Classy, you thought to yourself as you looked in the bathroom mirror. Mark had lent you the cream coloured bowtie but the tux was a hand-me-down from your dad, it made you think about the time that...

"I know you want to impress your girlfriend (Y/N), but could hurry the bloody hell up!" Mark shouted from the other side of the bathroom door.

"Will you ever grow up?" you yelled back as you made your final adjustments to your look. "I barely know Artemis, I've had a more personal conversation with that Ela person."

There was silence on the other side of the door.

The realisation of Mark's feelings gradually dawned on you. A smirk slowly grew on your face as you impatiently checked the time on your phone. "Someone's got the hots for a 30 year old woman with anger issues," you teased him.

"I, I'm going to beat the shit out of you!" Mark exclaimed, banging furiously on the wooden door with his fists.

"Hey, hey, chill out bro," you warbled, sounding like a cheesy surfer dude. "I keep this between you and me eh?"

You tried to sound happy for him, but inside, you felt disappointed that your best friend would fall for the irritating Polish woman. What was there to possibly like about her, other than her curvy figure that hid a cold and bitter personality.

"Fine," Mark admitted in defeat. "Now can you let in the bathroom you little wanker!"

"What's the magic word O-great and intellectual Mark?" you joked.

"Fuck off you stupid idiot before I get Seamus' hammer and knock the bloody door in!"

"Lovely! The bathroom is now available at your disposal!"

***

Knock.

Apparently parties when a new operator joins are a big deal, so you were glad you packed a tux and that you didn't have to resort to buying a cheap suit from the nearest Tesco. You only hoped that you could make a good impression on everyone else there, as you actually had to "socialise" with other humans. An action which you where admittedly better at than another certain Rainbow member, but still considerably foreign too.

Knock. Knock.

The varnished door opened to reveal Artemis with her hair out of her eyes and wearing a stunning crimson shirt with the shoulders cut off, a pair of smart dress trousers accompanying the mesmerising look. Her raggedy bandana was gone, exposing her magnificent collarbones and the green necklace she always seemed to wear.

You stood outside of Dorm 13 with your mouth open for the second time in a week.

Artemis was looking at her feet in an almost shy manner. "How do I look?"

"I," you hesitated, questioning whether or not you should expose your feelings for her, or just be polite. The two sides fought an intense battle to the death inside of your mind.

The feelings won.

"I think you look beautiful Artemis. I really truly do."

She simply looked up at you and smiled. A pure and stunning grin that ran from ear to ear. No fake cheesy smirk, no half-arsed attempt.

A real smile.

"Well m'lady, how about we go and see about that party right about now" you goofed while extending your arm.

She reverted back to her normal frank look. "I'll get my bag."

Sighing, you straightened your bowtie and tried to pass the time by wondering about Artemis' life before Rainbow. Maybe she was a simple student at a university that was attacked by terrorists, then she joined the army, swearing to protect Queen and Country from further attacks. Or she was a spoiled rich girl that ran away from her parents only to be arrested and thrusted into a life of action and excitement. Or she could have been involved in a d...

"Out of my way gówno ," came a familiar Polish accent. Ela was wearing a knee length emerald dress that clashed awkwardly with her slightly darker hair.

"You got a date then?" you questioned matter-of-factly, crossing your arms in an agitated tone.

"You wouldn't know any thing about that would you (Y/N)," she purred roughly. "That thing doesn't count as a real person."

"When will you grow the fuck up?" you yelled at her. Words could not describe how annoying she was.

"When you kiss my asshole," Ela replied, swaying her hips as she walked towards the SAS room. "If you don't want to, I know someone that will."

Grinning, she swung open the door dramatically and walked in.

Who in their right mind would ever like her? you thought. Then it clicked.

Mark.

She was going to...

"(Y/N), are you alright? You looked quite shocked," asked Artemis in her silken, perfect voice.

"What? Oh I'm f-fine," you stuttered unconvincingly. You pulled yourself together quickly.

"You should ignore her, everything that comes out of her mouth is literal shit," Artemis commented as you walked to cafeteria where the event was being held.

"Language," you chuckled.

"Fuck off."

This made you laugh even more - and Artemis half-smile with sparkling blue eyes.

"Seriously (Y/N), she did exactly the same thing to me when I first came here," she reflected. "Don't let it get to you."

"Thanks for the advice Arty," you responded, trying to lighten the mood by nicknaming her.

She glared at you menacingly. "Don't call me that ever again."

