Chapter Text
Upon initial consideration, Lev had sworn to himself that Kolya and the week-long arduous journey through the wintry landscapes that surrounded Piter would be nothing more than a memory left to collect dust in the messy corners of his mind. He had amended this of course when he met Vika, a woman unlike any other: unlike Vera Osipovna, whose affections lied with Oleg Antokolsky, unlike the girls from the cabin with their soft eyes, and unlike the almost motherly fondness of Sonya. All women before Vika struck him only faintly in comparison. But he was not well acquainted with love then, and it would be a falsity to claim that Vika had left him any more familiar.
He could not forget that week, and as the war came to an end, three years following the experience, it would remain center stage in his mind. Kolya did not let him forget their friendship, to Lev’s dismay at times and joy at others. It was far too often that Kolya would come to Lev’s flat, drunk and just needing a place to stay even though they lived in the same building… the same floor, even.
Lev’s musing on the previous three years came to an abrupt and unsatisfactory end when there were several sharp knocks at his door. His breath caught for a moment, thinking the worst out of habit or perhaps paranoia. He had done nothing particularly suspect— his life was never so eventful. Though of course, neither had his father. Rhyming words published to a niche audience of the literati were hardly a viable threat. But this didn’t matter much, apparently.
“Lev Abramovich answer the door!”
His nearly paralyzing fear melted away when he heard Kolya's voice outside of his flat. He had come just on time, at least according to his usual routine, but Lev couldn’t quite tell by his voice if he was drunk once again.
Lev stepped up to the door and opened it, trying to not make much noise though he wasn’t sure for whose sake this precaution was taken. As it stood, he had lived alone for nearly 2 years.
“Kolya,” he sighed, feigning irritation, “Isn’t it late? Have you been drinking?”
“You always assume I’m terribly inebriated every time I come over. Can I not visit my best friend?” Kolya smirked, inviting himself into the flat and yawning obnoxiously,
“On that note, no I am not drunk.”
“Surprising,” he rolled his eyes, trying not to yawn too. He rarely got the sleep his body seemed to beg for.
As if Kolya had read his mind, Lev noticed him looking him up and down, a brow cocked and an expression somewhat similar to concern painted on his face.
“Maybe it’s late for you. You look like shit.”
He scoffed and locked the door once more, sliding the rusty latch back into place.
“What do you want?”
“If you’re truly that tired, I can leave, my friend,” Kolya laughed weakly, looking into the mirror above the dirty corner where lev kept his boots and a few of Kolya's shoes that he had somehow forgotten over time.
“No, Kolya. just answer the question,” Lev caught Kolya's greatcoat as it fell off his shoulders and hung it up on the coat rack.
“Fine, fine,” he raised his hands defensively and his smirk reappeared across his lips.
“My family has a cabin in Kuybyshev. with the war and such we haven’t been able to return in several years, you see. Wait.”
“What?”
“Tea. Do you have any?”
“Why do you ask?”
“To read your future, little lion,” he said with a clear air of sarcasm paired with his incredulous expression.
"To drink it. As one usually does with tea.”
Lev nodded and went into the kitchen area as Kolya followed behind him like a dog that hadn’t been fed in weeks. He prepared the tea bag in a teacup with faded paint on its surface as the water came to a boil. He rarely used the cup, but with how often Kolya demanded the drink it had grown worn.
“So your dacha, yes?” Lev beckoned for the story to continue, perhaps with a bit more haste.
“Yes, yes. Usually, the duty of its cleaning goes to my brother Vasily. You’ve never heard much of him though,” he rambled on.
“He is not interested in a visit this year and does not feel any need to keep the home and land maintained. The issue is that my family usually gets a great deal of use out of the place, and to leave it unkept for so long might cause great damage. All that to say that I’d like for you to come with me to make sure it’s all in good condition and to get away from this city.”
Lev was pouring the tea into the teacup when the proposition made him twitch, or perhaps jump, and some of the scalding water flew onto his skin.
“Shit!” he cursed, turning on the faucet to cool the burn now placed on the still-attached half of his index finger.
“Are you alright?” Kolya looked over to him and poorly hid a mocking smile from his lips.
“Yes, I'm fine,” Lev shook his head quickly, though the burn did sting even under the freezing water.
“Anyways, what do you say then?”
Lev looked up and out the window that only offered a view of the residential building parallel to his own. If he said no, Kolya would act nearly as dejected as if he had just been broken up with by a pretty lady. He’d likely act pouty even though Lev’s presence wasn’t the deciding factor in whether or not he made the trip to Kuybyshev. He’d then leave come morning, with little notice left, and ignorance of the anxiety it would bring his many friends. If Lev said yes, Kolya would be satisfied, perhaps overjoyed. Lev would never understand why Kolya was so adamant about taking trips with him. It was not as if that were a new experience; that milestone in their friendship had been long reached.
With the pressure for an answer becoming heavier and heavier in the cool air of the flat, Lev sighed softly and nodded.
“Truly? You’ll come with?” There was an unmistakable joy to Kolya's face and he wrapped an arm around Lev’s shoulder and pulled him into what was a strange quarter-hug.
“Wonderful! We will leave for the dacha in three days. Thank you.”
He gently slid the teacup over to Kolya, whose smile would not leave his face even as he took a sip and likely burnt his tongue in the process.
“I look forward to it,” Lev smiled weakly, drying his hands off gently.
“I’m sure you do!” Kolya laughed, leaning against the countertop.
Despite the time, and the almost constant company Kolya offered, Lev could never acclimate to the look of Kolya in plainclothes. He was still striking in his typical way, not just in the face. His body was far from lacking, with his broad shoulders, lean build, and perfect posture when he was focused on it. The clothes that he wore, often button-up shirts that were soft and warm to the touch and dark slacks with the same belt every day only complimented his stature. Of course, his face was of no detriment to him either, with his sharp and defined cheekbones and jaw. Abnormal for Lev to see nowadays, his teeth were also perfectly white and straight inside his mouth. He was the perfect Cossack— he had been made from the image of either God himself or a propaganda poster declaring the strength of the proletariat.
“You’re staring at me,” Kolya pursed his lips and took another sip of tea. “What is it then?”
“Nothing. I just… lost focus I guess,” Lev blushed deep red, the effect of this mortifying interaction.
“You need a great deal of sleep now, little lion,” Kolya reached over and patted his bony shoulder and flashed his signature smile once more. “Tomorrow I will come by and we will plan then, yes?”
“That works with me,” he nodded weakly and gave Kolya a quick smile. The embarrassment was still so clearly shown on his face.
“Goodnight then!”
After placing the teacup in the basin of the sink, Kolya returned to the door and unlocked it before stepping out of the flat. He had left his coat behind, Lev noted, but the looming feeling of exhaustion prevented him from taking any action to return it to his friend. It was cold, anyway, and perhaps he wouldn’t mind if Lev were to wear it for only a few moments as he got ready for bed.