A/N: This is set post-Firewall, pre-Animus. Originally written for the prompt "I've missed you kiss," but it sort of morphed into its own thing. Enjoy!
Investigating the holographic city had gone well at first. The first rush of wonder and excitement had carried them all through several hours of looking around, trying to gather as much information as they could.
Just as it seemed they finished examining a section, another one popped up. Whatever this city was, its boundaries were apparently too wide to fit entirely in Helen's library. It was frustrating that none of the writing was in a language they understood, but in a way those things almost added to the magic; until, that is, those several hours had passed and the city had been poked and prodded until it seemed, despite its constant shifting, every building had been gone over three times. No matter how fascinating the city was, Helen couldn't really blame anyone for starting to get weary.
Kate lost interest first, and dragged Bigfoot, who probably would have stayed the longest otherwise, off to play Guitar Hero with her. How that was supposed to cure the headache she'd claimed as the reason why she couldn't peer at the city anymore, Helen wasn't quite sure, but she understood.
Henry and Will lasted longer, but after four hours of wandering around the city and accomplishing little, it was clear that they were also starting to fade. When Helen overheard a whispered conversation about which original trilogy Star Wars movie was better, she sent them off to get some rest.
It was almost relaxing, being in the city by herself. It was so realistic – Helen nearly tripped over a few small buildings to prove it – the ambient sounds of its railways and zeppelins skimming around and the hum of its lights buzzing softly in her ears were almost comforting. And Helen couldn't stop wondering what it was, why her father had left it for her; she missed him, and in some small way having the city around her was like being around him.
Helen returned to the holographic city whenever she could over the course of the next few weeks, sometimes with help, sometimes without. Even her patience was beginning to wear thin, though. Whatever her father had left her the map for, surely it hadn't been because he wanted her to casually take a look at it every once in a while; what she needed to do was make a real, concerted effort to solve it. With a few days of focused work, Helen was sure she could crack the city and its secrets wide open.
A fresh pair of eyes wouldn't hurt, either. Helen really had made her way through a substantial chunk of the city now, and she could only stare at the same things for so many hours. Unfortunately, she was afraid she'd rather exhausted the rest of the Sanctuary's ability to do so too.
Helen stood in the center of the city as one of the zeppelins bumped into her shoulder. She turned and sent it on its way with a flick of the hand. A smile crept onto her face.
She knew exactly whom to call.
Whenever he left, Nikola always seemed to leave a way to get in touch with him, and whenever Helen actually tried, inevitably it didn't work. So, the last time he had been at the Sanctuary, Helen had made him take one of her cell phones with him.
"You know, I predicted the smartphone a hundred years ago," he'd told her smugly.
"Yes, which is why you had to resort to electromagnetic Morse code the last time you needed help."
"Hey, I lost my phone, alright? When you're being chased by vampire…bug…things, you can get a little frazzled."
"Right." Helen had pressed the phone into his hand and curled his fingers around it. "God help me, I've given you the numbers for all of the major contacts in the global Sanctuary network, so…wherever you are, if you ever need anything, someone should be within range."
He'd scoffed. "Please. As if I'd ever go running for help to anyone but you."
"Well, then call me," Helen had said, exasperated. "Just call someone."
"Fine, fine."
Helen had to try five times before he answered. She'd spaced out her calls every hour and a half to allow for possible time zone differences, and didn't catch him until early in the morning.
"Helen?" Nikola said, sounding concerned. "I assume this is you. I don't know what business any of the youngsters would have calling me. What time is it over there, two?"
"Yes, and if you'd answered the last four times I'd tried, I wouldn't have had to stay up this late."
"Oh. Sorry. I've been busy." Nikola paused. "I kinda forgot you gave me this, too."
"Busy doing what?"
"Nothing of import," Nikola said. "Are you checking up on me? I haven't fallen into a ditch, if that's what you're worried about."
"No, I –"
"Why, only three people have shot at me in the last week and a half. Well. Groups of people. Oh, that's it. You're jealous. Don't deny it."
Nonplussed, Helen blinked. "Nikola, what…are you alright?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. But if you want to check me over, just to be sure…"
"I can see you're feeling fine," Helen said dryly. "Do you want to dodge any more questions, or would you like to hear why I'm calling you?"
"I imagined it was because you'd missed the dulcet sound of my voice," Nikola said. She could just picture the smirk on his face right now.
"Well, it certainly wasn't because I'd missed your sense of propriety."
"I missed you too. So, if you're not calling to reassure yourself nothing tragic has happened to me, why are we having this lovely conversation?"
"I've, ah, discovered something I think you may be interested in. A puzzle, of sorts."
"You know I love it when you're cryptic, but that might be a little vague even for me."
"Honestly, Nikola, we're not quite sure what it is. It's impossible."
"Oh, Helen…" Nikola drew in his breath. "Keep talking."
She'd given him her codes to get into the Sanctuary the last time, too, but she still met him as soon as he arrived. When she opened the door, she found him leaning against it in an entirely over-dramatic pose.
"Nikola," she said by way of greeting.