"Okay, okay," you muttered, acknowledging that you had maybe pushed your luck. Trying to change the subject, you asked her what she had in her handbag.

"Just my knife," said Artemis, as if it was the most normal thing in the world. "When you've been brought up like I have, you learn to trust only yourself - there are a lot of people that want you dead in this world."

You wished she would elaborate more on what she meant, but the conversation continued as meaningless nothings for the rest of the walk.

The cafeteria had been transformed from an average looking lunch hall to a beautiful Michelin star restaurant. The tables had thick white cloth draped over them, with expensive sliverwear and wine glasses littered neatly all over. A glittering chandelier hung delicately from the ceiling and a wooden plinth with a microphone stood at the end of the room. Most of your fellow operators where already there, as you were about three minutes late.

"Neat," you murmured under your breath. "Maybe a bit too formal for me, though."

To your surprise, Artemis reached for your hand, intertwining her fingers with yours. "I've never been to a party this big (Y/N)."

You squeezed her hand softly. "Well, neither have I, but we're just gonna have to grin and bear it."

She looked at you, and squeezed your hand in response. "It's easy for you to say that."

"How about we just sit down," you implied, indicating the five seats at a nearby table, "and watch tonight play out. Maybe we'll know the operator personally, maybe we won't."

"You're so optimistic it scares me," Artemis quipped, flopping down on the chair closest to the exit.

"I try," you admitted lazily, taking the seat next to her. God, as cliché as it was, you could stare at her forever. Just get lost in her sapphire eyes, perfectly shapen countenance; the locks of pure gold that framed a s...

"(Y/N), are you staring at my face?" asked Artemis, every so slightly blushing a shade of pink.

"N-no, I'm n-not! I'm just, staring into space th-that's all," you lied whilst fidgeting in your seat.

She squinted, as if trying to work something out. Luckily, Seamus arrived to save your arse from any further embarrassment.

"Well if it isn't my favourite laddie," he boomed, carrying a case of fine Scottish whisky. "Don't tell Mark I said that. Now, are ye ready tae get proper wasted!"

You coughed, gesturing towards Artemis with a cheeky smirk.

"Oh um... Hello lass, dae you want a glass 'O whisky whey your, umm, creepy silence?"

"Sit down Seamus," she demanded in a steely cold tone. He hastily obliged.

Artemis then slyly winked at you, before launching into a three-minute monologue that was so mean-spirited and offensive that you where pretty sure that if a police officer had been in the vicinity, she would've had a life sentence in a heartbeat. The large Scot was left in a miserable heap on the table at the end of it.

"I'm joking, by the way," she whispered to you as the final few guests walked into the room.

"Sure you are," you remarked, spotting Mark at the far end of the hall. "Hey Mute!"

He quickly wandered over to your table with an "I'm winning at life" expression. "Well ladies and ladies, I can't stay for long, I have a date tonight."

"Who's the lucky lass?" questioned Seamus briefly before continuing his prolonged sulk.

"You'll just have to wait and see," Mark answered mysteriously. "Let's just say I'm going to have to practice my Polish in the next few weeks."

You looked at him grumpily; you were hoping to properly introduce him to Artemis, to show to him that first impressions aren't always everything, but you guessed that it would have to wait until the morning.

"Welp, I can't keep m'lady waiting," Mark said. He leant in and spoke to you under his breath, "I wish you the best of luck with crazy over there."

"Likewise idiot."

"Dickhead."

"Mute."

He grinned and scurried away.

"So you're friends with him." Artemis was eyeing you with interest. "Why?"

It sounded rude, but you could tell she didn't mean it to be. You were just about to explain all the logistics of friendships and relationships when the lights suddenly dimmed.

A subtle "OooO" of anticipation was echoed around the hall as Six slowly made her way up to the podium at the centre of the cafeteria.

"Operators of Rainbow." Her voice resounded around the hall, artificially enhanced by the microphone.

"I have gathered you here today to announced of not one, but two new members to our diverse and efficient organisation.

"Treat these people only the way that you yourself want be treated. Give them your undivided kindness and attention when they are low, and praise them when they achieving as I am sure they will.

"The first addition is excellent in the field. Her abilities as ghost on the front line not only allow her to do what no-one else in Rainbow has done before, they have also led to the discovery of Erik "Maverick" Thorn after he was pronounced Missing In Action.

"She may be different to the average person, but that in no way means she stands out. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Nøkk of the Jaeger Corps."

