The last evening spent with you

December 23, 2016. Christmas is a holiday that people not only celebrate, but also see in their own way. Some celebrate it with joy, while others want peace and quiet on such a day. Rivera was busy working on her laptop while Halcyon operative Quebec watched over her. On the other side, other operatives had already decorated the house with Christmas decorations, except for Falcon - he was watching them interact, and today he was going to visit Celeste later. He himself understands that he owes his job. However, he would like to celebrate in his own way. Osiris, another Halcyon operative, unexpectedly approached him and asked: “Are you okay, sir?” “Yes, I'm fine.” “You seem to be the only one who doesn't look happy on this holiday. Do you think they're going to attack us?” “Of course not, just a little peace and quiet before the holiday noise.” “If you're okay, I won't bother you any further, sir.” After saying this, Osiris left Falcon alone, who continued to stare out the window. Several hours passed, and Rivera sat on the bed, still thinking about something. Still, she pushed those thoughts out of her head, turned to Quebec, and decided to ask. She turned her head toward Rivera and asked: “What do you need?” “Listen, I haven't left here in two weeks—I'd like to be able to go outside.” “You're not allowed to leave the cell.” “I understand, but I need to do it now.” “I'm ordered to watch over you without exception,” she said calmly. “If I disobey the order, I'll get a reprimand in return. I can't let you be anywhere else outside the basement, Miss Rivera.” “God...” Just as Rivera was about to give up after her failed attempt to go outside, the door suddenly opened with the sound of a key card being swiped—it was Falcon. “I'll keep an eye on her,” he said to Quebec. Rivera was already dressed in warm clothes and left the room with him. When they came out of the basement, she felt relieved again, even though she was only allowed to walk under the supervision of an operative. Falcon was silent for a long time during the walk and only then broke the silence: "Today is Christmas. I wanted you to spend this day happily. “I just wanted one thing — to take a break from the hustle and bustle,” Rivera said honestly as they continued walking, and asked him a curious question. “Why did you decide to visit me today, besides to congratulate me?” “If I didn't care, I wouldn't have come to see you,” Falcon replied to Rivera. “That makes sense. Merry Christmas to you too, Blake,” she smiled. “Thank you, Celeste.” Meanwhile, Rivera thought long and hard about another situation. A few weeks ago, she wrote an encrypted message to an organization called Phoenix. She had been thinking about defecting from Halcion and joining the enemy organization for a long time, hoping that her escape plan would succeed. On the other side, Falcon broke the silence and said the following: “Perhaps Christmas is just another ordinary day for you, like any other. But I would like to say something that will improve your mood today.” Rivera paused, waiting for him to continue. “Celeste, since we met, I've been thinking about getting to know you better as a person and more,” Falcon began in a slightly tremulous voice, placing his hand on her shoulder. “You're the first person who has really interested me. I may be cold most of the time, but I can be different when I need to be.” Rivera's eyes opened slightly, and it took her a second to think of a response. “Blake, your words touch me. I'm glad you decided to confess this now, even though it's very late,” Rivera smiled sincerely. “I think it's only now dawned on us that we've been platonic partners all along.” She giggled softly and then quickly regained her composure: “Now, after what you've said, this evening has become special for me. You've managed to pleasantly surprise me, Blake.” Falcon smiled back. He was pleased that he had been able to make her happy, even though he hadn't planned to. When it was completely dark outside, he turned to her to say: “It's late, you need to go back.” Before leaving, Rivera decided to thank Falcon: "Blake... Thank you for spending time with me. Falcon just looked at Rivera, then began to escort her to her cell. A few minutes later, Rivera said goodbye to him again and the door closed. She took off her winter gear, hung it up, and sat down on the bed. It was too late to change her plan, so all she could do was wait for Phoenix to rescue her. “No matter how sweet the moments are, they are always followed by bitterness.” Rivera remembered these words from a long time ago, spoken by a man who is now her husband. When the plan was successful, she would soon be able to return to normal life and no longer worry about the future. For now, all that remained was to wait for the final result after the plan had been successfully implemented...