CHAPTER 35: TOO YOUNG TO DIE

"What problem?" Trent asked, walking towards Marie.

"International problem..." Anton replied with a sigh, "A Princess from Kraven is coming for the gala"

"And?"

"You’re going to be part of her security, Twerp"

"Why me? I already said I didn’t want to be the muscle. And I can’t attend as myself if I’m her security"

"You’re not on gala duty— just stick with her till then."

"What about me?" Marie asked.

"You’ll help from wherever you are— with support from base"

"This is shit, Man" Trent growled,

"I know— sorry. There’s a lot of agents but I want you on this— synthetic mask, identity as a professional bodyguard and it’s set. You even get paid"

"Paid" Marie scoffed... How much could they pay him?

"I know it’s peanuts but do me this favor, Man"

A favor he was willing to owe for someone from Kraven. Was she related to...

"Alright" he exhaled, "if shit gets complicated, I’m out"

"Yeah— absolutely. Come to base by 7 for the synthetic and briefing "

Marie cut the call and looked at him,

"No movies tonight"

"Oh, we’re still on" he chuckled, turning to enter the bathroom

"It’s still early"

"Yeah" she scoffed, pulling the snacks from the bag, "just don’t piss off the Princess tomorrow"

He laughed as he walked in. A few minutes of shower, few hours of watching movies while glancing at each other and off to bed.

Bliss.

_______

"Hey" she tugged at him,

He turned, stretching— eyes heavy from sleep.

"What is it" he grumbled, sluggishly.

"It’s 6am, dumbass— you don’t want to be late for work"

Shit... He pulled himself up immediately, "It’s morning?" He asked, looking at the window.

"One more... One more..." she teased,

"You’ve never had a movie night before, have you?"

"Of course I have" he scoffed standing up. Watched the Ackerman show with drinks and snacks.

"Yeah, right..."

"Xander prepared your suit— take your bath and you’ll be ready to roll"

"Thank you"

"A partner’s role... you should be thanking Xander"

He stepped into the bathroom, took a quick bath and walked out to wear the suit.

"I think Theo and Angela might come stay here— is that alright?" He glanced at her, knotting his tie.

"There’s lots of rooms— it’s alright"

Speaking of. Why did Angela change her mind about staying?

"I’ll be going to the eatery with Mia today. And checking my other places"

"Alright" he turned to her, "how do I look?"

"Like a real Princess charmer— I’m scared" she replied, laughing.

"I am a Princess charmer— charmed you into marrying me"

"Into a FAKE marriage" she scoffed.

"No diff... Still a charmer"

He looked at her— refreshing to see her face lit with smile this early.

How beautiful.

"Thank you for waking me up"

She looked up from her phone and nodded. He must’ve had it rough recently— talking and crying in his sleep.

"Have a nice day"

"You too"

________

"You look sharp. Great" Anton walked towards him as he entered the base.

"And you look busy— why’s everyone running around"

"A few privileged bastards thinking we’re some security service. Most branches are like this"

"I thought we were secret— isn’t that our essence?"

"We are— deeply. That’s why I called them Privileged bastards— they’re many. Unfortunately"

"I don’t care about the privileged—"

"New missions initializing..." Ave’s voice cut in.

"Meet target— Edmund’s International Airport. Time limit, 3 hours"

Not so much time to work with... And what if he has to leave the Princess for this? Give up?

"... Edmund’s International Airport" Anton’s voice snapped him back to reality.

"What?" He gulped,

"You didn’t anything?"

"The airport— I heard that— what else"

"You’re Trent Becker— Professional Bodyguard"

"Nice..." He chuckled.

Cisco sighted them as he rushed towards the briefing room.

"The mask— it’s beautiful" he laughed, excitedly as he walked towards them.

"Let’s see..." Trent collected the mask from the case and raised it up— blonde haired, attached jaw layer to make a difference and a thin layer on the eye part— a beautiful face.

"Looks like a boy band guy... What’s this layer?"

"That’s a material that changes your eyes colors— blocks from retina scans and that color is Jade green"

"Lovely..."

"He’s the best tech wizard here for a reason." Anton chuckled, holding Cisco by the shoulder.

"It’s thanks to my team’s effort, Sir"

"And your team... deserves a lot of thanks"

Anton cleared his throat, glaring at Trent.

