Set between seasons 2 & 3. Salex go on a date to a county fair. (Mikita does too, but their story will be the next chapter)
"Hey," Michael was so glad to find Nikita alone. He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her cheek. Despite the fact that she was doing inventory in the weapons locker, she instantly relaxed in his hold. Who cared about how much equipment Division had when she could have a moment with her boyfriend.
"Hey," Nikita tilted her head back to steal a kiss from Michael's lips. He tightened his arms around her. The two stayed like that for a long moment. It was a sense of calm amidst the whirlwind of ending a war. There was no hurry to do anything else.
"You wanna go on a date with me?" Husking in his girlfriend's ear, Michael couldn't hide the brilliant smile in his voice. While he was running errands for Ryan and Division (that was weird to think about again), he found the perfect place he wanted to take her. They'd have to change into something far more casual. But they were bound to have a great night once they escaped from the underground bunker.
Nikita's reply was instant. She turned around so fast, Michael had to back up so he wouldn't get hit. Her smile was bright, overjoyed, and completely contagious. She didn't have to say 'yes' or 'no' to the idea. He knew that she was all for it, "Where are we going?"
"There's a county fair not far from here. I was thinking we could go and have fun," Michael matched his girlfriend's grin. When he spotted the fair from the side of the road, he knew he had to take Nikita there. He wasn't much for crowds or loud hectic noises. But he knew she'd love the lights, food, and absolute fun they'd have together. He could put aside his discomfort for her. They deserved a carefree night, one not spent worrying about their future.
"I've never been to an amusement park," Gasping in excitement, Nikita nearly bounced on her toes. Sure, a county fair wasn't the same thing. But it had rides and games and attractions. That was all she needed for the full experience. Well, that and her boyfriend.
"I know. But now's your chance," Settling her with gentle hands on her waist, Michael chuckled. There was a lot Nikita had missed out on as a kid. So, he was determined to help make that up to her. Honestly, he'd do anything to make her smile and look at him with that spark in her golden brown eyes. If she was happy, then so was he- no matter how that came to be.
Immediately grabbing his hand, Nikita started to drag Michael out of Division. She abandoned her clipboard and her inventory task, her sole focus on going on an actual date with her boyfriend. He followed her seemingly mad dash out of Division, keeping pace with each step. Until they almost ran over Alex in the carport. She stilled the beaming couple with a bewildered look, "Where're you off to?"
"A county fair," Nikita never let go of Michael's hand. She held it tightly as she grinned lovingly at him. He smiled down at her. Alex rolled her eyes. Although they were cute, they were beyond annoying. Nikita's reply also made her confused. She had to glance at an approaching Sean for any answers. The couple was too wrapped up in each other to notice her.
"It's like a pop up amusement park. For about a week, there's rides, games, attractions, then it all goes away," Sean only explained the basics of a county fair. There was more to it, but Alex didn't need to know specifics. The simple explanation soon had her smiling in excitement.
"I've never been to an American amusement park. I'm in," Alex nodded enthusiastically. She didn't have to think too hard about it. She had always had a blast when her parents took her to amusement parks in Russia and Europe. A fair with friends could be just as fun.
The quick look shared between Nikita and Michael told Alex everything. She was certain she had seen her parents share the exact same expression. They thought her statement was cute, but completely wrong. She wouldn't be tagging along with the couple, "Awesome. But you'll have to go by yourself. Cause Michael and I will be on a date."
Alex tried not to be disappointed. She was happy the couple was doing something for themselves. Yet she really wanted to have fun at an amusement park with friends. Sean caught her warring emotions instantly; it was all over her face. Fortunately, he knew exactly what to say to fix it, even if the simple idea made his heart race, "Hey. I'll just go with you. It should be fun."
"Great, see you there," Leading his girlfriend away, Michael called over his shoulder. While he and Nikita giggled, Alex and Sean were left awkwardly standing in the carport. Both wanted to go to the fair together; it seemed like a great time. But that wasn't why they hesitated. If they went to the fair by themselves together, then it was a date. Sean had asked Alex on one, but it hadn't happened yet. That would've been the first. As exciting and thrilling as the thought was, neither knew how to start it off. They simply avoided eye contact and shuffled their feet.
