The room was quiet enough to hear the hum of the overhead light. Dust floated through the air, catching faint glints of gold as it passed over the worn table where The Vigils sat — straight-backed, pale, waiting.
Archie Costello leaned back in his chair, the picture of calm control, one arm resting across the table, the other tapping a pencil with slow precision. The faint sound echoed like a clock counting down. You sat on his lap — silent, composed, eyes scanning the room like a hawk watching its prey.
“Carter,” Archie drawled finally, voice smooth as oil. “You had one job. One. Care to explain why it went sideways?”
Carter opened his mouth, already stumbling. “I— it wasn’t my fault, Archie. Obie said—”
Archie’s gaze flicked toward him, sharp enough to cut. “Obie doesn’t think. That’s my job.” The pencil tapped once, twice — then stopped. “Your job is to follow the chain of command. You remember what that is, don’t you?”
No one dared breathe. Archie didn’t raise his voice; he didn’t need to. The rhythm of his tone carried the threat.
Carter nodded quickly, eyes darting toward you and then back to him. The shift didn’t go unnoticed. Archie smirked faintly, but didn’t address it. He never did. He didn’t need to remind them of your place — everyone already knew.
“Good,” he said finally, leaning forward, elbows on the table. “Next time, you think before you act. You all do. The Vigils run smooth because I say so. Because we make it so.”
The silence that followed was thick — obedience and fear woven together. You didn’t move, didn’t speak, but when someone’s knee jittered nervously beneath the table, your gaze snapped to him, sharp and wordless. He stilled immediately.
Archie smiled without looking your way. “See? They learn quick.”
He went back to tapping the pencil, the meeting resuming as if nothing had happened — but every boy in the room sat a little straighter, breathing a little quieter. Archie Costello gave the orders. You enforced them. And together, you didn’t need to say a word to remind The Vigils who was truly in control.