Innocent Civilian

You'd let an old fling get in the way of justice? It's that big, bleeding heart of yours. It never did you any good.

[Sighs.]

You probably don't even believe I'm different than the me you knew. You have no reason to. But humour me. What if I am? What would you do then?

Nostalgia, I suppose. You look just like I remember you.

[He smiles fondly. It's off-putting, as usual.]

Tell me, were we together in this timeline, too, once? The internet could only tell me so much.

[Archer is waiting, oh so patiently. The lights on this floor are off, and Lance will find him at the end of a long hallway, sitting at some poor stranger's desk.

He smiles in greeting.]

You showed up. I'm glad.

[Voicemail for Mr. Champion Lance @dracooutrage.bsky.social]

I'd like to see you tonight. 24th floor, Celadon Wynaut Towers. Don't bring any friends. Ciao.

[Last spotted at a local gym in the wealthy part of town. Is reported to have sat at the smoothie bar for half an hour before leaving with an older woman.]

[Oh they're going to have soooo much fun. Let's find out how much Proton has learned about this Archer in the last few days, shall we?]

[Crazy. Kind of like being on Giovanni's leash was the only thing keeping him in check this whole time.]

[Gotta find him first! Really should have been watching his internet usage more closely. Searching Lance that much isn't healthy for anyone.]

[Good morning, everyone. Archer is missing from the safe house and so is 20kg of explosives.]

How unfortunate for you. Oh well.

I see, you're one of those.

It might even lighten your mood.

Is it? It seems like every other day to me.

One glass of wine wont hurt. Treat yourself.

It must have been a particularly stressful day for you.

That's the plan.

I see. You really ought to take better care of yourself.

[Sounds like the kind of smile that's getting him filed into the 'prey' category.]

Silver, of course. I'll be sure to remember that this time.

How relatable.

Oh, I see. Forgive me, some things have slipped my mind lately. Including your name, ....?

[This is code for 'I'm from a different universe and everything I know about my life with Team Rocket is from what I googled last night'.]

And your father is...?

He seems quite reasonable to me, but then again, I haven't made him angry yet.

I'm always level-headed. Call it a talent.

Now, now. You're an executive too, are you not? That means you must meet them too.

Calling a cheap t-shirt an 'outfit' is an insult to the word. But I won't lie, the sweatpants 𝘢𝘳𝘦 comfortable.

Codename: Looker

An International Police officer who travels the world investigating various villainous teams.

[Walks downstairs with it.]

I think it looks good on me.

Where am I going to take an AK-47.

Oh, of course. How silly of me.

Proton, why is the upstairs bedroom a weapon's cache?