chesspolitik | I cross over borders but I'm still there now

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I cross over borders but I'm still there now

Anatoly stirred, verging on the edge between sleep and wakefulness. He didn't particularly want to move, but Aeneas would need to be let out sooner or later and there were better ways to start the day then by having a dog jump on you.

He opened his eyes and froze, not recognizing his surroundings. He was in a shoddy-looking hotel room that had the barest of essentials. The furniture was poorly-made and looked an inch away from collapse. He recognized the dreary look only too well. He was in Moscow, he had to be. But when? And why?

In a panic, he turned to look next time and was relieved to see Lex there, appearing quite sound asleep. At least if this was another island trick, he was not left to face it alone.

"Sascha?" He shook him gently but insistently. "Sascha, wake up!"

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Lex grumbled softly and shifted towards Anatoly, not wanting to wake up quite yet. But an instant later, his brain processed the tone of Anatoly voice and the pointed difference in the surface from the one he had fallen asleep on the night before. He blinked and then sat up quickly, looking around the room for any sigh of danger or what was going on. "Tolya...Where are we?" He asked with a frown, since he had no idea.

Anatoly slipped out of the bed and gingerly crossed the carpet to peer out the window. One glance told him everything he needed to know and he turned back to face Lex. "We are in Moscow. My time."

While Lex believed him, it was still something he had to see for himself. He stood and followed Anatoly to the window, standing behind him as he put his hands around the Russian's waist.

And outside certainly looked like what he knew of Moscow in the 70s and 80s. Not to mention that the Soviet Union was a dangerous place to be for an American like him. But instead of worrying, Lex just sighed and rest his head against the back of Anatoly's. "It seems the island has sent us traveling again. But why here?"

Anatoly leaned against Lex, though he couldn't relax fully. Lex would keep him safe as best he could, he knew that much, but there was only so much he could do here. He had to pretend to be Russian, there was no other way he could survive. And if the island had brought them here after Bangkok... they were doomed.

"It is in league with Molokov?"

"And my father." Lex muttered darkly with a sigh before looking out the window again. "Let's find out what year it is. That will help." He kissed the back of Anatoly's neck before looking around the room for any clue.

When he got to the closet, he opened it and groaned. "Oh what fucking hell is this?"

"What is what?" Anatoly tore his gaze from the window to look over at Lex. He was half-afraid that Molokov's body would be in the closet and while it would be a bit satisfying to see, it would cause them more trouble then they already had.

"Is it Russian custom to dress in badly made suits?" Lex knew it was trivial thing to be complaining about in their situation but he couldn't help himself. They were just awful.

But, sucking it up, Lex pulled two of the least horrid from the closet and placed them on the bed. "Come on. The sooner we get dressed, the sooner we can figure out what's going on."

"If you have no contacts to the black market or not a party member, then you must take what you can get," Anatoly said mildly as he started getting dressed. They weren't the best suits, it was true, but it was better than nothing at all.

"If this was my time, I would. Or I could abuse my fathers." Lex grumbled to himself as he got dressed. He found a wallet on the dresser and looked through. "Well, I think I found our cover." Pulling out a government ID, complete with leather holder, he showed it to Anatoly. "It seems I'm under Molokov's employ, as your handler if I had to guess." It was a start and made things both easier and more complicated.

Seeing the ID was a relief, even as he still worried about whether Lex's accent could pass muster. Still, it might not be so bad. He spoke well enough, that was true and when it came down to it, all he had to do was flash the badge. No one with any sense would make trouble for the KGB.

He pressed a kiss to Lex's cheek and wrapped his arms around him for a few moments. "I think I am ready as I ever will be for this. Are you?"

After replacing the wallet and ID into his pocket, Lex reached up and cupped Anatoly's face with both of his hands and kissed him deeply. "As I will ever be. We will get through this Tolya. I promise." He reassured Anatoly as best he could as he leaned their foreheads together.

They stood that way for a moment before Lex let him go. "Let's go face the city, shall we?"

Anatoly took a deep breath and nodded, sticking his hands into his pockets to avoid the temptation to cling to Lex. He had to play this as if Lex was truly his handler. He had no thoughts or feelings here. He couldn't afford to.

As they exited the hotel and stepped out onto the street, he wasn't quite sure what he felt, exactly. He considered the island his true home, but he hadn't realized that a small part of him had missed Moscow. There were many terrible things happening here and all over the USSR, but this was still his city.

For once, luck was with them and there was a small newspaper stand a few feet from the hotel. Anatoly caught sight of the date and froze for a moment, hardly daring to breathe. They were here before Bangkok, before Merano. He was still admired, still respected. They could go where they pleased without fear.

"Sascha," he murmured in Russian once he had paid for the newspaper and moved safely away. He showed him the newspaper, his hand shaking. "Look. This is before everything. We can - I want to see my children. Please."

Despite the very real dangers they faced, this whole situation fascinated Lex. This was the USSR during the time when Americans thought they were the enemy. When only bad news came over the iron curtain. And while the reality wasn't sunshine and roses, it was most definitely different then American taught history would portray it.

It was a good thing Lex was not only a student of history but body language as after moments on the street he was able to adapt his posture from the proud corporate son to the more controlled, wary Russian. He kept close but just behind and to the side of Anatoly, thankful for the cover of a protective KGB handler of the chess champion traitor, and/or darling depending on the date, as it was the perfect way to protect him, even if it meant having to keep his hands to himself.

