Chapter Text
JB sat, examining the faces of the other Time Agents around him. They had done the ceremony and they read him the core principles of being a Time Agent once more.
This was his third time getting recertified, but this time his nerves continued to buzz, even though he had already passed the tests. This time he wasn’t only getting recertified, but he was also getting promoted.
JB had been promoted in the past, a few times in fact, but this time was different. Now he’d be getting more responsibilities, his own office, and, most importantly to him, hi-
“Congratulations, Agent Alonzo K’tah.” Rae Finley said, taking his attention away from his thoughts. “You will be escorted to your new office, room CVI , after our meeting. I trust it will be up to your standard.”
“The Agency’s facilities are impeccable, I’m certain I will find no fault in them.” JB replied, his hands fidgeting nervously underneath the table.
“Good.” Rae said, giving him a curt nod before continuing. “Have you thought of who you want to be your head Projectionist?”
“Yes.” He responded, before he took a deep breath. “I would like Samuel Chase to be my Projectionist.”
“Are you sure you want him? ” One of the other Agents at the table asked. “He can be so cold and condescending. You don’t want to have to deal with him on a regular basis.”
“I assure you, I’ve thought it through, and I want him.” JB said calmly.
“He’s one of the best Projectionists we have, are you certain you want to take him away from all the other Agents?” Someone else asked.
“I know he’s a good asset for the Time Agency as a whole, but Sam is the Projectionist I’ve worked with the most and one I trust.” He explained. “I would take him over any other Projectionist, and I would like to believe he would work well assigned to me.”
“You seem serious about this.” Rae said.
“I am.” JB replied.
He saw the gathered Time Agents look at each other, nod, and almost imperceptibly blink in and out of existence, most certainly going to a time hollow to discuss the pros and cons before returning.
“We have come to a decision.” Rae informed him, making his nerves buzz in anticipation again. “And we have accepted your request. Samuel Chase can be your head Projectionist.”
JB couldn’t keep the smile off his face. He had done it. He had climbed the ranks of the Time Agency, and now he was going to take Sam up with him. Not that Sam couldn’t get there on his own, JB was more than sure that he could, but now they would officially be a team.
“Thank you.” He replied, smiling at each Agent in the room. “Thank you.”
“You are dismissed, Agent K’tah.” Rae said.
He stood up, nodded at the other people in the room, before stepping out, leaving the conference room behind.
“Agent Alonzo, I’m here to show you to your new office, if you’ll just follow me-” A young Agent said, before being cut off.
“I know the way, I can get there on my own, I just need to make a stop first.” JB interrupted, not staying long enough to hear the Time Agent’s stammered reply.
He weaved through the hallways, passing offices, Agents, and the occasional Projectionist, his footsteps light, excited. He had been waiting to rise the ranks for years, and now he had finally done it. He couldn’t wait to tell Sam.
The frosted doors opened in front of him, revealing a room with mostly empty desks. JB was only halfway to the back of the room when Sam looked up, his bright green eyes meeting JB’s hazel ones with a smile.
“Congrats.” The Projectionist said. “You made it through recertification with minimal injuries this time, I didn’t know it was possible for you.”
“Oh is that all? You aren’t going to congratulate me on my new rank?” JB asked, beaming at his friend.
“I don’t see why I should.” Sam replied, kicking his feet onto his desk, before he looked up at him and smirked. “That was something that I already knew you were going to do.”
“Thank you for believing in me Sam.” JB said, leaning against the desk.
“You didn’t give me much choice.” Sam replied with a laugh. “You kept proving me wrong with your abilities until I caved.”
“I didn’t just come to hear you congratulate me though.” He said after a bit, his fingers nervously tapping on the desk.
“Is that so?” The Projectionist asked, the teasing clear in his tone. “And here I thought you just wanted to brag.”
“Well, no.” JB replied with a laugh, before becoming slightly more serious, but only to contain his excitement. “It took a little bit of convincing, but they let me choose you as my head Projectionist!”
Sam’s eyebrows raised slightly, betraying him with the small sign of surprise.
“You were able to do it?” His friend asked.
JB nodded back, excited.
“Funny, in most of my projections you gave up when they first advised against it.” Sam said.
“I guess your projections were off then, because there is no way I would’ve given up. You’re my Projectionist,” JB replied, smiling. “I’m always going to choose you.”