Chapter 9: The Way Back
Alex was not an idiot, impulsive yes, idiot no. He knew full well what Ian had done. Surprisingly, he wasn't even upset with the man. Alex decided it was because he cared more about Ian than some random criminal and his minions. He hadn't said anything as Ian went to shower. Alex washed the blood and soot off of him in the sink. Yassen was probably gone now- the feeling of being watched was, plus he wouldn't risk being near that many agents. Alex had gathered from what Ian said that an extraction of some sort was being sent. He was glad they would have to be quiet during the flight and helicopter ride. It would give him time to figure out a subtle way of telling Ian he knew what the man had done and was completely ok with it.
With both of them finished, the helicopter arrived. Alex knew this version of the trip was divergent from his last timeline. Originally, he had gone nowhere near the jungle. He supposed they would be dropped off as tourists at a helicopter ride checkpoint, stay at their hotels for a night, and be on the next plane back. The man driving the helicopter had been shouting him odd looks and so had the agent, who was definitely a younger Crawley, complete with the same forgettable face. He tried hard not to glare them down. SCORPIA operatives would have known better than to stare. As much as Alex hated to admit it, he did sometimes miss Malagasto. The classes all had a purpose and were generally interesting; the people didn't stare awkwardly; the people in charge didn't care if you maimed someone, so long as you showed up for class. He decided to quit reminiscing before something gave him away.
John Crawley was puzzled. Ian Rider was usually a rational man, but he had brought his nephew on a dangerous assassination that involved sneaking through a jungle most trained operatives would be shot in. He decided that he was going to closely examine that nephew of his. The kid moved far too quietly for his age, didn't ask one question, and didn't actually speak at all. He was also glaring down the obviously staring pilot and actually managed to look slightly threatening, before an expression of what looked like longing was quickly worn and shed for an emotionless mask. He knew that wasn't developmentally normal, but then that entire family wasn't really normal either. Whatever was going on with those two, he was sure Agent Rider would be handling it fine.
The helicopter landed at a tourist pad, as Alex expected. The sign read: Dream Tours: Jungle Helicopter Flights. Alex supposed it was probably one of those subcontractors that Jones had mentioned, like where Ian's car went. He hoped that these guys had less sloppy cover up work. On second thought, Blunt could have deliberately arranged things like that on purpose. Alex decided he would probably never know the whole truth about the events around his original recruitment, especially since he was NOT getting recruited this time around. He may never lead a normal life, but he wasn't going to join any organization. He would have to brush up his computer and other skills though. His plan so far involved anonymous emails and training with Ian and by himself- he refused to rely completely on another human being ever again.
After the helicopter left, Ian decided to have Alex show him the circuit he had run that morning at the hotel. Alex looked almost reluctant for a minute, but soon relented. As they ran towards the hotel, Ian was impressed by the stamina, but not so impressed he failed to notice that the run cut through some of the most dangerous parts of town. Was Alex trying to give him grey hair? When the neighborhood got ridiculously menacing, even by his standards he knew he was going to have a talk with Alex. There was no excuse for going to these kinds of places without him. It was very clear that Alex had little regard for his own safety, considering he knew for a fact Alex could have avoided this neighborhood if he had wanted to. Instead he cut through it.
Meanwhile, Alex was focused on running and keeping up with Ian. He also knew he should have picked a safer route by himself, but he had been bored and wanted to see all the areas of town (and maybe the opportunity for something interesting if Ian left him behind). Based on his uncle's expression, he was in trouble the minute they got home. Ian wouldn't risk blowing his cover to lecture him on safety, would he? He hoped he would think of something better than the fact he was bored by the time they got home or he would be in hot water.
Ian Rider was not the kind of man who got really angry, most of the time. Controlling yourself was important in his line of work. Now though, he knew he would have to wait until they got home so he could reprimand Alex appropriately- he wasn't sure what he could really do to punish punish him anyway. Alex didn't really seem to like much of anything anymore, except him, Starbright, and play dates with Harris. He knew for a fact that Tom Harris' parents were entirely unsuitable for raising children and was not about to deny the kid some sort of sanctuary, nor was he about to fire Starbright- he had barely been able to find anyone who was the right mix of competent and oblivious to things they didn't want to see.
Alex could hardly help the dread that began to creep into his mind. He didn't regret his actions, but he wished that Ian wasn't so put out by them. He was over needing the man's approval, but he still wanted a relationship with him. Alex had also decided to intercept the calls the school sent to the house. He didn't want Ian to find out about anything abnormal with his 'social development'. He had one real friend at school and that was plenty. Alex was sure it was a section on their school reports during primary school at least. He sure as hell didn't want to get sent to therapy with the school counselor. He was sure he couldn't trust one of those after the failure he had gone to as therapy with the Pleasures.
He decided to keep quiet and enjoy the calm for the coming storm. Alex knew he wasn't going to get away with risk-taking like he had for long. He hoped that Ian wouldn't take it too hard. Alex knew that hanging with Tom was always an option, but it wouldn't be the same as having someone in the know around. When he took in Ian's expression during dinner, Alex decided he was going to use the avoidance method and leave another note in the morning- he would pack tonight.
