Nikita woke to music blasting from the livingroom. It was somewhat muffled through the walls, which was probably how Michael was able to ignore it and keep sleeping. But she couldn't get back to sleep. She had been tossing and turning anyway. The images that plagued her mind weren't quite nightmares, yet they weren't peaceful either. She needed to wake up and move around, focus on other things. Discovering the source of the music was her best option. She wasn't at all surprised to find Alex responsible. She was dancing and humming along to whatever she was listening to while she ate her cereal. The rogue couldn't help but smile as she descended the stairs. The young woman's delight was cute and contagious. How she was dancing and the words she mouthed around her breakfast was confusing, though, "What is happening?"
"Come on. Our missions are complete, our pardons are on their way, and our futures are set. We're allowed to celebrate," Excitedly mumbling through a mouthful of cereal, Alex continued to dance around. Milk spilled out of her mouth, and she had to stop to awkwardly clean it up. Nikita laughed at her. It was certainly a sight to walk in on that morning. Yet it wasn't as though she was wrong. The team had so many things to celebrate and enjoy. They were approaching the finish line; they should relish in that fact. The rogue just didn't think to hop around to a bubblegum pop song. She wasn't even sure what the young woman was singing. All she knew was that it was far too energetic for that early in the morning.
"No, I get that. I just don't get whatever this is," Nikita admitted, pretending to judge the young woman for her actions. Yet she couldn't stop smiling. She was glad her friends were so happy. They deserved it after the hell the war threw them through. Alex rolled her eyes, but she matched the brilliant grin. Putting down her empty cereal bowl, she took a hold of the rogue's hands and made her dance with her. Giggles quickly erupted in the room. The woman messed around a little as they swayed to the beat. They poked at sides, and jerked each other around. Even though they didn't know what they were doing, it was still fun.
"I'm full of energy. And I really like this song," Alex jumped on top of the sofa to belt out the pop song's chorus. Nikita didn't think to stop her, despite the fact that the rest of their team was asleep. Who would care about being woken if it was by such innocent joy. Besides, they had the whole day to rest and relax. They didn't have a mission or any other kind of detrimental deed to worry about. It could just be them, hanging out together and taking in the moment to breathe- kind of like normal people. Although futures continued to be uncertain and there were still a lot of things left to do, that seemed like a great day.
"You and Sean had sex before he left didn't you?" It was already great enough to tease one another- though, when wasn't the team doing that. Sean had returned from Greece a couple days prior, and he and Alex had been inseparable since. Nikita wasn't the only one to poke fun at the two for it. Fortunately, there was an engaged couple also at the safehouse, so the new relationship didn't have to take the brunt of the taunts. The young woman still rolled her eyes, however. She jumped off the couch and moved to put away her dishes. The rogue followed every step of the way. She was going to keep having her fun.
Alex couldn't blame her. That was why she had been dancing around, after all. Sean had to leave to meet with his superiors and do his Seal stuff that morning. It was easy to forget that he continued to have a real job during all of that. But the couple got to spend some blissful moments together before he was off saving the world once more. Maybe with the pardons and freedoms, they could calm down enough to have actual time together- peaceful moments where they could be truly alone. That was the ideal. But until then, the two could make it work the best they could, "Well, I did have to thank him for helping me and for protecting my mother."
"Remind me to never go on a double date with you," Nikita nudged her. She wasn't one to talk about lack of shame and innuendos, however- as portrayed by the look Alex gave her. Regardless, the women began to giggle again. The scrapped together dates they managed with their respective partners weren't the greatest. It was the best they could do with the rare free time they had, and they loved every second of it. The couples just deserved better opportunities to be- well- couples. On the other hand, a double date simply seemed awful. The four of them would only use it to taunt their friends. It was a fun disaster in the making.
"It's because you're afraid we're the better couple isn't it?" Already starting the taunting, Alex replied sarcastically. Nikita's laughter melted into a scoff and an eye roll. The music was finally turned off, completely ignored in favor of whatever was happening between them then. Ryan, Michael, and Birkhoff were beginning to stir; the safehouse was coming alive. There were going to be more shenanigans and hijinks and just the team enjoying no more missions. They could possibly jinx everything with their positivity- since when had anything ever gone so well for them. But no one wanted to be cautious. They had spent enough time being guarded against feeling free.
"Please. I can beat you anytime, in any way, and at any thing," With a cross of her arms Nikita dared. Alex started to rise to the bait, ready to spar against the experienced rogue. The sparring mat had been left out from the night before, they could easily utilize it. However, the young woman suddenly remembered all the times she had had her ass handed to her on that very mat. She'd rather not ruin her morning with sore muscles and a bruised ego. Instead, she suggested that the two go run along the beach. Her idea was instantly accepted, and they went off to change their clothes and prove themselves.
