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Enjoy this new chapter!
Chapter 15 - A shot of Vodka
Covert CIA research base
"Are you mad with me?"
"I am not mad. What I am is disappointed in you."
"Oh come on, we were only having fun!"
"Fun? You shattered a window, you destroyed a statue, not to mention half of the sitting room!"
Raven flinched as Charles raised his voice. Alright, perhaps fun was not the right word to describe what had happened. But none of them ever had ill intent in mind. They were simply getting to know each other and what better way was there then to show off their powers? Surely Charles could understand that? Or would have understood it at some point in the past.
He'd changed a lot since they'd left England.
Where was the guy who used to drink beers all night in the pub? The man who she used to make morning hangover remedies for, because he didn't know when to stop? Her brother who always used his mutation to hit on girls, but in the end failed to bring them home because she tended to intervene. Where was the rebellious, sometimes reckless, jovial and slightly narcissistic Charles Xavier?
Mutant and proud.
Raven plopped down on Charles's bed and dropped herself backwards, staring up at the ceiling as he continued packing his suitcase. He had a lot on his mind, she knew this. But a part of her also felt he was acting this way because of the others. And with others she meant Moira, Ann and Erik. Acting more mature, more responsible. Raven wasn't sure if it was happening naturally because things were changing anyway or if he was trying to purposely to impress someone.
"So that's it? Because of this minor incident we're no longer allowed to go with you?" She asked.
"Not necessarily because of this, but it did prove that none of you are ready. Something I should have realized for myself. Erik was right. We've only just met all of these people. There is no way we can capture Shaw when most of those kids have no idea how to even use their mutation properly." Charles replied matter of factly, but Raven did notice the sigh at the end of that sentence.
"What about me or Hank?" She jolted upward. "I've always been with you, Charles. You know my mutation can come in handy. And Hank, he's smart. He made Cerebro. I don't think it's fair all of us are being punished,-"
"Raven..." Charles groaned and turned to the girl on his bed.
"The decision is not just up to me. Both Erik and Moira agree that it should just be the three of us who will leave for Moscow. Which is within an hour." He paused and shook his head. "I'm not changing that plan now."
Raven pouted her lips and tilted her head back, feeling a slight prick behind her eyes. "If Ann was here, she would have changed your mind."
"Well, Ann is not here, is she? And I very much doubt she would have been pleased to see what you guys have done to the sitting room." He redirected his attention to finish packing. There was still much to prepare before taking off and he was in no mood to discuss this matter any further.
The newly recruited mutants and Raven were not coming and that was final. Even if he wanted to give them a chance, Erik was right. They were not ready. Too young and too inexperienced. Not to mention Moira was dead set against the idea now. She had not been happy at all and she had every right to be upset with what they'd done.
"You would have reacted differently if she had been here." Raven continued.
"No, I wouldn't have."
"Yes, you would have. You don't even see how much influence she has over you."
This time Charles stopped what he was doing and turned around, for what felt like the millionth time, to face his sister. "Influence?"
Raven rolled her eyes. "As if you don't know. Her presence dictates your mood, your actions, your decisions."
"That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard." Charles scoffed. "No matter what you say won't divert from the fact that what happened tonight was inexcusable from your part. Dragging Ann into this conversation is unnecessary and unkind. Now, if you don't mind, I'm leaving soon and I still have to finish packing."
Raven pressed her lips into a tight line and pushed herself off the bed. "Alright, if that's what you want to tell yourself, be my guest. I'll be going then."
"Thank you." Charles replied as he waited for her to walk past him.
However she halted, once she reached the door, and glanced back over her shoulder at him. Her expression suddenly regretful. "Be careful when you're there, Charles. Have a safe trip."
A loud bang followed and the room went quiet. Charles let out a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair. He frankly couldn't wait to leave the base and get on that private jet to Moscow, and that had nothing to do with Ann. Though admittingly, a part of him was pleased to be seeing her again even if she'd only been gone for a little over a day. But he couldn't very well tell Raven that.