"T–There’s not much we can do" he turned to Cisco with a smile, "it’s for the state"

"Bullshit" Trent scoffed.

"Tell me whatever you want— you and the team. I’ll get it for you"

"Really?" Cisco’s eyes lit up.

"Of course— Thank you for this. I’m sure Marie will love it"

Cisco bowed and hurried off.

"You know... You’ve become a jerk" Anton huffed, watching Cisco run off.

"Learnt from the greatest" he chuckled, "Why have money if you’re not going to enjoy it?"

"A rich jerk" Anton chuckled, walking off.

"Let’s brief you more and you can go protect the Princess"

He watched Anton as he whistled and walked away. Was there a connection between this Princess and his Princess?

No need bothering about it now.

After a quick rundown on her route and quirks, he wore the mask and headed out.

"This is really good" he muttered, adjusting his ears.

________

"Trent Becker" he flashed the ID to the head of the security team as he reached them.

A guy named Dexter— head of Security for the Princess. Sharp looking for his age— around forty.

He nodded, pointing him towards the others, "wait there— uniformly"

Strict arrangements... Cool.

They stood and waited for almost an hour before the Princess’ plane landed.

"Time for work" one of the bodyguards chuckled, turning to him.

"Yeah" he replied, faking a smile.

She walked out with her own security and company and looked towards them— Blonde, slender and beautiful, looked around twenty.

Her eyes scanned the guards— lingering a little too long on him.

"You—" she called out.

What? He looked around as everybody turned towards him.

"Me?" He asked,. surprised.

"Yeah— You" she chuckled, covering her mouth with a hand.

"Get over there" Dexter ordered.

The others murmured lightly as he walked towards her and led her into the car.

"Shera—"

"No— I want to go shopping" she interrupted the driver.

Trent turned to her, surprised— that wasn’t the brief. She was supposed to go to her lodging at Sheraton Hotel.

"Yes, Ma’am. I’ll take you to the best place "

What? He glanced at the driver as he picked his phone.

"The Princess is going shopping—Jade’s Couture— follow closely"

What the fuck? He leaned back on the car watching her powder her face with makeup.

This seems like a problem.

________

She didn’t say a word to him during the ride— just glanced at him and smiled when their eyes met.

He’d smile back, creeped out and turn to the window.

"We’re here, Ma’am"

The driver pulled over at the front of a very big mall— Jade’s Couture.

"Looks lovely—" she mused, looking at the place, "Let’s go, Uh..." She turned to him,

"Trent Becker, Ma’am" he replied with a smile. He’d forgotten to put the tag on his chest.

"Trent— great name"

"Thank you. It’s my honor" he replied, stepping out.

She giggled as he opened the door, winking at him as she stepped out.

The atmosphere at the Mall felt very organized— they were probably informed.

She looked at the clothes and jewelries and chose anything she fancied.

He chuckled as he watched her. What a fancy Princess.

Wait— Trent looked over the far right end of the room. Something’s odd.

Two men with face hats that covered their faces— they seemed to be arguing about something.

"Hello" Trent called a staff over,

"Are those guys Maintenance?"

"We don’t have repairs" she turned to them. "Let me check, Sir" she walked towards them.

Fuck— they seemed agitated as she walked towards them.

Immediately, his eyes caught another Man, walking into the Mall— no security on sight.

He looked at the Princess— 4 feet away. The others were relatively far and seemed to be in an arguments with the staff.

He drew his gun and jumped as the one walking in reached for his back.

The Princess shrieked, surprised as he pushed her down, shooting at the one walking in.

The staffs at the counters hid while the others fell to the ground.

"Sorry about that Ma’am— we’ve got a problem" he held her head and shot at the direction of the other men as they rushed towards them.

He pulled her up and shot at them, retreating towards the door— killing one and missing the other.

"What’s happening" the princess hid and ran towards the door.

No time to explain. He yanked her behind him, eyes locked on the next threat.

Shit... I’m out.

He flung his empty gun into the attacker’s face, drew his spare, and fired.

All clear.

He turned as the princess shrieked— two more men running towards them with rifles this time.

Fuck. He pulled her back, shooting at them.

"I’m too young to die"