FSE

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How much attention could a Dire Wolf and a Hippo attract? The answer: Surprisingly less than Kiva expected. Throngs of people flowed past them like liquid and slid into the entrance of the nearby mall, ignoring them entirely. It seemed like more people entered than left. Whenever she stood in large crowds, Kiva felt like she was standing in a raging river, only one slip away from being dragged away with them. Crowd watching was not something she spent a lot of time doing, but if she was being forced to wait in the summer sun then she would embrace it if only to distract herself. She expected most of them to gawk at her, but apparently, the novelty of a Dire Wolf had worn off for the people of New York. To her left, a Hippo in a three-piece suit with a gaze like ice did his best impression of a bodyguard. Smith was barely tall enough to reach her chest but presented himself like he was the muscle between them.

“That would make me the face of this operation." Kiva thought.

It wasn't crazy to imagine. She was pretty famous after a few years of this giant thing, and being able to control her size skyrocketed her from local curiosity to international news. She was the first, but certainly not the last. Mere months after learning she could shrink down to her regular size, imitators sprung out of the woodwork and made themselves known. It was like just knowing it was possible was enough to make the rest follow in her steadily changing footsteps. And now she was leaning against a hot stone wall waiting for one of them to show up.

“Hey, Smith."

The Hippo slowly spun around to face her, sending his trained gaze up into her crimson eyes. He had a look that dared anyone to make eye contact and threatened them with horrors beyond their comprehension if they challenged it. Despite wearing more layers than everyone in the crowd, the summer heat didn't affect him. He owed that to his ancestors who used to live exclusively in Africa, but recently spread across the world after their empire fell.

“Yes?" His voice rumbled like a heavy string instrument. Kiva thought he would have made a great vocalist if only because he could hit incredibly low notes most species could not.

“How come we weren't allowed to bring Vinny here?"

Smith closed his eyes, breathing slowly in through his nose and out of his mouth.

“It's all about optics. We want the giants from these two countries to get along like best friends. Just the two of you together. It will be a symbol of our relationship with them."

He sounded like he was reading from cue cards rather than speaking his mind.

“Plus, you would benefit from having friends other than the Florida girl and your husband."

Kiva raised an eyebrow then felt muscles in her shoulders relax that she hadn't realized she had tensed.

“I'm a little worried we won't get along. We sound like complete opposites on paper. I'm an average American and she's a mega rich model. I'm a tomboy and she's almost hyper-feminine. Y'know?"

Smith made a noise between a laugh and a snort, then relaxed his face. Like a mask had been dropped, he revealed a deeper part of himself to her.

“Kiva, you don't have to appease her if you don't get along. I know you're worried about starting an international incident, but I know you will be fine. Maybe she's rich but does that really matter? You're incredibly likable but if the meeting sours, this won't be the first time. Plus, you can't do any worse than the Vienna summit."

Sliding off the wall she was leaning on, Kiva stood up and pulled her shoulders back to straighten her posture but inadvertently puffed her chest out. It may have intimidated anyone else, but Smith held his ground. She leaned forward to look past her chest and down into his eyes.

“You mean all that?"

“I do." he sent her a rare full smile. “You can be a handful sometimes and a bit hard to approach, but I think that you're a very principled and strong woman."

His smile vanished like a cryptid flying into the woods and he turned back around to resume his guard. Kiva snorted and leaned back on her wall, pretending to be disinterested while she watched a pack of Mice flow through the crowd and into the mall. They stayed so close to each other that she thought for a moment they were a single entity ambulating across the concrete. A frown slowly took over her face. It reminded her of the Mice she dealt with in high school, too afraid to confront anyone by themselves. Kiva wasn't necessarily scared of large crowds, but she was anxious around them thanks to-

“Look alive, I think I see 'em." Smith warned.

Kiva sprung off the wall quicker than she intended and followed Smith's gaze toward the parking lot where a fleet of vehicles swept in and hovered near the entrance. She put her flat palm above her eyes for shade and saw two large SUVs flanking an enormous limousine that rolled next to the concrete marking the start of the pedestrian walkway. Every single window was heavily tinted, beyond what was legal in this state, and Kiva couldn't hope to see past the dark glass. The crowd, once excited to flee to the air-conditioned safety of the mall, now stopped to gawk at the procession of vehicles. Were they escorting a celebrity? Royalty? Someone they had heard of?

Smith took a deliberate step forward, signaling to Kiva that they should move. She followed his footsteps which picked up in speed and led her toward the back end of the elongated vehicle. The summer sun reflected off the hot metal surface, amplifying the heat. Kiva was once again very thankful she had short hair compared to her ancestors and the many long-haired species that called this their home. The duo trudged toward the edge of the sidewalk, wading through the crowd. Smith stopped before they made it there to give the passengers space to exit the vehicle.

The back door clicked open and a heavy foot in an expensive dress shoe stepped onto the pavement. The figure attached to the foot swung the door open and rose out of the limousine until his head was above Smith's own, even standing below the curb. The Caucasian Shepherd glared at them from beneath his hat and stepped onto the curb, gaining a few precious inches of height over his host. He may have been tall compared to Smith, but he barely reached past Kiva's chest.

“I am Misha." He removed his glove before sticking his hand out expectantly.

Smith eyed his neatly trimmed claws for a moment, then looked Misha in the eyes as he grabbed his hand. Their postures were tense and guarded, but the handshake was firm and quickly passed without any complications.

“Smith" the Hippo replied.

Misha continued. “I am here to keep charge of my special guest until safely returning home."

His accent was dripping from every word he spoke, but it wasn't so thick that he was difficult to understand. Instead, his sentences were all technically grammatically correct but off. Like a shirt that technically fit but wasn't adjusted properly for your body. Between the two government agents, a contest of wills threatened to explode between them. A Hippo, significantly wider than he was tall, and a Caucasian Shepherd, tall but clearly fit beneath his heavy jacket, squared off like they were about to start fighting.

“So uh," the Dire Wolf behind Smith interrupted their staring contest, causing both of them to look up at her. “Where is the guest of honor?"

Tilting his head toward her, Misha smirked and took a step back toward the limousine. His shoes made no noise on the pavement, giving him an eerie presence to the keen-eared Americans. He spun to the side and bent over to reach inside the vehicle, then lowered himself further and practically bowed right in time for a very long and feminine leg to step out the door. She wore slip-on shoes and dark tight track pants that terminated just after her knees. With the grace expected of an experienced model, a second leg joined the first, and Misha assisted her out of the limousine and onto the curb. The once tall canine looked miniature next to the statuesque model.

Kiva's first impression of her was that she was beautiful in a way that makeup couldn't fabricate. It's a well-known fact that models that appeared in advertisements, in magazines, on television, and online were all touched up in some way. Editing digital photos was so easy you could do it on your phone, but everything about her was real. She made “curvy" women look like tent poles by comparison. Kiva was certainly larger and wider, but only thanks to being taller than her. Whereas she leaned on the muscular side of curvy, the Russian model was classically beautiful with ample curves and lean muscle. She looked broad-shouldered in her puffy white jacket and cotton shirt, which should have made her overheat but she seemed to deal with the summer heat just fine. Her eyes were protected by a subtle layer of makeup over her fur and a pair of sharp yellow sunglasses. Overall, her outfit was casual but fashionable and matched perfectly with her gray and white fur.

