I was able to prolong my freedom a whole three days before He finally figured out that I was awake. He walked in on the fourth day and caught me dressing. His excitement over rode any questions as to why I was up and why I was in the middle of getting dressed.
"Toris?" A sweetly questioning voice rang out. I was stuck in my closet trying to figure out what to wear that day when I heard the tell tale footsteps leading into my room. I froze as I realized that if caught I was trapped. I hastened to pull my pullover on and stepped into the room proper and came face to face with him.
"H-h-hello, Mr. Braginsky sir." Stammering I looked around for any possible escape routes. He looked at me curiously, eyeing the bed before stepping closer and placing his hand on my forehead.
He smiled, "How many time have I told you to just call me Ivan." He chuckled ," Mr. Braginsky sounds so old. Let me hear you say it."
"Hello, Mr. Ivan." I mumbled staring at the floor hyper aware of his skin on mine. My skin broke out into cold sweat but I managed to quell my instinct to run. He ran his hand along my shoulder and pulled me closer.
"How are you feeling?" He asked, a gleam in his eye lighting up the dusky lilac. I swallowed hard and side stepped him, heading for the door.
"I'm fine sir, I better go see what Raivis and Ed are doing. I'll have your breakfast up directly. Would you prefer to eat in your study or the library?" Still edging towards the door I glanced back and nearly vomited when he sidled back up to me smiling.
"I'd like to eat zavtrak with you three in the kitchen this morning. What will you be making?" He cooed placing his hand on the small of my back. I squeezed my eyes shut before continuing out the door his huge body keeping pace with me along the long corridor that lead to the Great Hall.
"I was thinking honeyed buckwheat Blini and Kasha with blackberries." I pulled out of my head, breakfast items were the last thing on my mind with him plodding with me, but he seemed to like the idea . We reached the Great Hall and were joined by Raivis and Eduard each coming out of their own hallways, both surprised to see me up and about and frightened to find Him walking with me. Eduard cocked his eyebrow in my direction and tilted his head in a questioning manner. I spun my index finger in a circle by my side, one of our many signals of secret communication, and told him to wait. I'd tell him later. He shrugged and half dragged Raivis down the stairs and into the kitchen to wait for me. I settled Him in the dining room with a promise of food.
Escaping to the kitchen allowed me to focus on the task at hand. Ivan thoroughly enjoyed simple Russian Cuisine, and upon my arrival had been handed a cookbook filled with his favorites. Highly adept at cooking them, I had become, after many temper tantrums, punishments and fear filled nights. Flipping to the recipe for blini I had Raivis hunt up the ingredients while I warmed the stove and heated the griddle.
Eduard stood beside me and dutifully mixed the batters, careful not to let the Kasha burn. He eyed me while doing so but knew better than to press for answers. I'd give them when I was ready. Raivis hurried in and grabbed a stack of plates and silverware before trotting back out. I glanced down at the tiny little griddle cakes and sighed.
"He walked into my room while I was dressing." I said, not bothering to give an introduction. Eduard stiffened minutely but continued stirring the thick porridge. "He didn't seem to realize that I'd been out for so long, so I don't think he knows that I know." Flipping the cakes carefully I folded them into tiny triangles and stuffed them with a honey butter mix before settling them on a platter and covering them with a heat towel. Lifting the pot of Kasha I carefully spooned into four bowls and placed them on a tray and placed the platter of blini next to them. Hefting up the tray I started for the doorway.
"I'm just going to act like I don't remember. It'd be best if you'd do the same." I said looking at the floor.
Eduard sputtered in indignation. "Act? As if I can let go of those images. Tor I carried you from that room and cleaned you. I know what he did, I tended to you, that's not something I can just let go. Unusta, kui saad Vend. Aga ma ei saa kunagi kustutada, et minu meelest." He snarled and walked out in front sitting violently in a chair furthest from Ivan. I lowered my head and continued on to serve breakfast.
A/N: I've started to branch out with the terms in this chapter. Poor Tor, little does he know that this is only the beginning.
Title means: The Mind Remembers
Zavtrak: Russian for Breakfast.
Blini: Russian Pancakes made from whole grains and buckwheat. Can be eaten with berries, honey or jam. Or sour cream, meat, or fish. Folded into triangles and eaten with a fork and knife or by hand.
Kasha: Whole grain porridge. Extremely healthy and nutritious. Can be eaten with honey, berries or jam. Or Sour Cream, meat, and/or fish.
What Eduard said: Forget if you can, Brother. But I can't erase that from my mind.
Next up, what does Russia-san have planned for the poor Baltics? Stay tuned...
-shot-
Am
