"It should be around here somewhere." The blonde mumbled.
The morning had been like a dream for Jack. He wondered if every man understood how lucky they were, he wondered if every man had a life like this. He woke up to Rapunzel curled into his chest, her head tucked under his chin and her hand resting on his abdominals. Her shapely soft legs were tangled with his, her long blonde hair strewn across the pillows. She looked like a fallen angel, he felt like he didnt deserve to be in her presence.
She had woken up and gave him the cutest 'good morning'. He never knew that his pale cheeks could heat up so fast. She just giggled and stretched in a way that had him more aware of his morning predicament. Maybe he was reacting to her so much because he'd never met anyone like her. She was the first woman outside of the doctors that he's ever been around. She was kind and beautiful and he was not prepared to handle this.
Maybe this feeling was all a fluke.
He looked over from the passenger seat, watching as she kept messing with her GPS while trying to look around for the right building. Hiccup didn't drop in on their morning breakfast this time, they ate cereal in peace. They decided to look for the tech building called Lorex Technology. Hiccup sent a text and let them know that he had brought in a consultant from hospitals database and it was Lorex Tech that supplied them. It made it easy to find them and less time running around trying to find out the city's go to companies.
"Are you sure you're okay with this?" He asked, "You don't seem like the type to break into places."
Rapunzel looked over at him. She could see the regret in his eyes, the doubt he had in himself and in her. She wasnt doing a good job at being his light house if he doubted her.
She smiled, "Youre right, I'm not that kind of person. But what they're doing is wrong. If getting those files will help us break this thing open then it'll be worth it."
He looked at her and felt his heart beat quicken. She looked to sure of herself, like despite how wrong all this was, she knew what she was doing was right. Because she did the right thing despite anything else. His blue eyes were wide, his mouth slightly open.
"Oh look! There it is!" She cried in happiness.
His attention was taken from her, only to land on the large three story building. It looked like every other building, made of reflective tinted glass with white walls and metal supports. The bushes and trees were immaculate, everything look well kept and expensively paid for. The words 'Lorex Technology' were displayed at the top of the building, all chrome angles and shiny surfaces.
The nurse parked near the entrance, turning off the car and buttoning up her jacket. Jack was still surprised how susceptible others were to cold. This weather was perfect for him. Even if it snowed he wouldn't know the difference from his own body temperature. He stepped out of the warm car and took a breath of the cool fresh air. Rapunzel told him that it should start to snow in the next couple of weeks. He's never seen snow that he didnt make. He was actually excited.
Rapunzel stepped out of the car, her baby blue jacket buttoned up to her white scarf. The buttons and white fur lining matched her white fur boots. She always made sure she was bundled up before leaving the house, still surprised to see her companion only wearing a pair of jeans, vans and a thin v-neck tshirt. She shook her head with a smile. He was so lucky.
"Any idea how we do this?" He asked, stepping in time beside her as they made their way to the entrance.
She shrugged, "I guess we just ask."
"And they just show us?"
"I don't know, I've never needed blue prints before," She answered.
Without thinking, Jack reached for the door and opened it for her. The motion made his brow furrow a bit. He didnt know why or how he knew that it was the socially acceptable thing to do, but he did. It was innate, a deep seated habit that he must've been taught but never remembered who had taught him.
The blonde smiled at him brightly, enjoying this behavior he had yet to understand.
The lobby of the building was filled with neutral colors. The walls were beige and matched the few framed art that hung on them. There was a long desk toward the back of the room, several hallways that led to offices, elevators and bathrooms. It felt like a normal building, as if they were a tax office rather than a security company.
Rapunzel approached the desk clerk with a smile. A smile that the man did not reciprocate.
"Hi, I was wondering if I could see the floor layout used to install cameras at Lunar Corporation?" She asked sweetly.
The man gave her a dull stare behind a pair of wire rimmed glasses.
With an annoyed sigh, "You'll have to see our records department on floor two." His voice was bored and monotone which made the entire exchange rather awkward.
Without further instruction, Jack turned a heal, hands deep in his jean pockets, and headed toward the elevator. He wasnt exactly the patient type and he was already annoyed with the fact that the guy acted so rudely to Rapunzel. He wanted to get the information and get out. He pushed the button, waiting for the silver doors as Rapunzel mumbled a 'thank you' before following his lead.
"That was...helpful." She said quietly under her breath.
"Pretty sure any one who works with Lunar are just shitty human beings." He mumbled.
"Jack, that's not true. Some of these people could be very nice and have no idea about Lunar." She replied. He gave her a look just as the elevator 'dinged'.
