Chapter Text
The smell of tobacco smoke filled the air and the sounds of laughter and cheers somehow drowned out most of the other noises of gambling in the room. Both were things Natasha was well used to, though that didn't mean she liked it. The noise made it hard to listen for the small sounds the people she was tracking would make. The smell was just something she had never found pleasant. It always reminded her of some of her worst moments.
All of that had to be pushed away. She was not there for pleasure or distraction. She was there on a mission. One that had lives at stake. The smuggling ring she was after needed to be stopped and the required her full attention.
Intel had told her that there would be a man at a particular casino, the one she was currently in, that had more information about the ring. With her work, Natasha had even been able to get a description and likely name of her suspect. She had worked that information out with much difficulty and she hoped it was accurate. It would be very frustrating if she had done all of that and come all the way to Las Vegas for it to be false.
She walked past the doorway that led to the slot machines, the man she was looking for wouldn't be in there. He would be somewhere where he could play against others. And not a game of chance either. Which made poker her best option of a place to start looking. Not the normal ones either, the high rollers first. That was the kind of player this man would be.
It wasn't easy to weave through the tables to get to the section she wanted. Dealers tried to wheel her into their games. Men, and a few women, tried to convince her to join them. Waiters tried to get her to order drinks. Even more once each saw the rack of chips that she carried in her hand. But she made it past every one of them. Until finally she made it to the other side from the main door, where a smaller but much more elaborate doorway waited.
The lights were dimmer in her targeted room. The crowds of onlookers did not need to be seen according to the management, only the players. Each table had a light above it, making them seem as though they were under spotlights, though not as bright as a real spotlight.
The security guard barely took stock of her before deciding that Natasha wasn't a threat. He was very wrong, but at least she wasn't planning on doing anything under his nose. No, she was going to get the man she was after elsewhere before beginning to question him. At least it made it much easier for her to get into the room and start looking for the right table.
She wandered through the room, making sure it appeared as if she was looking for a good table, rather than a person. It wasn't hard, as part of looking for the right poker table was watching the players for a while. All it meant was she had to spend a little bit longer at each of the tables instead of moving on as soon as she decided that the man she was looking for wasn't there. Which did have the benefit of letting her get a real feel for how the games in that casino ran. While there were standard rules, so many had certain types playing.
It took her a while, much longer than she would have liked, but eventually she spotted the man going by the name of Edward Drayton. He was put together in a way that practically screamed that he was up to no good. Not unlike many professional gamblers. But there was more to him, enough that Natasha was sure even if he knew nothing about her target smuggling ring, he would know something that she would find very useful.
All she needed was a seat at the table. Then she was sure she would be able to work her way into interacting with the man. And all it would take would be a few well placed words and he would be willing to go anywhere with her.
It took a few hands, but eventually another one of the players got up from the table and Natasha was able to slide into their seat. She set her rack on the table and took better stock of the other players. Along with herself and Drayton there were four other players. Three men and one woman. Two of the men and the woman were unknown to her, but it was clear they did not matter. One was a professional gambler, another a socialite, and the last a businessman way out of his depth and wallet.
But the last person she recognized. Another socialite, but one that had a big reputation for a lot of different things. Bruce Wayne. It was interesting that he was there, if only for the fact he was not known to be a gambler. Which made it odd he was in the room she had found herself in. She almost wished she wasn't there on a mission. Because she wanted to find out just how much of what the public saw of him was an act. A lot of it had to be. No one who was that foolish could have gotten into the college he had and kept those grade before he had dropped out. But she didn't have time to worry about him, he wasn't her target and wouldn't get in her way. So she put him out of her mind and focused on Drayton.
The table was fairly quiet as they played the next hand. The only conversation was coming from the people behind them, watching the players. Natasha was focused on her hand, knowing that if she won a lot she was more likely to get the attention of Drayton and it would be easier to talk to him. Thankfully, even though it wasn't her favorite game, Natasha was pretty good at poker.
A few hands passed without incident. Natasha won more than she lost, which was perfect. She could tell both the crowd and other players were becoming intrigued by her. But not so much to draw attention from anyone to suspect cheating. Which she wasn't doing anyway. Counting cards wasn't her thing. Drayton seemed to been interested in her despite himself as well.
