Felix oohs-and-ahhs over the first class seats for probably a good five minutes, awed by the individual sleeping cots and personal monitors. "This must have cost a fucking fortune," he whispers, acutely aware of his bourgeois giddiness as the 7 other first class passengers take their seats.

It did, but Wolfgang only smiles and shrugs. "May as well be comfortable," he says. "You sure you're gonna be ok?" Wolfgang is sitting in the business class; he was only allowed inside to assist Felix.

Felix gives him a shit-eating grin and kicks back with an exaggerated stretch. Wolfgang just chuckles. "Come visit the commoners in business class if you get bored or lonely," he says, patting Felix on the shoulder as he gets up to take his own seat.

"Not me. I'm sleeping until Mumbai."

Wolfgang only smiles. It's 5:40 AM and he's exhausted too, having left Kala less than an hour ago. She was sleeping deeply and hadn't stirred once since falling asleep in his arms. He'd only woken up because the alarm on his smartphone was making an annoying high-pitched sound that dragged him awake in Berlin. Felix was already dressed.

Business class isn't particularly crowded; Wolfgang has the row to himself and sits in the aisle seat, although he's joined by Capheus as the plane takes off, surprising Wolfgang. Of all the Cluster, Wolfgang knows the least about Capheus, although Kala is close to him. The only commonality is in their questionable "business ventures".

"I love to fly," Capheus says, looking out the window and flashing a grin at Wolfgang. "Usually, I'm driving my matatu on the same route, down the same streets, or, like today, taking Amondi to her doctors. All on the ground. So earth-bound. But one day I will fly."

Wolfgang smiles back. "I'm sure you will," he says.

Capheus leans forward. He watches the city disappear under the clouds as he continues: "Nomi asked me to tell you what she's found, and she thought Kala was so tired you might not know about Goa."

"Goa?" repeats Wolfgang.

Capheus tells him about Riley's friend: that Whispers and his men are in a hotel not far from where Kala is staying, and Nomi has not been able to hack into government servers to get Kala visas. "Nomi wants more than one or two countries; she needs to keep Whispers guessing where Kala will be, but she was almost caught herself just the other day, and is staying in a friend's flat. She says she has to start over again."

Wolfgang nods grimly. In the drama surrounding Kala and himself, he almost forgets that the others are in tenuous positions as well.

"And today," says Capheus, "Nomi found out we have yet another problem: Last night, Kala was added to a watch list so she can't fly out of India; Kala doesn't know yet. Nomi will need to take care of that too."

"Scheisse."

Wolfgang looks over at Capheus and frowns. "I think if we need it we can get some help in Mumbai," he says cautiously. "And maybe some help against BPO itself."

Capheus looks at him curiously before the thought occurs to him: "Your family?" he asks.

Wolfgang nods. "Yes. They know people interested in stopping the hunters. My aunt is meeting with them. Along with Viktor. They will tell me afterward."

Capheus is curious, but feels Wolfgang's reluctance to say more. He nods. "Good."

They sit in silence for a few moments, Capheus watching the clouds before he speaks again, his tone thoughtful. "Are you afraid at all?"

Wolfgang tilts his head, his brows furrowed. "Of BPO?"

Capheus shrugs, gestures. "I guess...All of this."

Wolfgang leans back against his seat, looks past Capheus to the sky beyond. "Not for me," he says quietly.

Capheus smiles a little. "Me as well," he agrees. He sighs and shakes his head. "One day, we will have no enemies."

Wolfgang chuckles softly. "Because we will crush them, see them driven before us."

"And hear the lamentations of their women," finishes Capheus.

Wolfgang grins."You know that movie?" he asks.

Capheus smiles. "Arnold is my second favorite actor."

Wolfgang chuckles, feeling suddenly lighter. "You should meet Felix," he says, sharing memories; a childhood survived together.

Capheus' grin gets impossibly wider. "He's like Jela," he says. Wolfgang sees a thinner man, eager, loyal: He would die for Capheus. And Wolfgang gives a soft smile. "Yes. Just like that."

Capheus nods, pleased. "It's good to have friends like that," he says. "And now, there are 7 more. Just like that. Just like Jela. Just like Felix."

"Yes." But none quite like Felix, thinks Wolfgang; and Capheus looks back at him as if he had said so aloud...and smiles. None quite like Jela, either.

…

The plane lands in Munich for a brief layover, and Wolfgang and Felix get off the plane to walk around before the long leg of their flight begins. Wolfgang asks Felix to stay in Mumbai and watch Kala's family until they know Whispers is gone: He tells Felix that he's going with Kala to Goa until Nomi can arrange for them all to leave the country; Whispers is in a nearby hotel. Felix agrees reluctantly. "But if there's any sign of trouble for you, I'm coming to Goa." It's a statement more than a question.

"Of course."

They head back to the terminal, reboarding before the new passengers in Munich. Wolfgang walks Felix back to his seat before returning to his own.

He finds he's no longer alone in his row: A woman carrying a laptop and tote arrives to sit in the window seat. Wolfgang gives a polite nod as she moves past him; he settles back and closes his eyes, feigns sleep as he visits with Riley to get information about her friend and the commune in Goa.

He doesn't visit long because the flight attendant talks to him, asks him what he chooses for lunch. Wolfgang makes a perfunctory selection, annoyed and a little disoriented by the abrupt interruption. The woman next to him orders the same thing, and when the flight attendant moves on, she leans over and tells him she's starving and skipped breakfast to make the flight. She's talkative and engages him through lunch while she works, despite his abbreviated answers. Wolfgang eventually makes his excuses and extends his seat to a near horizontal position to nap.

It's not a ruse: Wolfgang sleeps through the rest of the flight, waking after supper is already served. The flight attendant asks him if he'd still like to eat. He nods, surprised that he's actually hungry. He stretches and his neighbor tells him she tried to wake him but he didn't stir.

