Two days passed and as promised, Maxim arranged to escort Aleksandra to the market to obtain the ingredients necessary for the meal she was planning on cooking for him. As far as their public encounter was concerned, they appeared to be just like any other young couple enjoying each other's company. An almost easy camaraderie was developing between them filled with conversation and laughter, which boded well for them, as they were constantly being watched and followed. Even as they marched up the stairs to his apartment, the sound of their laughter echoing through the stairway, he was aware of the shadow that was following not far behind.
Despite her nerves, Aleksandra was pleasantly surprised to find that Maxim was good company. She'd been terrified on their way out of the base, expecting to be summoned back at any moment, but all had gone well. As for playing out the gentle farce that was a trip to the market, she'd almost forgotten the purpose of this supposed date, but as they walked the stairs to his apartment, she, too, had become aware of the shadow following them, her nerves beginning to come back into play.
"I hope you have a pot big enough to cook all this in," she managed, hoping she didn't sound too awkward.
Maxim was either a very good actor or he was far more at ease with Aleksandra than even he realized. Some part of him knew this was all just a ruse to extract her from Hydra and get her out of the country, but he was still just a man and that part of him still had a heart, even if he didn't want to admit it. "We will make do," he said, juggling the bags of groceries in search of the keys to his apartment. "Hmm, I seem to have my hands full. If you could just search my pockets ..." he teased, more for their shadow's benefit than their own.
Tilting her head back to meet his eyes, her own eyes rolled above a smile that was not entirely feigned. "Do you care to tell me which pocket, or am I to rummage around until you decide to tell me they are not in your trousers?"
"I believe they are in my left trouser pocket," he said, waiting until she reached for said pocket before changing his mind. "Or it could be the right," he added in an amused tone of voice. It was getting harder to tell where the fake Maxim ended and the real Maxim began. He didn't want to like her or care about her, but the more time he spent in her presence, the more she intrigued him.
Despite herself, Aleksandra laughed as she drew her hand away from his left pocket, twisting to slide her hand past his wallet and rummage for what she hoped were the keys to his apartment. "I could simply have taken the bags, you realise."
"Da, well, that would be one solution," he agreed, making no visible effort to hand her the bags. Maybe there was a real gentleman somewhere inside him after all, despite his own doubts. The sound of footsteps behind them grew louder as their shadow neared, and he silently nodded his head at her to indicate they should get out of the way.
Concern flared in her eyes at his nod, her smaller frame crowding close to his to free the hallway as she dug about for his keys. Small fingers finally closed on them, pulling them free. "Aha! You cannot get me so easily, Maxim," she countered his tease, setting the key into the lock.
"We will see about that," he said, openly teasing her in return. He waited for her to open the door before pushing inside and out of the way of their shadow.
She followed him in, unable to resist glancing at the man passing by the door as she opened it. She hoped it seemed like natural passing curiosity, rather than bone-trembling terror.
Maxim pushed her up against the door just before she could get it closed, his head dipping down to press a kiss against her lips, though his eyes were lifting to follow the man as he passed by to get a good look at him.
What he got from his diminutive companion was a squeak of surprise, quickly muffled in the kiss he pressed to her mouth, her eyes falling closed quickly in a very natural response to being kissed by a man she rather liked. Thus Aleksandra did not see the man who passed them on the stairs, but Maxim did - Vladimir Olensky, his Hydra handler for the time being, catching his eye on the way past to nod in acknowledgement before continuing on up the stairs.
Maxim did not acknowledge the man except to meet his gaze before turning his attention back to Aleksandra and finishing the kiss. "Come," he whispered to her, letting her go so they could slip into his privacy and relative safety of his apartment. Once inside, he leaned close to whisper a warning in her ear, "Be careful what you say. They are listening."
A little wide-eyed and wild around the edges, Aleksandra closed the door, a part of her wishing the kisses weren't just a ruse. It was a fool's hope, though, as she well knew ....as his whisper against her ear made very plain. Swallowing, she nodded, almost afraid to speak at all for a moment. "I-I thought you were looking for golabki," she managed, proud of herself for the teasing tone in her voice.
