Author's Note

Have no fear, an update is here!

First of all, I feel like a slight apology is at its place. I try to be as regular as possible with my updates but the past month has simply been so intense with many spontaneous things just popping into my face all the time. So yeah, please forgive me for the slight delay =)

Also, I must say you guys are simply awesome! So all I can do is to send a lot of love your way (plus this chapter) and hope you will enjoy!

Disclaimer

I hereby solemnly swear that I do not own anything...blablabla...you guys know the drill.

The Package

"Well, well." There was a slight trace of annoyance in her voice but Meg managed to put on a sleek smile as she turned around with her arms crossed over her chest. "Speaking of the idealistic devils."

A woman had emerged from the shadows beside them and Elsa couldn't help but to notice the way in which her upper body awkwardly hunched forward as she clenched a blood smeared hand to her side.

"If it isn't the left hand of the command herself." Meg continued as she tilted her head slightly to the side, her eyes examining the broken figure standing before them. "Damn, you don't look too good."

"Speak for yourself." Tiana raised her chin up and her eyes fixed on Elsa, as if she expected some sort of response, some sort of acknowledgment to her presence but Elsa simply crossed her arms and her face remained an emotionless mask.

Elsa noticed the slight raise of an eyebrow from Meg, she was no fool and obviously she quickly caught on to the growing tension between the two.

"So..." A couple of seconds passed before Tiana finally decided to break the intense contact between them and refocus on Meg as the latter continued speaking. "What is such an important asset to the freedom fighters doing in a neighbourhood like this without any proper escort?"

"I don't need an escort, I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself."

"Yeah, I can see that." Clearly not in the mood for Meg's taunting Tiana just let out a silent huff as she shook her head.

"I'm looking for the Duke, he has something. It's really none of your business, just point me in his direction and I'll be on my way."

"Oh, I'm sorry. You just missed him, but judging from your condition I'd say it won't last long before you catch up with him."

Meg had a certain way with people, she liked to put up a front; flirtatious, dominating and intimidating. Her mere presence could demand the attention of any bystander, and that sort of behaviour certainly clashed with Tiana's more ambitious and authoritative character.

"And what is that supposed to mean?"

"I think you know perfectly well what that means." Megara took a step forth as she continued on.

"Look, those guns he sold you, they weren't his to sell and frankly..." Her eyes narrowed as she was now standing mere inches from Tiana's face. "We want them back."

"Sorry sweet pea, but that's not how this whole thing works." Tiana was now matching the fire burning in Meg's eyes. "We payed for those weapons. If you want them back you have to give us something equally as valuable in return."

"Fine." The annoyance was clear in Megara's voice. "How much are we talking about?"

"I'm not talking about ration cards." Elsa felt her own eyebrows rise as Tiana's continued on. "You want your merchandise back? Then all you have to do is what the two of you do best."

"Oh Tia, I'm a girl of many talents, you have to be a bit more specific than that."

"I need you to make a delivery for me, a package if you will, to a location outside the quarantine zone."

"Or I have an even better idea." Megara started circling Tiana as a hungry wolf would do its prey before launching its attack. "We could simply take you as hostage and force your little minions to cash out."

Meg was testing limits, she knew as well as Elsa did that the Fireflies would never comply to such a bargain and besides, Tiana was infamous for her tracking skills. If they even as much as considered pulling a stunt like that with her, they would be forced to watch their backs for the rest of their days. Meg knew it. Elsa knew it. Hell, even Tiana knew it.

An almost taunting smile spread across her lips as she challengingly crossed her arms.

"Now, don't be stupid. We both know that I am way out of your league." She spoke the last part as her eyes once again fixed on Elsa's.

"Well, it was worth a try." Megara said, shrugging her shoulders. Right at that moment gunshots started to echo in the streets and the smile that was resting on Tiana's lips disappeared.

"I need to get off the streets." She glanced between the two. "Either you guys come with me and we discuss this further in a safe location, or you walk away. It's your decision, but you better make it fast."

"Well..." Meg let out a tired sigh. "It doesn't seem like you leave us much of a choice."

"No. There is absolutely no fucking way that is going to happen!" Meg proclaimed as she practically flew up from the table.

"That's the deal, either take it or leave it." Tiana's voice was firm and unyielding.

"No, the deal was a package! Not a fucking person."

"How old is she?" Elsa who had remained quiet throughout most of the conversation had now decided to break in. Her voice was calm and Tiana had to blink a couple of times, as if processing the question, before answering.

