A/N: Yes, I know I'm terrible - Yes, I know this is late. Please don't hate me.
The clock tick-tocked endlessly, a rhythm that encaptured Anna's attention in its entirety. She stared at the old wood-crafted piece of furniture, deeply considering everything about it. It was an old grandfather clock, standing tall against the wall it was situated against. The thing provided a stark contrast to most of the other things in the room, devices and gadgets common to the modern age, all befitting the office setting she found herself in.
A noise came from across the small space in the center of the room she sat on one side of. Anna mentally shrugged it off, trying to ignore it for now. She took in the intricate designs of the wallpaper, the old oak desk covered in paper and writing utensils, and the patterned rug covering a majority of the floor. She took stock of a computer, shredder, printer, and a small stereo. She'd seen all this before, of course - But Anna couldn't help but appreciate the coming together of old and new in such a confined space.
The voice came again, louder this time. The rest of the world seemed to click back into place as she heard her name. "Anna?"
Everything fell back into focus as the redheaded girl sighed and turned her head back towards the woman sitting in her comfortable arm chair on the other side of the room. "Yes, Dr. Williams?"
Williams replied with a small frown, but kept judgement out of her tone when she spoke. "I asked you a question, Anna."
The girl blinked and shook her head, indicating she hadn't heard. "Sorry."
Her doctor looked unphased and glanced down to scribble something on a pad on her lap. Her gaze returned to her patient and she tried her query again, hoping Anna was paying attention this time. "You look tired, Anna. Even more worn than usual. Can you tell me why?"
Anna shrugged, then curled a bit more into herself. The sofa she sat on was more than comfortable, but she never felt comfortable here. "I was out late."
Dr. Williams nodded and started writing again, taking a few moments to do so. The look she next gave to Anna was meant to convey understanding and sympathy, meant to comfort the girl. But Anna doubted that she could understand. She doubted anyone could. "Do you want to tell me where you were?"
Anna thought for a moment, debating on elaborating on her night's activities. She decided she could afford to at least reveal where she had been. "I was at Kristoff's."
Williams gave her a small smile and looked genuinely happy in response to her news. "That's great, Anna. Social interaction and activity is beyond important - May I ask what you two did?"
Anna looked away and shrugged once more. "I picked up some computers he wanted me to fix, then we watched a movie. He fell asleep, then I worked out -" Anna stopped mid-sentence, realizing the possible connotations of her admission. She snapped her gaze back to her doctor, opening her mouth to speak, but the older woman beat her to it.
"Anna… You aren't -"
"No, I'm not," she replied quickly, suddenly feeling even more uncomfortable. She hugged her knees a bit more tightly and she spoke again, a bit more quietly. "I'm not."
Williams grimaced, then sighed. She looked at Anna, really looked at her. The doctor pursed her lips and moved to take her glasses off, setting them down on the pad still nestled on her lap. "Anna, why do you keep coming to see me?"
Anna's gaze snapped back to the woman, surprise and confusion splayed across her face. "What?"
"Anna, we've been seeing each other for a few years now. Every week you come here and I try to connect with you, try to help you with your life, but you seem content to shut me out at every turn. So I ask you, why do you keep coming to see me?"
Anna didn't respond, choosing instead to look down and resume evaluating the patterns of the rug.
Williams barreled on, undeterred. "Anna, it's been years. I know it's hard, but maybe if you opened up, maybe if you talked about it -"
"No."
The daggers that were being suddenly sent Williams' way did not befit the teal irises they shot from. The doctor knew such emotions didn't suit the girl and it saddened her that the memory she'd brought up still brought out so much hostility in her.
Anna thought for a moment, then she simply got up and headed for the door. Her doctor thought about trying to stop her, but resigned herself to saying nothing. Anna turned the knob and opened the door, but halted just before crossing the threshold. Without meeting Williams' gaze she spoke quietly, in almost a whisper.
"I don't come here for me."
The door closed softly behind her, the room once more drenched in a still silence only broken by the ticking of a clock.
The small bell gave a light jingle as the door to shop was pushed open, a figure garbed in a long brown coat over a purple hoodie stepping through.
Elsa avoided eye contact with any of the customers as she made her way to the counter, only then choosing to look up from the floor. The man on the other side returned her gaze for a brief moment, then turned to call over his shoulder.
"Carl, mind the register!"
He looked back in her direction, then tilted his head toward the rear of the shop, indicating she should follow. Elsa made her way around the counter, then fell into step behind him as he made for a doorway leading to the back. The two travelled the length of a dimly lit hallway that ended in a single thick steel door. The man retrieved a small key from his pocket, then undid several locks, each resulting in an audible 'click' in the silence of the corridor. Finally, he pushed the door open and stepped through.
The room was a stark contrast to the hallway, sharply illuminated with fluorescent bulbs hanging overhead. Multiple heavy wooden tables were placed about the room, covered in bits of metal and plastic and circuitry, all belonging to some device or another that had been taken apart to be worked on. Some pieces likely belonged to something that hadn't even been built yet.
What really set the mood though, were what lined the walls.
Whether sitting on shelves or hanging from the multiple racks lining the four sides of the room, firearms of every size, caliber, and purpose. If one wanted, they could probably stock a small army with merely the contents of this room.
It made Elsa uneasy.
It always did, whenever she came here. Unfortunately, such things were necessary in her line of work, dealing with people and situations she didn't particularly like, and she knew this. So she didn't let it get to her, and braved the sight of the arsenal surrounding her. She had to, to meet with -
"James."
"Snow," he curtly responded.
There it was, the nickname. She wouldn't dare give anyone her real name, lest she risk her own safety by revealing her identity. No, best she hide behind a false identity, fitting as it was for certainly more than one reason.
