Do svidaniya: Chapter Five

[antivanruffles]

Name: Do svidaniya 

Characters: Kunzite, Minako with other appearances. 

Rating: R 

Warnings: Swearing (though mainly Russian), adult themes, some violence. Active warning for this part: deals with character death.

A/N: The Russian Revolution was a time of great turmoil and political intrigue. In these trying times can young love succeed or will fate pull them apart? 

Chapters: One, Two, Three, Four




“You have the flu and if you continue pushing yourself, like you have been, I won’t be surprised if you end up with phenomena.” Dr. Zoran Byko, one of the acting physicians for the Imperial Guard, and the only person besides my self and Mischa to know Alexis’s secret, looked at me with bored green eyes.

“Really, Kostya, if you’re sick, you rest, not work doubles.” Pulling off his wire rimmed glasses, he hooked them on his shirt front and crossed his arms.

Zoran was in his late twenties, having completed medical school at an extremely young age, and judging from the whispers of the nurses, he was a very attractive man. He was a good head shorter than me with an angular face, a lean, muscular build and a long mop of curly blond hair that he always wore in an immaculate ponytail at the nap of his neck.

“It’s not my fault, everyone else is out sick with the same thing.” I tried to make my voice come out louder than a whisper, but my throat burned like fire every time I spoke or swallowed.

“Then you should be out, too.” He walked to his desk and took a seat, looking for something in the unorganized mess that was spread across it--he gave a quiet ‘ah ha’ when he found it. “I’m writing out a letter for your superiors, you are to take a week off.” Zoran looked up at me through long lashes, “You will rest. No work.”

“Yes doctor,” I rasped and Zoran smiled as he continued writing. “You need it, too. You look like govno.”

“Is that your professional opinion?”

“No, just a friendly one,” he grinned wider. I didn’t protest too much because I knew he was right, my eyes were puffy and bloodshot, my face was ashen and as pale as my hair. And I felt even worse than I looked.

“I want you to take this to whoever is charge right now, then go home. I’ll send Alexis by later to play nursemaid.” Zoran stood and handed me the folded note.

“I’m sure she’ll come running over.” I laughed but it quickly dissolved into a coughing fit.

Zoran frowned at me, “Maybe she’ll cook you some soup?”

“If she did I’m sure it would be poisoned.” I tucked the note into my picket and made for the door. “Thank you again, Zoran. A rest will be nice.”

“You truly need it. Now go home, take a warm bath, and I really will send Alexis with some medicine to help you sleep, alright?”

“Sounds good. Take care my friend.”

“You do the same, Kostya.” He clapped me on the back before I stepped into the hallway.

*****

It took my far longer than I would’ve liked to make it to my commander’s office, but I was feeling feverish and couldn’t move any faster than a slug. The commander was displeased with the news that I was to take leave, but he couldn’t argue much when he took a look at my face and read Zoran’s note.

“Very well, you have one week to recuperate, but that is all.”

“Yes, sir.” I saluted, standing up for so long was making me rather dizzy, and I felt a fine sheen of sweat on the back of my neck.

“You’re dismissed,” he growled.

“Thank you, sir.” I slowly walked out the door, trying not to trip over my feet. I shut the door behind me and turned again, not realizing there was a person there. I stumbled back and lost my already precarious balance.

“Kostya!” I heard a familiar voice cry out, then I was aware of a flutter of skirts next to my head. I cracked open one eye and found Melina’s worried face staring down at me.

“Are you alright?” She knelt next to me, running a soothing hand down the side of my face.

“I have the flu.” Melina half laughed, half sighed at me as she helped me to sit up. She started brushing back my hair from my face and frowned, “Don’t take this the wrong way, but you look horrible.”

“I feel worse.”

“Then why are you here!? You should be home resting.” I struggled to my feet even with Milena supporting me, and I had to grab the wall to keep myself upright.

“I saw the doctor, I have a week off. I was on my way home now.”

“And were you going to walk?“ She tutted under her breath. “I’ll call an escort, come on, let’s go get you better, hmm?”

*****

I honestly have no recollection of the ride back to my house. All I know is that when I opened my eyes again it was nighttime and I was tucked into my bed. I pulled the covers up, saw that I was no longer dressed in my uniform but in nightclothes, and prayed to God that Milena hadn’t changed me.

“Ah, I see you’re awake.” I looked up as she pushed open my bedroom door and waltzed in, carrying a tray of what appeared to be steaming soup--an apron tied about her slim waist. She sat the tray on the table in the corner and plopped down on my bed, one cool hand reaching out to touch my forehead. “I think your fever has gone down. Feeling any better?”

