A/N Sorry for the wait, thank you to user daydreamingoutloud for their wonderful reviews. If you haven't checked out their story 'Hello Darkness' yet, I definitely recommend it! 10/10

I hope you enjoy!


Putting the finishing touches on her outfit, Villanelle looked in the mirror and tucked her blonde hair expertly into the brown-haired wig. Dressed to resemble a server for the evening's reception, she strode confidently out the door of her hotel. Since arriving two days prior, she had spent every waking moment planning how she would get in and out, and everything in between, and she may have spent more than a few spare minutes imagining seeing Eve again. She didn't exactly know what the Twelve's plan was for the other assassins, but from everything she heard of Eve's conversations, there was someone who wanted the mission to fail which was not going to be good news for Eve.

She checked the tracker on her phone one last time before she walked up to the employee entrance of the hotel event center. She saw Eve was just leaving her hotel now. She couldn't wait to see her again.

Dropping the device on the table beside the metal detector, she smiled at the security guard as she stepped through. He handed her her phone on the other side and she winked slyly before she strolled in and disappeared in the crowd of employees. It was going to be a fun night, she thought to herself.


Eve had spent the last two days in her hotel room in Geneva planning, making calls to some of her personal contacts outside the Twelve's influence, and finalizing her preparations for the events of that evening. She had gotten status updates from Laura every so often, all of them said the mission was still on track which made things easier for Eve.

After close to a month of preparation leading up to this one night, she was anxious but excited for the new beginning it would create for the world.

Dressed up, jewelry, and all, she checked herself in the mirror one last time. Her curls were done up in a bun and she wore an elegant black dress with black heels to match. Grabbing her purse she headed out the door. She wished Villanelle could have been there with her, but keeping her going was the thought that this mission needed to be kept on track to ensure that her assassin hadn't died in vain.

On the car ride over to the reception, her phone flashed with a text from Laura.

'Inside, mission go'

She didn't need to respond and instead put her phone away and let her mind relax in the final moments before exposing herself to the chaos the evening was sure to bring.

Walking up to the guest entrance of the grande hotel lobby, she flashed her false ID and walked through the metal detector and past the bomb-sniffing dogs.

The world leaders had the first of many of their conferences in the afternoon and this evening was a dinner and reception. Immediately upon walking into the room she assessed where the exits were located, where the targets were seated, and the overall security. Laura had informed her they were there and prepared to take out their targets, now it was only a matter of time. Eve herself was there just as a precautionary measure to ensure nothing detrimental got in the way, and she had a backup plan to be used as an absolute last resort fall back if the assets failed.

There were to be a few speeches at the beginning of the event given by various leaders for political show, and the rest of the time would just be mingling, dining, and drinking, and of course, for Eve it would entail keeping an eye on the operation.

During the speech portion, she sat quietly at a table near the back with a pair of Swiss politicians. Eve kept her eyes out for the assets amongst the staff and mostly ignored the speakers and other guests.

After the main speeches were given, the room became filled with the low rumblings of conversation. She kept herself vigilant as servers began bringing around refreshment refills and additional trays of food.


Villanelle saw Eve immediately. She couldn't miss her strutting in that stunning dress, even though her boss was clearly trying to blend in. Eve had no hope of blending in, in Villanelle's eyes, she was too jaw-droppingly gorgeous. As much as she wanted to head straight for her, she had to keep her head down and at least pretend to work a little bit during the speeches. After they were done and she was instructed to bring drinks out to the tables, she grabbed a tray, some glasses, a bottle of champagne, and strolled out around the room anxious for the moment she could get closer to Eve again. She noticed the other two assets and avoided them with ease. It wasn't as if they would recognize her anyway, they had spent so little time together and she was in a disguise. Laura was another story though, she no doubt would still recognize her, so she stayed far from the table where the targets were seated for the time being.


Eve noticed Laura first. She was in a dark blue dress, a look very unlike her usual attire, but the situation demanded it. Laura was sporting a blonde wig and very flashy jewelry, but Eve could still identify her from across the room. It was just part of having worked with her for so long. Seats were not assigned and the bodyguard had apparently maneuvered her way expertly into a conversation with the British Prime Minister.

