Just smile. One of the best pieces of advice Alex had ever been given, by a half-dead mad man no less. Smile, they'll never know what you're really thinking.
And they never did.
He smiled when Jack told him with tears in her eyes that she had to go back to America, her father was ill and she had to help take care of him. Sure, an ill relative, one of the oldest tricks in the book of excuses. He smiled, a kind, benevolent smile and she was free of guilt.
He smiled when Blunt told him that he couldn't go back to school, it was too much of a risk. Let them think he believed them, since when had they cared about his safety? He just smiled and Ms. Jones was lost for words, Blunt stared on.
He smiled when he learned that Tom Harris, his best friend since childhood, had been kidnapped. Of course they would, how predictable could a terrorist organization get? He smiled and it wasn't kind or benevolent, it was the grim smile that graced the face of a man doing what's wrong in the name of what's right, and knowing it all the while.
He smiled when he was held at gunpoint, by his ex-best friend, who would've thought such a thing would ever happen? He smiled and Tom Harris hesitated, smiles were good for distractions.
He smiled as he did nothing during the hesitation, let Tom regain his nerves and pull the trigger. Why would he have fought? It wasn't like there was anything he was looking forward to, his own friend had just betrayed him, there was no one waiting at home for him with comforting arms and a soothing voice. And he smiled, as a spike of thunder rippled through the air. Smiled as it missed the old, puckered scar, and sank into the flesh of his shoulder.
He smiled as he fell to the ground, watching through half-lidded eyes as Tom Harris had a panic attack. He hadn't expected Alex to let him. He didn't have the right to hold a gun, if he couldn't shoot a person without regrets. He smiled and his eyes slid closed.
Yes, it's short. But it was a spontaneous sort of thing. Something that popped up in my tired mind and I just typed it out.
Here's some food for thought, before I go scavenge an empty fridge for material food: Did he really die?
Thanks for reading!