If this is at all popular, I am willing to do more. I just…need to finish my most important project. I know I'm wasting time and posting so slowly, but I promise it will be finished. It will! If you haven't played the game Metro 2033 or Last Light, or even read any of the books, then I implore you to do so. This will be more heavily based on the book.

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No matter how close you could be to the fire, the atmosphere of the tunnels were enough to send a chill in your bones. No fire's warmth could reach that. The four hundredth meter was the last position before you would be walking into nothing but a long-stretched darkness. It was their job to ensure that whatever was inside that tunnel didn't get past them without proper challenging. If it meant no harm, it needed to have papers, if it did, it needed to die. This had been Chase's job for…he had to think. Six years now. And if it wasn't that, it was tending to his sick father. Chase sipped his tin mug cautiously. Inside was nothing but boiled water since the last shift had finished the tea on sight. Anyone standing watch now, being so used to having tea at their post, had neglected to carry a replacement supply with them. As such, he had to pretend that there was a wonderful flavor being delicately and cautiously sipped through his lips, into his mouth, and down his throat. However, Chase's imagination wasn't actually that strong and every sip, expecting warm tea shipped from Adnkh had been met with bleak disappointment. Chase sighed and put the mug down with lost hope of ever tasting a hot cup of tea for his last, and longest, hour of a six-hour watch.

Across from him, there was a man with a thick beard, long coat, and knitted cap. The man, as Chase knew him, was in his forties. He spoke with a hoarse voice, which had probably been because of all the smoking he had done. His name was Boris. "Well, boys, we've got one more hour and still no tea. Does someone want to see if any of the other posts wants to spare a supply?"

A younger boy, Anatoly, just a year younger than Chase, who was twenty-one, had spoken up. "I already asked but they said they wouldn't give us any. I told them that it was only one supply and that they looked like they had plenty and we had none, but they just shooed me away like an annoying cat, bellowing at the door."

"Hurumph," Boris made is sound as if he was laughing or maybe just grunting. Chase didn't know which. "Well, you do talk a lot. How long were you begging?"

"I was asking," Detested the boy, "Not begging, and I only asked once then tried to convince them. They all practically said the same thing. The bastards. They probably stole our tea and won't give it back."

Another member at the fire laughed at him. "That's rich. What else did they steal? Your bullets?" Chase chuckled with the group of five. If Chase counted himself, they were six. "If they had stolen our tea, you idiot, we would have known. Besides, we all run the same shift. They wouldn't have time."

"Okay, okay, so it wasn't them. But still, they could at least spare some, right?" Asked Anatoly.

Boris shook his head, "No, like us, they're too greedy. Besides, would you spare some tea if they asked us? Especially in these dark tunnels? These tunnels send a chill in your bones only this tea can warm. And even then, you have to continually drink in order to keep that warmth. The fire here can warm your body from the outside, but the tea warms within. If they gave up a supply, that warmth could very well run out. If we had that, I can tell you right now, we wouldn't even let one bag leave us. Not one."

Chase had to agree. He knew he wouldn't spare his tea. Every time he looked down the tunnel that shiver returned and he had to sip his hot water, but the water didn't have the same comforting effect as the tea. What he wouldn't give just one cup. Just one. It was a miracle how much time passed if you focused on how full your cup was, rather than how much time was left of your watch. Chase had calculated that a single watch took up maybe eight cups of tea. It depended on how frightened you were of the darkness. But on any other watch, like today's, he could easily track how much time was left by how many cups he consumed.

"Maybe, but maybe it's because they don't spare any of theirs!" Anatoly argued.

"Hah, that old bullshit?" Boris laughed, "Trust me, boy, the old rules of morality no longer apply. Good graces no longer stimulates humanism. But speaking of old rules…" Boris grinned at Chase. "Have you given any thought on what I said?"

Chase realized Boris was talking to him. He had zoned out trying to use his imagination to make the water taste like tea. When he looked up, he found all eyes on the four hundredth meter were on him. "Oh, uh…what was that? About what?"

" 'What was that?' " Boris laughed, "As if you didn't know. I mean the girl! The one you talk about that works as a waitress in the restaurant that serves pork, mushrooms, and a good drink all for eighteen bullets. Hell of a price but well worth it, right? It's better than rat."

Chase never found anything wrong with rat. He actually liked eating rat, maybe because he was used to it. But the girl he spoke of was none other than Skye. Chase looked away so he could smile privately as he let the name quietly slip past his lips. He had heard her name when her father would call her and she would answer to it. He often whispered the name just to savor it. "Ah, that girl. Yes, well… She's too young. I really think it would be better for us both if I waited."