"I think she's flirting with you, Mera Pyaara."

Wolfgang smiles sleepily at Kala, sitting to the other side of him in the aisle. "She's not," he murmurs discreetly to her, turning his back against the woman and stretching his arm out to brush his fingers against Kala's cheek.

Kala arches an eyebrow but turns her face into his hand. He's in her hotel room where she's sitting in a chair facing the window, her legs curled under her. "I heard about Riley's friend; that we'll need to stay in Goa for awhile," he says, waves away her apologies for forgetting. "It's ok, Schatz. How have you been?"

She sighs, looks out at the city lights. "Anxious," she admits. "I haven't left the hotel. I've eaten in my room. The only thing I've done all day is buy a bathing suit in one of the shops and go for a swim in the pool." She smiles a little at him, and he realizes that doing so is unusual for her; that swimming has never before been soothing. "I wish I knew what was happening with my family."

"When I land I'll call the Tatar," he tells her, stroking her hair. "Soon." She nods her head as he's pulled away again by the flight attendant who delivers his late dinner.

. . .

When the plane lands, Felix is already waiting for him, smiling widely. "I can't believe we're actually here!" he says. "This is fucking awesome!"

Wolfgang grins back, steers them both to Customs and Immigration. Felix slept through most of the flight, although he was awake enough to talk to the man sitting across from him and to flirt with the flight attendant. Felix's conversation is interspersed by periodic bursts of appreciation for the stunning architecture of the Mumbai airport.

Wolfgang turns his smartphone on but doesn't see any messages from Viktor or Tyotya Anna. Instead, as he arrives at the baggage claim, he spots a large man in a suit who heads purposefully towards them.

"Welcome back to Mumbai," says Yeruslan.

…

Kala is waiting for him - for them- when they arrive at the hotel. Wolfgang can feel her as he stands at registration, directing the porter to take up the luggage to Felix's room. Felix has just finished checking in.

Wolfgang looks around quickly, a little panicked, makes sure no one of concern is in the lobby. When he turns back, he sees her greeting Felix with a warm hug. Wolfgang holds on to his duffel and waits for the porter to leave before he walks to where Felix and Kala stand, a little off to the side of the registration desk.

It doesn't matter how often they visit: Wolfgang doesn't think he'll ever truly get used to seeing Kala in person. She is much more vivid in real life; and until that moment he hasn't acknowledged how terrified he's truly been for her. He knows he's glowering fiercely, even when she sees him and lights up even brighter, but she's everything to him, and the weight of that feeling both terrifies and elates him.

Wolfgang stops just in front of her and can't seem to think of what to say first. But Kala smiles, touches his face and says his name with a hint of laughter- she is so happy to see him, and it's so typical that he only scowls back - that his lips quirk, a faint smile escapes.

"Schatz," he sighs. He bends down to kiss her gently, pulls back to touch their foreheads together and return her hug.

"Let's go settle Felix in," Wolfgang suggests, one arm around Kala, the other carrying his duffel bag.

Felix gives an indignant huff. "I'm not helpless," he complains."You two go on." He looks meaningfully at Wolfgang. "My things?"

"In here." Wolfgang holds up the duffel. "I'll bring them in the morning." Felix nods, walks with them to the elevator where they speak quietly in German, tell her that they've seen Yeruslan, and Whispers hasn't returned. Felix tells her that he's going to personally keep an eye on her family and let her know how they are. No one mentions Goa. Felix gets off on the floor just below them.

Kala rests her head lightly on Wolfgang's shoulder, holds his free hand. It feels like Berlin, like Mumbai on their Flitterwochen: the touching, the anticipation, the indescribable feeling of being physically together again.

Kala leads him to the suite near the end of the hall. There's a patience about her that Wolfgang finds a little puzzling when all he can think about is what they'll do when they walk into the room, but she turns her head and fixes him with a look and he gapes after her.

She swipes her keycard and opens the door to their suite. It's dimly lit and smells of fresh roses, but if their room had been a tired old Scheissloch stinking of dung, Wolfgang never would have noticed. He's mesmerized by dark brown eyes that look up at him with an expression so soft that his mind stutters over itself. He puts the duffel down carefully by the door and reaches for Kala, his body humming with the physical contact. He buries a hand in Kala's hair, tilts her head up and kisses her fiercely.

...

Kala lies on top of Wolfgang and feels him plant a kiss on her forehead. She laughs a little when she thinks how desperate the lovemaking has been, but suddenly sobers, raises herself on Wolfgang's chest, traces his jaw. "I know it is selfish of me," she says quietly. "But I'm so glad you're here, Mera Jaan."

He can sense her guilt and her relief; he holds her tightly, coasts his hands down her back. "I know," he says, his eyes smile at her. "But you couldn't keep me away, Schatz."

She gives him a faint smile. "When do we leave for Goa?"

"Tomorrow." He looks over at the clock on the nightstand, amends: "In a few hours."

She closes her eyes and rests her head back on his chest. "I'm glad you're really here," she repeats.

"Me too." He kisses the top of her head again, runs a lazy hand over her hips and bottom.

In the daylight, he'll give Felix his weapon, divvy up the ammo Yeruslan gave them, help Kala pack up what little she's unpacked since yesterday. Although he hadn't visited long, Riley shared her memory of Goa, arriving by bus, but Wolfgang suspects Kala has her own ideas on how to reach Jude.

Then he'll tell her about Tyotya Anna.

He closes his eyes and sleeps.

A/N: There are edits to this chapter, but they don't impact the story.

If you haven't seen them, check out the bts pics of Season 2; they provide much-needed inspiration :-) Thank you for reading! As always, reviews are much appreciated!