"Hello Piotr."
"So they sent you."
"I am the best, aren't I?"
"If you were, I wouldn't have been called in." Sarah's jaw tightened and she smiled coldly.
"Now is that how you greet an old flame?"
"We burned out pretty quickly." He retorted.
"Details, details." She sighed and took off her glasses. The afternoon sun glinted off of the Manhattan Bay, and she ordered a Long Island Iced Tea and looked over the water. "So what do you have so far?"
"MacLean's apartment."
"You haven't been out since they brought you in have you?"
"No Sarah. What's happened?" His impatient and condescending tone stilled as the waiter brought her beverage.
"They've skipped out of the apartment. Dead as Oprah's bed."
"Shit." She smiled and adjusted the strap to her sundress, crossing her legs as she watched him squirm while appearing to be calm.
"Oh come on…go ahead and ask…"
"Do… you… have… any… leads? He grated out slowly, each syllable hard to shove out. Sarah blinked innocently and cocked her head towards him.
"I'm sorry, what did you say?" Her mirth died as he threw his napkin down and stood up.
"I have no time for this childish behavior. If you want to play then I suggest you get another partner."
"Okay, okay. Look, we both know that they'll kill us if we don't complete this job, and there will be no place we can hide. So lets put our past behind us and just…"
"Just what?" Piotr asked, sitting back down.
"Be cordial." He smirked.
"Fine. I don't want to be around you longer than I have to."
*
"Ororo." Logan tapped on her open door as he stepped into her room. "You alright?" She had been avoiding him, or more precisely avoiding being in a room alone with him for a while. Ororo put down the book she had been pretending to read and shrugged.
"That's an unfair question. I have an organization after me that have never failed in getting what they set out to get. Why should my life be any different?" He sat down on the bed beside her and took her hand.
"Look, I'm not letting them get to you, do you understand? I have never lost anyone, and I've been doing this for 15 years. Like I said, this goes back to trust. Do you trust me?" She looked into his eyes and blinked away some tears.
"I do trust you Logan, I'm just scared. Scared and sick of running. I want to wake up and find out this has all been a bad dream. But I'm not. And I won't waste my time wishing for it."
"I'm glad, because we've got to deal with reality." Logan smiled as Ororo leaned closer, bringing his arm around her, leaning her back against him. He breathed in the scent of her hair and started grinning like an idiot. What was going on with him? It was like every little thing she did made him happier than he's ever been before.
"Well, the reality of the situation is we're going to be here for a while, so why don't we go downstairs and sort through all of the pirated DVD collection they've amassed and enjoy ourselves. What do you say?"
"I say we could have fun up here…make a little movie of our own…" Ororo laughed as he nosed her neck. She sat up and pulled away, smiling back at him.
"Funny Logan. Come on." Logan followed her reluctantly downstairs, grumbling with each step, watching her move her hair from her perfect shoulders and wishing he could just-
"There you two are. We've got an errand." Forge said as he shouldered a laptop case and a suitcase.
"Where are you going?"
"Warren and Betsey's house. Want to come?" Bishop closed off the entrance to the lab and picked up his own bags.
"Sure! I haven't seen them in a while." Ororo beamed as Logan cursed silently under his breath.
"Well come on."
*
"Well well well."
"Yes, very old fashioned and inconspicuous. How do they do it."
"Not everyone is as ostentatious as you are Sarah."
"I'm surprised you even know that word Piotr." She rolled her eyes and looked back at their target, and down at the heat and motion sensor she held in her hand.
"What are you getting?"
"Well, there is a large amount of heat in the lower levels of the building, but I think that is a computer. I am detecting some faint heat signatures in the upper levels. My best bet is that someone is in the house."
"And you're sure this is the right place?" His Russian accent didn't hide the sarcasm he laced his words with as he spoke to her. Sarah chose to ignore it as she looked up again at the building.
"Positive. Robbery?"
"Not in this car. Drive by?"
"Not in this neighborhood." She snorted. "How about an nice, large fire. Consumes evidence and we don't have to stick too close to the crime scene. Nice and clean."
"So we need to go get supplies." Piotr started to drive off.
"No! I have them in the trunk." He looked at her strangely. "Well you know how I like to be prepared." Piotr didn't say anything as he parked the car two blocks away. Ducking into the shadows, their form fitting black clothing shielded them as they made their way to the apartment.
Sarah lit a match and tested the dry flowers and grass. It lit immediately, glowing orange as it spread across the greenery. Piotr moved away with the can of gasoline, in case the fire had to be helped along. But it grew strong as it came in contact with the house, catching the wooden plants that lined the front stoop, to the wood door.
*
"Hey, you're late." Betsey kidded as she opened the door. Ororo smiled and gave her a quick hug as she stepped into the foyer, relieved to see another female.
"It's their fault. They wanted food." She pointed to the guys, who brought in the stuff.
"Of course. Bishop, Forge. Remind me to never work with you again." The stunning woman in purple laughed as they both gave her a hug at the same time. Her Asian features were dainty and delicate, but radiated great strength, a beauty in the strictest sense of the word as his eyes swept her body quickly. Whoa.
"What does she mean, work with her?" Logan asked as they started talking in a group.
"The Worthingtons are hackers themselves. They must have something scheduled." Ororo turned as a man came down the large oak stairs to their right.
"Ororo, you look as lovely as always." The tall blond man kissed her on the cheek, giving her a warm hug. His large arms encircled her waist and drew her close, familiarity not hard to miss. Logan narrowed his eyes but held his tongue.
"Warren, of course I do, but you might want to rescue your wife. You know she only loves you for the money." Ororo teased.