Lex stood back a bit a kept watch with false disinterest while Anatoly bought the newspaper. He could feel Anatoly's emotions pouring off him as he moved them to an alleyway, not even daring to look at the newspaper until it was safe. And he was very glad he took the newspaper from Anatoly's shaking hands so he could read it, so his down turned eyes could hide the terror that had quickly replaced relief at the Russian's request.

The worst part was, no matter how terrified Lex was of facing the fact the Anatoly was both husband and father in this time, he knew he couldn't deny him. While his first instinct was to be selfish, he knew deep down that he loved Anatoly too much to deny him this, this chance to be with the two people he knew Anatoly missed most of all on the island. The island where Lex, a child of a neglectful father, was denying the same two people of their father. It was so hypocritical it hurt and more proof why he couldn't deny Anatoly this request. Even if meant watching Anatoly in an environment where he no doubt belonged more then he did with Lex. In an environment that Lex would never have.

Under the guise of scanning the newspaper to get a better idea of the time period he was dealing with, Lex took a moment to gather himself so he could reply in a steady voice that was the complete opposite of how he felt inside. "Of course Tolya. They are here, in Moscow?"

Edited 2011-02-25 17:58 (UTC)

"They are here. The flat is not far from here, just a few blocks over," Anatoly breathed, shoving his hands in his pockets in the hopes they would stop shaking. He wasn't considering how Lex might feel about this or if he would even think they ought to take the risk. His only thoughts were of Ilona and Dmitri and the desire to see them was so powerful, he thought his heart might burst.

It killed Lex but he managed a small smile for Anatoly. "Then lead the way, Tolya. But remember," The smile disappeared as he got serious. "We have to keep cover. You are going to be Svetlana's husband and Dimitri and Ilona's father. I'm your KGB handler. If anything happens...I can't help you." Not to mention, he didn't know if he could.

He wondered if Moscow had bars and how far the nearest one was from Anatoly's flat. He already needed a drink.

"I know," Anatoly answered quietly, his head bent slightly in deference to Lex. He might be a little rusty but he could still play the game, still say and do one thing while his heart thought another. It would be difficult but all worth it for the opportunity of seeing his children.

As he lead the way, they were the only thoughts in his mind. Svetlana, Molokov, even Lex was all but forgotten, pushed back into the category of things of secondary importance. Nothing mattered but Dmitri and Ilona and nothing else could stand in his way.

Lex used to think he was good at that game, but he'd never cared about something this much with his heart before. But it was do or die in this case so he had no choice. For once, Lionel's training was going to prove fruitful.

He retook his position behind and to the side of Anatoly as he followed him, using the distraction of keeping watch to hide the growing fear pooling in his gut. He'd faced down Lionel Luthor time after time, but the thought of facing Anatoly's wife and children was almost making him loose any composure he was trying to hold onto.

When they were just outside the flat, Lex couldn't resist any longer. He pulled Anatoly back into the stairwell. He looked around for a moment before pulling him into a kiss, a very possessive kiss but he couldn't help himself. Anatoly was his, dammit, and the thought of sharing him with the people who had prior claim on him scared him to death. But he would. After this kiss.

It was a very dangerous thing for them to do, but Anatoly clung to Lex gratefully as he returned the kiss. This was the last bit of comfort he could take from him for some time - from the moment he walked into the door until they were in the privacy of their hotel room, Lex had to be nothing more than his handler. If he even looked more than a moment at him, people might guess.

He let go very reluctantly and took a deep breath. He was afraid of his reception, afraid that his children wouldn't like or even remember him but he had to do this. He had to try.

His hand shaking, he knocked on the door and waited.

Perhaps it was cowardice on his part, but as they waited, Lex kept more watch on the hallway then on the flat door. It was selfish, but he didn't want to see the happy look on Anatoly's wife and children's faces when they saw their wayward husband and father, especially since he wasn't sure if he could keep his composure from revealing his dismay, guilt and jealousy or worse yet, grabbing Anatoly and claiming him as Lex's.

Lex never had learned to share well, but this was just ridiculous.

When the door opened, Anatoly immediately rushed inside, his heart pounding with emotion. He remembered himself enough to greet Svetlana with a chaste kiss on her cheek and explain who Lex was and why he was here.

The real focus of his attention was on his children and he fell to his knees with a soft cry, holding out his arms to them. They rushed over and he wrapped them into his arms, holding them as tightly as he could. He could feel his eyes start to water and his throat seize up with the effort of keeping himself together, but it didn't matter. He was finally with his beloved children and for a little while, he could pretend that everything was alright.

For the most part, Lex tried to keep his attention solely on Svetlana. He gave her a polite nod and exchanged forced pleasantries, for which he didn't feel bad since he could tell it was the same for both sides.

While he knew he shouldn't, his curiosity got the better of him and Lex looked over at the reunion of father and children. It was just a moment before he was enough for him feel like his heart was being ripped out of his chest. He excuse himself, under the pretense of checking out the rest of the apartment for government soundness, when really he was running to somewhere he could close the door, lean against it and fall part.

Everything was not alright. Lex wished this didn't affect him so much, wished for one of the few times in his life he could be more like his father in that regard. This was no doubt going to be one of the worst weekend's of Lex's life.

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I cross over borders but I'm still there now

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