'What do you want?' Ida asked, hoping her fear had not seeped through into her voice.
The attractive American sighed, rubbing his forehead with his fingers.
'Look, Lady- I aint talking until you put that thing away' he gestured to her small revolver, her eyes flicked to the rest of the group and then sighed, putting the safety on, she placed the gun back into her waistband.
'Now talk' she ordered.
The American took a few steps towards her and she bent to pick up her now translucent vest.
'Lieutenant Aldo Raine, ma'am' he introduced himself and her eyes went wide in recognition.
'Lieutenant Ida Hicox' she held out her hand in greeting to him, 'and might I say that you have earned quite a reputation, Aldo the Apache'
The other men whooped at the mention of their leader's nickname and she smiled.
'Nice of you to say ma'am' he took her hand warmly and shook it, 'would I be right in saying you're the hunter?'
'I prefer Huntress darling, but I suppose so, yes' she grinned.
'So you're British?' a tall gentleman, with dark hair and what she thought was a bat walked towards them.
'Mmhmm' she smiled to him, admiring his muscles, he must be what the Nazi's called The Bear Jew, 'I would make yourself scarce though gentlemen- another patrol is due down here any moment, and once they get sight of that' she gesticulated towards the mangled patrol truck, 'I don't think they're going to be asking many questions'
'She's right' Aldo called to his troops, 'do you know of anywhere we can lay-low?' he asked her in a low drawl.
'I suppose you'd all fit in my apartment, it's on the outskirt of Paris' she informed him, 'once I get word from my contact- I'm moving to a more reclusive location' she smiled slightly, he was frowning at her but then he pursed his lips and nodded.
'No Nazis about then?' He asked her with raised eyebrows.
'If you see one, or more importantly they see you- shoot on sight, then leg it' she called over her shoulder as she pulled on her heavy trench coat and picked up her larger gun.
They made their way back through the forest, the way Ida had come. Trudging along in single file, ensuring that they were not seen nor followed, they finally made it to the edge of the city.
Ida turned to look at Aldo, whom was right behind her and gestured with her hands, he nodded, understanding her code. It was simple really, stay close, in the shadows and be silent yet quick.
Luckily they made it across the square in safety, and Ida led them up the back staircase up to her apartment, she unlocked the door and took a couple of steps inside, peering round the open-plan rooms she saw it was clear and nodded at them to enter.
Ida rushed to the windows ensuring all the blinds were drawn before any of them switched the lights on. Once she was satisfied she turned the living-room lamp on, revealing a small- cosy apartment. Ida looked at the group of men and sighed, this was going to be a tight squeeze.
'There's a shower over there' she pointed towards her bedroom down a small corridor, 'I suggest you all have one' she offered, taking off her coat and moving towards her hidey-hole in the wall. She moved the cupboard out of the way and placed her machine gun inside, keeping her revolver with her, as usual.
'Thanks ma'am' one of the men said with a smiled, she smiled back, 'I'm Utivich by the way' he was small.
'Nice to meet you' she shook his hand, and then the rest of them piped up, all introducing themselves before they all sat around her house, in the various chairs or on the floor.
'You have the first shower ma'am' Ulmer suggested, nodding at her chest and face that were still covered in blood.
'Ah yes' Ida laughed, 'I probably should' she sighed going to her airing cupboard and selecting a towel, 'there's some fresh bread out there gentlemen, and you're welcome to try and find anything else to eat' she called as she made her way to the shower.
Ida heard the men pottering about in her kitchen as she let the water of the shower warm up. She pulled off her damp vest and bra before taking off the rest of her clothing and stepping into the hot stream of water. It was relaxing, she watched as the water tumbled off her face and chest, the dark red blood coming off her in streaks.
She had tried to be as quick as she could, knowing full well that there were nine men wanting a shower and she was hoping the hot water would last until then. She pulled the smallish towel around herself and checked the mirror- good, it covered everything. Unlatching the bathroom door, she slipped out into the hallway and tripped over Aldo who was sat in the doorway of her bedroom. He had his knees up and head resting against the doorframe and looked as if he were trying to give his eyes a rest for a couple of minutes, although Ida didn't really have time to process this before her body smacked against the hard wooden floor.
'Fucking hell' she yelped, trying to keep her towel together, 'what the fuck are you doing there?' she asked him.
'S-sorry' he stammered as she caught him staring down her towel. Getting angrily up to her feet and he to his she glared at him.
'You want a proper look!?' she accused, opening her towel and flashing Aldo, before slamming her bedroom door.
Ida was fizzing, but not out of anger, more embarrassment. She had actually just flashed a man she had known a couple of hours-why? Because she had a temper that's why, and she was incredibly stubborn, a quality that she was frustrated in herself.
