The café is bustling with guests, as is to be expected on such a lazy Sunday afternoon. I stare out the window, watching the crowds maneuver their way down packed sidewalks and across the busy intersection.
"Elise." A sudden pat on my shoulder draws my attention to the owner of the familiar voice, and I watch him seat himself across from me, a wide smile on his face.
"Dr. Nikolav, it's been a while." I don't know why I feel so relieved to see the old man. Maybe spending so much time in a high-tension environment made me uptight and antsy.
"What are you talking about? It's only been a week!" He laughs, that distinctive Russian accent tinting every word out of his mouth.
I just smile and shrug.
"Could it be that you miss the lab already?" He jokes, motioning a server over.
"I'll have a black coffee, please." He flashes a jovial smile at the young man.
I shake my head as the waiter turns to take my order, and point at the cup of coffee I already have.
I hate coffee.
It says a lot about my current state if I'm drinking it. I couldn't sleep last night.
"I guess I do. I miss everyone there." I finally reply, glancing out the window for a few seconds.
"Well, I guess Michael is the same way. Is there something I don't know about? For both of you to come to me days apart, I'm a little concerned." Dr. Nikolav smiles gently at me.
"Michael came to see you?" I raise a wary eyebrow.
"We had a few drinks last night. He wouldn't tell me much about what was bothering him, except that he didn't want to work at the Shield operation anymore. I felt bad for him. Maybe you can help him?" He looks hopefully at me, and my guilt eats away at my insides.
"I don't think I can. I've tried talking him into staying. I'm worried about him too." I reply uncertainly. I tried to help him. But now I feel like I haven't done enough.
"What about you, Elise? Are you okay? Have you been eating and sleeping properly?" Dr. Nikolav's concern is touching, but I don't want to worry him.
"I'm fine, really. You don't have to worry about me." I plaster a convincing smile onto my face.
"Is your military boyfriend taking good care of you then? Michael told me you're getting along well."
His question catches me off guard and he bursts into hearty laughter at my surprised expression.
"How much did Michael tell you, exactly?" I ask, my grip tightening on the mug in my hands.
"You know Michael. He always says a little too much about other people when he's drunk." He grins back at me. "But I'm glad you've settled down! I hope he's a good man. I feel like a worried parent, waiting for you to find someone."
You're not the only one. But unlike Dr. Jones, I know that my professor's intentions have always been innocent and straightforward.
"I'll be fine, Dr. Nikolav." I smile reassuringly at him.
"You should introduce me to him sometime. Drop by the lab!" His brown eyes sparkle with enthusiasm and I can see that he's already planning the visit in his mind.
Yeah, no.
"I'm sorry, Dr. Nikolav, I don't think that's going to be possible. Everyone in that lab is… very secretive. I'm not even sure if it was okay for me to meet with you. Pierce—Alexander Pierce told me on the first day that I'd have to cut off all ties with my former colleagues." I frown.
The disappointment is evident on his face for only a moment, and then it's gone, replaced by his usual gentle smile.
"I see. That's a shame! You've risen to great heights at Shield, if they're that serious."
I'm tempted to tell him how untrue that is, how I've actually fallen farther than my previous standing, reduced to just another researcher who doesn't have access to all the information. I don't think I'm even a researcher anymore. I'm someone replaceable, whose only job is to monitor the subject. Nothing about this job is exciting or "high".
"This will be our last meeting for a while, then?" His soft tone makes the words hit home harder than I'd expected.
I can only nod, my eyes fixed on the swirling brown liquid in my mug.
"Then promise me you'll take care of yourself. And take care of Michael." He places a hand over mine.
"Then… Dr. Nikolav, don't tell anyone what Michael said to you when you met. About leaving Shield, or about his work problems. It might cause trouble for him." I make the request, even though I know he would never tell anyone anyway. He's a good guy, this old man.
"It's a promise." He smiles at me reassuringly.