Darien Fawkes - Reader
"A schmuck with a tasty surname once said "Knowledge is power"... now, it is unknown whether he actually said this or not, but it doesn't really matter. What really matters is how you solve the mess where you find yourself when you know too much.
You see, I've had my fair share of messes before and always found my way out somehow, but if there is something that I've learned during the floundering and crawling out from the swamp of tricky situations, it is that sometimes ignorance is not only bliss but also the safest choice."
- Hi Darien, long time. you said and took a deep breath before continuing. “Listen, I heard that you’re living in Washington…” you added and paused since you glanced nervously over your shoulder to see if you were being followed. You did not see anyone suspicious which made you sigh relieved. For a moment you forgot that you were actually leaving a voicemail to your old friend Darien Fawkes… until you realized that you had been silent for a quite long time… for a phone call at least.
- I happen to be in town and I was hoping that I could crash at your place a couple of nights. you added and swallowed once before saying with a shaky voice “Darien, I think I’m in trouble”. You were going to say “in serious trouble” but you did not want to sound desperate because you had always been very independent and asking for help was not easy for you.
- Meet me where all roads end. you said and hung up. You had managed to find a working payphone, which was basically a miracle because everyone had cell phones nowadays and that meant that there was no need for good-old-payphones. You had a smart phone as well, of course, but it was not safe to use because you were currently being followed by someone and therefore you suspected that your phone calls were being listened to. Sure you had disabled your GPS and used the Internet with VPN, taken all the safety measures there were to keep your location unknown, but you knew that the people who were trying to hunt you down were very powerful and they were not joking around. Oh no, those people were dead-serious because you had managed to reveal their shady businesses and connections with terrorists… and therefore they were hungry for payback.
It had been three years since the last time you had met Darien and done a gig with him, a simple burglary with you disabling the alarm and Darien breaking in to the safe. It had been an easy job with good pay and given you a possibility to leave the burglary –scene and move into the identity theft crimes as well as hacking information about corrupted organizations as well as crooked politicians. You were a freelancer, kind of, an activist of more transparent world and a kind of vigilante, as you wanted to think about it. You hacked information about influential people who had gotten themselves mixed in criminal or morally dubious activities and then leaked them or sold them to other people. It had been a good business until you had gotten yourself into too deep waters and now you were in trouble.
You left the phone booth, made sure that the hood of your hoodie was shadowing your face and headed to the cemetery. “Where all roads end” was a code phrase that you and Darien had invented many years ago. It meant that you would meet at the cemetery, at the biggest tombstone there was. You checked the time, took a taxi to the graveyard, found the biggest tombstone and sat down to wait. You ate a couple of snack bars and kept an eye on your surroundings constantly; the cemetery was a risky place to meet because there were not that many places to hide… but it was the place for which you had a code phrase and therefore you were hoping that you had managed to get rid of your tail.
Four hours passed by very slowly and it was going to get dark soon but there was no sign of Darien. What if he was not in town? What if… what if he was in police custody or had heard that you were in pretty serious trouble and decided not to get involved? Yeah, you had gotten yourself mixed with very influential people who had been in another league, out of your league one could say, and they had managed to track you down, reveal your identity and find out pretty much everything there was to know about you. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Darien did not want to get involved. He after all had always known where to draw the line, kind of… meaning that he had stayed under the radar, robbing only “small fishes” and not gotten himself involved with people who could actually put him into a life-threatening situation.
- (Y/N)?
you heard a man asking. It had been almost seven hours since your phone call and you had been sitting by the tombstone over six. You stood up as you saw a tall man walking closer. You couldn’t see any details of him because it was quite dark already and you were unable to recognize the male voice immediately. Therefore you took your backpack and looked nervously around to decide a direction where to run at. You were about to runaway when the man said “Hey, it’s Darien!” You sighed relieved and rubbed your hands together nervously. It did not really mean anything yet that Darien was here because it was still possible that he was not going to help you after you had explained your situation to him. Except… was it smart to tell him? What if you put him into a danger by telling him?
- Hi… hey listen, maybe this was a mistake. you stated and turned away from him, covered your mouth and forced yourself to keep your nerves in check. You did not want to start crying in front of your old colleague… the man that you had had a big crush on, back in the day.
- Hey yourself, I know that it is not exactly easy for you to accept help, but you called me. Remember? Darien said and walked closer. You shook your head and sighed. Yes, he was right; it was not easy for you to accept help because you were so stubbornly independent, or tried to be, but this time the reasons behind your hesitation were much more serious than your stubbornness.
- It is not about that this time. you commented and focused your eyes at Darien, whose facial expression you couldn’t see because it was so dark.
