The Heist

Miss Swan,
I'm going to call in that favor you owe me. Something has come up and I need your assistance. I'll meet you at LHA at 9:00 on Friday morning. Your ticket is enclosed. Don't be late and try to look decent.

- R.I.

Robin still wasn't sure if it was the best idea to bring Audriana along for this. Not only did she like to play cop, this was an important event for Robin. He needed things to go without hitch and if this woman was the cause of everything going wrong it would be all his fault. Mostly Robin was relying on that her hatred of a debt would override her annoying tendency to do the right thing. Nevertheless, it was too late now and she would be meeting him at the airport at any time.

Robin was seated comfortably in a cafe, drinking a coffee and watching the people rush past. For a boy who had been so removed from the muggle world his entire childhood he had gotten all too familiar with this scene over the last few years. A woman in a blue pantsuit rushed past, towing a suitcase with wheels that clicked on the tiles in harmony with her heels. A mother passed with her children - one was asleep in her arms and the other was staring wide eyed at a stuffed dolphin toy in the shop window. Many men in suits walked by in a rush, heads to the ground as they mindlessly headed for their destinations. Robin drank his coffee in deep sips and was infinitely grateful for the caffeine flooding into his system.

The magically enlarged carry-on he was bringing had been enchanted as to not arouse suspicion in the security guards. He didn't need a lot for this weekend, just changes of clothes for him and Aud, several pouches of money, passports, and various other travel goods for their comfort and enjoyment. He had gotten tickets back to London for tomorrow morning but there was always a chance that plans could change and want/need to stay longer. With only the slightest bit of amusement Robin had reserved a room at the St. Regis for the night so they could catch a flight back the next morning.

Robin glanced down at his watch and stood up, leaving an assortment of muggle bills and coins on the counter behind him. He grabbed the briefcase that held their weekend and made his way down to the correct gate. He arrived perhaps a bit later than he should have, just as the plane was beginning to board. Robin got in line and in no time at all he was aboard the aircraft. It was a good sized flight, the jet already filling to an uncomfortable size. But in true Ivanov fashion he had purchased both himself and Audriana seats in first class, giving them large amounts of leg room and complementary blankets for the trip. Robin stowed his bag in the overhead compartment and sunk into his chair, glancing around the see if his travel companion had bothered to show up or if her ridiculous philosophies on debt did not extend quite this far.

((OOC: I've decided she actually hasn't been on one before. This will be fun.))


Audriana woke to her alarm blaring in her ear, forcing an immediate cloud of anticipation and anxiety around her. She was due at the airport in a few hours, to meet Robin for whatever mission she had accidentally signed up for. The ticket said they were flying to New York, which was terrifying and exciting at the same time. Audriana, rich as she was, had never had reason to leave the United Kingdom. This would be... interesting. Had Robin been in New York before? And why were they headed there? She couldn't fathom what he would need her for over there.

Grudgingly, Audriana pushed herself out of bed and made her way into the bathroom. After a shower and a surprisingly successful attempt at taming her hair into pretty curls, she dressed in nice but comfortable clothes. It was a long flight, she was sure, and was not about to sit in something uncomfortable or awkward for seven or more hours. Aud had heard about flights taking longer than they should have, and was not really looking forward to it. At least she wasn't afraid of heights, she mused.

Thankfully, she made it to the airport with plenty of time to line up and go through the frustrating security. Was all of this really necessary? Muggles were even more paranoid than she was, apparently. Glancing down at the ticket, Aud made her way up to the board that listed all of the flights and their gates and times of arrival and departure. It was overwhelming. If Aud had ever wanted to fly, it was to somewhere in Ireland or Scotland, and therefore it had not been required that she went by plane. But she wasn't scared. Nope.

Following the signs and maps, Audriana found her way to the gate and saw that people were already boarding – she had seen these areas in movies, so she simply followed everyone else as they held out their tickets and passports. One of the flight attendants pointed out Aud's seat and she smiled at the woman brightly. Her smile turned into more of a smirk as she saw Robin seated and glancing about. Was he afraid she wouldn't show?

