Who: Caspian Finn & Marina Markova What: Take me out to the igra s myachom When: March 28 Where: Citi Field Warning: None Status: Complete
It was the first day of baseball season. Marina was going to see her first baseball game. Well, she’d seen games on tv. This was her first game in person. It was up for debate what she was more excited for: spending all day with Caspian or seeing the game in person. Regardless, she planned on having a good time.
Since it was still March it wasn’t warm enough for shorts, short skirts or tshirts. Leggings, a comfortable henley and her favorite boots would have to do. There had been a brief interruption in her preparations when her father had called. Word of these spiked drinks had reached his ears. He was worried and wanted to send more guards. Marina had managed to talk him out of that, but he had gotten a promise from her to drink nothing but something in a can or bottle.
There was something about the tone of her father’s voice that hinted at something more than the spiked drinks on her father’s mind. She was pretty certain she knew what was on his mind. It wasn’t as if she’d kept her budding relationship with Caspian a secret. No doubt her father wanted to know more about this man courting his daughter. Eek. She needed to talk to Caspian about this. Get ahead of it.
Speaking of, the expected knock came to her door. Marina gave her hair a final primp then went to open the door. A happy smile lit up her face as she greeted Cas. “Hi.”
It didn’t take long to get to her place, Caspian had been there multiple times already. The familiar corridor, the doors which lined the hallway. It all ended in the same spot, a space he was proud to approach. In his hand she held a good sized box, a gift for his girlfriend and something to share with her in celebration for Opening day.
His discussion with Dorian about which particular game to attend has been short yet lengthy. They’d gone back and forth on the pros and cons of Opening Day - sitting on the field or in the stands, the implications of being noticed. Overall he’d decided that there was no harm in it and so here he was.
When she appeared where the door had once been he couldn’t help but grin at her. “Hello, beautiful,” came the greeting. The box was extended out to her gently, “This is for you, a bit of something from me to get you into the spirit of the day.” The box held a Jersey and a baseball cap, both in her size with the appropriate color scheme. He was clad in his own attire fit for a game.
He was so good for her ego. Marina stepped forward to kiss Caspian’s cheek before anything else. “Hello, yourself,” she said. She drew him inside then shut the door. Only after the greeting protocols were met to her satisfaction did she accept the box.
“You are so sweet! Thank you!” Marina opened the box then laughed in happiness. The box was set on her small kitchen table. The Jersey was pulled out first to be put on over her henley. The hat was next. She tugged it onto her head, tucked her hair back then held her arms out to model with a smile.
“Well? Very American, yes?” Marina chuckled as she turned in place. “Maybe I should have my agent contact the Mets to get me to represent them.”
She did wonders for him, too. Not that he strove for an ego boost or confidence propulsion but a genuine bump now and then helped maintained that good feeling. Once in a while he did need those good vibrations just like anyone might. That kiss had his heart fluttering and he stepped into her flat as beckoned.
He was glad that she found value in the contents. A laugh and a nod as she modeled the outfit for him, “Ah, yes, very American, but also you’ll blend in better with the crowds.” The potential to represent the Mets hadn’t even come to mind but as it was uttered he nodded. “That would be ideal, wouldn’t it? You’d be a good face for the organization. Why not?”
“Ok then…” She pulled out her phone, jokingly made duck lips for a quick selfie. It got posted to her Instagram and texted to her agent with the not entirely serious suggestion about the Mets. All of this took less than a minute then the phone was tucked into her bag. “There. Now we shall see.”
She chuckled again as she stepped up to Caspian to steal a quick kiss. She stayed close as her brows came down. “You look tired. Is everything ok?” Marina fiddled with his hair, pushing it back from his forehead needlessly. “If you do not feel up to this we can go another time.”
He couldn’t help but chuckle endearingly at her selfie - Caitlyn had tried to tell him all about the selfie and the rules that went along with it. He found it all too complicated for his tastes. “Good luck to you. If there is anything I can to do away them, you let me know. A gift basket, something like that.” Or sending a few gentlemen over who were used to being persuasive.
As their mouths collided again Caspian lifted a hand up, touching tenderly at the side of her cheek. A thumb grazed across the line of her jaw. “Everything is alright,” he assured her softly, other arm lifted to wind around her and hold her close. “Work has been exhausting. But nothing would keep me from being here with you.”
