Somebody isn’t happy about finding me there

I smile in my sleep, to the sensation of somebody softly stroking my hair. I adjust myself to snuggle closer against the warm chest I’m laying on. A pair of lips gently kiss my forehead. My eyes begin to open groggily.

“Don’t wake up.” Nikolai whispers to me, still stroking my hair. “You look so peaceful.”

“Okay.” I mumble back, closing my eyes again.

Somebody whistles seductively, and I open my eyes to see Alyona squat down on the other side of Nikolai.

“You look comfy.” She giggles at us.

“Don’t tell me we have to fucking get up already.” I grumble.

“We still have a few minutes.” She tells us. “You look cute together.”

“Cute.” A disgruntled voice scoffs. I turn my head to see Maxim standing at our feet. He gives me a filthy look, one of pure disgust.

“Fuck.” I mutter under my breath.

“HIM?” He asks angrily. “What the fuck!”

“Leave her alone, Maxim.” Alyona scolds him. Nikolai and I get up.

“Stay out of this, blonde.” Maxim snaps back at her. “I thought she didn’t want to do anything because she just lost her boyfriend.”

“We didn’t do anything.” I argue. “Take it easy.”

“No fucking way, this is bullshit!” Maxim whines. “After all the work I put in, and you choose him? I thought you just lost your boyfriend!”

“I did.”

At this point, a crowd has begun to gather around us.

“I thought you weren’t ready, and I waited! I waited for you in this shithole, and now you don’t give me anything!” Maxim complains.

“I don’t owe you anything.” I snap back at him.

“Yet you fuck some guy you barely know, you dirty fucking slut!”

I gasp at the insult.

“Don’t you DARE call her a slut!” Nikolai growls. “And she’s right, we didn’t do anything. She just wanted to sleep next to somebody that makes her feel safe, not like a piece of meat!”

“Safe? With you? Ha!” Maxim snorts. “She should know that I’m better than you!” Maxim looks over at me. “I can take better care of you than him! I’m a nice guy, you should give me a chance!”

“You called me a slut, asshole!” I snap back at him. “Go fuck yourself!”

“Whatever!” Maxim says, flustered. “It’s your loss!”

“My loss?” I ask. “Ha! How sad, I’ll never get to let big, strong, cool Maxim use my delicate little body as a cum rag. What a tragedy!”

“You’re going to regret this.” He argues. “You’re not as hot as you think you are.”

“Oh really?” I laugh at him. “You’ve been trying to get in my pants from the moment you saw me!”

“Just shut up and stop being a bitch!” He whines. “You’re making me look bad in front of everyone!”

“You’re making yourself look bad.” Ivan interjects, cutting through the crowd and putting his hand on Maxim’s shoulder. “She doesn’t want you, get over it.”

Maxim swats Ivan’s hand away. “This is none of your business!”

“My soldiers are in a crowd bickering and fighting each other, that’s my business. Now cut the shit or there will be hell to pay!”

“Yes, sir.” Maxim defeatedly mumbles under his breath.

“Now make up with your comrades.” Ivan orders him. “Shake Nikolai’s hand.”

Nikolai steps in front of a distraught Maxim and extends his hand.

“Do it.” Ivan urges him.

With a scowl on his face Maxim hastily grabs Nikolai’s hand and gives him a single, bare minimum jerk before yanking his hand back. He doesn’t make eye contact with him.

“Now apologize to Tatyana for all the awful things you said.” Ivan demands.

“What?” Maxim argues. “She should be apologizing to me!”

I snicker.

“Do it or you’re sent to a penal battalion.” Ivan threatens.

“Okay, fine.” Maxim grumbles, then turns to me. “I’m sorry.” He mutters under his breath, looking at my feet.

“That was weak, but I’ll call it good enough.” Ivan says, patting Maxim’s back.

“Everybody!” Ivan calls for our attention. “Get ready, we’ve wasted enough time, and we have fascists to kill!”