Boris shook his head and sighed. "I told you, boy, the old rules don't apply anymore. You can argue all you want about the age and moral of it all, but it doesn't change the fact that the old human ways have died out on the surface and the new ways are much different, though born from the old. This 'age gap' as you call it, is small anyway and…what was it? The laws of marriage? What law now says that she must be eighteen to marry you? She's what? Fourteen, thirteen?"

Chase hesitated at first but corrected, "Sixteen."

"Ah, even better." Boris said cheerfully. "See my meaning? We would accept it if she were but thirteen and you are afraid because she is sixteen. Let me tell you something, come close." He leaned in. Chase leaned in as well and even got up from his seat and sat next to Boris. Anatoly and the others leaned in to hear as well. Just in case it was some old man wisdom on how to get a girl. Something they too would want to hear and even try. "Now, Kitai-Gorod is half man half Muslim. And a man once told me that, by right of the Koran, you can have any woman you want, so long as she isn't married, i think. But you see, my boy? In these tunnels it is not the man with morals that makes the laws. It's the man who is followed that makes them. In this case, we can have any women we want and only half the population would frown at you. The other half would turn away because of a written law in an old book of religion. In fact, I was once told, in my youth, by another man that in the language the Muslims once spoke, a language I don't know the name of. I no longer care anyway since we all speak Russian. The point is, that language they had spoken once has no word for rape. Because a Muslim man can have any woman he wants and she could not reject him unless she was married."

Chase didn't know what to say to that. To think he was living in a station that had men that did not define rape by forcing a woman pleasure him was shocking. Were they all like that? Didn't they have moral too? They must have if they served some god they didn't know existed or not. Was that a moral? Chase was silently thinking all of this. He was quiet for some time. Even the fire had waited for his response as it flicked dimly letting him know it could not live in this anticipation. Finally, Chase sighed and returned to his seat. He gripped his machine gun behind him and stared at the fire before looking at Boris. "I'm not a Muslim."

Boris shrugged and nodded. "Yes, that's true. But have you considered that you are a man living in a Muslim world? Muslim or not…their rules are laws."

Chase shook his head and retorted, "No, Hansa makes the laws. The Muslims are just in their good graces."

With that, Boris fell silent. The dimly lit fire, no longer waiting, had not yet brightened until Anatoly had put three longs inside of it. This earned a hiss from Boris.

"Tss, that's too many! Do you want the next watch to stand in the dark?" He scolded.

"W-well the fire was getting low, I didn't want to stand watch in the dark. Besides, its small as it is." Anatoly said, a bit shaken by Boris's hoarse scolding.

"You idiot, we don't need the fire bright, we need it lit. Just be happy we don't use a lamp instead!" Boris continued to scold.

Before he could go on, the next watch had come. One of them had chuckled and said to them, "Well, it seems you boys are busy. Do you need a moment?"

Boris stood up and shouldered his machine gun. "No, I was just scolding the boy. He wants you to stand watch in the dark."

"I don't, really, I don't," Anatoly defended.

"Stand in the dark?" Asked the relief. He clicked his tongue a couple of times. "Anatoly, so heartless. I didn't know you had it in you. If you'd like, you can stay with us. That way you don't have to walk in it."

"No!" Anatoly shouted. It echoed through the tunnel where even the three hundredth and two hundredth meter guard had readed their machine guns, just in case.

"Shh," Boris again hissed, "Do you want to wake the tunnel? Let is sleep."

By now, Chase had shouldered his machine gun and packed his things, such as his tin mug, which he poured out in the tunnel. A relief tapped his shoulder. "Hey, anything we need to know?"

Chase shook his head, "It was all quiet when we started. Just as it is now. I hope you brought more tea, because the last watch used it up and I don't imagine the other watches sharing."

The men sighed and cursed. The relief nodded and sighed as well. He thanked Chase and took a seat in the place he was. Chase took a few steps away from the post. Boris and Anatoly were just ten paces ahead. But Chase froze and turned around. He was hesitant at first, but eventually he had made the offer that he thought he'd regret later. "I could…bring some if you'd like."

They looked at him, eyes brightened by the offer. "Would you?" Asked another relief.

"Yes, just let me put my things away and come back later," He replied. "I'll bring enough for just the six hours. I don't have a lot of bullets."

One of them stood up and hugged him with their strong arms, "Bless you, Chase. Bless you. Go ahead, now. We'll be waiting for you."