He had been rather upset with Ann leaving for Russia before them, mostly because he'd hoped that she wasn't going to. But he was clearly wrong about that as she very much had left, to the point where she'd almost gotten away without him knowing about it. Oh, she most certainly would have achieved it, had it not been for Erik catching her in the act.
Yesterday morning
He'd been up for most of the night. His mind filled with thoughts regarding Klaus Schmidt, the coin and the mess he'd made in the sitting room. He'd seen the look of fright on her face after he'd let his emotions get the upper hand, destroying multiple insignificant objects, including the wine glass right in front of her face.
He felt repulsed by what he'd learned tonight. A fact he'd rather forget and live without. Perhaps he was overreacting. But to hear that the coin, which he carried with him at all times, a memorabilia for his painful past and the death of his mother, was technically connected to him and not to Shaw hurt him gravely. The piece of silver had been a reminder for Erik of who and what he was. A monster. A freak of nature. A mutant. And how far other people were willing to go in order to control him like a puppet. But now it felt as if the coin had lost all meaning.
He'd had it in his possession for so long that it recognized him as its owner. Erik felt absolutely disgusted by the idea. He leaned back against the headboard of his bed and stared into the distance. However, no matter how he felt about what he had learned, it wasn't going to change the plan he had in mind. He was still going to find Shaw and murder him for what he'd done to him and his mother. Murder him slowly and painfully. A stupid coin wasn't going to make him emotional, though it very much already had. It was rather difficult for him to pretend that it didn't bother him.
Erik turned on his bed and leaned over to the lamp on the side table next to him, ready to try and get some shuteye before the sun would come up, when he heard a click, followed by a creaking sound, coming from outside of his room. He retracted his hand and got up. He slowly opened the door and peeked into the hallway. The noises had stopped by now, but he could see who had caused them. He spotted Ann standing in front of her room, fully dressed in her long red coat, high boots and her hair was tied up in a bun.
What was she doing up at this hour? He stepped outside with a frown, leaving his door open in order to not draw attention. But clearly Ann was preoccupied with whatever she was doing as she didn't even notice him until he was only a couple of feet away from her.
"What are you doing?" He asked her.
Ann shrieked and jumped backwards, bumping into the doorframe. "Mein Gott, Erik." She breathed rubbing her arm. "You scared me. What on Earth are you doing up?"
"I asked you first." He replied swiftly. "Why are you awake? Are you going somewhere?"
Ann frowned at him. "Me? I was,- just coming back. I couldn't sleep. I went out for an early morning walk in the courtyard."
Erik arched an eyebrow at her unconvincing story. She was lying, and badly at that. Obviously she hadn't been expecting anybody else to be up, if she had then she would have had a much better lie ready to tell. Erik glanced over her shoulder for a second and then lowered his gaze to the ground where he caught something behind Ann's legs. He narrowed his eyes at the dark brown object.
"What is that?" He asked her and he nodded at her feet.
Ann blinked. "What's what?"
Erik flicked his hand and the door behind Ann flung open, revealing the item behind her to be a suitcase. His eyes shot back to hers and the woman bit her bottom lip.
"You took a walk just now, did you?" He repeated her words.
"That is what I said."
"You look a bit too well put together to be walking around alone at this hour."
A blush crept over Ann's face. "Well, I can't very well walk around dressed like,- well, like you?"
Compared to Ann, Erik was hardly dressed at all, wearing nothing more but his long pyjama bottoms and a dark blue robe hanging loosely around his clearly naked upper body. Even though she had a point, it was irrelevant.
"You were leaving."
"I was not."
"Then explain the suitcase?"
"I,- It's for,-"
"Don't lie, Ann."
"Fine." She raised her hands in defeat. "I'm leaving. Happy?"
Leaving? She was talking about Russia. She had to be. Because what other reason for leaving could she possibly mean?
"I thought we'd agreed you're not going to Russia until the rest of us are and even then I still think you shouldn't."
The woman sighed and crossed her arms. "Look, I know how you and Charles feel about this. But considering what happened last night, I think it's best if I follow through with my original plan. Moira agrees with it and so does Agent Frank."
