Parties Suck
I woke up in the snow, my head spinning, my fingers cold, vision fuzzy as I bleed out. I can hear the distant sounds of a party about a mile out and the crunching of someone's shoes grows nearer. Before I know it, a man with stunning blue eyes is lifting me over his shoulder and putting me somewhere in the back of a van.
/// Earlier ///
My company, or so we'll call them, sent me on a mission to "retrieve" more like steal a flash drive with important information on the whereabouts of a couple of Pym-Tech weapons we've been trying to get back into the right hands. It was a lively, formal party, meaning I had to wear a suit and tie. I hated parties, and I hated ties even more. They always made me feel like I'm choking. The security was low-level, with just a few guards at the entrances and around the parties, along with a few beefed-up guys with guns hanging around the doors of the room I needed to get into. Nothing I hadn’t handled before.
I arrived at the party, pulling at my tie and adjusting my cufflinks in the back of a black Subaru. It pulled up to the steps that lead to the entrance, which was too grand for this kind of party. I thanked the driver like I always did when he drove me on my missions. Swiftly exited the car and went up the steps. I smiled warmly at the guards as I gave them an envelope with my invitation.
"No date?" one of the men asked. He looked me up and down skeptically as if my being alone was a reason for him to kick me out.
"Hoping to find one," I told him smoothly. I slid him a cheap smirk and he laughed. You could tell it had been forced. He moved to open the door for me and as I walked in a voice chimed in over my earpiece.
"You in?" It was Hayes, his voice was firm and knowing as always, I shouldn't be relieved to hear it.
"I'm in" I replied once I was out of earshot of the men at the door.
I walked quickly, but not fast enough to arouse suspicion, and made my way calmly towards the bar. I knocked twice and ordered a whiskey on ice, not my favorite but it helped me blend in. I was never a fan of drinking or the way it made my head feel light and uncomfortable. I'd have to be here for an hour or two before I could even try to make a move for the door to keep from making anything obvious so the alcohol would make it more bearable.
I made it halfway through my drink before a man walked up to the bar and stood next to me. Standing at a sturdy 6 '1, he had long hair to his shoulder and it was beautiful as it shimmered under the dim lighting, the ends curling neatly. He wore an all-black tuxedo that complimented his figure, he definitely worked out.
He leaned against the bar, close enough to me to hint that he was interested, but I kept my gaze locked on the party as I leaned back, propping my elbows up.
"Barkeep, what he's having?" the man said with a purr. It was low and smooth and took everything in me not to look at him. The bartender slid a drink over to him and he sipped it gently before sitting in the seat next to me. The party was loud before us but right now it felt like we were the only two here. It was new and foreign to me. My stomach was twisting and turning with something but it was anything but fear or distrust. I need to stay on task. I need to focus, but I let my eyes slide over to him, my mind shouting at me not to but my body doing it anyways.
His blue enchanting eyes were watching me closely, a gentle smirk on his clean-shaven face. I felt my heart flutter and holy hell this can't be happening, whatever this was. I lifted my head and looked him over, doing my best to not let my feelings show on my face. He was attractive, undoubtedly, but I can't get distracted. I need to stay on task and remember the objective. I haven't failed a mission since my starting years when I was young and arrogant. When I mixed work with pleasure and allowed myself to be a wild card.
"You don't like whiskey, do you?" he asked
"No I don't, I prefer something with more of a kick," I told him, masking the nervous feelings swirling in my stomach.
"What's your name?"
"Jacob, most people call me Jake though," I said. I probably shouldn't have told him my real name but something in me trusted him
"Jake huh? It suits you well" he said, his smile growing more and more. I could feel my ears burning. Thank whatever god that the lighting here is horrible
"Dance with me, won't you?" He asked with no hesitation.
I checked my watch. I still had another hour or so to burn before I could get the mission over with
"Sure"
////
The party was reaching its climax as the man pulled me onto the dance floor. Here I was, dancing with a man whose name I don't even know, on a mission. What have I become?
He's a smooth dancer though and his small was sweet and alluring. I let him take the lead, a little too dazed by the way he smelt and smiled to protest. He's about 3 inches taller than me, with me being 5'11 which confirms him being 6'1. We waltzed with the other couples on the dance floor and a few of them sneered and gawked at us as the group moved in a circle around the dance floor. His hand holding mine was rough, gently to hold mine but his grip was firm. The hand on my waist was a little hesitant but the look on his face told me he was confident in what he was doing. We moved smoothly across the dance floor and if I could I think I would stay here forever. I seriously need to get back on task.
"So, what's your mission," He asked
"What? What mission" I chuckled, masking the surprise I felt
"C'mon, we both know you’re here for that flash drive, let me help you"
"Shit, you're S.H.E.I.L.D aren't you? '' I asked through gritted teeth, making sure my smile didn't falter. We're here now, dancing, and if I suddenly let myself look as hostile as I felt, someone would catch on.
"I am, I know your Company though and I know why you need the flash drive. Let me help you"
"I would sweetheart but I can't, my supervisor would kill me if I told him a man whose name I don't know helped me get the flash drive"
"Touche," He said, his smile falling a little
I sighed, dropping my head down with another slight chuckle. My shoulders are squared and defensive and I let it show, the glass of too-expensive whiskey getting to me, hell it already got to me the minute I let him pull me onto this dance floor.
