Disclaimer: I don't own Alex Rider or anything related to that franchise.

Author's Note: I apologize for my disappearance. School, sports, and stress. And to be honest, I really have no idea where this story is going to go anymore...it's going to be kind of a go-with-the-flow thing...sorry. Any ideas?

And yes, everybody is OOC, but if they weren't, none of this would be happening. ;)

The faint odor of pancakes and toast floated through the open doorway, gently pulling Alex from slumber. Blinking bleary eyes open, he stared up at the ceiling for a while, contemplating the previous night. "What the hell was I thinking yesterday, joking about sex?"

The Rider groaned and rolled out of bed to head downstairs towards the food.

In the kitchen, Yassen smirked as he turned around upon hearing the teen walk in. "Do you always have a habit of walking around the house in nothing but your boxers?"

Alex looked down and blushed, "Sorry…"

The Russian laughed easily, gesturing the younger to sit down. "Eat, I'll go and grab you something to wear."

Alex blushed harder, "T-thanks…"

Yassen smiled to himself as he came back down with a black T-shirt and sweatpants to see Alex digging in. "You should be more careful, Alex. I could've poisoned that."

The Rider didn't stop eating, "But you wouldn't do that."

"Enlighten me," Yassen muttered, setting the clothes on the back of Alex's seat.

"You love me too much, honey," the teen growled through a mouthful of pancake. "Why would you ever want me dead?"

Yassen frowned and slapped the teen on the back of the head. "Just keep your guard up."

Alex finally paused. He gazed steadily at the elder as he pulled on his shirt. "Why are you really here?"

"I thought it was clear, to catch up," Yassen evaded, feigning innocence. He walked over to the window and pulled the curtains apart slightly so he could see the road outside.

Alex snorted disbelievingly. "Yassen…you ask me about my sleeping, you pretend to poison my food, tell me to watch my back," the teen got up and went over to the elder. "And you expect to believe that nothing's up? I've been in this business long enough to know when even you're lying."

The Russian didn't respond, but continued to survey the street seriously.

"What else am I supposed to think? Something's happening, and you think I'm in the middle of it," Alex continued with determination.

"Alex," Yassen began, "Last time I was with you…I, my contact, found something quite interesting…" He pulled the younger to sit down with him on the couch.

The Rider raised a curious brow. "Do tell…"

"What do you know about publicity?" the Russian asked, expression cold and hard.

"That I don't want any part of it," Alex answered immediately. "Publicity brings…fame. And I just want to live a normal life."

The elder smiled nostalgically, "You'll never live a normal life, you should know that by now."

Alex nodded, relaxing into the cushioned seat. "Yeah, with Blunt and Jones up my ass at every turn, normalcy is hard to come by."

"Exactly," Yassen looked away. "MI6…I paid them a visit after you passed out on your be-"

"WHAT?" Alex sat bolt upright. "Are you crazy?"

"Somebody's following you, Alex. They're trying to figure out who you really are: an unofficial government agent. They want to tell the world about what you do for money." Yassen stated calmly, pushing the younger back down. "MI6 was aware, of course, and I made a proposition to them."

Alex stared up at Yassen in disbelief, "And they didn't try to detain you?"

"What're you talking about? They pulled out all the stops…just kidding," he winked. "But it was a delicate situation. I asked to look after you if they did all they could to prevent your story from leaking out."

"And if I don't want it?"

"Oh, I don't know if I can hold back," he grinned sexily.

Alex blushed and punched the elder on the arm, "Jeez, you're insatiable."

Yassen smirked, "They're letting me baby-sit you while they wipe somebody off the face of the earth."

"Why did they accept?" Alex wondered aloud.

"How would Blunt feel if the world suddenly found out that MI6 had stooped so low as to blackmail a 14 year old teenager whose uncle had just died on the job to do all their dirty work?" Yassen's eyes glinted dangerously. "It would be the ultimate humiliation."

Alex smiled, "He can never suffer enough of that."

Yassen pursed his lips, "Alex…how about we take a vacation…"

"To Russia?"

"No," the elder snorted, "Why would you ever want to go to that hell hole?"

"Just because life was harsh on you there doesn't mean that it's bad for everybody…" Alex teased. "Who knows, I might really like it-"

"Trust me, baby," Yassen smirked. "You set foot out there and old geezers with their slutty prostitutes will be on you like flies."

