Mikkel

Part Nine: Welcome to New York

Mikkel jumps and wakes up. He looks around the unfamiliar room as he sits up.

He looks over and sees a phone on the table, next to it was a stack of folded clothes.

He looks over at the other side, seeing a bottle of water and a dish with several snacks in it.

He pulls the blanket off himself and sees he's dressed in nice pajamas. He presses on his stomach that no longer hurt and then stands up.

He hears a knock and then looks up.

The door opens and he sees Alecia pokes her head in.

"Hi, I thought I heard you moving around in here."she smiles.

"Alecia."he says, running into her arms.

She chuckles, hugging him.

"Baby, I have some bad news. I don't know if you're aware but last night your father-"

"I pushed him."Mikkel says in Russian.

Alecia's face drops.

"You did?"she asks, kneeling down.

"I couldn't stand seeing it all."Mikkel says, looking down.

"You poor baby."she says before kissing his forehead.

He hugs her tightly and she chuckles.

"Where's Jin? Surely he can't be far behind."she chuckles, rubbing his back.

"Jin isn't coming back."Mikkel says softly.

Alecia frowns sadly.

"Come on, lets get something in your stomach baby."

...
We exit the room and I hear upbeat Latin music playing.

I notice the pictures of them on the wall. They had been everywhere together.

I hear Tony's voice, singing along with the music. We turn the corner and I chuckle as I see him dancing as he cooked breakfast.

"Hey!"Alecia says starting to dance as well, elbowing me.

I smile as she walks over to Tony and he grips her hand, spinning her out and then spinning her back in.

I walk over as they begin salsa dancing, skillfully.

.....
Mikkel couldn't tell how he was feeling. Warm. In his chest?

"Mikkel can you dance?"Alecia asks.

In school, all soldiers must learn to dance. In case it's needed for an assassination job.

But Mikkel shakes his head.

Alecia puts her hands on her hips.

"I bet you can. Come on."she says, holding her hand out.

He chuckles nervously, taking her hand. She pulls them in and they begin dancing as Tony cooked, dancing along with them.

He was confused. This was new.

He never woke up with his family like this. He had never danced, and smiled and laughed with his family.

It was so strange, yet he was enjoying it.

He's actually happy.

Happy.

....

A man walks into a hospital room.

"Yosef, you're looking well."

Yosef had survived the fall. His entire body was obliterated, yet he survived.

He could hardly speak, but his fist clenches as he looks at the man from his bandaged face.

"...my son. Find my son."Yosef says.

"Yes sir we...had a team on him but they lost him when he jumped into a ravine."The man says.

"Jumped into a ravine?"Yosef says.

"He.. really didn't want to be caught sir."

"You find my son, and you take him back to the school."Yosef demands.

"With all do respect sir, he pushed you out the window to your death. Shouldn't be be punished a bit?"The man asks.

"...the school is his punishment."

The man nods and then walks towards the exit.

......

Mikkel looks around excitedly, his face stuck to the window as the car drives past a number of exciting things.

"Be careful muchacho, give your neck a break."Tony says, making Alecia chuckle.

Mikkel sits back from the window.

"This place is very interesting."Mikkel says.

"You think so? Wait till we get to the gym."Alecia chuckles.

"Gym?"Mikkel asks.

"Well, Tony thought you would like to have something to do. Our friend Donnie owns a gym, and he runs a community center for kids."Alecia says.

"I will have to fight?"Mikkel asks.

Alecia and Tony both look at each other.

"Well, you don't have to. "She says.

"I don't mind fighting. I won't have to kill them, will I?"

The car comes to a screeching halt and Tony looks back.

"No killing. ¿Comprendo?"Tony says, causing Alecia to fold her arms.

"Could you make him feel more ostracized?"she asks.

"Bebita he's not like other kids."Tony says.

"Yes he is. He's perfect just the way he is."Alecia says, reaching back and pinching Mikkel's cheeks lightly, making him chuckle.

"Well, Mikkel, these kids are different."Tony huffs.

"I'm different."Mikkel says.

"These kids are different from you."

Mikkel looks down at his palms, flipping them over and looking at the thick scar tissue on his knuckles.

"They can't heal like me."

Alecia and Tony look at each other.

"Let's keep that between us, okay baby?"Alecia says softly.

Mikkel bites the inside of his cheek, looking down at his palms.

...

Mikkel clings to Alecia's arm as he sees rabid children running around, screaming and playing.

"What's wrong sweetie?"Alecia asks.

"They have no structure."Mikkel says in Russian, making Alecia chuckle.

"Of course they do, they're just having fun. Look, there's a group of kids that look to be about your age."Alecia says.

Tony walks up to them both, holding a pair of boxing gloves.

"What's wrong?"he asks.

"Mikkel is nervous."Alecia says.

"Hey hey, don't be nervous."Tony chuckles.

Then he hands Mikkel the boxing gloves.

"Why don't you get in the ring? Then the conversation comes to you."Tony says.

Mikkel takes the gloves, looking up at Tony.

"Go on, it's okay."

Mikkel makes his way to the boxing ring.