[center][h1] Kieran and Cori [/h1][/center]

Resigned to relax, Cori reached for her lunch just in time for her phone to buzz. She paused and sighed, scowling. Why did people only text you right after putting your phone away? The woman grabbed her phone and opened the message, her frown hardening. It was Kieran, requestining to meet up. She had given him resources and information and left him mostly to his own devices, but he was still required to check in and do paperwork and all that jazz. It was irritating, but he did exactly what the Director said he would: he proved to be a useful agent. 

Sighing, she tapped a reply back, "[color=lightpink]Park. On lunch break, by the way.[/color]" Without a hint of remorse at her passive-aggressiveness, she switched the phone to silent and put it away again.

About half an hour later, Kieran walked up and sat down next to Cori on the bench she was sitting on while she was on her lunch break. He gave no verbal sign or sound that he was there, just simply.....waiting for her to notice. He was on a time table because of the kid, and he still needed to find the women who kept sending him problems. Then he had his new day job and all the paper work and regulations he had to follow really kept his schedule filled, but he always had time to give out a little attitude. Sometimes. Really only when it came to Cori. And he had enough of her. Nothing had changed about his thoughts towards her but he was sick and tired of being the bad guy in this. She wanted to be mad, fine. He didnt have time to waste on her being pissed at him. Being distracted like this could get him killed at any moment.

In that half hour, she had finished her sandwich and was occasionally checking the time. Cori noticed the movement in the corner of her eye and frowned at Kieran. When he didn't say something immediately, she sighed. "[color=lightpink]What do you need?[/color]" she asked. Her tone had been laced with impatience much that week, and that moment would prove to be no exception. 

Kieran, without looking or even opened his eyes, pulled out a vanilla envelope from inside his shirt and set it next to him. [color=0076a3]"That is the list of moles and more information on the Coalition I dug up. I have found and eliminated all known CIA/Coalition moles from the data that was on the server. There are a probably more that we do not know about, simply because the ones I found were the ones who had secure server access, and there are bound to be Coalition agents after me now that they know I know about them. If you dont hear from me in seventy hours its because they succeeded,"[/color] Kieran said with an indifferent tone.

[color=0076a3]"As for the mission I was actually assigned, I raided the suspected Coalition base and succeeded in capturing it. No casulties, although some of the men may complaign about not seeing enough action. I tried to keep the....least....the ones less likely to survive a one on one encounter in the back but you know how men are."[/color]

Kieran stood up, pushed up his sunglasses, and brushed off his pants. [color=0076a3]"I am going to be unavailable for the next few hours by the way."[/color]

Cori eyed the envelope and looked back to Kieran, lips pursing. His assignment was no doubt handled well, and he had the proof there. Pushing paperwork would be a bitch, but she trusted he'd get it done. He was making it difficult to stay distant with him, and she wondered if she had been too hard on him over the last week. Her posture seemed to loosen up as she picked up the envelope. Her lips parted to breach the subject, but he stood and changed the subject. "[color=lightpink]What's so important?[/color]" she asked instead, brow furrowing behind the sunglasses.

Kieran pocketed his hands and turned his back to Cori. [color=0076a3]"I am going to be either be crouching in the shadows, impersonating a gangbanger, or elbow deep in the blood of the enemies of a child."[/color]

Cori's gaze narrowed and her frown returned. "[color=lightpink]What are you talking about?[/color]"

Kieran sighed but did not move. [color=0076a3]"I seem to have a fan or a stalker, who enjoys sending me trouble. It is something I could not avoid, and she is someone who prefers to stay hidden so I havent been able to stop her yet, but dont worry if I die or fail it wont come back to haunt [i]your[/i] CIA, or your career. "[/color]

Cori's head tilted as she absorbed that and she was silent for a moment. Usually jabs at her work ethic bristled Cori, but she wasn't sure how to approach Kieran in that moment. Something seemed off and it wasn't just that his personal matters could mean his death. She eyed his back and then looked around. "[color=lightpink]Do you need help?[/color]" she offered carefully. 

