Chapter Text
“I don’t care how you do it. I just need the information and I need him dead.”
The old man’s words echoed through Nikolai’s mind as his rickety carriage shuddered down the gravelly road. From outside the foggy window, grey clouds began to slide ominously over the landscape, washing the swaying pines in muted shades of grey and sending a chill that bit down the sides of Nikolai’s neck. He hugged his woolen coat a bit tighter to his figure. He’ll have to either get to his destination or find shelter soon.
The carriage lurched to the side, and Nikolai slammed his palm against the side of the carriage to steady himself. Pins, wheels, and all assortment of performance props rolled across the wooden floorboards and collided into the carriage door with a chorus of thunks.
"Five star treatment back here!" Nikolai huffed, pushing himself back upright onto the splintering remains of his wooden bench.
“Here’s an idea!” An exasperated voice barked back from the driver’s seat. “Why don’t you get your ass up here and take the reins if you’re so happy about the ride! I’m freezing my tail off!”
Nikolai grinned, tutting as he crossed his arms over his chest and imagined the frustrated scowl carved into the face of his bundled up driver. “Oh, Sigma. What a terrible assistant I have. I can’t believe I’m paying you for this.”
“I’m not your damn assistant,” Sigma shot back. “And last time I checked two years worth of IOUs are not payments. God only knows why I stick around and help you.”
Nikolai let out a soft laugh. He reached down, plucking a stray pin from the floor and twirling it between his fingers before tucking it neatly back into its case. “Now, now,” he chided. “Do you have any idea just how valuable IOU’s can be?”
Sigma grumbled a curse under his breath, biting his tongue before he could say anything that would continue this exchange of meaningless bickering. The sound of gravel crunching beneath the wheels of the carriage filled the newfound silence, broken by the jostle of them occasionally hiccupping over a pothole or larger rock.
Nikolai’s lopsided grin lingered, but his gaze drifted back out the window to the passing scenery.
Nikolai had stayed in Barvikha far longer than he had expected. If it weren’t for the promise of a thousand rupees he’d be on his way back home to Kharkiv right now for a couple days of rest before making his rounds once again.
Instead–
He’d taken up the job.
Within the next month he’d solidify himself as a murderer.
……..
He’d met the man at the Barvikha town square.
It was a day like any other. Upon arrival at the hub of the village, Nikolai set up his performance carriage at the busiest street corner he could find as Sigma departed in search of a hostel for the night. Nikolai brushed aside piles of leaves, unfolded his table, and set out his props with practiced ease– polished pins, decks of cards, a travel bin of all assortments of props, and most importantly an open bin for any rupee donations.
Normally, Sigma would be there to help him manage his crowds or assist during acts, but because Nikolai so impulsively decided to change course to Barvikha which neither of them had visited before, it was Sigma’s job to scout out the land and find a place for them to stay. Thinking ahead wasn’t Nikolai’s specialty. He was impulsive and did the opposite of whatever he was supposed to do, which is most likely the reason as to why Sigma felt that he had an obligation to stick around and help. Although Nikolai didn’t think that he needed a babysitter, he enjoyed the company.
Nikolai was a one-man-show. Illusions, sleight of hand, card tricks, even practiced compositions on his viola when the mood struck. Whatever held the audience’s attention and whatever paid enough for him to make it to his next stop, he could do it.
The people of Barvikha were easy to entertain, and he found later that they paid quite well. A card pulled from behind a boy’s ear earned him ten rupees and a delighted laugh from the boy’s mother. Small tricks earned him some quick smiles and enough to fill his pockets just a little more before moving on.
When Nikolai’s street show in Barvikha town square came to a conclusion, the crowd quickly dispersed, tossing small donations into Nikolai’s bin before trodding off on their way. The small gathering of people had begun to thin when Nikolai noticed him.
The man was well-dressed and stood motionless amongst the dispersing crowd, analyzing Nikolai with an expression that wasn’t of a spectator waiting to be entertained.
