I know it has been a very considerable amount of time and you all probably hate me or have forgotten about 'Out Ranked' but I just wanted to let you all know that I haven't forgotten. I still hold this story near and dear to my heart so it is not going to end in the middle like it would seem. I've had a really rough run lately but I feel like I'm able to come back and (hopefully) update once a week or maybe once every two depending on how my schedule hashes out. Looking back through the reviews I can't help but smile and think fondly of you all so I hope you have it in your hearts to forgive this poor Brit for his absence.

As always:

Keep reading, keep reviewing, keep loving, keep being awesome!

-Jaunt

Chapter 26: There and Back Again

Matt stood in the doorway of the house that we had so comfortably lived in for our long vacation, his naturally pale skin was holding a wonderful glow from being out in the sun so much and an easy smile played across his lips that made my heart skip a quick beat as I walked down the stairs with my suitcase. It was time for us to go back to the real world where war raged and Wammy who desperately needed their top agent back in the field. Where did I fit into this big master plan? No idea yet but I knew that Watari wouldn't be splitting us up, there was no denying the connection I had with Matt and breaking us apart would be borderline cruel.

It was Marcus who had been assigned to pick them up, which was kind of nice since you never knew when you'd get to see such a bright young face again in a time of war. Sure, he was a beginner agent to Wammy but that didn't mean his life was in danger. The over-eager agent who was barely out of his teens jumped at the chance and took our bags quickly to load into the back of their car. We had brought a car to the house that had been leant by Wammy and that was going to be left there for the future use of other agents that were given a leave of absence at the house. That way, the agent(s) could simply be dropped off and picked up while still having the use of a vehicle if they needed it. After some pleasantries with the brunette, we got into the back. I couldn't help but bridge the gap between Matt and I as I took his hand and sighed, looking out the window at the place that had truly become home to me during our stay. "I don't want to go." It was the truth and I knew he was feeling the same thing but that didn't mean it had to be voiced. We had this weird way of being able to communicate without really saying anything, that had only strengthened more when we were able to stay together without anyone interrupting us. Sex also helped with that bond.

The ride back didn't seem to take even half as long as it had going there, on the way it had seemed like a never-ending road that we would be on until we died but this time it seemed very doable. It wasn't like we had made the drive back and forth again going into the cities or anything, it was kind of weird but I was still too focused on Matt and the way the sun had brought out every adorable little freckle on his face. He really was beautiful but also manly at the same time. How had I ever thought he was scrawny when we first met? Sure, that too-big uniform had been a good way to hide his psychic but still. After getting a chance to explore it at my leisure, I really wondered how I could have been so blind that early in.

Before I really knew what was happening, we were on a flight back to London. The direct was kind of nice, what was even nicer was that Matt and I were in first class so I immediately took the window seat and settled in for the long flight to get home to where I belonged… What really made me belong there? I had been out of the country before but it never really felt like home until now. Maybe Matt was just my home now or something, cheesy as that sounded. Closing my eyes, I settled in against the other while he smiled and kissed the side of my head.

XxX-XxX

There was no mistaking the two men in uniform waiting for them when they got off the plane, they were agents just like Matt who was currently stumbling a little with a bleary look in his eyes. He had fallen asleep and was out cold before landing so I had to wake him up and help him off so we could help keep everything moving. "Welcome home." The taller of the two agents welcomed us before we headed to baggage claim to get everything. Matt stayed close to me with my hand in his so we could keep moving at a good pace. The more we moved the easier he became to lead since he woke up. Before I really even knew it, we were pulling up outside of the dingy looking old warehouse that housed one of the most sophisticated intelligence systems in the entire world.

Smiling to myself, we walked back in and were immediately greeted by agents who seemed to be waiting for us. Matt smiled at everyone, "Good to be back." He said, his hand squeezing mine to get me to join in with the festivities of coming back after a few months off to get their minds cleared of all the shit going on. Men and women both were there to greet them, mostly for Matt but there were still plenty there to see me too which was a pretty good ego boost. Everyone knew Matt and sometimes I only felt like "Mail's boyfriend" but this helped remind me that I was important too, not that it mattered from anyone other than my redhead.

"How was your trip?" Someone asked in the group, I missed their face but smiled none the less as I looked to Matt who had a similar smile one.