The chrome door opened and blue eyes stares into the metal box. His legs didnt move, his body grew stiff. Rapunzel walked in, turning toward the door. She tilted her head in confusion. He just stood there like a statue, his heart beat in his ears.
It was all metal. It was a small space with silver metal walls. Everything was so closed in, so tight and narrow that he imagined suffocating before he even took a step in. He could feel the bottom of his shoes begin to ice over. The hands in his pockets created ice fractures along the threads of his jeans. His eyes seemed to brighten and the natural blue faded in the sea of icy sapphire.
"Jack? Jack, what's wrong?"
He barely heard her voice over the pounding in his head. Metal conducted cold. Small tight spaces usually filled with something. Tight metal spaces filled with gas, filled with water, filled with heat. Tight spaces meant letting his lungs lose the capacity to expand, his body trying to find an exit, Ingres trying to find a purchase. It was her warm fingers against his cheek that made his gaze snap to her, his chest rising and falling with each labored breath as if he had woken from a nightmare.
"Jack, close your mouth and breathe in through your nose." His eyes looked back to the elevator before she let the doors close behind her, her hands pulled his face down toward her, "No, look at me, Jack. Breathe in their your nose and out your mouth. Just look at me."
He watched her steady green eyes, his hands grabbed hers and held them to his face. She winced at the sudden cold but didnt pull away. She breathed slowly through her nose and out of her pink lips, allowing him to follow her example. They ignored the looks they got from other, people chose to take the stairs rather than interrupt them. Green stayed on blue, watching each other until he could feel his heart beat slow once more, his body stopped feeling like it was going to implode, his mind had ceased to scream at him.
"Are you okay?" She asked. He looked at her, his hands still holding hers to his cheeks.
"Yeah.." He mumbled, never looking away from her eyes. "What was that?"
"That was a panic attack." She said, "Something about the elevator raised your anxiety to scary levels."
He didnt respond, only looked passed her and at the metal doors.
"Come on, we'll take the stairs." She gave him a reassuring smile.
He reluctantly let her hands go. He gazed down at the, and noticed the pale redness he had caused. Despite the cold he knew burned her fingers, she just smiled and led the way to the staircase. He felt guilt creep into his stomach again, that feeling that kept reminding him to keep her at arms length. He could never keep her warm. She said herself that he was too cold to be normal and she was too warm to be touching someone like him.
Neither said a word until they reached the second floor. It was a little more compact, mostly filled with cubicles and offices behind the main desk. This time it was a woman who sat at the desk, her head set placed over a short brown bob.
"Mr. Fisher, I have St. Mary's Children's Hospital on line one." She said into the mouth piece, her manicured fingers clicking away at her computer. "Thank you for calling Lorex Technology, please hold."
Dark brown eyes looked up at them, "What can I do for you?"
"Oh umm-" Rapunzel stumbled.
"We're here to look at the floor plan that was used at Lunar Corporation." Jack interjected.
She looked them over, "The reason for your visit?"
"We think that you missed a key area of security when installing them." Jack lied. Rapunzel smiled awkwardly in his lie.
She clicked away at her computer, the sound of her nails on the plastic keyboard echoed in the entrance way.
"You going to want to talk to Derek Sullivan. He's the one who took care of Lunar Corp. Head down this main hall and take a right, his office will be the first door on the left." She went back to her last caller, leaving the duo to their directions.
The problem was not finding the office, the problem wasn't even getting an audience with Mr. Sullivan. The problem trying to convince the man that they needed the floor plan without incriminating themselves. They both sat in front of the large mahogany desk, his office was large and decorated with interesting knick-knacks and potted plants. He, himself, was a small round man with a bright red tie on a white pin-stripped shirt. His black hair was combed over to hide his aging, thought the deep set wrinkles in his brow and mouth gave it away.
"I can't give you the floor plan without proper identification." He repeated, looking rather bored with the entire situation. Rapunzels face fell.
"I have my ID from the hospital but I forgot my ID from the Lunar. I thought since they both used the same company and I work for both, I only needed one." She pleaded, trying to sound as pitiful as possible. Se genuinely sucked at lying but she hoped since she really did feel defeated that it sounded rather real.
"I understand but you'll have to come back with the proper ID before I can show you the floor plan." Sullivan repeated, ready to show them out.
Jack narrowed his eyes at the man. He took Rapunzels cell phone from her lap and opened it up. He clicked Hiccups number,
"Oh, we understand. Dr. Black will be very disappointed not having this problem figured out." He said with a straight face though he smirked inside as he lifted the phone to his ear.
The man paled.
"Punz? What are you doing calling me during work?"
"Dr. Black? It's Jack."
"Jack, why are you on Rapunzels phone? Who's Dr. Black?"
