Chapter Text
Rose walked along the corridor to her room, humming softly under her breath. Lissa had promised to come over to watch a movie with her, and since Christian was busy spending time with his aunt Tasha, he wouldn’t be around to make snarky, unwanted comments. Honestly, the day couldn’t get much better.
Smiling, Rose rounded the corner and stopped barely an inch away from Dimitri Belikov. She stepped back lightly. “Hey, comrade,” She said with a grin that she knew looked ridiculous. The grin slowly faded as she noted his expression. His jaw was clenched, his eyes stormy.
Without a word, he jerked his head towards the direction of his room. “Follow me,” He growled, eyes darkening by the minute. He spun on his heel and stalked off down the hallway rapidly.
Rose scrunched her face in confusion but hurried to catch up. “Slow down, Dimitri,” She said, breathless, as she finally caught up to him. At the sound of his name on her lips, his eyes narrowed ever so slightly. They reached his room, and he opened the door jerkily. Stepping in after him, Rose frowned. “Comrade, I really hope this is going to be quick, because I-”
His mouth crashed onto hers sloppily, and she stiffened in shock. Before she could even properly register what had happened, he was off her and across the room, his fingers running through his hair, muttering what sounded suspiciously like profanities in Russian.
Rose touched a trembling finger to her mouth, which was open and gaping like a fish. “Dimitri,” She breathed.
Dimitri turned away. “Don’t,” He said gruffly. Rose cocked her head.
“Excuse me?” She asked softly. “I wasn’t the one who-”
“Don’t call me that,” He said tightly. “It’s Guardian Belikov to you, Miss Hathaway,”
Rose stared at him, more shocked than before. “Dimitri, I don’t know what is-”
“I’m leaving,” He said abruptly. “I’m leaving with Tasha Ozera to be her guardian.”
Of all the things that he could have said, that had not even occurred to Rose. She blinked up at him. “But Tasha… she wants you,” She said lamely. All she could focus on was the word leaving.
Leaving. Going away. Getting away from her.
Dimitri hissed out a breath. “She needs a guardian,” He stated, his voice cutting. “And her first choice was me.”
This could not be happening. He had declared that he wanted her just weeks ago. What had changed?
Rose took a step back. Then another. Then another.
Her back hit the door and she fumbled for the knob. She needed to get out- to get out and scream, cry, kick, do something, anything. She just couldn’t stand another moment near him.
Dimitri’s eyes snapped up to hers, and there was a wild, almost caged look about them. He started towards her, his arms held out.
Rose felt tears blurring her eyes, but her voice was firm when she hissed out a last farewell. “Have fun with her, Dimitri. At least she can give you children,”
She bolted out of the door, not glancing back once.