A burst of quiet applause was cancelled by the sound of steel-toe capped boots hitting the floor. The mysterious figure wore combat trousers and a loose fitting t-shirt, but the most interesting was the almost chainmail veil they wore that concealed their face from anyone trying to look. They stood next to Six with their hands behind their back.

"The second announcement for tonight," Six continued, "is that I will be resigning from director of this organisation."

Most of the operators started talking to each other, only to be silenced by Six.

"You all know that I would I only choose to do this if I found someone that would consistently improve the quality of this team. So without further ado, this is your new Six."

A smallish man wearing glasses, jeans and a white t-shirt strolled over to the plinth. Pretty casual clothes for a formal party, you thought.

"Hello, and before I begin, please call me Harry.

"It is with great honour and responsibility I accept this role. I hope I can make everyone here as happy as possible. I," he paused, laughing nervously, "I'm not very good at the whole speech thing."

"Anyway, I wish you all the best," he said, stepping down from the plinth as the lights turned back on and the conversations resumed.

"I know her," Artemis pointed out. "The new operator, I was deployed on a mission with her, back when I was still in the NZSAS."

"Really?" You were surprised, but it would make sense as they both had a similar combat style.

"Me and another Jaeger Corps member called Nova provided sniper cover for her in Operation Limelight." She looked like she was recalling a traumatic event. "Nøkk and I were the only ones who made it out alive."

"Oh," you mumbled. "I'm sor..."

"Don't be," she interrupted. "Things like this happen when you have this job."

Slowly nodding, you reflected on how harsh being an operator can be - you could die at any moment, no goodbyes, nothing.

The ten minute silence at your table was broken with the sound of the ridiculously loud pop music playing on speakers at the front of the room and the voice of some German under the influence telling everyone to "get up and party."

"Can we leave (Y/N)? I," she silently chuckled, "I can't dance."

"Everyone can dance, come on," you encouraged, trying to push Artemis out of her comfort zone. Standing up, you offered your hand, and she reluctantly accepted.

"I really don't want to dance," she pleaded, letting go of your hand. "We can go back to my room for drinks if you want. I have a bottle of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc from 2012 in my fridge."

"That sounds swell," you agreed, not liking the claustrophobic atmosphere that was slowly creeping into the hall.

Before you knew it, half the bottle was gone and it was one in the morning.

"Hey (Y/N)," said Artemis, only slightly drunk. "What do you think of me?"

"Looks or personality?" you slurred as you necked a mouthful from your cheap plastic mug, as she only had one wine glass. Lying down on the floor, you admitted to yourself that you were pretty wasted.

"Hmm... Both."

"Well, I think you're quite attractive."

There was an awkward silence.

"You get drunk very quickly (Y/N)," she commented, refilling her glass with the last of the booze with tinges of pink on her cheeks.

"I haven't drank in a while, I dunno." You noticed that Artemis was only wearing her shirt and knickers. "Y-you do realise you're not wearing trousers, right?"

She frowned. "It would appear so."

Her legs were long and slender, perfectly shapen like the rest of her body. You had a strange urge to reach out and touch them.

"The first night I met you," Artemis recounted, ignoring your comment and changing the subject, "I may or may not have been watching you the whole time."

"Wait, y-you saw me in the shower?" you gasped, taken aback by this revelation. "Why the fuck did you...

"It's not like I meant to!" she shouted as a small blush formed on her face. "I was different back then. I was alone."

"Hey, you've got me now, okay? To hell what everyone else thinks."

"That's exactly what I told you at the start of tonight," Artemis complained, setting down her glass and the empty bottle. "And (Y/N)," she paused and sighed, "I also want to apologise for what I did that night. It was wrong of me."

"Apology accepted," you grinned, yawning slightly. "I should probably get back to my dorm."

"I've got a spare bed if you're that tired." She pointed at the single bed next to hers. It was made but unused.

"I appreciate the offer but I don't want to invade your personal space."

"I insist (Y/N)."

You flopped on to the bed and passed out, dreaming of simpler times.

Author Note

Sorry for the wait, just been kinda lazy recently, I wanted to make this chapter the best it could be. I made a few references to other R6 fanfics in this chapter to make the world feel more complete. I plan to make this book no longer than fifteen chapters, and by my schedule, it'll probably be done by Christmas (that's a BTW. I hope).

Also, please check out GoingDarkDontFollow's Nøkk story. It's really good.