Although it wasn’t too often, Nikolai had dealt with this type before. People like that didn’t watch performances for entertainment. They watched for potential. For usefulness. For leverage.
Either that or they recognized him as the man he used to be known as– which was an incredibly rare occurrence that he preferred to avoid. Those encounters almost never ended pleasantly
It didn’t take long for the man to approach him.
Nikolai’s smile didn’t falter, but something in his gaze sharpened.
He introduced himself as Mori Ougai, offering little information beyond the claim that he was a physician local to Barvikha. However, he did mention possessing a generous amount of rupees if Nikolai would agree to meet later that evening and discuss a potential job.
Most reasonable people would reject an invitation from a stranger asking to meet up alone in the dead of night.
Nikolai, however, had never considered himself particularly reasonable.
Societal caution had never dictated his choices. Risk was risk, and he preferred the freedom of choosing it for himself.
Besides, the look in Mori’s eyes told Nikolai that the man already seemed to understand that about him. He left Nikolai with nothing but a note with an address and time scrawled on it with messy penmanship.
By the time that the man had departed, Nikolai had finished packing up his carriage and Sigma had returned with news of a cramped little hostel he had managed to secure for the night. By then, the sun had already begun sinking behind the distant treeline, dragging the village into darkness alongside it.
Their carriage was tucked into a narrow alleyway beside the hostel as they rushed inside to take shelter from the intensifying cold. Sigma collapsed onto the narrow bed almost immediately after entering the room, exhaustion overtaking him before he could properly complain about the cramped and run down state of the place. Their horse, Sparkle, was dropped off at a local stable earlier, and most likely had an even cozier room of her own.
They would spend tonight catching up on sleep before their busy day of travel back to Kharkiv the following morning. At least, that’s what they were supposed to be doing.
Nikolai had other plans for tonight.
He waited until Sigma’s breathing settled into a deep and steady rhythm before quietly slipping from the room with Mori’s crumpled note clenched loosely in his hand.
……
It wasn’t hard for him to find the location of the address. He was able to ask around to anyone taking a late night stroll, and after questioning three thoroughly exhausted pedestrians, a burly old man finally grunted and pointed him in the proper direction.
“Old Vasiliev office,” the man muttered. “Keep following the north road past the church.”
The building was small and didn’t stand out much from the streets of cobblestone houses aside from the slanted black rooftop that peaked just a bit higher than its surrounding buildings. A painted wooden sign dangled above the door reading OLD VASILIEV.
Nikolai paused for half a second. Something about it felt… off. Not enough to turn away. Just enough to notice.
“This should be it.” He murmured to himself before striding up to the building, watching his step over a few tree roots that served as tripping hazards under the faint moonlight, and rapping on the black painted door of the office.
Only a few quiet seconds passed before Nikolai could hear the sound of heels clicking towards the door. The hinges creaked open, spilling a thin line of candlelight across the cracked stone under his feet.
A lady in a black overcoat stood within the open doorframe, scanning over Nikolai with untrusting brown eyes. Her blonde hair was tied into a neat bun atop her head, which made Nikolai feel a bit disheveled with his sloppy white braid thrown crookedly and haphazardly over his shoulder. It’s not like he cared too much about his own appearances anyway.
“The doctor’s out,” she said flatly, “Come back tomorrow morning, 9am.” She curled her fingers around the side of the door, beginning to close it or on Nikolai before his boot shot forward to stop it.
“That’s funny,” Nikolai grinned, “I’m pretty sure he’s supposed to be here right now.” His breath started to form cold clouds around his face as he fought back the urge to hug his arms into his chest for warmth. He didn’t walk all the way out here just to be rejected. Cold hands fished the crumpled notepaper from out of his coat pocket, and he squinted in the dim moonlight to read it aloud. “This is 03 Bolshaya road, is it not?”
Her expression tightened. “The doctor isn’t seeing anyone this la-”
“Higuchi.” A stern voice interjected from inside the door. Nikolai perked up, recognizing the smooth and controlled drawl of the man’s undertone.
