Author's Note: This started out as an experiment and quickly developed into something deeper. Bond is reunited with an old co-worker to infiltrate a terrorist organization that is rising out of Austria. My first stab at a Bond fic, so critique is definitely going to be needed, please review! So far I own nothing save the character Adrianna Greene.
--
The sand crunched beneath their feet as they halted, several paces away from the vehicle. The desert sun glared in their eyes and they turned to face one another, guns held at their sides.
"You know, I always knew you'd never trust me. It's funny though, I never thought there would be a time when I couldn't trust you."
"Well now," he smiled. "I'm just full of surprises aren't I?"
"You never cease to amaze me, that's for sure."
They paused for a moment, they eyes locked and they shared a smile.
"You know what to do?" He asked.
She nodded. She reached out and touched his arm.
"Goodbye James." She whispered.
"Goodbye Greene."
And with that, he flicked back the trigger and pointed the barrel of his gun directly to his chest.
--
I.
"I'm sorry. You did what?"
From across the table, M shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She had known this wasn't going to be easy. She sighed, picked up a glass tumbler, filled it with whiskey and slid it across the table towards Bond.
"I promoted her to double O status."
"You mean to tell me," Bond said as he shot back the sour whiskey and slammed the tumbler down on the table. "That you gave that incompetent young girl one of the highest ranking statuses in M16?"
"At age 27, I'd hardly refer to her as a young girl. Young woman would be the proper term." M glared at Bond and tapped her fingers on the hard oak. He always made things so bloody complicated.
"Besides," she continued. "What makes you think she is so incompetent anyways?"
"It's not so much that she's incompetent," Bond snapped back. "As opposed to wildly temperamental, indecisive, erratic and bloody manic!"
"Good heavens Bond." M said, her voice rising along with her temper. "You haven't worked with her in 3 years. She has changed considerably."
"May I remind you," Bond said, through gritted teeth as his blue eyes flashed towards M. "That when you found this half Irish, half Italian brat, she was working as a low rent hit man for the bloody mafia?"
"May I remind you," M retorted loudly as she stood to her feet. "That she has been a member of this agency for nearly nine years? And she is damn good at her job. Her promotion was well deserved."
M sighed heavily and sat back down.
"Listen, Bond. I know you don't trust her. Hell, I know you don't trust anyone. But she's not so much different from when you were first promoted to double O."
"The first time her and I ever worked together," Bond said, choosing to ignore M's last remark. "She nearly compromised the entire mission by shooting up a restaurant and blowing up a boat."
"I am well aware of that James." M replied coolly. "However—"
"Wait a minute." Bond cut in. "Why are you telling me all this anyways? What does it have to do with you calling me here?"
He shot her a suspicious glance as he reached for the whiskey.
"Actually, it is precisely the reason I've called you here. For the past month she has been investigating Hugh Clancy as a possible connection to the Falcon case."
"Hugh Clancy." Bond frowned. "That rich prat. What does he have to do with Falcon?"
"His step brother is Trent Fargo. Apparently they have a close relationship."
"Well that is all very interesting." Bond said sarcastically. "But what exactly does it have to do with me?"
"I'm putting you on the case." M stated simply. Bond opened his mouth to say something but M cut him off to the chase.
"And Agent 009 is going to be your partner."
--
On a crowed beach in the South of France, Adrianna Greene was sprawled out on a white towel, basking in the warm rays of the sun. She sighed blissfully and stretched, revealing her flat, toned stomach and black dolce and gabbana bikini. Her long, brown hair was damp and twisted from the ocean water. She rolled over onto her stomach and placed her face in her hands, closing her eyes while breathing in the salty scent of the sea.
"So, is this how double O's celebrate their status these days? Lolling about on the beach on holidays?"
Her eyes snapped open. There, standing in front of her, blocking her sun stood one of the last people she had expected to see. He stood with his hands shoved in his Armani trouser pockets and although they were hidden behind dark sunglasses, she knew quite well that those steel blue eyes were now staring down at her with arrogance.
"Do my eyes deceive me? Or is that the ever-sarcastic James Bond depriving me from well deserved sun?"
"Hello Greene."
She pulled the rims of her sunglasses down to get a better look at him. He was still in terribly good shape and his muscular arms were well tanned from the sun.
"Never really took you for the beach type Bond. But then again, I haven't spoken to you in what, three years? I guess things change." Her pink lips curved upwards in a sultry smile.
