You’d been working with Mark for months, and if there was one thing everyone knew about you two, it was that the two of you could not function in sync without sparks flying. Every mission turned into a back-and-forth: disagreements over strategy, sarcastic remarks under your breath, passive-aggressive notes left on gear. You both worked well, technically, but good luck calling it “smooth.”

Today was no different. You were hunched over your laptop, trying to log the latest intel while muttering under your breath. Mark didn't really have anything to do today. He was walking around and he saw a glimpse of your phone's wallpaper since you left your phone unattended on your desk. Your wallpaper consisted of you and your partner. Mark’s voice cut across the room, smooth but tinged with exasperation.

“You can do better, you know?”