Meeting the Family on Hallowed Ground

[Ekaterina Gordieva]

((Just realized I should probably clarify something... Kat is named after her grandmother, obviously. So when she was a little girl, to save on confusion they began calling her by her middle name and never really stopped.))

The plane lurched as the wheels hit pavement, the rain tapping against the windows. Kat closed her eyes and took a deep breath. No matter how many times she had flown in a plane, landing still made her nervous. Maybe it was the sudden change from smooth to rocky or sound of the brakes groaning that just made her think the plane was about to fall apart around her. She tightly gripped the armrest next to her as the cabin shook and bounced. Kat couldn't help but laugh at the irony. I can fly all over the place on my own just fine. But with all the safety precautions and mechanical comforts around me, I freeze up. She let out another calming sigh as the plane taxied down the runway. Glancing out the rain-streaked window, Kat could just make out the lights of Bucharest, winking on and off as other planes passed between them on their slow descent to the ground.

Arkady jerked awake as the plane landed, his head moving off of Kat's shoulder and a sharp pain along his back caused him to wince. How he'd managed to fall asleep in this cramped seat with his wings, unbound or not, was beyond him. His hand settled on Kat's and squeezed it as he gazed about sleepily, trying to get his bearings. Were they still in the air? And then he was given an audible queue and sighed.

"This is your captain. We are now touching down at the Otopeni International Airport in Bucharest, Romania. Current time is 2:37 am. Thank you for flying with us and have a nice night." The intercom shut off with a burst of static and the plane slowed to a halt at the terminal. Kat looked down at her watch, still set to Saint Joe's time. 7:35. No wonder she wasn't tired. Her back ached from the 11 hour flight. Her stomach was crying out for something more than airline food. Her nerves were shot from a landing in the rain. But she wasn't tired.

"Velcome to Romania." Arkady tried his best Dracula-like accent, checking his watch that he had made a habit of changing to military time, 1937... The year? No. He had to give it some thought, still groggy as the lights flickering on didn't help him in the least. "That's... 7:30 Paragon?" He eyed Kat inquisitively, ignoring the bustle of anxious passengers that wanted to depart. It was no use near the wing section, First Class always got off first, didn't they know?

Kat laughed a little and loosened her grip on the armrest. "Yeah, we're seven hours ahead Paragon now. Doesn't feel like 2:30 in the morning does it?" Kat looked at the passengers now filling the aisle next to Arkady. She tried her best to ignore to fearful glances and hateful stares directed at her boyfriend. It had been that way in New York too, during their hour long lay-over. Children pointed and asked questions of their mothers, who quickly ushered them away. Passers-by gave the pair a wide berth in the terminal, keeping their heads down or averting their gaze, afraid to catch Arkady's eye. Seems people outside Paragon didn't care if you had powers, so long as you still looked like everyone else. Kat silently prayed, rubbing her Saint Sebastian charm on her bracelet, asking God that her grandparents would be more understanding.

Arkady didn't seem to be aware of any looks he was given for his wings. Well... not now at least. Even from the beginning in Paragon, he seemed unphased or unnoticing of such things. But in truth every incident only magnified the next for him, made him feel more and more uncomfortable the further they went, as if leaving Paragon was giving away his only safe haven. But he never let it show, at least not infront of Kat. Ignoring a look from a rather nosy kid who seemed intent on grabbing his wing, he winced past the pain of the tiny, vice-like digits and smiled toward her as best he could, the kid's mother quickly asserting her control over her son and dragging him along with her. "Believe that's our cue... find the bathrooms inside, right? You still have the medical tape?"

"Yeah, it's in my carry-on." Kat looked over at Arkady, not missing the winces he tried to hide. This trip meant so much to her, and having him here meant a lot as well. But she couldn't help but feel a little apprehensive about it. He wanted to make a good impression on her grandparents, her new legal guardians, almost as if he wanted to prove he was good enough. Moving out into the aisle, Kat stood on the seat and grabbed her gym bag from the overhead compartment. As she lifted the strap up onto her shoulder, she peered at Arkady again. "Are you sure you want to do this? I mean... hide what you are from them? I don't want you to hurt yourself because you want to impress my family."

Arkady only looked at her and nodded. It was frustrating just getting out of the cramped seats with his wings, and the 11 hour flight seemed to leave him with a slightly bitter mood. "Ready then? I'm anxious to meet your grandparents." Without even waiting for an answer he started down the aisle, only checking to make sure she hadn't fallen behind.

"Uh, yeah. Sure." Kat followed him off the plane and into the crowded terminal.

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"Nicoleta!" Kat smiled as her grandmother gathered her up in a tight hug, kissing her cheek. She was a petite woman who had aged gracefully. Her black hair had long since silvered, but laugh-lines and small wrinkles did little to cover the beauty she had possessed in youth. "Oh, Nicoleta, we have been so worried about you. It is so good to see you are well. Here, let me look at you." The older lady stood back from Kat, lifting Kat's arms from her sides and looking her up and down, grinning from ear to ear. "Why, where is that little girl that would sneak Turkish delights from the kitchen at Christmas? The one that would skin her knee trying to balance on the old wooden fence and come crying to me to make it all better. Nikki, you're practically a young woman."