Eventually, Alex sighed and said something about how ridiculous they were being. Sean couldn't help but laugh. They were friends- they had kissed- going on a date shouldn't be scary or stressful. It'd be freeing. The two jumped into a car and drove to the location Michael had texted them. They talked and joked along the way, their awkwardness melting away. By the time they reached the fair, they were ready for what would hopefully be an amazing date. Sean wanted that to be undoubtedly true as he led her to a rollercoaster, "Come on, the rides are the best part."
Unfortunately for Alex, the rides were not the best part. Normally she liked rollercoasters, but the rickety one at the fair had her more stressed than entertained. She kept shaking her head as she and Sean stumbled off of it. There was no way she was ever doing that again, "That is not structurally sound. I don't think amusement parks should be 'pop ups'."
"Let's try the games then. They're rigged, but I think we can beat them," Chuckling to himself, Sean amended their plans for the night. He would never make her do anything she didn't want to do. Besides, they'd have more opportunities to talk and joke around if they weren't screaming on rides. Winning every game at the fair would be better for them.
"I think I'm going to beat you," Taking Sean's hand in hers, Alex dared. She meant to only grab his hand so they wouldn't get separated as they moved through the crowd. But as their fingers locked, her heart skipped a beat. She soon found herself never wanting to let go.
She had to let go once they reached the water gun game, however. There were a couple kids ahead of them in line, so the two had to wait. That worked well in their favor, though. As each kid lost, Sean and Alex noticed how the game was rigged and how they could beat it. They strategized the best way to win, and tried it out. Sean went first and almost succeeded. But it was Alex after him that claimed the prize, "Oh, what! That's cause I'm awesome!"
"Yeah you are," The praise slipped off Sean's tongue easily. Alex began to blush at the compliment. While she ducked her head and tucked her hair behind her ear, she heard the kids around her whine and complain. Although they tried their hardest to hit the target with the weighted water guns, they could never win. Her triumph faded, until she was struck with an idea.
"Can I get smaller prizes instead?" Alex asked the person manning the booth. They were unfazed by her request. She got to pick a couple medium sized stuffed animals instead of the gigantic one. Sean watched her curiously, unsure of what she was doing. Then, she turned to the disappointed kids around them. Each one got their own toy. As they laughed in joy and squealed their thanks, Alex smiled brightly, "Here you guys go. You all did such amazing jobs."
Sean's heart swelled watching Alex give away her prizes. She didn't make a big deal out of it. It was just something she knew she had to do. He couldn't stop staring at her in awe as she did it. When she turned her attention back to him, the look was plastered on his face. She blushed and smiled again. He took her hand in his, "Let's try to outwit all the other games."
"We're gonna dominate this fair," Alex beamed. She led Sean from game to game, talking and joking excitedly at each booth. The two worked amazingly well at spotting how the games were rigged and figuring out the best strategies to beat them. Apparently, their awesome teamwork extended past the field. They could do anything together.
After a while of winning fair games and handing out prizes, Alex's stomach growled. Sean nodded towards the food stands, hunger taking over him as well, "You wanna try some funnel cake? Or do you want fried Oreos? Oh, those giant Slurpee things are good too."
"I want everything," Studying the many food kiosks, Alex was beyond serious. She wanted every ounce of unhealthy fair food. Sean couldn't argue with her. He took her hand and led her through the crowd to the nearest stand. Neither of them let go of each other as they waited. It felt too nice and comforting to ever let go. The two drifted closer to one another.
Out of the corner of her eye, Alex caught Michael and Nikita waiting in line at the nearby ice cream stand. Her back was pressed against his chest, his arms were wrapped around her waist, and he was whispering something in her ear. They both laughed. Alex was mesmerized by their actions. In that moment, the two weren't spies, assassins, or leaders of a rebellion; they were just Michael and Nikita. They looked so normal and in love. It was awe inspiring.
Alex soon began to wonder if she'd ever have something like that- if she could ever have a moment to be her true self with someone she loved. Then, Sean tugged on her hand to bring her ever so closer. Butterflies erupted in her stomach. Blush crept along her cheeks. And a smile split her lips. Maybe she didn't have to look far for something like that. She glanced up at Sean, then returned her gaze to Michael and Nikita. The moment was broken once she did, however. Nikita made a silly face at her, and Alex had to return the expression.