A moment passed before Kiva realized she was ogling her. Everyone stood around waiting for her to do something, along with their guest who had her hands on her hips. Kiva extended a stiff arm toward her guest who immediately accepted it and shook her hand.

“Ohuh- I'm Kiva."

“Pleasure, I am Natasha." She replied, her voice was not as petty nor dainty as Kiva had expected. Natasha's voice was sophisticated and ladylike, her accent was apparent yet very easy to understand and even alluring.

“Oh shit, she sounds hot too."

“I saw your video. The one where you modeled in the city in lingerie." Kiva probed, trying to avoid another lull in the conversation. “They let you walk around cities like that?"

“Yes. I got special permission." She took off her glasses and pocketed them in her jacket. Her eyes were golden like her sunglasses and reflected the summer sun perfectly. “Aren't you allowed to go into cities? Weren't you in a video destroying a building?"

The Dire Wolf took a moment to think about her question, then her eyes widened and she giggled.

“Oh yeah. That was an old building far away from any major city. I kind of er-… fucked it apart?"

Behind her, Smith rubbed the bridge of his snout in disappointment. Misha, meanwhile, expressed emotion in front of them for the first time. His eyebrow shot up in a mix of shock and morbid curiosity.

Natasha held her hand in front of her mouth with a smile hiding behind it. “I hope your husband wasn't jealous!"

Kiva smiled, showing off fangs and rows of sharp teeth. A gesture she had been told was something only American Wolves did. She had been told lots of things, almost coached about how to act. Instead of heeding them, she gently placed her hand on Natasha's shoulder and pulled her toward the entrance of the mall.

“C'mon, let's walk and talk. It's nice to meet another giant."

Kiva eyed the men behind her. Smith was glaring at Misha who looked less stoic than before, but he quickly returned to his usual stone face. The canine waved at the procession behind them, who sped off to wait somewhere.

“Yes, it is nice to meet another colossus. Do you model?"

“I dabble. I used to work at a gym. They thought about putting me on some posters before I started growing."

The Wolf duo carefully paced toward the mall, joining the massive crowds flowing toward its entrance.

---

By all accounts, the day was already starting off excellently. Kiva and Natasha were already talking to each other like reunited best friends trying to catch up. From his position behind them, Smith caught a few of their conversations.

“Why 'colossus?'"

“Yes, 'Koloss.' It is how they are called where I am from. It is local name."

“Oh yeah, we have that too. They call them 'macros' here, and giants everywhere else. Hey, are you normally this tall or did you boost yourself? You're pretty tall for a Gray Wolf."

“This is taller than usual for me. It takes time to shrink down."

“Interesting." Smith thought. He would have loved to dissect that and interrogate her, but there was only one issue: Walking alongside him and taking slow but deliberate steps was a Russian agent who seemed to match his pace no matter what he did. It didn't help that every single time he looked at him he caught the canine staring holes into his head. Smith was rarely intimidated by other people. He held a position of power that required him to interact with people who were figuratively and literally giants. He had been close to Kiva and others like her during their most violent moments. This lanky brute barely had a few inches on him, and yet, the cold anger behind his faded blue eyes sent a shiver down his spine.

“See something you like, Boris?" he spat.

Misha didn't hesitate. “Just surprised. The government of your nation sends representative. It is fat beast in a suit. They made good choice."

Smith grimaced at him but eventually turned his attention back to the giants. They were discussing fashion trends, and Natasha spoke of her history in the industry.

“The company does so much for me, but modeling requires so much time and effort. I have spent weeks traveling just to do a single set before. It was more than I expected when I started."

Kiva trudged alongside the model, mirroring her movements and even copying the exact sway of her hips when she walked. Her ears perked up and her head swiveled toward a nearby store plastered with advertisements for-

“Oh."

Every single advertisement had the Gray Wolf in some form of lingerie or dress meant for the summer. Her face and curvaceous body were proudly on display for all to witness. The most notable one was a summer photo of Natasha in a yellow one-piece bikini that looked strained on her hourglass figure. Kiva pointed at it and Natasha covered her mouth with her hands again.

“Oh my, I was not expecting this."

“You weren't expecting your work to make it overseas?" Kiva asked.

“No, but I was not expecting to stumble on it so soon."

“How about we check it out? If you're endorsing it then the clothes must be good!"

The Dire Wolf didn't even give her time to say no. She threw her arm around the other Wolf's shoulders and paced toward the shop like she was late to a meeting. Smith made to follow her but stopped when he heard a distinct clicking noise behind him. Misha had a lighter in one of his hands and had just finished lighting a cigarette dangling in his mouth. With a stylish flip, he closed the metallic case and dropped it into his pocket. He turned a side-eye to Smith and raised an eyebrow toward him.

“You want one? I promise they aren't poisonous like the ones your CIA make."

“There's no smoking allowed inside here. You'll set off the fire alarms." Smith growled.

Misha frowned then, without saying a word, walked toward a garbage can. Using only his tongue, he flipped the lit cigarette into his mouth and closed it, then spat it out into the can along with a cloud of smoke. Smith rolled his eyes at his attempt at intimidation and followed him into the store, preparing himself for the most dangerous mission of his life: Shopping.

“I have some money to blow today." Kiva's fingers danced over racks of clothing hangers. “Most of it is supposed to be for you but I've been meaning to go shopping lately anyways. I've learned a way to shop at most places for things in my size."

To prove her point, Kiva grabbed a miniature shirt from the rack. In the US, sizes were rarely standardized and if they weren't copying another well-known brand you needed to figure out the system they had invented. Every trip to a new store was like learning a new language. You were forced to solve the same puzzle over and over before you could find what you wanted. Kiva grabbed a minuscule top from a nearby rack and laid it flat on her palm. In her massive paw, it looked like it was made for a doll.

“Now watch as I break the laws of physics!" she gloated, spinning her hand over it like a magician at a birthday party.

Immediately, the top rapidly spilled out of her hands. It gained mass at an alarming rate, flowing over her hand until it looked large enough to fit on her. Kiva lifted it to her chest to prove as much.

“It's no good if it can't stretch around my chest, but that's why we have changing rooms."

Natasha's eyes frantically flit between her and the previously tiny shirt in her hands.

“You can do that?"

“Yeah. Theoretically, so can you."

“You mean hypothetically." Smith muttered. He looked to his right and noticed the other agent with a hand on his chin deep in thought.

“This was always going to get out at some point. I hope they at least take their time figuring it out."

Misha noticed Smith staring at him and bounced back to his usual stern expression. The two agents continued fighting for dominance while Kiva spent a minute explaining how she custom-ordered bras for her size. Smith kept his ears up but his eyes focused on the canine looming above him for too long.

