warnings: OOC, soft?Russell Adler, english is not native language of author
🎵 nessen - can we stay like this forever?
Bell felt anxiety inside, which manifested itself as some kind of burning in the area of the ribs, somewhere between it. Like a lump devouring her, and it could not go away for a long time — ever since she and Adler became especially close. She knew that this could not continue, because they were both CIA agents, and what usually happens in such cases? One of them would obviously be written off as unnecessary, if not both, because they had chosen to break these rules together.
But Adler was the first to break them when he decided to leave Bell alive on that very rock on Solovetsky. But she just wanted to live, and he contributed to this, finding his own benefit.
Bell was so worried that it simply pulled her out of a sleep that seemed eternal. She often dreamed about something, something from the past — her family, her grandmother, the time spent at the academy and those few shots Arash had fired right at her on the runway in Trabzon.
Can't forget such things. Especially after the MK-Ultra cleanse, when the memories of the past life of a certain Ekaterina Burova gradually returned to her consciousness. She remembered everything as if it were yesterday.
A heavy sigh followed after Bell blinked several times, as if she couldn't believe that she had managed to wake up. She felt a slight cold right on her shoulders and it sobered her up, finally bringing her out of her sleepy state. The blanket rustled, Bell sat up and turned her head — Adler was not in bed, but he was still here — leisurely smoking a cigarette, having opened the door to their shared terrace.
He often did this, because he was haunted by his own nightmares. And it was not the first time Bell had found him like this. Pensive, taking a drag on another cigarette, lit only to try to drown out everything that was scratching at her from within. But she, like Adler, knew that this was forever. With both of them. And all that was left was to learn to live with it.
Bell carefully got out of bed and the springs creaked, but this did not attract the man's attention at all. It was as if he was somewhere far away, in his thoughts, trying to figure out what was happening and analyze everything that was happening between him and the woman he wanted to take her life a few years ago.
Everything was different now. But he could not have imagined that everything would be exactly like this.
Bell grabbed Adler's sweater, which was lying on the edge of the bed, and quickly pulled it on. She had never liked the morning cold, and she preferred to surround herself with warmth.
Only her touch on his hand brought Adler out of the abyss of thoughts.
— How are you? — Bell asked almost in a whisper. After another drag, he answered:
— Good. — She knows it's not true, but he won't admit it. Bell understands everything, but doesn't want to pry him with questions, especially now.
Adler looks at her out of the corner of his eye and notices confusion and that same anxiety on the woman's face. She bites her lips, her gaze darts slightly, she wants to say something, but can't. Over the years, he has studied her inside and out, her behavior, facial expressions and gestures, and now he reads her like a book.
He knows what needs to be done. At least now.
Bell is standing so close that Adler can put his hand on her shoulder. And he does it, pulling the woman towards him, it was easy, because she reached out on her own. With a movement of his hands, he turned her back to him, and the pleasant fabric of the sweater touched his body. The man felt Bell tremble — either from that same anxiety written on her face, or from the morning cold, which (even though she was wearing a sweater) hit her bare legs. He knew for sure that it was the first one.
Internal trembling prevented Bell from thinking clearly and daytime thoughts returned to her head — what will happen next and how far will it all go?
Only a strong drag helped to drown out these thoughts for a very short time — Adler carefully offered her a cigarette, which he had been smoking for a short time and Bell accepted it with pleasure. She exhaled acrid smoke and leaned her head back on his shoulder, closing her eyes. Only for a moment, but she felt how the trembling and anxiety retreated, especially when Adler hugged her with a strong arm. When he is near, when he can just hug her for no reason, when they smoke and share it with each other, when he easily smiles at her — each such moment, calming Bell, she values the most.
— I want this moment to last forever. — Bell says again in a half-whisper. Adler slowly kisses her temple.
— Me too, sweetheart. — He understands perfectly what she is talking about. Because he feels the same.
At least for a moment.
_____________________
SOOOOOOO I'm so happy i finished this and can share with y'all!! My renders was heavily inspired by the movie Havana (1990) with Robert Redford and especially inspired by this frame! 🧡🧡🧡
But the music I put at the beginning of the fanfic inspired me to make such a small one-shot with my favorite couple🧡🧡🧡 I hope you like it!