Sorry, guys. Thanks for all the great reviews. Enjoy and sorry for mistakes.
Warnings: character deaths, minor injuries
Disclaimer: I do not own Alex Rider
Yassen's icy eyes swept over Alex who sat on the floor, eyes narrowing slightly when they landed on the cuff causing the teen to speak up quickly "you know" he mused "I don't find it very reassuring to know you touched me in my sleep" he pointed to the plastic bag "I hope you bought something nice for me" Alex licked his dry lips.
Yassen threw the key for the handcuff at Alex who swiftly caught it "you sleep like the dead" the man chose to ignore the snort "I couldn't have you running off" one sandwich and two bottles of water came from the bag.
Alex rubbed his wrist sitting on the bed and grabbing the sandwich "don't touch me again, what time is it?"
"Half past 10, I believe it is quite late for you, maybe you should sleep on the floor more often" Yassen took his own bottle of water.
Making a face Alex ran a hand through his hair, cringing when he touched the graze once again "did you even check to see if I had a concussion during the night?" his tone was accusing "I thought you didn't kill children"
"We spoke several times last night little Alex" Yassen's tone was amused and Alex choked on his sandwich "from your reaction I assume you don't remember, your nightmares are quite severe" he added as an afterthought.
Sandwich tasting bitter in his mouth Alex threw the rest in the plastic bin "getting kidnapped, and having a gun held to your head tends to do that to people" he could feel Yassen's eyes on his turned back but it only made the teen tense more "you knew my father?" he attempted to change the subject.
Knowing what the boy was trying to do Yassen answered after a pause "he trained me" the boy turned on him at those words, fire burning in his brown irises "I speak the truth little Alex" he reassured although he doubted his word would mean much.
"You're a liar!" Alex snarled not liking the blank look the assassin gave him at the childish behaviour. Of course Alex had never known the man but somewhere deep inside he just knew his father had been a good man, it pained him to think John had only knew him months before he was cruelly snatched away.
"I think that you, little Alex, have been the only one lying" Alex's features pinched at the mention of the memory stick once again.
Refusing to answer the un-asked question Alex faced the wall "what now, when can I go back to Hopes?" it would still be a few hours before anyone turned up to help him.
Yassen stood "I have business to attend. You may join me if you wish" he left the room making Alex feel like he didn't have much choice in the matter.
Jade was still at the desk, in a serious conversation over the phone but as Alex passed the woman gave him a wide smile and narrowed her eyes at Yassen. Alex tried to hold in a snort at the detached look Yassen gave in return.
"The car is gone" the 14-year-old pointed out when they exited the stiff doors, the car from yesterday nowhere in sight.
Yassen didn't pause instead he went to a different car, door opening under his hand, he gestured for Alex to get in.
…..
Wolf leant on the desk in the main of office of Hopes "damn it" he slammed his hand on the desk before heading to the nurse's office in order to find Snake.
"Did you hear anything?" Snake asked the flustered man.
Giving a curt nod Wolf told his teammate the information he had obtained "we need to get three SAS teams together, the ones we trust most, we can't afford to take chances when dealing with a trained assassin" he pulled his phone out.
"Aw is Wolfie worried about his Cub" Eagle teased coming up behind the man.
"Cub?" Snake raised an eyebrow, smirk in place "I think that will stick"
"Shut up" Wolf growled at his team mates.
….
Alex had a gun thrusted into his hand by the deadly assassin "How do you know I won't shoot you when you're back is turned?" he inquired, the gun feeling awkward in his palm.
"You are not a killer" the man told him simply "go on, shoot" Yassen gestured at the targets, watching as Alex fired off a few rounds, few hitting the target.
"I think I need a bit of practice" Alex joked reloading the gun and taking aim again. It was actually quite fun.
"You will improve" Yassen told him softly. Leaving the teen's side Yassen walked to the other side of the empty firing range to talk with a man Alex had seen in photos downloaded onto the memory stick but also on the news.
Herod Sayle stood confidently in front of the assassin, his jet black hair slicked back, and grey eyes narrowed as they glanced over Alex.
Another man Alex didn't recognise broke away from Sayle and Yassen. Tall and thin, with ginger hair and a very pale face, the horrendous scars, one on each side of his mouth twisted up to his ears. He looked like a terrifying vampire and Alex had to avert his eyes so he didn't make a snarky comment.
