Illegal Thoughts

6

Lewis

"Wake up," Kathryn's voice said from above him.

"How did you get in h- oh." He raised his head and realized he had fallen asleep at the kitchen island whilst working. He shut his laptop, running a hand through his hair, "Fuck."

"What happened? You look like you got hit by a truck," Kathryn commented as she placed a glass of water in front of him.

"What's the water for?" 

"Are you not hungover?"

"No, I'm not! In fact, I don't drink." Lewis sighed.

"Geez, I'm sorry, you just... seem hungover."

"How nice," Lewis replied, getting up from the seat and groaning at the newfound pain in his neck before starting to brew coffee.

"You never answered me. What happened?"

"Nothing, really. I just fell asleep messaging my team, there are some rumors circulating about me."

"Like what?"

"Well, it seems that people think that I was seen at a club last night. I supposedly was seen 'drinking, smoking, and flirting with both genders.' The flirting part is one of their favorites to throw around about me because it got out that I had a boyfriend a few years back. But, I've never drank or smoked."

"I didn't know you were gay."

"I'm not. I'm bi."

"Ahhh, okay. How did your family respond to that one? I hear Russia's quite traditional."

"They just think it's all a rumor. I've given up trying to get them to believe me."

"That sucks, I'm sorry."

"Not your fault." Lewis took a sip of his coffee, a questioning look arising on his face.

"What?"

"You're acting odd."

"I can't be sympathetic?" 

"You just haven't been."

Kathryn shrugged, "What can I say? Hard to be civil to a kidnapper." This time, her tone wasn't accusatory, but light, as if she were joking... which, it then made it through his groggy brain that she was.

"Well, I'm going to go get ready for the day. We've got some work to do."

"Such as?"

"You'll see."

~~~

Once he'd gotten dressed and gone through his morning routine, Lewis entered the library to find Kathryn, who was sitting in a chair with her legs swung over the side as she read.

"Kathryn-"

"Jesus!" Kathryn jumped, "Don't sneak up on me like that!"

"I wasn't."

"Then why are you so freakishly quiet?"

Lewis shrugged, "Subconscious magic? I don't know, no one's ever pointed it out. Anyways, you need to start learning Russian."

"Russian? Are you crazy? I nearly failed my language classes! What's my deadline?"

"Relax, we have over a year, we just have to start everything early so we're prepared."

"Are you going to teach me how to waltz next?"

"Uhm, well, actually-"

"Hell no."

"My parents are strict, we have to impress them to be able to gain more of their trust."

"Your parents don't trust you? Actually, makes sense."

"Rude. Rule #1: be nice."

"No."

"#2: you need to be able to hold conversation in Russian."

"Where's the chalkboard? You need to write this down like an elementary school teacher."

"#3: We will be there during the holidays. This is peak season for my family to throw balls. You need to master waltzing and other slow dances."

"I don't have money to buy a nice dress."

"I do."

Kathryn narrowed her eyes, "What else?"

"Don't kill me over this next one."

"Not promising anything."

"My mother says that the next time she sees me, she wants me to be engaged."

"No. I am not entering an arranged marriage!"

"Let me finish! We will pretend to be engaged."

"I don't like the sound of this."

"Trust me, neither do I."

"Well, I want to make some rules too."

"As long as they're reasonable."

"I require a knife allowed on my person at all times. You better not step on my feet. The second we're out of your family's sight, the lovey-dovey shit is over. And, no kissing."

"These rules are fine... but my mom will get suspicious of the kissing thing..."

"Fine. But, so help me, if you turn this into anything more than a kiss, I will kill you."

"I'm not going to take advantage of you."

"Where do we start these princess lessons?"

"Russian and dancing should be practiced daily."

"Why?"

"So you don't lose it."

"This is stupid."

"What do you want to start with for today?"

"Russian, I guess," Kathryn groaned.

"Do you have any experience with any other languages?"

"Other than language classes in school, no."

"Which languages?"

"I switched from Spanish, to French, to Latin."

"At least there's some borrowed vocabulary from French and Latin. You'll likely remember more from these classes than you think."

"Doubtful."

~~~

"That was a... decent first Russian lesson." Lewis said, sitting down on the couch beside Kathryn, a person's worth of space between them.

"I can't believe you're making me do that daily."

"What do you want for lunch?" 

"What are my options?"

"Anything."

"Anything?"

"Anything."

"Hmmmm.... can you make a soup of some sort?"

"Of course I can. Anything specific? Or do I just whip something up?"

"Surprise me."

~~~

"Whatever you made smells incredible." Kathryn commented as she sat at the island and he put a bowl in front of her.

"Thank you. It's broccoli cheddar, nothing too special."

Kathryn took a bite, "It's amazing. I'd burn water if I tried to cook."

"I doubt you're that bad." Lewis chuckled as he sat next to her and began to eat as well.

"Don't test it."

"Alright, alright. After this, we'll start on dancing."