Erik's mouth twitched. "That is very convenient for them. Send somebody else to provide them with a backup should things go wrong. How will you even manage that considering you haven't been successful with tracking Shaw at all?"
He didn't really need to remind Ann that she still hadn't been able to find Shaw. No matter how hard she tried, she simply couldn't and it irked her greatly. Even worse than that, she felt like a failure. Her mutation's sole purpose was to find people, no matter where they were on this planet and she couldn't seem to do that when it came to this man.
"That won't be necessary. Finding Shaw through my abilities isn't the main plan anymore. I'm going to track the Russian General and in the meantime I will make sure everything is ready before your arrival."
So, Ann was going to be the CIA's puppet? Why was she so willing to help them out? That was something he couldn't understand. Erik didn't care for the agency at all, but they were the quickest way for him to get to Shaw. Admittingly, it was also rather nice to be around people who were like him. Though he would never admit that to their faces.
"They can send somebody else to prepare things. That isn't your job." He told her.
Ann sighed. "Look, it's not that I don't appreciate you caring,-"
"Care?" Erik repeated. "This has nothing to do with caring. I'm merely preventing you from doing something foolish as well as wasting your time!"
Waste her time? Clearly she was foolish in thinking that Erik's concerns had to do with caring for her well-being. Moira had told her how Erik and Charles had responded when she'd informed them of Ann's plan. Both of them disagreed wholeheartedly and considered the whole thing too dangerous for her. But neither of them had any idea how much of a familiar territory this was for Ann. Perhaps what bothered her the most was that they obviously didn't trust her capability of staying out of harms way.
"Call it what you want, Erik. But I'm going to follow through with the plan, whether you agree with it or not. I'm going to do my share of helping, but not from the sideline as you called it!" Ann practically shouted at him.
She turned around, bent down to reach for her suitcase and move it out of her room. She then pulled the door shut and looked up at the tall man in front of her, his light blue eyes staring back at her with disbelief. He knew that look, she had made up her mind. He had two choices here. Either let her go and discover for herself how futile this entire mission actually was. Or accept the challenge and convince her to discontinue her plan. If that was the game she wanted to play, then he was more than happy to oblige.
He took a step back, moved his hand and the suitcase slowly lifted up into the air along with Ann who was still holding on to the handle.
"Erik, what are you,- Stop it!" As soon as she realized her feet no longer touched the ground, she let go and landed on the floor.
She let out an angry growl. "This is ridiculous. Put that down!"
"I will, if you reopen that door behind you and head inside." He answered shortly.
"You've got to be kidding me,-"
"I can guarantee you that I'm not."
"You're acting like a child!"
"Me? You are the one who was sneaking off. That makes you the real child."
"For goodness sake, Erik, you just told me that you don't even care. Give me back my belongings. I don't want to miss my flight."
"You can take the next flight with the rest of us."
"Oh for heaven's sake!" The woman exclaimed loudly, frustration written all over her face.
Her cheeks flustered with a red colour, her jaw clenched and her nostrils slightly flared. She was getting more agitated with each passing second. This was something she didn't expect to happen, least of all from Erik. At this point she wished she had some sort of mutation which could get her out of this situation. But all she could use were words.
At that very moment, one door further down from Ann's, Charles Xavier was gradually beginning to wake up due to a pair of voices getting louder and louder with each passing second. He was a rather deep sleeper, thankfully. But even he couldn't block out the shouting that was currently taking place. Drowsily, he grabbed his watch lying on his nightstand. What was the time? The hands showed it was quarter past six in the morning. The sun hadn't even come up yet. Who in their bloody mind dared to be arguing this early in the morning? Near his room no less?!
He groggily got out of his bed, reached for his crimson coloured robe and slid into his slippers. The noise never wavered as he walked up to his door. By now Charles had fully distinguished who the voices belonged to. Something bad was going on. As quick as he could he pushed the handle down and stepped into the hallway where he spotted two familiar faces.
The pair stood closely together. Erik's hair was messy, his robe open revealing his pyjama bottoms and a bare chest. Ann on the other hand was full dressed, wearing her red coat, her boots and her hair all prim and proper. It appeared she was ready to go somewhere. Though the levitating suitcase above her head was also a dead giveaway of that fact.
