from Odessa, with love

[intoparadise]

Date: Fall 2005
Characters: Eden McCain, Mohinder Suresh, Ivy Creed
Summary: Eden reflects upon the meaning of the term "honeytrap". She tries to forget about it with Mohinder. Then someone really creepy turns up.
Status: In progress
Open to NY, but please ask firstLast night, Eden had briefly entertained thoughts of something cheap and forgettable

Comments

[myfathers_son]

He stared at the phone.

Eden's number rested innocently on the hotel desk, scribbled down in her small, curvy handwriting. Where it had lain the duration of the morning. His head was still aching a bit from the alcohol last night and he couldn't remember if her offer had been in earnest or not.

Whether he wanted it to be.

Sighing, he pulled the hotel phone across the desk and dialed the number.

[intoparadise]

At the sound of the ringtone, Eden snatched up her phone with almost embarrassing speed, but before she answered she checked the number- she didn't know Mohinder's, but if it wasn't Bennet (it wasn't) there weren't that many more people it could be.

She picked it up. "Eden McCain."

[myfathers_son]

"Eden!" Mohinder said, unable to keep the warmth out of his voice.

"It's Mohinder Suresh. From last night? I thought I'd take you up on your offer to explore the city, if you're interested..."

[intoparadise]

God, Eden couldn't remember anyone sounding that happy just to be talking to her in... well... ever, honestly. How sad was that?

"Oh, of course. I suggested it, didn't I?"

[myfathers_son]

Mohinder smiled, standing up from the desk and grabbing a jacket and his room key.

Running a hand through his hair, he asked, "Shall I pick you up at your room or meet you in the lobby?"

[intoparadise]

"I'd think the lobby'd be quicker," said Eden regretfully. "Be right there."

[myfathers_son]

Sitting uncomfortably on the edge of an entirely overstuffed armchair, Mohinder scanned the lobby for Eden's slight figure.

He spotted her coming out of the breakfast room and with a smile, he rose from the chair and crossed to her.

"Hello," he greeted her warmly, leaning over and kiss her briefly on the cheek. "Ready to play tourist?"

[intoparadise]

Eden was a little startled for a moment by the greeting, though not in a bad way, but she recovered well. "I have been for a while. Got anything specific you're just dying to see?"

[myfathers_son]

Mohinder thought a moment, walking with her towards the hotel doors. "Well, I suppose we could play it one or two ways: Hit the Statue of Libterty, Empire State, all of the landmarks, or..."

He grinned at her. "Or we could try for something a little more adventurous. Your call."

[intoparadise]

"Oh, that's not even a choice," said Eden happily, leaning in a little. "I live for adventure."

[myfathers_son]

Mohinder grinned. "Good choice."

Gesturing to the city in front of them, he annouced grandly, "Lead on, Ms. McCain."

[intoparadise]

"Gladly."

Walking in front of Mohinder kept him from seeing her face, but it actually wasn't a big thing- her smile stayed easily in place. No one had said anything about doing anything to him- just make contact, get an in, be friendly. What they'd done, for example, to Maximoff would be downright counterproductive here. As long as she remembered that, it would be all right.

A bigger concern at the moment was deciding where to lead to, since she really wasn't at all familiar with the place.

[myfathers_son]

It became apparent after several minutes that Eden had no idea where they were going. Grinning to himself, Mohinder didn't object to her randomly selected paths, merely followed behind amusedly. But after a while, he couldn't hold his tongue any longer.

"You are completely lost, aren't you?"

[intoparadise]

"I am not," said Eden loftily. "I know exactly where we are. I'm just... not totally sure where anything else is, that's all."

[myfathers_son]

Mohinder chuckled, eyeing the rapidly shrinking buildings and the increasingly shabby state of the businesses.

"Well, something tells me we are a good deal removed from the tourist spots, unless Mo's Pizzaria and Cigarette Emporium is standard tour fare..."

[intoparadise]

"Well, we were talking about adventurous," Eden pointed out. "Still, I think I liked it better where we were before. What do you say we turn around?"