The women kept to the same pace for the majority of their run. Neither was going as fast as they knew they could, their energy spent on continuing jokes and teases. Each pound of their foot against the sand caused another sarcastic comment to float in the chilled air. They weren't certain how long they were out there. But as soon as their legs grew weary, they decided to head back to the house. That was when Nikita poured on the speed. She sprinted the last few yards, leaving Alex in the dust. The young woman accepted her loss with grace. What else did she expect from a rogue. Chuckling, she shook her head and huffed, "I didn't realize we were going for the medal round."
"Well, I don't want you to settle for the silver," Nikita caught her breath enough to quip and shove at Alex. Both needed a second to even their breathing and calm their hearts. They should probably do some sort of cool down after running so long and sprinting so hard. But that could simply be their walk back to the safehouse. They were content milling around the beach for a moment. Despite the chill, it was a nice day against the ocean. Birds were out and the waves were gentle. It was peaceful. Maybe it was the sort of peace they could find themselves living in soon.
"No way. Gold all the way," Alex finally managed to laugh. She'd get Nikita back in some way, preferably in something she couldn't cheat at. Though, was being a faster sprinter in the last couple of seconds really cheating. The young woman would argue it was to make herself feel better about losing. It'd also be a great way to rile the rogue up later. Who knew when later would be, however. The team wasn't certain how much longer they'd be hiding out at the safehouse. And after they got to go off on their own futures, who knew when they'd be that close again. Obviously, they would stay in each other's lives. They didn't go through hell and back together to just leave. But friendships and relationships were definitely going to shift.
"Speaking of. You got a lot of it. What are you gonna do now that you've cashed out your share of the Udinov fortune?" Wondering, Nikita brought the conversation to those serious thoughts that had been drifting in and out all morning. Alex had not only sold her Zetrov shares, but she continued to rake in all of that inheritance money. In regards to finances, she was the heiress everyone claimed she was. Yet, that didn't appear to fit who the young woman really was. She was a hard worker. She couldn't give up the life she had built for something as frivolous as a gigantic fortune. She had to have some goals in mind. At least more than the rogue could come up with for herself.
"I don't know. It doesn't even seem real," Or maybe not. Alex seriously had no idea what she wanted to do next. She knew it would involve Sean and her friends. She could also reconnect with Jill and Sandy, and her old neighbors and coworkers. But she couldn't go back to being a secretary. She couldn't even go back to being Alexandra Udinov. She was on a new path in life, and the unknown of that was intimidating. Everything changed for her so fast. Her head was still attempting to wrap around it. All the evil in the world she had battled was certainly at the top of that confusing list.
She had trained to become a spy for revenge. Alex fought against killers and monsters for months, putting herself in constant danger. What was she supposed to do since that was over. One couldn't shift back from that, no matter how much they pretended while imaging their freedom. Nikita agreed with that sentiment more than anything. As much as she wanted to escape it all with Michael, could she ever really get there. It wasn't as though they could leave their pasts completely behind them. Ghosts existed for a reason. But maybe they could run far enough away from all of that pain, "It is. Real enough to buy you a life somewhere else."
"Yeah. What am I gonna do? Just sit on a beach, sip drinks from a coconut? I can't do that. I've seen too much. It's like I told my mother: there are people out there who have to be stopped, and I want to be a part of that fight. Just like you," Alex confessed. Her mother had asked her to stay in Greece with her, yet she couldn't leave her team like that. She was meant for something more. That much was clear to her. After all, Nikita taught it to her. The rogue grinned softly. She was glad the young woman was coming into her own. But before she could comment on it, the conversation was being directed back at her, "I mean, the bigger question is what are you going to do?"
"Well the deal with Senator Peirce was that we stop Division and we get our Presidential pardon. We've done our part. Amanda and Ari are on the run. Percy is in the wind. So, now it's up to her," Deflecting, Nikita shrugged. She knew enough about her future plans. She would marry Michael, and they would live somewhere with a white picket fence, a dog, and some annoying neighbors. Other than that, however, she wasn't sure. She was always hesitant to dive into the details with her fiancé. It wasn't as though she didn't want that life. She just didn't think it'd ever be real. Since it was so close, she was kind of apprehensive. It was so normal, something she had never been.
"And then what? You and Michael gonna trade in your cloaks and daggers for barbeque aprons, head towards the nearest white picket fence?" Alex read the rogue's mind, though she was far more light than Nikita's thoughts had turned. Their simple celebrations and enjoyment didn't extend to the type of freedom they had. They had to keep working to see the sun. Except, that didn't have to be as terrible as they were making it. The two were probably just stressing themselves out. The rest of their team seemed ready and willing for whatever came next, so why couldn't they be. They were excited for their partners and friends, they could be for themselves as well.
"It's about damn time, right?" Smiling, Nikita relaxed her shoulders. Alex copied her grin and posture, and together they finished their trek to the safehouse. It was all going to be alright. They had defeated Division, Gogol, and Oversight. A white picket fence was nothing compared to them.