When the music stopped the man moved his hands to my waist. I brought my eyes to look at him and before I knew it he was kissing me. It was soft and gentle but he quickly pulled away and slipped a card into my front jacket pocket. I stared at him dumbfounded and dazed.
"Call me when you get the chance, yeah?" He said like he didn't just kiss a man he just me like the whole room wasn't looking at us in shock.
"Yeah, I will," I said, a little breathless. It wasn't a lie though, I probably would call him
"Good luck with your mission, don't go breaking any hearts" He winked and walked away, his gate confident and unaffected by any of what just happened. What just happened?
I walked back to the bar, ordered a whiskey, and chugged it. I checked my watch. It's 11 P.M. meaning I better get a move on with the mission or Hayes will start to think I like parties because honestly, I don't. I asked the barkeeper where the bathroom was even though I already knew and he pointed and told me to the left. The bathroom was far down the hallway but if you kept going down and took the first right, you'd find a room that led to where I needed to, Darrel Heston's office, that's where the thumb drive is.
Darrel Heston is 38 years old but partying like he's still 20. He's rich, mainly from his company (some random computer company) and his investments in stock and weapons he's not supposed to have. He's an asshole at best and I would love to mess up that "pretty" face of his but that's sadly not the mission.
I walk down the hallway and head into the bathroom. There's no one in here thankfully, everyone is too busy with the party which meant my timing was perfect. I quickly pulled out my phone and put the security cameras on a loop for the last 2 hours of the party so they won't see me walk down the hallway. I wash and dry my hands and walk out of the bathroom, quickly heading down the hallway. As I turn the corner, a security guard bumps into me
"You're not supposed to be down here," He said, his voice no harsher than it needs to be. I quickly stumble back acting drunk and I slur out a laugh
"Sorry...wrong way I guess," I say, and I quickly throw a punch and hit the man with enough force to knock him out but he unsteadily tries to hit back. I grab the arm headed towards me. I swiftly pull him in, kneeing him in the stomach. He's out cold. For good measure I check his pulse, it's slow and he's breathing a little shallow but he'll live. It was a quick and quiet fight if you could even call it that, and I continued down the hallway.
The two men are standing there, I can see that they both have one gun inside their jackets each and knives hidden on the side of their ankles. They see me, watch as I turn the corner but don't move until I'm about 5 feet away. They move into two different stances, weak stances that show that they're just basic bodyguards with no training. They're both bald and wearing light gray suits. They're well built but they're amateurs, they haven't the slightest idea what they've gotten themselves into and I almost feel bad as I throw the first punch. The first man catches it with his face as the other man quickly moves towards us, pulling his gun out. He's too slow though and I pull out mine and shoot him, once in the leg and once in the shoulder. Two non-fatal shots but he'll stay down if he wants to live. The man that had been recovering from my bunch charges me quickly but I dodge him and before he knows it he's getting the same two bullets.
The men sit there on the ground, one unconscious and the other groaning in pain, they'll live. I jiggle the handle even though I know it's locked. I pull out the utility knife I keep on me. It’s small, red, and compact, perfect for missions. I quickly unlock the door and push it open, revealing Heston's office. There was a large tiger skin rug on the dark oak floors and a window displaying the snowy forest surrounding the building. The wall to the left was shelving, built-in, painted black, and cluttered with trinkets and books. The wall to the right has a large, obnoxious painting of Heston and I scoffed at the sight of it. His desk was right in front of me, a mac computer being the only thing on it. I walked over to the computer and checked for the flash drive but no luck so I checked the painting. I took it down and to no surprise, there was a safe. Could this be any more cliche?
"Hayes, by any chance do you know the code to the safe?" I asked a little annoyed this wasn't harder
"Yes, it's 17 35 21, are you annoyed?" He asked. Hayes was my supervisor, I was surprised when he took on my case considering he was the only one. He's a strong man, mentally and physically, and always tired of my bullshit, but I know deep down he's happy that I spoke and that I'm okay.
"Yeah, kinda pissed this was so easy," I say, smiling as the safe door swings open. I see the thumb drive and store it in a pocket inside my coat.
"You never change do you?" He asked. I let out a chuckle, shaking my head, a smile on my face. I've shut the door and hung the photo back up and I'm about to leave when a man charges in, shouting in a foreign language.
It isn't until he shoots me in the stomach that realize it's the guy that I knocked unconscious before and he's about to shoot me again. He hesitates, though, giving me a split second to pull out my gun and shoot him in the head. Suddenly alarms are sounded and I can hear more men running towards the room, shouting in the same language. Quickly I move to the window, opening and standing on the ledge. I shut it so they don't know that I've gone out and I take a deep breath and jump.
That's how I ended up laying in the snow, chuckling, realizing how fucked I am when my vision goes blurry and my white tuxedo shirt is filling with warm blood. Next thing I know, a man with alluring blue eyes is lifting me over his shoulder and carrying me into a van.
I can't help but think about the man from before and how the person who's carrying me smells oh so familiar and that's when my brain makes the connection that this is him. My brain also reminds me of two things, my earpiece has fallen out and I can't call for backup, and this man is either going to help me or kill me.