Higuchi’s eyes widened, and she quickly pivoted to turn towards the interior of the building and towards the voice, facing Nikolai with her back. Not a smart move for someone who was supposedly on guard duty, Nikolai thought.
“Boss!” she stammered, “I’m glad to see you. This man here’s trying to–”
“What have I told you about giving our guests a hard time?” Mori scolded, stepping out from the dim candlelight of the hallway and into view.
Higuchi opened her mouth in rebuttal, but quickly closed it after consideration and lowered her head. “My apologies, boss,” she murmured before taking a step back out of the doorway, dismissing herself from the situation. Mori stepped past her, greeting Nikolai with a calculated smile.
“I’m glad you could make it,” Mori greeted. He motioned for Nikolai to step inside with a gloved hand. “Let’s get you warmed up so we can chat.”
Nikolai exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulders as he crossed the threshold. “Nice place you’ve got here,” he commented, genuinely surprised at how different the exterior of the house was from the inside. While outside of the building appeared to be a dilapidated living hazard, the inside was clean and carefully kept. A sofa sat atop a plush red carpet, across from a nice wooden desk with neat stacks of papers and a kerosene lamp. Black and gold sconces lined the vine-patterned walls, casting a warm, dim glow across what Nikolai assumed to be the lobby. The lamps illuminated a carpeted hallway that stretched just beyond the room.
Higuchi had already retreated behind the desk, shuffling papers as if nothing had happened and making herself look busy.
Nikolai pivoted on his heel, turning back to Mori as the door clicked shut behind him. “You know, you can really work on your handwriting a bit. I know it’s a doctor thing but jeez.” Nikolai waved his crumpled notepaper teasingly in front of Mori’s face before bunching it back into a ball and throwing it flippantly into a corner. “I don’t know if it took more effort to read your handwriting, or to make it here.” Nikolai stretched, groaning loudly as he extended his arms overhead. “Aaaanyway, old man. It’s late. Got anything to drink around here?”
“Ah, of course, dear guest.” Mori smiled, dismissing Nikolai’s rude commentary and even ruder manners. He walked past Nikolai, stepping into the candlelit hallway. “Come. I have such commodities in my office.”
……
Nikolai hesitated before following the man down the hall and towards the large wooden double doors at the end. The hallway was fairly short, but they still passed quite a handful of closed doors as they walked. The doors were most likely check-up rooms or offices of some kind considering how tightly packed together they were. His boots padded down a velvety carpet as he caught up to Mori, who pushed open the double doors and strode in.
Nikolai followed suit, stepping into the larger room as the physician took his place behind a sleek hardwood desk, sinking into his fine executive chair and knitting his gloved fingers atop his desk.
His office was much nicer than the rest of the rest of the medical facility, and was a strong reflection of Mori’s exquisite taste. A miniature chandelier with layers of candlelit golden rungs hung down from the ceiling, illuminating the rouge velvet rug that spanned the entirety of the floor. Golden trinkets and utilities lined the glossy wood of the display cabinets pushed up against nearly every wall of the room.
Nikolai had no doubt that this man would be able to pay him quite generously, whatever the job was to be.
On the floor beside Mori’s desk, a young girl who appeared barely over the age of ten lay sprawled out on her stomach scribbling in a notebook with a colored set of crayons. Her blonde hair pooled over her shoulders, and the skirt of red dress ruffled as she kicked her feet in the air. She seemed to pay no attention to Mori or to the stranger in the room as they took their places inside, and Nikolai couldn’t help but find her presence a bit strange.
“Go ahead and make yourself at home,” Mori offered, gesturing to a cushioned chair pulled up to the front of his desk before knitting his fingers back together and resting them on the surface. “I’ll have Higuchi bring in some tea.”
Nikolai took his seat in front of Mori’s desk, crossing his legs and draping his arm over the back of the chair. “That wasn’t exactly what I meant by ‘something to drink’ but sure. Tea’s fine.”
“Elise, dear.” Mori called over to the young girl, who looked up from her coloring page with agitated blue eyes. “Could you please take care of that for me?”
