Forget everything you know about Yassen Gregorovich's past.
When the young undercover agent John Rider infiltrated Scorpia, he met an innocent child in the clutches of a ruthless organisation who will change everything he thought he knew for certain. How will the patriotic man cope with the task to train the boy to be an assassin? What will he do, when he realises the incredible, but lethal talent of the child, when his firm beliefs and loyalties change? When he is caught between the guilt of a choice made in the past, his mission and the fascination for the dark he should fight? (NO SLASH)
Read and find out!
This story is AU, I'll change almost everything about Yassen's past and I'll mess with the timeline... Just be prepared! ;-) Anyway, this is my first published fan fiction story, I'm still trying to find out how everything works.
Special thanks to my beta C.J.0608 who corrected my terrible grammar (and a lot of other mistakes ;-) )...
Rated T, there will be torture and violence later...
Disclaimer: I don't own Alex Rider, although I dream of it... ;-) The characters belong to Anthony Horowitz, I just changed the circumstances in this FAN FICTION! :P
The first time John Rider saw the child he was just curious and slightly worried.
His mission as a double agent inside Scorpia had just begun, and so he didn't have a very high ranking in the hierarchy at the time. It had just been a few weeks since the day of his feigned loss of control, which resulted in his imprisonment and acceptance into the terrorist organisation Scorpia.
Nobody could suspect that everything was just a deception, and that in reality he worked for MI6 in order to bring down Scorpia. Not even his own wife knew.
It was tough, but John knew about the importance of his mission.
He had always laughed about the people calling themselves patriots, but deep in his heart he was a true patriot himself...like Alan Blunt, the director of MI6, had said, before he explained the circumstances of his current mission: John was young, idealistic and replete with the need to move something.
So he hid his true personality and slipped into the persona of an angry man willing to take revenge on his country and the world itself because of the "wrong they had done to him".
But even the cold blooded killer he was supposed to be would be surprised to see a child inside the secret Scorpia base. With that, John allowed himself to examine the child further.
He supposed the child might've been between thirteen or fifteen years old. He was a fair-haired boy with pale blue eyes shining with disturbing intelligence, which seemed to penetrate through John's careful constructed facade.
John could see that he would develop into a true heartbreaker someday. Distinctly chiselled lips and almost feminine eyelashes upon even facial features.
The boy's slender body disclosed that he had to have done sports since a very young age, although he couldn't have been outside very often. His skin was far too pale for this.
The mysterious boy who was far too young to have anything to do with Scorpia smiled endearingly.
It was obvious that John's curiosity amused him. Somehow this behaviour reassured John.
Maybe the boy was just the son of a board member, he thought. At least he didn't seem to be upset about his stay here.
Then he faced the two companions of the boy who could be either bodyguards or prison guards.
But before he could solve the mystery about the boy, the three figures disappeared into a building which John was prohibited to enter. He wanted to ask someone about the child, but in order to maintain his cover he suppressed this impulse and continued to do his job.
The second time he met the boy was rather unpleasant.
It had been eleven months since he had last seen him and, although it was kind of awful to admit, he hadn't thought about the mysterious child often.
He'd been busy making the board members trust him. He was astoundingly successful, especially with a woman named Julia Rothman. Well, maybe it wasn't that astounding, considering the 56 immaculate assassinations, which should have been difficult.
He however completed them with ease– most of them gruesome people whom he killed still with guilt hidden in his heart, although he knew about their crimes. The few innocent deaths were faked with the help of MI6.
Now, he was a full-fledged member of Scorpia and, because of his incredible skills, the board allowed him to be an instructor at Malagosto- an island in the Mediterranean Sea where the secret training facility of Scorpia sat.
Rothman would do almost everything he asked of her. The woman and her obvious obsession with him made him on edge, but he knew his responsibilities and therefore he did his best to make use of this circumstance.
Although he would have to do an assassination that needed his "expertise" every now and then, he would be able to avoid the murders, which continued to set off guilt and risk endangering his cover, his mission and his life due to the feigned assassinations.
Because of this, he was thrilled when Rothman told him the news about his changed job in her office.
Rather unpleasant were the circumstances of his "transfer".
"John," began the woman with a seductive smile, "there is someone I want you to accompany on your journey to Malagosto. Someone whom we have a specific interest in."
John swallowed inside while maintaining his blank facade. He knew that she was speaking about the board and whoever it was he would have to do everything to guarantee that he fulfilled the wishes of the board.
He had to keep his position and failure wasn't tolerated. Not even from him.
"Who is it, and what are my orders?" John asked, every bit the obedient soldier.
"I wouldn't call them orders, John," said a voice, which always managed to send a chill down his spine.
Dr. Three smiled while emerging from the shadows. The man was a walking contradiction. His friendly and fatherly presence lured you to trust him and camouflaged his malevolent heart.
"It's just a tiny little request among friends, isn't that right Julia?"
The woman ignored him completely. "There is a boy in our dungeon who aroused the interests of our Dr. Three here. I don't know the full story and he doesn't want to tell me," she sent him a look full of venom, "but I believe we have this child in custody in order to persuade his father to secure our interests."
