"A Vendetta For The Hunter"
Sequel to:
"Putting Out The Fire With Kerosene"
The fire still burns,
Some things are not so easily forgiven
Some blood is not so easily washed away
Sometimes there is a heavy price to pay
Author Note: This story is a sequel to my previous one as stated above, please if you have not already go read "Putting Out The Fire With Kerosene", the events in this story will not make sense if you just jump to the sequel because this story counter-builds on events from its predecessor. Thank you, I hope you enjoy the story.
Part One:
Meeting With The Allies
Catherine laid fast asleep in Hans' arms, her hands gripping lightly at his uniform. Hans let his fingers move idly across her skin as he laid his head back. He could hear sleepy murmurs leave Catherine's lips, her grip on him growing tighter. After a while he had grown used to this, he knew Catherine never quite got over the experiences she encountered during her final days in france. His free hand gravitated to the scar on his forehead, the tips of his fingers grazing the lines of the damn symbol cut into his flesh. He looked back down at Catherine as her whimpers met his ear. She lightly mumbled his name as her grip on his uniform grew even tighter.
It was a little over a week since they had left France, and before their trip to the United States they had to stop in England to deliberate further. Now most of that was behind them, and they were a mere drive away to get on the plane to Washington. The car gave a slight jolt, coming to a stop. Hans looked over to his side as the door opened.
"Hello Colonel," Said Aldo with an almost cheery tone, his eyes looking up at Hans' forehead.
"Hello Aldo," replied Hans plainly.
Hans looked back over to Catherine, giving her a light moved his lips to her ear lightly lulling her from her sleeping state.
"Komm mein schatz, ofen deine Augen."
Catherine began to stir slightly, her eyes beginning to open partially.
"Come on we ain't got all day," said Aldo in a pestering tone.
Hans shifted again, sitting Catherine up, his hand lightly stroking her cheek as he once again tried to awake her.
"W-We're already there?" She asked in a low mumble, lightly rubbing her eyes.
"Yes mein liebchen," purred Hans lightly kissing her, "Now let us get on the plane now, we just have to make one more stop before we are done with this business with the Allies."
Catherine shook her head sleepily, her eyes gravitating to Aldo. She didn't jump when she saw him, her cobalt eyes shot him a malice filled glare as she moved past Hans out of the car.
"You know I never thought you were as much of a idiot as you turned out to be Aldo." She said bitterly.
"Oh come now Catherine, despite the tails you and your boy over there been tell'n me, there's no way in hell I'd let you get by without your own little mark." Said Aldo glancing towards her shoulder, seeming unfazed by Catherine's insult.
Catherine walked past Aldo without another word spoken to him, Hans moved from the car stopping short infront of Aldo for a brief moment.
"You still don't believe her Aldo? I believe she is correct on how much of a fool you are." Chided Hans.
"Just keep tell'n yourself that Colonel. At least I'm not the one with somethin' carved into um." Aldo closed the door, waving off the driver.
Hans scoffed, smirking widely as he walked to meet Catherine's side. He placed a soft kiss on her cheek, snaking his arm around her waist as they walked onto the plane, Aldo following behind. The plane was a small cramped military carrier, used to drop troops in and out of Europe. Hans peered inside spotting a few American soldiers lining the side rows. Each one of the men gave Hans a bitter, disdainful glare, their eyes moving across his SS uniform he had yet to have a chance to take off. Aldo pushed past Hans and Catherine, walking over to the few Americans, mumbling something to them. One of the three was a big burly man, with chestnut hair and pale green eyes, he seemed the worst off if the three men. The other was a skinny fellow with tight combed back blonde hair and blue eyes, though a bandage covered one of his eyes. Lastly was an average looking guy, with salt and pepper hair and stubble, he seemed the most cantankerous of the bunch, practically jumping out of his seat to Aldo. The one man near the back seemed to protest what Aldo had told them, but shut his mouth abruptly as Hans and Catherine walked forward. Hans glanced over the few faces, his lips curling into a slight smirk at their sudden silence.
"Now as much as I would enjoy see'n these boys pumble you to a bloody mess, I know I'd get more then a thorough talkin to if that happened." Said Aldo, "So you won't have to worry about them too much."
Aldo walked up to the front of the plain, giving the pilot the right of way. Hans and Catherine sat down, buckling the straps over their shoulders and waist. The man chestnut hair spoke up, attempting to catch Hans' attention.
"So what did you do to get on the Allies good side Kraut?" He asked, still lightly glaring at Hans.
"I made a deal of sorts," said Hans slyly.
"Must have been a damn good deal to save your sorry ass." Chimed in the man from the back, though this one didn't sound like he was an American.
Hans looked past the first man, down to the back where the man with the salt and pepper hair sat. He could clearly see the man's eye's eyes focused in a glare, his lips curled in a tight malicious sneer. Hans didn't say anything to the man, he simply sat in silence, his eyes watching his movements. He let a breathy chuckle, grinning widely at the man.
"It was," he said slyly, shoving the man's retort in his face.
"So the Jew Hunter of France managed to get away? Never thought I'd hear that." Spat the man, his voice accented in French.
Hans looked at the Frenchman with a raised brow, surprised to hear his informal title uttered once more. He grinned widely, focusing more of his attention on the man.
"Well you have, and nothing will change the fact." Said Hans smugly leaning back in his seat.
