Chapter 52 - The Death of Luka and Mrs. Filipov (Part 1)
~~~~Summer 1897~~~~
Nikola looked up from the parlor game stall over to the beautiful woman standing behind him.
He held in his hand a small game rifle filled with blanks, aimed at little steel figures on an animated track with little bullseye's painted in the middle. Above him hanged dolls and stuffed dogs, and other assorted prizes.
In all his time in New York this was his first trip to Coney Island, a growing attraction among youth and tourists, or even just the curious and the bored.
It was a perfectly acceptable place for a scientist and a married woman to get lost in. No one knew them, nor could any one who knew them seem them.
He smiled at Katherine Johnson and gave her a small wink as he turned back to the game and shot five targets down with an expert shot.
The stall keeper shouted out his winnings and handed Nikola a small bear with a bow tie to him which he brought back to his waiting date.
"For you," he grinned and handed it to her.
"Oh Nikki, how charming," she smiled at it. "Thank you."
She leaned over and kissed his cheek.
"It's amazing how a few hotels, some fantastical attractions and a couple of parlor games can attract so many people," Nikola joked taking Katherine's arm and walking her away from the gaming stalls.
"I hear they have big plans for this island, there is talk of bigger and more grander spectacles to come," she nodded.
"Bigger than the elephant?" joked Nikola pointing to the still visible form of the large steel and wood elephant poised over the buildings like a beacon.
Katherine laughed.
"Bigger than the elephant," she nodded.
"Doesn't matter, I preceded them them all, I invented the very machine that runs their lights, and their parties and their..."
"Burlesque stages?" Katherine teased.
"Even so, it was a grand invention," he sighed.
"Yes it was," Katherine agreed.
The two stepped on to the boardwalk that led to the docks reaching out far into the Atlantic oceans. The natural element almost as much of a spectacle as the light show behind it.
"Robert would never come here," sighed Katherine. "He does not have the curious spirit like you and I do. He prefers things he understands, like friends and poetry. Not that I don't like friends or poetry but there is life everywhere, Nikki, there is experiences everywhere, and when I met you I realized I wanted to experience them."
Nikola smirked and took her hand.
"Am I an escape?" he asked.
"Yes, I believe you are, a relief more like it, a beautiful relief from the aged world I find myself living in," she turned and caressed his cheek. "I love you for that."
Nikola took her hand gently and kissed the inside of her palm with a tender brush of his lips.
"Your welcome," he said softly and she smiled.
"It's funny, when I first met Robert he was the most exciting man I'd ever met. He was learned and intelligent, different from all the boys in my hometown, I loved him for that. He was the first to treat me like a woman, but now that I am a woman, you've been the first to treat me like young flower. I feel alive and free spirited when I'm with you," she took his hand and led him further on the dock.
Nikola laughed softly.
"The way you talk sometimes, Katherine, it leads me to wonder," he chuckled releasing her hand as she ran to the end of the dock. The sun was setting and it framed her silhouette beautifully.
"Oh Nikki, the boats! I love watching them sail on the horizon. It's magical," Katherine turned to him and he smiled.
It was these moments he really loved her, she had the wisdom of a woman way beyond her years but the bright and stainless youth of an untouched dove, amazed and awed by all, yet not scared by it. It made his rather pessimistic view as of late melt into a boyish grin. It made him feel lighter. Yes, he thought, now he loved her.
Katherine turned back to the fading sun and placed her hands on the railing as she looked back to the ocean.
"Couldn't you just die to a view like that?" she asked whimsically. "Just looking at it you feel as if you could fly, but at the same time feel as if you were at the end of the world and there was nothing more than this."
Nikola stood behind her and placed his hands next to hers on the railing as well. His head came just by her ear as they both stated at the golden-pink sky in front of them.
"I wouldn't want to die," he remarked. "But I can think of other things to do with a view like that."
He could just see the corners of Katherine's mouth curl upwards in a knowing smile.
Without a word he pressed a kiss to her soft neck, hearing her gasp gently as his lips moved tenderly over the smooth skin to the exposed skin near her shoulder. One of his hands let go of the railing to wrap securely around her waist as he continued to lavish her exposed skin with his lips.
She let out a breathy chuckle as one of her own hands grasped his around her waist and her head leant back to rest against his shoulder, her eyes closed in ecstasy of the simple yet erotic gesture of intimacy between them.
The sun was on both of their faces as Nikola moved his assault upwards from her neck to her ear.
He paused for a moment to catch his breath.
"I love you," he whispered to her.
He didn't know what prompted the confession on his part, but in this moment, on this dock, on this island, he loved her with all of his being and he wanted her to know that.
~~~~1925~~~~
Nikola burst into the home on Lexington Avenue, not even bothering to knock, he hadn't the time for it. He needed to see her, and he needed to see her now.
He ran into the study where his old friend undoubtedly was.
"Luka!" he called, running into the room to the old man's worn chair. "How is she?"
Robert Underwood Johnson looked up with old weary eyes.
"I sometimes forget the lack of age presented in you," he looked at Nikola warily. "Must be the effect of all your work with electricity."
Nikola kneeled by the armrest to look into Robert's eyes.
"Katherine, Luka, can I see her? I got your telegram, please, I don't know how late I am, but I want to see her," Nikola grasped his friends hand and held on tightly. "May I?"
"She requested you herself, said she would not pass until she saw you one last time," sighed Robert sadly. "I always hoped I would go first."
Nikola stood up.
"Where is she, Luka?" he asked.
"In the upstairs bedroom, resting, go on in," Robert sat up slowly. "I'll be up in a minute I have to prepare her medicine."
Nikola felt his heart twinge at the word. It sounded awfully bleak to his ears.
"I'm sorry Robert," said Nikola honestly.
Robert nodded and sighed heavily as he trudged to the kitchen.