“First Class, Ivanov?” Aud asked as she lifted her luggage to stick it in the compartment above their heads. “Surprise, surprise.” Settling her hands on her hips to roll her eyes at him, Aud let out a laugh that was far too chipper for the time of day it was. She was not a morning person.

She lowered herself into the seat next to his, enjoying the fact that she was allowed to stretch out considerably more than those in the sections behind her. At least she had the experience of watching Muggle films so she knew what she was talking about, even if she hadn't personally been in an airplane before. Audriana set her shoulder bag – which was far bigger than it looked thanks to an Undetectable Extension Charm – on the floor under her seat, glad of the knowledge that it held her most recent novel and a variety of snacks.

Aud wished she could ask what exactly they were going after, but she figured it would be best to wait until they were in the air, or had landed. He probably wouldn't tell her around these people, she mused. It was rather unfortunate, but expected.

Audriana arrived, cutting it even closer to departure time than he had. Robin mused that she had probably been caught up in security, not leaving enough time to get through the strict muggle standards. While the whole phenomenon of an airport was relatively new to Robin he had been steadily gaining experience and he often forgot that other wizards weren't constantly flying across the ocean. He wondered vaguely if Audriana had ever been in a muggle plane (or even a car for that matter). When they had first met he had pegged her for a muggleborn but since seeing her house Robins internal definition of her had been completely redone. A rich Audriana Swan no way meshed with the Audriana Swan that he had always pictured in his head.

"Morning Swan" Robin greeted as she sat beside him. "You seem.. chipper." The word danced off his tongue with a certain degree of hostility to it, countered by the lazy smile that rested on his lips. Robin couldn't decide if he should be pleased or not that Audriana was in a good mood. It would make having a traveling companion so much more pleasant but then again unpleasant Audriana was always infinitely entertaining. Robin had devoted way too much time to getting her riled up over the years, pressing her buttons and taking things he had no reason to take. When they bickered it was always satisfying at the very least.

It was when things got civil that Robin started to feel uncomfortable. His actions in the ally and what had followed had disturbed the man to no end, both his desire to protect her and her gratitude towards him completely foreign. No, he had brought her along purely for business as usual. She would help him in a task of the utmost importance for no other reason than to free herself from his debt. Part of Robin knew that he had called in his favor as quickly as possible because he wanted the ally scene to be forgotten. It wasn't a story he was eager to be told or thought about any time soon.

Robin waved to a flight attendant, signaling her over. When the young woman stood beside them he asked "A coffee when possible please" and she nodded, leaving the pair again. Robin turned to Aud and grinned. "I hope you're good at war. I've got a deck of cards and we've got a long flight ahead." He looked at her with the slightest bit of mock concern. "You aren't afraid of heights are you?"

((You can time lapse take off/plane ride activities if you want. Keep going with whatever makes sense.))

Robin seemed almost offended by her greeting, but didn't make much of a fuss of it. She was rather grateful for that, as well as the exorbitant amount of room they were privy to as members of the first class section of the plane. Why did they always use last names? The question hadn't bothered her until after he had saved her and they were drinking tea in the home that was far too large for just one person. She decided it wasn't something she would worry about right now. Not when she was about to be flying over an ocean with a particularly snarky and yet somehow charming man who hadn't told her what they were doing.

“Believe you me, I am not a morning person. I'm chalking this mood up to actually being ridiculously tired and trying to keep myself awake. I may not have slept well last night.” Audriana confessed, wondering if he would chide her for it. He seemed like he might be the type. “At least we gain hours by flying towards the United States.” Her shrug was the best she come do when it came to trying to ensure him that she wasn't nervous about everything.

Aud looked up at his wave and waited as he ordered something, smiling to the woman to ensure her that no, she didn't need anything. As she turned back to him her eyebrows raised. “You're challenging me? You must know that I take those seriously.” Although she was mostly kidding, it was ridiculously true that if anyone challenged her, they would have to suffer through her competitiveness. Those who went to school with her could attest to that.