Chase left feeling very proud of himself. It would be the first thing he did once he got back to the station. He promised himself. Chase caught up to Boris and Anatoly and walked behind the five watch standers until they reached the gate. They were asked for their papers and let through one by one. Once past, they went into the guard office where they were given ten bullets worth of pay then let loose to rest, eat, and drink. But Chase had a different plan. He had a task to complete before settling back in his tent where his father and mother were waiting. He went to a tent that had said on it, "General Store" and looked for the supply of Exhibition tea. Exhibition was another name for Adnkh. Despite its name it was nothing to look at. The only good the station really had was its tea recipe. There was nothing like it in all the metro. After finding a square tin container full of it, he brought it to the clerk and asked for its price.

"Ten bullets," The clerk replied.

"Ten?" Chase echoed in surprise. That was all he earned in a day! He barely had enough now to get himself something to eat! But he couldn't just go back on his promise. "Ten bullets? That's so expensive. Why?"

"Because that's tea from Adnkh, the real deal," The clerk replied sourly, "That's their special recipe. Their very best. If you have a problem with it, put it down and look elsewhere for your tea!"

Chase recoiled at his outburst and stared at the container. He couldn't just hand over everything he earned in the day just to help some boys who would have to struggle the way he did out in the four hundredth meter… But he couldn't go back on his promise either. Chase sighed. He would have to disappoint the boys. He put the tin box down and was about to exit when he saw…her.

Skye had entered the tent and looked around the tent and spotted the tin box. It was then she noticed Chase. They locked eyes. Chase, gave a weak smile that looked more like a twitch then a smile but he left too quickly before he could explain it was a smile. It was then at the corner of his eye that he saw her grab the tin box and ask the clerk the same question.

"Ten bullets," He replied again.

"Ten?" Skye asked. "But… that's so expensive." She gripped his sleeve and closed in, "Please, could we settle for lower? My father needs his tea, he's sick, sir. Please."

The clerk smirked as she placed a spell on him. "Alright, darling, how about five?"

"Oh, thank you, thank you!" She kissed his hand. Chase gave the clerk a shocked expression then exited the tent. Not only had he been unable to get the tea, but now it was going with a girl he could hardly talk to. As kind as she was, he wouldn't stomach approaching her and haggling for it. He would come off as some beggar with a gun. Maybe that would look threatening. He didn't want to scare her. Chase sighed and leaned onto a nearby pillar and sunk down. He contemplated how to cope with this failure. The four hundredth meter was waiting on him and he would come back empty handed.

"Here," He suddenly heard.

Chase froze and lifted his face from his hands then looked up. There she was, a bright smile and an outstretched tin box. Was that…! Chase widened his eyes and took the box hurriedly then examined it. It was! The tea! She got if for him?

"Thanks…eh, how much did it cost you? I can pay you back," He offered as he stood up reaching for some cartridges. He didn't care anymore. He knew she only spent five, but for her, he'd give her anything. He stretched out the ten but her small hands closed his and pushed it back.

"No need to thank me. I was happy to do it." She smiled. That smile. Chase had lost himself in it. He was enjoying it like the rays of the sun back in the days when the sun was a wonderful thing. He had forgotten to reply. Because of this she spoke again. "Well, I best be going. Enjoy your tea."

Chase didn't want her to leave, not yet. He spoke up, though he didn't know why. Anything, something for a longer conversation! "Oh, its…not for me. It's for my relief?"

Skye lifted an eyebrow. "Your…relief?"

Chase nodded as dumbly as he stood. "Uh, yeah. You see, I stand watch at the four hundredth meter outside the gate, over there!" He pointed. "My post ran out of tea and I thought I'd bring some to them."

Skye smiled. "Is that why I don't see you at the market often? I see you once in a while, but when the crowed is lower and the clock makes its second rotation for the day You are usually getting some rats from across my father's stand. You like rat?"

Chase didn't know what to answer. What did she sell? Did she sell rats too? No, wait it was fish. He let thought run through his head but cautiously, nervously nodded his head.

"I see," Skye wasn't smiling anymore. Maybe that was the wrong answer. "That's a shame." Definitely, the wrong answer. He cursed himself for ever seeing an edible rat. He wished he had never even seen a rat on a skewer. "Have you ever considered fish?" Chase felt a spark of hope once more. Perhaps she was only trying to sell her product! Yes, anything for her!

"No…well, yes, actually. I just… well, I never gave it that much… thought." He began tracing the old logo on the tin box of tea. The painting on it was worn but he could still trace the art with foreign letters on top. What could he say to keep the conversation going, to make it sound interesting for her? He was at a loss.

