Jealous James?
*Translated from Russian*
She had worn the dress. The same one he thought that they had both said no to. Tight fighting in all the right places, a slit to her thigh. It was hands down her best dress, of that he had no doubts. Neither did she. But he could have sworn they had agreed the dress was a no go for the mission. Not only was it almost impossible to hide a weapon in, but she looked absolutely stunning in it. No man in his right mind would look past her. Which was good and bad. It made for a good distraction. James' protective side hated it. She was his girl, his to stare at, and his to protect. These men were disgusting and full of awful ideas. Not just on politics but how they treated women. He didn't want her being the object of their dreams at night.
Any other night and he would be all for it. But here, where she was already risking herself undercover with a bunch of men known for shady business ranging from weapons to trafficking of multiple types, he didn't love the idea. Could she handle herself? Of course. But that didn't mean as he boyfriend he had to be comfortable with it.
"I thought we talked about the dress. We agreed not this one. You know I can't think straight when you're in it." He spoke through the com system as she walked into the party. Her deep red curls were loose around her face, her widow bites were snug around her wrist. At this point James was convinced she had a pair in every color. She wore a pair of dark stilettos to tie her look together. And that it did.
"James Buchanan you better start thinking straight. You're my cover fire, and I much prefer my cover fire thinking clearly. Besides, we both know you aren't the only man who can't think straight when I wear it." She turned towards the large window and gave him a wink.
He growled in frustration looking out the scope of the rifle. She knew exactly how to push his buttons. He had taken a spot on the rooftop across the road. The windows of the top floor made it easy to view most areas of the party. including the door Natalia had just walked through to enter. "Talk like that and I will take every last one of them down Natalia, I swear."
"You keep talking like that and you know Fury won't let us keep working together." The red head walked through the groups of people mingling keeping her voice low. The target stood in a group of men, all similarly dressed, laughing as they likely talked about a new business transaction. One that could end the lives of thousands if they let it go through. Just another day at work.
"Keep dressing like that and I'll finish the missions before you even walk in."
"Get your head out of the gutter and let me focus." She took a glass off the tray of a nearby waiter as she waved at a tall bald man across the hall. Boris Popov. Low level security for Mikail Smirnov. The target.
Mikail Smirnov currently making a play for Minister of Defense of Russia. A business man with a rap sheet a hundred pages long. He was good, hid his trail well but once one found the similarities it was easy to connect them all to him. He was willing to kill anyone who stood in his way. Or rather, pay some one else to kill them for him. The bodies had been piling up for decades and S.H.I.E.L.D. had finally given the go ahead to take him in, dead or alive. His time had come to an end.
Natalia stepped towards the security officer and took his tie in her hand. Her fingers crawled up the silky fabric and she tightened the fabric around the man's neck before she looked up at him, batting her eyes lids and she gave him a flirtatious smile.
* "I wasn't excepting to see some one so incredibly handsome here tonight. I thought it was going to be all business when I got the invitation. I almost didn't come, now I am glad I did. ." *
"Really Nat?" James rolled his eyes at the cheesy line. If he had tried to pull something like that she would have roasted him to a crisp. But this man seemed to be falling for it. He smiled and his stance relaxed. Either he liked cheesy lines or he just liked having a pretty girl flirt with him. James was leaning towards the second option. Not that he could blame the man. He had fallen for Natalia and was too far in now to get out even if he wanted to. Unfortunately for Boris he wouldn't be given that option.
* "Now tell me, where does a girl like me find a date around here?" *
The man glanced towards Mikail and the rest of his team, most likely assessing if he was needed or not. Coming to his conclusion he shrugged and nodded towards the bar. * "I think I can help you with that." *
He placed his arm around Natalia and pulled her close to him. Too close. She laughed and wrapped her arm around his waist. He led her towards the bar across the room, choosing two seats in the middle of the bar. Natalia place her gold clutch on the counter before taking the seat next to him. Boris' eyes roamed her body as she adjusted the dress and flipped her hair over her shoulder.
"He touches you wrong and he's a dead man."
* "Be a doll would you? Order me a vodka soda. I need to freshen up." * she kissed the man on his cheek and walked away swiftly, making sure her hips moved just a little bit more than usual. The Russian's eyes followed her as she did so, and James' scope followed him.