Everything about her was like Heaven. Her fingers danced through his hair and his eyes closed, savoring her touch.
>
His mention of his job reminded her of her father’s phone call. “Pharmaceuticals” could be completely innocent, but for as closed mouthed as Caspian was she was pretty sure the word meant the same to him as it did to her father and brothers. Having grown up in that environment it was easy for her to not ask questions. Which also meant that she knew if his work was exhausting it was also treacherous.
She couldn’t keep the worry from her eyes even as she smiled for him. “Then I will make sure you relax today.” Fingernails played with the ends of his hair at the back of his neck. This time when she went for a kiss it was softer and lingering. She touched her nose to his when their lips parted. “You can always count on me for anything you need. All right?”
Being tender with her was welcomed. She never asked questions, never burdened him with guilt. He was trying to take what Laura had said to heart about his work life, it had the tendency to consume him and he didn’t want to drive Nina away like he had Laura.
Nearly melting into her touch, his eyes opened and he welcomed the next kiss. “You’re too good to me.”
Another kiss was taken, he let it linger before pulling back reluctantly. They would need to leave shortly to make it on time.
His hand caught hers. He kissed her fingers and tugged at her hand gently, “Are you ready?”
She knew nothing about Laura or anything else he’d been dealing with. Did it bother her that he didn’t tell her much about his life outside of her? Not really. It was just something she’d grown up with, but at the same time she wanted as much of Caspian as she could get.
“No such thing,” she said before the next kiss. Then her excitement filled the grin that came to her face. “Ready.” She hunched her shoulders up as her fingers gave his a squeeze. “Remember, you will have to tell me everything that I have to do and what is going on.”
Nodding with eagerness, Caspian smiled and lead her out of the apartment after she was ready. “I would not let you look like a fool in any regard.” That wasn’t like him at all unless she had somehow deserved such a thing. So far he didn’t see a reason to.
“I’m a bit rusty, myself, to be honest.” They could observe, if it came down to that.
“I opted for stadium seating this go around, but if you really enjoy watching the games they have suite options.” Those were luxurious and nice because of the air conditioning and personalized service.
She pulled her door shut, the satisfying sound of the locks settling in place. Then all her attention was to Caspian. “My agent told me to yell touchdown whenever a man runs over home plate. Even I knew better than that.”
It was a gorgeous day to take in her first game. The sun was shining but it wasn’t uncomfortably warm or cold. Marina had her arm through Caspian’s. While she was still excited to spend the day with him, her father’s phone call weighed on her mind. “I need to tell you something.”
Gently, arm wrapped about hers like a proper gentleman, he walked with her down the corridor. “Probably not a good idea!” He laughed softly. “Not the right sport, that’s more for American Football.” Her agent, he hoped, meant well by the advice.
When she brought up needed to tell him something he paused and turned to her, offering his full attention.
“What is it?” Curiosity was laced through the question - has she gotten cold feet? He hoped it wasn’t something too awful that weighed on her mind.
Oh! Oops. She scared him. She gave him a reassuring smile before encouraging him to keep walking. “It is not that dire,” she said. “It is just something not many people know, but I trust you and want to prove that.” And it was bound to come out eventually if her father was planning what she thought he was planning.
Her eyes flickered around to make sure no one nearby was recording them or taking a photograph. When she was assured they weren’t getting attention she spoke quietly. “My name is not Nina Marks. That is only a name I use for my job and while I am in America. My real name is Marina Markova.” She looked to catch Caspian’s reaction. It was up in the air as to whether he has heard of her family. Their infamy was the real reason she used a fake name. There were Russian refugees and enemies of her family in this city.
At her silent beckoning and assurance he did start moving again, pausing only at the elevator. He would not betray her trust - it was clear she was giving him something precious that might not otherwise be extended.
His eyebrows arched at her confession. “You’re a Markova?” He knew the surname. He worked for a Markova in Chrysalis on occasion and he was curious if she knew that other one or had any relation to him. “Are you akin to a Mischa Markova?”
He pressed the button to the elevator and the door eased open for them. He guided her into the car and waited, the button for the lobby illuminated.
It didn’t surprise her that he’d heard of her family. A lot of people had. Sometimes they were in the international news. However, the next question made her smile freeze. She looked into Caspian’s eyes as she blinked. Without realizing it he had just confirmed her suspicions about his pharmaceutical business.
