Stealing Hearts

Chapter One

The thought of moving or even visiting the US felt unreal for some soviet people. At least, that is how it was for Maubas and people around her. She has never been outside of the USSR for her entire life. The mere thought of leaving home and facing a new country with a little to no knowledge about its culture made her start doubting her choices. However, it was too late now. Maubas was already sitting on a plane, which was already reaching its destination. "Still, anything's better than living in constant fear back home" she thought, trying to cheer herself up. She tried to pretend she was not going to be working as an agent. It was embarrassing for her to be working for a government she did not agree with.

By the time the girl was overthinking everything, the plane has already landed and people were already trying to make their way out of the crowd filling the passageways. It took her around couple of minutes to come back to the real world. Thankfully, the crowd has already disappeared and the woman made her way out without any kinds of problems.

Maubas was an Asian girl with an average height, dark brown eyes and crow black hair, usually put in a high ponytail. She was always wearing her big round glasses every time she was outside for, obviously, she could not see anything without them. Her wardrobe mostly made out of the basics. For example, right now, as she is making her way to the baggage claim, she is wearing a pearl white turtleneck and a pair of sky blue wide-leg trousers. Maubas never told anyone her surname. Even her co-workers had to call her by "comrade Maubas*".

Finally, she got her baggage, after a solid half-an-hour of waiting for it. She still was quite impressed by the airport and felt as if she was in one of those films, where noble soviet civilians fought the evil capitalist Americans. Old russian rock started playing in her head. She felt like a main character and she was not going to lie, she liked it. Even though, she knew moving to a new country that had a problematic relationship with her motherland was going to be hard, it is still worth giving a try.

She went out of the airport looking out for an escort she was promised back in the USSR. She looked around and saw a man in sunglasses and a suit, holding a sign with "Ms. Maubas" written on it. There was a black car with tinted windows, standing near him. "Very... discreet" Maubas thought to herself as she went inside the car.

The man, who was standing outside made his way to the driver's seat. A middle-aged woman was sitting near him. She had her black hair in a low bun and was wearing an ink black skirt suit. Her olive eyes were appeared tired and emotionless. 

The car started moving.

—'Sup, gangsters —Maubas said, beaming and trying to lighten the mood. The woman gave her an irritated look, making Maubas wipe her foolish looking smile off her face.

—Sorry.

—Do not ever "joke" like this, especially around Americans. You probably know what could happen if you do so. You are now an agent, you are supposed to be more serious.—the woman said authoritatevely.

—Yeah, about that, comrade-?

—Raskolnikova, Natalia Matveevna.

—Yes, comrade Raskolnikova, I hope you don't have any axes with you-

—Excuse me?

—Nothing, sorry. I just wanted to say, I'm embarrassed to admit that I'm still not sure about what I've got to do.

—Oh, don't worry about that—Raskolnikova replied with a chuckle. She regained her seriousness right after that.—Since you aren't qualified enough yet, all you have to do is get a job in the White House and tell us everything about what the goverment is working on.

—I beg you pardon?! If that's what unqualified agents do, I'm afraid to even imagine what the expirienced are up to. How am I supposed to get that job anyway? 

—A new president has been elected. Luckily, she doesn't seem to be caring about people working in the government. There are rumours that cats, aliens and even demons work in the White House. I don't see why you wouldn't be welcome there.—Natalia's voice sounded somehow teasing, but still professional.

—Fine, I'll do it.—Maubas replied, finishing the conversation by doing so. "Not that I really have a choice" she thought. 

It was rather awkward, traveling in total silence, so Maubas asked to turn on the radio to distract herself. The radio then proceeded to play a song that felt familiar, but she couldn't remember it name. Turns out, it was another Megalovania remix Madame President composed herself. By the time the car has stopped, the passengers have listened to three different versions of Megalovania and, surprisingly, thr Nu, Pogodi soundtrack. Still processing the whole radio situation, the future US ambassador to the USSR, decided to admit Madame President had a superior taste in music and some talent. 

The car stopped near an apartment block with brick walls. It looked bit ols, but good enough for Maubas. Even more, she was rather excited to move in there as she always found the soviet architecture boring. Apartment blocks in the USSR look the same in almost every city there. You could easily confuse a random city from anywhere in the country with your hometown. Maubas thought that this kind of designs did not make one feel at home. Instead, it made her feel miserable. 

Natalia handed Maubas the keys from her new apartment keys, before the latter stepped outside. 

—We will call you tomorrow to give you the information you need for your job interview.—Raskolnikova added, from a lowered window. Maubas silently nodded and proceeded to enter her new house. 

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Author's note: everything written in italics was translated from Russian.

*comrade Maubas—the word comrade is usually used with one's surname. That is why this situation was unusual.