Nikola hated aging, hated seeing the youth drain out of his friend's eyes.
Without another word he turned and left the study, heading up the staircase to the master bedroom of the house. He reached the door and his hand trembled slightly. He was going to lose her, lose another woman he held dear, he could feel it, he'd already lost Rose, it was all happening at once and he was breaking bit by bit with every passing.
He grasped the door handle and turned it with ease.
His breath came in a gasp as his eyes fell upon her frail form lying in the bed. She looked thin, pale, and tired, unbelievably tired. Next to her on the nightstand were pictures, frames upon frames of beloved pictures. Her and Luka's wedding photo, pictures of her children, pictures of her family, her friends, pictures of him. The foremost frame held a picture of him locked in a timeless gaze. It was an old photo he had taken for, he couldn't even remember what. The man in the photo was younger, happier, successful, he had the world on a platter and potential oozing out of his fingertips. This man was dead. Gone were the days that he dreamt he could change the world with a flick of his wrist and a dazzle of his genius. Gone were the days he believed that everything he wanted was just at his grasp.
He put the frame down back in its spot before pulling up a chair to sit by her bedside.
He sat down heavily and rested his elbows on his knees.
He never thought the day would come where he would have to watch all the ones he loved wither and die. He remembered when he received the telegram of Sam's passing from his wife. His heart had twinged at the knowledge that he would never spend another day in the company of his friend. He even remembered the day his own beloved mother died and he had received word from his sisters that they were taking her body to Gospic, her home town to be buried in her familial plot, he couldn't remember if he even cried or not because at the same time of his mourning he had suffered his own brush with mortality at the end of Jack the Ripper's blade, then his focus returned to the one thing he held more dearer to him than his sweet mother, Helen.
He lost her as well in a way.
Nikola leant his forehead into his hands and let out a small sob.
This was all hitting him at once, all this death, all this loss, and not even his immortal and vampiric abilities were strong enough for him to shield against it.
He silently prayed in Serbian, feeling compelled to do so as he watched his beloved friend lie in a peaceful slumber. Was he praying for her soul, he didn't know, he just prayed.
~~~~Summer 1897~~~~
Katherine laid on top of him, her head resting against his chest and her long hair splayed down her bare back highlighted by the colorful array of lights outside their hotel window. Her arms rested next to his sides, her fingers ghosting the muscles of his forearms and biceps gently as her breathing stilled to a calm pace.
Their lower halves were covered by the sheet, and his arms held her securely but gently around the waist.
Nikola closed his eyes, enjoying the peacefulness of this moment.
Coney Island buzzed beneath them as people, couples, men and women like them ran around outside, looking to get away, looking for a distraction, or looking for a dark corner.
Nikola wondered if there were other married women out there with men who weren't their betrothed, or if their were married men out their with women they had no business being with but were because it was fun and exciting, and dark, and seedy, and it was Coney Island, and no one was going to find them there.
He let out a sigh.
"What are you thinking?" she asked him, pressing a small kiss to his bare chest.
"Who says I'm thinking anything?" Nikola shrugged.
"You're always thinking," she looked up at him with a smile.
"It's nothing, just thoughts," he sighed, stroking his hand up her back softly.
"Not a world changing invention or anything like that?" she teased.
"No, not quite," he chuckled. "I'm just content to have you lie in my arms right now."
Katherine laughed and rested her head against him again.
"That is manageable," she teased, pressing another kiss to his skin.
Nikola's eyes darted around the room and he spotted the bear he had won for her resting on the vanity. It's bow tie picking up fractions of light and causing the bear to have a life of it's own somewhat.
He turned back to Katherine and pressed a kiss to her hair, his arms tightening around her gently.
"We have to leave tomorrow," he sighed. "Robert will be back in a day or so."
Katherine nodded against his chest.
"It's a shame, this place is out of some kind of fantasy, a part of me could stay here forever," she nuzzled him gently.
Nikola looked outside the window. Coney Island wasn't just showboats and bright lights. No, like all things it had a dark side, a black underbelly kept to its corners or swept under the rug. The Gut, as it was referred to; a debaucherous cluster of cheap booze and sex, flimsy showgirls, and lousy drinking songs, meant for individuals trying to hide or spend their money and desires on anyone that would take them for a low fee.
He would never take Katherine there, hell, he wouldn't go there himself, that was low at its all time lowest. Besides, he and Katherine were not like that, they were lovers, so to speak. Their only crime was that one of them happened to be married, but there was still a love between them.
Nikola stroked her back once more.
"I could stay here forever," sighed Katherine sleepily.
"What? In Coney Island?" asked Nikola.
"No, here, with you," she lifted her head again. "I've never felt so complete like when I'm with you."
Nikola chuckled slightly.
"There you go again, Miss Filipov, talking in your strange way," he brushed some hair from her face.
"I mean it, Nikki. I love you, here and now and forever," she kissed him tenderly. "Nothing will ever change that."
Nikola lifted a hand to caress her cheek, then sliding into her hair and cupping the back of her head, pulling her into another kiss.
"Then we'll always have Coney Island," he whispered to her before claiming her lips in a stronger kiss than before.
She responded in kind, using her arms to lift her slightly above him to kiss him at a better angle.
Nikola rolled them over, taking the sheet with them to cover them as Katherine laughed against his lips.
They were always going to have Coney Island.
~~~~1925~~~~
Katherine's eyes fluttered awake. She had been awakened by the sound of crying, soft sobs, at least that's what it sounded like.
She looked around for the source and her eyes fell upon him. His hands were cupped in front of his face like one would say grace, small streams of tears flowing down his young, youthful cheeks. He wasn't sobbing as she had originally thought, but muttering in a language she didn't understand but recognized to be his own.
He'd come, she knew him anywhere. He'd come at her request, like she knew he would.
