First of all...sorry for the wait! It must have been what, a year? I've been SO busy. Well, now I'm back in the Croft loop, so to speak, I'd best start off with a recap of the story so far. Just so no one has to go and read everything back (though don't let me stop you!). If you don't remember things I recommend a quick look back as pretty much every detail is a clue. :) Also, even if you've commented before, I really do appreciate more feedback :D
Chap 1 begins with a view of an anonymous, tall man, purveying a tall building. We are not told who he is or what he is doing. We are then thrown in a room with Lara, who is investigating Systamtel, a dogdy company. She triggers an alarm, gets trapped, and when things clear realises that it seems as though she has been saved by Kurtis Trent, who she has not seen since the Strahov.
Chap 2 continues directly on. The pair escape explosively through a window to another office building, and Lara reveals her mistrust of Trent.
Chap 3 details their journey home to Croft Manor, where more trust issues arise and Trent meets the boys, Alister, Zip and Winston, who are also mistrustful. It is confirmed that everything in Legend has happened. Alister and LAra fall out over Alister's suspicions.
Chap 4 carries on with a quick focus on Trent, who receives a phone call. Croft manor is dramatically broken into, and as the familiar blue overall clad intruders try to escape, Trent makes their jeep explode.
Chap 5 shows a brief clean up period where Lara and Kurtis share a passionate moment.
And onto Chap 6, continuing straight on, finally - copyright applies as usual, and reviews are always really, really appreciated.
As Miss Lara Croft wandered blindly into the corridor she could still feel the strength of Kurtis Trent beneath her fingers, and she could still remember the rough softness of his hands on her exposed skin. All the worse, she could clearly remember the feeling of complete, safe respite from all that surrounded her, a feeling she'd only ever encountered in armoured vaults and underground libraries. Never, ever, in the arms of a man.
Mere silliness, she tried to tell herself, noticing with dismay that she couldn't convince her thumping heart of the frivolity.
A sharp jolt brought her hastily back to reality, as she tripped forcefully over a piece of rubble that looked as though it might once have been part of her roof. She kicked it vindictively, frustrated at her own weakness. She was glad for the distraction when she heard Zip calling from his office.
"Lara? That you? C'mere, I've tracked you some bits an' pieces." She hefted her nose up, once again lady of the manor.
"Coming, Zip. This has better involve messy revenge, or better yet, some of those fantastic African traps."
Kurtis Trent, meanwhile, was exactly where Miss Croft had left him, cradling the large empty space she had so tangibly occupied. He was throwing ideas around his head, still not quite able to process what had happened. The only thing he was certain of was that it had to happen again. Soon.
Surely it's an invitation. Surely, he mused, though somehow he got the feeling that he couldn't just approach her about it. He drew in a deep breath, trying to step away from the heady sensations surrounding him.
How the hell am I going to do what I came here for?
He shook himself. Get to it, Trent. Work the means of your own freedom.
Lara tuned desperately in and out of what Zip was saying. He'd got some of his friends in, and they were going over what was left of the intruders. Most of the details were ambiguous and unhelpful, and she really wanted to be someplace else. Someplace that involved a certain blue-eyed American.
"Hold it - I'm just gettin' somethin' through - " Lara woke up as Zip's machinery whirred and whined. He suddenly began to look worried.
"You're not gonna like this." He stated, shiftily avoiding her piercing gaze.
"Oh?" She prompted, eyes narrowing. It was at that moment that Kurtis decided to waltze in.
"Did I miss anything?" He interrupted, swinging around the doorframe and approaching them. Instinctively, Lara stiffened, but didn't look away.
"You're just in time, actually. Where's Alister got to?" Lara stated, keeping impersonal, and remembering briefly their falling out of the previous night.
"Good. I wouldn't wanna miss anything ho - "
"Indeed. To the point, please Zip. I'm quite feeling the need to blow something up." Lara cut across what she knew would be something suggestive from Trent, really not wanting to blush again. They were in whatever it was together now, and business and pleasure never mixed well. Zip was eyeing them both carefully, noting the sultry smirk of Trent surveying the stand offish profile of Lara.
"Well, we're checking out what's left of the jeep," He glared at Trent, "And I've been tracing it's journeys and origins. It woulda taken 2 seconds if someone hadn' blown it apart." The glare got deeper. Kurtis shrugged.
