Chapter Text
Tucker stood and watched as Wash picked up his helmet and put it on before turning back to face Tucker, raising the pistol again.
“Let’s go.” Wash stayed behind Tucker the whole walk, pointing the gun at him and telling him which direction to go. They stopped outside a blank door, and Wash knocked three times. The door opened to a man who looked confused to see Wash holding a gun up to Tucker outside the door.
“Agent Washington. Can I be of assistance?” The man asked, staring at Tucker now.
“Yes Counsellor, I found this man in the closet in my room of all places, and he won’t speak to me so I was hoping you or the Director would have more luck.” Wait, what Tucker thought.
“Wouldn’t speak my ass! You never even asked me anything, you wanted to know my name and that was it, you didn’t ask anything else!”
“And that was all I wanted to know.” God, young Wash was still kind of an asshole.
“Very well then, I shall take the uh, ‘prisoner’ inside to speak to the Director. You may go Agent Washington.” The Counsellor stepped back and gestured for Tucker to step into the room. Tucker sighed and went into the room, turning around when he heard Wash speak again.
“Counsellor, are you sure you don’t want me there to keep an eye on him?” Wash asked, stepping slightly forward towards the door.
“I assure you that we will be fine Agent. If we have any problems then I shall call Agent Carolina.” And then the man who Wash had called the Counsellor shut the door in Wash’s face. Wow, Tucker would be pissed if someone done that to him. Tucker looked around at his surroundings, he was in an a pretty standard looking office, a rather big desk in the middle of the room, two chairs in front of it, and some cabinets against the walls. Overall, you would never had guessed that this office belonged to the craziest, evil man Tucker had ever heard of. The Counsellor turned to Tucker and gestured to the seats in front of the desk,
“Take a seat. The Director will arrive shortly.” And with that he left Tucker standing awkwardly in the middle of the empty office. He sighed and dragged himself over to one of the chairs and collapsed down into it, he was tired of all of this already. Only Tucker could manage to travel back in time to one of the most dangerous places he knew of, Wash and Carolina had told them some stories about their time in Project Freelancer, not many, but enough to put Tucker on edge as soon as he realized where he was. Thinking back to Wash, the younger version he had just met, he lacked the prominent scar on his forehead that Tucker knew he had. It was at the left side of his forehead, and cut through his eyebrow, it was one of the most painful looking facial scars Tucker had seen, and he now worried he would be there for when Wash got this scar.
Tucker leaned back in his seat, he had to stop thinking about Wash and focus on what he would say to the Director. Actual living breathing Director, Tucker was about to meet the real life version of Church, as opposed to all of his AI’s. Tucker was not ready to meet the man who had made so many shit things in his life happen, the man who had turned both Wash’s and Carolina’s lives to shit. And now Tucker had to sit here and explain what he was doing here, how he got here, and all without spoiling anything about the future. He just wanted to go home. Tucker sat up straight as the door to the office opened and the Director walked in. He did not even glance at Tucker, just moved straight over to the desk, sat down and then he finally looked straight at Tucker.
“Take the helmet off.” Was the only thing he said. Tucker, who was determined to not piss the man off, complied and unsnapped the seals on his helmet and placed it into his lap. The Director stared at him for a moment longer, and Tucker could not look him in the eyes, it reminded him too much of Carolina and then he thought of the things this man had done to her. Tucker had to be careful.
“What’s your name?”
“Tucker. I mean Lavernius Tucker. But people just call me Tucker.” God he was way too nervous about this.
“And do you know who I am?”
“You’re the Director. You’re in charge of Project Freelancer.” The Director narrowed his eyes when Tucker said this, and Tucker wanted to just run out of the room.
“Yes I am. Are you some form of agent?” The Director moved one of his hands to the drawer in his desk, without taking his eyes off of Tucker.
“An agent? Like a Freelancer or-”, Tucker trailed off as he watched the Director pull out a pistol from the drawer and place it on the desk, the muzzle of the gun pointed towards Tucker. His fingers twitched, itching to move towards where his sword normally was on his thigh, but he did not have it. Carolina insisted he leave the sword behind in case anything where to happen to him.
“Or someone sent to sabotage my project. Someone I would then have to take care off.” The Director gestured towards the gun, and Tucker knew there was no doubt what being taking care off was.
“No, no, no. I’m not a spy, or agent, or anything like that. I’m a blue.” Tucker could have face palmed right then. Out of all the things he could have said to save his life, he chose to tell the man that he was a blue. He’s going to fucking die.