"Alex Rider" Sayle spoke suddenly, walking past Yassen's still form "relation to Ian Rider, I presume" Alex felt like an insect under his stare.
"My uncle" the teenager admitted in a bitter tone. A stab of pain shot up his arm. Jerking away from the man with the horrendous scars Alex glanced down to see a needle sticking out of his arm, empty. "The hell?" glaring at Yassen accusingly Alex tore the needle from his arm.
Yassen turned a deadly look onto Sayle "he is under my protection" he hissed.
"He isn't worth the risk, his uncle has already caused enough damage with the information he obtained before we realised his connection to MI6" Sayle waved a hand "it is no waste, he will die with the rest unless you would like Mr Grin to dispose of him now" he laughed "you haven't grown attached have you Gregorovich?"
Yassen raised the gun to between the Sayle's eyes "possibly" he muttered.
Mr Grin reacted before Yassen, lunging at Alex with a knife, swinging at the teen who stepped back. Putting his karate lessons to good use, memories of Pete forcing him to attend the lessons flashing through his thoughts, Alex delivered a swift upper cut to the chin. The knife nicking his cheek.
Mr Grin's head snapped back and hearing Yassen's gun go off Alex wasted no time in delivering a round house kick to the skinny torso. Finally bringing the gun down harshly on Mr Grin's head when he was bent over in pain.
"Damn, oh damn" Alex panicked seeing the two dead bodies.
Waiting in silence Yassen let Alex get his breath back before grabbing his upper arm "you have skill little Alex" he complimented.
"You killed him because he injected me with the Stormbreaker virus" Alex spluttered.
"For someone who says he doesn't have the memory stick you seem to know an awful lot" Yassen raised an eyebrow. The man at the desk stared at the man dragging the panicked teen behind him as they left.
Alex swallowed heavily "he said my uncle worked for MI6"
"I'll explain back at the motel" Yassen climbed into the car.
Alex took a deep breath "No Yassen, tell me now. Tell me what the hell is going on. Why do people want the stupid memory stick" he demanded, shaking his head as they climbed into the car. Yassen opened his mouth but Alex cut over him "And why the hell would you kill Sayle to save me but not to save thousands of other children?"
"Because I could never let someone harm you Alex" It was a sincere statement, making Alex feel like crying for the first time in a long time.
"Why?" because nobody cared about him that much. His own uncle had left him to grow up in an orphanage, his godfather running as soon as his parents were dead.
The icy orbs never left the road as Yassen explained slowly "your father and I were close, little Alex, Hunter saved my life" he took a sharp turn "I might have failed to save him but the least I can do is look after his only son"
Alex had the sudden urge to yell at the man, to tell him that he had bloody well failed, to ask him why he hadn't been around the last 14 years if he cared so much. It was irrational. The man sat beside him was a killer, god knows how many people he had killed in 14 years.
"You failed"
Yassen cast a glance to the side, observing Alex's downcast gaze. He decided not to comment on his failure "the memory stick holds information on some of the most classified secrets belonging to government agencies across the globe" they pulled into the motel parking area "every dirty detail on MI6, CIA, everyone. It also holds plans belonging to the world's worst terror organisations"
"Ian worked for MI6" the sudden thought hit Alex in the gut like a fist.
Humming an approval Yassen continued, debating on how much he should say "the safest thing to do would be to hand the stick over to MI6, although I doubt your uncle was willing to let them get away with the crimes committed. That's why he came to you little Alex" he examined the teens expression.
MI6 Agent. Agent Rider. It was like a bad movie plot. Alex pinched himself, wincing when he drew blood "guess it isn't a dream" he muttered. The cut on his cheek could have answered that.
"Think Alex, what would that information mean in the wrong hands"
"Each organisation will use it against each other. MI6 blackmailing the CIA with information, terror organisations selling government secrets, war in order to retrieve the memory stick. Government will grumble and countless will die" it may have been an exaggeration, Alex highly doubted the government would put the people in such danger but Yassen nodded. It seemed that those Politics lessons in school were coming in handy.
So Ian had left him with a piece of technology that could decide the future. After 14 years of no contact his uncle had managed to drag him into a world he didn't belong in. He had a few choice words for how to describe his uncle.