"Good to know you've still got your sense of humor." He replied and sat down next to her, shoving her half off of her towel. "Make room, will you?"
Adrianna rolled her eyes. "Alright Bond. What is it you want? And you had better not say a booty call, because your about three years to late."
James laughed. "M hasn't told you yet? Oh well now, this is just to much."
"M hasn't told me what?" She frowned.
"About your new partner." He smirked, waiting for her reaction.
"You cannot be serious." She shot him a look.
"Wish I wasn't Greene." James sighed, placed his hands on the sand behind him and kicked one leg over the other. "You can call and ask her if you like." He tossed her his blackberry.
"I intend to." She replied coldly, and dialed a number.
"009 here." She said currently into the phone. "I need to speak with M. Yes, now."
As Adrianna waited impatiently on the line, James took the opportunity to examine her more closely. Her hair was still long and brown like the last time he had seen her. Her body, still ravishingly exquisite to behold with her olive skin she had no doubt inherited from her Italian roots. Next he focused on her face; smooth of all imperfections except a few freckles and a small scar. Her lips were full and soft looking and James noticed how she bit on them with her teeth as her impatience grew. Her green eyes were close to the only hint of her Irish inheritance, that of course, and as James knew, her temper.
Finally, M came on the line and Adrianna began to rapidly converse with her. James yawned and removed his sunglasses. He watched with mild interest as a couple splashed together in the waves not to far off. A sudden flash back from the previous year of a similar situation entered his mind. He quickly shoved it away and out of his thoughts and returned his attention to Adrianna who was now hitting the 'end' button on his blackberry.
"All filled in then?" James asked with mock cheeriness.
"Unfortunately yes." Adrianna said airily. "I suppose this means my vacation will have to end early?"
"Quite frankly, yes." Bond replied, getting to his feet. "Our plane leaves first thing in the morning. Your friend Hugh Clancy is throwing a party in Austria tomorrow evening, which we need to be present for. I'm staying at a different hotel so we can just meet up at the airport around six."
"That's it?" Adrianna raised her eyebrows at him.
"Well, yes." Bond replied, a little confused. "I didn't leave anything out, did I?"
"Well," Adrianna said, standing up to join him. "We haven't seen each other in three years. I figured since now we're being forced to work together we should do a bit of catching up."
"Catching up?" Bond repeated.
"Dinner and drinks." She smiled, folding her arms. "My hotel, say around 8 o'clock? You still look good in a suit, don't you?"
"Well, yes I—" Bond spluttered.
"Excellent." She cut in. "See you then."
And with that, she picked up her towel, turned and walked away down the beach. Bond watched her go, still slightly dumbfounded.
"Dinner and drinks." He muttered, shaking his head with amusement. "And here I was expecting a slap across the face."
--
He found her seated at the hotel bar shortly after 8 o'clock. She was dressed head to toe in black, which he found as no surprise. She was sporting knee high, expensive looking boots, which Bond guessed to be a courtesy of her new double O paycheck. The boots were pared with black pants, an embellished belt, a slinky black top and a metallic necklace. She looked undeniably stunning. Bond cleared his throat and adjusted his tie.
"Oh there you are." She said as she turned to notice him. "I was wondering if you were going to stand me up," she paused and smirked. "Again."
"Spare me the guilt trip." Bond rolled his eyes and took a seat next to her.
"Excuse me, Bartender? Martini. Three measures of Gordon's, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it's ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel, please." He added the 'please' as an afterthought. The bartender looked slightly flustered as he began to scribble down the order.
"And for you Madame?"
Adrianna raised her eyebrows at Bond and then turned to the bartender.
"Ahh, yes let's see here. Make mine a Long Island Ice Tea with 1/2 oz Absolut Citron vodka, remember it has to be Citron, ½ oz of Limon rum, ¼ oz of Tequila, one oz of gin, ½ oz of orange liquor and to top it off, a little bit of coca-cola."
Bond stared at her.
"What?" She asked, frowning.
"Where did you learn how to drink like that?" He asked in bewilderment.
She shrugged. "Amsterdam."
Bond shook his head. The bartender arrived a few moments later with their drinks.
"Excellent." Adrianna smiled at him. "Thank you."
"Not bad." Bond said in a monotone, nodding curtly at the bartender who shuffled off.
"So," He said, a smirk crawling to his lips. "Tell me about your new boyfriend."
Adrianna snorted. "Boyfriend?"