"What is your problem James?" She growled in a hushed tone through the com. "I am trying to get the information we need. You blow this and I swear I will kill you. And I will not make it fast or enjoyable. Do you understand? Now shut up and let me do my job."
He lost site of her as she stepped into the rest room. He sighed knowing she was right. He needed to let her do her job. They needed to finish the mission. If they screwed this up there were a lot of lives at risk, Mikail couldn't escape this party. He took a deep breath, focused again and aimed the scope at the target. Doing his best to keep the actions between Boris and Natalia at the back of his mind. To act like she was just another agent, not the woman he was madly in love with.
"I will keep it quiet from here on out. You have my word."
"Thank you. I promise James, I will make up for all of this. You know these actions mean nothing to me. "
She returned to the bar and brushed her fingers across the man's shoulders. He turned and gave her a greedy smile. He listened to the conversation watching the two at the bar while switching to the target to make sure he was still there. * "Now tell me, what business are you in?" *
He could tell from the tone of her voice what look she was giving the man. Fingers twirling her red curls, teeth biting down on her lower lip and her eyes looking as if she was about to start begging for something. The same one that made every other man fall to their knees and agree to anything she wanted. Well, almost every man. She really did have it so much easier than him when it came to missions like this. There was no way he could have gotten in and had security distracted that fast, let alone that good. Boris was completely intrigued by her. He didn't care what else happened around him.
* "Security." *
* "Ooh? Really, what company? My father is looking for a new firm to help with some of their, well shall we say, issues?" * she laughed and touched the man's arm causing him to look her in the eyes.
* "I am not from a firm, I work for Mr. Smirnov." *
She gasped and put her hand to her mouth as she set down her drink. * "You mean Mr. Smirnov, as in our host? The same one who is running for Minister of Defense? Oh you simply must introduce me! My father is such a big fan. He would be so thrilled to know his only daughter got to meet his hero. Please?" * She took the man's hand in hers and gave him her pleading eyes, sticking her lower lip out just a bit to add to the look.
James watched as the pleading eyes won the man over. He nodded and glanced back at his team. * "He should be done meeting in just a moment, and then I am sure he would be very pleased to meet you." *
James caught the swift movement, while she had the Russian distracted she had dropped the drug in his drink. A new development from S.H.I.E.L.D. Fast acting, Boris would only need a sip or two for enough of it to numb his body within 15 minutes. He would be fine, but it would knock him out for a while. The Strike team would take care of him when it came to it.
* "Then we have plenty of time for finish our drinks while we wait don't we? How does one get on Mr. Smirnov's team?"
Boris picked up his drink and took a sip of the amber liquid. From this distance James couldn't be sure he had enough, but he knew Natalia would make sure that if he had not, he would by the time their conversation ended. Boris placed his free hand on her bare leg slowly moving higher up her leg, his finger tips nudging the fabric away.
* "It's a rather long process." *
James growled and placed his finger on the trigger aiming the gun at the man's head. Natalia shot a look at the window, her eyes narrow but only for a moment. Long enough for James to know she was warning him off. She could handle herself if needed.
She smiled at Boris and danced her fingers across his arm. * "I would love to learn all about it. After I meet Mr. Smirnoff off course." *
James was going to barf. Could she just get to the point already? Boris's lips twisted into a sick grin and James' grip on the gun tightened. Finally Mikail Smirnov left the group of men he had been talking with. He moved about the room freely, taking an hors d'oeuvre from a passing waiter, waving at his guests exchanging small talk with a select few. His security team, now down to two followed behind him, watching every move and every person around him.
"Now's your chance Nat, Smirnov is open, not for long though. Few people heading towards him, recommend grabbing him now."
Taking the hint she touched Boris's hand and looked toward Smirnov. * "Think you could introduce me now? I would hate to loss my chance to meet such a remarkable man." *
Boris's nodded and stood, a slightly shaky movement. The drug was already taking effect. So he had taken enough o fit to make it work. Boris shook it off and led Natalia to her feet. She followed the man to his boss. Each movement from Boris getting just a little bit slower. Not enough that it was noticeable to someone who wasn't looking for it, but it wouldn't bee long before it was. She needed to get Mikail alone before that happened. Boris gave introductions and Mikail nodded, taking Natalia's hand in his and kissing it.
