Chapter Text
Code-named Venus, an illegal Proxy broker with several Proxies under her sat in her usual attire at her favourite spot. Tin Master's Coffee Shop leisurely taking sips of her Latté while scrolling through her phone. Recently the newest members she brokered; the sibling duo Proxy who Shepard had introduced, began to make rounds and build quite the reputation. From once Novice Proxies to Elite Proxies, merely one step away from the rank of Legendary Proxy; a feat only a few had ever reached and none since the sudden disappearance of Phaethon. She sighed as she faintly shook her head in disapproval. She lacked any high level, dangerous, mysterious commissions worthy of texting the siblings at the moment. Looking down at her newly received commissions on her phone, the titles read:
Find a missing dog that ventured into the Companion Hollow Dead-End Hollow!
Venus couldn't help but scoff as she rolled her eyes. Most veteran Hollow Raiders, Investigators and of course Brokers were aware that the Dead-End Butcher within said Hollow had been slain causing a significant reduction in size and more importantly; danger. This was a simple job to send to one of her Novice Proxies in her contacts which she swiftly typed as she took another sip of her Latté.
Urgent!!! Help me escape my mother's cooking!
"Tch." Venus' eyes narrowed. She hated those that enjoyed sending her joke commissions as it was a waste of her precious time, money and effort to contact her field workers who thoroughly checked her potential clientele. She would need to have a word with the worker who accepted such a commission. Clicking the title, it expanded and she couldn't help but release another sigh at the ultimately meaningless drabble before her. "Who comes up with this nonsense?" she questioned, before exiting out and scrolling to the next title.
Please help me find a husband-to-be in the Hollows!
Seeing this urgent plea she hastily tapped the title, expanding it already ready to send this commission to the siblings... until she read the explanation for the request. "Someone's asking to be fired." Venus muttered under her breath with a furrowed brow. Closing out of the ridiculous commission she couldn't help but release chuckle as the title of the posting finally dawned upon her.
"Who is planning to randomly find a man in the Hollows, let alone someone willing to date you after said person is saved while you sit around twiddling your thumbs. The nerve! She didn't even know where someone was or any Hollows to investigate! The worker on this case is... Theodore," she confirmed after seeing his signature at the end along with the commission fee, to which she couldn't help but draw a cold breath. "What a staggering amount along with this nonsensical demand! I'll need a good explanation for this or the least he'll be worried about is just getting fired." Venus was irked at the ridiculous commissions. Raising her Latté she paused as she noticed that the mug was empty. Had she drank it all in frustration?
Awkwardly lowering the mug she couldn't help but glance back at the coffee shop. Tin Master exited the coffee shop at the same time and waved at Venus. "Hello Miss, the cup of Joe to your liking, correct? You always come and order the same drink, nothing greater than enjoying the comfort of Sixth Street after having a great cup of coffee, aren't I right!?" Tin Master exclaimed to which Venus nodded, tilting her phone screen downwards. "Very well miss, I hope you have a good day!" He said before heading back into the store to clean.
**Ding**
Her phone received a notification and upon checking the sender she was not surprised to see it was from Wise; one of the two siblings, but she did feel a hint of fear. He had frequently messaged her between receiving commissions, asking how she was doing or if she had wanted to hang out. Something no other Proxy she was brokering had ever tried. Their relationship, she thought, was more than just workers in a similar field. That, however, only fueled her concern towards her failings as a broker to the siblings as she worried whenever she received a message from Wise it would be to announce their cessation of business. After all, it was her failing to find the siblings any suitable commissions for the past two weeks, despite Wise's words of comfort.
"Hello Venus, do you have a moment to chat? I want to ask you for a favour." It read.
Venus frowned slightly at the thought of disappointing Wise with a lack of any new commissions. She just knew it had to be because she hadn't any jobs for him. "Him?" she paused. Since when did her primary concern of disappointing the siblings change to disappointing him... disappointing Wise...