Unsettled by his stock as she was, Elsa found nothing to fear in James himself. A man of just above average height and normal build, well-kept brown hair sitting atop his head, he was a rather glaring opposite of the men she found herself encountering these days. Elsa had known James for years, over the course of which he had always been polite and helpful when she'd come seeking his services.
"So," he began, leaning against the table closest to himself. "What can I do for you?"
"Ive got a job coming up." Elsa spoke as she walked, surveying a selection of stunguns and tasers she assumed he'd just received, as she hadn't seen them before. "I'm going to need a vehicle - Preferrably a van."
James nodded thoughtfully. "Simple enough. Anything else?"
Elsa thought for a moment, making sure there was nothing else she needed. "Some rope, maybe? I've got everything else covered." She reached up and plucked one of the stunguns off the rack it sat upon, twisting it around in her grip to see how it felt. "And throw this in?"
He nodded once more and pushed off the table he rested against. "I'll send you a bill." He extended his hand to her, ready to shake. "Always a pleasure, Snow."
Elsa took it. "Likewise." She gave one quick pump of her arm before letting go and turning to leave.
Anna wasn't exactly in the best of moods after her appointment with Doctor Williams, but that wasn't surprising, she couldn't ever recall a time she had left that office feeling anything besides worse than when she had gone in.
She decided she needed a pick-me-up. There was a small convenience store on her route back to her apartment that could probably provide a snack of some sort, so she figured she could stop there.
Rounding the corner Anna arrived at the shop - the grungy old building seemed like it had seen better days. Pushing the door open, a small bell atop the door signaled her entrance. She shuffled up to the counter and snagged a couple chocolate bars from a shelf next to the register, placing them in front of the store attendant at the counter.
Normally, her social awkwardness would be getting the best of her right about now, but she was far too deep in brooding thought to pay her anxieties any mind.
Maybe I should actually try talking with Dr. Williams - I've been seeing her for years… Maybe finally opening up to someone will do me some good?
"That'll be four twenty-five, miss."
Anna nodded and retrieved the required amount from her wallet, proceeding to slide it across the counter to the clerk. Having paid, she took her candy and was about to leave when something caught her attention.
There was a small older model television hanging from the ceiling just behind the counter. Displayed on the screen was a woman in a dark purple pantsuit gripping a microphone, standing in front of a large warehouse. "- Stephanie Hale reporting live from the scene of one of the largest major crime busts in our city's recent history."
She proceeded to gesture behind her at the building where men in various uniforms marched in and out continuously. "Late last night police received an anonymous tip about a shooting in progress, where shots could be heard in the background of the call. Officers were quickly dispatched to the scene, but what they found was drastically different than what was suspected."
The camera panned over to a group of police vans, multiple police officers escorting various handcuffed individuals inside. "Upon arrival, city police discovered multiple armed men in the process of cleaning up what seemed to be some sort of violent confrontation. With further inspection of the premises, officers discovered crates full of narcotics, firearms, and explosives."
Anna took a moment to unwrap one of her candy bars, and began nibbling on the end of it.
"After some investigation, the police have revealed that it's highly likely that these men have associations with Russian organized crime." The camera view slid back over to the reporter and the warehouse and she took a moment's pause before continuing to speak. "One mystery still remains, however. All the men who seemed to have been involved in the altercation have been directly affiliated with the Russian mafia either now or in the past. So the question is: Who attacked them - who called the police? This is Stephanie Hale, signing off."
Elsa tucked her new stun gun inside her coat and was about to leave the store when she spotted something she wasn't expecting - and felt all the color drain from her face. She quickly spun back around the corner and plastered herself to the wall.
The redhead - but how did she find me?
She didn't hear any noise, so against her better judgement Elsa stuck her head out far enough just to peek around the corner. The redhead was standing there, eating a chocolate bar. She appeared completely oblivious to Elsa's presence.
Elsa let out a sigh of relief, but then she noticed something - She really noticed the redhead. There was something about her, something about the way she looked. The girl was pretty to be sure, but she seemed worn out - tired.
But most of all, she seemed sad.
It was the way she carried herself. It was the way her eyes were beautiful, but weary beyond her years. Bright pools of teal, dulled by something she couldn't know. This wasn't just physical exhaustion, though. Elsa could tell that whatever it was that troubled the redhead ran deeper than what could have just been a late night. She'd seen that look before. The redhead seemed distracted by something, so Elsa risked a glance up and saw a television - It was broadcasting a report on blonde's antics late last night.
Once more Elsa snapped back against the wall. Wait, why did I just do that? There's no way she could know that was me.
Elsa was somehow surprised to find James standing in front of her, quirking an eyebrow skeptically. He peered around the corner, then drew back and returned his gaze to Elsa. "Someone you don't want to see?"
"No, not particularly," she answered honestly.
He jacked a thumb over his shoulder. "Head out the back - The door's down that hall."
Elsa nodded once and slid off the wall. "Thanks, James." She gave the redheaded girl one last glance before heading past him and towards the exit. Thoughts clouded her head as she walked - mostly centering around those sad, tired eyes.
A/N: Weekly updates was a bad promise - It just was. I'll try really hard to update as much as possible, but like a lot of writers my offline life is a little overwhelming at times. I don't want to abandon this story though, and I definitely want to keep it going. I'll try the best I can to update more frequently than this, but I'm not gonna make promises and then have to break them, that's not fair to anyone.
Edit: I saw some errors and went ahead and fixed them - Also, thanks so much for the reviews! I'm really glad people like this story, it warms my heart as a writer that people are enjoying it!