“Can I help you?" the Gray Wolf's voice had a much lighter timber than before.

Smith's gaze shot toward the women and noticed a tiny person standing below them. Barely reaching her waist stood a figure with fur the same shade as Kiva's. Smith recognized her as a Fennec Fox based on her small build and large ears. Despite her size, it wasn't impossible for her to be an adult thanks to her species naturally being so tiny.

“I was too distracted by that damn mutt to notice her slip past us."

She would never have made it past him if he were paying attention. The Russian looked just as disappointed as he did at their collective failure to do their job. Smith's thick hand gently slid to his waist beneath his jacket where a heavy weight hung from his belt.

The Fox reached into her purse, which looked more like a duffel bag compared to her, and both agents readied themselves to pounce her if she pulled out a weapon. Instead, she produced a notepad and pen and lifted them toward the model.

“Would you please sign this for me?"

Her voice was light, and Smith could easily see her eyes bulging out of her head and enchanting the Wolf. That seemed to be all it took. Natasha knelt down and grabbed her hand, embracing it before signing it for her with a message and handing it back.

“Thank you!" the Fox gleamed up at the Wolf.

“It's no issue. Would you like a picture as well?"

“Yes please!" the Fox was shaking in place but managed to grab a cell phone from the same place she got the pen.

Natasha fell onto one knee and placed her head close to the Fox while pulling her close. Kiva took a step away from them to avoid standing in the shot and bumped into the nearby clothing rack. Kiva steadied herself, then looked toward Smith and grimaced at him. He was still tense beneath his placid expression with his legs spread apart ready to burst into action. As soon as the Fox finished taking her picture, she went on the offensive and fired more questions at the model. They were eerily similar to the questions Kiva was asking her earlier.

“Is modeling difficult?"

“Sometimes. Are you planning to model?" She shot back.

“Uhm, well, I don't think they'd let me."

“Why wouldn't they? Is the United States that different or are you worried about rejection?" Natasha put her other hand on her shoulder. “I promise that you have what it takes to model. If they tell you no, then they have missed out on a wonderful opportunity. Every body type needs representation."

Her smile was soft and subtle, baring no fangs. It was the perfect definition of feminine beauty and it, along with her words, struck a chord with her fan. Every word was carefully chosen and gave her speech a certain presence that captivated everyone around her. The Fox grinned back at her with all of her teeth and hopped away. She disappeared between the foliage of clothing like an animal bounding into the woods for safety. Kiva stomped up to Natasha and mirrored her gentle smile.

“That was very nice of you."

Natasha rose to her full height. “It doesn't take much effort to be kind, but the rewards are great."

Smith relaxed, standing to his full height and carefully exhaling so he would not make any noise. To his right, the other agent chuckled.

“Not scared of little girl, are we?"

“Of course not. But I have to deal with everyone here and a foreign agent. You let a little girl get past you despite not having to worry about that."

“I assure you, I have plenty to worry about."

Smith trained his focus on the Wolves who were now discussing clothes they had always wanted to try on. Kiva went on about swimsuits to take to the beach. Meanwhile, he kept one eye on the Russian in his peripheral vision at all times. The gun at his waist felt heavier than ever.

---

Limousines were always a distant concept for Kiva. She knew a few things about them: That they were basically very long cars, that only rich people could afford to use them, and that they looked incredibly inconvenient. She had acquired a driver's license in high school because it felt like a right of passage before she became an adult. She had never owned a car in her life, and the only cars she had to drive were all too small for her. Vinny owned a truck that she had to squeeze into many times. Her driving instructor had to give her their largest vehicle they had and she still scraped her head against the ceiling. Even after all of that, Kiva's first job at the gym was close enough for her to jog from her apartment.

This was all to say that Kiva had never been inside a limo and that she never thought she would be comfortable in one. Apparently, when a size-changing model from out of the country requests a limousine they give her one that is large enough for even a Dire Wolf to comfortably lounge in! Kiva leaned back into the plush leather seat with her feet resting on the other seats. Smith sat to her left, taking up the rest of the space in the vehicle's short width. Meanwhile, Natasha and her bodyguard Misha sat on the opposite end with the driver's seat to their backs. A wall and heavily tinted soundproof window separated them from the driver.

“I can't believe they can fit all of this stuff inside a car." Kiva was eyeing every feature like an awestruck child at an amusement park.

“It's more like a mobile nightclub with all these leather seats and mood lighting. All it needs now is a bar." Kiva pondered the low lighting reflecting off the red leather seats wondering if any of them flipped open and revealed a mini fridge.

“It is impressive." Natasha grabbed a bag of snacks from a nearby drawer and threw a second one toward her fellow Wolf. “This one is a different model than the one at home. It is much larger and has more electronics inside."

The steady roar of the tires over the highway and the bass-heavy music blasting from hidden speakers made it difficult to hear anything let alone think. It didn't bother Kiva though. She knew the beach was barely a twenty-minute drive from the mall they just left, and she delighted in spending time with her new friend regardless of the setting.

“Y'know, I was expecting you to spend a lot more money at the store today."

“Really?" Natasha tilted her head. “And what gave you that idea?"

“Well uh, I just thought that you would splurge a bit since you have the money to. But you just went for the sales and stayed thrifty."

Tilting her head down and puckering her lips, Natasha sent a smug grin to her American hosts.

“I see now. You expected to escort a spoiled princess all day, is that it?"

“Ah, uhm…" Kiva, suddenly feeling very self-conscious, pulled her feet off the seats.

“I'm teasing, Kiva! Have some faith in me." She lifted a leg and criss crossed it over the other. “I didn't exactly grow up rich, you know. And besides, I'm saving that money for dinner."

At the sound of food Kiva's ears perked up and her mood did a one-eighty.

“That sounds like a great idea. I still need to figure out if I can make food grow safely."

Smith took the opportunity to jump in. “Maybe you should let us test that in a lab on animals instead of potentially ruining your nice evening."

Kiva looked thoughtful at that, then fixed her attention back onto the Hippo.

“Hey, Smith…" The giant leaned onto his shoulder and managed to pull his immense girth toward her side of the vehicle. “Do you think Natasha and I could grow a little at the beach so I can show her some neat tricks?"

Without having to look he could feel her large eyes glaring holes into his head. He could easily imagine her eyelashes batting at him. Ahead of him, Natasha had a hand over her smile and Misha flashed his teeth at him in a much more hostile way than usual. Smith rolled his eyes and lifted his right arm which Kiva hung onto.

“I can probably call something in and do more paperwork than usual. But promise me something."

Kiva sat up and straightened herself, looking him in the eyes with more sincerity than her usual attitude.

“Next week, you're traveling to the west coast and shrinking giants the entire time! No breaks! No complaining!"

Kiva opened her mouth but quickly shut it when she felt the limo jerk to a stop.

“Sure. Deal. Now then…"

“Wait," Natasha said, “didn't you say you weren't allowed to grow in cities?"

