He Left her in Venice

Alex stormed into the basement, his mind reeling from the events of the morning. He tossed his keys onto the desk with a clatter and shrugged off his jacket, letting it fall to the floor in a heap. His thoughts were consumed with one thing, one person - Hera. As he sat down heavily in his chair, he couldn't help but glare at the television opposite him. It was a reminder of his past, a past he thought he'd left behind. But now, with the possibility of Hera's return, it all came rushing back.

"Good morning, Alpha," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. The room came to life around him, blinds closing, lights flickering on, the television screen glowing with a simple message:

Good morning, Alex.

He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he was about to do. "Call Mrs. Jones."

As the screen went blank, Alex's mind raced. What would he say to her? How could he even begin to explain the turmoil he was feeling? The prospect of seeing Hera again, after all this time, filled him with a mixture of dread and longing.

Mrs. Jones appeared on the screen, her office exactly as he remembered it. Papers strewn across her desk, no doubt filled with secrets and missions, some of which might have been his own, in another life.

"Alex!" Mrs. Jones exclaimed, a smile on her face. "You look well."

But Alex wasn't in the mood for pleasantries. "There was a murder outside my house," he said, cutting straight to the chase.

Mrs. Jones looked surprised, shuffling the papers in front of her. "Really? Well, I can't say we heard of anything in that area-"

"Someone was seen," Alex interrupted, his voice rising. "With eyes the same color as mine." He could see Mrs. Jones about to brush it off, to downplay the significance of this detail. But Alex knew better. There was only one person in the world who shared the exact shade of his crystal blue eyes.

"Is she here?" he asked, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Hera?"The name fell from his lips like a prayer and a curse all at once. Memories flooded his mind - her laugh, her smile, the way she looked at him like he was the only person in the world. But also the pain, the betrayal, the bitter end to what they had.

Mrs. Jones sighed, removing her glasses and rubbing the bridge of her nose. "Alex, I assure you, if Hera were back in the country, I would know about it. As far as our intelligence suggests, she's still on a deep cover mission abroad." With Mrs. Jones assuring him that Hera wasn't in the country, he nodded without really listening. Alex couldn't shake the feeling that something was coming, something that would turn his world upside down once again.

As he said his goodbyes and ended the call, Alex's thoughts were still on that girl with eyes the same colour as his own. He remembered their last mission together, the one that had torn them apart. The secrets, the lies, the unforgivable choices they'd both had to make. But beneath it all, beneath the anger and the hurt, there was still a part of him that longed for her. A part that remembered the way she made him feel, the connection they'd shared. It was a part he'd tried to bury, to forget, but now, with the possibility of her return, it was resurfacing with a vengeance.

His mind drifted back to Venice, to that fateful mission that had changed everything. The mission where he'd seen a side of Hera he never knew existed, a darkness he couldn't comprehend. It was the reason he'd left her, the reason he'd walked away. But now, with the spectre of her return looming over him, Alex couldn't help but wonder if he'd made the right choice. Had he been too quick to judge her, too unwilling to understand her motivations?

He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. No, he'd made the right decision. He had to shake the feeling that his past was about to catch up with him. Because if it did, he wasn't sure he'd be strong enough to face it.

Venice, three years ago

The underground laboratory beneath the streets of Venice was a labyrinth of dimly lit corridors, the air thick with the scent of chemicals and the hum of machinery. It was the birthplace of some of the most volatile, expensive and war-insighting biological weapons. It was headed by an unknown figure, sought after by every country in the world, feared by governments and spies alike. In his lair, two teenage spies were catching their breath. Hidden behind a wall, Alex Rider, in a tailored black suit, and Hera St Claire, in a sleek black dress, both looked a little worse for wear after their encounters with the enemy.

Hera, her dark hair falling in waves over her shoulders, reached down to the knife strapped to her thigh. With a deft motion, she cut off the skirt of her dress, leaving her in a corset-like top and shorts. The shorts were fitted with pockets and gadgets, hanging ready for use. Alex, still breathing heavily, looked down in confusion as her slender legs came into view.

"What are you doing?" he asked, his voice a mix of amusement and exasperation.

Hera glanced up at him, a smirk playing on her lips. "I can't move in this thing, and girls' dresses don't have pockets."

"I wish I had your problems," Alex replied sarcastically, shaking his head.

"I'll give you a fucking problem," Hera mumbled under her breath, causing Alex to chuckle despite the tension of their situation. She pulled out a gun-like object from a holster on her thigh and began to load it.

Alex's eyes widened, his voice became serious. "What is that?"

The girl's smirk grew wider. "Relax, it's not lethal. It's one of Smithers' tranquilliser guns, designed to look intimidating to scare off pursuers."

Her answer did not satisfy him as he frowned, his reluctance to use force evident in his expression. Hera, annoyed by his hesitation, grabbed him by the tie, pulling him close. His breath hitched in his throat, at the sudden contact, her face mere inches from his. Why was it, in the heat of the chase, in the adrenaline of a mission, the two of them could not help but push one another to the edge of something dangerous?

"You need to loosen up," she whispered, her breath warm against his skin. Hera removed his tie and used it as a tourniquet for a cut on his arm. As she worked, Alex tried to ignore the shivers down his spine as her hands brushed his skin. He tried to focus on the mission at hand, but with Hera so close, it was often a losing battle.

