I'm ba-ack! (Isn't that creepy?) Anyway before we get started I just wanted to let you guys know that there will be no slash whatsoever in this story. There may not be any romantic relationships at all because the whole is Yassen and Alex based. Just wanted to make that clear. Enjoy!
Chapter 4
Aleks sat perfectly still as Yassen worked over him. The blonde man was snipping away at his newly dyed hair. Instead of the golden-blonde color he was used to the mass atop his head was supposedly a deep almost-blue black; Yassen had also given him contacts that turned his hazel eyes a bright piercing green. Aleks had yet to see the whole effect but he had a feeling it made him look very similar to the main wizard-boy in those books by somebody Rowling. Very conspicuous.
That was the point of course. Their next assignment would take place in London and they couldn't risk MI6 catching wind of the appearance of "Alex Rider" so close to their headquarters. The idea was to make Aleks look like the opposite of himself and very noticeable. That was should any agents be watching they would not only see Aleks, but quickly pass him by.
Yassen would change his appearance as well though not quite so drastically. His hair was, of course dyed to a shade not as dark as Aleks', and he was allowed to keep his normal eye color. Aleks pouted a bit at this. He hated contacts with a passion to rival the fiery pits of Hell. No matter how hard he tried to ignore them they irritated him incessantly, and he had to force himself not to blink. Unfortunately trying to convince your brain, which says there's something in your eye that isn't supposed to be there, that the object needs to stay especially when you don't want it there yourself, is a very difficult.
"We will make contact tomorrow. This man is offering us" meaning him and Aleks with no relation to Scorpia whatsoever, "a very large sum of money for a very simple job. We will complete it and be gone as soon as possible." As far away from MI6 as possible too. "Now, where would you like to eat?"
Around midnight…
Aleks couldn't sleep. It was too cold. Just as the sheets were warm enough for his eyes to close his position became uncomfortable and he had to shift, of course then his foot, or some other uncovered appendage, would come into contact with an unheated part of the sheets. Aleks hated cold, at least at night. His mind connected something unpleasant with the absence of heat and Aleks always had a nightmare when he fell asleep cold.
There was the house, like always, dark and forbidding in the grey light. A light snow was falling but the wind was stronger and getting stronger, a storm was on the way. Aleks crept up to the open window and slid through it silently unable to lose the chill of outside even though the house should be warm. Shadows slithered around him and he shivered though it was not from the chill. There was a light coming through the doorway up ahead he stepped up to it and peered in on a well-lit kitchen where Yassen was standing, cradling something, his back to Aleks. His breath quickened as he noticed the familiar eyes glowing in the background. They started out icy blue, faded to a cat-like yellow, and finally became demon red. Yassen didn't seem to notice them, he never did, and as his mentor left the room the eyes faded. Aleks couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief though he knew they would return. He followed Yassen back to the open window and heard the dreaded voice calling out. Aleks watched as a response was dragged out of his normally impassive mentor. The eyes returned glowing fiercely in the thick shadows. Horror consumed Aleks as a gun rose, seemingly from nowhere the cruel metal glinting evilly, and aimed for Yassen head.
Aleks jerked up panting. An annoyed sigh erupted from him even as he shivered again. That stupid dream always managed to get inside his mind so he couldn't sleep for the rest of the damn night unless he knew Yassen was safe. Of course Yassen's safe! He's one of the most deadly assassins in the world and you're letting a little dream worry you! What are you four?
"Aleks?" The voice caught him by surprise and Aleks spun around to find Yassen's clear blue eyes watching him from the opposite bed. Blushing at being caught Aleks rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.
"Uh no?" He ventured. Yassen chuckled briefly and rose from the bed stalking over to Aleks.
"Well, then I'm afraid I shall have to torture you as to the whereabouts of my son." Aleks scooted backward until he was pressed against the headboard, but Yassen only followed. He wrapped one arm around the youth's neck in a headlock and, smirking evilly though Aleks couldn't see, dug his fingers into the boy's thin sides.
Aleks jerked in surprise but forced his lips together. He wouldn't laugh, not this time. Yassen, in response to his unwillingness to cooperate, simply dug his fingers in harder wiggling them faster. After several long minutes Aleks couldn't stand it any longer. He let out a very undignified shriek of laughter and collapsed back on the bed panting, a wayward giggle escaping him very once in a while.
Still smiling he let his head rest back on the pillow and felt a familiar warmth behind him. Yassen wrapped his arms around him and pulled the boy back against his chest.
"Now do you want to tell me what is wrong Алекс немного?" Aleks chewed discreetly on his lip, but Yassen caught the movement. "You had that dream again didn't you?" Aleks buried his head in the pillow, ashamed of the weakness.
"I feel so childish and stupid when I wake up from that dream terrified every time! I already know what is going to happen! Why do I continue to fear it?" He felt the strong urge to break something. Yassen reached up and ran a hand through the newly darkened hair.
"Aleks, you are far from stupid. Fourteen is still considered a child, and everyone has a weakness." Aleks was drifting off. Lulled by the kind hand on his hair, and the comforting words. His voice heavy with sleep he spoke.
"Even you?" Yassen glanced down watching as his charge's eyes fluttered closed.
"Yes," He whispered "even me."
Yassen was gone when Aleks awoke to the shrill ring of a phone stretching he glanced around for the older assassin and picked up the receiver.
"Hello?" He mumbled fighting a yawn
"Wakey, wakey Aleksandr." The voice was deep and unfamiliar, but Aleks merely stifled another yawn and stretched.
"Morning Dad. What's up?" If Aleks didn't know he wouldn't dare do it in public, he would have sworn the assassin on the other end of the line was pouting.
"It's time for breakfast." Yassen had returned to his normal voice now. "Get up and get down here."
