The bullpen was nearly empty—just the distant clicking of keyboards, a few flickering monitors, and the hum of ventilation rattling through old vents. Emilia Harcourt sat at her desk, cleaning her sidearm, eyes narrowed with that trademark permanent irritation.

You walked in with the classified file Waller had asked you to deliver.

Emilia didn’t look up.

“Let me guess,” she said. “Waller’s new pet bringing her another order?”

You stopped. “I’m not her pet.”

She scoffed. “Could’ve fooled me.”

You stepped closer. “I’m not loyal to her.”

That made Emilia finally lift her head.

Her expression wasn’t angry. It was… confused. Like something didn’t add up.

“You’re not?” she asked slowly.

“No.”

Emilia leaned back, crossing her arms. “Then why do you keep doing everything she tells you? Jumping when she snaps her fingers?”

“Because refusing gets people in trouble,” you said quietly. “And I’m not talking about myself.”

Her jaw clenched—something like recognition flickering in her eyes.

“…So you’re playing along,” she said, voice low, “to protect other people.”

You nodded.

Emilia sighed and rubbed her forehead. “Great. I thought you were another blind loyalist. Those types don’t last long around here.”

You raised an eyebrow. “And what do you think I am now?”

She held your gaze.

“Dangerous,” she said. “Smart enough to think for yourself. Dumb enough to let Waller think she owns you. Brave enough to try to protect the rest of us.”

You swallowed. “Is that a good thing?”

“For me?” Emilia said. “It’s a headache.”

You couldn’t tell if she meant that in a bad way or not.

She stood and walked closer, stopping a foot away from you—close enough to feel her stare sharpen.

“If you’re not loyal to Waller,” she said, “where is your loyalty?”

You hesitated.

“To the team,” you said. “To the people actually doing the work. To the ones who bleed for it.”

Emilia’s expression shifted—just a tiny bit. Softer. Less guarded.

“You know,” she murmured, “most agents lie about that answer.”

“I don’t.”

“I noticed.” Her voice dropped. “Which is why I’ve been watching you.”

You blinked. “Watching me?”

“Relax,” she said, turning away before you could read her face. “If I thought you were Waller’s golden child, we’d be having a very different conversation.”

She grabbed her jacket and slung it over her shoulder.

“Come on,” she said. “If you’re going to pretend loyalty to Waller, you need someone making sure you don’t get yourself killed.”

You frowned. “So that someone is you?”

She rolled her eyes. “Don’t make me regret it.”

“What do you want me to do?”

Emilia walked past you, stopping at the doorway.

“Simple,” she said. “You keep pretending you’re on Waller’s side.” She glanced back at you. “And I’ll make sure she never sees the truth.”

Then she nodded for you to follow.