Do svidaniya: Chapter Four
Name: Do svidaniya
Characters: Kunzite, Minako with other appearances.
Rating: R
Warnings: Swearing (though mainly Russian), adult themes, some violence.
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
Backstage was a hectic, whirling mass of confusion. Dancers where hopping around, pulling off leotards and pulling on pants. Family, friends, and fans all milled around, handing out flowers and words of appreciation.
As we struggled through the tide of people, the orchestra was just coming up from the pit, adding to the crush. I picked up Helena to keep her safe, and from her high vantage point she easily spotted Mischa.
“There she is, Alex!” she cried, one hand gesturing wildly to the other side of the hall. Alexis raised herself on the balls of her feet, one hand bracing against my shoulder, and smiled as she found her target.
“Mischa!” she called, waving a hand wildly. Mischa’s face lit up as Alexis took off through the people, bodily shoving them out of her path.
“Alex certainly is, uh, focused, isn’t he?” Milena quirked an eyebrow at me. I merely shrugged a shoulder, “he knows what he wants and he goes after it.”
“So I see,” she giggled.
“Come on, I’ll protect you from the crowd.” I winked, wrapping an arm around Milena’s waist, and hiking Helena higher up on my shoulder, where she was having a fantastic time looking down on everyone.
“Look! That man has a toupee and it’s coming up in the back!” She pointed excitedly to a portly man, who indeed, was losing a battle with his rebellious toupee.
Milena stared up at Helena incredulously, “that’s rude! Have you no manners child!?”
“How is it rude? It‘s true.” Milena appeared slightly perplexed at that, and gnawed on her lower lip as she pondered the question a moment before snapping back to the present. “It just is!” she finally hissed.
I laughed under my breath, and tightened my arm around Milena, steering her to safety along the wall. She bent her head, and turned in toward me, apparently hiding her face from a group of dancers. I wondered why she would hide from her old friends?
“Kostya you’re very strong,” Helena stated with a slight bob of her head.
“Am I?” I cocked an eyebrow up at her as I skirted around a large man who was talking very animatedly with the conductor. I tucked Milena bit closer when one of his hands came flying close to her face.
“Yes, carrying me around like this.” Finally free of the crowd, we walked along the wall to where Mischa and Alexis were. I stopped after a moment and looked up to Helena.
“I’m not strong, you’re just very light.” I swung her from my shoulder and tipped her upside down. “Kostya!” she shrieked, flailing her arms. I stopped and sat her up right. Straightening her dress and glared up at me.
“That wasn’t very nice,” she reproached. “It’s not proper for a little girl, epically in a dress!” Kneeling before her I tried to arrange my face in what I hoped was a remorseful look, but judging by the way Milena was biting her thumb behind Helena, I wasn’t very successful.
“I’m very sorry, Helena, it won’t happen again. And I promise to treat you like a proper lady for the rest of the night, alright?” She beamed up at me and leaned forward to kiss my cheek. Rising to my feet I offered one arm to Helena and the other to Milena.
“You shouldn’t do that,“ Milena whispered in my ear. “Or else she’ll never leave you alone.”
“It’s alright, I don’t mind. Besides, it means I get to see you more,” I added, feeling bold. Milena didn’t look at me, instead focusing ahead, but a small smile was tugging the corner of her mouth, and I took that as a good sign. Finally we reached our goal and Alexis introduced the girls to Mischa.
“I see your flowers made it through the fray unscathed.” Milena nodded toward the bouquet in Mischa’s arms.
“They did, aren’t they beautiful?“ Mischa buried her face into the blooms and took a deep breath. “I told Alex that you bring flowers to the dancers, not the musicians.”
“And I told her that none of the ballerinas are as pretty as she is.” Mischa made a face at Alexis and swatted her gently, but I could see a blush creeping up on Mischa’s cheeks nonetheless. And indeed Mischa did look stunning in a teal dress, her wavy hair held back with two glittering combs.
“Well look what the proverbial cat dragged in,” drawled a snide voice behind us.
Turning around I found a lean man dressed in a finely tailored suit; he was slightly built, barely reaching my shoulders, but with a wiry power that was evident in the way he held his shoulders. His face was smooth and fine boned, giving an almost effeminate look, but his blue eyes were sharp and cold like the winter night outside.
“Hello, Sergei.” Milena sighed tiredly, ruffling the few tendrils of hair that curled around her face, before stepping forward to greet the man.
“Milena!” He leaned forward, hands hovering above her shoulders as he brushed a ghost of a kiss against her cheeks. Pulling back he smiled at her, “How have you been?”
“I have been well, thank you.” She nodded, her arms were wrapped around her waist and I could practically feel the unease rolling off her in waves.
“So I see, been enjoying a bit too much Khalva?” He tutted and I fisted my hands at my side. “Although I know it is hard to keep your figure when you’re not training everyday.”
“I train,” Milena defended.
“But not like you used to, not with your knee. Such a shame, that was, we were so sorry to see you go.”
“I’m sure you were,” Milena muttered under her breath but he didn’t appear to hear.
“Though, I see you’ve found other things to keep you occupied.” Sergei’s eyes peered at me over Milena’s shoulder.
“Oh, how rude of me.” Milena rolled her eyes behind his back. “Sergei, these are my friends. You might know Mischa? She’s a violinist.”
“Yes, I’ve seen you at rehearsals, you’re quite talented.” Sergei extended a hand and shook Mischa’s.
“This is her boyfriend, Alex, he’s on the guard.” Alexis nodded at Sergei but didn’t shake his hand, obviously she felt the same way about him as I did. “I’m a Governess now, and this is my charge, Helena.”