Eve kept her gaze moving, not lingering on Laura for too long. A few minutes passed by before she spotted Xenon and Keres. Xenon was dressed as a server bringing trays of plates to and from the tables on the opposite side of the hall, while Keres was walking around pouring drinks to the various tables.

Again Eve didn't linger too much on them allowing her gaze to fall to the table in front of her as she took a sip of wine. She maintained an interspersed conversation with the table as she carefully watched her assets at work. She kept the subjects light, but noting the British accent she had put on for the evening, the Swiss were curious in her standing on the British Prime Minister, who was seated on the other half of the room next to the American president. She smiled at the question, but her smile faltered slightly when was interrupted by a server offering to top off her empty wine glass.

"More wine, ma'am?" The server spoke with a heavy, almost flawless, german accent. Eve didn't turn around and instead just nodded, her attention focused on the people in front of her.

"The Prime Minister is excellent, of course," She responded to the Swiss as she passed her glass slowly over her shoulder to the server, their fingers grazing each other gently. The glass was returned to the table a moment later.

"I'll take a beer, the most expensive one you have," A man walked up and spoke pointedly to the server who nodded and stalked off, grumbling inaudibly to herself. Eve looked up at him, doing her very best to hide her shock. "Is this seat taken?" Eve rolled her eyes.

"Quinton," Eve spoke curtly and he smiled wickedly at her as he sat down next to her.

"Eve," He mirrored her.

Eve took a drink of her wine, but her tastebuds were met with a bubbly champagne that she was not expecting. She almost choked and whipped her head around after the server, but she was gone. She set the glass back on the table upsettedly. "What are you doing here?"

He eyed her venomously, but his tone was light. "I could ask you the same thing,"

She crossed her arms and glared at him with distrustful eyes, thankful that the Swiss had decided to mingle with some other people leaving them alone. "I am here making sure everything goes according to plan,"

"Even though you handed it over officially to Konstantin? I don't see him anywhere," He glanced around the room quickly then focused back in on her.

"As he should not be," Eve retorted. There was only one reason Quinton was there tonight, she knew that now. He had to be the one behind everything, otherwise, why would he be here. Eve let her eyes gaze over the rest of the room, she took note of each of the asset's positions before meeting Quinton's piercing eyes again. "You cannot stop this mission from happening,"

His expression remained unchanged. "I know you've been lying to the council about what happened to our asset,"

Eve narrowed her eyes at him. "I don't know what you mean, I told you she didn't make it," She hid her feelings as best as she could, not giving him any fuel to unravel her with.

"Oh Eve," He sighed dramatically and leaned close to her menacingly. "You will let this mission fail, call off our assets now,"

"I will do no such thing," Eve hissed defiantly. "You think I am stupid enough to bank this mission on three assets that we both know are not the best?" She laughed humorlessly and he just looked at her waiting for her to continue. "Oh no, Quinton, I have a backup in place, and if you're not careful and you get in their way, so help me, everyone in a 200-meter radius will be nothing more than a burning pile of ashes by the end of the night,"

"If you don't do as I say, or if you alert anyone else that we had this discussion, you will be more sorry than you could ever imagine," He growled before he stood and walked away.

"You will be the sorry one," She said after him.

She knew he wasn't bluffing, but she had no idea what he was going to do, and that made him dangerous. She couldn't call it off now though, not since they were that close. Sighing and sinking back into her seat, she needed a drink.

"Can I get you anything, ma'am?" The same server as before, with the german accent, asked from behind her.

She turned around, glass in hand prepared to give it back, still processing everything Quinton had said. "This is champagne, I asked for...wine," She almost dropped the glass, but the server's hand met hers and took the glass from her, setting it down gently on the tray she was holding strongly with her non-broken arm. Eve was shaking. She looked the other woman up and down slowly. There was no mistake. It was her; broken arm, frosty eyes, and all. Even though she wasn't dressed to the nines and she was wearing a brown-haired wig, Eve saw right through her disguise.

The tall woman locked eyes with her but maintained her character. "Are you alright ma'am? I can bring you a new glass, I won't be but a moment," Her german accent did not hide the tone of her voice well, Eve clearly had not been paying attention earlier. Eve couldn't believe who she was looking at. She turned around quickly, eyes searching the room for Quinton. Their eyes met, and he flashed her a menacing smirk. Her heartbeat quickened and she snapped her head around back to Villanelle who was smiling softly at her, her grey eyes bright and happy seeming. A mixture of anger and relief and sadness all swirled around inside Eve's head.