"Well, maybe you should. I can teach you how to make it. just come by, I'll even throw in a discount for your first purchase." She offered. The offer itself had made his heart flutter. He couldn't believe she would do something so kind! Well, he did, but he just couldn't help but be surprised by it.

"You would, well, after I drop off this tea, I'll head over straight away!" Chase said a bit too eagerly. Her cursed himself again for being so obvious. He started playing with the tin box more viciously, nocking it between his right hands middle finger and thumb.

"I will be waiting," She smiled. Then she left.

Chase would have said another thing just to hear her voice a little while longer…but he said nothing. He couldn't. It was impossible now. Even if there was no barrier or wall stopping him, his conscience held him back. He instead looked at the box of tea she had bought him for half the price he would have had to pay. He no longer waisted time. He fixed the machine gun on his shoulder and walked out of the station once more to deliver the tea. When he had delivered it he had stayed for a minute to hear them thank him and pat his back then receive five bullets for thanks. He accepted them, finding it a bit strange how they had payed hi exactly how much the case had costed Skye rather than him, but pocketed them and went on his way. Returning to the station, he had gone to the market and first bought his father's medicine. That itself was four bullets. The bottles were small and there weren't very many pills inside. however, they weren't separate doses. Instead it was two shots of pills for a day's pneumonia. With a pain killer, an antibiotic, and a fever reducer it was relatively ideal for just about any illness but in this case, it would be for pneumonia. And there was two of each. On for morning and the other for evening. Though it seemed cheap, take a closer look and one would find they were paying maybe as much as four times the price of a single full bottle in the old world, maybe more, maybe less. Still, it was affordable, and Chase could pay for it with what he had earned. That's all he needed. After that, he had forgotten his promise and went to the rat stand again. It wasn't until he heard someone whistle that he turned around to the reminder.

"You! Over here! Remember?" She cheerfully called. Waving her hand vigorously.

How could he have forgotten? He scolded himself. Left the line of people waiting to get two rats on a skewer and instead visited the stand with "fresh fish from Venice?" Chase had heard of Venice but with it such a long way could anyone really claim that the fish was fresh?

"I'm so sorry," Chase smiled forgetting his inward rant. "I forgot."

"That's what happens when you live the same life over and over again, my friend." She said with an accusatory finger wiggling between then. "Now, usually, we sell our fish for six bullets each. But for you, today, because I promised, I'll give you three fish, for six bullets instead."

Chase's eyes nearly popped form their sockets, "Six bullets for a fish and you'll give me three for the same price? How could I say no?"

"See, I keep my promises, and unlike a greedy clerk, between you and me, I keep prices fair. I think we both know that the actual price for that tea, was five bullets, not ten. I know because that's what he lowered it to. If he couldn't get it for double, then he would get it for what it's worth."

Needless to say, Chase was impressed. "You learned that from the trading business?"

"Yes, I did," She smiled and leaned closer, "My father uses the very same tactic." She looked down at the fish and winked. "Just a tip to keep in mind."

This was all good and well, Chase thought, but why tell him? What did he do to deserve such a great tip? Would she provide a discount like this often? Was she planning on opening her own shop…did she see him as a future business partner? He shook his head making look like he was stretching it, but really, he was shaking the thought away. No, he couldn't be so lucky. Though he might as well ask. "Why tell me this? This is the first we talked, despite all the times we looked at each other, it's technically the first time we've seen each other."

Skye smiled but didn't answer. She gave him a wink and changed the subject while the silence between them was still there. "So, do you want to see how these are cooked? I wouldn't want you to bring them home and try eating them raw. It isn't healthy. It's near the end of the day, but my father won't be home today. He's out on a trade to get another shipment of fish. Between you and me," she began again with her little secrets, "These fish are a day old. not exactly fresh, but still within the limits you can call healthy. At east, that's what he says. Nothing a thorough cooking can't cure." She grabbed the last three fish which she promised him at a low price and closed up shop. Then she led him inside. She opened the door to the tent and stepped aside so he could walk in first. He did so hesitantly but once he did, he was met with a wonderful warmth. Unlike the rest of the station, including his home, it was quite cold, but her home was warm as the glow of a fire. He couldn't see a fire anywhere though.

"My father makes quite twice the amount he buys his product, and as such gets a little to keep for himself and me. He buys a lot of great things from the stalkers. The heat your feeling is an old heater one found a few months ago. And to make it more useful, he also found this hand crank generator that powers our tent. Just a few circles and it has enough charge to power everything in here for a few days. Then I just crank it again." She made a few circles to make her point. Each movement made the lights glow just a bit brighter. She had working electricity in her tent, working lights, rather than lamps, and a heater rather than a fire. Her life was what only the entire station dreamed for.