Helena dipped into a pretty curtsey. When she straightened her eyes were dancing with excitement. “Are you the director?”
“I am.” Sergei crouched before her. “Did you like it?”
“Yes, sir, very much!”
“Might we have a new ballerina in our midst?” Helena looked awestruck at the thought. “Maybe someday! Milena, will you teach me?” She turned shining eyes on Milena.
“We’ll see, Helena.” Milena patted the girl’s dark hair.
“Come see me when you want a real teacher, hmm?” Sergei winked down at Helena and I could see Milena’s jaw working as she clenched her teeth. Her eyes met mine and some of the tension eased from her shoulders.
“And this is Kostya.” Stepping forward she took my hand and I squeezed it gently. Sergei eyed me a moment, apparently scrutinizing my appearance. In a moment of annoyance I stood up to my full height, trying to make myself look as imposing as possible. It worked too, his eyes left me after a moment and focused again on Milena.
“He’s not your usual type. but I suppose he’s handsome enough.” Sergei flicked a hand airily and Milena visibly bristled, eyes narrowing to slits.
“We must be going now,“ she ground out and shoved her way past Sergei, dragging me along. “Svoloch” she swore under her breath as we moved through the crowd, finally reaching a side door and stumbling through to a deserted hallway. Only then did she slow down to wait for the others to catch up. Leaning back against the wall and letting out another sigh, I thought she looked very small and very tired.
“I’m sorry. Kostya.”
“Why? You didn’t do anything.” I shrugged and leaned back next to her.
“He’s just… so rude and backhanded. He always been that way, builds you up, tears you down and then builds you up again. It’s because of him I can’t dance anymore, that I hurt my knee.”
“What?” I felt a surge of anger at the thought he might have caused her any harm.
“Not directly,” she waved it off absently. “But I always wanted to do my best because I was his ‘shining star’, so I pushed myself too hard. I danced when I should have rested, and I ignored pains when I should have seen a physician. When we were in Paris, performing for Sergei’s mentor no less, I landed wrong and my knee shattered. It’s a miracle I can still walk. After that there was no chance I would ever dance again, so I meant nothing to him. He made sure I was shamed out of the dance world; I could‘ve taught, but he didn‘t want that.”
“You’re right, he is a svoloch.”
“Look, there are the others. Let’s go get our coats, hmm?” She pushed away from the wall, but I caught her wrist before she could get too far.
“Mischa’s parents own a restaurant, we were going to go for dinner, you and Helena should come.”
“I don’t know, it’s late and I should get Helena home...”
“Come on, it will be fun. Besides, whatever Sergei said, I think you look too thin.” She giggled at that, turning her head and covering her mouth slightly.
Melina glanced down at my hand still wrapped around her wrist and, wriggling it free, she laced her fingers with mine before smiling up at me with bright blue eyes, “It sounds lovely.”
*****
Outside the streets were covered in fresh snow but it had lightened up for the moment. We all piled into Alexis’s rented carriage for the drive across town, I was wedged in against the wall with Milena partially on my lap, not that I minded, and the ride seemed quite short despite the icy streets.
Stopping in front of the restaurant we spilled out of the carriage onto the frozen road, and made out way inside where we were greeted by Mischa’s mother. Galina took a moment to gush over how wonderful we all looked, then proceeded feed us until we could barely move.
At the end of the meal we were all sipping on Galina’s chocolate vodka, but I made sure I was in control of the amount in my glass. Emptying the contents I noticed that Helena was dozing on two chairs she had shoved together earlier, and glancing toward the clock I realized how late it was.
“I should get her home before her father starts to worry,” Milena said as she ran a hand down Helena’s face; the girl stirred slightly then settled back further into the cushions, content.
“I admit my bed is sounding quite nice,” Mischa murmured, stifling a yawn. Her eyes were dropping and she was leaning against Alexis’s shoulder for support.
Milena and I helped to clean the table, thanking Galina profusely for the fine meal, before we gathered our things and stepped outside. The skies had cleared up completely and the full moon shone down on the freshly fallen snow drifts, making them glisten and twinkle like the stars in the velvet sky stretching out over us.
We carefully made our way over the icy sidewalk to the carriage. Alexis had hold of Helena, who was fast asleep and bundled up in her coat and a spare borrowed from Mischa’s sister.
“I’ll drive you back, Milena, it’s on the way to Mischa’s apartment.” Alexis offered, hiking up Helena on her shoulder.
“Thank you, that would be wonderful.” Alexis nodded before she went to place the slumbering girl in the carriage with Mischa’s help.
“Are you coming, Kostya?” Mischa called over her shoulder.
I shook my head. “No, I’m out of the way. I’ll just walk to the barracks for the night… it’s not far.”
Mischa nodded, “Come have lunch with us tomorrow, alright?”
“Absolutely.” She smiled at me and turned back to help Alexis.
Milena took that moment to step forward and say goodbye. “Thank you again, Kostya.” The smile that lit her face was more luminous than the moon suspended above us.
“It was my pleasure, I’m glad you could join us tonight.”
“Mmm, yes, that, but I meant thank you for everything. You’re a good friend to have.” I swallowed thickly as she stepped forward and placed a hand on my arm; she rose up on her toes and placed a kiss on my cheek. “I’ll see you later?”
“Uh huh,” I mumbled absently, watching dumbly as she walked to the carriage and stepped inside.
The night was cold, with no cloud cover and a biting wind that cut to your core. But as I turned toward the barracks, breath puffing before my face in white plumes, I felt a heat spreading from my cheek, down my throat, and finally settling somewhere in my chest. Suddenly the walk back didn’t seem so daunting.