"Sometimes a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do." And he went back to examining his nails. Zip looked about to retaliate, but Lara intercepted.
"Boys, contain your testosterone, please." She waved a hand at the computer. "What did you find?" Once again, Zip looked uncomfortable.
"Well, the Jeep had your usual knock off Japanese parts, American axels, reinforced German glass etc, but was infact registered to..." He winced in preparation. "Prague."
Lara felt her whole inside retract, revulsed by just the mere mention of the place that brought back so many disturbing memories. Of all her adventures, and of all the things she'd seen, that which she'd encountered in Prague was by far the darkest and most disturbing. Even Amanda's beast did not come close to the terror a Nephilim could reap on the world. She recalled the image of it's parched, drawn skin and evil, pointed features. She was so absorbed that she forgot to check Trent's reaction. As it was, when she looked up again, Zip was peering suspiciously at him, and Alister was silhouetted in the doorway of the office. He looked extremely uncomfortable.
"Prague? You're sure?" She managed. One little link didn't make it Nephilim. One little link couldn't lead to the Strahov.
But then who's to say what happened to him in the Strahov?
"Well, yeah, I'm sure. There's something else. "
"There always is." She sighed.
"According to the remains of the sat nav on the jeep, next destination was the Louvre. Tomorrow at 7pm." Lara visibly deflated. Just as she'd been getting close to Avalon, she was going to have to shelve those plans that were so close to her heart, and deal with the other situation that threatened another issue of the heart.
"How can you be sure if I blew up the jeep?" Kurtis cut in unhelpfully. Zip frowned and went to reply, but Lara got there first.
"They followed you here, Trent, so they want you for something. I just happened to be in the way, or so it seems." She paused, turning to him. "Now would be a very good time to explain how you happened to be in the same Systamtel office as me." She noticed a flickering in his eyes as he slowly opened his mouth to answer her, but this time Zip got there first.
"Aaand," Zip continued, "the technology in the jeep was all Systamtel. All of it."
"Aha. This must be our missing link then. My politician must have had some of his facts right after all. But it still doesn't make everything clear." Lara began considering their next move, but Alister stepped forward.
"I contacted a friend at the Louvre, and it so happens that there is a function there tomorrow, to start at 7, to celebrate a new collection, to be revealed and unveiled to the select group invited." He smiled sheepishly, not quite meeting her eye. "I wheedled my way to a ticket, but I think you'll need to approach this one carefully. The Louvre are still suspicious that it was you who sabotaged their excavations last year."
"Which you did, to get the painting." Finished Trent, who was idly spinning Zips pen on the desk without actually touching it.
"But we don' want anyone getting that or we won' be very popular with our insurers." Annoyed, Zip slammed his hand down on the pen, but Kurtis was too quick, flicking it up so that it evaded the hand and slipped behind Zip's ear instead.
"Get the smart car ready, Zip. I think this might warrant a new dress."
"Can I help?" Offered Trent, and by the look on his face she had a good idea that he meant with her dressing. She flapped a hand at her boys as she left to dismiss the idea. What with handsome Americans with superpowers and the possibility of crazed Nephilim worshippers on the loose, it really was not easy being Lara Croft.
The following day, Miss Croft stood in her hall, carefully checking her appearance in the makeshift mirror Winston had cunningly placed on the mantlepiece. Kurtis Trent spotted her there as he made his way down the stairs, and he softened the sound of his footfall, enjoying the sight of her being vaguely feminine. She had indeed found a dress, a full length, black silky number that dipped between her breasts and glanced softly over her figure. She had certainly made a commendable effort. The bit she didn't know, however, was that he was joining her, whether she liked it or not. He had the feeling it would be the latter, but he'd still persisted in his efforst. He'd even cajoled a tux from Winston. The entire affair was keeping him distracted, exactly what he needed. He knew the Louvre show must have something to do with their plans and the promise, but he had no idea how. He was simply an instrument.
And how I fucking hate it, he mused, feeling again the familiar stabs of guilt. He shook it off nevertheless, and silently approached her from behind. When he was a couple of steps from her, he cleared his throat and adopted his best English accent.
"Your carriage awaits, Mademoiselle." He managed, and he enjoyed the surprise in her face and she spun sharply around and assessed him from head to toe, still somewhat peeved at not having noticed him.