"Nikola," she croaked through her hoarse throat and he stopped and looked up, meeting her gaze. He quickly wiped the tears from his eyes and smiled at her.
"Katherine," he sighed and took her frail old hand in his. "Oh Katherine."
His sadness etched his voice and it pained her to see him this distraught.
"I always did love it when you called me Katherine," she spoke slowly and surely. "Mrs Filipov always made me feel old."
She chuckled dryly. Nikola chuckled as well.
"Oh, look at you," he sighed. "I feel as if you'll break."
Katherine reached a shaking hand over to him and caressed his cheek.
"Must be strange for an immortal man like you," she smiled, running a hand through his hair.
Nikola knew she meant it only as a joke, but it was ironic how correct she was.
"You haven't aged a day," she sighed. "Except for your eyes."
Nikola laughed.
"Someone told me the exact same thing before...before she...," Nikola couldn't bring himself to say the word.
"I missed you," she squeezed his hand. "I told Robert that I needed to see you. And you came."
Nikola felt his heart twinge again.
"Of course I came, how could I not," he sighed, another tear slipped past his facade and Katherine caught it.
"You're crying," she gasped and looked at him in awe.
"I can't help it, I'm losing everyone I ever cared about all at once," he squeezed her hand that small bit tighter. "I going to lose you Katherine. I've already lost Helen and Rose, I can't lose you too. I'm probably going to lose Robert as well. I can't bear it anymore."
Katherine sat up as best she could but her weak body fell down and Nikola moved to catch and set her back down easily.
"I'm sorry," she coughed, the slight jolt taking some of the wind out of her. Nikola moved from the chair to sit on the side of the bed.
"Are you alright?" he asked, concern brimming his features.
"I was scared you wouldn't come," sighed Katherine. "I love you, Nikola, I never stopped."
"You loved Luka," Nikola scoffed. "You two had a wonderful life together, a long wonderful life."
"Doesn't mean I didn't love you Nikki," she held his hand once more. "You were one of the greatest loves of my life, the other being Robert."
Nikola moved a stray lock of hair from her face.
"I can't say goodbye, Katherine," he sighed. "I ran away from you and Robert all those years ago, I ran away from everything. I run and I keep running and now, just when I'm tired of it all, the people that I love are slipping away from me, one by one."
He scrubbed a hand over his face.
"Will you do me one favor, Nikola, please?" asked Katherine.
"Of course. What is it? Anything," he looked at her sincerely.
"Hold me," she whispered. "Hold me, Nikola."
Nikola didn't know what to think but he nodded anyway, shuffling around so he could scoop her up in his strong arms and cradle her into his chest. His hand stroked down her back gently as her old frail body cuddled as close as possible.
"This reminds me...of that time we spent...in Coney Island," sighed Katherine sleepily.
Nikola chuckled.
"I remember," he nodded as he rubbed soothing circles across her back.
"That was the only time you ever said you loved me," sighed Katherine.
"I've always loved you," Nikola answered. "I still love you."
Katherine smiled.
"We will always have Coney Island, that's what you said to me," Katherine muttered.
"And we always will," he kissed her forehead gently. "It's ours forever."
"Forever and ever," she mumbled before letting her eyes drift close.
It was only that that Nikola saw it. An old, ratty bear sitting atop a shelf in the bedroom, an old ratty bear with a bow tie.
"You kept him," he gasped. "You kept him all this time, you..."
He looked down at her and knew. She was gone. She had held on just long enough to hear him say those last words for her. She wanted to die knowing he loved her.
Nikola bit his lip and kept holding her, not ready to let go yet.
When Robert came into check on her Nikola had gone off to mourn by himself, giving Robert his own time alone with her. He never did notice the empty space on the shelf where a ratty old bear had been.
~~~~August I937~~~~
It had been awhile since he had stepped through these doors. Not since the funeral.
Robert sat in the parlor, reading, looking old and frail and tired as always but in good spirits. He hadn't really been himself since Katherine had passed but he was looking better than he had in awhile.
"Hello Luka," said Nikola.
"Nikola," Robert looked up and smiled warmly. "Thank you for coming."
"I couldn't very well refuse the invitation," Nikola smiled warmly back.
"How long has it been since you and I say together in this house?" asked Robert.
"Coming on twelve years, not since..."
Robert looked down in a fond remembrance.
"I know. She died too young," he sighed. "By all reason I should've gone long before her."
"Then who would be there to care for her?" teased Nikola.
"You, of course," Robert looked up at Nikola.
"I can hardly look after myself," chuckled Nikola.
"I do see that age is finally starting to touch your face, and your eyes," Robert pointed out.
It was amazing what some white paint and a few fake wrinkles could do. Of course he had excused his lack of aging as a result with his work with electricity, he never did tell either Katherine or Robert about his true nature.
"It has to sometime. I'm not immortal or anything like that," Nikola tried not to snicker at that.
"Do you know what was Katherine's last wish for me was?" said Robert.
"What?" asked Nikola.
"She told me, she said "Robert, when I'm gone, I want you to look after our dear friend, Nikki. Make sure he finds some happiness in his life before he goes". I confess I haven't been doing a good job of that in the last decade. I spent too much time wallowing in my own self pity, but now the time has come to make good on my promise."
Nikola rolled his eyes. Why did everyone he cared for did with the wish that he was happy, why did everyone think he was unhappy?
Aside from the fact that the only time he truly felt happy was the brief time he was engaged to Helen, but that's hardly his fault. What with the Great Depression and everything he felt he was allowed to be depressed on some level.
"I'm sick, Nikola, sicker than I look," Robert interrupted Nikola's thoughts. "My doctor says there isn't anything wrong with me, like cancer or ticker problems, but I can feel it. I'm too old. And with all this talk of war and the Germans, I'm just too old for another war. Too tired to live through it again."