Kiva went to answer but Smith interrupted her.

“Kiva is allowed to grow in certain areas after we worked out a deal. Multiple companies paid to put advertisements on her while she walked down the beach as a giant. Mostly, she did it in the water. But there were times when she got to be on the beach itself."

“Got the idea from a friend, I have a few rules for them though!" the Dire Wolf cut in. “Any beer advertisement has to pass a taste test. Also, the last guys got snippy with me when I wore their banner as underwear. Now they make me wear special bikinis when I do that job."

Natasha dropped her hand and gave them her trademark grin.

“You are a model!"

Kiva chuckled, but it sounded more like a snort. She looked out the tinted windows into the crowd of onlookers and beach-goers. Some stopped to gawk at the limousine but most went on their way without a care in the world. The nearby stores and restaurants blocked her view of the beach, but she knew that the ocean lay behind them. She didn't exactly live close to the coast herself which is why they had to meet up with their guests so far away from her home. Still, living in the country meant she was used to long drives and 20 minutes was nothing to her.

“So, how are we doing this?" she asked the passengers. “Everyone gets out while one of us changes in here?"

Mumbles of assent answered back. Kiva pushed the door on her side open and stretched out of the vehicle like she was climbing out of a ditch. She even had to pull herself up using the door for support, noticeably yanking the vehicle down with her and probably stressing its suspension. Behind her, Smith shuffled in the leather seats and barely inched himself out of the vehicle. He climbed out with even less finesse than she had. Trailing right behind him was Misha, who made them both look like uncoordinated drunks by effortlessly hopping out like he had when they first met. Kiva and Smith took a few steps away from the limo and huddled up near a concrete pole in the ground.

“How are you doing?" The agent asked with a low voice.

“It's better than I expected. We're getting along and I feel like she's learning a lot from me."

Smith eyeballed the Russian agent who was saying something to Natasha who was still inside the limo. He stepped out of the vehicle and closed the door, then turned around to stare at them but made no move to join them.

“Your job isn't to teach her anything. She already knows how to shrink and she doesn't need to learn any of your secrets. But I'm glad you're getting along at least."

“Are you doing alright?" Kiva reflected his question back at him.

“Hrrn… This guy isn't very easy to deal with. He's sharp and keeps poking at me to see if I'll slip up."

Kiva bent down and put both her hands on the pole, pushing most of her weight onto her arms. Her eyes were at the same height as Smith's.

“Ironic that we've swapped opinions on our guests."

“Do you think she can be trusted at that size? In our country?"

“Aren't you being a little paranoid?"

Smith raised an eyebrow. “It's my job to be paranoid, remember?"

“Ugh." Kiva rolled her eyes. “Look: I've got this under control. She can't shrink quickly without my help and I'm sure she doesn't have a malicious bone in her body."

“And you're sure she's not distracting you with her cha-ris-ma?" Smith sang the syllables.

Kiva scoffed. Before she could answer, she heard the limo door click open and she stood up to get a look. Natasha's bare legs swung onto the pavement with a pair of sandals protecting her feet. Misha leaned down and offered a hand and carefully lifted her, allowing everyone to see her in her full glory.

She wore a bright amber one-piece that looked exactly like the one from the photo at the mall. It was a high-waist suit that curved up her hips and showed off far more than a traditional one piece. Above her flat tummy, her massive chest jutted out, casting a shadow over everything below her. There simply wasn't enough material to cover it all and the miles of fluffy white cleavage barely distracted from her pouty lips and shining eyes. Two tight straps taunted everyone who looked at them, barely holding the suit together and threatening to snap but staying on despite their crime against nature. Kiva realized she was staring and quickly turned to Smith to avoid making eye contact with her.

“I may be taken by her charms."

Smith made a sound like a harrumph and Kiva swore she saw steam coming out of his nose. She turned to see Natasha sauntering toward them, literally swaying her hips like she was on a runway, and Kiva tried her best to act casually in the face of it. The pole below her was too short to lean on with one hand comfortably so she floundered with it and then decided to stand with her hands at her hips. The Gray Wolf stopped just in front of them and put one arm under her chest while her other arm went to her face where she pretended to lean on it. Heads swiveled toward the model and one man even ran face first into a metal pole while staring at her, making it ring like a bell while he stumbled away in embarrassment. Kiva couldn't help herself from making a joke to break the silence.

“Damn. How did you fit those things in there?"

Behind Natasha, Misha looked on in horror. To her right, Smith also gave her a worried look. Despite their reactions to Kiva's comment, Natasha herself giggled.

“I will be asking the same of you soon. I'm interested to see what you brought."

Emboldened by her response, Kiva sashayed toward the limo with a swing in her hips reminiscent of the woman she was trading places with. Her ladylike sauntering morphed into a very unladylike struggle to climb inside a vehicle that didn't reach above her waist. When she finally managed to duck under the roof the entire vehicle shifted beneath her weight and shook violently when she fell in and slammed the door shut.

Smith went to lean against the limousine as Misha had earlier, glaring at the foreign agent when they crossed paths. Misha returned the glare and continued trying to drill holes in the Hippo's head with his eyes while the two of them stood across from each other. His second staring contest of the day was interrupted by a hand on his shoulder.

“What do you think about them?"

Natasha gently tugged on him, forcing him to spin to face her and look up into her eyes. Thanks to her recent photoshoot as a skyscraper sized giant, Natasha was still a full head taller than him. Misha sent her a pensive expression. His eyes shifted down then quickly snapped to his left to avoid staring at her. When he realized he was now looking at the American agent he snapped back to look up into Natasha's golden eyes.

“Ya dumayu oni-"

“In English. We are in their country. We should try and speak like them."

“They would not give us that courtesy if they came to us."

Both of the Wolf's hands slipped onto Misha's face and held him in place. His back straightened, then every muscle in his body relaxed at once.

“Relax. Breathe. There are no enemies here except for the ones you make for yourself."

Misha took her advice and sucked in a full breath, holding it in for a few seconds before letting it flow out his mouth and into her delicate chest fur. She smelled like lavender, but beneath the delicate artificial smell of her shampoo her natural earthy smell was very obvious to his nose. Even years of smoking couldn't hide her scent from him.

“I am just worried is all. Worried about you."

Natasha brushed his scalp with one of her long fingers, smiling down at him with that subtle quirk of her lips she was so well known for.

“You always worry about me. And the more you worry about me, the more I worry about you. You are going to burn yourself out at this rate, and I will follow you."

For a moment, the outside world disappeared while the two canines shared a moment together. Misha sent her a rare smile and grabbed her hands with his own, shielding his face with both their palms. Eventually, Natasha freed him from her grasp and stepped back to give him some space. Collecting himself, Misha stood tall and proud then turned to face the limousine.

Standing next to the vehicle with his arms crossed, Agent Smith sent him a smile that bordered on dangerously smug. Misha bared his fangs and almost let loose a growl, but the limousine door burst open and interrupted his thoughts. A wave of pedestrians stopped to gawk.