She leaned forward and laid her hand on John's shoulder. He couldn't stop his body from shuddering under the touch of this black widow who loved to play with him.
The presence of Dr. Three also disturbed him. The torture expert was a man John avoided at all cost. Whoever it was that the doctor had interest in was to be pitied. Shortly the memory of a fair-haired boy flashed through his mind, he had to hope that it wasn't him.
"However the child has been in Dr. Three's custody for almost ten months and our friendly little doctor thinks that it would be a waste to kill the boy as we would normally do since his father wasn't very cooperative, but..."
"But," interrupted the creepy man apparently unaware of the slow death Rothman's eyes were promising him, "I think that the qualities I noticed in him in our little sessions promise him a great future in our company. And well, if he is indeed a failure, my students are always in need for someone to practice with."
"Well, John," she fluttered her eyelashes, "you're to take him with you to Malagosto and to supervise his training personally until we see if it's wise to grant Dr. Three's proposal. At the moment the boy is in an isolation cell in the basement. Retrieve him and leave for Malagosto as soon as possible. I'll visit you there soon!"
Rothman's fingers stroked his chest and John knew he was dismissed. He just wanted to leave the room, when the mellow voice of Dr. Three called him back. "I will take you to Yassen personally."
"His name is Yassen?" John asked his voice just slightly curious. His counterpart smiled and nodded. "Yes. Yassen Alexandrovich Kasakow. I guess it would be helpful to know more about him in order to handle him properly!"
Inwardly the thoughts circled in his head and brought feelings of shame and guilt with them, whereas outwardly he was walking calmly beside the incarnation of evil.
If Yassen was the boy he had seen back then...then whatever happened to the child was his fault.
Despite his mission he should have done everything to help the child or at least he should have tried. But he hadn't even tried to find out who the boy was.
He could have saved him from the insufferable torture he undoubtedly had to endure through Dr. Three.
In the past he had missed a chance to help him, but he swore to himself not to let them hurt the boy further.
Whatever Three had in mind with him, John would do everything humanly possible to prevent that from happening. A child had nothing to do in this terrible and brutal world John chose to live in.
No, it couldn't be him. It just couldn't be the fair-haired boy with the deep blue eyes.
John was so caught up by his thought, that he almost missed Three's next words.
"Yassen is the only child of Alexander Nikolayevich Kasakow, a successful entrepreneur and head of a major mafia family branch. Kasakow tutored his son through hand chosen teachers in languages, martial arts…everything he thought necessary for him to be the perfect son and maybe future leader of his criminal empire. Scorpia has a specific interest in his business and his son seemed to be a good negotiating basis. Kasakow however said that he refused to be blackmailed by anyone, although he got videos of some meetings between his son and me. As Julia said the usual procedure would be to kill the boy, send him back to his father, and try other methods of persuasion, because you don't say "no" to Scorpia. Well, like you already know, I think that his death would be a waste of talent. Train him and you'll see what I mean."
Three stopped in front of an iron door which was opened by a grim looking man whose appearance screamed mercenary.
At the sight of Three he stepped back and let them enter the dark depth of Three's torture chambers.
John ignored the agonizing screams resounding from the cold walls. He said himself that his mission was important, that he would help them this way, that he couldn't do anything right now.
But a small voice in his heart reminded him about his meeting with the boy, when he had thought exactly the same and had done nothing and how much he regretted that now.
Focus, John! Focus! He said himself and hid his emotional turmoil deep inside his heart. The dark and hopeless atmosphere of this jail was enough to bear. Everything was cold. The dazzling light illuminated tiled corridors with as much life and joy as a mortuary.
"There it is", Three said finally and pointed at a cellular door at the end of this corridor.
Three tossed him a high-security key and at his sign John opened the door with it. The sight inside the cell froze the blood in his veins.
In the cell which measured just four feet was the fragile looking boy John had desperately hoped to be safe.
His arms were chained to the wall, just high enough so that his feet could barely touch the floor.
He didn't look heavy, instead the pale and bloodied body John could see through his tattered clothes looked rather malnourished. But the weight his arms had to carry this way had to be quite painful.
Although considering the fantasy of the torture expert behind him, that seemed to be one of the more bearable pains.
The boy looked up when they entered and John shuddered at the empty look in his eyes.
"Hello, Yassen. How are you today?" asked Three cheerfully, and then got closer to the child to chuck his cheek friendly, just like the caring father he looked like.
Yassen's flinching was barely noticeable at the touch of his tormentor, but other than that he didn't show any reaction at all.
"What have I taught you? I said that you were supposed to greet me and my guests politely. And Hunter here is a very important guest."
His words sounded casually, but John sensed the hidden threat. Silence followed his words as if Yassen wanted to stress every bond he could, then he opened his mouth and said: "A wonderful morning Dr. Three. I'm fine. How are you? And it's a real pleasure to meet you, Hunter. May I introduce myself, my name is Yassen Kasakow and I have the immeasurable pleasure to enjoy the hospitality of Dr. Three. I apologize that I'm currently not able to shake your hand properly, but I kind of stuck here!"