Elise rolled her eyes, “Why do we even have her around if I end up doing everything?” she groaned before throwing her crayons down on the floor and storming out of the room. The two of them watched the door click behind her before he felt rouge eyes turn their attention back onto him.
Mori leaned in with a polite smile, his gaze becoming more analytical as he rested his elbows on the table. “I’m on a deadline, Mr. Gogol, so for both your convenience and my own I’ll make this exchange as brief as possible.”
“Straight to the point,” Nikolai grinned, “I like it.”
“A rogue physician has put my company in jeopardy,” Mori began. “Records of… less than legal medical practices have surfaced.”
“Wait— hold up.” Nikolai tilted his head. “You mean malpractice?”
“If you prefer simpler terms.” Mori didn’t miss a beat. “One of my former employees conducted work under my name without my knowledge. Those records are now in the possession of an outsider.”
“And that’s bad for business,” Nikolai hummed.
“Catastrophic,” Mori corrected lightly. “The records are in the possession of a man by the name of Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Does that name happen to ring a bell?”
A beat of silence slid between the two of them.
Nikolai’s expression didn’t change. The name was foreign to him.“No. Should it?”
Mori’s gaze lingered on him for a moment, clearly measuring his thoughts before continuing on.
“We have reason to believe that this man acquired these documents through… questionable means. Including the disappearance of one of my highest ranking employees.”
“Disappearence,” Nikolai echoed. “What a polite way to put it.”
“If these documents were to be leaked, this would mean the downfall of my medical facilities. Medical malpractice, even if done by an unsupervised employee, is nothing that will be taken lightly by the law enforcement of Barvikha.” Mori’s gaze sharpened. “I’m sure you can tell that my business means a lot to me, Mr. Gogol, and I’m willing to take any necessary precautions in order to ensure its safety.”
Nikolai swallowed. “And I’m assuming that these ‘precautions’ are where I come in?”
Mori nodded, “Mr. Dostoyevsky has the records. That makes him a problem. Barvikha is such a tight knit community and word travels fast. But since you are a traveling performer with no ties here whatsoever—”
“You want me to find and retrieve these documents from him.” Nikolai finished for him.
Mori smiled faintly. “Precicely.”
“And what about Fyodor?” Nikolai asked, although he already knew the answer.
“Make him disappear.”
……
Their carriage never ended up making it all the way to the gate.
It gave out with a sharp CRACK just short of the estate, the front wheels jerking violently to the side before violently collapsing in on itself. The entire carriage lurched, throwing Sigma forward against the reins as Sparkle reared in protest, whinnying loudly.
“SHIT!”
Gravel crunched beneath them as the carriage fell crookedly to a stop.
The two sat in stunned silence for a moment, neither of them moving as Sigma gripped the reins in shock.
Nikolai leaned out from the back door, which was now broken and hanging on awkwardly by its bottom hinge, peering at the tilted frame with mild curiosity.
“…Well,” he hummed, “this is very unfortunate.”
Sigma turned on him, incredulous. “Unfortunate? Our wheel just broke clean off!”
“So fix it.”
“In the dark?” Sigma snapped, gesturing sharply to the deserted stretch of road around them. “With what?!”
Nikolai considered that for exactly half a second before hopping down into the gravel with a crunch.
“Well, Guess we’re walking, then.”
Sigma stared at him. “You cannot be serious.”
Nikolai was already moving.
“Oh my god.”
……
Sigma looked back one more time at the broken wheel that rested twisted in the gravel. Their now dysfunctional cart lay crooked at the side of the road beside it. He had sworn that he’d checked every part of the cart was in good working condition before they’d left. It shouldn’t have just… broken like that.
It must have been fate that caused the cart to break down where it had, for they weren’t too much further from their destination. Towering spires could be seen from the site of the wreckage, poking over the treeline in the moonlight.
Sigma had untied Sparkle from the cart before catching up to Nikolai, and she followed along obediently by his side as he led her by shortened reins.
The estate loomed just ahead. The iron gates that bordered its wide expanse stood slightly ajar, the long path beyond swallowed in shadow.