"No, thank you, that won't be necessary," Eve stood slowly, still in disbelief. "Could you point me to the bathroom?"

Villanelle smirked and nodded happily. "Right this way,"

"No," Eve stopped her and glanced back at Quinton who was still watching them. "I'm sure I can find it myself, just point me in the right direction," She spoke curtly, trying not to lose her control right then and there. She knew Villanelle could take care of herself if she was in the best condition, but Eve knew she still wasn't, and she had no idea what Quinton had in mind for Villanelle if she didn't comply with his conditions.

The assassin gave her a sad and confused look but lifted her arm in the direction of a door that Eve already knew led to a side hallway. Eve nodded in thanks and started off walking away, hating that she was doing that and not dragging the assassin with her.

"Eve, wait," Villanelle dropped her german accent, letting the hints of Russian bleed through. She was so confused. Why was Eve reacting this way?! This wasn't what she expected. "Eve, it's me!"

"I have no words for you right now," Eve snarled as she turned on her heels to face her, her eyes betraying her true feelings of elation. "Three doors down the hall on the right. Five minutes. Do not let him see you leave," Eve said quickly and quietly before she turned again and stormed off and out of the room.

Villanelle nodded and let her walk away.


Five Minutes Later:

I can't believe you!" Eve hissed the moment Villanelle opened and shut the door behind her, sealing them inside the small janitorial closet.

"I missed you too," Villanelle said letting her head fall a little, disappointed in Eve's response.

Eve glared over her shoulder at the blonde, restrained tears brimming in her eyes. "I hate you!"

Villanelle smiled and opened her arms invitingly. Eve reluctantly turned and hugged her. "I did miss you," Eve couldn't stop her voice from breaking as she buried her face in her assassin's shoulder.

"I know, you did," Villanelle couldn't help herself. She held Eve tightly with her good arm. "You cry a lot for someone so powerful,"

Eve pushed herself away from the blonde. "What?!"

Villanelle brought her hand gently to Eve's cheek, then traced down her neck stopping at the red necklace. "This came in very handy,"

"You bitch!" Eve snapped stepping away from her. "You know what you put me through and you still didn't come back?! Where the fuck were you!?"

"I did come back, I'm right here, Eve," Villanelle cocked her head to the side.

"Took you long enough," Eve growled.

Villanelle looked away. "Yeah, it took longer without flying, but I did come back. I left for you and I came back for you,"

Eve crossed her arms and stared the other woman down. She saw the sincerity in her eyes though and relaxed a bit. "Explain,"

"Come on Eve," Villanelle scoffed. "You told the rest of the council I was dead, what would they have done if they found out you lied? And now with everything that happened, I decided you'd be safer with me around," She paused and brought her hand back to Eve's cheek, caressing her gently. "Believe me, I would have rather been with you, or better yet, I would have rather you been with me. The cruise would have been much more fun with you there,"

"You went on a fucking cruise while I was...you know what, no, not now. I have a mission to oversee," Eve changed the subject.

Villanelle nodded and began removing her server's garments.

Eve watched her wide-eyed. "Now is not the time for this, and certainly won't make me less upset right now,"

"I know," Villanelle said as she struggled to get her shirt over her arm.

Eve rolled her eyes. "Let me help," She helped the assassin out of the shirt, careful not to hurt her. Underneath she was wearing a brilliantly red colored blouse that went well with the pants she had already been wearing. "Wow,"

Villanelle smirked. "No time to admire, Eve, we have to go. Turn around real fast,"

Eve did as she was told and was surprised to feel the necklace slip from her neck, causing her to turn again. "Hey!"

"What?! It matches my shirt!" Villanelle defended. "Plus, it is mine anyway,"

Eve rolled her eyes again. "Gods you are annoying, and I did miss this,"

Villanelle beamed at her. "Could you put it on me though?"

"Ugh, fine, but then we really have to go," Eve made quick work of it, then grabbed Villanelle carefully by the arm and led her out of the closet and down the hall back to the main room.

"So what is your plan being here?" Eve asked quietly after they found an empty table near the back to sit at, carefully watching out for Quinton, but she couldn't spot him in the crowd of people. She stopped a passing waitress and grabbed a champagne glass for Villanelle and another wine glass for herself, she desperately needed a drink.