Kiva's muscular leg shot out of the door and kept going until it reached well past the curb and onto the sidewalk. She stomped her sandaled heel onto the concrete with a loud slap and grabbed the side of the doorframe with her massive clawed hands, then yanked herself out of the vehicle. Her titanic body lurched out and into the sunlight which reflected off her bright fur and highlighted the darker tan shades that made up her back. The giant lifted herself onto her feet, causing the elongated vehicle to shake back and forth once her weight came off it. Her figure rose higher and higher, climbing higher than everyone at the boardwalk until she stood alone like a lone tree in a field of grass.

Unlike Natasha's bikini, Kiva wore a red two-piece ensemble that matched her eyes and contrasted her light fur. The bottom was typical, if a bit lower on her waist than most of its type. The sides were tied up with ribbons that reached halfway down her wide thigh. Her top was a criss-cross halter. A band of fabric wrapped around her underbust and two long strips girded her breasts and crossed over her chest, then wrapped around her neck for support. It left nothing to the imagination, showing off every perfectly crafted muscle beneath her fur. And it did nothing to mask her sheer presence. If anything, it made her more noticeable than if she wore larger clothes that hid her figure.

Wolf stared at Wolf, not to intimidate or assert dominance, but in appreciation of their mutual beauty. Kiva cocked her hips and copied Natasha's earlier pose, and the Grey Wolf sent her a less subtle smile.

“My my~ Kiva, not afraid to show off so much?"

“When you look this good it's wrong to hide it." Kiva lifted her arms and flexed an arm, then put both hands behind her head.

Natasha held out a hand, inviting Kiva to join her on the beach.

---

The beach was surrounded by two different oceans. A sea of salt water constantly batting at the sand, and a sea of people flowing chaotically on the streets stopping to eat, buy gifts, or walk along the natural curve of the sea in pursuit of an unknown destination. The ocean of pedestrians parted for the two Wolves as if they were untouchable gods. Some stared, some stopped to gawk even longer, and some even pulled out cell phones to record the moment. It didn't slow down Natasha at all since she had spent a majority of her life in the camera eye. Kiva had also recently gotten used to the attention brought on by her status, and was used to stares long before she graduated high school. Together, the Wolves' confidence bounced between each other and bolstered their attitudes.

Trailing behind them, the two agents bumbled along with several cumbersome items. Umbrellas, towels, coolers, buckets, sunscreen, snacks, hats, and extra clothes. If someone had brought it to a beach before, they were carrying it on them. Rather than look grumpy about it, Smith and Misha were eyeing each other the entire time and competing to see who could carry the most without dropping anything. It helped that they had traded in their bulky three-piece suits for something more casual. Smith wore the standard agency trunks and blue polo shirt.

“Never thought I'd see Smith in shorts." Kiva thought, mildly disturbed.

The process of picking a spot at the beach was different for everyone. Kiva and Natasha were very passive about their choices and accepting of almost any spot. But the men argued about it until they agreed on a spot that satisfied neither of them. While they aggressively laid down chairs and umbrellas, Kiva was fighting nature. She wiggled her toes and felt sand sneak its way into her sandals. Going barefoot wouldn't be any better because the heat of the sun would burn her pads. Speaking of the sun, she forgot to bring sunglasses and was already regretting it. She had a hand over her eyes like a visor this entire time.

“Wanna buy some beach stuff?" She said to her fellow Wolf, pointing a thumb behind her toward the boardwalk.

Natasha smiled and turned to the men. “Be good, boys. We'll be back soon!"

The sound of her voice momentarily distracted Misha, who didn't notice Smith stealing a chair from under his nose. Misha's blank expression turned feral and he moved to grab as many chairs as he could before Smith could set them up. Natasha giggled at their antics and strode up the beach to catch up with Kiva who had already started walking. Once the pair were back on the boardwalk, the crowd immediately split to let them through again.

“Swimsuits at these places are way too cheap, so don't bother." Kiva laid her native wisdom on her protege, who nodded with rapt attention.

“Oh, and if you need good food on the beach you have to go to either a taco place or a run down looking place with another country's flag hanging on it. Those don't stick around unless they're really good."

Stepping into a nearby gift shop, Kiva sighed and dropped her shoulders at the sight of multiple displays dedicated to cheap sunglasses. She made a beeline for them, then sighed again when she realized the mirrors on the racks barely reached her breasts. Natasha joined her and flanked the sunglasses, acting as her modeling agent and giving suggestions like it was a photoshoot. The two of them became so engrossed in their discussion that they failed to notice a minuscule figure waddle up to them and squeak.

Kiva pulled off her latest pair of sunglasses and flinched at an Otter woman in a familiar yellow swimsuit. She backed up to give her and Natasha some room, but the Otter waddled closer to her instead.

“Are you the Empire State Giant?" she asked.

Kiva looked to Natasha for support but just received that same smile hidden behind her dainty fingers. Steeling herself, the Dire Wolf squared her shoulders and stood tall.

“Why yes, I am that giant."

“That's great!"

The Otter pulled out her phone and shook it. Kiva got the message and bent down to take a photo with her, but Natasha interrupted and offered to take it for them. After a few clicks and poses, the Otter grabbed the phone and excitedly waddled off.

“Seems like you have your own fans too, Kiva."

Kiva scratched her head and smiled at Natasha, then blinked when a pair of sunglasses she had on her head fell over her eyes.

---

On their way out of the shop, sporting the nicest pair of sunglasses one could buy for $10, Kiva leaned in to Natasha and lowered them toward her nose which exposed her crimson eyes.

“You wanna be as tall as me tonight?" The Dire Wolf's natural height and downward stare would have intimidated anyone else. But Natasha had quickly picked up on her habits and knew she wasn't angry.

“I would love to. But, I told you about my condition, yes?"

Kiva nodded. “You said it took you a long time to shrink. What do you mean by that?"

“It is what it sounds like. I grow and I can shrink like you. But not like you. It takes a few days after photoshoot to get back to this height. I am still not at my original size."

The model almost looked embarrassed by her admission, body swaying side-to-side like she was preparing to run as far away as she could. It was incredibly unlike her to show nervousness. Kiva placed a hand on her shoulder and Natasha felt an intense sensation like vertigo. Suddenly, her eyes met the Dire Wolf's while they were both standing tall.

“Did I forget to tell you that I can also shrink other people?"

If looks could kill, Kiva's smug grin would have instantly obliterated everyone for miles. Natasha's own face lit up with more emotion that she had shown all day.

“How does it work? You can change the size of anything and anyone?"

“Yup. People, objects," Kiva leaned back and admired her friend's body now that she was tall enough to observe without awkwardly bending her neck down. “clothes…"

Natasha looked at herself and realized that her bikini hadn't become tighter during her growth. Unlike her previous photoshoots that required her to go nude or replace her clothes with ridiculous scaled up versions, her bikini had grown with her body. The Wolf sent Kiva her trademark sly smile, lips curling minutely to perfectly seduce those with a weaker will.

