I cross over borders but I'm still there now

[chesspolitik]

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!"

Comments

[capable-of.livejournal.com]

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.

[chesspolitik]

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.

[capable-of.livejournal.com]

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.