One glance at Alex's silly face, and Sean doubled over in laughter. He could barely get through ordering. So, she did it for him. That meant the two ended up with way more food than they needed. Yet, it didn't stop them from gorging themselves on the different fried and frozen foods. Their light conversation and flirty teases continued as they sat at a picnic table and ate. Smiles never faded, which made Sean want to continue simply sitting and talking, "Do you want to see one of the horse riding competitions?"
"I want that bear," Alex barely registered what Sean had asked her. Her eyes caught hold of a giant, pink, fluffy, stuffed teddy bear, and she couldn't pay attention to anything else. She hadn't cared about any of the possible prizes except that one. She had to have it.
"You're done being nice with your prizes?" Glancing over at the bear, Sean couldn't help but laugh. There had to be a point eventually where she'd want them to be rewarded for outsmarting the fair games. He simply figured it would be in little prizes- something he could rationalize gifting to his niece and nephew. A big prize was great too, though.
"That's the only game we haven't figured out. And I want that bear," Her eyes were on her prize. Alex wouldn't give it up for anything. But with hers and Sean's combined skills, she would win her bear. It was only a matter of when.
"Do you even know how to play basketball?" Sean had to question. Alex kept avoiding that game, giving it a wary glance as she passed. She wasn't just trying to figure out how to beat it, but also how to shoot hoops. She was going to fail the second she walked over there. But that didn't matter to her anymore. There was a new grand prize and she simply had to have it.
"I am winning that bear," Getting to her feet, Alex moved towards the basketball toss. Sean hurriedly followed her after throwing away their trash.
"I believe in you. Let's do it," With that kind of determination, he knew she'd get anything she wanted. Alex marched right up to the high and far away basketball hoop, sizing it up as though she was some kind of expert. Once she began to play, though, she was far from it. She barely made one basket. She then turned to him with a pout. Laughing, Sean couldn't help but roll his eyes. He grabbed a ball and began to shoot.
It took him a couple of tries, but eventually Alex had her giant teddy bear. She hugged and squeezed it with all her might, giving Sean the biggest smile in the world. That was all the prize he needed. The two decided to go home after that. Their hands fit effortlessly together while they walked. He carried her bear for her, allowing her to keep beaming at him. He returned the adoring gaze. It wasn't until Michael caught up to them with Nikita on his back that they were ripped from their moment. Nikita eyed them knowingly, "Fancy seeing you guys here."
"She got you carrying her prize for her?" Nodding towards the giant teddy bear draped across Sean's shoulders, Michael smirked. Nikita copied his grin from above his head.
"His name is Big Floof," Alex patted her bear with her free hand. She planned on keeping the teddy bear in her room and using it as a pillow as she read or watched TV. It didn't go with her apartment at all, but that didn't matter. Everytime she looked at it, she'd happily remember her date with Sean. The warm feeling in her heart overpowered the clash in decorations.
Noticing that Michael carried Nikita the same way he carried Alex's teddy bear, Sean grinned smugly. He could easily tease the agent for being just as 'whipped' by his relationship as he was, "What's your prize's name? Nikita?"
"Michael, move me closer to Sean so I can kick his ass," Swatting at the Seal, Nikita glared. Michael just laughed. Not at Sean's comment (later, he'd get him back for jokingly calling Nikita a prize to be won), he chuckled at his girlfriend's antics. Even while receiving a piggyback ride, she tried to be as menacing as possible. Nothing undermined her confidence.
"You better run," Giggling, Alex warned. She knew that look in Nikita's eyes all too well. Sean had about two seconds before he was dead.
"Come on," Holding tighter to her hand, Sean pulled Alex with him as he ran away from Nikita and Michael. The two giggled the entire way to the parking lot. The others weren't chasing them, but that didn't stop them. They ran with abandon and laughed in joy.
It wasn't until they neared their car that they slowed down. Sean swung his and Alex's joined hands, and she continued to laugh. She was just so happy, "I had a lot of fun tonight."
"Me too," Softly, Sean smiled. His thumb swept gently over Alex's knuckles. The tender touch drew her ever so closer to him. Her blue eyes stared into his hazel. There was a spark in his eyes that made her heart leap to her throat. She was enchanted by him. And he was in complete awe of her. He didn't have to move far. With one simple move of his head, his lips were on hers. She kissed him back and smiled.
Thank you so very much for reading and reviewing! I really appreciate you all!