“You are talented, Kiva. I should have you join me for photoshoot and be my, what is word, liaison? Maybe I can have you model with me as well?"

The women shared tales of what they might do together if given the funds to do what they wanted. Kiva made wide gestures about directing movies, wanting to use her abilities to simulate earthquakes, giant monsters, and get genuine reactions from actors. Natasha rebounded off her ideas with suggestions of her own, like growing and shrinking her actors and sets for a special effects budget unlike anything the world had seen. It completely distracted them from the rest of the world, including a very overconfident Human man who, on a dare from his friends, walked up behind the model and slapped her butt.

The resounding smack was so loud it could be heard above the sound of waves and the crowd's feet. Instead of flinching forward like one would expect, Natasha noticed the man try to slip past her and thrust her hips toward him, smashing into his side and knocking him onto the cement sidewalk where he gracefully tumbled onto his back. Behind them, his friends shouted and laughed, hooted and hollered, and got rowdier as they egged each other on.

“What's wrong, can't handle a real man?" Said man flipped onto his stomach and hopped back up to his feet, sliding closer to his friends along the way.

Natasha looked as unamused as she possibly could: A rare sight but not a good one to witness.

“You are not man enough to handle me."

This elicited another round of howling laughter from the group, and a few more stares from people outside their crowd. Natasha's eyes rolled toward Kiva, whose face showed a disturbing lack of emotion. Instead, the giant took a few steps forward and the men immediately went silent. They could only stare in horror at the sight of a massive Wolf growing larger with each step until she was easily twice the height of the tallest of them, himself a Gray Wolf who looked like he spent half his day at the gym and the other half at the beach. Every one of them backed off and grouped together like a pack of hunters pointing their weapons at a massive beast bout to charge them.

Kiva, now almost as tall as a nearby restaurant's low roof, quickly lunged at them but stopped halfway, pounding the ground with her sandalled foot and creating a boom that echoed across the shoreline. Every single man stumbled backward, causing a pileup that left them scrambling over each other and whimpering. Kiva merely chuckled, sounding like a tectonic plate sliding against itself, dangerous and powerful. She turned to Natasha and winked, then dragged the model off with her, swaying her hips and tail farther than she was before.

The model struggled to keep up with the pace of her partner. Kiva's long, confident strides took her in one step where a dozen would take a regular-sized individual. She also had trouble keeping pace with her growth. It was rare that she got to indulge in her abilities without any consequences but the Dire Wolf's incredible control allowed her an incredible opportunity to let loose. Her body skyrocketed in height and made her go from merely amazonian to truly giant. Whenever her bathing suit became too tight, Kiva held her hand over the strap on her shoulder and loosened it on her body with another burst of growth. Then Natasha would fill out the bikini with more bulging fur and curves and the cycle would continue until they strode onto the beach, stomping up to their partners at almost four times their original height.

Smith kept his poker face up and didn't react to two giant Wolves stomping their way up to them, but Misha stared at Natasha with something between awe and concern. He signaled for her to come closer and she obliged him, squatting low and leaning her head toward him like one would to a small child.

“Natasha," he whispered, “are you sure it is good idea to grow with the American? You know how long it takes you to shrink back down."

“You worry too much. Kiva here can shrink me down before we leave the beach."

Natasha beamed down at her partner, assuaging most of his fears and silencing any complaints that he may have still vocalized. She stood to her full height, muscles and swimsuit creaking under the extra gravity bearing down on her expanded form, and swiveled to her friend who motioned for them to head toward the water. The giants needed less than a dozen steps to make it to the ocean. Their feet flew past families and single beach-goers who stopped to gawk and sometimes run away from them. Luckily, there were no people or umbrellas directly in their path. If they were paying attention, they might have been able to see Natasha's swimsuit loosen on her figure. The giant was already experimenting with her abilities and adjusting her clothing to fit her more comfortably.

Natasha was very comfortable in the cold. The country she lived in had a large amount of its landmass snowed-in most of the year, and she herself spent her time in those areas when she wasn't touring or visiting places like Sochi for vacation. Still, the east coast of the US wasn't as horribly hot as she expected. The water was much warmer than the beaches she had experienced, but very pleasant. Then she saw steam wafting off her fur, not unlike when she entered the sauna immediately after swimming. She noticed this phenomenon during her giant photo shoots in the snow as well. Her body would produce so much heat at this size that any liquid on her melted and even vaporized on contact with her bare body.

Despite her curiosity distracting her, Natasha continued to grow along with Kiva. The water never reached past her knees as they trudged out further and further, eventually walking past the point where boats and other watercraft were allowed to move. Natasha saw one such speedboat barreling toward them without showing signs of slowing. Based on the awestruck look of the Canine piloting it she could guess that it wouldn't slow down. Thinking quickly, Natasha stepped back and dropped to her knees where she slid her hand beneath the water and poked the tip of the boat as it passed her, tilting it away from the beach and toward the ocean. She heard the pilot yelp and speed up his craft.

“Damn boats never stop for anyone. New York traffic sucks even in the ocean."

Kiva smiled at her own joke and waited for the boat to pass far enough, then she took a step backward while facing the beach and abruptly sat down, creating a massive explosion of water and a subsequent wave that barely calmed down before it hit the beach. Everyone on the shore screamed in delight when the wave hit them, except a couple who were in the process of moving their chairs further inland and didn't make it in time. Kiva smiled at Natasha and beckoned her in.

---

Smith never understood why people were so afraid of Sharks. They were some of the kindest aquatic people he had ever met, and they were practically guaranteed to come with a very laid-back attitude. If anything, they should be afraid of Hippos. Most underwater killers around the world were composed of his brethren, or Alligators, and the US only had a fear of Sharks thanks to one infamous serial killer and the subsequent blockbuster based on his actions. That's not to say that Hippos were universally loved, but at times like this Smith wished more people were afraid of him, especially the Russian agent who kept one eye on the water and another on him.

Out in the ocean, two giant women made waves both literal and political. It may have looked like innocent roughhousing from here, but he knew that it represented something far more serious than a friendship. It was two superpowers dipping their toes into new waters. Giants were always a novelty which had no serious uses outside propaganda. But Kiva changed all that when she learned to control it, and now the Russian model was catching up to her skills in the span of an evening. This would either be a great boon for the world, or a good excuse to start a war.

Both agents kept sneaking glances at one another, trying their best to act casual despite the absurdity of the situation. Smith in his standard issue civvies, modified with shorts instead of slacks this time, and Misha in the most stereotypical Hawaiian shirt and shorts he had ever seen. Eventually, Misha broke the silence.

“Not enjoying beach? I thought Hippo enjoy water."

Smith turned to him and ignored the giants, who were now splashing each other with waves taller than buildings.

“I'm a lot more comfortable when I'm not being watched by some third rate operative right out of mafia school."

Misha's look hardened. The canine stepped to the side and opened a cooler, grabbing two large cans from it.

“They sent their best, American." He spat the word out like stale tobacco, then tossed one of the cans to Smith.