Taking a deep breath she unwrapped her towel and lay it on the radiator whilst she searched for something to put on. She pulled on a pair of cropped slacks and a baggy jumper and sorted out the parting on her wet hair before grabbing her towel and making her way to the door. She gingerly turned the doorknob and opened the door, ensuring that she wouldn't trip over another stranger. She was met with a sheepish looking Aldo, leaning against the opposite bedroom's doorframe, he had a towel wrapped around his waist and his chest was bare.
'Sorry, ma'am' he looked at her, and she frowned.
'Stop calling me that- its Ida' she grumpily replied.
'Alright, Ida then' he drawled, coming closer to her, she swallowed, looking into his blue eyes. Aldo leaned down, his face now centimetres from hers before reaching out and taking the towel out of her hand and throwing it down the corridor to Kagan, whom she hadn't even noticed.
'You're up kid' he called to him as Hirschberg stepped out of the bathroom in a towel and walked into the second bedroom she assumed to dress.
Ida sighed and leaned against the doorframe and Aldo chuckled deeply at her.
'The men can have anywhere they can sleep' she informed him, nervously, 'I also have a few roll-mats you can use and if we're short on space I guess someone can share my bed- it's pretty big' she gestured with her thumb behind her and he looked at her intently.
'As appealing as that would be' he looked down at her, 'I guess you could say we're all gentlemen'
'You know how I meant it, don't you?' she tried to clarify with him, but just got a smirk. Ida sighed and rolled her eyes before leaving him to find some food. He was annoying, but she could tell, to her own annoyance, that she wanted him-which wasn't very helpful.
Ida hadn't slept well, she had creeped off to bed before most of the men had settled, instructing them where they could find sleeping accompaniments and then bidding them a swift goodnight.
She had tossed and turned all night, getting only a few hours' sleep before she decided that lying in bed awake for the next couple of hours would do her no good so she sighed before getting up.
It was a cold, crisp morning, the sun was only just starting to shine its rays on the morning sky even though it was nearly six, she grabbed a thick woollen jumper and pulled it over her slip she slept in. Ida grabbed the book she had been reading the previous night and went to the kitchen to make herself some tea.
She managed just to see in the dim morning light without having to switch a light on and disturb the sleeping men and she clipped the kettle off the gas before it whistled too much, again not trying to disturb them. She hadn't have bothered, most of them were out like a light and there was only one that she had woken. Much to her disappointment, it was Aldo.
'Do you want one?' she whispered to him, he raised an eyebrow.
'Have you got any coffee?' he whispered back, she smiled and reached into the cupboard trying to find some of that instant stuff Shosanna had given her months ago.
'Thanks' he said, as she handed him a mug of the stuff she didn't like in the slightest.
'So why are you here?' he asked in a low register, obviously feeling silly whispering, but she caught sight of a few of the men stirring so she tucked her book under her arm and tugged on his sleeve, leading him to her room.
Ida set the mug down on her make-shift nightstand; that was actually an empty barrel and moved past him to shut the door. He stood there awkwardly looking around the relatively bare room and she sighed.
'You can sit' she gestured to the bed and went to sit at the headboard, whilst Aldo perched himself gingerly on the end of her bed.
'I was a British spy' Ida confessed.
'Was?' Aldo looked up at her as he sipped his coffee, making a face which confirmed to Ida that it wasn't just her whom found it disgusting.
'Do you really think that the British government would authorise me to go around killing every Nazi I can?' she chuckled at him and leaned over to grab her mug, holding it close, warming herself up.
'Ours did' he shrugged matter-of-factly and she looked up and frowned.
'Not the official government surely?' she watched him as he sighed.
'I don't know- all I got was my captain telling me to give em' hell, so here we are' he raised his hands in a gesture and looked around the room, Ida let out a small laugh under her breath and sighed.
'Well you're certainly doing that' she sipped her tea, 'can I join you?' she asked tentatively, so quietly in fact, she was sure for a moment that he hadn't heard her.
Aldo looked at Ida and she looked back at him, hopefully.
'How old are you?' he asked.
'Twenty-eight' she replied quickly, feeling she was being interviewed.
'What did you do before the war?'
'I studied languages at university, before working in my father's mechanic shop' she smiled fondly of the memories of her father, before frowning 'I wasn't allowed to get my degree though'.
'Mechanic?' he asked her with a raised eyebrow.
'A bloody good one'
'Fighter?' he asked.
'I'm a better fighter than I am a mechanic' she looked up at him with a rueful smile.
'This mission,' he sighed, 'we don't really plan on coming back' he admitted to her, 'it would be nice, but I'm not counting on it'
'That's fine' she said quickly, coldly, he frowned at her.
'Who have you left behind?' he asked, softly, even in his rough American accent. Ida saw a large scar across his throat and swallowed.