“Mischa is my brother,” she answered quietly. Was he here? Had he been here this whole time? These were questions her father would never answer, but if her brother was in the states there was more going on here than she knew.
That confirmed what he had been suspicious of when she mentioned her real name - which also meant he could be faulted for not following proper courting protocol when it came to dating mob women. If she was the daughter of the boss and her father felt as if Cas had interrupted or went against the proper order things would go awry quickly.
“So, how do I need to go about this?” She would have the information he needed. “I have a feeling that I’ve violated order in your world when it comes to dating.” The last thing he wanted was to piss off another violent faction.
Major decisions, like the hand of a daughter for instance, typically needed to go through the man in charge or so he was aware. He figured she would correct him if his information was dated.
Grr! This was not why she told him her real name! God she hated all the protocol and demands! It was one reason why she had been so glad to be sent to New York. Marina took in a deep breath then let it out as the doors to the elevator opened. She took Caspian’s hand to draw him out of the lift with her.
Then she turned to cup his face with both hands and claimed a kiss that was urgent and sensual. It was a few moments before she let him up for air and once again looked him dead in the eyes. “This is not Russia. Here I am Nina Marks, not Marina Markova daughter of head of the Markova family. I make the choices in my life. Not my father and certainly not my brother.” Her brother who hadn’t told her he was here...and there would be a very long, very loud conversation in Russian at some point.
“You have nothing to prove, Caspian Finn.” Her gentle smile returned as her thumb caressed the stubble on his chin. “Except to me, and you have been perfect so far.”
Russia, America. There were traditions in place which carried over across the waters. He knew enough about rival gangs to understand that the culture was just as integral a part of their day-to-day operations as their business. It was tended to fuel the negativity between the groups.
He stepped out of the lift, an arm rising to circle around her. His mouth met hers, the kiss returned was heated and yet somehow a bit restrained.
“I am not going to tell you what to do,” he explained, sympathetic to her plight for independence. “But you have to understand my caution. I have a daughter to see to and I’ve already upset one organization - another one would be unbearable on account of mishaps.”
Worrying about the mob was something he could do later. He didn’t want to take away from the day but this would sit heavy on his shoulders until he confronted it.
“We should get going, we don’t want to miss the opening pitch.”
“This isn’t why I told you my real name,” she said. Frustration, annoyance and sadness colored her voice. She felt as if she’d ruined the day and gave him one more thing to stress over. Not to mention it sounded as if he might be reconsidering being with her. She understood logically. His daughter should always take precedence. Emotionally, it hurt and frightened her.
“Listen.” She stopped in the middle of the hallway, her hand tugging on his. “I don’t know what you mean about upsetting an organization, but I do understand your concern for Caitlyn. If...being with me is going to make things...you know. I get it.” But she definitely doesn’t look happy about the idea. “I don’t want to cause any trouble.”
He sighed softly, pausing when she did to look at her. “I know that it isn’t,” he began softly, reaching out to take one of her hands. What he’d not wanted was for her to be upset with him or stressed out, which it seemed he’d caused.
“If I’m hearing you correctly,” he said softly, keeping his voice low lest they be overheard, “you’re the daughter of a Russian mob boss. Whether your father is here or not I can assure you he’s watching you. It’s what a father does with a daughter. My experience with the Russian mob is slight, however I do know and I have seen men get hurt or killed for disrespecting their rules. Courting the daughter of a powerful man can bring unwanted disaster - I had no idea or I would’ve done this differently. I’m glad that you told me. This could’ve gone much worse.” Things could have ended badly and to find out after the fact would have been much more devastating.
“It doesn’t change what I want with you, I want this to work. But I don’t want to get badly injured for disrespecting your family either.”
>
“I know he’s watching,” she grumbled. She could only imagine what her bodyguards had been telling him, but she hadn’t gotten yelled at yet. Now she couldn’t help but wonder if her brother knew about this. So much to think about...and probably drink about at some point.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. My identity was supposed to be secret.” Marina rolled her eyes. “And knowing Daddy he would have refused permission thinking you were either trying to get at him or suck up to him.” She sighed.
“What do you want to do?” Marina looked at Caspian as she squeezed his hand. Her eyes flickered to the sunshine visible just outside the door at the end of the hall, then back to him. Her hand tightened in his from a case of nerves. “Do you want to speak to my brother?”
