#Yassen knows how to change a tire

[lolli-says-stuff]

[thirteen-cats-in-a-trenchcoat]

OH MY ACTUAL GOD

like I know I've read Russian roulette a billion times but this part-

Like Im gonna write a fic on it, with a few changes abt it

Note: what timeline? Never heard of one

-------- [yassen pov] -----

'You coming?' John stood relaxed, hands in his pockets, with a small smile on his face, 'you know, no matter how much you go around here, there's always more to see. '

'yeah, I'm coming' I replied, running over to him.

We spent the whole day walking along the streets of Venice, talking, sightseeing, and just... Relaxing.

The feeling was almost foreign after everything-- Scorpia, Sharkovsky, Moscow

But that feeling was good, good pretending that he and John were just friends in a foreign country. In fact, we were similar enough to be brothers.

Yeah, brothers. Maybe not by blood but brothers. After all, John had taken him under his wing, protecting him from everyone.

I looked at him smiling while petting a dog, motioning me to do the same.

Seriously, where did that dog come from, and how did it trust John so much? I guess he just has that effect on people.... And dogs. Hes a good man. The very best

I don't know what I'd do without him

Subconsciously, I rub the cut on my neck, a reminder of what happened in the jungle.

......

'yassen? Hellooo?' alex calls, nudging me with his elbow.

We sit in Venice, after I took him there after a his mission. There was no way I was simply ignoring him after he took down the Snakehead in operation Reef Encounter. I didn't even know it was going on, I was recovering from my bullet wound. And, since I didn't know where to go, anywhere outside of England, away from Mi6, we came here. He deserved a break, after all.

'yeah? ' I look at him expectantly

'so I know you're this like, (retired) assasin and you night not care for him, but look at this dog! Isn't he cute?' he held up the dog in question, and the beady eyes looked back at me.

'alex, we are on a gondola, and you are carrying a dog almost as tall as yourself' I reply, 'how...? And why.?'

'Oh, but you gotta admit, he's cute' alex shot back, with a grin on his face.

'but either way, Yassen, thanks for taking me here... I needed the break'

I smile in response, steering the boat. Watching the sunset and seeing the tired smile on his face, I realise something.

Although alex is a spitting image of his father, and they're alike in many ways, there's a part of him that's... Alot like how I was. And if he's me from the past, I guess he needs a John in his life too.

I think he looked like me when he had seemed so exhausted, and had that gutted expression. He'd seemed so... Alone.

I mean, everyone he knew had died or betrayed him. That Ash person did both.

Though I wish I got to torture him, not give him a relatively short death

I could make Dr Three seem kind

But now, it's just Alex and I (and the dog) , in the middle of a canal, watching the rays of sunlight shimmer across the water, watching the sky slowly turn from a deep pink to dark blue.

'anything for you, little Alex' I add on the last two words, as an afterthought.

I hope I can save him.

He's not a lost cause

He's still human

He hasn't.... Killed without reason

He's not the current me

'and... That dog, is pretty cool'

I guess, similarly to John, alex also has that effect on everyone.

It's also because his smile warms what little left of a soul I have

I rub the scar once more. I hope John is proud of me, I'll take care of alex for him. I'll become a good person. For him, for alex

Anything for him, he's like a little brother to me.

And with the sunsetting in Venice, with Alex (and the random dog???) half asleep in the seats,

I think we're gonna be OK