"And I have the bills to prove it. But that's alright, I only married her for her body." She laughed as he moved off to talk with the others. Logan took her elbow and guided her away slightly.
" 'Ro, I gotta talk to you."
" Now?" She asked, trying not to concentrate on his hand on the sensitive underside of her arm.
"Yes, now."
"Why don't you two use the kitchen? We're going to set up in the recreation room." Betsey offered as she moved past, a laptop in hand.
"Thanks." He said gruffly. "Where is it?"
"Down that hall." Logan pushed her down a semi dark hallway and into the brightly lit kitchen.
"Now what is so important that you were almost rude in there?" Ororo walked over to the counter and leaned against it, crossing her arms in front of her.
"Why are you avoiding me?" She blinked in surprise.
"What? What are you talking about? I don't avoid you." She looked away, her fingernail absently tapping on the marble beside her.
"Then why are we never in the room alone?" He walked over to her and placed both hands on either side of her on the counter, blocking her with his body.
"We are…I mean, I don't know what you're talking about. How can I avoid you?" She asked, her nervousness coming out as she looked back and forth from Logan's two hands.
"Is there something I did to make you uncomfortable? Because if I did, I'm sorry." He said straight out.
"No…" Ororo looked up and it seemed Logan was closer…my it's hot in here…
"Then what?" His hands were around her waist now, bringing her closer to the edge of her control, closer to him. She looked into his eyes and her breath quickened at the desire she saw there, desire for her, causing her own to come to the forefront.
"I…I…" He kissed her then, mercifully cutting off her air supply. Vertigo reeled through her, and she grabbed Logan as an anchor, pressing him into her insistently. A dam of feelings broke through and she was overwhelmed, riding the current of her intensifying feelings for him.
Logan pulled back, using every ounce of strength he could to pry himself from her grip. Her eyes were still closed and she was breathing heavily. The strap of her dress had slid down a brown shoulder, and he gently slid it to its rightful place. He turned away then, hoping he had left her with something to think about, because all he could think about was her, and he still couldn't understand why he was walking away.
He passed by Betsey but didn't spare her a look, and she smiled to herself as she came into the kitchen. Ororo was shoving around things, a shot glass in hand. "Ororo, what are you doing?"
"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm looking for liquor. I know you have some, all hackers drink at one time or another." She clammed another cabinet angrily.
"What's wrong?" Betsey took the glass out of her hand and pushed her to a stool. Taking a carton of banana and pineapple juice from the fridge, she sat down beside her, and poured her a large glass.
"Thanks." Ororo took a deep drink and calmed her nerves.
"So, what's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"You wouldn't be looking for alcohol if nothing was the matter."
"Everything."
"Now we've covered the extremes. Let me guess, its Logan isn't it?" She smiled as Ororo's frown deepened. "What happened? He's trying to pressure you into having sex?"
"No. Something worse."
"He's stupid and wants sex still?" Ororo laughed slightly.
"No, worse."
"What could possibly be worse…unless he's really tiny?" Betsey wiggled her pinky and Ororo laughed outright.
"No, far from that…I'm in trouble."
"What? You're pregnant?!"
"Elizabeth!"
"The full name…not good. This is serious isn't it?" Ororo groaned and stood up, riffling through drawers. "What are you looking for?"
"Alcohol! Betsey, do you know I'm in love with that man?" She blinked.
"In love?"
"Yes! In love so much I can't see myself away from him. Ever." Ororo emphasized the last word.
"Ever?"
"Ever." Betsey winced.
"You've got it bad."
"You're telling me!" Ororo slammed a drawer. "And you know I'm a very modern woman, right?"
"Yes. You're two years younger than I am."
"I am at the point where I want to take care of him. Cook food for him and make sure he is happy. I only know how to order take out." Ororo whimpered. "Where's that alcohol?" Betsey stood up and directed Ororo again back to the stool.
"Look, you're not getting any alcohol. You've never had anything stronger than soda, and I'm not letting you drink. Yes we do have alcohol, but it's already in the Rec Room, so you know it's almost gone. Hon, this is normal."
"How could it possibly."
"I love Warren with all of my heart and soul. Before I met him I laughed at the thought of cooking for a man, pausing to fix his tie or even throwing a surprise breakfast together. But then he came along and I want to do those things for him. It's not a sign of weakness, it's a sign of love. He does those things for me too, it's a give and take relationship." Ororo nodded.
"I guess. I can't seem to stay in the same room alone with him because I want to just tear his clothes off and let him take me right there." She sighed and took another drink. "The sex dreams are killer."
"I bet they are. Look, it's obvious he cares deeply about you. He's lost a lot as well, and the fact that he hasn't ran away to deal with his own shit is a big sign, and you know that. But don't rush into losing your virginity."
"I don't like this feeling. It makes me realize I need someone…I don't like that."
"Welcome to the club." The women looked up as Forge came to the kitchen doorway, hands up in a defensive fashion. "What do you want?"
"I have a message. I'm just the messenger…so don't hurt me." He began. Ororo hid a grin as Betsey's eyebrow rose.
"What is it?"
"Warren said, and I quote, we're hungry, woman. End quote." He nodded and bowed, leaving quickly. Ororo laughed and shook her head.
"Now why couldn't he have gotten the food while he was here? Wasn't that a waste of time?"
"No, a waste of time would have been if he actually tried to get the food. He'd come back with some crackers in the box, and called it food." Betsey laughed as she stood up. "And they better not have touched my laptop, or someone is sleeping on the couch." Ororo smiled to herself as she thought of Logan. When it came right down to it, she could deal with loving him, but could she deal if he loved her back? "Hey, could you help me?"
"Oh sure." She snapped out of her thoughts as she stood, pushing it to the side yet again.