Blunt wanted to drag him into this time.
"No."
This seemed to cause Blunt to pause. "What?" he asked, a little incredulously.
Alex could see Ben shift to stare at him. He shrugged. "No. I won't do it. I'm eighteen now - you can't blackmail me anymore. If you want to take my inheritance, go ahead - I'll get a job and pay my way from that."
Ben breathed in sharply but Alex ignored him and kept his gaze focused on Blunt who was staring back at him intensely.
After a short while he spoke, "We would not take your inheritance, Alex."
Alex narrowed his eyes. He had a feeling that the only reason Blunt had said this was for the benefit of Ben. Of course, Blunt's words meant nothing to him.
"Well, I'm glad that you agree to that." Alex stood up. "I'll be leaving now."
He had turned to go when Blunts next words caught him and caused him to go cold.
"Of course...there is the issue of your friend...Tom Harris."