"Helen," he said, grinning, and swept into the entrance hall.
Helen rolled her eyes and shut the door behind him.
He glanced around. "I see you didn't bother rolling out the red carpet."
"I take it you haven't checked your watch lately." Helen gestured to the windows, which showed the pitch-black sky outside.
"I was halfway around the world, Helen, my watch still says it's three o'clock in the afternoon."
"Well, apart from the big guy, I'm the only person left awake in the Sanctuary right now; hence, your shamefully poor welcome."
"Hmm. I can certainly think of better ways to celebrate than the kiddies running around underfoot anyway." Nikola had been pacing around the entrance lazily; he flipped now to face her and took a step in her direction.
"I'm sure you can," Helen said, with a healthy dose of sarcasm. "Alright, come on, Nikola. I have something for you."
"Ooh. Are you going to shower me with gifts every time I stop by, or is this just a one-time thing, because you missed me so much?" He trailed her out of the entrance and through the Sanctuary corridors.
"Don't expect to be showered," Helen answered, laughing a little. "But I do appreciate your dropping whatever it is you were doing, that I will find out about eventually, and getting here so quickly."
"Anything for my beloved." Nikola caught up to her so he could walk beside her, their arms just brushing. He ignored her other comment.
"I could really use a new outlook on it," Helen continued. "My eyes are starting to cross."
"Well, look no further; here I am. My eyes are uncrossed – I'm yours."
Helen looked over at him, her mouth twitching. "You're looking forward to this, aren't you?"
"How could I not be?" Nikola sighed happily. "The chance to spend hours upon hours, closeted with you, solving impossible riddles…It's a dream come true."
"I am rather hoping it's not going to be hours upon hours," Helen pointed out.
He waved a hand. "We'll see."
They reached her office, and Helen went over to her desk. She picked up the bottle she'd pulled out from the cellar earlier that day and turned, proffering it to Nikola.
He took it, his fingers wrapping around its neck as he looked at the label with a delighted expression. "Oh, you have missed me!" he said. "It's no use trying to hide it."
"Are you going to open it or not?" Helen asked.
Nikola weighed the bottle in his hands, his eyes flicking between it and Helen. "Hmm, decisions, decisions…Oh, what the hell. Let's celebrate." He rounded her desk and started fiddling in one of the drawers, pulling out the corkscrew she kept in there.
Helen took the glass he offered her. Eschewing the normal purpose of furniture as he usually did, Nikola sat on her desk and swirled the wine in his glass. Ordinarily, Helen would have simply sat in her chair, but something made her join him on her desk instead, surreptitiously nudging aside a few papers.
Nikola took a sip and closed his eyes. "Ah, Helen. You certainly do know how to extend a warm welcome. I should come around more often."
"You should," Helen said. "But don't expect this kind of welcome every time. My wine cellar can't afford it."
He opened his eyes and looked at her sidelong. "You're not presenting a very compelling argument."
"You know," Helen said, ignoring him. "You were complaining about the warmth of my welcome five minutes ago."
"Well," Nikola said, grinning and holding up his glass, "you also know how to change my mind."
"That I do." She clinked her glass against his. "Cheers."
"Amen."
They sat in companionable silence for a few minutes longer, while Nikola poured himself another glass and Helen pretended not to notice him edging over on the desk until their legs were pressed together.
"Might not want to have too much of that in one night," Helen pointed out, eyeing the bottle with memories of the last few times Nikola had forgotten that he wasn't immune to alcohol any longer dancing in front of her eyes.
Nikola groaned. "Ugh, Helen, why do you always have to remind me? Separated from my beloved forever…" He gave the bottle a mournful look.
"Don't be melodramatic. You've had two glasses already. Besides, I don't want you falling all over the city."
He perked up. "Speaking of, when do I get to see it? I mean, date night with you is always fun, but…" He raised his eyebrows with a hopeful look.
"Right now, if you'd like." Helen bit back a laugh as he practically jumped off the desk, balancing the bottle and glass with remarkable dexterity.
"Great, let's go." He set the glass down, tucking the bottle into his elbow, and extended a hand to her, smiling expectantly.
Helen's lips twitched, and she slid her hand into Nikola's, allowing him to tug her gently up off the desk. She let go of his hand as soon as she was standing upright, but he followed her out of the door and down the hall as if she'd had a firm grip on him, pulling him along in her wake.
If Nikola's eyes got any bigger, Helen thought they might pop out of his head.
"Oh, Helen," he murmured. He looked at her, a wondrous smile spreading across his face, taking a step forward, deeper into the city. Another step, and he stumbled, tripping over one of the smaller buildings that hadn't gotten out of his way in time.
Instead of wailing and clutching at his foot, as Helen had been half-expecting from someone of Nikola's drama caliber, he started laughing. No, it wasn't laughing, it was…giggling. Nikola Tesla was giggling, and though Helen would never be caught dead saying it out loud, it was ridiculously cute.
"Helen…" He waved at his feet. "I was able to trip over that. Whatever that was. Oh my God." He knelt down. "The level of detail…"
Helen smiled at him, now crawling over the floor and poking at the tiny windows on the buildings. His enthusiasm, as always, was contagious, and Helen could feel her own excitement over the city coming back.