There was an obvious tension looming in hallway, right at where Erik and Ann were standing. They both looked flustered. Angry. Though Erik still managed to come across as his normally distant self. He towered over her, like her suitcase, his gaze indifferently as he looked at her.
"I don't know what right you think that you have with this...telling me what I can or can't do, but it just proves you're just like the rest of them. Power hungry and controlling." She spat at Erik. "If you've got any sort of dignity, you will let me do this. Let me help in my own way with achieving that which you want most."
Erik stared down at her. His chest slowly moving up and down. He then lowered his hand and leaned forward towards her. The suitcase dropped down and landed on the ground with a bang.
"As you wish." He replied coldly.
"Ahem?" Charles loudly cleared his throat and immediately the other two paused and turned their eyes his way. "Mind telling me what's going on here?" He asked as he calmly walked over to them.
Caught like a deer in the headlights, Ann averted her eyes while Erik kept his on Charles. "I was merely preventing a certain someone here from leaving unannounced."
"In that case, I'd say mission accomplished. I wouldn't be surprised if you two shouting caused the others to wake up as well. Do either of you even know what time it is?"
"Time to leave it would seem." Erik answered. He threw one last look at Ann and turned away from her. He made his way back to his room, went inside and shut the door.
Charles quickly hurried to Ann's side, who ran her hand over her face. She seemed shaken as well as upset. He'd only caught half of their conversation, just the bits they'd shouted at each other. But it had been a heated discussion from the look of it. He placed his hand on her shoulder and turned her to him.
"Let's sit down for a minute." He said to her soothingly.
Ann shook her head. "No. I can't. Frank is waiting for me. But I guess I don't have to tell you what it is that I'm about to do."
She didn't. Of course he'd read it in her mind in the meantime. That didn't mean Charles didn't want to hear it from her. He had an inkling that her leaving was still going to happen, but what he hadn't been expecting was that she was going to do it like this. Quietly, in the middle of the early morning, without anybody knowing. Except for Moira apparently.
"I think you should reconsider. We don't want to put you at risk, Ann. I'm sure that's why Erik tried to prevent you from leaving." Though Charles still found it rather baffling that Erik had actually gone as far as he had.
Ann looked up at him. "I don't understand why the two of you are this adamant in keeping me here? Because it's dangerous? Because you think I'll be useless otherwise? It's too late for that because I've already been feeling rather useless for the last couple of days."
"You're not useless, Ann." Charles immediately interjected. "Thanks to your mutation Hank managed to tweak Cerebro in order for me to make more use out of it."
Ann rolled her eyes at his example. It was but one thing. Not enough compared to what the others had done. Except for Raven perhaps, but she had also been able to help Hank with some other research. Plus, her mutation would probably make more of a difference in the long run compared to hers. Ann let out a deep sigh.
"I'm only good for one thing when I'm here. Use my mutation to find Shaw and thus make it easier to capture him. I didn't even want to help at first, but you kept pestering and trying to convince that I should because I'm special and part of a team. Now that I've actually come to terms with that and am willing to help out, all of a sudden everything is too dangerous for me?"
Charles shook his head. "Not everything,- We just don't want you to go to Russia on your own. Even if it's only for a day or two. If something happens then there will be no one to help you out."
By now he was just repeating himself. He'd told Moira, heck he'd even told Ann last night. Perhaps he hadn't told her in a polite way, but the point had most definitely come across he reckoned. Maybe convincing her somehow with his telepathy was an option, but he knew that would be more trouble than it was worth. He'd have to do this the human way. She was staring at him and he didn't dare to look away.
"Don't try and stop me. Not you as well."
Just as she'd called him adamant with wanting to keep her here, he thought she was as equally determined in leaving. She must realize by now that they meant well, but it didn't seem to deter her. The last thing he wanted was for Ann to feel unsupported. Especially after telling her not too long ago that she could trust him and that she didn't have to be afraid around him.
"I won't stop you." He moved his hand from her shoulder, down her arm until he reached her hand. "But you know my opinion."