I took mental stock of myself and found that I did indeed feel better. I no longer felt like the room was spinning, and my muddled thoughts were much clearer. I nodded at her slowly, licking my dry lips.

“Here, let me get you some water.” She flounced over to the table and grabbed up a cup. I pulled myself to a seated position and greedily drained the cup.

“When I called the escort I ran into Alex, he helped me get you home since I had no idea where you lived, and are much too big for me to lug around on my own.” She smiled. “He went to Doctor Byko and brought you something for the fever; he’s just left again because he had to meet Mischa.”

She handed me the soup and took her seat on the edge of the bed again. “He wanted to stay, but he gave in when I hold him I would until you woke.”

“Thank you, for everything; you’re a good friend to have.” I smirked at her before devouring my soup, which was positively delicious. “Did you make that?” I was tempted to lick the bowl, but thought it impolite.

“I did.” Milena gathered up the bowl and cup and sat them back on the tray. “I had Alex pick up a few things on his way back from the doctor’s.”

“You’re full of surprises, aren’t you Milena Guseva?” I settled back into bed, fully contented with a wonderful warmth spreading through my chest.

“Maybe, maybe not. You’ll have to figure it out on your own.” Leaning forward she brushed a kiss against my forehead. Pulling back slightly her eyes searched mine a moment, looking for something. When she finally found it, she pressed her lips against mine for a heartbeat. Then she pulled back completely, and flashed a quick smile before she scurried out of the room.

I stared after the closed door for a long time, much like after my first meeting with her. Finally I rolled to one side, wondering if sleep would ever claim me when my heart was beating wildly in my chest and thoughts of soft lips were rushing around my head.

*****

I awoke the next morning to an empty house and a pot of soup on the stove. Milena had left a note telling me to get some rest, and said she would be by later that day. She made no reference to the kiss. Sighing to myself I warmed up some of the soup, put the bowl in the sink when I was finished, and went back to bed.

I slept off and on for nearly two days and by the third I was greatly improved. I bathed and dressed before wandering to the kitchen, only then did it occur to me that I hadn’t seen or heard from either Alexis or Milena in the last three days.

Everything was exactly as I had left it and I found all of that greatly disconcerting. Venturing outside I flagged down a neighbor as they were dashing back into their house.

“You best stay inside, Kostya. It was a peaceful demonstration for lack of food, then it turned into a protest and now it’s all gone mad!” I tried to ask more questions, but he waved me off and ducked inside. However, I did as he suggested and stayed indoors--like a coward. Then finally, after another three days, Galina came.

The knock came on my door late in the evening, and quite urgently; I opened it to find her tear stained face. I led her into the foyer, she was shaking and waved off my offer of tea, “You heard about the demonstrations?”

“Partly from a neighbor, I wasn’t well.”

“Mm, I know; I saw Alex the day you fell ill. People were demonstrating because there’s not enough food, and there are deserters from the military. Then the women workers joined them in a strike and everyone crowded the streets. Even Mischa joined them, the stupid girl.” Galina blew her reddening nose and continued on.

“More activists came, it started spreading across all of Petrograd. Everyone is starving and this war they have us fighting is pointless! The Duma called for the Tsar to step down! They took control and sent out the guard, Alex was with them. But some of the lower ranking men started defecting…. it turned into riots. Armed civilians firing on the guard and the guard firing back.” Galina broke down into sobs, “They’re gone…”

“What?” I leaned toward her, hoping to better understand her words.

“Gone, Kostya!! Alex and Mischa are dead!” I moved forward and wrapped her in my arms, my own tears mixing with hers.

“How?” I managed to choke out.

“Mischa’s friends brought her to me, it was a stay bullet. I don’t know what happened to Alex. Your friend, Milena, sent word this afternoon; it was addressed to Mischa. Alex never knew.” Galina was shaking and completely inconsolable, I had no idea what to say or do, so I just sat with her.

*****

Galina left an hour later, after having gathered herself together somewhat. She had offered for me to come and stay with her family for the night, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave the house. I kept thinking back on all the memories it held of my family: playing with Alexis when I was boy after mother died, how she came to stay with me for two weeks after father died.

I knew I had to send word to my Aunt and Uncle, but how could I even begin to explain what had happened? Alexis was supposed to be Moscow. I sat down at my desk and just stared at the paper when there was another knock my door. I found Milena on other side, she looked tired and heartbroken, her hair tumbling all around her face and glowing in the street lamps. She looked like a fallen angel.

“You know,” she whispered.