"19. She is 19 years old." The trip to the safe location had obviously been very strenuous for Tiana, as her face had paled even further and the fire in her eyes had started to burn out.

"Elsa, for the sake of my sanity please fucking tell me that you are not seriously considering doing this."

As Elsa didn't give any immediate response Meg pulled her up from her seat by the arm and yanked her out of the room, leaving Tiana behind as she loudly slammed the door shut behind them.

"Have you completely lost your mind?! We don't even know if they still have our merchandise and now you want to travel outside the quarantine zone, trying to smuggle some girl who probably hasn't even gotten her third moler yet!?"

"You were the one wanting to make the deal in the first place."

Megara dramatically threw her hands in the air.

"Look Elsa, the Capitol building isn't exactly close."

"We've managed worse."

Meg rubbed her forehead, as she seemed to attempt to ease a terrible headache, before she crossed her arms over her chest.

"We need to make sure they have our gear, because there is no way in hell that I'm doing this without being absolutely sure that they can pay up afterwards."

Elsa leaned over and opened the door into the room.

"We want to see the merchandise."

"Sure, I need to get patched up anyways." Tiana responded.

"And… I want to talk to Evangeline. If we are going to do this I want her word that you guys will uphold your part of the deal." Evangeline was the official district leader of the Fireflies and despite the fact that Elsa disliked the organization for personal reasons; she couldn't deny that she held a fair amount of respect for the woman. She was honest and just, which were rare trades in times like these.

"You can't..." Tiana let out a small breath before she continued on. "She and Ray got captured not two weeks ago." She rose from her seat, an unfamiliar emotion dominating her features. "For all we know they've probably gotten executed by now." As she said the last part something hardened in her eyes and she once again focused on the two.

"Look, I know we've had our disagreements in the past, and I know that you guys don't trust me but you've got to believe that I wouldn't ask you for this if I had any other options. I wanted to make the trip myself, but as you can tell I am not fit to travel in my current condition." She gestured to the wound in her side.

"We've been killed off as flies lately. However, I promise you there will be someone meeting you in the Capitol building and you have my word that we will pay up when you return. Just please, help us out here."

It turned out that it hadn't been a random safehouse Tiana had brought them to. After agreeing on the deal she had taken them to the top floor. She knocked gently on a seemingly insignificant door and the sound of footsteps that followed indicated the presence of a person inside. The soft sound of a lock clicking followed quickly after and Elsa couldn't help the slight frowns forming on her forehead at the sight that met her.

It was a young woman answering the door and as they brushed past her, Elsa felt the weight of blue orbs resting on her as if the girl was carefully examining her. As Elsa glanced back at her she quickly looked away, focusing her attention elsewhere. When her eyes landed on Tiana and her broken figure, a wave of concern suddenly washed over her and she rushed to her side immediately, providing Tiana support as she they walked over to the far end of the room engaged in a hushed conversation.

Elsa couldn't quite put her finger on it but there was something about that girl, something different, something special. It was more than simply the way she had immediately rushed to Tiana's aid. There was something in her eyes, in the way she had looked at them when she had answered the door, the way she had glanced away when Elsa had caught her staring. Something innocent? Naïve or even fragile? Elsa didn't know what it was but something was simply different about this girl. She had to hold some sort of material value to her, it was the only logical explanation as to why the Fireflies would go through so much trouble to make sure she would get transported safely from one location to another outside the safety provided by the quarantine zone.

The way she had rushed to Tiana's aid, the genuine care in her eyes, made Elsa conclude that they must know each other somehow but she had never seen or heard about this girl before. She had to be from outside this perimeter, but there was no way she would have been able to make it here on her own. She carried no visible weapons, but in the corner of the room a small backpack was standing next to what seemed to be a sleeping bag. It might be she had something in there, but for some reason Elsa doubted it.

The girl looked to be in decent shape; she was undernourished, the skin-tight t-shirt she was wearing easily revealed that much but her long, slender limbs seemed to hold some strength to them. If it came to it she could probably run fast but more importantly, she could probably hide quite well. This theory was further strengthened by the fact that the girl was wearing what seemed to be a pair of old, faded army pants. Elsa only knew of one type of people who wore those kinds of pants but hopefully she was only being paranoid, as far as she could tell the girl didn't have the signature Firefly pendant resting around her neck, so clearly she wasn't a member.

It could turn out to be quite relevant to find out how exactly the girl had come into the Fireflies' possession, however Elsa highly doubted that they would be informed about it. Besides, it wasn't really any of their concern. All they had to do was to make sure that they got the job done.

