Set in season 3, kinda AU-ish timeline wise. The boys + Sonya go to a haunted house.
"Yo, Nikki. You wanna go to a haunted house?"
"Absolutely fucking not."
Nikita kept walking past the nerd cave, eyes glued to the tablet in her hands. Whereas Michael stayed to say something to Sonya and Birkhoff, she wouldn't even glance in their direction. One mention of a haunted house and she was gone. Birkhoff was undeterred by it, however. He had expected that reaction from her. Good thing he had other friends he could have fun with, "Mikey, you in?"
Michael had to take a moment to adjust. He had been so busy staring after his fiancée, that he missed what the nerd had said. He quickly shook himself out of it and asked, "What kind of haunted house?"
"One of those corn mazes outside the city. So we won't be in a confined space. And the workers can't touch us. There'll also be a bonfire after where we can hear ghost stories," Sonya replied excitedly. She and Birkhoff had wanted to go to a haunted house as a way to celebrate Halloween. But, knowing they weren't one for confined spaces anymore or for intense anxiety, the two settled on a lowkey haunting. They wanted to have fun, enjoy the spirit of the holiday, not be so scared they couldn't sleep at night. The nightmares they already had were enough.
"Sounds fun. I'm in," Shrugging, Michael agreed. Listening to ghost stories and wandering around a maze with friends would be a great way to unwind. Also, he was fairly certain anyone's scream or overreaction to a scare would be fodder for jokes for months. No way would he miss out on that.
"Awesome!" Birkhoff nearly shouted in enthusiasm. With all the drama the team had been hit with recently, actually having fun and relaxing plans with friends was amazing. The nerd was so excited by it, that when Sean and Alex passed he yelled, "What about you two?"
"What are we doing?" Glancing at Sonya and Michael for answers, Alex slowly entered the nerd cave. She didn't think it was anything too bad if Birkhoff was smiling like an idiot. But, then again, she never knew when it came to him.
"A haunted corn maze and ghost stories," Sonya matched Birkhoff's excitement as she explained. She figured if she said 'maze' instead of 'house' the two would more likely agree. Division had been enough of a haunted house. Monsters creeped in the halls and the fear of death was palpable. There was no way they'd subject themselves to that again.
"Yeah, I'll go," Joining the others in the tech den, Sean agreed. Through, he would've agreed regardless of the kind of haunted house. He loved all that fake horror stuff.
Alex, on the other hand, was hesitant. She wasn't certain if she wanted to actually pay someone to scare her. Although she had faced scarier things in her life, and she'd be with her friends who always made everything better, she didn't want to put herself through that, "I don't know. I don't want to freak myself out. Is Nikita going?"
"She chickened out," Birkhoff snickered.
"She didn't even consider the idea," Michael clarified.
Neither answer helped Alex make a decision. She really wanted to spend the night with friends, and make fun memories for once. But her apprehensions were holding her back, "Let me read about it."
Sonya already had the haunted house's website pulled up. She let Alex sit at her computer and browse through all the information, reviews, and pictures she liked. They wouldn't pressure the young woman into anything she didn't want to do. Besides, the group they had was perfect, "Just the four of us is good."
"Unless either of you want to go to a haunted house," As Ryan and Owen passed by, Birkhoff called out to them. Owen double backed first. Ryan had to be dragged away from the file he was reading. Yet, both were confused by the nerd's sudden question.
"Maze and ghost stories," Once again, Michael clarified.
That got Ryan to drop his file on one of the desks and completely ignore the information he was looking over. He was always willing to take a step back and not think just listen. Sitting around hearing ghost stories would be perfect. It'd definitely be a distraction from his stress. The whole team deserved something like that. Which was why Sonya thought they should all go through the maze together, "Do you think if Nikita knew it wasn't an actual haunted house, she'd change her mind?"
"No," Michael and Alex echoed one another as they answered. Nikita wouldn't even walk near the Halloween section at a department store. There was absolutely no way she would pay anyone to jump out and scare her. Her excuse was that she had had enough monsters, demons, and terrifying horror in her life; she didn't need to subject herself to more. Though, Michael knew there was another reason. She was just a scaredy-cat.
"I could use a break tonight. Where is it?" Well aware Nikita would never change her mind, Ryan pushed forward for information.
"Off the highway. I have the website pulled up," Eyes glued to the screen, Alex waved Ryan over. He joined her at the computer, and scanned through the reviews and details. Whereas he grew more sure of his decision as he read, Alex sank further into hesitation.
"That just leaves you, Owen," Birkhoff turned his attention to the silent man. It was unlike him to not add his two cents. He was either thinking of a quip to throw at the others as he agreed to tag along, or he was ready to refuse like Nikita had. The conflict on his face expressed the latter. The idea of a haunted house didn't sit right with him.
Owen felt too awkward to explain that, however. He was an assassin who survived a Russian prison, yet he was afraid of a haunted house. Well, actually, he was afraid of what he might encounter, "I don't know. I'm not a big ghost person."
"There's not really ghosts at haunted houses or mazes," Sean argued.
"It's just monsters and demons. Which aren't as scary once you read up on them," Sonya added with a shrug. Research and practicality often took the uncertainty and fear out of things. At least, for her it did.
"Nope. Nope. I'm out," Without warning, Alex screamed. All eyes were on her as she quickly scrambled out of the chair and dashed out of the nerd cave. One glance at what she saw on the computer explained her sudden departure, though. It was a grotesque, decomposing clown jumping out of the corn maze.