“Galina came,“ I sighed, slowly shaking my head. “Mischa too.” She clapped a hand over her mouth, breathing heavily through her nose as tears welled in her eyes. I stepped back and she rushed inside. Closing the door slowly, I moved back to the foyer and found her seated on the floor right in front of the fire. She quickly shucked off her coat, gloves, and scarf and tossed them onto a chair.

“I’m so sorry, Kostya.” Her voice was soft and full of pain. Without a word I sat down beside her, stretching my legs toward the fire. The room was quiet, the only sound was the crackling fire in the hearth and the rustle of fabric as Melina pulled her knees up, resting her chin on top.

“Me too,” I finally whispered. Her hand inched over and she laced her fingers with mine. We sat there together, with our fingers intertwined, staring at the fire; the stillness of the room both comforting and unnerving.

“Kostya?” Milena said after a while, she sounded so young and frightened in that moment it broke my heart.

“Yes?”

“I’m a horrible person.” She bent her head, burying her face in her skirts, and started crying. I reached out a hand to caress her hair softly, “Don’t say that, you’re one of the kindest people I’ve ever met.”

“No.” She shook her head violently then lifted her tearstained face toward mine, her eyes full of remorse. “They brought it people, I was helping Doctor Byko, and finally Alex was wheeled… I held his hand while he died. I cried for him, my friend, but the entire time I had this feeling inside.“ She tapped her chest roughly. “I was thankful knowing it wasn’t you! That you were safe!”

I brushed her hair behind her ear, taking a moment to steady my voice before I spoke. “Th--that doesn’t make you a horrible person.”

“It does! Innocent people died; they left behind grieving families! But I was happy because I knew you would be alright--no matter happened, you were fine.”

I gathered her in my arms, rubbing her back and trying my best to sooth her; like I had Galina. Finally her sobs quieted down to a few hiccups and sniffles and she pulled back from me, shyly wiping at her face.

“I must look awful,” she mumbled. I got up and pulled out a handkerchief from the linen closet. Her fingers were trembling as she took it from mine with a muttered thank you, carefully dabbed at her eyes and nose.

“You look beautiful,” I finally said. Milena glanced up at me with wide eyes. “You always do.”

“You scare me, Kostya.” I had expected her to say several things at that moment, but not that, and I would be lying if I said it hadn’t hurt. I pulled back slightly, but her hand on my arm stopped any further escape. When I turned back, her glowing face was inches from mine and her warm breath tickled my chin when she spoke.

“B-because you make me feel so many things, all at once, and I can’t even name them all.” She stopped and slowly licked her lips before continuing. “I feel over warm when you’re near me, and cold when you leave. You give me butterflies when you look at me, and I feel like a nervous little girl, but I don’t want that feeling to ever go away. I think about you all the time, and I want to know everything about you. I-” Leaning forward the few millimeters between us I pressed my lips against hers, cutting off her words.

She stilled, her back rigid. My heart was thundering in my chest and I was ready to pull back, cursing myself a fool, when she finally responded. In that moment I was lost to the world--to the war, the coming revolution, even my grief.

The only thing that mattered were her soft lips on mine, her sweet scent clouding my senses, and the feel of her gentle hands as they tangled in my hair. The kiss was slow, sweet, and thoroughly intoxicating. When we pulled apart for air I was light headed, but I wanted nothing more than to kiss her again.

My eyes drifted open and I found Milena’s were still closed. Her naturally full lips were slightly swollen and pink, matching her cheeks--she was absolutely the most beautiful creature I had ever seen.

She let out a contented sigh, breath caressing my cheek. “… think I might love you,” she finished dreamily.

“I think I might love you, too,” I whispered in her ear. Her eyes snapped open and searched mine, like she had when I was ill. And I realized now why it unnerved me so much; it didn’t feel like she was searching my eyes so much as my soul. I only prayed she found what she was looking for.

Her sharp blue eyes relaxed, eyelids drooping in a very seductive way, and she raised one hand to push me back onto the floor. Her lips were on mine the next moment, her slight weight settling onto my chest as she leaned over me. I dug my fingers into her thick golden mane, and deepened the kiss. She made a noise in the back of her throat that was somewhere between a mew and groan.

“Take me to bed,” she whispered against my lips. I broke off the kiss and stared at her, “Are you sure?”

“Yes. Please?” With her golden hair tumbling around her face she looked like a goddess, and I knew I would never be able to deny her anything.

“Fine, but…I mean, I’ve never,” I stuttered, feeling foolish as my face grew hot. Gently she placed her hand on my cheek, a small smile tugging her lips.

“Neither have I, but I wouldn’t want it to be anyone other than you.” Then her lips were on mine again and I found nothing else mattered.