The wind outside had picked up and rain started to fall, hitting the car roof with loud thumps, like an erratic heartbeat. Alex hoped it didn't storm. He hated lighting.
Alex huffed out a breath "and you" he took his seatbelt off in order to face the assassin "what will you do with the memory stick?"
Yassen gave the boy an odd look, contemplating lying to him but deciding against it "I am an assassin Alex. I will use the information on Agents to target them in their home lives, it will be easier to take out those I am paid to kill"
It disgusted Alex how easily the man could talk about murder. Since meeting him Yassen hadn't seemed like an assassin, except for at the firing range he had seemed like an almost caring being. If a little unemotional. "Why don't I believe you?" the words were a surprise to even Alex.
The thin lips of the elder blonde twitched into a smirk "that is your decision little Alex" he stepped out into the rain, swiftly making his way to the dry. Alex followed in a sprint, scrutinising his surrounds for any sign of Wolf or the others.
The motel didn't provide much warmth for his soaked hair or clothes as Alex stepped in. He noticed that Jade, had been replaced by a fit young man, who towered above Alex. Chocolate brown eyes narrowed at the man in curiosity "are you Jade's husband?" he slowed his step.
The man, surprised at being addressed gave a forced smile "yeah Kid"
Yassen stiffened when Alex spoke "Jade?" he repeated.
"Yeah, the woman who was here when we checked in yesterday" Alex made a face, had the man forgotten the woman was there?
"You weren't near the desk with me" Yassen stated, turning towards the boy a fury burning in his icy gaze.
Realising his mistake Alex froze up before backing away "Yassen, wait, please" the man's hand went to the back of his jeans and Alex ran. Jumping over the reception desk Alex tackled the brown haired man to the floor as a bullet whizzed overhead.
"Yassen, I can explain!" Alex yelled in panic. The man was going to bloody well kill him for the betrayal. What was he even thinking? Yassen had kidnapped him "you didn't expect me to stay with a man who kidnapped me, did you?!" he fumed.
"Don't worry, Lion of SAS at your service, kid" the receptionist pulled a gun and fired over the desk.
Alex grabbed Lion's hand, holding onto the gun "don't shoot him" he pleaded.
Lion glared "Are you crazy kid?!"
"I'm beginning to think the same" the barrel of a gun pressed into the back of Alex's head and he whined in protest.
"SAS, hands in the air Gregorovich!" a voice Alex recognised shouted. The sound of storming footsteps echoed around.
An arm wrapped around his throat and Alex stumbled to his feet, the gun pressing uncomfortable into his skull. Attempting to escape the teen used the same move he had made back at the greenhouses but Yassen just tightened his grip.
"Put the kid down" Fox snapped, concern seeping into his demand.
Gripping onto the forearms of the man he had been slowly getting to know Alex tried to calm his racing heart. Yassen wouldn't kill him but the man did need to escape, using the 14-year-old as leverage seemed like a reasonable idea to the teen.
"If one of you move a bullet will be buried in his head before you can blink" the threat was made as the assassins hand gingerly made soothing circles on the back of his neck.
Alex heard Lion stand behind them "what's to stop me putting a bullet in your head first?" with wide eyes Alex shook his head at Eagle hoping the man would get the message.
"Lion, don't" Eagle grounded out "the kid doesn't need to see that"
"I will be taking my leave" Yassen started "the child will accompany me and I will leave him at the end of the road once I am far enough away, you may then drive down the road and collect him" Alex hadn't heard him sound so emotionless since the greenhouse.
"How do we know you won't just kill him?" Snake snapped, assessing the damage on Alex's face.
Yassen chuckled but there was no humour "if I wanted to kill the child I would have done so by now, that obviously suggests I need him alive at this moment in time" he buried his hand in golden locks causing Alex to hiss in pain "I doubt I will have to kill him, others will do that for me" he took a step forward no one moving in to stop him.
Eagle took a step closer "we'll come get you Alex, I promise, just a little bit more" Alex gave the man a strained smile.
"They'll follow" Alex insisted, falling into step beside the man once out of the motel.
Yassen nodded to show he knew that "I'll be in touch again" they stopped by the row of trees "forgive me little Alex"
"For wh-" the sentence was cut off as a searing pain exploded in the blonde's side and his breath hitched. World going black Alex felt gentle hands lower him to the ground.
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