Velvet Waltz [An Inglourious Basterds fic]

Enemy Lines

Bunny's heels clicked on cobblestones as she led Sylvia down the winding medieval streets of Soissons. It was an ancient city, ringed by the ruins of cathedrals and monasteries. Soaring above the little town, with their gothic arches and towers, it was impossible to tell which skeletal remains had been bombed in the previous war, or simply crumbled over time. The effect was intensely eerie.

They turned onto a narrow cul-de-sac, where the rows of little houses had identical wooden shutters. The little street terminated in a high stone wall overtaken by ivy. It was exactly where one would post up if one didn't want to be seen.

Bunny trotted up the steps of one house and buzzed the doorbell. Within seconds, the door opened, and they were beckoned inside.

It was a cozy little house, with low wooden ceilings and plaster walls, and at Sylvia's estimation, at least 300 years old. A young man in a casual sweater and slacks guided them down the hall to a well-lit back room, where Edward shuffled papers at what looked like the dining table at a grandmother's house. Two wooden chairs had been set out, and antique couches chairs lined the walls. The incongruity of furniture to setting made Sylvia's head hurt.

"There she is," Edward announced, gripping her hand in an aggressive shake. "The infamous 'Ilse Bronner.' Taken prisoner by a Standartenführer! Escaped from the officer's own house!" The guards, posted at each door, applauded.

Sylvia blushed profusely. "I wasn't a prisoner, really," she started but Edward wasn't listening.

"Sit down, sit down. We have a lot of ground to cover." She obeyed.

"First," Edward said, after making a few marks on a notepad. "I understand you wanted to discuss something?"

Bunny squeezed her arm for courage.

"Well," Sylvia said, suddenly queasy with Edward's sour face in front of her. "Just some suspicious things."

"What suspicious things, exactly?"

"You probably know...the bookstore closing early that day I was supposed to pickup, the safe house raid, that's all."

"Those aren't small things, Greta," Bunny whispered.

Sylvia took a breath. "No, they aren't small things. I was repeatedly put in danger by someone in this unit's actions." She stopped short of adding, and Hans Landa saved me every time.

Edward seemed taken aback. "This unit was hand-picked by Major Blackwell, agent. Every one of us was carefully screened and vetted by the SOE. Do you think an enemy operative could've slipped through the cracks?"

She felt her resolve beginning to slip. "I...well...it seemed intentional. Maybe it wasn't, but I felt targeted."

"That's a hell of a serious accusation to make over feelings."

The sensation of freefall. "I really think w-we should investigate. Hans started..."

The room went silent.

"...Hans agrees with me. He thinks we may be compromised. He was looking into it, on his own. There's a lot of evidence."

"Agent Leventhal," Edward began. The sound of her real name chilled her to the bone. "Are you telling me you helped an enemy officer investigate your own unit?"

She knew she'd crossed a line, but in all honesty, the line was damn near invisible these days. "I know how crazy it sounds, but he was worried for my safety. He really cares about me. I've been trying to convince him to defect, he'd make an amazing double agent."