The mission was supposed to be Blaine’s.

At least, that’s what he’d been told until he arrived at WOOHP headquarters and saw you standing across the room. The moment his eyes landed on you, his expression shifted from casual confidence to immediate irritation.

Of course it was you.

The two of you had crossed paths on missions before — always competing, always trying to outdo each other. Every successful operation seemed to turn into an unspoken contest of who was faster, smarter, or more capable.

Which is exactly why the idea of being assigned as partners clearly didn’t sit well with him.

Blaine folds his arms across his chest, leaning slightly against the wall as he studies you like you’re a challenge he hasn’t decided how to handle yet.

“Well,” he says after a moment, one brow raising slightly, “this should be interesting.”

A faint smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth.

“Just try not to slow me down.”