"I didn't catch your name," Drayton said after her next win.
"That's because I didn't share it," she said, not offering it.
He would be pulled in further by her answer. It always worked on his type. And that was confirmed by the small smile that she got out of him. One that was somewhere between true amusement and something predatory. She was getting to him, just as she wanted to.
"I'm Edward," he said. "You're quite the player."
"It's a hobby," she said before making her next play. "And I'm Natalie."
"It's a pleasure to meet you," he said.
Within the next hand all the other players also introduced themselves to her and each other. Though as she expected none of the others were people to worry about. They were clear of any wrong doing.
One of the others left and was replaced by another who had been watching. And the game continued. She started to win a little more along with manipulating it so that the others won more than Drayton as well. He began to get more and more frustrated. Which was exactly what she needed to get him to follow her when she left.
After the next big hand that she won, she did exactly that. Her chips were put back into her holder and she stood to leave, thanking the dealer as she did. No one tried to stop her, but she did notice the shift that said others were questioning if they wanted to continue playing. Drayton included, since most of the money she had won that time came from him.
She began her journey back out of the casino. Which was barely easier than her way in. And it did not escape her notice when Drayton began to follow her. Nor that it seemed Wayne had also decided to follow. Though it almost seemed as though he was following Drayton and not her which was something she would have to follow up on even if she was likely the one he was after.
After turning in most of her chips and adding them to the account she was using, Natasha headed to the bar. It would be the best place for her to be approached for conversation which is what she needed.
It took no time at all for Drayton to come next to her at the bar. He signaled the bartender, who came over immediately.
"Let me get you a drink," he said. "After a game like that, you deserve it,"
She leaned against the counter and gave him a seductive smile.
"With the way I won, shouldn't it be I that is offering to buy you a drink?" she said.
He laughed, and if she were any worse at her job she would have shuddered. There was something off about that laugh. It was a dangerous one. One that pretended amusement but promised danger. She began to wonder if he was more involved than just having information about the smuggling ring.
"You could, but I would feel less like a gentleman if you did. So how about it?"
"Of course."
They both ordered their drinks and waited for them to arrive. Drayton asked her about where she had learned to play poker, trying to start a conversation about it. She went along with it. Getting him to want to be alone with her was the goal. And small talk was a part of that.
When the bartender returned with their drinks, Natasha took the opportunity to look around the room. And there he was again, Bruce Wayne. Just far enough away to look like he had come on his own. But close enough that to her trained eye he had followed one of them. Interesting.
Though he was a known playboy so maybe not all that interesting.
She took a sip of her drink, distracted by him. It wasn't the best drink that she had ever had, nor was it particularly good either. Which was odd considering how high end the bar and hotel was. But it was tolerable enough if it meant that she kept Drayton talking longer.
Which she did, but the conversation didn't seem to be going anywhere. It was almost as if he didn't want the conversation to go further. Or as if he was stalling her. She couldn't imagine why. She was trying her best to make it seem as if she would go with him if he wanted, and there was no need to get her to drink more. But he was waiting for something it seemed. Maybe an accomplice was meeting him. Or any number of other things.
She took another sip of her drink. It really was not very good. But it got a hint of a smile on Drayton's lips. It was disgusting she thought, a man that still wanted a willing woman intoxicated. Though if he was going to attempt to get his money back it almost made sense.
The conversation kept going and she kept sipping at the drink.
Natasha started to feel odd. Her focus was waning and she was having a more difficult time following the conversation. It shouldn't be happening. Alcohol didn't have that effect on her.
It kept getting worse and worse. And she didn't know why. Until she trailed off in the middle of trying to say something and couldn't remember what she had been about to say.
Drayton smiled darkly.
"Oh finally," he said. "That took much longer than expected."
He stood to leave.
"Have fun tonight Ms. Romanov. You really shouldn't have targeted me. But I did what had to be done."
Then he walked away while she was still trying to parse what he had said.
He had drugged her. Gotten the bartender to slip something into her drink.
"Is something wrong Natalie?"
She turned her head to see that Wayne had been the one to speak to her. Where had he come from? Wasn't he still playing poker? Or had he followed her there?
No matter what she was happy to see him. He had very nice eyes and they looked worried about her.
"Nothing's wrong," she said, "not that you're here."