Project Icarus au chapter 4:

Gwen had always thought David was weird with his happy go lucky attitude and his love of this shitty camp she thought it was kind of cute….In a stupid kind of way. But this year things were different about him. She has not seen him this jumpy since the last time someone let him drink beer and she intended to get to the bottom of it.

Gwen was creeping through the camp after doing some midnight snacking when she heard a whispered argument from the tent of trio as David called them.

A voice that sounded like max was clearly annoyed saying "I know I don't want to take him either but everything we know about him is in the intersect."

Neil moaned "but the flower scouts!"

Nikki joined "yea there so prim and proper and they hate getting dirty!"

Neil asked "how do you know so much about them?"

Before Nikki could answer Max interrupted "look back on task people. The counselor social is Tuesday. And we need to make sure David is there. All the dipshit adults in this god forsaken forest is going to be there. And we need a reason for David to be as well"

Nikki pointed out "wouldn't he always go?"

Neil shuddered "according to Intel it is a….couples event"

Nikki clearly shocked and nervous "he needs…a date!?"

Max sounded resigned "he does. And we need to get him one. Then see if he flashes like they think he should."

Gwen had enough storming into the tent saying "why are you shit's still up!" her voice angry and her face heated

The children looked down saying "sorry Miss Gwen" Gwen noted in the back of her mind there response was odd to precise almost military like but she shook it off saying

"just go to bed" before storming away lost in her thoughts about there being a couples activity happening for years and briefly entertaining the notion of going with David before shaking it off thinking that she can't let her self-go down that road.

Back in there tent the 3 agents looked at each other smiling Gwen's clear feelings were not lost on them as max said "Well we found Tree boy's date"

Next morning

Max took a sip of his cup of coffee the word nope portraying his current thought's very well.

Max entered the dining hall and sat down with a thump next to Neil and across form Niki who said brightly "good morning max!"

Max grumbled taking another sip as Neil pointed out "you should really not drink so much of that stuff"

Max spit out "we have to get David a date I think I earned a cup of coffee."

Nikki asked "come on max isn't a nice change to help people find love instead of what we normally do?"

Max rolled his eyes responding "love is just a chemical reaction that compels animals to breed Neil back me up on this"

Neil raised his hands after seeing Nikki shoot him a glare wisely opting not to answer instead changing the topic "so what's the plan?"

Nikki Smiled "easy we get David and Gwen to realize there undying love for each other and then after the mission they will…hold hands" she glanced around the room quickly before adding the final statement

Max smiled slightly Nikki Is a trained killer who is somehow impossibly innocent still and it was rubbing off on him but he shrugged saying "do we have anything on Gwen good old fashioned black mail would be easiest"

Just then Gwen entered looking at them for just a second before waking over the counselors table complete with a grinning from ear to ear David half yelling "good morning Gwen!"

Gwen mumbled a greeting to David barely able to make eye contact with him before saying "coffee"

David Smiled brightly "of course Gwen! We need you awake and ready for another great day!" handing her a cup of coffee

Gwen sniffed saying "2 creams and 2 sugars?"

David smiled "of course! I know how you like your coffee"

Gwen blushed lightly but David was too busy heading towards the trio when he arrived he leaned down and said quietly "everything ok?"

Neil stared at him answering to quickly "of course what do you mean?"

David said "because you have been staring at Gwen since she came in"

Max sighed "we will talk later" David nodded leaving the building to get together for his busy day.

Max turned to the other's from the trio asking "what do we have?"

Neil said "still waiting to hear from Langley about her internet history… we could out her crush on David?"

Max shook his head "no we need her in our pocket and threatening to out her crush and then setting them up on a date won't work"

Nikki suggested "well there is the stuff that isn't camp Approved. We could threaten to out her unless she goes as David's date?"

Max asked "stuff what kind of stuff"

Nikki blushed slightly giving Max everything he needs just from that reaction he smiled "perfect"

Later that day in the trio's tent:

David was waiting for the young agents to meet him and tell him what the gosh darn heck is going on.

Just then the trio entered the tent allowing David to exclaim "finally. Now what are you three up to?"

Neil sighed "does the name Budapest mean anything to you?"

David said "what like the cit…" before he could finish he heard the wind blowing as his eyes narrow and a picture of weapons, dead bodies, a map labeled Sleep peak Region, followed by the words Smuggler , Wanted, Armed and dangerous, Approach with caution.

David blinked away the flash as Max said "we have intel that he is apparently supposed to be at the sleepy peak Counselor social.

David said "and you need me to go?!"

Neil nodded "everything we know about him was fed into the intersect… we need you to ID him"

David spluttered pointing out "assuming I can even do this it's a black tie event! I also need a date!"

Neil pulled up the mattress revealing a tuxedo saying "we got the black tie covered"

David blinked "how did you know my size?"

Max deadpanned "CIA remember we have your rental detail from prom night"

David blinked "really?"