"Clancy of course."
"Oh, Hugh? Not my boyfriend. More like he wants to be my boyfriend, but I'm just pretending to like him so I can get information about his step brother off of him."
"Have you slept with him?" Bond asked, his curiosity got the better of his courtesy.
"Who? Clancy or the step brother?" Adrianna smirked.
Bond stared at her.
Adrianna rolled her eyes. "I'm kidding. You're not the only one who can make jokes you know."
"My apologizes. You didn't answer my question though." He raised his eyebrow at her over the rim of his martini glass.
"I've been seeing Clancy for a month. And for your information, no I haven't." She said defiantly.
"Huh." Bond said vaguely.
"And exactly is that supposed to mean?" She glared at him and pulled out a nail file from her purse.
"Oh nothing at all. I was just thinking about, well never mind." Bond's smirk magnified.
"Don't go there Bond." She warned. "Or I'll make you pick up the check for dinner. Come on, I'm starved. Grab your drink and let's sit at that table over there."
She grabbed him by the arm and dragged him over to a small, quite table in the back of the bar. She slid into her chair and surveyed him closely as he scrutinized the menu.
"The lamb is excellent." She said vaguely. "You still like lamb, don't you?"
"Lost my taste for it I'm afraid." James replied, taking a long sip from his drink. He started at her from over his menu. Being re-united with Adrianna Greene was nerve racking at the very least. He was just waiting for the moment when she slammed her drink down hard on the table, jumped up and began to scream at him for being such a horrible bastard. But so far, aside from a few quips, she had been fairly polite, extruding an almost pleasant and friendly manor. Which made James all the more on edge.
"I think I'll have the roast duck." He said promptly to the waiter. "And perhaps the squash soup as an entrée."
"Very well sir. And for you Madame?"
"Chicken Alfredo please with potatoes. And we'll also get a bottle of pinot." She smiled at him pleasantly before he whisked away with their menus.
"So, James." She turned her green eyes on him. "I heard all about your escapades at Casino Royale."
James cleared his throat. "Yes, well. Not bad for my first mission as double O I suppose."
"You suppose?" She laughed. "They speak it as legendary back at HQ. Is it true you were poisoned?"
"Yes." James replied, wanting very much for the subject to get off his past escapades. Especially in case the topic of Vesper was broached, he was not ready to head down that path just yet. The waiter returned with their meals, and they both dug in.
"Hmm. I only wish my first task could have been so thrilling." Adrianna sighed wistfully as she played with her necklace absently.
"What could be more thrilling then posing as a love interest for a very wealthy man?" James chuckled.
She shot daggers at him from across the table.
"You don't have to rub it in James."
"Sorry." He smirked. "Well, what's the diagnosis?"
"He's a good man." Adrianna replied honestly. "Rich, very polite, kind, well connected, a fabulous kisser."
James choked on a piece of his duck.
"What?" Adrianna frowned.
"Oh nothing." James laughed. "It's just amusing that I am thrown into near life situations, exploding buildings, dangerous and reckless terrorists, and endless amounts of physical and emotional stress, while you are locking lips with rich business men. And by the end of the day, the numbers on are checks are the same."
Adrianna's fork clattered on her plate.
"Really, was that necessary?"
"I was just making a point." James said innocently.
"It's not like that's what I want to be doing. We all know where my real talent lies."
"In the bedroom?" James mused.
"Now you're just being an asshole." Adrianna smiled tightly.
"Forgive me. Please continue."
"What I mean to say," Adrianna continued, rolling her eyes. "Is I would much rather be running through exploding buildings chasing after ruthless criminals but I'm posted where I'm posted, and that's that. No use arguing, right?"
"Oh but I'm sure you did argue, didn't you?"
"Weather I did or not is not a concern." She smiled. "More wine?"
The dinner continued, more or less with the two going back and forth with snide remarks and comments, all in a friendly demeanor of course. After the check was paid for, Adrianna walked James to the front lobby of her hotel.
"Well, Austria tomorrow." She said cheerfully.
"Yes." James replied, staring at her curiously. He was still unsure of what to make of the evening.
"Lovely to see you again." She said pleasantly, and reached for his hand and shook it.
"Likewise." He replied thoughtfully.
And with that, she turned on her heel and waltzed off towards the elevator. James watched her go and shrugged before turning himself towards the main doors.
"Women." He thought aloud. "Such temperamental beings."
- Please Review -