"No, we did not. Sullivan refuses to grant Rapunzel access to the layout."
"Is this a schizophrenic episode? Where's Rapunzel?"
"She's right here. Yes, she does have her hospital ID."
"Jack, if you're having a psychotic break down and Rapunzels in trouble, so help me-"
"I don't know if coming here is necessary, Dr. Black."
"Jack! Go bother someone else with your issues."
"Wait!"
Jack and Rapunzel both looked at the man. His eyes were wide and he had started to sweat. He looked like he was being threatened with the devil himself.
"There's no need for any of that. Ill allow access this once but with a warning to bring your ID from Lunar next time around." He stumbled with his keys, trying to get his filing cabinet open as if he was in a race with Jack.
The white haired male smirked, "Never mind, doctor, we came to an understanding."
"I already don't like you."
Click.
Jack handed Rapunzel back her cell phone, smirking mischievously as he watched the man fret over the file. He large shaky hands pulled out a large neatly folded blue print. He unfolded it and laid it out before them. Him and the blonde nurse shared a glance as she placed her wallet back in her purse. They needed to take it but obviously he wasn't going to let them leave with it.
They both stood and looked down at the desk.
Rapunzels green eyes scanned over every white line and 'x' where the cameras were indicated to be. The building was bigger than they thought; two stories with a large basement area. No rooms were specified or labeled. The first floor looked like a large empty area, smaller rooms and offices but nothing big. She flipped the first sheet over and looked under it to the second floor. Now this was interesting. It was a mix of large rooms, each with at least three cameras installed in each and many smaller rooms side by side with one camera in each room. What caught her attention was a large room in the upper corner of the floor. It was shaped like an office but had at least three cameras inside and three directly outside in the hall.
That's what they wanted.
"I...see the problem." She said trying not to sound suspicious.
Jack saw her take her phone, her fingers grasped long ways and pointed it toward the sheet. He gave her a nod. With a flick of his wrist, one of the small plastic dogs on his desk was sent to the floor with an audible crack in the hard wood.
"Oops, sorry about that." Jack said but made no move to grab it.
The man had jumped from the sound, already raddled by the situation itself. It looked like he was searching the nurses face, hoping that there was no problem so he couldn't be blamed. Sullivan gave the boy a glare before walking over to the side of the large desk and picking up the cute Snoopy toy.
Jack watched Rapunzel take several pictures of the floor plan before turning the first blue print over it.
"Well, it seems like Mr. Black forgot to inform you of another camera needed toward the back of the second floor. It was our bad. We will inform him and get back to you this week." Rapunzel gave a polite smile, holding out her hand to him professionally.
The man nodded and gave a relieved smile, shaking her hand in return.
Neither of the impostors said a word as they walked out of the office and toward the stairwell. Even outside of the prying eyes, they didn't take any chances. They walked down the stairs, side by side, never looking back until they were safely in the car.
Both sat in silence, her hands in the wheel and his in his lap.
"He was terrified of that doctor." Her voice broke the silence and he ran a hand through his hair.
"I remembered his smile." He said softly. Her eyes widened.
"From the picture on the website?" She asked.
"I didn't know his name but I saw him once. In the middle of an experiment, he was smiling at me and then everything went dark. I had a feeling that guy was probably as scared of him as I am." He chuckled humorlessly.
Her warm hand found his, holding it as if she were reminding him that she was still there. His eyes met hers, filled with as much distrust and fear as she could bare.
"You don't have to be afraid anymore." Her voice was desperate, pleading with him to hold on a little longer. "I won't let them take you again. We made a pinky promise remember?"
He watched as she brought her other hand around, twisting her her body to face him. Her little pinky was out, waiting for his own. He heard giggling in his head, a tinkle of child like laughter. It echoed in his ears and danced in his memory. He saw brown hair and heard giggling.
"What do those mean?" He asked softly, looking from her finger.
"They mean that breaking my promise would be like breaking my own finger. I never break my promises." She said and gave him one of her soft smiles. The ones that made everything okay.
She had an odd way of doing that. Making everything okay.
He wrapped his pinky around hers, giving her a smile in return as small as it was.
"I know."
She grinned, tear brimming in her eyes, "Lets do something fun okay? We can worry about all that other bad stuff tomorrow."
"What do you have in mind?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.
"So the point is to glide on the ice."
"Yep." She giggled.
"And that's hard?"
She gave him a look, narrowing her eyes at him,
"Hey, skating on ice is not easy for us-"
"Boring people?"
"Normal. I was going to say normal."