"Aren't you being just a bit over-dramatic?" joked Nikola.
"Whether I die tomorrow or in ten years I'm sorting out my estate an I've listed you as one of my beneficiaries," said Robert.
Nikola groaned. Not again.
"You don't have to do that Robert, leave your money to your children, give them their future and your grand kids, not me."
"You are the one currently living in debt," sighed Robert.
"Because I'm happy in debt! It makes me feel important," cried Nikola.
"Bullshit," huffed Robert.
"So what if it's bullshit, I don't want your inheritance, or your estate. I'm happy just the way I am Robert!"
"I promised Katherine..."
"Then fulfill it another way! Better yet, I'll have a seance and tell her I'm doing fine so you don't have to worry."
"Now Nikola."
"No, Robert. I can't take your money from you."
Nikola felt his heart twist slightly.
"Why not?"
"Because I...because I don't deserve it," Nikola groaned and scrubbed a hand over his head.
"Why the devil do you think that?" asked Robert.
"Because I slept with her behind your back!" Nikola confessed.
"What?" the warmth drained out of Robert's features.
"I'm a bastard and I know that, and I never meant to come between you two, but...it just kind of happened. We had an affair, it was small, I ended it because I couldn't live with the guilt. Because I loved both you and her, Luka. There! You have it! My darkest secret, and I will burn a little each day knowing I've betrayed my best and most loyal friend because of my stupid lust! Now keep your inheritance for someone who can use it!"
The silence between them was deafening.
"Say something Luka, anything," begged Nikola.
Robert quietly stood up and took two silent and calm steps up to Nikola, looking him dead on in the eye.
Before Nikola realized it he was punched hard in the face and toppling to the floor.
"Get out," growled Robert. "You bastard, get out!"
Nikola held a hand to his face, collecting the small amount of blood dripping out of his nose.
"I'm sorry, Luka," he turned and headed out of the house at Lexington Avenue.
He cracked his nose back in place, feeling simultaneously like a weight was being lifted off his shoulders only to replaced by a new one. He had told Robert the truth but the truth had most likely ruined their long friendship for good.
He hailed a cab and entered into it, ready to return back to his hotel. He rarely strayed far from it and when he did he never drew too much attention to himself. His double a man known as Rudyard Miller had played him successfully for years as his youth would not go unchecked by the newspapers. Rudy and him talked on end about his mannerisms, who he talked to what he talked about. Rudy had no family or children to be missed by and was happy for the renewed purpose as well as the modest fee keeping him from working on the streets with the other men struck by the economic downfall of the country.
Rudy was the right age, the right height, the right build, even the right facial structure.
Rudy looked quite similar to Nikola in his youth as well, and Rudy was a good student. He took notes and he memorized, knowing as much of Nikola's life and personally quirks as Nikola did. The two were roommates at the Hotel New Yorker. Nikola devised ways to allow himself to sneak around without attracting any undo attention from the maid staff.
Rudy gave Nikola the freedom to not be Nikola Tesla more than he had to be, which was nice.
Nikola arrived at the Hotel New Yorker about a half hour later. He entered, flirted with woman at the desk.
"You may go up Mr. Dragoslav," she giggled and smiled at him.
"Thank you Jenny," he winked at her and headed to the elevator. It was a good thing he scratched the paint out of his hair before entering the hotel.
"Where to, sir?" asked the bellhop on the elevator.
"Level 40," he said.
The rest of the trip was silent.
The elevator dinged and the doors opened, Nikola stepped out casually and tipped the bellhop while continuing down the hall.
He reached his room and was about pull out his key when...
"If you're a reporter he won't see you," a voice said suddenly.
Nikola turned to see a young woman, about 23 to 25. She was dressed in the maid uniform and rolling a cart while holding two rolls of toilet paper under her arms.
"I'm not a reporter," he smirked at her.
"He won't see lawyers or bankers either," stated the young woman.
"Fortunately I'm not a lawyer or a banker either, I'm an old friend," said Nikola.
"Not that old, and he never has friends," she said continuing to work.
"I'm visiting," Nikola shrugged.
He knocked on the door.
"Busy!" answered Rudy.
Of all the times to be in character.
"It's me!" called Nikola,
"I'm not expecting anybody!" called Rudy in his artificial Serbian accent.
Nikola groaned.
The young maid chuckled.
"Sure you're not a journalist?" she asked.
Nikola chuckled.
"You caught me," he raised his hands in surrender. "I work for the daily, uh, re- uh - gurgitated...reporter. The Daily Reporter. Hah! We're doing a piece on old...smart people..."
"You're not a journalist," the woman rolled her eyes.
"You're right, I'm really a genius," Nikola tried to sound smug bit the woman's scoff deflated him immediately.
"Who are you, really?" asked the maid.
"I really do know him, really, see he gave me his spare key. I'm his nephew," he held up the hotel key.
"You're Nikola Tesla's nephew?" she asked skeptically.
"My mother was his sister Marica, I'm her youngest," Nikola lied. "This is our first meeting so you can understand why he didn't understand me, I should probably introduce myself. Javor," Nikola extended his hand.
"I've heard of you, you are Tesla's assistant they say, sometimes he sends you down to fix problems instead of himself," said the maid.
Nikola smirked.
"Caught me again," Nikola retracted his hand. "This really isn't my day."
"It would've been easier for you if you just told the truth," she remarked.
"I guess I was trying to be impressive," Nikola shrugged. "Most girls don't find gopher boys for ailing geniuses very endearing."
The maid chuckled and kept walking away.
Oh, he could not end it there.
"Uh, what's your name? It wouldn't end with Holmes now would it?" he followed after her.
"Cleo," she answered.
"That's beautiful," he nodded.
"Maybe you heard of me, I used to rule Egypt before I hot bored of that and decided I'd become a maid in New York."
