10-10-2016, 01:09 PM
Walking the length of the hall, he was making plans with Viktor at his side about returning to the Kremlin as soon as possible. Viktor was holding something back, though. Nik could sense foreboding news on the man swirl like oil on water. It meant the news would be delivered in private, and Nikolai didn't press him.
A familiar face ahead gave him pause. It had been months since seeing the detective. Ivan was one of the first individuals Nikolai himself trained, although there had been little to actually teach the man. Found in the throes of Sickness, as CDPS, the case reached the Ascendancy's ears, who ordered the man brought before him. It took little effort to teach him control. And once Ivan grabbed the power independently, he was safe from the torment of death. He met with him a few more times, but honestly, he forgot about the detective. Between Marcus and Michael's group, even Balder out west, Ivan had been pushed to the back of his mind. Seeing the young man alive and confident, even radiating the sense of power himself. A sense of pride filled his greeting. Already, having left Aria's side, and the memories of terror were faded to nearly nothing. He wished he had been dressed, though, or wore some sort of shirt. Bare-chested, he felt vulnerable, but he kept his shoulders straight and square, his chin elevated. He held Ivan's gaze directly. Someone's donated jacket of a scrub shirt would be demeaning. He'd rather go without.
Ivan's greeting was accepted with a nod. "Detective. It is good to be awake and strong again. In no small part to you, I am told. Thank you for what you did. I would still be unconscious if not for you."
Dead? Well, Nikolai was coming to accept that the universe wouldn't allow him to die. Living in agony perhaps, but not dead.
At his side, Viktor gave Ivan a curt nod of greeting. He assumed that this was the man the Under-Consul recruited from CDPS to find Jensen James. The trustworthy one. "You've proven yourself, detective,"
Viktor added. Nikolai looked at him, nodded in agreement. Ivan was loyal. There were few in the world Nikolai would trust with such loyalty, but the young man was almost too honest, too pure of heart. He was not the one to recruit when morals were gray, but he was a good citizen none the less.
"Speaking of, is Mister James still here? I need to see this remarkable man myself."
He nodded that Ivan lead the way.
A familiar face ahead gave him pause. It had been months since seeing the detective. Ivan was one of the first individuals Nikolai himself trained, although there had been little to actually teach the man. Found in the throes of Sickness, as CDPS, the case reached the Ascendancy's ears, who ordered the man brought before him. It took little effort to teach him control. And once Ivan grabbed the power independently, he was safe from the torment of death. He met with him a few more times, but honestly, he forgot about the detective. Between Marcus and Michael's group, even Balder out west, Ivan had been pushed to the back of his mind. Seeing the young man alive and confident, even radiating the sense of power himself. A sense of pride filled his greeting. Already, having left Aria's side, and the memories of terror were faded to nearly nothing. He wished he had been dressed, though, or wore some sort of shirt. Bare-chested, he felt vulnerable, but he kept his shoulders straight and square, his chin elevated. He held Ivan's gaze directly. Someone's donated jacket of a scrub shirt would be demeaning. He'd rather go without.
Ivan's greeting was accepted with a nod. "Detective. It is good to be awake and strong again. In no small part to you, I am told. Thank you for what you did. I would still be unconscious if not for you."
Dead? Well, Nikolai was coming to accept that the universe wouldn't allow him to die. Living in agony perhaps, but not dead.
At his side, Viktor gave Ivan a curt nod of greeting. He assumed that this was the man the Under-Consul recruited from CDPS to find Jensen James. The trustworthy one. "You've proven yourself, detective,"
Viktor added. Nikolai looked at him, nodded in agreement. Ivan was loyal. There were few in the world Nikolai would trust with such loyalty, but the young man was almost too honest, too pure of heart. He was not the one to recruit when morals were gray, but he was a good citizen none the less.
"Speaking of, is Mister James still here? I need to see this remarkable man myself."
He nodded that Ivan lead the way.