"Yes, you've made it quite clear. Both of you." Ann replied as looked down at their hands. "But thank you."
She retracted her arm, grabbed her suitcase and took a step back. "I'll see you in Russia." She threw him a small smile before turning away and Charles didn't return to his room until she was completely out of sight.
Moscow, Russia
She'd been to many places. Too many to count on both her hands. But Russia had been a place she'd only visited once before and that had been a long time ago. And now she was back, standing on a balcony in the dark of night with a view of the Red Square in the distance. It was such a different sight compared to daytime, when the red colours of the mausoleum and the surrounding structures were more vibrant than they were now. But it didn't take away beauty this part of the city held.
She pulled her coat closer around her, keeping the cold out to the best of her abilities. Her warm breath formed a cloud as she exhaled. She was positively freezing. Rubbing her upper arms to warm herself, she tilted her head back to look up at the night sky. It was the middle of the day back at the CIA Research Facility. But not for Charles, Erik and Moira, who were to arrive in Moscow within just a few hours.
Ann had only been in here for a little over twenty-four hours when a message from Moira reached her that McCone had given Division X clearance to fly to Russia. Unfortunately it would only be her, Erik and Charles. Which Ann had found rather odd, but there had been no time for her to ask Moira about it directly. She'd simply have to wait and find out later what had happened. In the meantime, Ann had arranged for two more rooms to be booked at the hotel she was currently staying at. She doubted Charles and Erik were willing to sleep in the same room together, unlike her and Moira.
On the whole she wondered how the mood was going to be once they'd all be together again. Ann might have left on a good note with Charles, but that was not how things had gone with Erik. Could she really blame him for the way he'd responded? Why was she even thinking like that? Yes, she absolutely could blame him. Sure, she could have chosen to not try and leave unannounced. But in the end there had been no good reason for him to react the way that he'd ultimately done.
She still didn't understand the obvious underlying anger he'd shown with his behaviour, especially with using his mutation to try and stop her from leaving. Knowing Erik she was never going to get an explanation. Not that she needed to hear one. But what she really didn't want, was any sort of tension between them. There was already enough of that with Charles and the way he managed to get under her skin.
Tomorrow was going to bring a change about. If they managed to get to Shaw and capture him, what was going to happen next? She knew far too well what Erik wanted to do with him and she also knew what the CIA wanted to do. And what would be the follow up of that? If Erik was to get his way with Shaw, was he going to leave them and continue his life as he'd lived before meeting them? Was the agency planning on keeping Division X together under Charles's guidance and if so, what did that entail?
And what was she going to do?
There were simply too many questions and no definite answers. Even within the time Ann been on her on own in Russia, hadn't managed to provide her with a plan of her own.
With a sigh Ann turned around and opened the balcony door when she suddenly stopped and blinked her right eye. She touched her eyelash and felt something melt away as she did. With a frown she looked at her black gloved hand as small white particles fell on the fabric and then quickly disappeared, leaving nothing more than a small wet dot. It was snow.
She let out a short and soft laugh as more snowflakes fell from the sky. Their density getting thicker with each passing second. Within a minute it had turned into a heavy snowfall and soon Ann's dark coat was covered in a blanket of white melting wetness. She placed her hands on railing of the balcony and leaned slightly forward, watching closely as a blanket of snow formed over the dark bricked street.
It seemed rather fitting. A blank canvas. Tomorrow a lot of things were going to change.
::::::...::::::
Snow.
Erik made a face as he glanced through the window. If there was one thing he disliked, when it came to the weather in particular, it was snow. Cold, wet and treacherous sleet. A pretty sight perhaps at first glance, but after a while it always turned muddy and grey. Just like it was with most things in life. Anything could start of as something nice and beautiful, but most things lose their charm over time.
The plane was finally descending and Erik could not wait to get off the plane and set his feet down on solid ground again. The flight had taken long enough and the only good thing about was that this had been a private plane. No strangers to bother or annoy him with their presence. No, he'd already experienced that well enough with the people opposite him. Charles Xavier and Moira MacTaggert. Erik had even gone as far with using earplugs to keep their voices to a minimum while he was trying desperately to get some sleep. They'd been talking for hours it seemed.
