Chapter Text
Anatoly leant heavily on Vladimir as they walked through the snow; the powdery, pale substance giving way beneath their feet, making him stumble. Vladimir looked back, wincing at the sight of the trails of red leading directly to them.
“We have to move quicker.”
“I cannot.”
“Anatoly, they will find us.”
The younger whimpered and straightened up as best he could, only succeeding in causing more blood to ooze from the wound in his stomach. Vladimir could have thrown up. If it had been anyone else’s blood he wouldn’t have batted an eyelash but seeing his brother’s made his insides heave. He gently helped them over to a nearby rock, leaning Anatoly on it. He tugged the ragged shirt he had on off, tearing a large strip from it. Lifting Anatoly’s shirt, the soaked fabric clinging to his bloody skin, he tied it gently around him, making sure the knot was tight. Pain radiated from his brother’s eyes, but Vladimir could see the determination not to make a noise.
“Well done...”
He tugged Anatoly up as carefully and quickly as he could, continuing the marathon down the mountain.
“The guards here fight well.”Vladimir growled, trying to distract his brother was the pain he was in. “
They’re trained to deal with some of the worst criminals possible...”
Anatoly broke off, shaking his head. Something beneath the snow shifted and he stumbled, pain flashing through him like lightning. “Shit.”
Vladimir stopped, letting his brother rest for a second, leaning into him. He tried not to show how worried he wasas he asked breathlessly, “Are you alright?”
Anatoly clenched his teeth hard, reaching out and grabbing Vladimir’s hand gripping it hard, staring off into the distance.
Readying himself.
“Fine. We need to go South.”
“So anywhere but Siberia?”
Anatoly managed a small chuckle; that, Vladimir could be proud of before he lugged his brother down the treacherous hill once more.
//
The door easily gave way under Vladimir’s boot and Anatoly collapsed on the threshold, panting heavily. Vladimir could have screamed as he knelt down to scoop his brother up bridal style, carrying him to the couch the small hut offered. It wasn’t a permanent place to stay; no-one was here,that much was obvious by the spider webs hanging from the wooden beams across the ceiling, but once they found out the brothers had escaped, the guards would come looking.
Vladimir shut the door; heading into the kitchen to search through the dusty cupboards, throwing things away when they were no use, beginning to get desperate. Everyone had them in this part of Siberia, so where the hell was this one?
There.
Фирст Аид Кит
The white words stuck out on the red box, and Vladimir could have kissed someone. He grabbed the first aid kit, running back to the living room to lift his brother’s shirt; the makeshift bandage he had tied round it was soaked through with blood. Vladimir hastily untied it and winced at the angry wound, still oozing blood.
“I’ll give the guards this. They’re a good shot.”
Anatoly let out a weakening laugh, humouring his brother’s weak attempt to make light of their situation. Vladimir looked through the first aid kit, pulling some of the anti-sceptic spray out. It wasn’t ideal, but it would have to do for now. He gently sprayed it onto the wound, wanting to sob as Anatoly cried out, hand clenching Vladimir’s bicep.
“It’s okay, brother, it has to be done.”
He nodded, eyes tightly shut as he took a breath.
“Just hurry.”
//
Vladimir leant back, watching the blood bubble under the stitching on his brother’s back. Anatoly had gone silent a while ago, making the process easier – who could do such a thing well, when they had to listen to their baby brother whining in pain as they sewed him up. Carefully, Vladimir found the bandages in the kit, wrapping them around his chest before jumping slightly.
“Rest, brother.”
Vladimir looked up at Anatoly’s face, eyes barely open.
“I’m going to find some food in this place and then rest.”
Anatoly nodded and went to sit up, only to cry out in shock and mild pain when Vladimir forced him back down.
“Rest, Anatoly, you need it.”
Vladimir tugged the moth-eaten blanket from the back of the couch, wrapping it around his brother. The younger grimaced before settling against the couch. His eyes closed and Vladimir sighed a little, staying where he was, watching Anatoly.
Once his brother was safe, he would rest then.
Фирст Аид Кит
means "First Aid Kit" in Siberian