"It's amazing," Chase complimented, "You and your father are very blessed."

"I know," She smiled, "But…there's one catch."

She started to frown and look down. Chase didn't like seeing her like this. "What is it?"

She looked back up and a smile grew back, "Nothing. I promised to teach you, yes? Well here. She took the fish and placed them on a table nearby. She picked up a knife and started to rub it against the side of the fish. "The first thing you need to do is scrape the scales off. Otherwise biting into it may be met with a less pleasant texture. She continued to teach him then after preparing the fish gave him a portion and kept one some for herself. She took a bite then smiled at him waiting for him to do the same. He smelled the fish being skeptical at first. He never tried food like this.

After taking a bit he gave a nod of approval and took another bit, "This is good. It is worth six bullets." He dug into his pocket once more then counted out the six to pull out. He extended the cartages as he was still chewing and finishing the fish. She only stared at his hand. "What's wrong?"

She shook her head and replied as she took the bullets, "It's nothing. What's your name? I never caught it."

Chase hummed as if her had just realize something. "Sorry, I forgot. I'm Chasovnya. Chasovnya Petrovich. My friends call me Chase. They think it suites me better. You may as well."

"Chase?" Skye smiled. "Well, I'm Skye Malinovsky, I am pleased to meet you, Chase. And your friends are right, it suites you very well."

Chase looked at the outstretched hand then placed his plate down to shake it. After the quick pleasantry, they had talked for a while. Chase wanted this to last forever. They spoke about her family, how her mother died during the bombing and how her father was a store owner in Moscow. She even went into detail when she had visited Venice and other stations. By far, her life was more exciting and, in a way, more dangerous than his. He envied her, but that's what made her so much more attractive. Chase had remembered Boris's words. How a man here in the station could basically take whatever woman he liked since it was practically Muslim. He couldn't do it too. no one would stop him. he had a machine gun, chambered and fully loaded. She was weak, he could tell, and he was so much stronger. If we wanted to, he could make her show him her room and then take her. But he remembered his words too. He wasn't a Muslim. Of course, he asked himself the same question after that. Are all of them really that way? Obviously not. He had met too many, made friends with too many that wouldn't even fathom the thought of cornering a woman. It was this that made Chase think Boris was wrong and the man who told him that was bullshitting him. But still, if this were his day every day, he wouldn't mind it. but he knew his father needed his medicine soon.

"Well, Skye, it was an honor to meet you. I'm very grateful that you taught me how to make fish. Now I can make it for my family. They will need me soon, so I must leave you."

Skye had frowned. It was clear she wanted him to stay longer. And he would. He would if he just didn't need to worry about his sick father. "You really have to go then? You can't stay for an hour more?"

Chase shook his head, "No, not an hour more. I will see you again, I promise. tomorrow?"

Skye looked down and shook her head, "No, not tomorrow. My father will be home and he does not like it when men visit us. He has seen too many look at me in ways that make him…uncomfortable…but when I saw you, I knew you weren't like that…I feels safer, Chase. I feel…much safer, when you are in the market. I don't know why, but I just do. Maybe it's because your armed and you look at me so…innocently. I don't even know why I told you those things. Why I let you in and taught you to cook a fish. I just…wanted to feel that safety…closer." Chase leaned over himself as he sat. His Kalash was sitting against the chair next to him now. For some reason he felt as if he should be keeping it closer though. But Skye had somehow assured him with a soft smile. "I'm sorry, I felt like…you needed to know that. I didn't mean to keep you. I hope I will see you again. maybe when my father is away, you can come here again, and we can talk some more."

Chase's heart began to palpitate. He started sweating, was it the heat? He felt a rush of excitement. To do this again…with her. He would talk ages with her. Yes, he would love that. "I would like that. Thank you." She smiled. They stared at each other for some time. Chase inhaled sharply, realizing that he had to move now. "Well, I'll leave now." He shouldered his machine gun and started towards the door, "Thank you again. And take care."

"You too, be safe," She called out.

Chase reached the door then froze. His hand was just an inch away from it now. Skye looked puzzled. Chase turned to face her and opened his mouth a few times, debating whether to same something or not. Finally, he let out, "If you ever run into trouble, call me. I will come." The words seemed to mean something to her. She looked surprised but touched. "Even if your mouth is gagged, even if you are far from help. Call for me, I will come…somehow. I will find you. I will protect you as best I can. You just have to call." And with that, he left. He stepped out into the cold and noisy metro station, but even still, he could hear her crying on the other side. Chase smiled softly and began his walk home. His family was waiting.