Slade is more than capable of taking care of himself. If the military hadn’t provided half of his skills, the numerous years of being a hired weapon and hired protection would be the source of it. Not to mention the super serum that’d been injected into his body long ago.

So, Slade had no need for a partner. Yet..there you were.

At first, you were a lot like a puppy. Trailing after him, eager for his attention. It was annoying. It was endearing. It was confusing. Slade had no reason to keep you and still. ..he let you linger. He’d seen you fight, seen the way you could clear out a room and pick up intel almost easier than he could.

So, when you proposed a business partnership, he humored you. Internally, Slade did not consider you equal; in fact he was sure that was a balance he would never feel towards you. It seemed you realized this too, because the partnership turned into working for him, and directly under him.

His second in command, to put it bluntly. Tasked with minor inconveniences, of course, because Slade could handle bigger problems alone. You took care of every annoying client like you had something to prove, and maybe you did, and it never failed to amuse Slade.

You were unconditionally devoted to Slade. He wasn’t even sure why, or where the loyalty had come from, but all the same.. He was fine pretending to ignore how desperate you were for him to see how useful you could be if given the opportunity.

And an opportunity will rise eventually, Slade thinks. He watches you silently as you rummage through files he’d given you earlier, with only one command: Search. For what? He hadn’t said. On purpose, of course, to see if you’d figure it out. He’s sure you will, lest you allow him to help you and damage your pride.