A breath escaped him. This was not a conversation he wanted to have in the lobby of her building on a day that was supposed to be exciting. Honestly he had no idea what he wanted to do, he had never had to deal with this before.
“No, I don’t think approaching Mischa is a good idea.” None of the Chrysalis elite tended to be approachable - he was acquaintances with Angela and Roman, but that only took him so far.
“I’ll have to think about it. I want to do this the right way, it’s the only way to keep everyone safe. If your father doesn’t like me...well, I’ll figure it out after that.”
He was probably right. Her brothers could be smothering. They’d proved that more than a handful of times as she grew up. That didn’t mean she wouldn’t be talking with her brother.
Hearing his decision stabbed her right in the chest and made her eyes shiny. She understood. At least she told herself that. Not for the first time she cursed her family in her head. However, there would be a lot of cameras at the first game of the season, public as well as private. Marina didn’t want to put him in danger, or his daughter.
She took her hand back then slowly removed the Mets hat from her head. “The baseball season goes on for months. Yeah?” Her voice was quiet but thick. The hat was held out to him. “Bring this back to me when we can go.”
If he had known her brother in any other situation it would’ve been different, but trying to approach one of the most powerful mutants he knew about seeing his baby sister did not seem like a conversation which would end in his favor. He figured a trip to the local hospital would come afterward.
Danger was part of the game - but if he was dying for someone he wanted to have a battle plan at least. Recklessness was not one of his qualities.
As she pulled back and offered the hat his eyes widened. “Wot?”
Was that shock?
Clearing his throat, his eyes narrowed a bit and he reached up to pluck the hat from her fingers gently.
>
“We will be seen together,” she explained. Confusion brought her brows down. Wasn’t that what he had been telling her? Going to the game would be hazardous to his health? “There will be television cameras, newspapers, people that might recognize me.” A sad smile came to her face as she nervously plucked at the hem of the jersey. “The kiss cam.”
She had joked about that, but had honestly been looking forward to it. “It might be possible that my family did not see my Instagram from St. Patrick’s Day, but…” Her breath hitched in her throat.
“Wait,” he began, tilting his head at her, “You don’t think I want to be seen with you?” He had been worried about the same thing but for her sake because of his associations and what he was involved in. Never had he believed the tables would turn a bit.
Caspian backtracked a bit, trying to figure out where that could’ve been implied and he came up short. “Nina, I never said that, and if I implied it I apologize. I don’t mind being seen with you.”
He just didn’t want her family getting the wrong idea. “The cats are already out of the bag in this circumstance. If you don’t want me to be seen with you that’s different, but please don’t misunderstand what I’ve said. I worry about the implications, sure, but I don’t want to stop seeing you unless that’s what you want. I want to do right by you and your family to keep us both safe, if that means talking to your father I’ll do it. I just like to have a plan of action.”
Taking a step backward, he turned to look at the floor.
That was exactly what she thought he’d been suggesting. Learning she’d misunderstood made her feel a lot lighter and entirely relieved. She was glad he’d cleared that up and to prove how much she didn’t care if her family saw them she let out with a small sound then all but pounced him, her arms wrapping around his shoulders.
“I don’t care. Let them see. I thought you wanted to...never mind!” She kissed his shoulder. “I’m sorry I misunderstood.”
As those arms encircled him he released a breath of relief. Both of his arms held on to her gently, pulling her close. He’d lost so many in his life already trying to process going through that again was something he never wanted to bear.
He pressed a kiss against the side of her hair, inhaling her scent. “It’s my fault for not being clearer.” Taking fault for things was something he was learning to do slowly.
Pulling back, he lifted her hat up and offered it to her. “Now, did you still want to go to the game or do you want to wait for another time?”
This whole thing proved to her how much she didn’t want Caspian out of her life. She never wanted to let him go. Marina tightened her arms around him for a lengthy hug until he pulled back. In answer, a smirk formed on her face as she accepted the hat then pointedly tugged it onto her head.
“I want hotdogs. Chili dogs,” she insisted as she slid her arm through his once more. “And cola.” Then she held up a finger. “Unless they serve beer in those plastic cups. Then I want beer. And cotton candy. Blue cotton candy.”
A laugh escaped him. “Alright then,” he nodded, winding an arm around her again. “Whatever the lady desires she shall get.”
Once more they were on the way. He guided her out and to the vehicle he had idling at the curb which would take them to the stadium and ultimately to the game itself.