Scrunching her nose she pondered if he began to doubt her capabilities as a broker - or if anything already had, and may potentially break off from her. The continual darkening thoughts of Wise's potential misgivings with her brought a slight pang in her chest. Thinking of how to respond to his message and to stay the growing pain, she humoured the idea of rejecting the meeting to potentially elongate their relationship, as broker and Proxy - however common sense took hold. If she ghosted him, wouldn't that just be approval for ending their partnership? Another beat rang out, one she couldn't deny.
"No, it can't be." She murmured. She had sworn to never hold any personal relations with her Proxies from the first day she had began her new role in life. Before thinking over it longer, she opened up her Knock Knock and replied to Wise's text.
"Hello Wise, sure thing. I'm at the usual place right now." She replied before pondering the thought for a few moments before adding a, " :) ". A faint red blush grew on her cheeks after sending the emoji. Placing her phone face down on the table, she covered her growing red face with her palms.
"I mean, it was a rule I set up initially but Wise... he's different," she thought. "He's too understanding and caring, but what if he's tired of my lack of capability? I understand, everyone has to be able to keep the lights on. But, he's so kind that I'm afraid he'll struggle with ending this partnership. It's hard for him to do something he has to do... Or what if..." she paused, expression turning grim as her thoughts recalled a conversation she had with another Proxy broker, code-named Hope a few days ago. She really didn't like Hope, with how she used any and every tactic available to garner commissions and competent Proxies under her. It was very different to her casual, polite style.
"Why Venus, still trafficking those low level commissions?" Hope scoffed with a haughty tone. "Y'know, I recently got this *stunning* Proxy who's *everything* a broker like me could desire? He's got the looks, the skills and he has this special Bangboo that's out of this world."
"It can't be..." She began to weep. Wise had the looks, he most definitely had the skills and his special Bangboo, Eous, was unlike any she had ever seen before. Connecting the dots, she came to the conclusion that the Proxy which Hope spoke about was Wise. That realisation made her heart ache, which brought her into an even deeper pit of despair.
While Venus was worrying over her thoughts, Wise had arrived only to see the usually confident, polite and reserved Venus sitting with letting out small gasps and sobs. Upon seeing this, he took out his handkerchief, extending it towards her as he took strode towards her, gently calling out, "Hey Venus, I'm here."
Lowering her hands to weakly fall onto the table, tears flowed down her cheeks as she sniffled. "H-Hello Wise. I-I suppose today is the final day?" She spoke quietly between sobs.
"Here Venus, take this, and get yourself together, the Venus I know isn't like this." He said, but upon seeing how she didn't take it, he felt it rude to do it for her so he sat with her, before he probed. "Also, what do you mean by final day?"
Refusing to accept the handkerchief she continued, whimpering. "Y-Your new Proxy broker is H-Hope." She tried to stifle her words but she couldn't stop herself from continuing as her despair grew. "You... you don't need my services anymore, right?" She eventually said painfully.
Concerned, Wise thought to himself about the name Hope before remembering a commission he had undertaken. Shaking his head, he curtly responded "No," before grasping one of her hands with his.
"Huh," Venus let out confused. This was an unexpected action from Wise, someone she knew to be kind, but not to continue wasting his precious time with a failure like her that was only good for Novice Proxies.
"Hope... is another broker, right?" He asked, concerned but not waiting for a response before continuing. "I've worked for a commission under her only once and that was simply due to me owing Shepard a favour. He had lost a bet thus one of his best Proxies - me in this case, had to do a job for her, with us earning nothing..." He scowled at the memory, "which does remind me that I need have a... chat with Shepard about this."
"But..." Venus began before Wise shook his head, responding firmly, "She's not my broker."
Picking himself off his seat, a smile grew on Wise's face. "Venus, I've known Shepard for a long time. He's like family to me, not a broker..." Wiping away the tears on her face, he whispered in her ear, "But you, you're my only broker. And I wouldn't want anyone else."