Blinking twice at his question, her face fell. He was teasing her now? Brilliant. No, she wasn't afraid of heights. But it was highly possible that she was nervous about this giant chunk of metal holding them above the ocean for seven hours. Aud rolled her eyes and shifted in her seat so she could comfortably put her seatbelt on. The doors to the plane were closing.


When the plane finished taxiing and started to speed its way down the runway, Audriana's hands clenched the arm rests so tightly her knuckles turned white. Until she noticed that fact and instead weaved her fingers together and clasped them in her lap. There was a slight jolt as the wheels left the asphalt and her eyes closed briefly before turning to lean around Robin and watch the houses getting smaller and smaller. If anything happened to this plane, she wouldn't live to see the result, she was certain.

Aud decided to open her blanket to have something to do with her hands, so she unfolded it and covered her legs with it, smoothing it out over and over. She glanced up at him as she did this, wondering how many times he had been on a plane before.

“So,” Audriana began as she left her hands to continue toying with the blanket, “I may or may not have never been on a plane before. Ridiculous for a Muggleborn, I suppose, but regardless. Though I daresay that much might have been obvious.”

Robin grinned at her response to his challenge. Even if the game got blown completely out of proportion Robin was sure cards would be fun. Their competitiveness was a shared trait - part of what made the pair of them such a toxic combination when put together. The plane took off and Robin stared out the window as they rose off the ground. Weather it was on a broom, plane, or magic carpet (yes he had one still) the height never bothered him. Even in such a flimsy muggle contraption Robin felt safe and secure as they were flung up into the air. Leaning back from the window he relaxed into his seat and wiggled his jaw to pop the pressure that had just built in his ears. Audriana leaned across to look out the window and her hair tickled his arm.

"Nah, not at all. For your first time you handled that like a pro." Robin shrugged. Like always, his tone came off as slightly sarcastic despite him genuinely meaning it as somewhat of a compliment. "The first time I flew I wasn't nearly that calm." He glanced over and absentmindedly watched Aud unwrap and play with her blanket. She folded it across her legs and Robin began to wish he hadn't been drinking so much caffeine - it had ruined all chances he might have had at getting some sleep. "So this must be your first time to America then?" Robin inquired, genuinely curious. The Ivanovs had a home in Maine but other than the cabin he hadn't spent much time in the United States, especially now that it was such an affair to get across the ocean.

Besides, sometimes it felt like Claire had won the whole continent in the breakup. There was no way he was going into New York alone. The chance that he could do something pathetic and stupid was much too great and as a general precaution Robin avoided the city entirely. So far Audriana had been more than enough of a distraction and Robins mind hadn't wandered to the Bishop girl since he had ordered the tickets.

Robin's grin could easily have distracted most girls or made her feel more comfortable, if not for the fact that Audriana wasn't paying attention any longer. The card game would be a welcome distraction during their flight – provided Audriana didn't entirely crash before they got around to it. If all else failed, she assumed there was the flight back.

He seemed like he was smart enough to plan a ride back. Hopefully she wouldn't be so tired on the return flight. Or maybe he would just portkey and they wouldn't have that time. Aud wasn't sure if that was good or disappointing. She glanced at him subtly before his response registered. His tone made her bristle slightly but she just shrugged.

“Really?” She smiled, enjoying the idea that the seemingly put-together Robin Ivanov would be out of place or flustered. “I would pay to see that.” Aud let out a laugh that was entirely unlike her – especially around him – and decided it was due to her being so tired.

Nodding she shifted in her seat so she was facing him a bit more, knees bent and sticking out from under the blanket. She registered that her knees were brushing against his leg but ignored it, choosing to just answer his question and pretend that nothing had happened that was out of the ordinary. “Well, actually.. I have been to Florida once, but by portkey.” Aud frowned and glanced at her hands, hair falling over her eyes. She glanced up at him again adding, “It was only for a couple days and I haven't really had any desire to return.”