Arkady inhaled sharply at the sudden anxiety that struck him. His hands buried themselves in his coat pockets, his shoulders trying to compress and make his wings smaller, despite the tape and coat doing perfectly well. He waited patiently, at a comfortable distance, an almost clueless smile painted on in facade.

"Ekaterina, dear, leave the poor girl alone. She has been on a plane for eleven hours." Kat turned to see her grandfather, arms held wide. Kat wrapped him in a hug as he squeezed her shoulders and placed a kiss against her forehead. "Although she is right, Nikki. You look more and more like your dear mother every time I see you. May God rest her soul." Kat watched as sadness filled both her grandparents' faces. She couldn't help but feel the tears well up inside herself as well. All the work of school, heroing, and preparing for this trip had been keeping the reality of what had happened at bay. Hard to think about the fact that she would be burying her parents when she was ushering families to safety during a raid while worrying about an Algebra quiz. But now, that she was here, in the midst of her family, the realization that she would be leaving her parents here hit her hard. She bit her lip and crossed herself, as her grandparents did. He grandfather wiped his eyes and smiled through the tears down at her. "So is this the young man you told me about?"

Drawing in a calming breath at the mention of his name, Arkady poised himself ready for the interrogation of his life, offering a broad smile to show he was at least alive.

Kat pulled back and turned to Arkady, who had been standing quietly behind her. "Yes. Nona, Popa, this is Arkady Romanov." Kat stepped back as her grandfather extended his hand to the boy.

Arkady took the hand and adjusted his firmness on the grip more than once, unsure of exactly how strong would be in his favor. "It's an honor to meet you, sir. I only wish it could have been under better circumstances."

Kat's grandfather nodded and firmly shook Arkady's hand."Myself as well. I am Lucian Gilca. This is my wife, Ekaterina. I hear we have you to thank for still having Nikki with us. That was very brave of you, climbing onto that collapsed building, trying to save her. Thank you." Her grandfather smirked sideways at Kat, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. Kat nearly blushed deep crimson, knowing what was coming next. "I also hear she is quite smitten with you. She almost talks of nothing else from that school."

Arkady blushed slightly in unison with Kat, but offered a generous smile and settled his hand back into his pocket. "I... of course. I'd have expected her to do the same for me." Arkady chuckled at the comment and shook his head. "Nothing else? I guess I'm better than I thought..." Arkady's gaze drifted to Nona, patient and quiet now, and he offered a brief smile, trying his attempt at a greeting.

Kat's grandmother stepped up next to her, putting her arm around her shoulders and looking Arkady over. There was no smile on her face, she looked more inquisitive than anything else. She nodded to the boy, obviously withholding judgment for the time being. She held her granddaughter close to her, almost protectively, across from her husband and Arkady.

Kat, sensing the tension, cleared her throat. "Um, Arkady and I should get our bags. Then we can get to the house. I'm sure your both tired." Kat tried to take a step forward, only to find her grandmother's grip tightened and held her in place.

"Lucian, go with the boy and get the bags. Nikki and I will wait over there in the chairs." She pointed near the wall and began escorting her granddaughter with her.

Lucian smiled at the group as he turned. "Of course, dear." As they started toward the baggage claim, he clapped Arkady on the back. Kat almost winced right along with Arkady. She didn't know how he was managing not to cry out at that. Just before they were out of earshot, Kat saw her grandfather lean down to the Arkady. "Listen well, son. Lesson number one: When a gypsy woman asks you to do something, best do it." He turned his head slightly, looking back at his wife, who was now smiling, even just a little.

Arkady winced at the pain from the contact on his back, but forced a grin at the comment. The gypsy thing was something he discussed alot with Kat, and finding some common ground with her grandfather seemed to do a considerable amount of damage to his willingness to be shy or apprehensive in this particular situation.

Kat let out a sigh as she sat down in the hard chair. Her grandmother sat next to her and took her hand. "Nikki... dear, it is good to see you are okay. When your Popa and I heard about what happened to Victor and Tatiana, and then what happened to you... Nikki, we are worried about you. Are you sure that school is the best place for you right now?"

"Nona..." Kat squeezed her hand, trying to think of a way to explain exactly why she wanted to stay.

Her grandmother waved her other hand, dismissing the arguments before she had even said them. "I know. I know. You have your friends. And now this boy, who will talk about later. Do not think you have gotten off that easy, young lady. I just want you safe, Nikki. That school is so close to all the fighting and you are still just a child." She reached out and took Kat's other hand, rubbing her thumb over the back of it. "Nikki, if you wanted to, you could stay here. Your Popa and I would take care of you. We can send for your things to be sent back over here, and you could be safe, away from all that horrid fighting."