'No one' she looked down, 'all dead- accept my cousin Archie, but he's being shipped off to god know's where, I expect I'll never see him again'
Ida looked up to Aldo, he seemed very uncomfortable but his eyes were filled with sorrow, she sighed.
'Look, I never expected to go back,' she paused, 'after Shosanna told me what they were doing to the Jews, I couldn't leave-they have to die' Ida had a dark glint in her eyes and Aldo watched her wearily.
'You're Jewish?' he asked her, but she shook her head.
'Catholic, but my best friend was' she frowned, 'my mother and I also helped with the Kinder Transport'
Aldo just sat there and nodded at what she was saying, he looked up at her. So the age question wasn't really relevant, but he wanted to know where he stood. There was no denying she was beautiful, and she had a certain vengeance-driven bloodlust that he liked, plus she had a mighty fine body after her temper driven public exposure last night.
He had also lied to her, he wasn't a gentleman. It had been an extremely long time since he'd seen a woman naked, and it certainly hadn't taken long in the shower to relieve his frustration.
In the time Aldo had been daydreaming, Ida had moved closer to him, she put a hand on his knee and smiled.
'I can handle it' he looked at her, his face not far from her own and swallowed. Hard.
'Alright' he sighed, trying to act coolly, making sure that she was not aware that he was fighting the urge to jump on her that moment.
'Good' she smiled, removing her hand from his leg and shuffling back to where she was originally sat.
'What's the plan today?' he asked her.
'Well, I have to go to work' she smiled, 'and obviously shopping for more food' she chuckled, 'you'll need to open all the blinds so it looks normal, but stay away from the windows, there are a few SS kicking around, along with Gestapo and we all know what they're like'
'And what we just sit around all day?' he scoffed at her.
'If you don't want to get me killed then yes' she raised a perfect eyebrow at him.
'Well we wouldn't want that' he rubbed his forehead.
'Two days you'll be hauled up here' she informed him, 'there's a bar that the Nazis like to reside in across the street' she got up off the bed and moved to the window, peaking around the blinds. Aldo stood behind her, extremely close, she could feel his breath on the back of her neck.
Ida pointed across the dim morning square to a bar in the far right corner.
'You see?' she turned around slightly, to look at him and he gave a small nod, before placing a hand half-way up the wall on the window frame, leaning in closer to her. She smelt good.
'Well' she turned around letting go of the corner of the blind, 'every month a truck load of Nazis come in for a jolly good time, I presume it's the rotation of the troops, there can't be less than fifty there'
'And you want to go in a kill the sons-of bitches?' he grinned, grabbing extra purchase on the wall.
'Exactly- I have a few grenades and a lot of other weaponry' she looked up at his face, 'do you have any German speakers in your group?' he nodded slowly, catching on to her idea.
'Yeah – Wicki' he stood upright and walked away from her.
'Good- he can help I'm sure' she grinned at him and he rolled his eyes.
'Yes he can' he sighed, 'where do you work?' he asked as he sat back down on her bed.
Ida moved over to her small wardrobe and opened to two doors- somewhat shielding herself from being completely exposed.
'Oh, at a café across the street' she informed him as she slipped out of her night clothes and began dressing herself, 'near the bar actually'
'Ah so how long have you-' he paused as he turned to look at her, she turned around to face him as she clipped her stockings onto her suspenders, 'Jesus lady do you just like getting undressed?!' he exclaimed, and she laughed.
'It's not like you haven't seen it all' she quipped, moving over to him in her underwear, 'you can scalp a Nazi, but a woman in her underwear- now that's intolerable?' she was playing with the collar on his shirt and for the second time that morning Aldo swallowed hard, trying to ignore the stirring in his groin.
Ida laughed before turning and walking back to her wardrobe, selecting a simple pale blue dress and sliding it on over her body.
'You're a piece of work' he grunted at her, before watching as she slipped on a pair of brown shoes with a slight heel. She sat next to him on the bed and she lent down to tie up the laces.
'I'll bring you some food when I can' she smiled, 'I have my lunch break at one so I'll pick some up then'
'What time do you finish?'
'Four, but it's a long day' she laughed, 'I start at seven'
'Mhmm' he agreed.
'You couldn't be a sweetheart and pitch my plan to the rest of the men could you?' she asked with a nudge of his shoulder.
'I sure will'
'Thanks' she pecked him on the cheek and got up to fix her face and teeth in the bathroom before heading out to work.
'Sir?' she popped her head around her bedroom door to see him still sat on her bed.
'Aldo, but yeah?' he grunted.
'Get some rest- you look like hell' she informed him as she scooped her small bag off the back of her door and left the apartment, trying her hardest not to wake the exhausted men from their slumbers.
Aldo sighed, yep- so he liked her. He frowned as he picked up the book she had been reading, she had another one with the same cover but in French, he smiled, she was good. He began flicking through the pages and before long he was laid spark out on her bed.