Thanks for that speculation. It makes a lot of sense! I think you captured the internal turmoil beautifully, and using the assassination as evidence for it was very smartly done.

Why hello there perfect characterization.

This is a really incredible read. The way you got into those characters' heads and wrote them so authentically is great. I also liked the balance of having a chapter from Nika's point of view and one from 47's. His self reprimanding but at the same time objective state of thinking is really intruiging and I honestly could imagine those thoughts running through his head at that point in the film.

So. A phenomenal job. Thanks for sharing this.

Such a great story! Your perspective of 47's thinking is really interesting, please write more!

You caught me with the first one – Nika helpless in the trunk, with a dead body for company and a killer driving her to an unknown destination. It’s not the ‘first impressions’ scene where everything moved too fast for reflection and there was only time for reaction and emotion. Here there’s both too much time… and perhaps not enough. It all depends on what is waiting for her when her captor opens the trunk – and whether she is ready to deal with whatever that is.

I hadn’t realised how much I wanted to read Nika’s thoughts in that off-screen scene until I came across this, but you took the characterisation opportunity with both hands and ran with it. The Nika that comes out of that trunk is the one who will determine how everything else will play out, and I think you’ve got her dead on.

47’s section was less immediately intense, but appealing in a different way. His tiredness comes through very well, and feeds nicely into the way he can’t so easily block out the thoughts he’d perhaps prefer to suppress. For the first time, he’s failing to match up to the standards he has always measured himself by, and equally is failing to correct himself, even though he recognises the problem. It’s not a comfortable thing, this new self-awareness that conflicts with the way he’s always seen himself.

Very nicely done.

Thanks for the read.

~Gyre/flight

P.S. I hope you don’t mind, but as a very small criticism there were a couple (literally, a couple) of misplaced words; ‘affect’ for ‘effect’, and ‘climatic’ for ‘climactic’. This is a nitpick I only mention because I’m a bit of an editorial perfectionist, they really don’t affect my appreciation of the story, or of your skill.

I've read the stuff by Breadandchoc because of your words, and I did love it, but this story is great! So is your writing style! In all the times I've been reading fanfic this is my SECOND ever review. Please continue!

Really like the meaningful endings of the chapters, like another reviewer said. I know it's been a while, but hope you update soon!

Good Story. I've enjoyed both of your Hitman fictions.

Question for you. Are you intentionally misspelling the names of the characters? As far as I know the Names were Nika Boronina and Mikhail Bellicov. Just a minor nitpick I had. I noticed that it had been spelled differently again in your other fiction.

Keep up the good work!

thank you for writing such a lovely portrayal of what might have gone through their minds during the on/off screen moments-looking forward to more stories!

loved it! really well done. Both chapters. Great work and I think you truly captured them. Is there more?

wow

you captured the movies view of him so well!

hurry update!

i like Nika/47 stories, and I read all nika/47 from breadandchoc and I liked them all. I would like to see personal interaction between nika/47 , more intense to be specific, you know, like maybe put in some of their conversation or little other details, to the readers details of the couples are really a bonus ;-) keep up the good work please...

1. holy cupcakes on a stick you did two oneshots

2. holy cupcakes you did TWO ONESHOTS! and one is a *companion* piece to WU, and they are both missing moments from the *movie*, how did i not know about this till now, you - and - two! gah, you have made me incoherent, i hope you are happy. i will say now that WU still remains my fav nika/47 piece simply by default win of including my fav scene (i.e. the tie scene) in that lovely, lovely way; but this collection comes a close second. and i will attempt to stop flailing right now and give a coherent review, but i make no promises because *gah*. TWO!

3. things i liked: the neat satisfaction of your endings; how you took little missing moments and gave them depth, stretched them out; your nika & 47; everything else 100. i liked how once again you wrapped up each piece with simple, meaningful lines that subtly bring home the mood of the piece. a lesser writer would resort to cliffhangers (coughcough) or nothing at all, but not you, and it makes for a more satisfying read. and again your writing has gotten smoother and more confident, and you set up both the mental and physical scene very nicely without compromising either. and god, seriously, i've always been more bumbling reader than decent reviewer, so i'll just have to end here and say 'EVERYTHING ELSE WRITE MOAR PLZ'

4. things i didn't like: bleh, this is going to be tough - i told you once i can't really give crit unless it was actually bad!fic right? um. i personally try to avoid italicized thoughts in paranthesis because unless its very carefully done, it's usually more 'tell' than 'show', but as i said, that's just a personal thing (and heck i still use it sometimes ;P). um. reach for your own imagery rather than cliched ones like 'quiet as a mouse'... tho you only did that once. and.

you know what, this is impossible. can we just say i 3 it and stick with that?

5. COLLECTION? as in, there's going to be more? :D:D

6. no wait - one more thing i didn't like! the gift-fic alone was awesome, the dedication blew me away, but after that? what was that, what? :(:(:(

(no, seriously dude, i'm completely blown away and flattered, but you really don't have to pimp my fics/me. remember i've got selfish reasons for getting you to stick with this fandom!)

7. oh *right* the author alert function.

8. COLLECTION? as in, there's going to be more? :D:D

You have nothing to worry about in terms of writing from 47's POV. The stream of alternating thoughts that 47 experienced near the end were wonderful. It was such a great decision to use parentheses and throw them in with his actions.

Please continue updating!

I'm so glad you decided to brave the waters of capturing scenes which took place in the timeframe of the movie. In my opinion, you did such an excellent opinion of putting us into Nika's mindset, and I love how you have spurts of humor and tragedy just weaved together perfectly. Your update just made my day so much better. Update soon, please!