Kat looked down at her grandmother's hands. These same hands had prepared countless meals, soothed aches and pains, and raised five daughters. These hands made her feel safe, but she knew she couldn't stay. "Nona, I... I have to go back. It's not just the school, or the friends, or even Arkady. I'm helping people there. I like it there, because I'm making a difference. I just-"

"Just think on it, Nikki. We could take very good care of you. You do not have to answer now." She released Kat's hands and reached over to her, taking Kat's chin in her hand. "Now," she smiled slightly. "About this boy." Before Kat could respond, she cut her off again. "I know what you are going to say, dear. 'He is a nice boy. He makes me happy. You would really like him.' I did not raise five girls and learn nothing from it. Now, what about his family? Are they Catholic?"

"Um..." Kat bit her lip, knowing that if she answered truthfully she would blow any chance of her grandmother warming to Arkady. "His father died when Arkady was very young. His mother is in St. Petersburg right now." She deliberately dodged the question of religion, and her grandmother saw right though it.

"Nikki... does he come from a good Catholic family?"

Kat winced visibly. "Not... exactly." She quickly tried to cover the question with plenty of good qualities. "He really is nice, Nona. And kind. And funny. And he's saved my life. And he's really patient and sweet and nice. But I already said nice... but it's worth mentioning twice." Kat looked over at her grandmother, who had set her jaw, looking back at her.

"He is not Catholic?" Kat shook her head. "Nikki, you go to a Catholic school. You could not find a nice Catholic boy?" Her Nona took her hands again tightly. "Nikki, be honest with me. Did he... Has he taken advantage of you?"

"Nona! No!" Color rushed into Kat's cheeks. "He hasn't even tried, Nona! He's a gentleman!"

That answer seemed to satisfy her grandmother, who patted the side of her face. "Good. We will find you a good Catholic boy yet, then."

Kat sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose. This was going to be a long few days. She just hoped Arkady was faring better with her grandfather.

Meanwhile, at the baggage claim terminal, Arkady and Lucian were having a chat of their own. Arkady grew more and more comfortable by the minute as the man he had come to imagine would be the old-fashioned, Soviet era man who considered a sense of humor immoral, came into a more real role of the kind, amiable grandfather that cherished his family and had grown more laid-back with the times. The two stood next to one another, Arkady's eyes traversing the bags before him, searching for their luggage, helping keep his mind off the bright pain that coursed through his wings. "Are you originally from Paragon City, Arkady?"

"I... uhm. No sir, I was born in Russia, in St. Petersburg." Arkady nodded, exchanging fleeting glances with the older figure next to him.

"Ah, you are a soviet baby then? Hm? Not trying to convert my Nikki now, are you?" The old man half-grinned toward Arkady, a mischievious glint in his eye. Arkady turned red for a moment and shook his head, until he caught the look and smiled somewhat himself, spying their bags beginning to move out along the conveyor belt. He moved to grab them, hoisting one, then the other onto the tile with a wince. Lucian saw the look, but decided it was the stiffness from the plane ride combined with the lifting that did it. "Careful, Arkady. You have been a sitting mummy on a plane for 11 hours. Let me get one of those."

Arkady shook his head and offered a reassuring smile, taking both bags up in his hands for a moment to test and nodded. "I have them, sir. Nothing a boy in his prime shouldn't be able to carry if he plans to make use of himself, hm?"

Lucian gave him an inquisitive look before he chuckled and nodded. "Call me Lucian, please. We are not in the military, and I would rather not have to be reminded how much your senior I really am." Arkady stopped himself short of another wince at the mention of the military and simply nodded. He knew he'd let sir slip now again, out of habit, but he'd get used to it. Moving back to their previous conversation, Arkady lugged the bags back toward the ladies, Lucian following to his side.

"I left Russia when I was 4, lived in Paragon ever since, s-- Lucian... Heh. My father took me, my mother is... she's still in St. Petersburg, have a sister back in Paragon as well." Lucian only nodded, taking mental notes on questions for later as they approached, beaming a smile toward his wife and granddaughter. Arkady stopped with him, setting the bags down to shiver at the pain in his back, eyes meeting Kat's, a clear message filtering from his mind into hers. "How'd things go with Nona?"

Without locking eyes with him, Kat sent back, "Well, it could have gone better. But she now knows you aren't Catholic. What about you? Everything okay with Popa? I told you, you get him on your side, Nona will have no choice but to like you."

"Good, good. He's alot better than I'd imagined he'd be. Now just to get to a bed and get these wings loose before I start losing tears over it."

Kat nodded to Arkady, drawing a look from her grandmother. "We should probably get to the house and get settled in. It's going to be a long day tomorrow." Kat took her bag from Arkady and pulled the strap from it and her gym bag up onto her shoulder as her grandfather led the group out to their car.