The Frenchman growled lowly, spitting back a disparaging comment towards Hans under his breath, his eyes still focused in a tight glare. The plane gave a start, at last moving from the runway. Catherine was never fond of flying, it unnerved her to no end. Her hand intertwined with Hans' tightly as the old war beaten plane began to climb higher into the air. Hans glanced over to her, away from the Frenchman, seeing a tight anxious expression stretched across her face. He placed a soft kiss on her cheek, trying to pull her thoughts from the take off.
"Of all things mein liebe, it's flying that frightens you?" He purred, letting his lips lightly caress her skin. Catherine still tensed up, though she glanced over at Hans shooting him a semi-glare.
"Yes Hans, of all things it is flying." She answered, her grip on his hand growing tighter as the plane gave a rough rattle as it began to stabilize, she hardly took notice to his lips on her cheek as her nerves jumbled too tightly from the deep anxiety she was feeling.
The plane landed roughly, skidding medal across hot asphalt as it reached the ground. Catherine had held onto Hans the entire time they were in the air till they landed, there was no amount of convincing he could do to calm her down. The first chance she got Catherine bolted out of the plane, dashing down the collapsable stairway down to the ground. With one tight breath of relief, and a moment to accustom herself she looked behind her, seeing Hans grinning towards her widely.
"Its not funny Hans!" she growled, trying to straighten up her posture.
"No but you cause it to be liebe," he teased walking up to her.
Aldo, the Americans and the signal Frenchman walked up by Hans; Aldo gave Hans a firm smack on the back, shooting him a grin.
"Welcome to the states," he chided with a smirk.
Catherine shot Aldo a glare, meeting his wide smirk; she turned back to Hans a faint smile on her lips. He moved his attention from Aldo back to Catherine, he snaked his arm back around her waist pulling her close to him.
"So did you enjoy the flight liebchen?" He murmured teasingly.
"Arschloch!" Spat Catherine giving him a firm hit in the chest. Hans let out an over exaggerated grunt, though he still smirked placed a quick peck on her lips, aggravating Catherine further.
"Ok cool it," chimed in Aldo, smacking Hans on his arm."Here take this uniform. They just had me guess at your size so it might be a bit big."
Aldo tossed Hans an American uniform, seeming not too happy to do so, but he reassured himself by gazing at the swastika on Hans' forehead, making him smirk inwardly. Hans tucked the new uniform under his arm, briefly glancing down at his current one. He had began to wonder when they would finally give him a new set to change into, Hans knew it wouldn't be ethical to stay in his SS uniform for much longer.
"Now get going, get changed, we'll be getting in another car from here." Said Aldo as he pointed to a narrow looking building down the way, "In there are a few escorts for you two, along with a room to change in."
Hans simply glanced over at Aldo, not giving him any mutter of thanks or that of any kind. He walked with Catherine to the entrance of the building, where like Aldo said were four escorts waiting for them. Hans placed a soft kiss on Catherine's cheek.
"I'll be back in a moment." He whispered lightly as he slipped from her and into a side room.
Catherine stood awkwardly, by herself with the men, who seemed to be plastered with eternal uninterested expressions on their faces. They stood stoically, waiting along, they hardly seemed to notice Catherine was even there. Catherine spotted a chair near by, quickly taking it. It was out of the escorts line of vision, along with hers, at least she didn't have to stand idly at watch them watch her as Hans changed.
Hans set the uniform down on a table, his free hands smoothing over his SS tunic. He had put on this uniform countless times, this uniform had witnessed the deaths of hundreds, and with one gesture of his hand and a flick of his wrist it would all be behind him, as if it never even occured. The medals under his fingertips chimed lightly as he dragged his hand over them, little reminders of all the blood spilt on his hands. He chuckled lowly, non of that mattered now, no he was a free man, there was no one to come after him now. Hans sighed, slipping off his jacket from his shoulders, letting it pool into his arms.
He set his jacket down, moving his hands to the long train of buttons on his tunic, popping each one slowly. For a moment the simple gesture reminded him of his first night with Catherine, as he placed her hands on the very same buttons, causing her to slowly undress him. Hans felt a pleasing shiver surge through him as his mind drifted to that night in France. He could picture it clear as day, he could practically hear Catherine softly moan his name for the first time. Hans smirked widely at the memory, tossing his tunic aside. Taking the American uniform in his hands he slipped it over his shoulders, there was a little more room than he would have liked but at least it wasn't too tight.
"Hey Hans, if you aren't too busy touching yourself in there we and the other men would like to get going." Called out Aldo, knocking at the door.
"Of course," said Hans, though his face was twisted in a tight glare.
Hans slipped off his boots and jodhpurs quickly putting on the rest of the uniform without lingering on any other part. He scooped up his SS uniform tucking it under his arms, walking out the door. There stood Aldo, with the two Americans and the single Frenchman at his heels. Catherine came from around the side as she heard the door close, her eyes glancing over Hans' new uniform.
"It suits you." She said lightly, smiling up at him, taking his old uniform from his hands.
Hans looked down at the uniform once more, feeling odd not being in the German one. Aldo had a tight, angry expression stretched across his face as he saw Hans in the American uniform, it enraged him even further that he was the one that had to give it to him in the first place. He coughed roughly, catching Hans' and Catherine's attention, gesturing towards the escorts near the door. It seemed as if he was using every hint of resolve he had left not to rip the uniform from Hans, his eyes watching him intently.
"So the bastard gets to just take it off like nothing, he's just American now?" Asked one of the Americans from the plane.
"Yeah, just like that." Replied Aldo bitterly.