"I already said, I am here to help you," Villanelle said as she surveyed the rest of the room. "I wasn't sure these amateurs would be able to finish the mission for you,"

"Give them some credit, they aren't that bad, and I thought you were still fond of Laura," Eve took a sip of her wine.

"Fond is a strong word don't you think?" Villanelle glanced over at Eve. "She is okay, but she never looked at me like you do,"

"Don't go all sappy on me now," Eve warned. "She was broken up about you too, you know,"

Villanelle eyed her curiously. "Of course she was, I am a wonderful person,"

"Right you are," Eve scoffed. "Speaking of Laura, eleven o'clock,"

Looking over in that direction, Villanelle spotted Laura sitting near the British PM, laughing and apparently in deep conversation with him. "So what is the plan?"

"Laura has the PM, Xenon has the Russian, and Keres has the American," Eve explained.

"Wow sounds so cool, wish I was them," Villanelle said sarcastically.

"Aren't you though? I mean isn't that what you're really doing here? What was your plan?" Eve eyed her curiously.

The assassin shrugged. "I admit it, I didn't come here just to see you,"

"So what was your plan then?" Eve pressed further while scanning the room for Quinton.

"To see which of your people is going to screw it up, and eventually take out all three targets for you," she said off-handedly.

Eve scoffed at her. "You really are so full of yourself,"

Villanelle smirked. "You, Eve, are the one who said I was the best over and over again. If you didn't want it to go to my head, you should have thought about that,"

Eve rolled her eyes. "Oh please, you were like this before we even met," She let her eyes stop when she found Quinton sitting at a table with several other people on the other side of the room.

"Probably," The assassin shrugged as she followed Eve's gaze. "Who is that?"

"Someone who should not be here," Eve stated seriously.

"You are not supposed to be here," Villanelle added.

Eve ignored that comment. "That's number eight, or six now I guess," She explained.

"The one from Greece?" Villanelle narrowed her eyes at him. He was on the far side of the room still chatting it up with the people he was seated with.

Eve sighed, "The same. As long as he doesn't cause any immediate trouble I will deal with him later, but he is bound to interfere,"

Villanelle shrugged and drank her champagne. "So who's first?"

"All of the targets are staying in this hotel. We have intel suggesting the Russian and the American intend to have a sidebar from the main event this evening in one of the conference rooms. The timing on that is not exact, but Keres and Xenon are on top of it,"

"And Laura?" Villanelle asked with hints of concern amongst her curiosity that made Eve tear her eyes away from the room in front of her.

"Yes, unfortunately, she has a more difficult job. I didn't intend it to be that way, but it is what happened," Eve put a hand on Villanelle's shoulder. "She'll be fine, she has been talking him up all night, but if she isn't I have a backup plan to keep it all on track,"

They sat in silence and watched the scene play out before them as people started to leave, and the presidents of America and Russia proceeded to stand and head toward one of the side doors. They watched Keres and Xenon take note and as inconspicuous as possible, they followed behind. "Now we wait, for Laura to ask the Prime Minister to step out with her,"

They keep an eye on Laura until they see her finally exit the room with her target.

"Great, we are done here," Eve leaned back in her seat and drained the last of the wine from her glass.

"That was anticlimactic," Villanelle said boredly.

"As it needed to be," Eve stated.

"So what now?" The assassin asked, gazing deep into Eve's eyes.

"We leave, and we prepare for the next phase," Eve answered, never letting her eyes leave the blonde's. She stood to leave and offered Villanelle her arm, as she quickly scanned the room to make sure Quinton hadn't seen them get up.

"And what about us?" Villanelle dared to ask after a few moments of silence as they walked toward the exit in the direction Xenon and Keres had gone.

"Vill," Eve sighed once they were outside the main room and in a less busy hallway. "I don't know right now, I have to…" Villanelle wasn't sure what she had been expecting to hear, but she'd have to wait to find out. Eve trailed off when she saw Xenon hurriedly shutting the door to the conference room. They both just stared at him for a moment. He was disheveled with blood splattered all over him.

"This is why I am here," Villanelle said, smugly looking over at Eve who just sighed.

A/N Thanks for reading!