"Golabki first, who knows what later?" he countered, offering a smile he hoped was reassuring, even if it wasn't terribly romantic. "Let me show you the kitchen," he told her, hoping to get rid of the bags he was still juggling.
"A man who knows his priorities, I see." She stepped aside for him to move past her, uncertain whether to remove her coat. Were they really going to make and eat a meal, knowing that his security people were right here, in the building, no doubt ready to pounce at the slightest sign of anything being amiss"
She was far more paranoid than he was, it seemed, or maybe he just had a plan. Either way, he seemed perfectly at ease as he led her through the small apartment to the kitchen, so he could at least set the bags of groceries on the table. "Please, make yourself at home," he told her as he started to unpack the bags.
"It has been a long time since I have been outside the facility," she commented, awkwardly undoing her coat. Inside the Arctic Circle, winter was definitely holding on tightly; there was no call for dressing sexy for a date when the temperatures were still in minus figures, which was why she had chosen to wear her thickest sweater over jeans. "I think I had almost forgotten what the sky looks like."
There were a dozen things he could have said to that, but knowing they were being listened to and knowing he had to pretend to be loyal to Hydra, he tried to reply in a way that offered comfort and yet, wouldn't raise any suspicion. "The sky is the same as it always is. It does not change, Aleksandra," he told her, going from a formal way of addressing her to a more casual way in the matter of the few hours they'd spent together in the market. This, too, would be something that was expected of a couple on a date.
Removing her coat, she turned to find somewhere to hang it. "Unlike you, it seems," she said, almost teasing again, though there was a faint accusation in her eyes. "The desire of every woman in the facility, and not a few men besides, and yet you decide to ask me on a date. Not predictable, are you?"
"Perhaps I found you a challenge," he replied as he set the groceries out on the counter, in anticipation of her cooking. The look in his eyes was almost teasing as well, but he quickly masked the look as he turned away to put a few things in the fridge. "So, tell me ....What happened to your brother?" he asked, not only because he needed to appear like he was getting to know her, but because he was genuinely interested. He had read her file, of course, but that hardly answered his question.
Despite her nerves, Aleksandra was pleasantly surprised to find that Maxim was good company. She'd been terrified on their way out of the base, expecting to be summoned back at any moment, but all had gone well. As for playing out the gentle farce that was a trip to the market, she'd almost forgotten the purpose of this supposed date, but as they walked the stairs to his apartment, she, too, had become aware of the shadow following them, her nerves beginning to come back into play.
"I hope you have a pot big enough to cook all this in," she managed, hoping she didn't sound too awkward.
Maxim was either a very good actor or he was far more at ease with Aleksandra than even he realized. Some part of him knew this was all just a ruse to extract her from Hydra and get her out of the country, but he was still just a man and that part of him still had a heart, even if he didn't want to admit it. "We will make do," he said, juggling the bags of groceries in search of the keys to his apartment. "Hmm, I seem to have my hands full. If you could just search my pockets ..." he teased, more for their shadow's benefit than their own.
Tilting her head back to meet his eyes, her own eyes rolled above a smile that was not entirely feigned. "Do you care to tell me which pocket, or am I to rummage around until you decide to tell me they are not in your trousers?"
"I believe they are in my left trouser pocket," he said, waiting until she reached for said pocket before changing his mind. "Or it could be the right," he added in an amused tone of voice. It was getting harder to tell where the fake Maxim ended and the real Maxim began. He didn't want to like her or care about her, but the more time he spent in her presence, the more she intrigued him.
Despite herself, Aleksandra laughed as she drew her hand away from his left pocket, twisting to slide her hand past his wallet and rummage for what she hoped were the keys to his apartment. "I could simply have taken the bags, you realise."
