Post by emt on Apr 6, 2017 21:20:17 GMT
“Something to drink sir?”
Ethan shook himself hearing the voice of the stewardess whispering in his ear. He declined with a courtesy smile, quickly getting lost once again in his thoughts. His eyes inevitably fell on the gorgeous girl on his left, Nadja Ivanov. She was staring out of the window, watching the unchanging landscape as they were flying over the ocean.
“You should get some sleep Lady Russia” He said gently, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and brushing her long black hair.”
“I am not tired.” She kinda mumbled those words, looking at him. The truth was that flying made her nervous. “I can sleep once we touch down, right?” Giving him her best smile before leaning against his shoulder.
He looked straight in those blue eyes. “Whatever you want, Nadja.” He kissed her forehead, moving his hand up and down her arm, caressing lightly. He still wasn’t comfortable showing this soft side, but it was starting to become somehow a common habit with her, since their short trip to Las Vegas a week before, when she started opening with him, sharing her tragic past. Or at least part of it. “I just thought you could use some sleep after… you know…”
He was referring to the assault she was victim of a couple of days ago.
For a long moment nothing happened. Or at least it felt very long to her. She was breathing in a slow and steady pace. Trying to keep every emotion down. Scared that they would overwhelm her. Instead she softly squeezed his hand. Briefly. Somewhat reassuring.
“Sleep will come. After a bottle of vodka. Maybe two.” There was still this shaky smile. “I… try to survive… which I can't when I close my eyes.”
“You don’t have to worry now, I’m here with you”. Just like where I was supposed to be that night… Again that sense of guilt, kicking in every time something bad happened to those he cared about. And he cared about Nadja, more than he wanted to admit to himself. Which he found funny, considering how they met. All that he wanted that night in New York was getting drunk. Forget all his problems, escape for one night. And then Lara Chambers introduced him to this girl.
Life had a funny way nudging you into a certain direction. That was something her mother used to say. Or so she thought. The memories about her parents became more blurry with every moment passing. You were just a kid. It was only then that her eyes fell back on him. That intensive observation that never seemed to bother him. Not too many people did withstand it.
“I know Ethan Thompson. That's my only safety right now. And guess what? I wouldn't want it any other way.”
They were both smiling, a moment before their lips locked in a quick kiss. “But since I’m not enough to calm you down…” He raised his right hand, getting the attention of the stewardess who quickly came back to his seat. “We changed our mind. Can we have some vodka?”
“Of course!” She replied with the same smile, before bending forward and reaching inside the cart, taking out a small bottle.
“Thank you.” He said, wondering how tough should be for that girl to keep that smile all the time, even when she had to deal with total jerks like that guy who just pinched her butt as she was walking by. Shaking his head, he opened up the bottle and handed it to Nadja. “There you go. Suit yourself.”
Something had changed inside of her when watching the scenario. Maybe getting a flashback from recent events. She heard Ethan talk, but somehow the rush of blood in her ears was deafening. Nadja clawed her nails into the seat before her. Her knuckles became white from how hard she held onto the bottle.
“Are you ok Nadja?” Ethan knew she obviously was still in shock after the recent events, but actually seeing her almost on the verge of a breakdown? That was something he didn’t expect. Whatever she went through must have been way worse than he pictured in his mind. And he was about to find out, soon. As soon as he could get her falling asleep. His hand moved over hers, hopefully this would calm her down.
Her intense eyes still focused on the scumbag. The poor excuse for men. For a moment she thought about jumping up… but then she felt his hand. A warmth she wasn't used to. And she snapped out of it. Finally looking at him. The tension escaping her body. A smile.
“There are only two things that can calm me down.” She sipped from the bottle. Then winked at him. “And option one is not possible right now.”
“This leaves only option number two then…” He leaned in, finding her lips once again. The kiss lasted a bit longer this time, until he felt her muscles relaxing. “You taste like vodka, Lady Russia.” With a playful smile, he grabbed the bottle from her hand, taking a sip.
“At least we know they don't hand us water, right?” She took the bottle back, sticking her tongue out. “Careful, don't want you to get drunk.” She clearly was joking, her eyes shining.
“I’m not sure they have enough booze in that cart to get me drunk” He said laughing. “You, on the other hand, I’m not sure you can empty that small bottle without getting wasted darling” With a swift movement, he regained possession of the liquor, drinking a bit more.
“That calls for war.” Forgotten were the gloomy thoughts. For now. She unfastened her seat belt, leaning over. Her gentle hands tickling him. “Hand it back.”
He smiled at her attempt. Tickling had absolutely no effect on Ethan Thompson. Anyway, he handed her the bone of contention. He accomplished her goal, putting that beautiful smile back on her face. Now, he only had to help her relax more, so he could join Lara and finally find out what happened that night.
It was the first time in the past 48 hours that she yawned. Her body finally feeling the effects of the… assault. Nadja looked at him with bright but tired eyes. “Maybe a power nap. Ten minutes. Maximum.”
He nodded, kissing her head as she rested on his shoulder. It didn’t take long before she gave up, passing out. Ethan emptied the bottle, waiting patiently for a bunch of minutes before gently moving her head away from his shoulder, lowering her seat and sneaking away.