Both men took their place across from each other and sat in nearby beach chairs, facing the ocean. Far off in the sea, the two giants were now talking about something. Their speech was difficult to make out despite their booming voices coming out over the noise of the population. They weren't quiet, but they weren't easy to understand either.

“So," Smith broke the relative silence, “how's the oligarchy doing? Still pretending to be a federation?"

“Big talk, Mr. Wall Street. Do billionaires still live in your country or do they flee to tax havens for the summer?"

“Nice one. Is that in your field training manuals under 'Generic insults for Americans?'"

“We all learn from our forefathers. Papa England taught you how to spread drugs to neighbors. But you did it in your own neighborhoods!"

Smith took a long swig of his drink and enjoyed the burning sensation, then laser focused on his target.

“Oh, it's on."

The two agents began hurling insults, trading barbs, and bantering as much as they could to preserve their pride and defend their nations. Despite the animosity between them, when Smith finished his first can, Misha lobbed another drink at him and almost smirked when the Hippo's fat fingers dented it. An alcoholic buzz spread over his brain and slowed his thoughts but didn't slow his wit. Although, it may have slurred his speech. The explosive noise of cheering crowds and crashing waves momentarily distracted him, and he realized that the girls were still playing in the water. They posed for phone cameras, made waves with their bodies for people to play in, and wrestled in the water ferociously enough to create great clouds of mist almost as tall as them.

Natasha, ever the professional, managed to lay on the shore and stretch out onto her side like she was posing for a camera floating above her. With all the planes in the air she might have been. Her swimsuit could not contain the incredible mass of her breasts, and they obviously stretched out the top of the one-piece, putting a massive crater on the beach where they lay, one on top of the other. Despite this, she managed to retain a regal appearance laying on the beach. The fine grain sand was more like liquid against her enormous body, and the small amount of foliage may as well have not been there.

Kiva for her part tried to join in but didn't seem to know what to do. She tried to lay next to her, squat above her, or try any number of “strong woman" poses. Eventually though, she flopped on top of the model and managed to eek out a squeal of surprise and a chorus of laughter from her and the crowd.

Although the noise from their antics was deafening, Smith thought the scene was too quiet. He realized the Russian hadn't spoken for a whole minute and turned to see the ordinarily scowling canine looking more somber than usual. His eyes were wet and focusing intently on the giant model. Smith didn't know why he decided to stay quiet, but something about the agent's change in demeanor disturbed him enough to keep his mouth shut. A wise decision in hindsight. Misha gasped at the giants and Smith barely held in his own when he turned to look at them.

The colossal canine couple stood to their full height and posed one final time for the beachgoers. From a distance it was wonderful to behold and probably made a great postcard or calendar shot. From right next to them on the shore, waves lapping past their feet and over people, it must have been an intimidating sight to have them looming far above. Their shadows reached far past the buildings behind the sand. All at once, the crowd cheered and the women began their slow walk toward the beach. But something was not quite right. Despite their massive paws pushing huge amounts of water around with each step, the women seemed to take much longer to reach the shore than they should have. It was a phenomenon Smith was very familiar with thanks to Kiva's abilities.

The giants began to shrink together at subtly disparate speeds. Natasha shrunk faster than Kiva until they reached what he assumed was their natural size difference. Then their heads plummeted toward the water faster than he had seen before.

“She's gotten really good at this." Smith thought.

Finally, the god-like duo reached the shore at four times their usual size. With their hands clasped together, they stomped off toward their bodyguards, slowly losing height until they were merely demigods. At her original height, Natasha was close to Kiva's height but shorter by a head. Still incredibly tall compared to most, and easily taller than both men. Kiva, meanwhile, still towered over 99% of the population. But she was down to her regular height. They finally made it to the beach chairs and Kiva unceremoniously released Natasha's hand and laid her hand on a fold-out beach chair, inflating it until it was twice its size, then dropping onto it with a loud sigh.

“Ah, I love the beach." She reached for a can of beer with her clawed fingers, then frowned when she turned it and read the word 'light' on the side.

“The saltwater is good for your fur." Natasha sang.

Kiva, deep in thought, shook her head and stabbed the top of the beer can open with her claw. Then she grabbed the nearest chair with one hand and inflated it like hers, smiling at Natasha while she placed it on the sand for her. Eventually, everyone settled in and shared a drink of their choice, ignoring the rest of the beach and any stares they received from their previous antics. Even Misha seemed to relax. And for a rare and very brief moment in his life, Smith felt truly content and calm while on the job.

---

“I still can't believe this place is allowing me in." Kiva exclaimed, leaning back in a wooden chair which nearly screamed in protest at her weight. “I'm still banned in over a dozen 'All you can eat' restaurants in at least three states. And there was that incident at the Hawaiian Bar 'n' Grill."

“Don't remind me." Smith rested his head in his hands and sighed. “I still get emails about that."

The restaurant they were in was one of those 'trendy' hangouts decorated wall to wall with junk found on the beach that was aiming for young couples and a hip atmosphere. Instead, it was filled with a sea of older couples who still thought the word 'hip' was okay to say in public. Smith denied any allegations that he had used such language before, or that this restaurant played to his sensibilities. After all, it was too loud to think let alone have a conversation. A constant wall of noise from the patrons hammered their eardrums. Even if nobody was talking, the speakers boomed like a hail of gunfire, polluting the atmosphere with a litany of classic rock from 40 years ago. Smith once again denied any appreciation for the noise coming out of the speakers, instead focusing on the guests sitting with them.

On the opposite end of the table sat their doppelgangers. Natasha sat opposite of Kiva, leaning forward with a subtle smile and a quirk of her eyebrow that Smith had learned meant she was incredibly interested in whatever she was talking about.

“And what did you do to earn their ire, Kiva?"

“I may have shrunk before I got in to get the small-sized discount. I wanted to make my steak gigantic to compensate, but Vinny kept telling me that changing the size of food before I eat it could be fatal if it shrinks back inside my body."

Smith turned to his opposite, not just opposite him sitting at the table but opposite in so many ways. If this were a cliche spy thriller, then Misha would be his evil doppelganger. Instead, he found himself sympathizing with the large Canine more and more as the night progressed. Speaking of opposites, the girls were talking constantly and having a wonderful time while the men stared at them or each other. Smith timed the space between his blinks, then noticed that Misha was doing the same. They developed a complex pattern of blinking to communicate with one another. You know, secret agent stuff.

That, or they were just winking at each other. But he refused to believe that for the sake of his dignity.

“I should empty myself before I fill up on food." Kiva said like it was a normal thing to say before dinner.

Natasha stood up with her at the same time and escorted her to the restroom. Whatever secret rules women used to communicate still eluded Smith, and most of his agency, and he'd probably never learn their secrets. He turned to Misha expecting to start another round of eye-based morse code, but was not greeted by his eyes. The Russian was staring at his hands, clasping them together like an uncertain pup about to beg for a meal. When he lifted his head, something in Smith's face must have startled him because his eyes noticeably widened.