- So what is it? he asked calmly. He had been surprised to get your call, considering that it had been three years since you and him had even talked to each other and therefore he had assumed that you did not even remember your old friend anymore. The truth was that when you had done the last gig together it had ended with an argument that had been left unsolved. Then neither of you had taken the initiative and called, texted or even sent an email… and the longer you and Darien had waited for the other to make the move, the harder it had gotten… until you both had stopped waiting for the other to call.
- I’m not sure after all if I should get you involved. you stated with a serious tone. You knew that Darien and you had not exactly parted as friends the last time and you felt guilty for reaching out to him because you needed help. You would have felt better if you had been in touch all this time but no… there had been radio silence… until this very afternoon.
- That bad, huh? Darien asked and folded his arms. “Yeah, something like that” you commented and took a nervous glance around but all you could see was an empty graveyard. You knew that you most likely had managed to lose your tail in New York before hopping into the train that had taken you here, in Washington DC, but you couldn’t be too sure and therefore you had to be on alert all the time. Besides you had gotten terribly paranoid and nowadays you got spooked by shadows and even smallest unexpected noises.
- No one followed me, don’t worry. Darien assured you and put his hand on your shoulder. It had been a habit of his before… many years ago when you had been working together and you had been close friends. There had always been chemistry between you and him but it had never led into anything, mostly because you had left the world of burglaries and concentrated on cyber-crimes, although you only hacked people who had something suspicious to hide so basically what you were doing was morally right but legally wrong, like publishing the Wikileak –documents.
- Come on, who can you trust if not good-old Darien? he asked and massaged your shoulder a bit.
- Are you sure? you asked with a hesitant tone. Darien took his hand off from your shoulder because he had misunderstood your question. You had not meant that in the way it had gotten out and therefore you corrected yourself by saying “I meant, are you sure that you want to get involved?” Darien cleared his throat and sighed relieved; you still trusted him, which was an excellent thing.
- Oh believe me, whatever you are going through now, I have had worse. Darien stated and chuckled a little. You however did not find the situation funny in any way and therefore you couldn’t really laugh with him.
- Well, let’s see if you’ll still feel that way after I have told you what’s going on. you commented and gestured him to lead the way. You and Darien walked through the cemetery to the furthest parking lot where Darien’s car had been parked. He opened the door for you and you sat down. He had a somewhat old car, well not the latest model anyway but maybe it was good because it did not have modern driving computers and such and therefore it was harder to track.
Darien drove through the city to an industrial-looking neighborhood and parked his car in front of a building that had been built with red bricks. It looked like the buildings that had been built originally for industrial purposes and then changed into trendy loft-apartments later. You had actually lived in one few years ago but then the nature of your work had changed and therefore you couldn’t stay in one place long enough to have a home. You followed Darien into the building, took an elevator ride with him to his floor and after walking behind him through a long corridor, you finally reached the front door of his apartment. Darien took the keys out from his pocket and opened the door.
- After you. he said and gestured you to go in. You went in, put your backpack on the floor and took your jacket off. You noticed that Darien took his shoes off and therefore you took off yours as well before walking any further.
- You have a nice place. you commented as you looked curiously around. Darien lived in a rather spacious studio apartment. He had his king-sized bed in front of the windows and his sofa with TV in one corner, an open kitchen with a kitchen counter and a small dining table… a pool table in the middle of the room and a door that most likely led into the bathroom. You noticed a bookshelf and walked to it. “Quantum physics for dummies? you asked after a long silence as you glanced through his book collection. He had quite many books by famous philosophers and writers which made you sigh relieved; Darien had not changed that much during the past three years. He was still interested in literature and philosophy… most likely quoting famous people such as Nietzsche and Oscar Wilde. Yes, that was Darien alright, a guy who was way smarter than he looked, or than his occupation gave you reasons to assume and he never really made a scene about his intellect.
- I suppose business has been good. you mumbled and put the book back.
- Yeah, I have a steady income nowadays. Darien commented and took some ingredients out from his fridge. He suspected that you were terribly hungry and therefore he decided to make some dinner. Besides it was past dinner time and he had not eaten anything since lunch.
- Darien Fawkes? On the right side of the law? you asked curiously and walked to stand behind the kitchen counter and to watch what Darien was doing.
- Yes. Stranger things have happened. he commented and started to slice some vegetables for a salad. He was going to make a tomato sauce with ground beef and serve it with pasta. He had already put the meat in a frying pan to fry and was now chopping cucumber, tomatoes and red paprika in the meantime.
- Oh I read about it actually! you exclaimed when you remembered reading an article online about Darien getting sentenced into prison for molesting an elderly man. Darien looked at you with a confused expression on his face.
- About… what? he asked and chuckled nervously.