* "Aren't you a rare beauty?" * she feigned a blush and let her hand linger in his for a moment before he gently dropped it and she stepped towards the light haired man.
* "What an honor to meet you sir. My Father is a loyal follower of yours. He has many ideas that I know he would love to discuss with you. Perhaps we could get discussions started if you need a break from socializing." *
The man smiled and nodded. * "A most wonderful idea Miss-" *
* "Andreev, Anya Andreev." *
Turning to his security team the man spoke. * "Ms. Andreev and I will be speaking my office for a time. Secure the door, we may take some time. Inform the staff to bring the desserts around." *
Boris nodded but not with out a look of disappointment as Mikail placed his hand on the small of Natalia's back and led her to his office. Within moments of the door closing behind them Boris hit the ground. The drug finally taking full control of his systems. Screams echoed the room and people ran confused.
"Boris is down Nat, Strike team is ready whenever you are." James waited patiently for her to give him the signal letting him know Mikail was also down and ready to be escorted out. The Strike team waited below in emergency uniforms waiting to intercept the distress call and send in their team to clean up the mess and take Smirnov into custody.
"Give me a minute."
James heard the call being answered by Strike. "Call has been received Nat, hurry up."
"Just a second" she muttered. "Mikail here isn't wanting to give up just yet. He think's he still has a fighting chance."
He heard the small shot of her Widow Bites and the grunt of the man before he hit the ground. "Tell Strike they are good to move in."
"Doors are clear, leave now."
"Copy that."
While she moved out James informed Strike they were clear to move in. Boris still lay on the floor, the two additional security officers distracted by him and trying to find a way to help while Natalia slipped out the office door, making sure to keep the door just a crack open before she joined the mass of people screaming and unsure what to do. She followed a group of young woman out the doors just as the Strike team entered the room. Half the team made their way to Boris, running the usual checks while the others rushed people out of the room. Once the room was clear the other half of the Strike team entered the office and James began packing up his perch.
"Will my ride be waiting or am I going to need to find it?" Natalia's voice cracked across the com system.
"Aren't you the one always badgering me about patience?" He put the gun in the duffle bag and swung it over his shoulder before making his way to the ground from his roof top hiding spot.
"It's cold, and I don't have a coat."
"I seem to recall asking if you'd need one and you said no." He laughed and he dropped the last couple feet from the ladder to the ground. He had asked before they left, knowing how bitter the Russian winters could get. Even with out known which dress she would be in he was sure that she would find herself cold. Most party dresses didn't have much in the way of keeping one warm.
He had parked the car in the hotel garage next door. Easier to hide a getaway car amongst other cars, not as easy to escape fast if needed but they had other plans if it had come to that. He pulled the keys from his pocket and flipped them around his finger as he walked to the car. Reaching the sleek black car he tossed the rifle and his bag in the trunk before he slipped into the front seat and fired the car up.
"Meet you at the doors in five. I've got your heated seat going." James pulled out of the parking spot and made his way to the lot exit. Dozens of luxury cars were parked in the lot, with valets constantly filling in the spots with new cars. He knew his old spot would be taken in moments, likely by some car he could never dream of affording in his very long lifetime.
Natalia stood on the steps, arms crossed as she watched for James. Finally his for the night. No more worry about Boris, or Mikail. Or any one else. He took a moment to admire her, before she caught site of him and began running down the stairs. He got out to greet her, placing his coat around her shoulders and opening her door for her. Natalia pressed a soft kiss to his lips before sliding into her seat. She immediately cranked the heat and James shut the door moving back to the drivers side.
"How'd it go with Mikail?"
"You know Russians. Stubborn as they come. He wasn't ready to admit I had him beat. He thought somehow he'd be able to get out of it. Didn't realize that even if he did Strike would be waiting outside for him or you would put a bullet in him. I guess that's what happens when your ego is as big as his. You can't believe things can happen even when they are playing out in front of you." She rolled her vibrant green eyes and she took his hand in hers. "Did you enjoy the show?"
Natalia looked at him with a smirk and he shook his head as he pulled out into busy traffic. "I think you know the answer to that one."
"Jealous James?"
He looked at her out of the corner of his eyes and smirked. "When it comes to you Natalia? Always."