"I'm glad you're enjoying yourself. If we're going to get anything done tonight, though, we may want to start soon."
"Just let me swoon for a couple more minutes, Helen," Nikola pleaded, staring at the railway with wide eyes. He reached out a hand and ran a finger along the tracks.
"Ah, Nikola, you know I have to make you earn your keep," Helen said, eyes twinkling.
"Age has made you cruel, my dear." Straightening up, he dusted his hands off. "So where do you want to st- hey!" One of the zeppelins flying around had hit him in the face when he jumped to his feet. He hissed at it – apparently some vampiric habits died hard – and it hurried away.
"Ouch." Nikola raised a hand to his face, prodding at the red mark quickly forming on his cheek. "Already mortally wounded in the line of duty, I see."
And there was the drama.
"Oh, please," Helen scoffed. "It didn't even break the skin."
Nikola grinned. "Are you sure? Maybe you should, you know, take a look…" He sidled closer.
Helen rolled her eyes. Sighing, she went over to Nikola, putting a hand on his un-"injured" cheek and turning his head towards her.
"Ah, just as I suspected," Helen said sarcastically. "It'll be fatal by morning – you'd better get to work."
"Your concern is touching," Nikola drawled. His lips twitched and his eyes flicked down, trying to see Helen's hand. She slid it back, smiling a little at the way his eyes nearly crossed.
Helen was about to drop her hand and return her attention to the city when she paused. There was something slightly different about Nikola's face that she couldn't quite put her finger on. (Only figuratively, as she quite literally had her hand on Nikola's cheek at the moment.)
She peered closer. The unchanging image of Nikola's face had been in her mind for over a hundred years, and it didn't take her long to identify the alteration. There was a matching set of tiny, very nearly imperceptible lines around his eyes that hadn't been there before.
Helen's smile slid off. Of course. Nikola was aging. It shouldn't have been a surprise, yet somehow, it caught Helen off guard. It was so easy sometimes, between all the banter and the bickering and the distraction of scientific discovery, to forget how little time they had left. Her pulling him out of danger seemed to be a recurring theme with them, but there was one thing Helen would never be able to protect him from.
One day, Nikola was going to die. Just the thought of it was enough to send a frozen shudder through Helen.
Sooner or later was the phrase that sprung to Helen's mind, but for someone like her, later by Nikola's new standards was all too soon to her.
Not Nikola. After everyone she'd lost, not Nikola too. Couldn't she be allowed just one person, someone like her, someone that she –
"Helen, I know you find me stunningly attractive, but staring slack-jawed at me for half a minute is unlike you, to say the least." Nikola's voice snapped Helen out of her trance, and she refocused to find him looking at her with concern. "Are you alright?"
Helen swallowed and plastered an unconvincing smile on. "Of course," she said, patting Nikola's cheek and dropping her hand, despite her sudden loathness to let go of him.
Nikola's eyes narrowed. Even without his extra senses, he could certainly tell that something was wrong – he knew her too well.
If she turned away and put some distance between them, it would confirm his suspicions that she was hiding something, so Helen stayed where she was, struggling to keep an innocuous expression.
In retrospect, that might not have been the wisest decision. Close proximity to Nikola was dangerous at the best of times, and now was most definitely not the best of times. He really was worried about her – it was practically radiating off him, and he reached out a tentative hand to touch her arm. His expression had become very soft, and Helen found herself moving nearer, gaze locked on his, as his eyes flickered across her face. Whether he was trying to determine her mood or looking at her lips, she wasn't entirely sure. Probably both, knowing him.
"Nikola." Helen's voice was barely audible even to her. She could feel the slight brush of air across her cheek from his breath. When had he gotten so close?
"Helen," Nikola whispered, his eyes fluttering closed as he leaned down one maddeningly slow inch at a time.
Helen's hands had settled back onto Nikola, grasping his arms gently, and she used that to pull herself into him. She changed direction at the very last second and kissed his cheek where the holographic zeppelin had landed, closing her eyes and keeping her lips pressed against it for a long moment.
"Now," she said, pulling back at last and patting his cheek again. "Are we ever going to get started?" Her voice sounded perfectly controlled, which Helen congratulated herself for.
"Uh," Nikola said, blinking rapidly.
Helen finally deemed it safe to turn away from him, and she did so quickly, heading away before he could see the way her hand was shaking slightly. She had owed him a fake-out kiss, and had thankfully remembered it in time, before things got even more awkward than they already were. If, perhaps, she felt a slight tinge of regret at not letting it go that far, that was something she could deal with.
Her earlier thoughts were not so easy to brush aside, and she thought it best to get back to work as soon as possible.
"Coming, Nikola?" she asked, turning. "I thought your uncrossed eyes were mine to do with as I will."
The motivation of getting to play around in the city some more seemed to be enough to recover Nikola – or maybe it was the golden opportunity to make suggestive comments. Either way, he grinned toothily. "As am I," he said. "Lead on."