"Mhmm…and I'm sure you were quite the eye turner yourself," Alex sniped back. "So where are we going, Mr. Dimitri?"

Yassen ruffled the teen's hair, "Now we're talking, go get packed."

"What about you?" Alex asked and then saw the suitcase by the door. He pouted, "You know me too well…"

"Go get your stuff."

------------------At the Airport--------------------

"So, does MI6 know you're kidnapping me again?" Alex asked as he walked alongside the elder. The airport was crowded, and the constant people milling around them was not only annoying, but it made it increasingly difficult to talk without being overheard.

Blue eyes twinkling, Yassen looked over to the Rider. "Would I be out here with you if they didn't?"

"Never stopped you before," Alex laughed and they settled into a comfortable silence.

The Rider glanced at Yassen's profile. The Russian was dangerously handsome. Sharp, calculating features, golden blonde hair that was cropped short again, sculpted muscles that made him look strong but lithe and not overly bulky. Combine that with a genius mind and you have Yassen Gregorovich, once the world's top paid assassins. Well, former top paid assassins.

He sighed, why was he still hanging around him? After all, the man had murdered his uncle! But there was just this charm in the elder that Alex just couldn't quite resist.

Yassen slung an arm around the younger's shoulder. "You fear me?"

Alex gave the other a weird look, "Why would you think that?"

"You've got this look in your eyes," Yassen pointed out. "That same look that was in your uncle's eyes."

The Rider gasped and stiffened. "Wh-what are you talking about." He looked up at the Russian, whose gaze was piercing and hard.

"You have to realize, Alex," Yassen explained. "I'm the one that killed your uncle. And I hope you know that I don't regret it, either."

Alex grit his teeth. "It's not that I don't acknowledge it, but I've come to terms with it."

"Meaning what?" Yassen frowned. "That you're going to feel guilty about coming with me? Or that you'll forget about Ian?"

Alex's eyes widened. Yassen's perception never ceased to amaze him. "Why are you mentioning this now?"

Yassen shut his mouth and continued walking, and Alex had no choice but to follow silently. Deeply disturbed by the change of mood, the Rider took a look at his life.

He was basically a drop out from school, had just enough of that rare combination of guts and luck to keep him alive when there was a gun pointed at his ass, had no family, lives with a woman nearly twice his age, is constantly threatened by the British secret service, and is now on the run with a Russian assassin, who just happened to have been the one to kill said uncle. Fuck his life.

Alex scowled faintly as his mind waged war between desire and morals. His uncle, his loving, caring, but mostly absent uncle who was his only family, was killed. Killed by the charismatic if not antisocial Russian contract killer, Yassen Gregorovich. The current man he found himself sticking to like glue. It was almost disturbing how much he wanted to stay with the man.

"Why did you really take on that job?"

"For the money-"

"No, you didn't." Alex persisted. "You accepted because of my father. He's the only one you ever talk about listening too. You knew what Ian was doing to me, and…I don't know, my father must have told you to prevent it or something before he died!"

Yassen rubbed his eyes; "Sometimes…I think you're too smart for your own good, Alex. That's…basically the run down…minus all the exciting drama."

Alex frowned, "Damn."

"Yeah…"

---------------------------Chicago, Illinois-------------------------

"This is different from London…" Alex marveled as they stepped out into the cool mid-September air. "It's really windy."

Yassen paused. "Can you do an American accent?"

"Uhhh…I can try?" Alex attempted.

The elder nodded, "Good enough. Come on, let's get to the hotel."

"Are you tired again?" Alex joked. "Went in for a quickie with the flight attendant, didn't you?"

"Wouldn't you like to know," Yassen winked, walking down the sidewalk.

Alex blanched.

---------TBC-------------

So...like it? Don't like it? I'll be honest, this isn't my fav direction to go, but travel just seems to be drawing my eye now. I'm sorry for my lack of sexual innuendos in here, wanted to make this sort of a serious chapter.

Please tell me if there're any mistakes i didn't catch. The review button is always waiting. :D

Thanks for all the feedback last chapter, it means so much to me. Have a dozen cyber-cookies 3 I love you all!