Audriana let out a puff of air, attempting to push the hair out of her face but when it failed, she decided she just didn't care. Leaving it be, she leaned her head against the chair and looked at Robin blankly. If he asked, she could just vaguely brush it off. Aud could have lied, she supposed, but with the few acquaintances or friends she did have, she wasn't really interested in alienating them more. But then, she mused, hadn't she just done so by almost giving him a look into her past? That was way too deep for her to talk about at this stage of tired.

Aud stifled a yawn as her mind drifted to the days she had spent in Florida looking for her parents. She shouldn't have gone after them, in hindsight, but at the time, she had been desperate and Natalia had agreed to led Aud to the research and get them there. Her grandmother had never liked flying, which was ironic considering that Audriana spent so many years in the air playing Quidditch. Needless to say, it had not turned out well and they had returned home with watery eyes and her grandmum had written up a new will, leaving Aud's parents out of it.

Robin nodded, "Alligators and old people. Not my favorite place." He grumbled under his breath. Florida had never been on his list of enjoyable vacation spots - if you were going for warmth then Robin much preferred the Mediterranean or Caribbean.

Audriana sounded like she was being cut off as she spoke, her thoughts obviously continuing beyond her words. Her eyes gazed strait through Robin and he could swear that she didn't see him at all. He studied her face and tried to pinpoint her expression. Florida was obviously not just Florida. Robin's interest was significantly peaked and for a moment he considered questioning her, though he dared not disturb that look of tired contemplation that she wore so well. Robin settled even deeper in his chair and let his head lull to the side so he still saw Audriana. Their legs were just barely touching and Robin couldn't find the will or reason to change their closeness.

- - -

Audriana had fallen asleep without saying another word. While she slept Robin plugged in earbuds and listened to the radio that was available through the armrest of his seat. He had brought a book but as soon as the opportunity to read had been presented he had lost all interest and settled for the music, his eyes closed and head almost tipping over as he relaxed. Overall it wasn't a bad plane ride and they had no turbulence or screaming babies. Of course, everything was nicer up in the first class portion of the plane. Flight Attendants had been cycling through and bringing drinks to the passengers. At some point Robin graduated from coffee to a small glass of red wine.

An hour or so had passed since Audriana had fallen asleep and Robin found himself getting equally drowsy. In his sleepy stupor he had leaned closer to the brunette and she closer to him until they pressed against each other, Audriana using Robin's shoulder as a pillow of sorts. The younger man drifted in and out of sleep at times, aware of the unintentional closeness but not awake enough to really consider it. He barely even registered that it was Audriana who curled beside him. But she was warm and soft and made this plane ride oh so much more pleasant.

Light glared through the window, somehow managing to wake Audriana even though she had her head tilted to the side. Why was it to the side, exactly? She was over warm, but whatever she was leaning on was far too comfortable – and smelled rather nice, by the way – for her to feel like moving. Instead, she kept her eyes closed and didn't question it. She had not fully woken up, she decided, because she was almost certain that she could hear breathing close to her ear.

It wasn't until the Flight Attendants were coming by to offer last drinks that Aud realized how very long she had been sleeping. They were nearly getting ready to land, she figured, hearing the attendant in question stopping at the folks a seat or two in front of her. Letting out a quiet yawn, Aud reluctantly opened her eyes and found that she was, indeed, looking almost sideways at the chair in front of her. Frowning, she glanced up at the Flight Attendant who gave her an oddly knowing smile, making Audriana blush for reasons she didn't understand. There was no need to look at her like she had just been caught being over friendly with someone.

Gasping, she sat up straight, not realizing that Robin's head had even been resting atop hers. She almost felt bad for jostling him, but her embarrassment was just far too overwhelming at the moment. The attendant gave Audriana a surprised and wary look, but Aud made no move to reply. Staring at Robin, eyes wide, she waited for him to wake up. Her cheeks must have been bright red.

