Barbed Lives ☑️

17. Top-up K.

"Did he say anything?"
Neil asked through the phone's speaker.

"Alright. I'll be there with James."
With that he put the speaker down and looked at me.

"I can't make out whether you're angry or excited, Neil."
I said frankly.

It was getting comfortable to talk to him freely without any filter.
Though he'd give me murderous looks if I swore, but at most of the times, he'd let me talk even if what comes out of my mouth is shit.

He laughed at my remark.
"Both. Come see for yourself."

He started walking and I followed him.
Perks of him being my I/C - I stay with him like his shadow while he randomly screws me but I don't mind because it's him and not Norman.

We reached the gym at freaking midnight to find Charles smoking a youngster head to toe.

Neil crossed me and faced the man head on. He seemed to be pissed off at this boy.

"Did he make a sound, Instructor?"
Neil asked Charles while grabbing this boy by his collar.

"Not even a single beep."
Charles replied proudly surprised.

"That's good. So you know how to follow orders. You kept your mouth shut as told. Now I want you to say the name of that person who told you to spy on MY birds."
Neil said harshly.

What?!
This guy spied on Neil's birds?
He has balls!

"Nobody, Sir."
Poor boy replied tired and broken.

"Look Kelly, I ask one question just once. If I am made to repeat it, I prefer to do it in the interrogation room."
Fuck!
Not IR!

"Nobody, Sir."
Kelly repeated in broken voice again.

"Fine. Instructor Charles, get him to IR and hang him upside down. James will see my first interrogation session today."
Neil said casually.

Me and Kelly crossed looks. He was haunted. Obviously!
You need to start talking, K-boy!

"I'm telling the truth, sir. Nobody gave me the job."
"Then why the hell did you try to poke your nose in?"
Neil asked irritated.

"I want to work with you, under you I mean."
He replied hurriedly before Charles follows the order.

"Kelly Kleigman, 23 years, 64kgs,168cms, resident of a town that's not even visible on the world map, no army background in past three generations of the family, barely 15 days of service as a soldier. Why do you think you're so special that I'll pull you in?"

Kelly lifted his face up, not at all surprised that Neil knew so much about him.
"The fact that only I know you've got a secret camera installed at the topmost floor of main building."
There was no bragging, he said all that in the lowest tone possible.

It was Neil's turn to be surprised.
He walked a few steps ahead and Kelly moved equal number of steps back in fear.
"Are you threatening me? Blackmailing me?"
Suddenly Neil's voice was so bitter I got dragon flies.

"Neg- negative, Sir. I have no such intentions. I just want to work under you, that's it."
Kelly tried to look up and say this to him.

"And why do you want to work under me?"
"I don't want to work under Major Norman or other senior agents."
He replied curtly but respectfully.

I was amazed at his decisiveness. He knew what he wanted and was ready to face everything head on.

Neil sucked in a breath in offence.
"And tomorrow when I'll grow old, you'll leave me too?"
"Then I'll be old with you, sir."