“A blue?” The Director raised his eyebrow at Tucker, it seemed like he was almost intrigued.
“Yeah. Like red versus blue, uhh sim troopers.”
“Ahh that is something I do know about. The simulation troopers are going to become a vital role in training soon. However, I am not aware of any simulation trooper that wears armor as advanced as yours. Do you want to know attempt to explain why you are wearing armor more advanced than that which I engineered for my freelancers?” His fucking armor. Tucker had completely forgotten that he was wearing the latest version, being too used to it by now. Fuck it, he had to try his last resort. The truth.
“Umm. Listen, I can tell you the complete honest truth but you won’t believe me. At all.”
“Try me.” The Director leaned forward in his seat, still staring straight at Tucker.
“I’m from the future.” The Director’s face remained the exact same. No reaction whatsoever, that was not what Tucker was expecting. “And we were testing out these teleportation cubes that we have, experimenting with them after our medic claimed he was taken to another dimension with them. So I was teleported with them, and ended up here. Well, technically in Wash’s closet but-” Tucker trailed off again, aware that he had just rambled the whole thing out loud instead of actually carefully choosing his words in order to not die.
“You expect me to believe that. That you came from the future through some form of cube. Now, we have had our fair share of inept agents attempting to gain information from us but you are by far the most pathetic attempt. Now unless you have any proof to back up this claim.” The Director then picked up the gun in front of him and Tucker’s mouth took over for him.
"Your name is Leonard Church.” The Director froze. “You had a wife, named Allison. You lost her years ago and never got over it. You had a daughter together, she’s here in the program. Agent Carolina. She’s your daughter but no one else knows that.”
“How did you find that out?” The Director stood, slamming the hand not holding the gun on the desk.
“She told me. In the future, we work together on a planet called Chorus, her and Agent Washington are both there and told me about when they were freelancers.” Tucker paused, trying to work up the nerve for the next sentence. “Have you started work on your AI yet?”
“There’s no way. That project. How?” The Director looked unnerved now, but he was still holding the gun and it was still pointed at Tucker.
“I know because it was the past to me. I know what happened to the AI and all your freelancers. I won’t tell you, but I know that you go ahead with the project.” Tucker could not tell the Director about Alpha or Epsilon as he was not sure if he even had the Alpha AI at the moment.
“How many freelancers do you know the fate of?” That was unexpected question.
“Carolina, Washington, the Me- Maine, Wyoming, Connecticut, Florida, York, North and South Dakota.” Tucker almost said Tex at the end, then realized that the Director would not have made Tex yet, since he did not know if he had the AI. It was bad enough that he almost said the Meta instead of Maine.
“Impressive. That is some valuable information you claim to have, both about my freelancers and my AI. Now I have one final question, what if I try to take this information from you?” The Director smirked at Tucker. But Tucker had been preparing for this question since he told the Director that he was from the future.
“Well, then I would find Carolina and tell her exactly what it is you’re doing. I’m sure she wouldn’t be too happy to find out what your plans for the freelancers and the AI is.” Tucker knew she hated what he did, it was one of the few things Carolina had said about the man.
The Director stared once more at Tucker, then he lifted his hand with the gun and placed it back in the drawer. “You may prove to be a valuable asset to this project. I’ll contact the Counsellor to fill out the appropriate paperwork and to find you suitable accommodation. Welcome aboard Agent Tucker.” Tucker was too busy being relieved at the gun being put away that he did not realize what the Director was saying until his final words.
“Wait what? Agent?”
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It all had to be some sort of cruel joke. Like a super elaborate prank on them where they pretended that it was years ago, well that would not explain why Wash was actually younger. Maybe they were messing with his brain? Some super realistic scenario that Epsilon had somehow managed to project directly into his brain? No, they would never mess with someone’s mind like that. But Tucker had to figure what the hell was happening, and no matter what the people and his surroundings told him, it was just too hard to believe that he had actually time travelled. The Director and the Counsellor were not helping him at all either, they had forced him to sign all the contracts so that he was officially a part of project freelancer. Then they had a discussion about where Tucker would be sleeping, without involving Tucker himself of course, then the Director turned back with a smirk and announced that Tucker would share a room with Agent Washington since he was already so familiar with the Agent.
So here he was, lying on his bed across from what he assumed was Wash’s bed, trying to patiently wait on the freelancer arriving back in the room. Tucker had at least taken off his helmet in an attempt to get comfortable on the small bed while still in his armor, but he did not want to take all of it off. He was still in the company of many people who would try to kill him in the future after all. Tucker was just about to get up to do something when the door to the room opened.