John was shocked for a moment. Although nothing in his voice or his face betrayed any emotion, there was irony and sarcasm in his words which were sure to earn him several punishments.
But Dr. Three laughed and only slapped Yassen on the shoulder.
Seemingly unaware of the pain this caused the injured boy he said: "I'm really going to miss our conversations."
He eyed Yassen sharply and neither he nor John missed the tiny wince of the boy. "Yes, you haven't misheard anything. You are going to leave this compound. John here will take you to your new home. But don't be sad, we'll have regular appointments." Yassen's expression remained unreadable.
"Anyway," Three continued, "John will find out, if you can be of use to us. I think we talked about this possibility. You will follow his orders as if they were mine. John is allowed to do everything necessary. Put in your all, Yassen. I'll be informed about everything, every mistake you make, every misbehaviour. Believe me, if you disappoint me, you'll long for the past months. Now I'm entrusting my little friend to you, John. Help him to make his appearance socially acceptable. See you soon, the both of you." With these words Three left the tortured child and the undercover agent alone.
John felt awkward, when he removed the chains from Yassen, and supported him, when his weakened legs couldn't carry his weight.
He dragged his new student through the corridors and finally to the surface. When they stepped out in the sunshine, he felt the boy trembling.
"How long has it been since you've seen the sunlight?" John asked harshly to hide his compassion for Yassen.
"I don't know," answered a tired voice, which had nothing in common with the emotionless voice back in the cell. John felt how close Yassen was from a complete breakdown.
His carefully constructed façade was beginning to collapse fast. He had to get the boy to his temporary home in which John lived every time he had to stay here.
The five-minute way to his flat seemed to be endless. When Yassen could finally collapse on his bed, John was more than relieved.
But he couldn't let him rest yet. At first he had to look at Yassen's injuries. He tried to be friendly without blowing his cover: "Get up, Yassen. We have to check your wounds!"
Yassen looked at him wearingly, before he quietly sat up and began to take off the remnants of his clothes. John was surprised about his complete lack of shame, but then he thought about the past experiences of Yassen which were deeply dug in his flesh.
Quietly cursing he led the bloodstained boy into the bathroom and helped him wash his weak body.
The scars which appeared were horrible. Yassen's whole body was littered with whip marks, burns, knife scars…John didn't want to think about what caused most of them.
He had been a soldier, before MI6 recruited him and he had seen terrible things, but torture marks on this child were the most horrible thing he had ever seen. And Dr. Three seemed to have done everything to avoid long term injuries.
"Have you other injuries I should know about? I'm no doctor, but I can get one…"
Yassen shook his head. "There were some broken bones, but I have the best medical treatments, although it doesn't look like this right now. After all the doctor didn't want to lose his toy."
He laughed humourlessly. Thereby he never let his guard down, like he had expected John to hit him.
His whole behaviour confused the spy. He had thought that Yassen would cry or weep, but he just closed his eyes a few minutes and collected himself.
After he had opened them again, there was nothing that pointed to his prior weakness.
He didn't know how to treat Yassen. Nothing in his training had prepared him for a situation like this.
"Put these clothes on." He said rather cold, after he had bandaged the most gruesome wounds. He wasn't surprised how perfectly the jeans, T-Shirt, sweatshirt, even the shoes fitted.
Three had enough time to find out Yassen's size after all.
Fully aware of Yassen's look, which didn't seem to leave him even for a second, he changed himself and grabbed his already packed bag containing all he would need.
It was kind of scary how fast everything changed. He however had to do his job like always.
"Well, Yassen. I have been given the task of training you. I'm not cruel, but I won't be nice either. And I definitely don't tolerate failure or resistance. If you try to escape, there will be a hunt for you whose magnitude you cannot even image. In the end you'll be back in Three's torture chambers, I don't believe that you want this to happen. Is that clear?"
The boy nodded slowly. Before John could continue there was a knock on the door and then a small man with a face like a bulldog looked in.
"I was told to bring this to you, Hunter," he said and showed him a syringe.
Then he nodded towards Yassen and explained: "Dr. Three doesn't want to take chances. He'll be unconscious during the whole transfer to Malagosto. In case of problems, this is your son who has to recover from a long illness. These documents will prove everything!" He handed John some papers, which he didn't even take heed of.
Then Yassen, who seemed to know this arrangement, pulled his sleeve up stoically and stretched out his arm.
He let Three's underling inject him the soporific without batting an eyelash, but John could see the tension in his body.
He tried to fight the drug induced sleep, but it wasn't long until Yassen slumped down and fell asleep.
He looked rather young and innocent without the ever-present tension of his body and the blank mask on his face. Suddenly John wished that he would never wake up from this peaceful slumber. Whatever the future will bring won't be pleasant for the both of them.
Please tell me what you think. There is this mysterious thing called review. ;-)