“Did you want anything to drink, dear? Maybe something for your... boyfriend?” The attendant asked, her smile once again far too bright for Aud's liking.

“Um, yes please. A soda for me – any sort. And-” She almost corrected the woman but sighed and decided it just wasn't worth it, “A water for him, I think.” Undoubtedly, Robin would have been the type to drink on the plane, and she was sure he did not need any more if he had allowed her to sleep on his shoulder and had decided that she would make for an equally excellent pillow.

She took the drinks from the attendant, unable to look the woman in the face, and placed the drinks in front of them. Glancing at Robin out of the corner of her eye, Aud frowned. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you. Or, you know.. Move in my sleep.” She pushed her hair behind her ear and took a drink from the glass she had been given, very conscious of it in her hand. How would she know if the plane just decided it was going to go through a cloud or something and shake? And then, where would she be? Her drink would be all over and that would just make things so much worse. She set the drink down and kept one hand on it, eyeing it warily rather than looking at him. Surely he would be annoyed with her, Aud mused, and that was just going to make this whole day so much worse.

Robin's head snapped upright as he was jostled awake. He stretched as his brain came back to the world of the living, just barely paying attention to the conversation that was going on beside him. His eyebrows raised quizzically at the mention of the word 'boyfriend' and his mouth twisted into a smirk when Audriana continued stammering over her words rather than correct the title. The brunette sitting next to him had little resemblance to the woman who had broken down his front door to interrogate him and it amazed Robin to watch.

A glass of water was passed to him and he stared at it for a long moment before setting it on a tray before him. Of course water wouldn't be his first (or second, or third) choice of drink but with the concoction of caffeine and alcohol already swirling through his system Robin knew it was probably the best choice to stick to at least until they got to the hotel. Besides, tonight was a big night and the Robin needed to be in a semi-acceptable state.

Robin waved his hand to dismiss her apology. "It's fine." He silenced, considering the second part of her apology. Ah. Yes, she had been laying on him, hadn't she? How completely odd. The memory of her hug reappeared in his brain, comparing the two situations. After he had returned home Robin had just dismissed the hug as a reflex of the moment but this changed things. Was it possible that she didn't absolutely hate him? A satisfied smirk tugged at his lips.

Surely her flustered apology was some sort of victory wasn't it? It should have been. But instead of a sense of triumph he felt an undefined warmth in his chest, similar to the feeling of the brunette leaning against him to rest. Wanting to ditch this uncomfortably pleasant feeling as soon as possible, Robin continued on the conversation normally. "I'm just glad we got any sleep. It's going to be a late night tonight."

Audriana shouldn't have stiffened when Robin stretched, but she wasn't sure what else to do. She could feel his eyes on her but could not make eye contact with him. It most certainly wasn't fine, but what was she supposed to say? That she didn't mind? That wouldn't go over well.

Finally looking up fully to meet his gaze, Aud lifted one eyebrow. “You've yet to tell me what you plan to do in New York. When did you mean to do that?” If she wasn't going to get the rundown, Audriana wasn't sure what she was going to do. Or what to expect. And that wasn't a very good plan, and wasn't very comforting. She was starting to think she shouldn't have agreed to this. But she didn't really have much of a choice, if she wanted to get the guilt off of her back.



Audriana stared down at the moving walkway, her hand on the handle of her luggage. Her feet lined up with those printed on the scrolling floor, and she looked up as the idea that Robin, riding behind her, was probably watching her. She had known Ivanov long enough to know that she didn't need to watch her back around him – they had an agreement, and she owed him now, which was a change of pace. That didn't mean he didn't make her nervous, though. Whatever he needed to tell her couldn't be said in public. So he apparently intended to chat somewhere else.

She stepped off of the walkway, waited for Robin to come alongside her before they headed down to catch a cab. Audriana frowned as they waited and clambered in after sliding her luggage into the trunk. Staring out the window, she took in the tall buildings a distance away and waited for Robin to join her in the back and tell the driver where to go. Maybe then Audriana would know what was going on.