Since he finished dinner first, Alex all but ran upstairs. While he was alone, he searched Ian's items for the compartment that would be for storing the knives. The case turned out to look like it was for fancy pens of some sort. When he opened it, there was clearly an area for knives. Alex felt naked without the knife. He had grown used to its weight. He placed the case back where he had found it and smiled. Good old Smithers had never let him down, apparently he was there for a while then. Alex decided to shower and go to bed. He found himself checking his reflection again. The same eyes and the goddamn poppy on his arm. The rest of him looked tan and ridiculously young. He really was ten. Alex, as usual, slept like the dead.
Ian Rider went upstairs to find his nephew already asleep. He wasn't surprised; after all it had been a long and tiring two weeks. He could also appreciate a good avoidance as well as any spy. Ian was now equally amused and frustrated with his nephew. Should he reward the ability to avoid him like the plague (a good skill for avoiding bosses or unpleasant people in general) or punish the earlier lack of caution? He seriously had no idea how to raise a kid, but he liked to think of Alex as his best accomplishment. Every time Alex managed to pull of things his partners would have failed at, he failed miserably at quashing both the pride and amusement. Alex was pretty much his one attachment in the entire world. Who wouldn't love the child they had raised from the age of one? Ian decide he was getting sentimental in his old age and to go to sleep before he started melting into goo.
When Ian Rider woke the next morning to an empty hotel room complete with Alex's packed suitcase, he knew that he was going to murder his nephew if he survived that morning run of his. More like morning suicide run, with the part of the town that was clearly owned by cartels. He decided to pack the rest of his things before he went down to breakfast. When he opened the knife case, he noticed Alex had cleaned the knife and replaced it in the case. The gun was disposed of already.
Ian decided to shave as well. He removed his dark blue button-down and peeled off the ballistics fabric (disguised as an undershirt), making a mental note to find a way to get Alex some, and drew the knife along his face and neck after using the shaving cream. Someday, he would teach Alex to shave like this. He examined his chest and back, checking for bruising and light knife wounds along his upper arms. Even with the scars along his back and chest, he would still be appealing to a good many people. The muscled tightness of his chest would only add to his appeal. He could have been sculpted as an athlete. Not that he cared about attracting people, his primary concern was that all the injuries were primarily cosmetic; scar tissue in the wrong places would restrict his movement. After deciding that he was perfectly fine, he went downstairs for breakfast.
When Alex Rider left for his run, he felt somewhat guilty for breaking his promise. He passed through the hotel room for one of the final times. He felt the faint urge to check for bugs that he supposed was left over from his past life and Ian's lessons. He took in the curtains that were doubled over the window, walked past a sleeping Ian on the full-size, and left past the bar area that was made of some sort of hardwood. As he closed the door and locked it behind him, he was careful to not make a single sound.
Having seen the more hazardous parts of the city on his last observatory run, he endeavored to avoid them. He was many things, but suicidal was not very high on the list (despite what everyone else said). Alex simply needed the time alone; he was no longer used to having constant company for days on end (especially the observant kind). He really did like running, though he suspected it was because of some of those missions. Frankly, he wasn't used to being a kid anymore, even at the Pleasures' he had had a high level of personal autonomy. He hoped whatever Ian came up with wasn't too horrible- the man got creative with punishments. Alex completed his circuit and literally walked into his uncle, who was heading back to the breakfast area. The man was freshly shaven and wearing cologne. Aside from the tenseness between his shoulders, you wouldn't be able to tell the man was angry- his face was blank. They both sat at the nearest table.
"Sorry for running into you, Ian". Alex could barely keep from cringing at the flash in the man's eyes. Ian's tone was surprisingly neutral. "That wasn't what I was angry about, Alex, which you know full well. You left for a run. You didn't tell me. You didn't even leave a note." Alex sighed. "I avoided the worst parts of town, this time." Ian kept his tone low, but practically growled. "That isn't the point, Alex. We'll finish this discussion when we get home." The silverware of both places was put down with slightly more force than necessary. The cab and plane ride were passed in a tense silence. Both men were furious, but for different reasons. They fumed on the ride home.
Alex was annoyed with Ian for attempting to take away his freedom to run where he pleased and he wished the man was more cautious. Even now, he could see the man's carelessness leading to his demise. He was angry with Death for sending him back with a sorry excuse for an explanation and a flower tattoo to guide him. His resentment of his classmates practically burned white-hot every time he had to interact with them. Alex was furious at Blunt and SCORPIA for putting him in this position. He was also angry at himself for being unable to go wherever normal dead people went and accepting this deal in the first place. He knew he would never have a normal life, but now he couldn't even have a normal death.
Ian Rider was equally frustrated with his own position in life. He was afraid for Alex and his new position in life combined with his seeming lack of caution. He was strongly resenting his boss for the man's own callousness and lack of regard for human life, even that of his own agents. Ian had not missed the scrutiny of his fellow agents and was annoyed with them for being unable to withhold their judgement. How he brought up Alex was his business and no one else's. He was angry with himself for not spotting the changes in his nephew and not being able to have a sure decision involving anything with him. He knew he was allowing his emotions to cloud his judgment where Alex was concerned. He hated that he no longer cared what he had to do as long as Alex was safe. Most of all, he knew that one day the house of cards he had built would come crashing down and that it would probably be Alex who had to clean up the mess. The next conversation would not be very pleasant on either end.