He chuckled, looking down at his skates. They were old and rugged, worn around the edged and frayed at the laces. But the narrow blade under his feet were sharp and stable. He looked over at his companion again. She was bundled up in her coat and scarf, her little skates just as worn as his own.
She stood, gloved hands out to balance herself as she tried to make her way to the rink. She stumbled back and forth until he stood and grabbed her elbows. She turned and gave him an awkward smile,
"I guess I'm extra boring." She said with a laugh. He chuckled and smirked, walking them to the entrance.
"Nah, just uncoordinated."
As soon as their skates hit the ice, she grabbed onto him tightly.
"It's okay, I got you." He said.
He looked around at the others on the rink. It was outside but obviously man made. It sat in the middle of the city in a park surrounded by bare trees and autumn leaves. There were a couple kids with parents watching, one other young couple trying to navigate. He looked back at her and grabbed her hands, his back facing the rink while he pulled her forward onto the ice. She watched his feet as he expertly skated backwards, but she could see the ice that grew around the metal of the skates, creating fern like designs on the ice beneath him.
"Wow." She breathed.
He yanked her to him, she squeaked as she flew across the ice and into his chest.
"Shhh, its supposed to be a secret. I'm supposed to be boring." He said, turning them in small circles.
"You? I don't think you could be boring if you tried." She laughed.
He grabbed her hand and moved her so she skated beside him. She held onto his hand as much as her gloved had could. They began to make their way around the ring, dodging people while he showed off his skills. He felt like he was one with the ice, the way he assumed normal people felt with air. He breathed the cold, felt the snow and ice. Each cool breeze was wind beneath his heels. It was amazing.
They wasted time away with laughs and giggles. Even when Rapunzel had gotten too tired, he had taken to showing the kids how to skate, how to keep their balance. Only the blonde on the side lines knew that he prevented them from falling with his abilities. Soon the sun was setting and the children began to filter out, all happy and tired themselves.
He guided his nurse out onto the ice one last time, both had their fill of hit dogs and hit chocolate from the near by vendors. She was blushing from the cold, though he liked to believe it was him.
"Still having fun?" He asked, holding her gloved hands as they made circles and figure-eights in the middle of the ice.
"I'm here with you aren't I?" She said with a laugh.
"Flattery will not stop me from making you skate." He said, spinning her.
She let out a squeal of surprise yet trusted him to make sure she didn't fall. She grabbed onto his midnight blue t-shirt, holding on as he skated them around as if she were a child standing on his feet in a dance. She looked up at him, her blonde hair whipping about in the night breeze. It played at her sense and she let out a small sneeze
"One last trick before we head home?" He whispered to her with a glint of mischief in his eye.
She raised an eyebrow, "One last trick."
"Put your arms around my neck." He instructed, yet his eyes never left hers.
She felt her cheeks grow warm despite the cold. His eyes were so blue. So intense and filled with wonder. She had never met a man so obviously a man yet held such a child like awe of the world. He was so sweet to those children. He cared about them, protected them from the ice and made sure to make them smile. Yet his kindness was there just behind the exterior of a very capable dangerous man. His abilities were dangerous and she had seen them at work.
He placed his large hands on her waist as she slid her arms around his neck.
"Now..." He whispered.
The wind around them picked up, circling their bodies and flowing around them like a soft whirl wind. It played with their hair and the edges of their clothes. Yet they're eyes never left each others.
"Look." He said.
He followed their gaze down and she gasped.
Both if them floated just inches off the ground. Not enough for passerby's to notice but enough for her to feel the air under her heels.
"We're flying." She breathe out, her lips curling into an awe struck smile, her green eyes wide.
"Guess you're not all that boring." He said, yet it was his eyes that found her lips. They were red with the cold, plump and open in such a way that he could not wonder what it tasted like. If she tasted as sweet as she seemed.
Her own eyes met his down cast ones, looking at his own pale lips. They were not full yet held a masculine curve to them. They were usually set in a deep line or a smirk but this time they were slightly open. She knew it was wrong, knew it was out of character for her but she wondered if he tasted of peppermint. He reminded her of the snow, soft yet capable of turning into a storm of destruction. She wondered if his mouth was cold.
He could feel her breath on his lips, his head dipping down slowly as they stayed floating just above the icy surface.
"Rapunzel?"
The blondes eyes opened wide, pulling back out of his arms. They both fell to the ice with a resounding 'clank' of skates and 'oof' as a body hit the hard cold ground.
Jack offered his hand to the girl as she regained her composure. Both sets of eyes turned and met the sight of bright brown ones. A red glove waved at the two from the side lines of the rink.
"Hi, Eugene. Funny seeing you here." She replied, that awkward smile back in place.
A/N: please let me know your thoughts...