Max rolled his eyes "no genius we checked your closet. Now about your date we got that covered as well. You will be going with Gwen"

David chocked saying "what no way! Gwen would never agree to that. I mean she is smart and pretty and talented…but there is no way she feels the same way about me!"

Nikki and Neil looked at each other knowingly while Max not really caring about David's love life said "don't worry we are blackmailing her into helping us"

David yelled "blackmailing! What's wrong with you!...wait if she is helping us that mean she knows about the…" he points to his head seemingly excited at the idea of telling her

The trio all yelled "no!" at the same time

Max finished "David you cannot tell her! You would only be putting her in more danger!"

David pouted but nodded saying "so what exactly is the plan?"

The trio Looked at each other and begin to explain.

Earlier:

Gwen entered her cabin to see max sitting on her chair waiting patiently saying "oh good you're here"

Gwen said "max what the…. What?"

Max smiled with fake sweetness "listen Gwen… me and my friends got lost and stumbled on something really disturbing in here Just imagine what David would say if he found out"

Gwen panicked on the inside but on the outside remained calm "I have no idea what it is your talking about Maxwell" adding venom to the name

Max fake pouted "oh so you don't mind if these books and magazines are accidently left out where ol sunshine boy can find them"

Gwen sighed and replied "what do you want Max?"

Max reached into his hoody pulling out an invitation to the counselor social saying "I need you to dress up. You and David have a date tonight"

Gwen frowned clearly suspicious but seeing that she had no other choice simply nodded her assent

That night:

David undid and re did his bowtie 4 times as Neil briefed "ok David we will be right outside. Get in Id Budapest and blend in got it!"

David nodded halfheartedly as Max said "for the love of you look fine!"

David glanced up at him "you think Gwen will like it?"

Max rolled his eyes as Nikki smiled "no doubt David now come on we need to meet her"

David was dragged out side waiting for Gwen to be ready. A minute later Gwen emerged and David's Jaw hit the floor. She was wearing an elegant violent dress that matched her perfectly in ways he could not describe.

Gwen smiled saying "how do I look?"

David smiled "you look pretty girl… good you look pretty good"

Gwen rolled her eyes elbowing David playfully to cover her blush as she said "you can pull off a tux better than I would have thought"

David blushed rubbing the back of his head saying "yeah I had uhhh help"

David noticed Neil tapping his watch behind Gwen bringing him back to reality "we should go…don't want to be late" offering his arm like his mom taught him so many years ago

Gwen secretly swooned as she took the arm and headed for the Camp mobile.

Town:

The party had been going for about an hour David had talked to nearly everyone. No flashes no nothing and he was starting to relax enjoying his Shirley temple but he felt tugging on his sleeve to see Gwen smiling at him saying "care for a dance" David could tell she had a drink but was not drunk. David smiled accepting the offer just as a slow dance came on.

The two gazed at each other getting lost in each other as the song came to a close. Pikeman appeared asking "mind if I cut in?" not waiting for an answer he snatched Gwen away leaving David alone on the dance floor.

A woman approached him saying "I'm sorry I saw your partner get snatched up so I was wondering if I could have this dance?"

David decided to obligate the woman as a tango came on. The dance was and helped David to not think of Gwen having to dance with Pikeman. As the final dip happened he glanced down at his partner and noticed an odd set of scars. Before he could wonder about what tragic accident befall her he felt his eyes narrow. And the sound of the gist of wind as images flashed before him of dead bodies, the woman being injured with a knife and the words Budapest, armed and dangerous, approach with caution.

David blinked away the flash before quietly muttering "help"

He reached down and gently touched turned the setter on his watch. That discreetly takes a picture and sends it back to the agents. Who will take care of the rest. Only Budapest glanced down and her eyes opened wide in surprise. It took David a second before he realized she knows that the watch isn't a watch.

Budapest proceeded to kick David in the shin forcing him to drop her with a yelp. She then stood up and started running for the exit.

Gwen rushed over through the surprised party guests "David are you ok!? What happened?"

"She was jealous over you dancing with Pikeman and wanted to get back at me" David lied unconvincingly.

Outside Budapest was met by the trio who took her out with ease. Gwen said "are you sure your ok?"

David smiled "I wouldn't mind going home if that's alright with you?" Gwen nodded and the two headed back for the camp mobile riding in silence.

It was during this silence Gwen realized that she had fun and knew what it is she wanted. When David pulled back up to the camp and walked her to her door she leaned down giving him a gentle peck on the cheek before saying "I had fun David we should do this again sometime"

David said "sure!...but only if you want to…which you do because you asked…" Gwen rolled her eyes and gave David a wave before going back inside

David was walking on a cloud as he headed back for his cabin. When he heard a twig snap behind him and a familiar voice say "hello Davy" David stopped dead in his tracks as he felt his eyes narrow and heard the distant sound of wind.