Yeah, so I may actually have a bit of a warning just in case ^_^ The end has some blood and mentions of beating, but it doesn't last long. Just thought I'd let everyone know before hand.
Jim wasn't prone to worry. He took everything that happened, every unexpected dilemma and detail, in stride. Rarely letting on that anything effected his cool composure, and if it did he was more prone to anger and frustration but never worry. Hence his immense frustration when the hours continued to drag by with no word from John despite the fact Jim had sent out a few texts and calls to try and contact him. The contract should have taken the man no time at all considering his level of skill. Jim should have been contacted by now to be told the assassination had been accomplished. It had crossed his mind for a few moments that the assassin had finally decided to cut off their arrangement, but that didn't seem very logical. Which might have been odd were it anyone else by John Watson, as the average person put in John's position would have long since attempted to flee or setup the criminal. John hadn't done so yet, and save for this one contract the assassin had been the one calling for work rather than Jim calling with requests. With that theory ruled out, Jim's other ones dwindled along with the time until he was finally breaking down and calling for a driver.
Accompanied by a few of his more loyal men as guards, Jim had his driver take him out to the location where the assassination was to take place. It was dark still, early morning now, and the body had yet to be found as the streets were deserted and John wouldn't have been so idiotic as to leave off a silencer. A quick check over the body as his guards stood around him, blocking any key lines of sight in case any hostile threats lingered. They'd be the first line of defense as their brains would be splattered across the streets – not unlike the man laying dead at the criminal's feet—before Jim's would be. It was rather obvious what the cause of death was. A near perfect headshot, and from a high-caliber rifle. John. The assassin had carried out the assassination after all, but that still left another question. Where was the man?
Normally, Jim wouldn't care if his employees disappeared off the face of the Earth because he could still find them and have them killed. No, John was a bit too important at the moment to just be allowed to disappear. Too critical to his ever shifting and evolving game with the Holmes brothers, as well as to Jim's own personal agenda outside of said game. His world didn't revolve solely around Sherlock after all, he had other things going on in the big bad world. Things he'd prefer to have John take care of given the man's skill. Considering that this disappearance seemed off, Jim was even more interested. Something was definitely going on. Something that Jim hadn't ordered, which meant he wasn't in control of the situation for once. He hated it when he wasn't in control, didn't hold all the cards. Leaving him fairly annoyed as he checked the body further. Looking at the angle of the body, the position of the kill shot, and then looked around them. It wasn't hard to figure out which building John had set up in, so with a signal to his men they were moving on. Leaving the body untouched and in the exact way they'd found it. No need to ruin John's work, after all.
Moving into the building, Jim walked in a formation that had two men before him and two men behind him. Again, always something between himself and a bullet or knife. He wasn't going to make it too easy for someone to kill him. The criminal skipped over the first floor completely in favor of the second and third floor. It was more likely considering John had been using a sniper rifle. The third floor the most likely, and turning out to be the correct choice. The flat there quite obviously having been where John had been.
The first thing that drew Jim's attention in the room, after a quick check to ensure the room was clear and free of threats, was the rifle still set up by the window. A dark eyebrow rose as he moved forward and looked the rifle over. A brief bout of confusion actually coming over him because Jim had learned very quickly over the past days he'd come to know John and his profession, that the assassin loved his rifle like a child, and the man was thorough. The rifle, apparently, had been carefully selected and then later customized over a span of years. Tweaked until it was deemed perfect by John, and the man had used it on plenty of contracts for several years. Sentimental. The man wouldn't leave it behind. Not to mention it was sloppy work. Leaving any murder weapon lying around was sloppy – unless the intent was to frame—as it left incriminating evidence in most cases. John was far too professional, far too intelligent to make such a rookie mistake. The next clue that something was entirely wrong was the knife. Embedded deep within the wood flooring, and looking very much as if it had been intended for something a bit softer and more vulnerable than the floor. There would be no need for the knife to make an appearance, as he recognized it as John's as well, unless he had felt threatened and drew it for protection. So the man had been attacked, which made sense considering the faint signs of a scuffle having occurred. No blood though. He supposed that was a good sign considering. Meant that John hadn't been killed there at least. No evidence of death meant the assassin was still alive. Further inspection had Jim finding a syringe that seemed to have rolled unnoticed into a corner…Interesting.