- About you going to prison. you stated and drummed the surface of the kitchen counter with your fingertips. Getting caught had been close many times in the past but Darien had always managed to escape before the cops had barged in. Therefore you had been surprised when you had read that Darien Fawkes had gotten caught and taken into court for break-in… although it was not even the most ridiculous and weirdly entertaining thing that the article had said.
- Oh that. Darien commented and continued chopping the vegetables into nice, small pieces.
- Molesting an elderly man-eh? you asked with a light chuckle. You had missed this; just spending some time with Darien, like in before, many years ago. “I didn’t know that you were into old dudes” you added with an amused tone.
- It is not how it went. Darien stated and rolled his eyes. Darien didn’t really want to talk about the events of his life, the ones between this moment and your last meeting because there were some things that he did not necessarily want you to find out… not right now at least.
- Oh come on! Tell me then. you said and stole a piece of paprika for you to munch on while waiting.
- Well, I was actually robbing the guy’s safe… The man woke up just as I was waiting for the C-4 to explode. Darien explained as he took the iceberg lettuce out from the fridge and washed it before continuing the story.
- Uh-uh? you commented with an amused, yet baffled tone as you keenly followed Darien washing the lettuce and then moving back to the cutting board with it.
- The man got a heart attack... and I couldn't just leave... Or I tried to, but no... You know, you just can't leave a man to die, can you? Darien stated and shook his head. Yep, Darien was that guy, a burglar with a big, warm heart.
- I suppose not. you commented and tried to imagine what you would have done in his shoes.
- So therefore I had to give him CPR. Darien explained, put the chopped lettuce into the salad bowl and then continued
- Naturally the alarm went on and when the security guys showed up, the old man was breathing again and I was resting… kind of bent over him.
- Oh, I can see how that can be mistaken as… molestation. you commented and then asked curiously
- So you got caught?
- Yes. Darien commented and moved to stir the minced meat in the pan.
- And you went to prison. you asked curiously. There was something that did not quite add up; it had happened less than three years ago, maybe one and half years ago, two max, and Darien had been sentenced for many years… for a life in prison without hope of parole… and yet he was having a steady income and walking as a free man. “Yes” Darien commented and opened a can of pureed tomato that had been spiced with herbs.
- So… you escaped? you asked with a confused tone because Darien seemed very nervous now as he was mixing the tomato puree with the meat. You watched him adding a little bit of salt and pepper, stirring the sauce silently and then putting the pasta water on.
- Darien? you asked because he was not answering your question and he seemed like was ignoring it on purpose. Darien added some salt and olive oil into the pasta water and accidentally hit the packet of salt with his hand as he turned to take the pasta out from his cupboard. The cardboard box tipped over and some of the salt got spilled on the stove to which Darien responded by cursing. He was clearly nervous and therefore being clumsy all of a sudden.
- Enough of me, how about you? he asked suddenly and shifted his attention to you. He wiped the salt off from the stove and continued with the salad.
You chuckled nervously because you could feel the old attraction returning with every glance and smile that he took. Darien was a very handsome man; he was tall and athletic, he had brown, expressive eyes and cool, brown hair that was currently a bit messed up but usually he styled his hair upwards… he definitely did not brush the hair down and have any kind of parting. He used clothes that fit his body type and showed off his muscles a bit and the trousers that he used made his behind look very… nice. Currently he was wearing a red collared shirt with its sleeves rolled up so they wouldn’t get dirty from the cooking and he had two buttons open from the top part of the shirt which have him a very flattering V-neckline. He was wearing brown trousers that were sitting perfectly on his hips.
- No-no-no, the less you know the better. Seriously! you exclaimed and stepped nervously a bit further away from the kitchen counter.
- You asked for my help, I have a right to know. Darien stated firmly. You went through your options and after being silent for a moment you started to continue about the mess that you were in while Darien continued cooking. You told him that you did not specialize in disabling the security alarms anymore but you were now making money by hacking criminal organizations as well as influential people who were somehow corrupted. You exposed them or sold your information to people who then made it harder for the criminals to operate.
- But… it is not exactly legal. you commented and sighed.
- Yeah, hacking really isn’t… unless you’re working for the government. he commented and stirred the pasta that was soon ready.
- Working for the government. you chuckled and then added “What a joke!” which was a comment that made Darien a bit more nervous again… more nervous and slightly clumsier which made you feel that there was something that he was not telling you… something that had happened after going to the prison. Darien cleared his throat and tried the spaghetti, it was perfectly al dente and he rinsed it with hot water so it was ready to be served.
- Anyway, as you probably already guessed, I stirred some beehives that I maybe shouldn’t have and now I am being chased. you continued with a serious tone. Darien listened to your story and shook his head. You indeed had gotten yourself into deep trouble, even though it was somewhat admirable what you were doing… the only problem was that since you were working as a freelancer and not for any security agency… you were strictly speaking a criminal.