Nikolai nudged the unlocked entrance, and it creaked on its hinges as the gap in the gate widened enough for him to walk through.
Sigma nervously glanced around the deserted estate, hesitating before he pushed through the gate to catch up to Nikolai. Fog rolled through the spacious yard and walkway that led up to the arching main entrance of the building. Everything was much quieter than it should have been.
No guards. No movement. Not even the shuffle of servants behind drawn curtains. The only detectable movement was the distant sway of metal somewhere in the wind.
“Don’t you think that this is a bit… strange?” Sigma called after Nikolai, clutching Sparkle’s reins closer to himself as her hooves clomped through the gateway.
Nikolai didn’t slow, continuing up the hill to the archway. “Strange?”
“All of this, I mean. Nobody just leaves a place like this unguarded. Where is everyone?”
“I think it’s awfully convenient.” Nikolai hummed lightly, already halfway up the stone stairway. “Mr. Dustyookie is clearly a very considerate man.”
“Dostoyevsky.” Sigma corrected, annoyed by how nonchalant his companion was about their current situation.
“Dostoy-hooha, Whatever. As long as you remember how to say it, we’ll both be fine.”
The front door stood waiting at the top of the steps.
“...This is wrong,” Sigma muttered, slowing his pace. “I thought you said he wasn’t expecting for anyone to show up. Why was the gate unlocked?”
“He’s not expecting anyone.” Nikolai clarified, halting in front of the polished wood of the towering door. “At least, he’s not supposed to be.”
Sigma didn’t like that answer. He shifted his grip on the reins. Sparkle snorted softly beside him, ears flicking back, restless. Even she seemed to not like it here. “Maybe we should come back in the morning,” Sigma offered. “With actual light. And a functioning cart.”
Nikolai laughed under his breath. “We’re already here, though,” he smiled, blue eye flashing in the moonlight. “You’re always trying to miss out on all the fun, what a waste.” If it weren’t for his eyepatch covering his other eye, Sigma could’ve sworn that Nikolai just had the audacity to wink at him.
Before Sigma could argue, Nikolai reached out—
—and pushed the door open.
The hinges gave way with a slow and drawn out creak, announcing their arrival to the dimly lit interior of the mansion.
It wasn’t locked. Of course the door wasn’t locked.
Nikolai stepped inside without hesitation— more importantly, without an invitation.
Sigma wanted to reach out and strangle him to death.
He swore under his breath and followed Nikolai, tying Sparkle up close to the entryway before stepping through the threshold. The front door clicked softly behind him as he reached out to close it.
The interior was quiet, but not abandoned. There was a sense of neatness to the estate that didn’t interfere too much with the feeling that it was lived in. Everything was in place. The furniture was untouched, and the lamps were recently trimmed— Sigma could tell from the faint scent of something having been burned lingering in the air.
“Nikolai… we really should rethink this,” Sigma warned.
Nikolai didn’t respond right away. He continued walking down the long entryway, his gaze flicking over small details— drawers, rugs, shadows, corners, nooks. He wasn’t searching blindly.
Sigma followed Nikolai until they neared the end of the hallway, where Nikolai slowed, then abruptly came to a stop. Sigma nearly walked right into him.
“Nikolai, what…?” Sigma followed his line of sight. He felt his stomach drop.
Someone was standing on the second-floor landing.. He wasn’t hidden, and wasn’t moving. He simply stood there, observing.
Sigma’s shoulders stiffened, his posture going rigid without him realizing it. “How long has he been—?”
“Long enough.” Nikolai interjected. Although his voice came easily, he had yet to move.
The man above shifted his gaze between his two visitors—not curious, not alarmed. Assessing. One hand rested lightly against the polished railing. His posture was loose, almost casual, but his stillness didn’t feel natural. It felt… placed. Almost as if he had been there for a while.
“You two appear to be lost.” The man’s voice carried through the stillness of the hall.
Sigma went still.
Beside him, Nikolai finally tilted his head,
paused,
and laughed.