Most of the conversation being about the upcoming mission, a talk he obviously joined in on. But after that it soon turned to mutations, genes and the new recruits. He'd noticed the CIA agent smiling brightly at Charles, not only with her mouth but also with her eyes. She practically hung on every single one of his words. Charles seemed to have that effect on most people, a trait Erik did not share at all. At one point the giggling started and then a bottle of wine was opened. It was then that Erik decided it was time to spent the rest of the flight in a deep slumber until the plane would finally descend. which was right about now.
He shifted slightly in his seat as the wheels hit the ground. Once again he turned to the window to look at the vast darkness of the night, though the snow was still visible due to the small lights located on the runway. Erik felt his heart pound heavily in his chest and his throat tightened. It would only be a matter of time until he would stand face to face with Shaw once again. Only this time he was more prepared. With the CIA, and Charles, there as a distraction, he would be able to fully focus on getting to the man. But until then he'd have to be patient, there was no room for mistakes. This felt like the last chance and he couldn't let it slip through his fingers.
"Erik?"
Charles's voice shook him from his trail of thought. The metal bender looked up at the other mutant standing next to his seat. Apparently they'd been given the signal it was alright for them to depart the plane.
"Did you not hear the pilot? It's time to go. Unless you'd rather stay here instead of sleeping at the hotel?" Charles said with playful smirk.
Erik didn't reply but he did get up and grabbed his coat. He didn't know how long it would take until they would reach the hotel, but he could definitely use more sleep than he'd gotten so far. Somewhere quiet and comfortable but most importantly without Charles and Moira being with him in the same room. He was about to follow Charles, when the latter suddenly stopped just as they were about to descend the steps.
"Oh and when we get there and see Ann, please don't make a scene?" Charles then paused for a second. "Perhaps we also shouldn't mention what happened back at the base with Raven and the others. Let's just focus on why we're here, shall we?"
The accusation of him causing a scene at the hotel was uncalled for. Of course there was a possibility but not because he was going to be the one initiating it. Charles was right, there were more important matters which needed their attention and Ann was not one of them, or at least instigating another argument with her wasn't one.
"Naturally." Erik replied shortly.
::::::...::::::
His name was Nikolay Ivanov. The CIA's Russian informant who'd been keeping a close eye on Armivolkoff over the past month. Ann had met him at the airport, the day she arrived in Russia. He was a tall man, with thick hair that was a shade of reddish brown, like chestnuts, and a rather sharp nose which tilted a little at the tip. After he had introduced himself, he immediately asked after Moira. The two of them had a history of having worked together before, and it was thanks to her that Nikolay was appointed as the one leading the team of soldiers who were to intercept Shaw tomorrow. But sadly Ann told him that it would be at least another day, perhaps two, before Moira was to join them.
Nikolay had shrugged and told her it didn't matter. The more time they had to prepare the better. And thus Nikolay informed Ann on how the mission was suppose to go down. It had sounded flawless and easy enough, at least that was how he made it sound. Ann on the other hand didn't feel at ease at all, as if something was bound to go wrong. But considering that the CIA had already agreed on the plan, meant it was going to happen no matter what.
And the moment was coming closer and closer.
The plane with Charles, Erik and Moira had just landed in Moscow and they were expected to be at the hotel within approximately forty minutes. Ann had met up with Nikolay in the hotel lobby about fifteen minutes ago and now they were on their way to the lounge room to wait for everybody else to arrive. Time was of the essence and Nikolay needed to discuss the details of tomorrow's plan with the rest of them. A task which Ann did not have to carry out, thankfully. She knew far too well how heated a conversation with Erik and Charles could get if either of the two disagreed with anything. Erik more so than Charles, obviously.
To calm her nerves, Ann suggested to have a drink while they waited for Moira and the others. The Russian did not object and he ordered two small glasses and half a bottle of vodka to kill some time, Ann's nerves, and toast to good fortune for tomorrow's mission. Actually that wasn't what drinking vodka meant for Nikolay Ivanov.
