The Spy and the Flames

## Characters Involved

* Finley
* Red
* Kiemo
* Otis

## The Event

It opens with Fin arriving at the gym and him being incredibly tense as he does so. Kiemo asked to see him early that day and he isn't exactly sure why but he doesn't think it's for a good reason. When he pushes the door open to the large room, he's surprised to find out that Kiemo is not present. Only Red is there to greet him and Fin immediately suspects a trap. Though he feels a bit intimidated, he told Otis he didn't care about what would happen before. He sticks to his word and approaches, noticing a buck filled with twinkling embers. Red breaks the silence, asking Fin if he knows why he's here and Red is clearly upset. He didn't want to have to deal with Fin like this. He thinks the pool should've taken care of Fin, but he doesn't dare voice this. Fin, using context clues, reasons he's here to start more fires and take part in one of Kiemo's lab raids. Fin also wonders if this is a set up to make Fin look bad, if Kiemo will use it to blackmail him or not. Red shakes his head at Fin's thoughts, declaring that Fin's supposed to attack a researcher instead and Red is there to make sure he does it. Fin reasons that Kiemo must know he spent the night at Otis' the night before and this is his attempt to test him. Fin's exhausted by the idea of it but goes along with the plan regardless. Red, when Fin points out he doesn't need a protector as he grabs the bucket, coldly tells him that he's not there to protect him. He's there to make sure a job gets done. Fin takes his chance to tell Red he's more experienced than him and knows Kiemo more before they leave on their mission, Red tailing him.

When they reach the researcher offices and labs, both Red and Fin are surprised to find the place unlocked, as if someone was planning on them coming. Fin doesn't let himself ponder this much, pouring the embers on some pieces of paper and not bothering to examine them. Part of him regrets some of this. But just as he is about to pour more embers, there is a loud boom and crash, sparks and flames growing tremendously and Fin is forced to leap back to avoid them. He tries to move further but fear and shock keeps him pinned to the ground. As Red was waiting outside the room as per Fin's request to keep him safe out of understanding, he does not know what happened to Fin but through the windows can see the flames and assumes the job to be done. However, it's odd Fin is taking so long. Fin himself suddenly whips back to the present as flames surround him and he manages to escape the room as the fire spreads and worsens somehow. He tells Red that they need to flee and urges him to come with him. Red doesn't protest, seeing the flames coming their way and starts running himself. The area around them is unstable and begins to crumble, the trap sprung and they only have mere moments to escape.

One of the falling ceiling pieces starts to fall Red and Fin is given the choice to escape with his life or try to help Kiemo's seeming right hand man. Fin sees Red inside himself and that they both were so lonely they joined the first man to offer them friendship. He can't let Red die and leaps in to save him, shoving Red out of harm's way and protects him. Fin admits when asked about it that he couldn't watch him die but doesn't say much on the topic, only asking if Red can keep up. Red thinks he can. Fin's not sure he believes that and offers to give them extra time as he feels responsible for all of these happenings. He buys them time as Red thinks he's crazy as Fin searches for a fire extinguisher. Red runs and is saved more by Fin while Fin lunges for the fire extinguisher, the flames beating down on him. It's like a wall of orange and heat and he can feel it start to burn but he knows what he must do. He does it and as he is swallowed by the flames, he activates the extinguisher. Otis finds him soon after, dragging him out of danger and the smoke, the lion man having grown worried as Fin didn't return. Fin as he is pulled free and rescued, his mission a success, realizes he succeeded. He saved a life and made Kiemo think he was loyal for the time being. He rescued Red and that should prove something to Kiemo. He smiles, pride filling him further as he allows himself to rest once reaching Otis' room. Otis isn't exactly pleased with this whole thing and Fin's antics but is happy to have him alive and safe.

Red, on the other hand, returns to Kiemo, the coyote showing disappointment in his eyes. He moves to rebuke Red, believing he failed his mission but accepts it and takes Red surviving as a sign he was meant to. Red came back to and for him and he's relieved, promising quietly that he is proud of Red for doing as he wanted. The lab was destroyed and that's a start even if no researchers were there. Kiemo also soothes Red to some extent in regards to his recent scare (that Kiemo caused) and may or may not feel a tiny bit bad about the whole experience. But with future claims about the situation, Kiemo does take Red's side on this matter and defend him from the group, arguing that the test wasn't a failure. Kiemo also seems to have warmed up slightly to Fin or been a little grateful to him for keeping Red safe, a reason he possibly didn't kill Fin when he had a chance during the Prom event.