Nikola chuckled.
"You're sharp," he commented.
"Careful, you'll cut yourself," she warned.
"I don't mind a small cut if the jewel behind it is pretty enough," he flirted.
"Suddenly you're so smooth?" she looked at him skeptically.
"Come on, I told you my secret. What's yours? If you don't tell me I'll start guessing. Is it Jane? Louise? Gertrude?"
The woman rolled her eyes.
"Kate," she sighed.
Nikola suddenly deflated.
"As in..."
"Katherine," she sighed.
The name hurt a little as his mind went back mere hours ago to the altercation with his old friend.
"I'm sorry, I should let you get back to work," he backed off.
"Okay. I have never seen hot air fly out of a man so fast because of a name. Is it that much of a turn off?" Kate turned to him.
She was very pretty. Dark medium short hair, she seemed to be about 5'6" in height, she had a New Yorker attitude but a genuine smile that was only slightly crooked, and she was spunky.
Aside from the name she was nothing like Katherine. Katherine Johnson was soft around the edges with a deep warm center, slow and sensual and graceful. This girl was sharp. She was refreshing.
Maybe that was why he was acting like a 24 year old dolt with a hard on.
"It's not you, I've just got to..." he started to excuse himself, sure he'd made enough of a fool of himself today than was necessary, but it struck him. It was just a name, she was just a girl. He hadn't gone on a date in a long time and this girl at least had a personality that was actually rather intriguing. This was Kate, not Katherine. "Would you like to have dinner with me sometime, Kate?" he asked suddenly.
Kate blinked.
"Wow, you're a one man roller coaster in there aren't you?" she eyed him.
"I'm odd, let's put it that way," he shrugged. "Besides, I like you Kate. You're kind of a no nonsense ball breaker and I like it."
Suddenly Kate got a grin Nikola was sure was doing something to his brain.
"Why don't we skip dinner and all that crap and go straight to the dirty business?" she offered and it took Nikola off guard.
"Excuse me..."
She held up a key.
"I have a master key. Pick a room, I'll tell you if it's occupied," she grinned deviously and Nikola grinned back. He knew he liked her for some reason.
~~~~Later~~~~
Nikola entered his hotel room. His hair stood up at an odd angle and his shirt was untucked, one band of his suspenders hanging loose by his waist the other thrown haphazardly over his shoulder. His breath came out a bit ragged but the grin on his face was nothing if not bemused.
Rudy heard him enter and slowly walked to greet him.
"You look like you've just been smacked by Cupid," Rudy crossed his arms.
Nikola smirked.
"I haven't felt this juvenile since...well, when I was juvenile," Nikola chuckled.
"Wouldn't that interfere with your claim to be celibate?" asked Rudy.
"Nikola Tesla is celibate, luckily she thinks I am Nikola Tesla's lackey. To her, I was a young idiot who looked like he might be a good screw in the closet. I haven't been used like that in ages it was...refreshing," Nikola ran his hand through his hair. "I haven't felt this young in ages."
"And what's brought on this relative fountain of youth, despite you being unable to age," Rudy cackled softly.
The elderly man went to sit down.
"I don't know, it just kind of happened," shrugged Nikola. "I wonder if she'll see me again."
"My, you have perked up," Rudy teased.
"Well, we can't work, now can we?" Nikola defended. "I only claimed celibacy all those years ago so I would be left alone. It was a time I thought I wanted to be left alone. But now...I've seen people die, people I love. People who lived, and loved, screwed around, had meaningless sex and meaningful relationships. And then this maid comes along and she turns me into a juvenile and I...I welcomed it. For a chance to escape."
Nikola looked at the older version of himself and instantly felt a little guilty.
"I'm sorry," he looked down. "You must be thinking I'm some kind of twat for talking like this."
"It's okay. It's nice to see you finally looking happy."
Nikola rolled his eyes.
"I was happy before. Why does everyone think I'm unhappy?" he looked at him earnestly. "Do you really think I'm unhappy?"
"It's true, I've spent the last twenty odd years playing your older self for the public. I've practically given up any chance for a life of my own, but playing you has renewed my sense of purpose. I lost my wife to pneumonia when I was young and she was my life and my livelihood and when you and that Doctor woman found me, homeless and friendless, I had hit absolute rock bottom. I have never regretted it. But knowing someone as intimately as I know you I've learnt to know the difference between when you're sufficed, when you put in a smile, when you've settled with what life had given you, and when you are happy despite of what life has given you. Right now, I could throw you off the roof and you'd get up, wipe the dust off and skip down the street. When you left this morning you were solemn, you had a smile but it held nothing, you looked old...with the eyes."
Nikola nodded.
"I see."
"Whoever this woman is, she's made you sparkle again...in the eyes."
Nikola smirked.
"Thanks Rudy."
"No problem Tesla," he grunted as he got up. "I think I'm going to go for a stroll in the park and feed the birds as it were."
He coughed slightly and Nikola cringed slightly.
"Some fresh air would be good at this point," he reiterated.
"Watch yourself," waved Nikola.
"Don't worry, I'll leave the hair-brained inventions to you, I'm just going to feed the birds," said Rudy as he grabbed his coat and hat and a bag of crumbs and left the apartment.
Nikola bit his lip slightly.
Maybe Rudy was right, maybe it was about time he lived a little. He got up and ran out of the room. He was going to find that young maid again and he was going to ask her to dinner as he originally planned.
He found her down the hall, almost near the elevator.
He rushed towards her.
"Wait!" he called.
She stopped and turned to him.
He reached her.
"Have dinner with me," he stated more than asked.
"What, the little bump together in the supply closet wasn't enough for you?" she scoffed.
"No it was perfect, now I want to see you in a dress," he stated.
"I'm in a dress," she gestured to her uniform.