"Great." We said at the same time, chuckling at the knowledge of having done it in literally every single room in the house. Not that they'd tell anyone but it had been very adventurous for them to go so out of their way to fuck in every room of the huge house. There were some great memories in the most random of rooms just because they'd always find a new position to try out so things didn't get boring. Sex wasn't new to either of them but it felt new with how they were able to try new things constantly. "Really relaxing." I added in as more questions were asked of us. Little did either of us know that Watari was watching from a little ways away from the convened group. It was Matt who spotted him first, nodding at some silent message conveyed between the two of them.

"I'm supposed to meet with Watari, will you come with me?" Matt asked, biting his lip slightly before looking to the others, "Hope you guys don't mind but we need to get briefed on everything that's happened since our leave." Everyone was a little crest-fallen but let them go, business was business after all and their business was very important. We followed Wammy's leader to his office where we took our seats and waited for the other to start speaking since he had been the one to want to talk with them; Mihael highly doubted it was good news since they had to come to the office to hear what was going on.

"Mail, there's been some bad news on the lines." Of course there was bad news, there was always bad news. "Please direct your attention to the screen." Watari moved his chair to the side while a scene started playing on the projector. Wait, not a scene. It was more like a slow filming of the tragedy that was left after some horrible natural disaster or disease. Something horrible. Dead bodies were strewn across the ground and even on the stray car, blood spattering across walls, and all over there was fallen debris. Sure it was war, but this… It wasn't just one side's men taking majority.

"It looks like a massacre happened… by a third party." Matt said after a long moment of silence while the filming of the location continued. "Who would have done this? Everyone who wants to be in the war already is."

"It was meant as a statement by the other side, they don't care how many men they lose. They are determined to beat us and see our powers fail." I didn't understand what they were getting at but I really wasn't too crazy about what it spelled out for the war. If a higher up didn't care about his men then he would do anything. Japan had been big into the kamikaze pilots but they still valued their lives. This looked like the two sides had been fighting, more Germans came in and killed everyone there without regard for uniforms. I didn't understand who could be so cruel. "There was also something left for us." Watari hit a button on the remote and immediately the picture changed to black nothingness until a voice spoke.

"Hello, Watari. Long time no see." There was a definite British accent being tongued into every letter but… Yes. It had to be. "Mail, you have made my life quite difficult since you became an active participant but what could I expect? You were always pig headed. I will tell you what is going to happen. In exactly six months from today, I will launch an endgame assault on London. All of my men against all of yours and when Germany wins, I will have the satisfaction of killing the both of you myself. If you do not show up, then I will destroy all of England." The lights flicked on and a man who was literally the spitting image of Matt yet with a different hair color came into view. His hair was blonde as wheat in the fields. "You will be the last that I kill, Mail. So that you will hear every scream of everyone you care for dying." The screen went black and I looked to Matt who seemed unphased by what had just been played for us. How was he holding his composure?

"When is this marked?" Matt asked, thinking ahead as always. I was still a little miffed by how a father could ever say that to their child.

"We have four months and twenty nine days until we are meant to show down against Colonel Benedikt… And they will be very busy days indeed as we prepare. There is much to be done and no time to be wasted so we must start today." Watari looked between the two of us and I nodded, knowing that any relaxation would be undone by the coming stress.

"Let's kick some traitor ass." I said, attempting to lighten the mood. This really would be the endgame for one side. There would be no treaty at the end, only bloody carnage. Matt looked at me for a long moment as if contemplating something of great importance before he, too, spoke up.

"Take no prisoners." He joked, trying to keep the joking tone that I had set up between the three of us. When it came down to something so major, there was nothing to do but keep the mood light to avoid people breaking down from too much stress in their lives.

We ended up not starting right then, Matt and I were allowed to leave the office and head to the bunk room where his bunk waited for him untouched by anyone else. "How do you feel about all of this?" I asked tentatively as I sat on the foot of his bed.

"I don't really know just yet, my father wants to make me suffer which is really sick but what can I do? I have to kill him before he kills me or someone I love." Matt was right about that but still, how had he kept so level headed and managed to have such a good response?

"Matty, you really are amazing. I don't know how to you do it but you always do it right."

"Is that meant to have a double meaning towards my skills in bed?" I could help but chuckle at the goofy grin on his face, I shook my head and laughed easily.

"No, but it definitely works both ways." Knowing how much pain he would face internally, I pulled him close but made no move to do anything else. Sometimes all Matt really needed was a hug to get through things and I was more than a willing tribute to his needs. We sat like that for what felt like an hour before Agent Touta walked in.

"Hey guys, sorry but it's time to get to work on battle plans." He said with red cheeks and an apologetic expression.

"Ready."