"Where do you think you're going?" She demanded, adeptly countering the wave of attraction that accompanied the suit. It clashed wonderfully with his messy, tousled hair, a bit longer than when she had seen him in Prague.
"With you. Where else?"
"There's only one ticket. Besides, my accomodation and journey are all booked and sorted, and you'll simply get in the way." Lara dismissed the idea of him accompanying her, envisaging how he could mess up her plans.
"I'll manage. You really have no choice - if there is Nephilim behind this, you'll need me and my Lux Veritatis blood. You forget that I can...do certain things." He wiggled his fingers, and Lara began to realise that he was right. She offered a tiny bit more fight.
"But I haven't got the time to fetch your chirugai. You can't go without that." She tried to add force to her words, but she knew she was beaten. Besides. It could be fun, sharing a mission, being together, alone...
But your self control will have to be otherworldly.
"No problem." Kurtis said, and holding his hand up skywards, he called his chirugai. Lara only realised what he was doing when she heard the sound of breaking glass, and she just had time to duck as a familiar yellow glow spilled into the room. It sliced through the air and neatly nestled in his hand, closing into the seemingly harmless disk shape.
"You never were one for doors." Lara managed, flicking her hair and making for the exit, where she knew her boys were waiting to send her off in her private helicopter. She decided now was not the right time for discussing the chirugai and its strange behaviour, something she'd been so bemused by that she'd taken to staying well away from the obtrusive little disk. There would be another time. Meanwhile, Kurtis took her reply to mean he could go, and tucking his sorely missed chirugai into his jacket, he followed her.
As they came in to land in Paris, Kurtis tried not to stare too openly at the lights of the city. He still couldn't quite believe he was shacked up in a mansion, travelling around by private helicopter. He came back to reality as he felt Lara tug gently on his sleeve. When he turned to look at her, she pointed down at the Louvre, the whole courtyard iridescent with light. He leant over to look, and without thinking, smiled up into her eager face to show his delight. For a second their shared pleasure leapt between their smiling eyes, and he felt a comfortable lurch in his chest area. For that moment, they were nothing more than two ordinary people innocently sightseeing. For that second, looking into her transformed, natural face it seemed the most natural thing in the world to lean across and kiss her, but as soon as the thought crossed his mind he forced himself to remember why they were doing what they were. As quickly as it came, the moment was soon broken as they both looked away, painfully aware of each other and the enormity of the weight on both their shoulders.
Before too long, they had landed on solid ground, and Lara was hopping out of the helicopter, arranging her dress and hair.
Anything to distract myself from Trent in that tux.
She shook herself. For a second there she'd been in serious danger of losing herself in those blue pools of his. Not a good idea. Not a good idea at all.
She managed to focus herself instead on their aim. Which in itself was difficult, as neither of them had any idea what they would find across the threshold of the Louvre. They began to see movement and lights, as there were carefully uniformed attendants swarming everywhere as well as extravagant lights and special open space performers. Lara took a quick tally of exits and numbers, seeking out any tiny, necessary details. Just as they approached the first archway of the courtyard, Trent stopped. Lara assumed he was checking his apparatus, and so she also conducted a swift check of her earpiece, concealed weapon and hidden microphone. When she was ready, she turned to the courtyard and made to stride across it. Trent however, didn't appear to be following. She turned around, and Trent was struck by the beautiful V of pale skin that stood out against the black dress on her back. He bowed theatrically, waving one hand before him.
"M'lady." And he offered his arm, looking every bit the gentleman. "I believe this requires your loyal escort?" The corner of his mouth lifted in a mocking smirk, but his eyes belied the truth. This is as near a date as we'll ever come, he found himself thinking, as he watched her face fall into a stunning smile. And do I detect a slight glow around your sharp edges, Miss Croft? He continued, satisfied.
"So it would seem." Lara replied, retracing her steps and slipping her arm through his, allowing herself the radiant smile she felt creeping up on her.
Business; paintings and Nephilims. Repeat, paintings and nephilims. And again, paintings and nephilim, she told herself as they approached the main entrance looking every bit lord and lady of the manor.
You just keep telling yourself that, Croft.
So concludes chap 6. I hope there wasn't too much dialogue and too little action - the next part will probably be quite explosive. ;)