[color=0076a3]"Some back up would be helpful, taking down two local gangs is going to put me in a spot, but you dont worry I am not asking you. You are going to be very busy, what with the contents of the envolope, making sure the complaints against me do not hurt your reputation or connections since your my handler, and whatever else your dealing with I choose not to find out about."[/color]

Kieran gave her a two finger salute.

[color=0076a3]"Sayonara,"[/color] Kieran said as he began walking away.

Cori tensed, frown deepening. She had exhausted most of their arguments, and she hated not getting the last word, but she still hesitated. Her gaze dropped down to the envelope, and then up to watch him walk away. Her fingers tapped nervously against the paper and she sighed. "[color=lightpink]Kieran, wait,[/color]" she said, standing up. 

Kieran stopped and turned around, keeping his eyes hidden behind his shades. [color=0076a3]"Yes ma'm?"[/color]

Well she hadn't thought ahead this far. She crossed her arms as she began slowly, "[color=lightpink]Thanks. You did well.[/color]" It was stiff, but it was a start, and she could already feel warmth in her face due to embarressment. That was the easy part, and now she had to articulate her feelings. She sighed again, turning her head as she avoided looking at him. "[color=lightpink]And I know I've been...difficult,[/color]" she admitted with a lick of her lips. "[color=lightpink]But I'm...[/color]" She paused again, still visibly tense as she decided on a different direction. 

"[color=lightpink]You know how it's been. I thought I was better at this job than...that. Than hiring moles right under my nose.[/color]" She shrugged and shook her head--she was losing her train of thought. "[color=lightpink]Whatever. So when you insisted on working with me and then you [i]stole[/i] from my work, I just felt even worse. And like I can't really trust you. So I took it out on you a little bit, and I know I've made things harder on you even though you're doing work you don't even want to do,[/color]" she continued, her words rushing together and her body tense. "[color=lightpink]So, I'm sorry.[/color]" 

With that, she nodded a little and finally looked to him again. 

Kieran blinked, and his shades slid slightly down his nose. He was....well to say he was suprised was to wildly understate it. He hadn't expected that. He didnt need that either, especially with him about to go risk his life to save some stupid kids family from some stupid punks in two stupid gangs. Kieran thought, "Fuck how do you think I am going to react when you do something stupid like that?"

Kieran walked back over to Cori and stopped in front of her. He pushed his glasses up his face then paused, trying to think of what he should say and what he should do. Kieran raised his hand.........and slightly patted Cori on the shoulder. [color=0076a3]"I realize that. I have apologized [u]multiple[/u] times for the many times I have caused you problems. I have even tried to rectify my mistakes, making it up to you somehow. With dinner, with info, with results."[/color]

Kieran crossed his arms. [color=0076a3]"I realize you cant trust me, and I havent done much to keep your trust, but I am not someone in the position to gain and keep the kind of trust you want. Not with my job. Not the kind of trust you want from me. I am not one o the sheeple you are in charge of. Oh wait, to atone I am one. And yes I litterally agreed to do this make it up to you. To prove I am some you can trust."[/color]

Kieran sighed. [color=0076a3]"Well if I can make it back alive from this stupid job, I will text you ok......Cori? Then we can..... I dont know...talk. If you want. I could make dinner again or something."[/color]

Kieran turned around and started walking away again.

Cori tensed and blinked as he patted her arm, and she watched him as he spoke. The tension was still there even as he ended, and she swallowed, mind searching for the words. Explaining her feelings and apologizing was difficult enough, and she found herself at a loss after his response. And he was suddenly walking away. She had offered help, but she didn't want to insist on his business, so she just slowly nodded. "[color=lightpink]You'll come back,[/color]" she said, maybe assuring herself more than him, though the words were suddenly casual, cool. "[color=lightpink]It's why we hired you.[/color]" 

Cori couldnt see it, but Kieran smiled as he walked away hearing what Cori said.