"A proper dress, a red dress, with some cleavage showing, just for one evening then I'll leave you alone," he smirked and Kate smirked back.
"I get off at around midnight, I won't be in a dress but you can take me anywhere you want."
Nikola smirked.
"I'll see you then," Nikola smirked and then turned back. When he returned to the room the phone was ringing. "Hello," he answered jovially.
"A message was left for Mr. Tesla by a Mr. Johnson," said the concierge. "He wishes to see Mr. Tesla as soon as is convenient."
Nikola bit his lip.
"I will tell him right away, thank you," he hung up the phone and calmed himself down. He straightened out his clothes and grabbed his hat.
He was going to do his best to be as honest as he could with his old friend, he delivered him quite a wallop with his confession that afternoon.
In no less than thirty minutes he was back on Lexington Avenue.
He rang the doorbell and it was opened by Robert's head maid. Then he was shown to the parlor where Robert was waiting for him.
"Thank you Margaret, you can leave now," he dismissed her and she nodded and left quickly.
Nikola swallowed dryly.
Nikola took a hesitant step towards Robert.
"Luka..." Nikola started.
"How long?" asked Robert.
"How long?" Nikola asked back with confusion.
"How long did your affair last?" he asked, his tone was harsh and sharp.
"Oh," Nikola looked down. "Does it really matter?"
"I want to know how long you were sleeping with my wife!" barked Robert.
"On and off...about three years," Nikola said like a guilty man.
Robert sputtered.
"Three years!" he cried.
"In linear terms yes, but we only got together a couple times in that time span," Nikola sighed.
"When?" Robert barked.
"The few times when you were out of town on business and Katherine was lonely, and it wasn't all...like that, most of the time I would just take her out to places. Museums, clubs, restaurants. We went on picnics Robert, it was only on occasion that we...we never...I never meant to hurt you. I broke it off because I, I couldn't live with the fact that if you found out you...you would feel like this."
"Took you three years to build up enough guilt and come to that conclusion did it?"
"I always took her to a hotel, Robert, to a place where we were faceless strangers. I never touched her in this house or in your bed."
"And that makes everything better!" Robert shouted.
"No, I'm sorry! I was a bastard then, I used your charity and your wife. I'm the wife stealing bastard! But I loved you and Katherine, Luka, and I will have to live with my mistakes for the rest of my life! And I have! Why do you think I was away for so many parties Robert!"
Robert finally deflated a little.
"It wasn't us for that first while, Robert, it was like she was someone else and I was someone else as you weren't there and that's why we did it. But eventually I remembered and I couldn't live with myself anymore, because as much as I loved her, Luka I loved you as well, and I was going to ruin you both because of my destructive behavior. That's why I can't take your inheritance, it's why I won't."
Nikola felt exhausted after the speech and Robert was struck silent. Nikola took it as a silent invitation to leave so he walked out.
He decided to walk home.
~~~~Later~~~~
He was waiting outside the hotel, dressed from head to foot as he always was, in his best suit.
Fortunately his best suit had seen better days so Kate wouldn't think he was some kind of lovesick playboy. Which he wasn't he was just...intrigued. That was the right word, intrigued.
She was intriguing to him. Young, intelligent, spunky. She was just the thing to clear away some of the cobwebs of his disappointed love life. It wasn't anything serious, just a breath of fresh air.
He sat on the back of the small bench across the street from the Hotel watching the front doors intently.
Even so close to midnight the streets were still whizzing with cars, and the sidewalk still littered with people.
Then there she was, exiting the building. Her short hair was tied into to pig tails and she wore a light blue coat over the skirt and blouse she had changed into.
She had a small bag slung over her shoulder. She was even cuter outside of the maids uniform.
He hopped off the bench and ran towards her when he realized she hadn't seen him.
"Kate!" he called after her.
She turned and give a half-hearted chuckle at him.
"I almost thought you'd have forgotten," she said with a small grin.
"But we made a date," Nikola said sincerely.
Kate laughed.
"So, where are you taking me?" she asked.
"Uh, well, I hadn't really made any plans, other than meeting you," he scratched his head.
"I'm going home," she rolled her eyes and laughed at him.
"Wait!" Nikola held her to stop her from going.
"What is it genius?" she eyed him skeptically.
"Want to go drink wine in the park?" he offered.
" At night?" she asked.
"Why not? No one will disturb us, unless the owls have a problem with us making out underneath their tree."
He gave her a devious grin.
"Where are you going to get wine at this hour of the night?" she put her hands on her hips.
He took one of her hands and led her across the street to the bench he had been sitting on.
"Well, I may have done a little planning," he held up a small basket with a wine bottle and other treats inside.
Kate chuckled.
"A moonlight picnic, on the first date? Aren't you just about shooing for the moon there, Romeo?" she teased.
"Well, technically our first date was this afternoon in the supply closet. I thought at least I'd make it with the trouble," he smirked.
She gave him a look and then matched his grin.
"Lead the way then," she shrugged and he offered her his arm.
~~~~Later~~~~
How things tended to escalate around him, he didn't know, nor did he care. All he knew was that one half glass of wine and he was on his back with a gorgeous half naked woman on top of him.
His shirt was pulled out of his trousers and unbuttoned and his suspenders were halfway down his arms. His head rested on a tree root as his hands rested on her waist.
Again the feeling of juvenility washed through him and it was exciting.
They were in the park groping around like first timers.
Again from sitting down under the tree to now he had no idea what had happened that led to this.
He let out a chuckle.
"What are you laughing about?" Kate sat up. She was currently straddling him with her skirt pushed up past her waist and her blouse completely abandoned on the ground beside them.
"Oh nothing, just, not how I pictured this date going," he shrugged.
"How did you picture this date going?" she leaned down and rested her arms on his chest.