"Da, well, that would be one solution," he agreed, making no visible effort to hand her the bags. Maybe there was a real gentleman somewhere inside him after all, despite his own doubts. The sound of footsteps behind them grew louder as their shadow neared, and he silently nodded his head at her to indicate they should get out of the way.
Concern flared in her eyes at his nod, her smaller frame crowding close to his to free the hallway as she dug about for his keys. Small fingers finally closed on them, pulling them free. "Aha! You cannot get me so easily, Maxim," she countered his tease, setting the key into the lock.
"We will see about that," he said, openly teasing her in return. He waited for her to open the door before pushing inside and out of the way of their shadow.
She followed him in, unable to resist glancing at the man passing by the door as she opened it. She hoped it seemed like natural passing curiosity, rather than bone-trembling terror.
Maxim pushed her up against the door just before she could get it closed, his head dipping down to press a kiss against her lips, though his eyes were lifting to follow the man as he passed by to get a good look at him.
What he got from his diminutive companion was a squeak of surprise, quickly muffled in the kiss he pressed to her mouth, her eyes falling closed quickly in a very natural response to being kissed by a man she rather liked. Thus Aleksandra did not see the man who passed them on the stairs, but Maxim did - Vladimir Olensky, his Hydra handler for the time being, catching his eye on the way past to nod in acknowledgement before continuing on up the stairs.
Maxim did not acknowledge the man except to meet his gaze before turning his attention back to Aleksandra and finishing the kiss. "Come," he whispered to her, letting her go so they could slip into his privacy and relative safety of his apartment. Once inside, he leaned close to whisper a warning in her ear, "Be careful what you say. They are listening."
A little wide-eyed and wild around the edges, Aleksandra closed the door, a part of her wishing the kisses weren't just a ruse. It was a fool's hope, though, as she well knew ....as his whisper against her ear made very plain. Swallowing, she nodded, almost afraid to speak at all for a moment. "I-I thought you were looking for golabki," she managed, proud of herself for the teasing tone in her voice.
"Golabki first, who knows what later?" he countered, offering a smile he hoped was reassuring, even if it wasn't terribly romantic. "Let me show you the kitchen," he told her, hoping to get rid of the bags he was still juggling.
"A man who knows his priorities, I see." She stepped aside for him to move past her, uncertain whether to remove her coat. Were they really going to make and eat a meal, knowing that his security people were right here, in the building, no doubt ready to pounce at the slightest sign of anything being amiss"
She was far more paranoid than he was, it seemed, or maybe he just had a plan. Either way, he seemed perfectly at ease as he led her through the small apartment to the kitchen, so he could at least set the bags of groceries on the table. "Please, make yourself at home," he told her as he started to unpack the bags.
"It has been a long time since I have been outside the facility," she commented, awkwardly undoing her coat. Inside the Arctic Circle, winter was definitely holding on tightly; there was no call for dressing sexy for a date when the temperatures were still in minus figures, which was why she had chosen to wear her thickest sweater over jeans. "I think I had almost forgotten what the sky looks like."
There were a dozen things he could have said to that, but knowing they were being listened to and knowing he had to pretend to be loyal to Hydra, he tried to reply in a way that offered comfort and yet, wouldn't raise any suspicion. "The sky is the same as it always is. It does not change, Aleksandra," he told her, going from a formal way of addressing her to a more casual way in the matter of the few hours they'd spent together in the market. This, too, would be something that was expected of a couple on a date.
Removing her coat, she turned to find somewhere to hang it. "Unlike you, it seems," she said, almost teasing again, though there was a faint accusation in her eyes. "The desire of every woman in the facility, and not a few men besides, and yet you decide to ask me on a date. Not predictable, are you?"
"Perhaps I found you a challenge," he replied as he set the groceries out on the counter, in anticipation of her cooking. The look in his eyes was almost teasing as well, but he quickly masked the look as he turned away to put a few things in the fridge. "So, tell me ....What happened to your brother?" he asked, not only because he needed to appear like he was getting to know her, but because he was genuinely interested. He had read her file, of course, but that hardly answered his question.