This is a cool third chapter! It's a definite switch in roles between the two where Salem scolds Rios. It makes sense that he would because it's on a topic he has a strong opinion on: being a good father. He didn't have one and he feels he failed as one in your verse, so he REALLY knows the significance and responsibility Rios needs to fill out. Plus, he himself feels like a father figure to Nala so he wants the best for her.

Also I liked Rios' concern that Nala would bring something up she shouldnt during the show that might set him off. Rios understands she's just a kid, and besides their little games she doesn't know (and I'm sure he hopes she never knows) how hellish war can be and what it does to them. Nala sees them like heroes in a way, especially with the guys' simplification of the job to things like "I stopped the bad guys", but it's such a gray area with what they do.

The ending was well done :) I like the idea of using algebra and Sam's argument that salem isnt as predictable as a formula, but that he's unstable. And Nala just brushed her off, and I felt her unconditional love for him, that how he is isn't his fault and that "we're all just sums of variables". And her equation with the black eyes cracked me up. Nice work as usual :D thanks for posting.

Again nice :) especially I think Rios' characterization here. He's really caught between two worlds and I think Salem in a way pulls him back into the way of life he came from. Not that salem is a bad influence/friend but they both came from rough places and according to the comics spent some jail or prison time before the army. Salem I think is a more relaxed person he can go to while Samantha's family is obviously a higher class and a bit pompous, and pressure Rios to be like them, to fit in. He's caught between his family and his closest friend, which I guess you could say is what happened in TFD. Go home to the family or shoot Salem.

Secondly I loved their little Skype call! They're closeness is shown well here, as well as Nala's intuition about the two. I won't lie I'm reay excited to read the show and tell lol. He's going to look like a super heroes to these eleven year olds. I liked Nala's line "that's how he says he's sorry". Again that shows Rios' sort of back and forth nature between Sam's way of life and theirs. He's not explicit about it. Nice second chapter :D can't wait for the show!

Nice. First of all, love the badger photo it's pretty cute. Secondly, I enjoy anything that involves Salem being sassy to ostentatious rich people lol. Kind of reminds me of that dictionary snippet you posted. He's a pretty well-rounded guy that's been trained to prepare for multiple walks of life because I mean, like you mentioned in an email before the upper class are most likely the ones to hire them. But even though he's knows how to act I can imagine him, like shown here, he just has no patience to deal with bullshit, especially in his current state. I really liked the dialogue where he was telling the Yancy woman about being dragged around Afghanistan. I could hear his exhaustion and irritability, not just with her but with the job. He's undoubtedly been through really messed up ops like that and has seen so much. He's tired of it and I like that you showed that.

I also loved Nala's "What would salem do" philosophy. She's picking up so much from him and I like his portrayal as the "cool fun uncle" that acts as both a friend and helpful adult. He's definitely somewhat a kid himself so I'm sure they find each other relatable.

I take his timeline is either pre-2002 due to the teacher's worry over terrorism and how Salem fired the gun at the school. Now a days he'd have definitely stayed in prison :P and I like that your story fits in that time with little cultural things like that.

"You are the one at the bottom of the contact list."
"What's that supposed to mean?!"

Too perfect. Great work here. Thanks for posting.