"You know, drinking, maybe some kissing, I'd walk you home..."
"Kiss me goodnight," she teased.
"Yes, but you would be so turned on that you would grab me by my tie and drag me upstairs and we would proceed to wear a whole in the floor."
Kate laughed against his chest.
"You've just skipped a few steps, it's kind of funny," he chuckled as well.
"Truth is, I'm not into the whole courtship-marriage thing. Once a girl gets married, that's it, perpetual servitude and baby-making."
"I'm not trying to court you if that makes you feel better. I just enjoyed your company is all."
"It starts out like that but soon it turns into jealousy, you start using terms like my girl, we begin fighting, then screwing, then fighting, then screwing, then I get pregnant, you begin making demands of me, I soon move into a nice flat with you down on the island, then we move to the country. One child becomes three, three becomes six, soon enough we get married just because to hell with it we're stuck with each other and that is so fricking sad we lose complete interest in each other sexually. You begin screwing the neighbors wife and I run away with some burly soldier type and leave you with the six kids, two dogs, pig and horse. The oldest hates you and runs away in the dead of night to join the circus, you begin beating the other five, meanwhile I become a prostitute in the Bronx just to feed myself. It's all really tragic, don't you think?"
Nikola lay there a little gobsmacked at the future Kate had painted for him.
"I, uh, really hadn't thought that far ahead," he mumbled.
Kate leaned down and kissed him.
"That's why I skip the lovey dovey dating and hand-holding and go straight to the fun stuff. We play, we screw, we say goodnight, we end it there, it's simple, it's elegant. No six kids, no countryside manor, and no rings."
Nikola considered what she was saying.
"I can live with that," he nodded.
"I thought you might," her hand reached down and undid his belt. "Plus it's a little exciting isn't it? A public place, anybody could come out for a midnight stroll, it could rain..."
Her words soon became nothing but sounds to his ears.
This woman was dangerous for him, he knew that, she only wanted one thing from him and expected him to deliver with no strings. He hadn't had an offer like that in a long while.
Nikola smirked and grabbed her hips and rolled them over roughly so that he was on top. It didn't last long because soon he was on his back again.
" Nice try," murmured Kate and he chuckled.
"You are rather dominating," he teased.
"I like being on top," she shrugged, maneuvering herself just that little bit that made him see stars.
"Well, I don't want to get dirt on my back," he sat up. "We'll compromise."
Before she could retort he silenced her with his lips.
When he had her reasonably distracted he toppled them over and pinned her to the ground.
"Ugh, you bastard," she growled, trying to feign anger but he could see it in her eyes, this was as fun for her as it was for him.
"Fortunately for me, I don't care what you think," he smirked.
He leant down and kissed her neck a little less-than-tenderly. She made a sound mixed between a growl and a moan.
Suddenly she threw him off her and he whipped onto his back and gasped as the wind was just slightly knocked out of him.
"Fortunately, I can live with that," she straddled his hips again.
He sat up and kissed her again. He was done with the verbal retort. It was all physical now.
They were soon driving each other into a frenzy.
"Hey you there!" a whistle cut through their haze.
"Shit," mumbled Kate. She scrambled off Nikola's lap. "It's the cops."
She grabbed her blouse and her shoes and began running.
Another whistle blew.
"Hey!" shouted the copper.
Nikola got up as well, abandoning the basket and wine bottle and taking off behind Kate.
"Stop! Police!"
Nikola caught up to Kate and grabbed her hand.
"This way," he muttered to her.
Another whistle cut through the night air.
Nikola couldn't help but snicker.
What a state they were in. Unbuttoned and disheveled criminals. It was quite laughable. A relative Bonnie and Clyde, except their only crime was to be entangled together at the wrong place at the wrong time.
The sky cracked with lightning and Nikola looked up while continuing to run. Soon they were covered with a sheet of rain.
Nikola looked behind him at the two or three cops chasing after them and then looked ahead.
He smirked and tugged Kate behind a thicket of trees.
"What are you doing?" she gasped.
"Shhh," he hushed.
He held her against the trunk of the tree and swiped his damp hair out of his face.
They heard the policemen run past and stop just a few meters from the tree.
"They got away," scowled one of them.
"Stupid young 'uns, have nothing better to do than stay out all night and cause us trouble," growled another.
"Come on, let's get back, they won't be causing us any more grief, I'm getting soaked!" the three officers turned and left.
Once they were gone Nikola let out a breath and laughed.
"Whew," he chuckled. "That was close!"
"Yeah," Kate chuckled as well.
"Do you normally attract such attention?" he teased.
"I don't normally try to do it in the park at midnight," she smirked back.
Nikola smirked.
"I would hope not," he grinned.
He was soaked through. His hair stood on end in wet spikes.
She was in a similar state, with her blouse soaked and wrung around her hands.
"Why, you jealous?" she teased.
"Of course not, I'd just like to think I at least have some degree of originality, if you tell me that every boy under the sun has taken you to that park with a bottle of wine, you might just break my heart," he grinned cheekily.
"Well your heart can rest at ease, most boys take me to the movies," she sighed. "And your the first I've ever done at work if that helps."
Nikola smirked.
"Almost," he leaned in and capture her lips again.
"We're going to get caught again," she smirked as he moved from her lips to her neck.
"Let them," he continued. "It'll be the first time you do it in a jail cell."
"Sadly, it won't," she sighed and and Nikola paused to look her in the eye.
"Well aren't you just full of surprises," he smirked.
"Come on," she grabbed him by the lapel of his shirt and dragged him out from behind the tree.
"Where are we going?" he asked.
"No questions," she pulled him out of the park and to the street. She threw her blouse on and buttoned it up expertly.
She hailed a cab and dragged Nikola into it before discreetly giving the driver directions and crawling in the back with him.