He told Ann that it was meant to get a clear head. To wash away any doubts or obstacles one might see when an important event was on the horizon. Ann hardly found that a good reason. Especially considering the amount of alcohol this see-through drink held. Tonight was not a night to get smashed. Perhaps Nikolay had no trouble with it, but she knew herself. If she was to start drinking more than she could handle, it would most certainly ensue another fight between her and the other two mutants.
Of course, the chances of that happening was still a possibility. Especially considering what Ann had already decided, which was that she wasn't going to stay back at the hotel while they would be heading out to capture Sebastian Shaw. Erik and Charles wouldn't like it, that was a given. But there was also something she could try, and for that she knew she needed to keep her wits about her tonight.
Still, she politely accepted the first round of alcohol Nikolay offered her and she didn't decline the second drink he poured her either. The Russian informant pushed the little shot glass her way as he raised his own in the meantime.
"What was that phrase you said again?" He asked her.
"A toast to being a good judge of bad liquor." The woman replied.
The Russian bowed his head and repeated her. "To bad liquor."
They downed the drink and inhaled deeply. A custom when drinking vodka, according to Nikolay, though it caused the alcohol to burn more in her throat than with any other drink. Exactly the reason why she'd made that rather specific toast, though it seemed that Nikolay hadn't caught the gist behind her words. Ann coughed at the sensation of the liquid trickling down her esophagus and the man next to her let out a laugh.
"I am impressed, miss Weaver." He smiled. "I was expecting you to decline after the first one."
He already reached for her glass, but Ann quickly covered the top with her hand and cleared her throat. "I will for now. Let's wait until agent MacTaggert arrives, shall we?"
Thankfully Nikolay didn't object and he set the bottle aside. But that wasn't all he did. He stepped away from the bar and stood in front of her. He bowed down a little and offered Ann his hand. She arched an eyebrow at the unexpected movement and threw him a puzzled look.
"While we wait, how would you feel about a dance?"
"A dance?" The surprise on Ann's face was genuine.
Nikolay nodded towards the floor in front of the small stage on which a band was playing Russian music. It seemed he was serious indeed. But Ann vigorously shook her head. The music was entirely unfamiliar to her and she could hardly understand the lyrics the woman was singing. On top of that, Ann felt no need to trip over her feet and make a fool of herself. Had this been any other type of situation, she wouldn't have declined him. But she wasn't here for pleasantries.
However, it seemed that Nikolay had a different opinion on it and he wasn't going to take a second 'no' for an answer. He pulled her out of her seat and decided that their current location would suffice just as well as the actually dancefloor might have. He spun her around with ease and proceeded to place his hand on her waist, when Ann noticed three familiar faces entering the hotel lounge.
"Moira is here." She exclaimed loudly, raising her one free hand to wave at the small group looking their way.
Nikolay glanced over his shoulder and let go of her almost immediately. He clapped in his hands and smiled. "Terrific. I shall get three more glasses."
He went back to the bar as Ann let out a sigh of relief. The timing of their arrival couldn't have come at a better moment. With Nikolay occupied, she quickly made her way over to them. She was met with two smiling faces, that of Moira and Charles. Erik stood behind the two, doing nothing more than looking her way, his expression not revealing much else.
"Welcome to Moscow." She greeted them before pausing to notice a distinct pattern of wet and white freckles scattered on each of their shoulders. "How was the flight? Did the snow give you any trouble?"
"No trouble. The flight was long,- but enjoyable." Moira replied, her eyes sliding in Charles's direction as she spoke with a smile.
"Time literally flew by." Charles chimed in. "Though I wasn't expecting it to be this cold. It's cold enough to compete with the English winters back home,-"
"I'm sorry, are we going to stay here much longer? I would like to get out of these clothes and have a warm shower." Erik interrupted loudly.
He'd already endured enough of Charles and Moira's conversation and laughter. The last thing he wanted was to witness more of that behaviour. Even Ann seemed to show similar nature or had she not been standing in the arms of a stranger just a second ago? He found himself wondering what else she might have been doing while she'd been here on her own.
