Against All Odds

thirteen

Erin's POV

"We've returned two wallets, stopped a drug exchange, and helped an old lady across the street. I'd say we've done our job very well." I grin, and Peter smiles from under his mask too.

"I'm kinda worried though. That drug dealer guy? He did say that he'd find a way to ruin our lives." Peter says.

"We'll just have to care a little less about our lives then." I smile.

"That's a terrible philosophy. But I agree." Peter nods.

"Come on, let's head ba..." I stop when she sees a familiar head of blonde hair walking along the street with another, taller man.

"What's wrong?" Peter asks, following my gaze to the two guys.

"Do you know those two? Should we be worried?" Peter asks.

"That's Damien. And his brother, Alexei." I mumble, almost choking on the piece of gum I'm chewing.

"Wait, Damien's the blonde, right? I can see why you like him." Peter nods.

"Shut up," I say, cracking a smile.

"But why are you so worried?" Peter asks, and I don't respond. We watch as Damien pulls out his phone and he and Lex seem to lightheartedly contemplate something to do with it before he finally taps the screen a couple of times and my goggles buzz.

"PAIGE?" I ask.

"It's Mr Volkov, ma'am." She replies.

"Wait, he's calling me?" I ask, looking back at Damien who's holding his phone to his ear.

"No time to think about it! Just answer." Peter says before I tap a couple of buttons on my watch and smile.

"Hello?" I ask.

"Hey, Erin, since we have a little more writing to do for our project, you should come over tomorrow," Damien says, his usual cold tone sending shivers down my spine. It isn't the slightest bit intimidating to me. Or, it is, but I find that attractive. Dammit.

But this time, he sounds a little too attractive - and by that, I mean that his voice implies that he's being more distant than normal. His tone seems to soften when speaking to me, I think. Maybe I'm just reading too deeply into things.

"Oh! Uh, yeah, of course. What time?" I ask, beginning to blush. Dammit. He's not even directly speaking to me.

"Any time is fine." He says.

"Uhm...okay! I'll, uh, see you at some point tomorrow then." I mumble.

"Good." He says, and just as he's about to end the call, I stop him.

"Wait!" I say, and I'm sure anyone could hear the slight pleading in my voice.

"What?" He asks. Shit. I don't know what to ask him, I just wanted to talk to him.

"Uh-- well...it's nothing. Sorry for bothering you. Bye, Damien." I mutter shyly before ending the call.

Jesus Christ, I have to find out what's going on.

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Damien's POV

Sorry for bothering you? Sorry for bothering you?

Yeesh, did I really come off that mean? I hope she's not angry. Ugh, she sounded so shy and apprehensive at the end of the call. What the hell did I do? Should I call her back and apologise? Dammit, dammit, dammit! Damien, you stupid fucker!

"Hey," Lex says, putting a hand on my shoulder and pulling me out of my downward spiral of thoughts.

"Whatever you said or she said, she's coming over tomorrow. It's too awkward to call her now, so make it up to her then, okay?" Lex advises.