"...we talked about sports, and school, and she gave me some advice about studying, that I have to make pauses between subjects I have to study. And I should not worry too much about that." After his father picked him up after school, David was talking to his father about a woman he was staying with, after Jenny left for a important business meeting.
Alex was paranoid about her, as every parent should be. Leaving your child to unknown person would do only insane person. Well, she was Hudson's sister, maybe that fact was a little bit relaxing, but still, even siblings aren't the same. And there he was, standing in front of her front door, knocking to 'thank her' for taking care of his son.
"It's now or never" he whispered to himself, and he knocked. -"Coming! Just a sec!" a voice was heard from the other side of the door. And then they were opened, and she was standing there. Woman 5'8, medium length y/h/c hair, y/e/c and on her neck, underneath her chin, was a thin line - scar from a knife. He studied you for a while, and then he realized he was staring at you
"Hello, how may I help you?" -"Hey, uh...I'm Alex, David is my son. Hudson told me where you live, so I just came to thank you for taking care of David. I hope he didn't make any problem." he got red in his face. Was he blushing or was it the cold weather?
"He's a wonderful child, I really enjoyed in his company. Would you like to come in? It's pretty cold outside." -"Maybe next time, Dave is waiting for me in the car." she smiled at him. "Okay, then I wish you a wonderful day." and with a small smile he left like he never was there.
Getting in the car, his cheeks got red more than before. Mason tried to collect himself, so he tried to just start his car and leave in front of her house. "I think you like her, dad." -"Jesus Christ! You scared me." "But I was here all the time."
"I know, I was just thinking something, and I forgot that you were here. Do you have a lot of homework?" David shook his head "Okay, what do you think about pancakes for dinner? We could call uncle Frank to come, too." -"Yea! I can't wait!"
__________________
"What do you think, Frank?" Alex asked after he told almost everything what happened while David was in the living room playing games.
"Everything would be fine if there's not that one thing"
"Fuck man, you've been clinging onto that from the moment I said that. But there's a thing, she has a scar on her neck, maybe she's been working with Hudson."
"Did you say scar? Mason, she's a Captain, just like you, and she served in Marines, just like us, and she beats shit out of everyone, just like she did to me." on that Alex choked on the beer he was drinking "And yeah, I met her. She's fine, but don't get her on the nerve. She will kill you ASAP."
Bell and Perseus' are unknown - i just had to make the photo grid look nice pahaha
How is Adler younger than Woods and Mason??? I always thought Hudson was late 50s, Adler early 40s, Woods and Mason in their 30s but noooo. Just makes the cutscene where Adler confronts Hudson even funnier lmao
They came from Verdansk, everyone there. Stitch was finally gone, but he took Adler with him. How? Well he's not the same anymore, I understand the brainwashing and postbrainwashing behaviour, but it won't be the same anymore.
Adler came in safehouse full of pride, telling everyone that 'he' stopped Perseus. That he done what it needed to be done. That they put an end to the 'war', but in his speech, in his behaviour, in what he called 'pride' I saw madness, selfishness and something I can't remember it's name, but I know it is there.
Hudson, Mason and Woods greeted the rest of our team, Mason and Woods who were closer to me, greeted me warmly with a hug. With Hudson it was only a nod, but with him it was..nothing. I didn't even expect it, after what he done to Bell, but somewhere subconsciously you expected it. An asshole, what could I say. His first five places of priority are him, sixteen empty then again him.
Everyone went to rest and relax after this mission, except me and Hudson. It was my last mission with them and for sure my last in my career, so we had to do lots of paperwork. It took us an hour, but we've done it and we shook our hands. Then we seperated, he went outside and I went to my room and picked already packed things for leaving.
"I didn't take it seriously when you said you would leave. I thought you were kidding with us." Russell stood there on doorway with his arms crossed. "It will be empty without you, after all of this."
"Yeah, I know, but we would separate our ways sooner or later."
"Is it because of Bell? Is that the reason?"
I froze after hearing him saying their name. I turned around and took his shades off. Tired eyes looking right into mine but I couldn't tell him.
"Look L/N, that's what you signed for. We don't sit back-"
"-I know that, but have you ever wished to live a life peacefully? Waking up in the morning not thinking that maybe it would be your last day, or thinking that every damn person on the streets could be your enemy. Have you ever wished you didn't take this path? Damnit Adler, maybe Bell wanted that! Maybe all of us wants that, but you don't give people chance. Bell needed a chance and they didn't get any. And now you don't want to give me a chance. You're right. I don't sit back, I don't need a chance from you, I will make my own chance, but there's one difference. You can't stop me from it." Russell was looking at and he sighed. He took a chair that was near my wardrobe and put it near my desk and he sat on her.
"So...so many times. I was wondering what kind of person I would be if I did take other opportunities. For sure I would have my wife by my side, maybe a kid or two. I wouldn't have this fucking scar and wouldn't be an asshole." I laughed at that, imaging him being nice but with no luck. "Well that's not so often to see you smiling."
"Please stop, seeing you being nice? I would die to see that. You will always be an asshole."
"Yeah, I fucked up. But as you CO, I'm glad that I could have worked with you by my side, but as a man, damn you're badass shortie." he grinned. God I should have punched him for that. "I'll visit you, okay?"
I nodded and left. It was hard to leave everything behind after all of this. Months have passed, living an American dream, having your house, car, enough money for everything you need... Perfect. Well it was empty, especially if you live alone. I was sitting in my armchair and I thought about it, and I came with the most insane idea - to make a wish.
It was the most stupidest wish I could make but it came true. A man came on my door with a rose and chocolate in his hand. We all know were that leads, but sure I didn't expect him.
Farewell to 2023, embrace the 2024 with open arms.
May it be a year of growth, achievement, and fulfilment.
Happy New Year, my comrade. ✨
P/S: I just noticed that I colored it wrong- I hate myself. o)--(
Actually happy that I get to post the original size because I spent a lot of time on Woods’ tattoos (hehe), which were mostly cropped to fit Twitter’s image size when I posted this initially.