“You're in love with her, aren't you?" Smith accused.

“No! At least, not the simple way you define love." Misha looked back to the restroom then lowered his voice. “I care for her deeply. I have given her maximum attention since I was assigned to her, and in the time I have come to care for her I have worked hard to ensure her safety. People like her aren't treated well unless they serve."

Smith nodded, knowing the feeling. Giants aren't treated well anywhere and he's fought tooth and nail to keep the few he's overseeing alive. Kiva is a miracle from the Gods, and that's just in the US. The rumors coming out of Russia don't paint a pretty picture.

“If she weren't a model then Natasha would probably be digging ditches with her bare hands in the winter."

“You know, when Kiva reached her max height she started walking toward the Catskill Mountains, setting fire to some of the trees near her. Her stomping kicked up enough dirt to put them out, but it was a near thing that she didn't start a major forest fire."

“How large was she?"

“A kilometer tall."

Misha's eyes climbed higher than Smith had seen all day. Did the Russian's not know that, or did he not read the report? Kiva spouted it to whoever asked and she'd been interviewed enough for it to end up on her wiki page.

“What happened? She shrunk, right?"

“Yes, but it was a near thing. There are people in that area, and if she turned around at any point and headed toward the city, well…"

Smith didn't need to fill in the details. If Misha were like him then he'd probably have seen his fair share of giants taken out by air strike because they weren't following orders.

“I think about her almost every night." Smith continued. “About the what-ifs and the maybes. Some jacka-patriot could create a bill to outlaw them or declare them living WMD's and there isn't anything I can do to stop it. The world is run by fools who don't understand how anything works, and we're the only thing between them and chaos."

Misha perked up at that, looking Smith in the eyes with something new. Curiosity or, perhaps, respect? Behind him, two familiar figures trudged out of a hallway that must have led to the women's restroom. Natasha gracefully slid into her seat, barely making any noise. Meanwhile, Kiva's chair scraped along the ground like a wooden battleship brushing against another. When she sat on it and tested her weight on it, a justified fear after numerous past failures, she bumped into the table and barely avoided pushing her water glass over with her chest thanks to a quick reaction from Smith.

(Smith would always pride himself on his reaction times and his ability to judge Kiva's terrifying lack of depth perception. Plus, she wasn't going to drink it.)

“We're gonna knock down a building together. We decided in the bathroom."

Kiva spoke with such confidence that Natasha's giggling was the only way Misha could tell she wasn't serious. Smith knew she was serious but would pretend later it was a joke.

“Ha ha." He spoke. He did not chuckle.

“You are not falling for their tricks, are you?" Misha questioned, his normally stoic demeanor falling apart. He leaned forward and sent Smith another look. “She is too proper to do something inappropriate like that."

Natasha placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, causing him to tense.

“Alexei."

One name was all it took to break the Russian's composure. He looked ready to run, then let out a deep sigh and turned back to his charge.

“I'm sorry." He leaned back and deflated over the chair like a balloon, laying his arm off to the side while Natasha leaned into him and nuzzled his shoulder.

“Yeah Alexei," Smith taunted, “wouldn't want you to hurt yourself. I know Russians are allergic to comedy."

Alexei sent him a truly murderous glance, then went back to ignoring him in favor of their meal. All the while, Smith smiled for the first time in months. For some reason, Kiva looked disturbed whenever he smiled at her.

---

This late in the evening with the sun dipping below the horizon, the idling limousine felt warmer than the steadily cooling concrete of the street. They were nearing the time when the sun barely peeked out of the horizon and caused more crashes on the highway than usual. Smith took advantage of this by facing away from the sun while they said goodbye to their guests. Unfortunately, Alexei compensated for this by wearing sunglasses which Smith had to begrudgingly admit made him look more intimidating.

“It was good to meet you, Smith." The canine said, extending his hand.

Smith accepted and took his hand. Alexei gave him a firm shake then pulled him in for an awkward half hug which left him paralyzed. Once he was free, Smith coughed something that sounded like an admonishment. Natasha walked behind the Russian agent and grabbed his arm, leaning into him.

“You hug the Hippo but not me?" She playfully chided, pulling him into a much more intimate hug. Thanks to their size difference, it reminded Smith of watching Kiva and her husband hug. Though, Natasha was not large enough to perfectly mimic that sight.

“Hey, where's mine?" Kiva cut in, ignoring Alexei and pulling Natasha into a boisterous hug that left them both breathless. Alexei was caught between the two Wolves bodies as they embraced, and when they parted he looked ready to die on the spot. “Come visit again when the government lets you off your leash."

“I should say the same to you. Come visit when you get your passport, and we can argue about who has the best beaches." Natasha looked at them and a flash of worry shone from her eyes. “Do you two not want to ride in the limo?"

“No thanks," Smith waved, a giggle attempting to escape his throat. “We're being picked up by a friend and the limo is going straight to the airport. Travel safe you two."

It didn't take long for the Russians to enter the limousine and disappear from their lives. The day had been long, and it had felt even longer, but the moment they left it all seemed distant like they had left ages ago. Kiva and Smith fell back into place, leaning against a wall which provided meager shade from the setting sun.

“So," Kiva started, “still hate him?"

Smith sighed.

“The unfortunate part about this job is that I know why people do what they do. When someone enters my office and mouths off about their problems I can empathize enough to feel guilt when I have to come up with a solution that helps no one."

“Really? That's what you do all day? Deal with idiots?"

Smith looked up at Kiva and sent her a smile: A sight which was becoming less rare as the day wore on.

“Oh, go fuck yourself Smith!" she snarled.

Smith laughed, even snorted then forced himself to stop in embarrassment. When he did, he tried to change the subject.

“You know, I saw his tail wagging on the way out. That girl must mean a lot to him."

“Yeah. I noticed. She was all over him today. It was…"

“Unprofessional?" he asked.

Kiva nodded.

“Well, they can't all be like me." The Hippo declared. “I mean, I've had Europeans kiss me on the cheeks before, but what was with the hug?"

Kiva shrugged, looked the other way, and began people watching like she had in the morning. Smith pulled out a cigarette from his shirt pocket and put it in his mouth. He had a tradition of lighting one at the end of the day if nothing disastrous happened. He fumbled in his shorts for a lighter…

“Huh, I think I'm gonna need to buy a new lighter."

Smith went for his wallet in his back pocket but quickly patted it down when he couldn't find it.

“That fucker stole my wallet!" he exclaimed, shocking Kiva from her stupor.

“What? Are you sure you didn't leave it in a bag?"

“If I did, then it doesn't explain why his hand rubbed my ass earlier!"

This time, Kiva exploded with laughter, and her throat made a noise between a hiccup and a warble. She spent a whole minute trying to compose herself while Smith's face turned red.

“You're paranoid, you idiot! I think he likes you!"

Smith made a hissing noise and turned around to check his bag, muttering to himself the entire time.

“Russians, giants, and the Goddamn KGB. I can't tell which is gonna kill me first."

---