“You’re still here.” Tucker shot straight up as soon as he heard Wash’s voice.
“Yup. And I’m your new roomie.” Tucker smiled at Wash, though he could not see Wash’s expression to the news, he was still wearing his helmet.
“Of course you are. And here I was hoping the Director would have killed you.”
“Umm.” Tucker had no idea what to say to that.
“I’m just kidding. Do you have a name or do I just call you ‘that guy who fell out of my closet’?” Wash took off his helmet as he said this and placed it on his bed before looking over at Tucker, waiting for an answer. Tucker was just staring at Wash, the Wash he knew rarely took off his helmet at all, never mind in front of a guy he just met earlier that day.
“Tucker.”
“That’s your code name?”
“No. That’s my actual name. Lavernius Tucker. Agent Tucker. At your service.” Tucker smiled at Wash, his best ‘come get me’ smile, because who knew, younger Wash may be a bit more willing to Tucker’s advances than older him. And it would be a hell of a story to tell when he got back. If he got back.
“You’re not a part of Freelancer?”
“Nope. I’m not one of you ‘states as codenames’ guys. I’m uhh, special circumstances.” Or at least, that’s what the director had told him to say if he anyone questioned why he was here.
“Special circumstances?”
“Yup. That’s me.”
“Okay then.” And with that Wash then sat on his bed at the opposite side of the room to Tucker’s.
“And your name is?”
“I’ve assumed the Director or Counsellor has already let you know my name.” Wash was now in the middle of taking off his armor, and Tucker was trying his hardest not to stare at the beautiful looking pale skin that was being revealed.
“They did.” Tucker swallowed and closed his eyes, as Wash was now shirtless and he could not handle that right now. “But it’s the polite thing to do.”
“Agent Washington. At your service.” Tucker’s eyes were still closed but he could hear the smirk in Wash’s voice when he said that.
“And do I have to call you Agent Washington every single time I mention you?”
“That depends.”
“On?” Tucker could have sworn Wash’s voice sounded closer that time.
“On how often you’ll be saying my name.”
Tucker’s eyes snapped open to find Wash bending down in front of his bed in order to be face to face and look Tucker right in the eyes. Those piercing gray eyes staring right into his. Those lips that he had fantasized about right there. He would just have to lean in and- No. He wouldn’t. Not yet. Wash wanted to play this game. He was going to realize he was going to lose. Tucker leaned in slightly, to the point where he knew Wash could feel his breath on his lips.
“How often do you want me saying it? Or we could branch into maybe screaming?” Tucker smirked at the flush he could see creeping up Wash’s neck. Then Wash licked his lips and Tucker almost lost all composure.
“Let’s start with you calling me Wash. Tucker.” Wash leaned in a fraction closer. “And we’ll see what happens from there.” And with that, Wash stood up, and walked over to his closet. Tucker could not help but notice the blush on Wash’s cheeks, apparently some things never change. Wash then threw a shirt and fatigues onto Tucker’s bed. “The Counsellor told me you wouldn’t have any clothes, and to let you borrow mine. Get dressed, it’s time to head to the mess hall.” Wash then went back over to sit on his bed and started doing something on his datapad.
“Wait. What? What just happened?”
“I believe it was me telling you my name.” Wash looked up at Tucker.
“No, that was flirting. You flirted with me.” Tucker breathed out.
“No, I uh-. It wasn’t.” Wash’s face turned red again and he turned back to his datapad. Tucker could see though, he was still holding a lot of tension in his shoulders, he still done that in the future, it meant Wash was preparing for rejection, waiting to be hurt. Tucker quickly changed out of his armor and into the clothes Wash had given him and then went over to stand in front of Wash.
“I want you to.” Wash glanced up at Tucker.
“To?”
“Flirt. With me. If you’re interested that is.”
“Really?” Wash blinked at Tucker, looking slightly confused.
Tucker held out his hand to help Wash up. Wash put the datapad aside and took the offered hand, and Tucker pulled him up so he was pressed against his whole body. “Yeah. Bring it on.”
Wash smiled, looking down at Tucker before leading the way out of the room. Tucker followed him, distracted by how the back of Wash’s neck looked without the scars all over it. He knew he was with a younger Wash who had not had Epsilon implanted yet, but to see the physical reminder that that was going to happen. Tucker decided he would have to get out of here before that happened, that was something that he definitely did not want to experience firsthand.