"Alright, I'm set.", Woods notified you two.

With a quick glance at Bell, you nodded and pulled the trigger.

As the first guard fell, the others around started to run around like headless chickens. While screaming orders in Russian, they sought cover.

From down below, Woods managed to take down two more before the rest disappeared behind corners and barrels.

"Hm, still shooting like no other, old man.", you chuckled and aimed at one soldier who was looking up from his hideout to aim at you too.

Your bullet missed him by the width of a hair and hit the wall right behind.

A huge crack stretched through the concrete.

"Shit!", you hissed and turned to the side to seek cover.

But before the soldier could pull the trigger, Bell put a bullet through his head.

Impressed, but also a little frightened, you raised your eyebrows.

"Good shot...", you mumbled.

Confident, he smirked.

"Nam was good for something...", he said and gestured towards the stairs. "Let's join Woods."

Agreeing, you nodded.

"You first.", you threw a glance down where the corpses were laying and covered the floor with blood. "I'll secure the way."

As the good soldier that he was, Bell nodded and rushed down the stairs.

But instead of following him right away, you hesitated.

He was talking about Nam as if it were his own memories, his own suffering and war.

Adler truly was a genius. A cursed one, rotten and frightening, but a genius nonetheless.

The thought made a cold shiver crawl down your spine.

"All clear.", Woods hummed as you joined him and Bell. "Moving up."

As if he was still in his twenties, he jumped over the railing, down to the ground level and looked around. But before he could run on, he stopped and let his hands roam all over the dead bodies.

With a satisfied smile, he pulled out an identification card and wiggled it in the air.

"Big win today!", he huffed and jumped up again to take the lead.

Groaning and shaking your head, you tried to follow him as quickly as possible.

Despite his size and height, that old man was sinfully fast on his feet. The only disadvantage he had was how loud he was. Each of his steps echoed from the walls and made it clear someone was in the building.

"Goddammit, old man.", you gasped. "You're still so careless... will you ever learn..?"

With his head down, Woods jumped through a door and into another corridor.

His eyes jumped over his shoulder, back to you.

"Be ready.", he said, directly addressed at you and completely ignoring Bell. "Could be a thousand Reds on the other side of this door..."

With a gesture of his head, he pointed towards a door and pressed his back against it.

His gaze jumped to Bell.

"Cover me.", he ordered.

Understanding, you and Bell took positions left and right and aimed at the door.

"Ready when you are, old man.", you raised your chin. "But keep your head down. I might confuse you with a Russian."

He nodded and pulled out the card to unlock the door.

With a harsh push, he slammed the door open.

Colourful light filled the corridor. Pink and blue mixed.

As the rays touched the tips of your feet, you frowned in confusion. The sight reminded you an awful lot of a disco.

All of a sudden, a silhouette appeared.

Out of a reflex, you raised your gun. Your finger was already pressing down on the trigger.

Woods rushed into the room, wrapped his arm around the person and threw them to the ground. His run raised, he wanted to knock them out with a hit.

But he quickly realised that it wasn't a person, but a mannequin that he was squatting on top of.

Not believing it, he had to take a closer look and pulled a face as realisation struck.

With a grim look, he raised a finger.

"Not a fucking word, Bell.", he warned.

Next to you, Bell shrugged and pressed his lips into a thin line.

But you couldn't help and let out an amused snort.

"Ha. Word.", you chuckled.

Annoyed, Woods pulled a face and had to bite his lips to silence a groan.

"God, the hate I'm feeling for you should be considered a crime.", he jumped back on his feet.

With a sarcastic grin, you shrugged and entered the arcade as well.

"Well, thank god it's not."

"Yeah, my ass would be in prison real fast."

"Again."

Bell pushed past the two of you.

"Get a room...", he mumbled.

It was probably just supposed to be a joke. But it hit right into the guts.

With your mouths wide open, you and Woods turned to him, but stopped in your rage as you realised how much in sync you were.

"Listen you little shit!", Woods tapped your chest with two fingers. "Stop it."

Annoyed, you raised your chin and met his gaze.

"Stop what, huh?", you asked and gave him a push. "You stop."

"I'm not doing shit."

"You're very much waisting my last nerve, that's what you do."

He laughed.

"As if. You always had the most nerves with me.", he pulled a face and raised a finger. "Forget that part."

Thrilled by his little mistake, you crossed your arms and chuckled.

"Oh, you've fucked up so bad, old man.", you teased him with a broad grin and immediately followed Bell, to avoid a hit into the guts. "I'll never forget this."

With his eyebrows knitted together, he jumped after you.

"You better will!"

"Never! Not in a thousand years."

"Yeah, you always keep things in mind to use them against me. You always did."

"And I won't ever stop doing that."

"And that's the reason why I'll keep hating you..."

Bell let out a low growl.

"Holy hell, you two are a match made in heaven.", he whispered, annoyed.

You and Woods froze.

"Don't say things you'll regret, Bell.", Woods warned.

But he just shook his head.

"You deserve each other. Everyone who's around you is in hell. But you two make a perfect match for each other."

A soft hiss escaped you.

"You just lost a few points on my favourite team member list.", you said.

But he just shrugged again.

"Adler likes me though.", he said and moved on.

You and Woods exchanged a glance.

"When will we tell him Adler likes no one?", you asked.

"Let him dream...", he hummed and followed him.