Kit Fancy Universe: A Rainy Day
Reported by Evan

Nigel Watts looked ruefully up at the corner of the lift as it made its tedious ascent to the very upper floors of the posh building. He knew he had been identified and was most likely being recorded by the small camera tucked away behind the faux Victorian molding of the refurbished antique of the place.

He supposed he should be very used to it by now but it always made him fidget. There he was already, tugging at his coat sleeves and pulling at his shirt cuffs. It was worse, he privately thought, when he knew who was watching behind the security lenses.

With a small pleasant ding of the bell, the lift doors opened, not to a floor of flats but to the flat itself. Agent Fancy had acquired the full top two floors of the building with very limited access for anyone coming to call.

Watts cleared his throat in annoyance when he saw he was alone and ungreeted. He not expect Agent Fancy of course but at least- Startled, Watts stepped backwards into the closed lift doors when Pennington appeared quite unexpectedly from behind a vivacious semi-tropical potted plant.

Watts gathered himself as he adjusted his tie and noted with growing annoyance that Pennington, the infuriating Butler of Fancy's made no move to offer to take his coat.

There was an extremely uncomfortable moment as Pennington simply stared at him as if Nigel Watts had grown a few antlers on his head and decided to rush over to show them off.

Watts decided to break a silence he knew could possibly go on for some time. "I came for Agent Fancy's report?"

Pennington blinked at him.

"The files he uploaded from the field where completely corrupted," Nigel explained suddenly now nervous under the Butler's steady scrutiny. "I-I was told to retrieve his hardware so we could recover-Oh yes, well that is just it right there isn't it?"

Pennington was holding up the thin folded computer tablet.

Watts took it gratefully, very prepared to slip back into the lift and drive away quickly in the waiting car below. Just before he did, he automatically flipped the compact machine over to just make sure the disc inserted was intact so he could be sure to-

"Eh, Pennington?" Watts asked, self consciousness missing in his sudden grave concern. "Where is the drive?"

The Butler paused and with a slight widening of his eyes, noticed what he had evidently had not earlier, but then returned to his normal taciturn state. "On my work table." He responded. "The unit needed to be cleaned."

Watts frown. "I wish you would leave these matters to the- well why just a moment, I am not finished- okay, I will just wait here for you then shall I?"

Pennington was up the sweeping roll of the central stair case and gone.

With a sigh, Watts tucked the light bit of machine under his arm and glanced at his watch hoping it would not take the bothersome Butler very long to fetch the missing but vital piece.

As a few minutes went by, he as always could not help but look about in wonder at the opulence the agent chose to dwell in. Having a quiet appreciation of old furniture of Estate he wandered to the nearest piece sitting tastefully under a graceful vase of cream and yellow flowers. Agent Fancy always had the most lovely things. Looking up into the dark upper floor of the flat, he wondered, with a small bite at his lower lip, if he would see the Agent at all while he was here. A bit wistful, he fondly slid open a drawer in the piece, not for its contents but the tell tale makers mark that sometimes resided hidden on the bottom side, he smiled when he found it the walnut secretary bureau was indeed the 200 years old he had suspected. Marble topped, and a finely preserved leather tooled writing surface inside the hinged shelf-

A soft echo of a voice caused him to quickly shut the panel and straighten his back. His face burning with anticipated embarrassment, Watts quickly looked around to see who may have spotted him molesting the furniture.

He was alone.

Pennington never seemed to keep many lights on but under the dim glow of the lit chandelier and the deep red lampshades that softly lit the foyer, Watts could see one of many tall oak doors which usually remained shut on his few visits, was ajar. A curious line of flickering orange that lay across the floor drew him closer to it as he realised it was the dancing warm light of a fire.

Looking briefly over his shoulder for that sneaky Butler that seem to make less noise than his very own cat, Watts peered through the crack in the door and within the room. There was indeed a cheery bright fire, crackling and glowing in a cozy and comfortably adorned room.

The careful profile of Agent Fancy was there in shadow, reposed on a large dark leather couch, the firelight glittering through a raised glass of pale yellow wine. A bit fascinated, it took Nigel Watts a moment to notice the other profile, almost lost in shadow, as it reached out and met the Agent in an embrace.

Nigel Watt's eyes widened as he suddenly recognised the man leaning over Agent Fancy on the sofa. He had never met him in person but he saw his dossier on his computer almost every day, that informant, that bottom feeder-Xavier!

The door shut firmly in his face.

Shocked, Watts turned to Pennington, whose white gloved hand still was pressed firmly against the wood.

"I-erm-I was just looking for the loo?" Watts sputtered, his heart pounding in humiliation and his face burning in what he was sure felt like a weak pitiful jealousy.

Pennington held up the small black square of the drive that Watts had asked for and held an arm out to gesture to the now open and waiting lift. Flustered and mortified, Watts snatched it from his hand and made for the exit, the horrible burn at the corners of his eyes threatening to beat him before the doors could close behind him.

A black umbrella blocked his path just as he made to step into its welcome interior.
He looked up in baffled confusion to Pennington who was holding it over his forearm in a polite offering.

"It's raining outside sir." Pennington pressed the expensive ebony handle into Watt's pale trembling hand.

Nigel nodded once, meeting the soft hazel eyes of the quiet man, and then allowed himself to be ushered through the wood paneled lift doors just as they swished shut.