Elsa's eyes landed on the girl's long strawberry-blonde locks, they had to do something about that. Elsa herself always wore her hair in a braid, safely concealed inside her hoodie. Long, loose hair simply made one into a too easy target for getting grabbed.

"You agree?"

Elsa had to blink a couple of times before she snapped out of her thoughts.

"I'm sorry, what did you say?" She felt Megara's slightly annoyed gaze resting on her, apparently she and Tiana had been making some arrangements while Elsa had been zoning out.

"We are saying that it will be best if I head down together with Tiana to check out the gear and that you and Anna stay here until I come back."

Anna, so that's her name. Elsa thought to herself before considering what else Meg has said. It made sense, the building was laying quite close to the quarantine borders and there was no need for them all to go.

Elsa gave her consent with a silent nod as her gaze once again fixed on the girl who was now standing before her as she was saying her goodbyes to Tiana. Elsa tilted her head slightly to the side as she observed how Tia stretched out her hand for handshake but Anna brushed right past it, heading for a firm embrace.

For a moment Tiana's posture stiffened, as if not knowing how to respond but after a couple of seconds she finally managed to awkwardly return the embrace.

"Sweet little thing isn't she?" Meg's voice was quiet, as she had leaned further against Elsa. "Just a shame that sweet never makes it across the finish line."

"Let's just get the job done." Elsa snapped back at her.

Tiana had managed to break the embrace and was now heading for the doorway, leaving Anna behind. She didn't say anything to Elsa as she walked past her, she only gave a silent nod and a firm gaze and then she was out the door.

"Well..." Megara propped her hip to the side as she flipped her hair over her shoulder. "Try not to miss me too much while I'm gone." She teasingly winked at Elsa before glancing over her shoulder, looking at Anna. "Nice meeting you kiddo." She put one hand on her hip as she lazily saluted with the other.

"Nice meeting you too." Anna awkwardly played with her hands as she sent Megara a shy smile.

"Unfucking believable." Elsa heard Megara mumble as she headed out the doorway with a smile on her lips. "Be ready to move out as soon as I come back, yeah?"

Elsa gave her a silent nod in return.

"Great, I'll be back before you know it." She put a bit of extra sway in her hips as she walked out and firmly closed the door behind her.

The room instantaneously fell silent. Elsa stood facing the now closed door for a little while before turning around.

"Well uhm… looks like it's just you and me now." Anna tried sending her a small smile but as Elsa's face remained emotionless it quickly stiffened. "Not that I mind that of course." Anna added hesitantly as Elsa's eyes started scanning the room. Soon they landed on an old, mouldy couch situated in the far right corner.

She felt Anna's eyes resting on her as she brushed past her and took off her backpack, placing it against one of the couches legs. The fabric was old and stained, however they had a long journey ahead and she might as well get some rest when she had the chance, and this was as good as it would get. She pulled off her sweater folding it into a small pillow before she laid down to rest her head.

"That's a pretty necklace." Anna broke the silence that had once again settled in the room, her eyes fixed on the small snowflake safely resting round Elsa's neck. Normally Elsa would carry it inside her shirt but somehow it must have fallen out.

"Did someone give it to you or...?" Elsa picked up the small pendant; and for a short moment her eyes travelled over the small piece of jewellery before she placed it back in the safety of her t-shirt. She felt the heat of Anna's eyes resting on her but instead of looking back she simply closed her eyes and drowsed off into a dreamless sleep.

When Elsa came to, the first thing she registered besides the darkness was the sound of rain. She rubbed her eyes as she sat up in the couch scanning the room. She didn't know how long she had been out, but obviously it wasn't that long since Megara still hadn't come back.

The room was completely covered in darkness and the only source of light came from the windows facing the city. In one of the window frames a small figure was situated. Elsa silently rose from her seat and headed over to one of the windows next to her.

"I don't remember the last time I was this close to the outside." Despite the heavy rain one could still look beyond the great wall separating the quarantine zone from the fallen part of the city, and further on the forest edge and the real world. "It can't be any worse out there."

Anna turned around to face her and for the first time since they met Elsa looked back at her as she continued. "Can it?"

Elsa felt how small wrinkles formed on her forehead as she raised her eyebrows, where had the Fireflies found this girl? She was about to answer when the door was suddenly ripped open and Megara rushed in.

"They've got it." A sleek smile spread across her lips as she pulled down the hood of her jacket. "All of our merchandise, they've still got it."

She looked at Elsa expectantly.

"Are you ready to do this?"

Elsa sent Anna a final glance before she walked over to pick up her backpack.

"Let's just do it."