Lara Chambers was sitting a couple of rows behind. Walking down the narrow corridor, he saw the scumbag. He fell asleep, his mouth open, snoring loudly. The thought of driving his fist straight into his mush crossed Ethan’s mind. For more than just a moment actually. But as tempting as it sounded, he had more important things to do right now. This didn’t stop him from “accidentally” bumping on him, waking him up in the middle of his alcohol induced nap. Without even the smallest hint of an apology, he kept walking, until he reached Lara, thinking again how he ended up in this story. A bottle of whiskey with a friend, a dance, and then her. A ray of light breaking through the night. Beautiful. Unexpected. Unintended.
Lara had been observing the situation. Ethan 'accidentally' pushing against the dude. It was hard to keep down a laughter. Especially since Devon was fast asleep and she didn't wanna disturb him. It took another few moments before Ethan had reached her, she smiled. Motioning him to be quiet, sliding out of her seat. A gentle kiss placed on her husband’s head before moving away. "Took you a moment."
"Yeah Nadja had some hard time calming herself down. I can't really blame her.” He gave a quick glance behind his back "And I may have bumped into a huge piece of shit on my way here." They found two free seats a couple of rows ahead. Lara turned on her tablet, her eyes trying to hide a ill-concealed turmoil. "Is it THAT bad Lara?"
"You know I suck at playing things down." She looked at him directly. "But I have seen splatter movies less disturbing." She handed him a pair of headphones waiting for the laptop to load. All the time looking at him
He kept his eyes on the screen all the time. Her eyes and her voice were already giving him a hint of what he should expect. "Maybe I should get myself some drinks then”
She would call the stewardess over. The girl handing them those small bottles but Lara shook her head. A moment later a big one was resting before them. She handed it to Ethan before clicking the video. Leaning back while closing her eyes
He wore the headphones, staring speechless at the footage rolling right before his eyes. Four men barged into her apartment, turning everything upside down, pulling and pushing Nadja around, hitting her with shocking cruelty. Definitely an upsetting sight even for the usually stoic and imperturbable Ethan Thompson. Especially because the victim was someone he felt so close. He found some liquid courage to keep going through those disturbing images taking two long sips, straight from the bottle. A fire burning inside him, each and every frame increasing his desire of a violent revenge.
Lara was not watching. She had seen it before when getting the footage. Her eyes were closed, knowing what part would come next. Instinctively she reached out for his hand. Giving it a small squeeze. "You might wanna turn it off... it won't get easier from there on." Honest concern swung in her voice.
Lara Chambers was one of the strongest and toughest person he ever met. If she was that upset, the upcoming part must have been something savage. But never, not even in his worst nightmares he would have imagined something like this. More than all the abuses she suffered, the fallout was the part he could never forget. Once her tormentors left, Nadja was left alone, battered and bruised on her apartment's floor. Completely broken.
"I know." Was all that Lara said. Finally opening her eyes again, looking at the screen. The video had now turned into a frozen picture of Nadja Ivanov. The bruises weren't what gotten to her in the first place. From personal experience she knew they would heal. It was the look on their friends face. That emptiness in those big, blue eyes.
That loud, desperate and frustrated scream Nadja let out right before picking herself up pierced right through his ears, leaving an indelible scar in his soul. A drink. Ethan definitely needed a drink to shake himself off. But much to his surprise when he raised the bottle, his hand lost the grip. Luckily enough, the glass didn't shatter when hitting the plane floor.
Lara was quick to pick up, not causing a mess. The stewardess didn't notice. She handed it back to him, an uneasy stomach feeling. "You know only out of respect for you... I haven't ended them. It's in your hands."
"When?" As glacial as it sounded, that word held all his rage, his thirst for revenge and that sense of failure that always hit him whenever someone he cared about got hurt. Who, where and how didn't really matter to him. He learned that the perfect revenge takes time, it takes planning. The sooner they would start gathering information, the better it would have been.
"Currently I have my contacts investigate. We will know more when we get back." She took the bottle and took a sip. "The question is, how far are we willing to go Ethan?"
He gave one last look at the screen, starring in Nadja's eyes. Those blue eyes he used to get lost in in their moments of intimacy now looking so desperate, empty. He never replied, he just glanced at Lara.
"Go back. We will keep talking once we are alone again." Lara looked a few rows ahead, where Nadja slowly began to move. Maybe having a dream. "We got this Ethan. Together."
He nodded, handing back the tablet to her and stepping out if his seat. The same guy he poked earlier looked at him as he was approaching, expecting an apology. The look on Ethan's face was far from sorry. Intimidated, the man turned his head away. Nadja was tossing and turning in her sleep, possibly reliving that night. Her long black hair were covering her face. After moving them away, he kissed her cheek. Softly.
Her eyes fluttered open. She was sweating a little. Looking at him. "Sorry."
He smiled at her, his hand looking and finding hers. "Sorry for what?"
She interlaced her cold hand with his. "I think I woke you."
“No, I was just watching you sleep. You started fidgeting.. A nightmare?”
"Yeah. Something stupid." She seemed disgusted. Mostly with herself. Nonetheless she would try to smile.
He moved his hand to her face, caressing her cheekbone with his thumb. She felt comforted by his gentle touch, and by his smile. He grabbed his hand, her eyes locking with his. They both shared the same thought at the same time, leaning forward, finding each other's lips.