"Where are you taking me, Katherine?" the name slipped out and for a moment he didn't see the young woman he had net that afternoon but his old friend, as he remembered her. Soft and beautiful, sweet as honey, a smile like sunshine, and a voice like a swan.
He blinked and it was gone.
Before him was a dripping wet, spunky, danger girl, glaring at him.
"You call me Katherine again and I'll break you," she threatened.
"I could take that so many ways," he grinned mischievously.
She swatted him.
He caught her hand and tugged her on to his lap.
"You Mr. Javor, are dangerous," she teased.
"Because I attract cops?" he grinned.
"Because you enjoy how dangerous I am way too much," she kissed him sloppily.
"The two of us together are practically volatile," he rested a hand on her knee as she kissed his neck.
"Oh definitely," she agreed.
His hand rose a little higher.
"Like mixing vinegar and baking soda," he added.
"Cupcakes?" she sat up and gave him a look.
"Uh, no...nevermind," he chuckled.
She grinned and then grasped his head and pulled him to her.
"Hey! No funny business in my cab!" barked the driver and Kate flew off of Nikola's lap to the seat next to him, using her hand to smother her laugh.
"Sorry, no funny business...nothing funny about it at all," Nikola apologized through fighting his own laughter.
"You're trouble, I like it," Kate snickered.
"So does that mean you'll let me see you again?" asked Nikola.
"I already told you," she sighed.
"Oh right, courtship, country home, six kids, two dogs, I forgot," he snickered.
"Yah, and I'd rather keep my apartment...I rather like it," she gave him a grin.
"Yah well, skip courtship, I just want to get up to trouble with somebody," he smirked. "I've tried the whole courtship, love and devotion thing, it is just as crappy as you think it is. I'm just like you, Kate. I don't want the six kids, the two dogs, the country home, or the rings."
Something in him twisted when he thought about rings. The way that she handed it back to him as if it was cursed. The whole thing would've hurt a lot less if she hadn't given it back to him.
He shook off the thought.
"I just want to screw around," he looked at her with a cheeky grin.
"Now that I can do," Kate leaned over and kissed him soundly.
The car stopped and she pulled him out again. He payed their fare. Soon she was dragging him up the stairs, stopping every once in a while to give him a quick snog.
They finally reached her apartment and he was quickly shoved inside.
They wasted no time in divesting each other of their wet garments. Choosing instead to light a fire and continue their date on the carpet in front of it.
It was mid-morning by the time Nikola waltzed back in through the lobby doors of the Hotel New Yorker. He tipped his hat to Jenny at the front desk, went up 40 floors and entered into room 3327.
The door shut behind him and he fell against it.
"Well look what the cat dragged back," Rudy entered from the bedroom. "It's Casanova himself."
Nikola smirked.
"I had a wonderful evening," he sighed dreamily. "I think I'm in love."
"Oh lord," groaned Rudy.
"Not in love, like in love in love," clarified Nikola. "But she's fun, and exhilarating, and she smells like peaches. I've never net a girl that smelt so profoundly like peaches!"
Rudy let out a grumbly laugh.
" You're head over heels, by god man," Rudy rolled his eyes.
"She's reckless, and careless, and dangerous, and how does she achieve the smell? Like does she rub peaches on herself every morning...oh I'd like to see that."
"Breakfast?" offered Rudy.
"I think every woman should smell like peaches, peaches and...and..."
"Cream?" suggested Rudy, holding up a carton of cream that he was using to pour into his morning tea.
"No, cream is the word I'd use to describe her skin, it's flavor, texture," Nikola sat down at the table whimsically, his head in hands. "Is it possible that she's a goddess sent to tempt me?"
Rudy scoffed.
"I haven't felt like this since...uh, since awhile," Nikola snapped back into reality. "How about you, any news about us?"
Rudy looked down into his teacup before sitting down.
"They're back," he muttered. "I noticed them yesterday when I went for a stroll in the park. I wouldn't be surprised if they are watching us right now."
Nikola looked around warily.
"Well, we'll just have to be extra careful then," he sighed. "Continue as normal. They're most likely waiting for us to do something that will warrant having to make contact. I have a plan in place, don't worry."
Rudy nodded.
"I hope so, cause with my ticker I won't last very long in a prison cell," chuckled Rudy.
Nikola patted Rudy's shoulder.
"It will never come to that, I promise, I won't let it,"
Rudy nodded.
"So when are you seeing Peaches again?" teased Rudy.
"Tonight after her work, and with any luck...maybe tomorrow night as well," Nikola smirked.
"Which reminds me, we got another message from the Johnson fellow," said Rudy and Nikola's smile faltered.
"What did he say?" asked Nikola.
"Well it was all rather vague but he left a telegram for you, read it yourself," Rudy handed him the small letter.
Nikola picked up the telegram and opened it. As soon as his eyes hit the page his heart sank.
He folded it up and scrubbed a hand over his face.
"Probably means nothing," he sighed.
"Alright," Rudy stood up and headed towards the door. "I'm going to take our daily stroll through the park to see the birds."
Nikola waved absently as he chewed his lip in thought.
He wasn't going to think about it, Robert just needed some time to cool down.
He sighed and leant back in his chair. Now, all he needed to do was think about his new great distraction...and where the best place was to buy peaches.
~~~~Author's Notes~~~~
Yay for planning ahead. A quick update, I won't promise that the next one will be as quick but quicker than...well, something.
I know you nervous nellies dislike it when Nikola becomes interested in another woman aside from our beloved Helen, but not to fear, she isn't a permanent replacement, she is just affecting a new side of Nikola that we really haven't seen but i think is apart of his character: The Relentless Flirt.
In the wake of his crushing defeat a few chapters ago, he is now becoming the sweet and seductive genius we know and love. Not just flirting with our dear Helen, but with many women, You can't deny it, you know it's there!