"Yes Sir!" He could've sworn he heard a deep growl on the other end of the phone. Half smiling, half smirking he dressed quickly and made his way down to the lobby. Yassen was waiting sitting at a table in the corner his eyes fixed on the paper. Aleks walked toward him and sat down, bending for a moment on the way as if to tie his shoe. He flicked something gold at Yassen who caught it easily his eyes not moving from their fixed position on the paper.
"I saw that one a mile away, and found the one in the hallway and on the elevator." He wasn't acknowledged. "Is that one ad really that interesting or are you that determined to pretend I don't exist Dad?" Yassen relented and graced Aleks with a wry smile as he folded the paper.
"You're dead." Aleks' eyes went wide.
"What? I found them all. I know I did!" Yassen gave the boy a very pointed look and Aleks groaned quietly and began patting down his pockets until he found the shiny coin. "Damn it." He muttered handing his failure over to Yassen who reached across the table and smacked him lightly upside the head for language.
"Being inobservant is sometimes the difference between watching as your own leg is blown off or living, whole, to see your next birthday. There are thousands of different explosives, this size and smaller, and if you are not prudent enough to check your own clothing for danger before donning it, maybe you need to go back to Malagosto for training."
Aleks winced. He knew Yassen didn't mean it, he wouldn't really send him back, but the words stung all the same. So did the mistake. A rookie on his first mock assignment wouldn't have made that mistake. Aleks had to work hard against the inclination to bang his head against the table repeatedly and only played with his food, eating only when Yassen turned his icy death glare on him. That glare still had the power to send shivers down his spine.
After they finished breakfast Aleks headed up to the room to brush his teeth and start packing while Yassen went to check out. Aleks opened the door, his mind still on his earlier failure, and froze. Someone had been in their room. The bathroom door, which he had left open, was firmly closed, and his suitcase, which had been at the end of the bed, was now in the middle. Fighting the instinct to immediately check it out, Aleks backed out of the room and walked to the elevators to wait for Yassen.
Through the next door that dinged open stepped the dark-haired man. His eyebrows furrowed and his mouth asked the question "Why are you here?" while his eyes asked "Are you alright?" Aleks nodded and said.
"Someone has been in our room Dad, I didn't know what to do so I came out here to wait for you." Yassen placed a hand on the teen's shoulder pushing him slightly behind him. He didn't remove the restraining hand as they walked back down the hallway. Yassen slid his key into the door and the lock clicked. Taking his hand off Aleks' shoulder Yassen slid it under the back of his loose shirt to where a gun rested in the waistband of his jeans.
The door swung open and the room appeared exactly as Aleks had left it a minute ago, except for one small detail. Yassen heard a small intake of breath as Aleks tensed behind him. Fearing the worst Yassen turned and nearly breathed a sigh of relief when the only person behind him was the teen who had gone white like a sheet.
"Aleks what's wrong?"
"The bathroom door was open when I left for breakfast, so seeing it closed when I came back was how I knew someone had been in here, it's open again." Yassen nodded and, replacing the gun, squeezed Aleks' shoulder tightly. When he found out who was in here with his…, he glanced back at the teen, with John's son, he would give them reason not to come anywhere near the boy again. Not that they would be able too.
"Come on son. It's alright I don't think there's anyone here now. Aleks nodded and followed him inside. Once assured nothing was missing they finished packing and carried the two cases out to the car. Stowing them in the boot they drove to a store near the contact point. Yassen shut off the car and leaned back looking at Aleks out of the corner of his eye.
"If I asked you stay in the car would you?" Aleks gave the Russian an are-you-crazy look and slipped out of the car letting the passenger door shut with a little more force than necessary. Yassen followed sighing. "Of course not."
As they walked toward an unnoticeable alley near the back of the store and off to one side Yassen slung one arm protectively over Aleks' shoulders. As they entered the narrow place he held the teen behind him and the gun before him. A man was standing halfway down the alley one arm slung up against the stone wall, cigarette smoke wafting up from his mouth and a black backpack hanging over one shoulder, exactly how Yassen had been told he would be over the phone. The assassin, however, did not relax one bit. Something in his gut told him to be wary.
Something is wrong with this picture. But what? What? Still keeping Aleks behind him Yassen reached out and tapped the man's shoulder. The extra pressure turned him around and he slid down the wall a deep knife wound marking where his heart should be.
"Ебать!" He sworn quietly. "Aleks we have to get…" He turned around and saw his worst nightmare come to life. A black gun was pressed to Aleks' temple. The familiarity of the person holding it made the horror complete. Unable to control himself he began shouting in his mother language wishing he could grind the man's smirking face into the ground.
"Вы чертовски сволочь! Как вы могли сделать это на собственный племянник? Ты кусок дерьма! Вы не заслуживают того, чтобы дышать тем же воздухом, Джон Райдер! Гораздо меньше доля его имя!" He finished by spitting at the man's feet his chest heaving with emotion. The bastard had the audacity to smirk at him while tightening his hold on Aleks.
"Hello to you too brat."
BTW: The whole father/son thing they keep saying in this chapter is part of their cover. If i happened to explain that in the story don't sue me ok? It's very late (or early depending on how you look at it) here.
Translations
Ебать- f-word
Вы чертовски сволочь! Как вы могли сделать это на собственный племянник? Ты кусок дерьма! Вы не заслуживают того, чтобы дышать тем же воздухом, Джон Райдер! Гораздо меньше доля его имя- You f-ing bastard! How could you do this to your own nephew? You piece of shit! You don't deserve to have breathed the same air as John Rider much less share his name! (It actually is you don't deserve to breathe the same air, but then I remembered John was dead. I left it because it was half-past midnight and I was too lazy. ;-)
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