if the mafia can learn to love

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Avi lifted her chin and placed a light kiss on his cheek. "I don't think I need optimism right now, though."

[assassinrue]

"Why's that?" He mumbled against her hair.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Avi broke out into a sly smile. "Because I can't really thing of much of anything with your body pressed against mine."

[assassinrue]

Nikolai burst out laughing. "You are unbelievable you know that?" He grinned down at her and felt the urge to kiss her, and even though he already had, it felt like it would be the first time for them. He closed his smile and swallowed. What was happening to him?

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"How so?" Ari asked. The grin on his face made this giddy feeling well up in her, and for a moment she felt like giggling, but she didn't.

[assassinrue]

"I'm surprised you haven't let the whole sex thing go." Nikolai shrugged, still smiling.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"I'm surprised you haven't given in," Avi said with a grin. "You're a dude, after all."

[assassinrue]

Nikolai rolled his eyes. "I don't exactly fit into the stereotypes."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Not at all," Avi said. "That really should have ceased to surprise me, but it hasn't."

[assassinrue]

"Ha. I have more surprises where that came from." Nikolai gripped her tight.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"I don't really like surprises," Avi told him.

[assassinrue]

Nikolai glanced at her. "Nor do I really. Come on, we should eat something."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Avi let out a soft sigh, but she rolled away from him and stood up. She laughed softly as she ran her fingers through her hair. "I kind of forgot about the food," she said.

[assassinrue]

Nikolai grinned. "Well hopefully you like it."

(something needs to happen)

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

(Yes. Maybe snake contacts him earlier than expected with a new job?)

[assassinrue]

As they ate, Nikolai's phone rung. "Damnit." He cursed quietly under his breath. He glanced at Avi and then away. "I ahve to take this." Nikolai walked away from her and answered the phone. "Sir?"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Avi stopped eating, straining her ears to catch at least his side of the conversation. Who was calling? Certainly not someone he wanted to talk to.

[assassinrue]

Nikolai said little. Mostly "yes sir. No sir. When?" He hung up with a heavy sigh. He cursed under his breath but did not make a move back to the kitchen.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Avi waited in silence, though she wanted to go to him. She had a feeling he didn't want to talk about it, so she stayed put.

[assassinrue]

"I need to go." He called over his shoulder to her. "Feel free to go ahead and eat. Make yourself at home." Nikolai grabbed his guns and amo as he spoke and was out the door the minute he stopped speaking.