CHAPTER VIII: Alexiei & Rurik

TThe sky was dull that day, covered with clouds with not a single ray of sunlight.. The trees passed like a blurry smudge on a canvas... Inside, the interior was black, Tae–now disguised as Alexiei was looking out the window.. Beside him, sat Rurik with one leg crossed over the other and his left hand lazily resting on the open window. 

Now, sitting inside the car, Tae's mind couldn't help but wonder back to the meeting that had taken place a few minutes ago... 

That man Sergei hadn't aged gently and Tae could still feel his cold eyes burning on to him.. Tae could still vividly remember Sergei's cold stare, the lack of trust in his eyes and yet... He was too distracted by vodka and politics to even recognize his own son..

Tae was lucky.. 

Almost too lucky.. 

A few minutes passed in absolute piercing silence, Tae felt a bit nervous but was able to hide it effectively.. 

He replayed the moment in Sergei's den, the events that had occurred. 

Sergei hadn't even spared a second glance at him, he had been too quickly distracted by Rurik and vodka and it stung.. Even if Tae wasn't his actual son, it still hurt somewhere deep within.. 

How did Alexiei live like that? 

Did he even get a chance to be seen? 

Or did he die invisible too? 

These questions raced through Tae's mind when suddenly, Rurik spoke up, breaking the silence.. 

"So how did you feel about the reunion Alexiei? Did you enjoy it?" His voice sounded a bit too casual in front of Tae–Alexiei, but Rurik didn't know that right? 

Tae was silent for a moment before he turned to look at him "Did you?" He asked, his voice betraying the tinge of nervousness he felt.. 

"He didn't recognize you.. Did he Alexiei?" He asked with a smirk that definitely wasn't formed out of amusement 

Tae froze for a moment.. If it hadn't been for Rurik to add the last line, Tae had thought that Rurik already knew about his disguised 

"Nobody recognises the people they've failed.." 

"Hmm... Fair enough.." He said before let out a low chuckle and turned his attention back towards the window

"I see you've done your research Alexiei.. But you missed one thing.." He said after a pause, still looking out of the window, a smirk lingering on his face

Tae looked at him blankly, not flinching, not moving... Although the slight Teuchi in his eye showed that he clearly wasn't too happy hearing his words...

"He never cared enough to know.." Said Rurik leaning back on his seat

Tae didn't respond.. He wasn't sure if he was still in character or not.. But one thing was sure, Rurik was more clearer than he showed on the surface.. And he had probably already started peeling him apart layer by layer... 

The road narrowed and the lie between them tightened..