"Oh come on, Alex. It's not that bad," Sean tried to chase after her, but she was long gone- probably on her way to wherever Nikita had disappeared to. He'd have to text or call her later to check in on her. He didn't want her so freaked she couldn't sleep that night. Maybe it was a good thing she wasn't going to the haunted house with them after all.
The frightening image didn't disturb the rest of the team, however. They were just as ready to go as they had been. All they were waiting on was Owen. Trying to get him to make up his mind, Ryan joked, "Don't worry, I'm not afraid of no ghosts."
Chuckles around the room covered Owen's deep sigh. Of course he had to make himself clear to the others. The team never let anything go unless they had answers, "I'm not… look. I was on an assignment in an old house in Maine once. And there were these three entities- ghosts- that just wouldn't leave me alone. They weren't trying to kill me, just torture me. I didn't last long. I just did my job, then I was gone."
"Did the regiment really mess with your mind that much?" Unsure of how concerned he should be, Sean wondered. He had heard things go bump in the night before, and he had heard stories of people seeing strange things. But a person being attacked by a ghost, that just couldn't be possible. At least he hoped it wasn't possible.
"You were terrorized by ghosts in Maine? What are you, Stephen King?" Michael scoffed. He was sure something had scared Owen. But it wasn't ghosts. There was no way.
"Stephen King. And you call me a nerd," Birkhoff taunted, earning himself a retaliating smack in the arm from Michael.
"In or out, man," Rolling his eyes, Sean finally asked.
Sighing again, Owen glanced at his friends in the room. They stared at him expectantly, hoping he would tag along in their shenanigans. He had missed a lot while he was with Gogol and then in prison. That moment could be when he made up for lost time, even if he was terrified at what he might see, "Well if all the nerds are going…"
"You can always be as brave as Alex or Nikita," Sonya couldn't help herself. It was easy to tease the women since they weren't in the room to defend themselves or glare at her. But it did serve her point. Either Owen could join the nerds, or chicken out like the indomitable women.
Laughter reverberated off of the walls. Owen could only roll his eyes and rise to the bait. He'd join his friends for fright night. Ryan shook his head, "This is going to be an adventure."
It really was. The agents were lucky they had left their weapons behind. The demons and monsters that jumped out of the dark corn maze truly had them spooked. At one point, Michael instinctively reached for his missing gun. Sean almost punched a worker in the face- Ryan had to hold him back. Birkhoff jumped into Michael's arms; the agent actually caught the nerd and held him for a moment. Sonya ran several yards ahead, and shakily waited for the others to catch up. Owen covered his ears, closed his eyes, and just blindly walked towards the exit. And Ryan screamed so suddenly and loudly, he fell on his ass.
By the time they reached the bonfire, however, things calmed down. The ghost stories were far more tame than the jump scares; though, the echoing screams of other guests and the occasional sound effects did up the creep factor. Yet, the friends whispered jokes to each other and pulled pranks on one another as they listened. It helped ease their anxiety, and it got them to laugh. They began to wish Nikita and Alex had decided to join. No doubt the two would've pulled off the best pranks and would've uttered the funniest comments. Maybe the team could convince the two for next time- just the bonfire part at least. The fun should be enjoyed by all.
While the rest of the team had the shit scared out of them, Nikita and Alex watched a cheesy family Halloween movie. They ate snacks, talked, painted their nails, and played with one another's hair. It was a fun and simple girl's night that left them laughing hysterically. Before the others returned, though, the two decided to call it a night. They were exhausted, and actual sleep deserved to be in their future.
Texting her fiancé, Nikita claimed that she'd probably be asleep when he came home. Except, that was a lie. Michael's guard was completely down as he stepped through the front door. The apartment was pitch black, and a strange noise filled the air. He closed and locked the door behind him, and went in search of what the noise could be. As he strained to see and hear, a demonic voice harshly uttered his name, "Michael."
"Jesus. Fuck," Michael startled away so fast that his back slammed into the doorway. Laughing instantly, Nikita turned on the lights. He rubbed his sore spine and glared at her. Although he was relieved it was just her, he was annoyed at the fright. Well, annoyed that he had fallen for her prank so easily.
"Awe. Are you scared?" Nikita feigned concern, giggles continuing to pour out of her. She had been planning that prank since she left him with Birkhoff and Sonya. The result was well worth the wait.
"One of the ghost stories freaked me out a bit," Michael downplayed how much he had been startled. He only told Nikita the highlights of the night, mostly the things that had made the friends burst out laughing as they drove home. She laughed along with him, especially when he told her about Birkhoff leaping into his arms. A part of him expected some sympathy for the jump scares he had experienced, yet he forgot who he was talking to. Nikita would take any opportunity to tease him. Michael couldn't blame her, though. He'd have done the exact same.
"Well, suffer the consequences," Smiling brighter than her words, Nikita began to return to the bedroom. She stifled her laughter as he scoffed in disbelief. He was so easy to mess with.
"Yeah, yeah. Love you too," Although his eyes rolled, Michael couldn't help but flash his crooked grin. Nikita looked over her shoulder with a cocky smile and a wink. He chased after her towards the bedroom. Laughter drove the remaining anxiety out of his mind. A great night with friends was a soothing balm to all their minds, hearts, and souls. They could face the next onslaught of drama no problem. They could always rely on their team.