A short story

Hello everyone,

I would like to post from time to time some of my short stories that I wrote. Some were written during writing courses, others were written by me for fun when I had a bit of inspirtaion. I don't know how often I'll post these, but here's one. Feel free to tell me what you think about them.

Patrol Duty
Agent Blue is walking back to the car with his usual elegance about it. His smile, a weapon in itself, unravels any thoughts or emotions I have. A great spy indeed. We're riding along today for the first time in my career. I somehow got paired with Blue, fabled for his prowess in the field. As if to challenge his mythic aura, a puddle splashes under his foot. His face now amused at the mishap turns to me. Blue flashes a half-embarrassed smile keeping his jolly attitude unperturbed at the same time. What a guy. So much class in one person.

"Scooch over Green, you're driving today."

I'm bewildered at the request, my face feeling hot with excitement.

"If you insist." I fumble for casualness, yet giggleunderneath.

I twist on the key, the car startsup, the sputters and die, each ungodly noise an approt to my ego. My embarrassment is through the roof, my voice cracking at the lame excuse I blurt out.

“It’s really hot today you know...”

“I guess it is Green. Try again.”

Blue gives me a smile like some sort of paragon of old would to a soldier in need of a pep talk before a battle. His confidence is so infectious it’s oozing out of him and onto my now steady hand. I turn the key again, and we're on the move.

“Patrol duty today, Green. Firearm ready?” His tone shifts, protective but not patronizing.

Blue is clearly trying to ease me into this. I graduated from the same spy programme as he has, yet there's something about him that makes everything feel...right.

“I do Blue. Thanks for checking.”

Maybe that was a bit silly to say, but I am thankful for the constant reassurance he’s offering me. After all, he is the primary on this and it’s on him if anything does go wrong.

We drive for a good twenty minutes taking into account the usual neighbourhood troubles. Some unfriendly buyers, some annoyed sellers, the typical beggars at the corners and...what do we have here? A man holding a girl by the arm rushes her into a closed-off alley.

“Something's off there”, I point to the alley in front of us.

“That girlwent in there with a guy almost twice her size. He didn’t look friendly by the way he was handling her.”

“I guess we have to go check it out then, won’t we?” Blue’s face seems annoyed at the need to do this, maybe even concealing a bit of exasperation. It looks more like a job for the local law enforcement rather than an amazing spy such as himself.

I slam the brakesnear the alley, the noise alarming everyone on the street of our not so subtle entrance. This car is ruining me today. Blue looks at his watch as if we’re late somewhere yet nothing is planned for today except this simple patrol. Wait. What if this is some sort of set-up for me? Like an unofficial test Blue does with fresh graduates? It must be! We’re patrolling some  neighbourhood and then some random girl walks right in front of us almost like clockwork. Blue’s dodgy attitude not noticing her also suspicious to say the least. Fine. I’ll let this play out until I feel I have him deep enough to reveal his simplistic plan and one-up the great Agent Blue.

Inside the alley, behind a few garbage bins, the big guy is holding the girl up by her neck against the wall. He’s choking her, spewing loads of insults while she kicks him trying to break free somehow. I reach for my gun, but Blue is already pointing his gun at the thug’s temple. Did I freeze up or did Blue move that fast?

“Slow down there buddy. Let the pretty girl go and your brain won’t be splattered all over the wall here.” Blue’s words might intimidate some random lowlife, but this guy clearly knows nobody’s going to kill him outright.

“I don’t think so.” The thug's words seem lifeless, his hands digging harder into the girl’s neck, her eyes bulging out of her skull.

I hear a click. Blue pulled the trigger, but the gun didn’t fire. He’s looking at his gun in surprise, the thug turning andpunching him so hard I think I heard Blue’s nose break all the way from here. I sense my feet moving although it feels surreal like I’m on autopilot. My gun’s in my hand now, pointing it at the thug and I squeeze the trigger. No more hesitation.

The bang echoes in the alley, pigeons flying away to escape the danger. The thug’s face is bright red, blood pouring out of one side. I try shooting him again, the trigger now jammed. The frenzied look on the thug’s face makes me regret waking up this morning. I swallow hard expecting his fist to bash my face in, but then I hear a burst of soft laughter coming from Blue.

“Let him be. He’s shaken enough!”

The girl starts laughing, as does the thug. It was a damn set up after all and I fell for it!

“But what about the punch and the blood?” I ask relief washing over me.

“Fake noise, fake blood” the girl replies.

“And the guns?” I continue still stunned at all of this.

“Blanks!"

"Hey. I’m Red and this is Violet. Nice to meet you Green.” The thug’s pleasant voice makes me slump tothe ground laughing out loud in unison with the others.

“Welcome to the club kid”. Such an amazing smile Blue has.