"Right you are, Erik." Charles nodded in agreement. "Though I suspect we might have to come back down afterwards? That chap over there seems overly eager to catch our attention."
The man Charles was referring to was obviously Nikolay, who had taken the liberty of not only ordering three extra glasses for them but another bottle to go with it. An audible groan crossed Ann's lips.
"That would be Nikolay, who is set on giving everyone a 'clear' head before tomorrow." She sighed and turned her attention back to the others. "As well as informing you three on how they're planning on taking Shaw in tomorrow."
Moira nodded and handed her luggage to Charles. "I'd better go over to him for a second and tell him we'll start the briefing on the mission within thirty minutes. What room are we in, Ann?"
"408." The other woman replied.
"Alright. I'll be there soon." With that said the auburn haired CIA agent hurried away.
"Thirty minutes?" Erik repeated as soon as she was out of sight.
Charles shrugged. "Better than nothing at all. It sounds like this is quite a common thing? I'm guessing it'll be some time before we can finally lay our heads down." He exhaled with a sigh as he turned to Erik, whose scowl was more than apparent.
Ann pressed her lips into a tight line. Even Charles seemed annoyed with the prospect of having to go through a briefing session, the smile he'd had when he walked into the lounge had completely disappeared. She cleared her throat and walked around the two of them.
"Come on, I'll take you to your rooms."
The walk through the lobby, followed by a swift ascend with the lift to the fourth floor and only a short thirty steps until they reached the rooms Ann had booked for all of them. She rummaged through her small suede purse and pulled out two keys. One for Charles and one for Erik.
"You booked us our own rooms?" Charles frowned with surprise.
"Yes. I figured that is what you'd prefer?" Ann replied.
Erik immediately turned to the door in front of him and unlocked it. "No complaints from me. I'll be back in thirty minutes." He said before stepping inside the room and shutting the door behind him.
The woman blinked and stared at the empty spot where Erik had just been standing. "He did not enjoy the flight, did he?"
"I reckon Moira and I weren't the best of company. Besides, his mind is set on one thing only." Charles said as he set Moira's bag down on the red carpet. "I'm surprised he's still willing to come downstairs."
"Mmm, that might change after he properly meets Nikolay."
"Oh?"
"Nice guy. I always figured Russians were suppose to be a bit reserved, but he is a rather energetic fellow." Ann explained. "Loves his vodka though."
Charles's mouth formed a small smile. "That sounds about right. Weren't the two of you drinking when we arrived?"
There it was. She knew a comment was bound to happen with regards to her enjoying one alcoholic beverage,- or two in this case. After all, the last time they'd all been in a hotel, Ann had gotten rather drunk herself from having one too many bourbons. Charles had even brought her to her room, actually dragged was a better way to describe it. It had been a very embarrassing situation, not to mention the fact the she'd almost practically fallen into his groin.
She could feel her cheeks heat up at the humiliating memory. That was not going to happen again, not now, not ever.
"Are you alright? You look a little,- flushed?" Charles tilted his head sideways and searched for her eyes.
"What? No, I'm fine. Must be the vodka."
"Of course." He grinned. "Didn't you once tell me that you don't drink much?"
"I did and I don't. Shouldn't you be getting ready?" Ann quickly added as she very much wanted their conversation to stop.
Charles nodded, though his lopsided smirk did not vanish. "You're right, I should follow Erik's example of taking a shower. I need to look my best when meeting this Nikolay. Perhaps he'll ask me for a dance as well?"
Ann did not shy away from throwing the telepath an angry and fierce glare as he said that. With her eyes narrowed, she bent down and grabbed Moira's bag from the floor, ready to take it with her.
"I'd almost forgotten how funny you are, Charles. Almost. I'll meet you two downstairs." She countered before heading into her own room, ignoring the chuckle she could distinctively hear Charles emitting.
Hope you all enjoyed this chapter. It's just a bit longer than the last one, hope you all don't mind and that it was still interesting.
I would love to hear your thoughts!
Next chapter, time to go after Sebastian Shaw and General Armivolkoff.
Until then!