- You can imagine that there aren’t that many people who want to get themselves mixed with my situation… you commented and paused to take a deep breath. It was embarrassing that you had gotten yourself into this situation because you had always managed to cover your tracks very well… until getting involved with people who had hackers of their own… such skilled hackers actually that they had managed to track your IP, despite all your best efforts to block them.
- So I was in a dead end and since I was in the neighborhood I… called you. you explained and hoped that Darien would not hate you for it. You had actually missed your dear friend quite much during the years and it was one of the reasons why you had gotten in the neighborhood; Darien was a good person, he was kind and smart, funny and witty… loyal, trustworthy and he had always known what to do in a tricky situation. Therefore you had hoped that he would know what to do… or at least you would get a couple of days to catch your breath. In a way you had been very selfish when you had come to Washington, especially considering the way you had parted the last time.
- I am happy that you called. Darien commented for your great relief and asked you to take the bowl of salad to the dining table while he mixed the spaghetti with the sauce. You had already set the table while telling your story and now that the dinner was ready you sat down and poured some ice water in your glasses. “Really?” you asked with a surprised tone. Darien stopped mixing the pasta and shifted his gaze from the food to you. He stared at you with a sincere look on his face and stated “Of course.” You sighed relieved and smiled as you felt a huge weight melting off your shoulders.
- I mean, I have missed you. Darien stated and brought the pasta to the table, sat down and gestured you to help yourself with the food. You blushed a little and started to fill your plate. It was so funny, so ridiculous that even though you had not seen Darien for three years and even before that you had seen only rarely because your lives had taken some turns into different directions and therefore it had been over five years since you had been really hanging out together, your old feelings were now surfacing like you had just put them on hold for a moment, fast forwarded five years and pressed play… and nothing had changed.
- I’ve missed you too. you mumbled with a shy tone.
You both ate accompanied with a lively dinner conversation and it really felt like you had never been apart. Sure there had never been anything else but subtle flirting and close friendship between you and Darien but you were happy to have that back… even just for a while, for a couple of days. You knew that you couldn’t possibly stay because every moment longer you stayed somewhere, the more likely it became that you were being caught by the people who were chasing you. Besides, you did not want to cause any trouble to Darien, especially if he had his life in order now. Which was a puzzle that you had not been able to solve yet; how had Darien gotten out from the prison after being announced guilty and sentenced into prison for many-many years, the rest of his life in fact.
After dinner you helped Darien to clean the table as well as the kitchen. When you both were done you moved to sit on the sofa to chat. You took off your hoodie because you were feeling quite hot; Darien’s apartment after all was rather warm despite the fact that he had one of his windows open, however it had been a sunny day and the sun had warmed up his apartment. Darien was just pouring some wine for you and him when he noticed you stretching your arms and back in your halterneck top that flattered your curves very nicely and in your skinny jeans that gave your behind a very attractive round-shape which Darien couldn’t help noticing. Darien stopped pouring the wine and swallowed once has he felt his heart rate getting higher and a blush appearing on his face.
The truth was that Darien had been attracted to you five years ago and regretted it deeply when your friendship had gotten lukewarm due to some career choices that you both had made. He had wanted to call you many times to ask you how you were doing and perhaps even settled a meeting with you but to be honest, Darien’s life had gotten very different after being sentenced into prison and everything had been turned upside down in a blink of an eye and therefore he had not taken the phone and called. Darien watched you opening your hair that had been tied back on a low ponytail and now you were brushing your hair with your hand, making them puffy which made you look… sexy, even though Darien did not usually look at women that way. He did like women but he did not want to see them as objects… but now that he was watching you secretly getting comfortable in his living room, he caught himself thinking “Damn!”
He noticed something else at that moment as well; his left hand from elbow down was invisible! Darien cursed aloud, saying his trademark "oh crap" which made you shift your attention from the music to him. Darien squatted immediately behind the kitchen counter that was between the living room area and the open kitchen. “What are you doing?” you asked with a tone that was mixture of amusement and slight confusion. Darien however just told you that he just dropped an oven mitten. “Oh, alright” you commented and soon Darien stood up, wearing the mitten in his left hand. He had rolled down the sleeves of his shirt and continued pouring the wine into the wineglasses. He hated when this happened… when he turned invisible due to sudden excitement.
Yes, many things had indeed happened since you had seen him the last time and Darien did not know how to tell you without possibly scaring you away… It after all had been a long time and even though you and he shared still the same spark… Darien couldn’t help feeling a bit anxious because he did not know how you would react if he told you that he had become a government agent and he could actually turn invisible.