Hera finished tying the tourniquet and stepped back, admiring her handiwork. "There. All better."

Alex flexed his arm, testing the tightness of the knot. "Thanks," he said, his voice a little rougher than usual. He cleared his throat and checked his phone, accessing the feed from the laboratory's security cameras. The coast was clear.

"We should keep moving," he said, pocketing his phone. "The longer we stay in one place, the more likely they are to find us."

Hera nodded, her playful demeanor falling away as she focused on the task at hand. "Lead the way."

They set off through the winding corridors, their footsteps echoing in the stillness. The only other sounds were the distant drip of water and the occasional creak of metal. It was eerie, like something out of a horror movie, and Alex felt a prickle of unease run down his spine.

As they turned a corner, they came face to face with a group of armed guards. For a moment, everyone froze, surprised by the sudden encounter. Then, chaos erupted.

Alex and Hera moved as one, years of training and instinct taking over. They dove for cover, Alex behind a stack of crates and Hera behind a concrete pillar. Gunfire filled the air, the sound deafening in the enclosed space.

Alex risked a glance around the crates, trying to get a headcount. "I see four," he called to Hera. "Armed."

"Three," Hera replied, her voice tight with concentration. Alex looked over to see her aiming her tranquilliser gun, a guard slumping to the ground a moment later.

Alex took advantage of the momentary distraction, darting out from behind the crates and engaging the nearest guard in hand-to-hand combat. He disarmed the man with a swift kick, sending his gun skittering across the floor. The guard lunged at him, but Alex sidestepped, using the man's momentum to flip him over his shoulder. The guard hit the ground hard, the wind knocked out of him.

Meanwhile, Hera had taken down another guard, her moves a blur of well-executed precision. She ducked under a punch, sweeping the guard's legs out from under him. As he fell, she grabbed his arm, twisting it behind his back until he cried out in pain.

The last guard, seeing his comrades fall, turned to run. Alex sprinted after him, tackling him to the ground. They grappled for a moment, but Alex managed to get the upper hand, pinning the guard down. His knee pressed against the man's back. "Where's the man in charge of this operation?"

The guard struggled, but Alex's grip was iron-tight. "I don't know," he spat out. "I just follow orders."

Alex looked up at Hera, who had joined him, her tranquilliser gun trained on the guard. "He's lying," she said, her voice cold.

"I swear, I don't know anything!" the guard insisted, his voice rising in panic. "Please, don't hurt me."

Alex hesitated, conflicted. He hated using violence, hated the idea of stooping to their level. But they needed answers, and they were running out of time.

Hera seemed to sense his hesitation. She crouched down, getting face to face with the guard. "Listen to me," she said, her voice low and dangerous. "This is a tranquilliser, it will just put you to sleep," she smiled almost comfortingly at the man, "put have you ever been shot with a tranquilliser gun at point blank range? It's…uncomfortable." The girl tilted her head at him sweetly. Alex looked up at her with a disappointed sigh, she avoided his gaze.

The man seemed to struggle for a moment, sweat beading on his forehead, before he realised he had no choice. "Take my keycard, go to the north most office on the top floor." Hera looked at Alex, a question in her eyes. He nodded, satisfied. She stood up, tucking her gun back into its holster.

"Thanks for the cooperation," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. The guard nodded frantically, his face pale. Alex let him go, watching as he scrambled away down the corridor. Then he turned to Hera, a wry smile on his face.

"Really?"

Hera shrugged, a mischievous glint in her eye. "What can I say? I'm persuasive."

Alex shook his head, chuckling despite himself. "Remind me never to get on your bad side."

"Do you think you could handle my bad side?"

For a moment, they stood there, the tension between them electric. Alex's gaze dropped to her lips, his heart pounding in his chest. Hera's brain went a little foggy, half-hating her for saying, half-wishing she had the conviction to follow through with her words.

A distant shout echoed down the corridor, snapping them back to reality. Alex stepped back, clearing his throat. "We should go," he said, his voice rough.

Hera nodded, a flicker of embarrassment crossing her face. "Top floor, end of the hall. Let's end this."

They made their way to the stairwell, climbing flight after flight until they reached the top. The stairs opened into a long hallway, plushly carpeted and lined with expensive-looking art. It was a jarring contrast to the industrial grit of the lower levels. At the end of the hall stood a set of double doors, ornately carved and gleaming with polished brass handles. Alex and Hera exchanged a glance, readying their weapons. This was it. The moment of truth.

Alex reached out, grasping the handle. With a deep breath, he pushed the door open, Hera at his side.

The office was opulent, all rich wood paneling and leather furnishings. A massive desk dominated the space, and behind it sat a man, his face hidden in shadow. Alex and Hera stepped further into the room, their weapons trained on the figure.

"It's over," Alex said, his voice steady. "Your operation is finished."

The man laughed, a low, sinister sound. "Oh, I don't think so, Mr. Rider. In fact, I'd say it's just beginning." Upon hearing his voice, Hera froze, her entire being seized up as she took a step forward. The man leant lent forward, the light from the only window falling across his face. Hera gasped, her gun wavering.

"Dad?"

Anyone else like- can you two just hook up already because the tension is killlling me?

review to let me know you hate it too