Jim moved to retrieve it and glanced at what was left of its contents. The semi-translucent liquid was likely a sedative, but he'd have to get it tested by his own people to see if he really felt like going through the effort. The criminal's eyes narrowed as he sent off a message to have a cleanup crew take care of the flat since John obviously wouldn't be able to do so himself, then refocused on the syringe in his hand. Twisting it about and watching was little liquid remained move in the glass. His assassin had been kidnapped—well, John wasn't his yet but he fully planned on that changing. Other than himself and John, no one else would have known about the contract. Jim's client wouldn't have done this, the man wasn't smart enough to do so, and that meant it had to be some kind of outside force which—
Jim's jaw tightened along with his grip on the syringe to the point where he nearly cracked it. Of course. Why hadn't he thought of that earlier?
"Sebastian." the criminal hissed, thumb flicking over the screen of his phone with more force than was necessary as he pulled up one of his contacts.
John groaned when he woke. Head pounding as he slowly blinked his eyes open. Vision blurry for a few moments as he tried to focus. He hated being drugged. Not simply because the experience itself wasn't pleasant, but also because it left him unable to function to the best of his ability even after he finally woke from his drug induced sleep. It took several long moments before John was aware that he was tied to a chair…How generic. It took him a bit longer to realize he was in waking up in the middle of a conversation.
"- wants him alive." One said.
"We wouldn't have to kill him. Just keep him from getting any ideas before we make it back to Moscow." Another responded.
"He's not getting away this time." The first argued, seemingly confident.
"The last people who went after him died," the other deadpanned. There was several moments of silence at that, and John remembered how this had all been made possible in the first place. He'd had Moriarty kill the Russian hit team after him.
"Fine…Don't make it too bad. Boss'll kill us if we take the fun out of it for him." the first was finally saying, relenting and giving in. That didn't seem to be a decision in John's favor. His vision cleared the rest of the way, however, and he was finally able to see the two speaking clearly. One the larger, heavily built (muscle, not fat) Russian that had to have been the one that had carried him after being drugged. He had a dark beard and hair, and the other was lankier. Not necessarily thin, but he looked far smaller in comparison to the larger of the two and had shaggy blond hair.
"He's awake," the blond said, and he recognized the voice of the first one that had spoken.
"I'll handle this, go help Erik." the dark-haired Russian said, and with a bit of reluctance the mention was leaving. Leaving him alone with the man that was probably a good foot taller than him were he standing up rather than left tied to the chair he was in. The assassin watched the other carefully as he slowly adjusted as the drugs worked out of his system. His senses becoming increasingly alert as he was given an unreadable look.
"I'm glad I was the one that finally got hold of you," the Russian spat, eyes narrowing. "You've killed my brothers." John blinked at that…Bit not good.
"Sorry to hear that," John replied, his accent convincing enough to fool most into thinking he was a native speaker. Considering the circumstances however, John wasn't sure that he liked the smile he received.
"You will be." It was literally the most generic line in the book –which went along perfectly with being tied to a chair in what appeared to be a rundown motel room—but even knowing that, John found the beginnings of dread actually forming in the pit of his stomach.
John was ready for the first blow when it came. A rather large fist driving right into his jaw and splitting the assassin's bottom lip right off the bat. The metallic tang of blood was quick to flood his mouth and he spit some of it out before looking back to the Russian. Expressionless and calm as he waited for the next blow. He wasn't disappointed as the next one had his head snapping viciously to the side with little time to prepare as a fist collided with his stomach. Blood spit out again as the air was knocked from his lungs and he was gasping for air before sitting back. Knowing he'd be in for a long beating at this rate. Pure, simple, and brutal. Proven as he received another gut-wrenching jab to the stomach.
I didn't think the scene was too graphic, but better safe than sorry because I don't think most things are graphic at times *shrugs* So there you go, finally updated and things don't appear to be looking good for John at the moment :-/
Thanks to everyone who takes the time to read this, and especially to the people who review and follow/favorite! Please leave some reviews because it really helps motivate me.
Have a good day
Reaperess ^_^