THE MOMENT
"You knew!?" Jacklyn was equal parts offended and surprised. She paced the small office the two agents shared. It was cramped with their desks pressed facing each other in the center. Agent Sprocket sat crossed-legged on the desk to give Jacklyn room to walk around it. The narrow border between the desks and the wall wouldn't allow two people. "This whole time I was looking for the deeper truth... and you already knew??"
"Well...," Agent Sprocket shrugged. He was a short, young man that appeared to be in his early 30s with neatly combed light brown hair. "I thought you were looking for something deeper than us looking cute together." She stopped pacing and looked at him.
"So..., you think we're a cute couple too?" she asked with a raised eyebrow. He shrugged again.
"Sure," he replied. "If we got together, I suppose we would be. You're attractive, and I'm me."
"So, you do think I'm attractive...?" Jacklyn asked. Agent sprocket shrugged and nodded at the same time.
"Sure," he replied. But, he didn't elaborate. Jacklyn continued to stare at him. She crossed her arms and shifted her weight to one leg as she considered his response. She was new to the Agency and Sprocket was the only partner she'd had. But, now that she knew what she knew, she was starting to see him in a different light. Without reason, she realized that she was open to the relationship. If someone higher up thought they would make a good couple, who was she to disagree? He was handsome, in a youthful sort of way.
They were the same age, 32, but she sometimes got the impression he hadn't matured much since his high school days. But, she could look past those minor faults. He was intelligent, funny, and very adept at his job. She'd seen him pull things off that she doubted anyone else could do.
"Well, how about it?" she asked with a wink. Agent Sprocket narrowed his eyes at her.
"How about what?" he asked.
"Someone higher up thinks we'd make a good couple," she smiled and sat on the desk to face him. "Let's see if they're right...," she leaned forward. Along the way she pursed her lips and closed her eyes.
"Nah, I'm good," Agent Sprocket replied. Jacklyn was surprised by the fact that he was still talking and the rejection took a little longer to land. She opened her eyes in confusion and found her partner off the desk. He was pressed up against the opposite corner of the wall. It was almost as if he was scared, but in their week together she'd never seen him scared of anything. She realized he said no at the same time she realized that he was trying to get as far away from her as he could in their shared office.
"What?" Jacklyn asked. "Why not??" she asked.
"That's not what I'm here for," he shrugged. Despite her emotions running wild, his answer actually helped her feel better. His impeccable work ethic was one of his best qualities. He was always the first one there and the last to leave. He never complained when extra assignments were added to their workload; as a matter of fact, he seemed to enjoy it. He always said that the extra cases were very rewarding. And now, he'd made it clear that his job did not extend into relationship territory. She could respect that. She had to respect that.
"Okay," she nodded and stood from the desk. "So, do you think we can still work together or will things get awkward now?" she asked. Agent Sprocket relaxed and smiled.
"Oh, perfect...," he sighed happily, then nodded. "... we should definitely work together. There's only one more big case left," he said. "It'll be easier since you're already trained up."
"Of course I'm trained," Jacklyn giggled. On a second thought, she realized the joke wasn't that funny, and she wondered why she giggled. She chalked it up to lingering infatuation and tried to will it out of her mind.
"Sprocket?" a young voice surprised Jacklyn. A young, teenage blonde girl was in their office looking up at him.
"Molly!" He dashed to stand in front of the girl as fast as Jacklyn imagined he ran away from her.
"What are you doing... here?" she asked.
"Uh, it's not what you think," he explained. For the first time that Jacklyn could remember, Agent Sprocket was nervous. "I'm just trying to get an achievement."
"What kind of an achievement?" she asked. After her question, she turned and focused on Jacklyn for a moment. Then, she looked back at Agent Sprocket when he began his explanation.
"Lone Agent," he replied. "I have to solve the string of cases, without...," he emphasized the word. "... uh.. fraternizing." Molly shook her head.
"I trust you," she said. "But, I'm really uncomfortable with you here," she said.
"Are you his daughter?" Jacklyn felt like she needed to remind them she was in the room. It didn't seem to work; both of them ignored her and continued their conversation.
"But, I'm almost done," he said. "Just one more quest!"
"I'm sorry," she shook her head. "You're going to have to start over, and I'm not happy with that idea."
"Start over!? Wh-" He began to ask why, but he stopped, and then focused on Jacklyn with narrow, annoyed eyes.
"What's your favorite number?" he asked.
"One!" Jacklyn replied. She was as surprised by her answer as she was by Molly nodding at her with an 'I told you so,' gesture.
*
Cast: [Sprocket: #14, La Muerte; Molly: #46, El Sol]