Valorant - Story Mode Imagined - Male Reader

Chapter 44: The Invasion

Los Angeles, California, Alpha Earth

Under the brilliant Los Angeles sun, the imposing K-SEC facility stood like a fortress, its modern façade concealing secrets within. Glitch and Deadlock, disguised as journalists, made their way through the sparse crowd of visitors and employees. Their cover identities had them posing as a reporter and a writer from a news outlet.

As they reached the facility's reception, Glitch approached the information counter with Deadlock by his side. A middle-aged woman with a businesslike demeanor sat behind the desk, her fingers poised over the keyboard.

"Good morning," Glitch greeted with a friendly smile. "I'm David Miller, from MetroPulse News. This is my partner, Emily Parker. I have an appointment with Doctor Henry Griffin. We're here for an interview and a feature on some of the research being conducted at this facility."

The receptionist, her eyes scanning the pair, replied professionally, "May I see your identification, please?"

"Of course." Glitch and Deadlock both handed over their meticulously crafted fake IDs, courtesy of Cypher's expert forgery skills. The receptionist examined the IDs carefully, her expression giving nothing away. After a moment, she nodded, her fingers dancing across the keyboard as she dialed a number.

"Please wait a moment while I confirm with Doctor Griffin," she said before turning her attention to the call.

Glitch and Deadlock stepped aside, out of earshot, taking in the surroundings. Memories of their time working for Kingdom flickered through their minds, and it was hard to ignore the mixed emotions bubbling beneath the surface.

"It's been a while since I've been inside one of Kingdom's facilities," Deadlock remarked, her voice tinged with nostalgia.

It was becoming increasingly apparent to Glitch that the Iselin he remembered had evolved into someone different. Her physical transformation was undeniable; she appeared more muscular and robust. But it wasn't just her appearance that had changed. 

Deadlock exuded an air of independence and strength, and her demeanor seemed marked by a hint of indifference. Glitch couldn't help but wonder about the experiences that had shaped the person standing before him now.

Glitch finally nodded in agreement, his gaze briefly fixed on her. "Brings back memories," he began, reflecting on the twists and turns of his life's journey.

"Life really is a rollercoaster," he said thoughtfully, "I started as an intern here at Kingdom, then got promoted to a professional biologist for secret projects, then became a superhuman, a vigilante, and then I became a secret agent for the Protocol. And just when I thought I'd seen it all, here I am, back in a Kingdom facility."

Deadlock's firm expression softened, and she couldn't help but smile at Glitch's words. A soft, musical laugh escaped her lips, a sound that felt like a warm breeze amid their reminiscing.

"Life has a funny way of taking us on unexpected journeys," she agreed, her eyes locking onto Glitch's. "You know my story isn't all that different from yours."

As Glitch's gaze drifted to the Kingdom logo on the wall, Deadlock's eyes remained fixed on him. She allowed herself to ponder a question that had nagged at the edges of her thoughts.

"Why did we end things back then?" she thought to herself. "We just... parted ways after everything happened. If Doctor Wallace and my father hadn't passed away, would we still have been together?"

Slowly, her hand moved instinctively toward Glitch's, and their fingers brushed lightly, a fleeting connection that caused him to shift his gaze toward her. Their eyes met, and for a moment, it felt like time had paused to allow her to explore the unspoken emotions hanging between them.