Hector's betrayal shall not be forgotten... But can we blame him, when faced with the cuteness that is Katyusha? I think more of us would fall than we'd like to admit.
It should really be raining.
In fact, it should be night time too.
No, it should be raining, nighttime, and the team should be gathered in a dimly lit room, stoic expressions on their faces as the scent of tobacco and whiskey filled the air. Then, Anzu would nod slowly or something, and order a hit that Joshua would have to carry out.
It's really funny, sometimes, the little thoughts that the mind latches on to during times of crisis or duress. The fact was, it wasn't raining, it was the middle of the day, and Joshua's friends were gathered in his living room, Mako sleeping as usual, Hana eating most of his snacks, and Miho sitting on his lap. All in all, it was actually a very pleasant day.
Well, it would be, except for the fact that he was watching his childhood friend and tank shell loader extraordinare stand silently behind the petite tank commander of the opposing team, wearing their uniform as the little girl talked to the interviewer about purges and victory.
Joshua would have much preferred the rain.
The interviewer then turned her attention to the large man behind her, asking Katyusha about him
"And the man behind you? You've never been seen before with a male member on your Sensha-Dō team! Is he one of your Russian transfer students?"
Katyusha huffed,
"Hah! No, this is Hector Perkins, the official assistant and bodyguard to Katyusha! He is American, as you can tell by his broad shoulders -feel their might! such strength!- but he has decided to join the obviously winning side! Soon, he shall be at the right hand of Katyusha! Oh, oh! And he will be Katyusha's boyfriend, so do not get any ideas!"
The last part was added hastily, causing the interviewing girl (and several Oorai students watching) to 'awwww' at the sight as Katyusha preened.
A bag of sweet potatoes flew across the room, hitting the screen and making Saori yelp as Anzu's voice carried over the crowded tankers
"That DAMN traitor! I'LL KILL HIM IF I EVER SEE HIM AGAIN!"
The gathered teammates all gaped at their president; even Momo was looking shocked at her outburst. As the vice president and public affairs officer led her away to call down, talk began erupting amongst the worries girls
"W-what if Hector-san never comes back??"
"How could he just wear their uniform like that!?"
"we were his friends! How could he do that!?"
"Why don't our male uniforms look that handsome??"
"I saw Nina there too wearing Pravda's uniform! They're both traitors!"
As the gathered tankers began getting louder, Miho looked closer at the screen, climbing off of Joshua's lap and gazing intently at it.
"What's wrong baby?"
"... I dunno... something about him seems... off. It's subtle but it's there. I just can't out my finger on what it is exactly."
Joshua looked closer at his friend on the screen; He did look a little... off. But like his girlfriend, he couldn't put his finger on it, and was soon lost in the argument as Rachel and Sam argued about what to do when Hector returned
"So I'm thinking if we use a pincer attack, surrounding them, we can use the crossfire to our advantage. Limits their mobility... I just wish we knew what we were going up against. Pravda's main tank is an IS-2 that they used last year, and a bunch of T-34 variants..."
Miho leaned back and groaned; she loved it when Joshua came over, but strategy meetings weren't ever a good date night. Well, she thought as her cheeks reddened, they could be. Ever since the two had started dating, the tankers had become more... amorous. Not many nights were spent without at least visiting the other, and Miho was learning all the wonders about kissing and cuddling she'd never experienced before. No wonder Koume had loved dating; it was great!
Joshua slid his arm around Miho, "Sure... but if we go hard and fast, we can penetrate their defenses and reach their flag tank before they have a chance to do anything."
"No... they have numbers on us. Pravda likes to defend in depth, if we push too hard then we risk them enveloping us, and that's something we won't be able to fight our way out of. Our only advantage will be our speed and maneuvering. We'll have to engage and feel it out once we get there, trying to find their flag tank as we go."
"Ah, you worry too much baby."
Miho scrunched her nose, "Egh, you know I don't like when you call me that!"
Joshua smirked at her, "That's why I do it. Your nose is cute when it wiggles when you're irritated"
"Jerk." She said simply, laying her head in his lap as he began playing with her hair
"Fine, Mi Capitán. I'll stop. Most of the time."
Miho giggled, cooing as he combed through her hair, "that's better. You know, I need a pet name for you..."
"Oh? Any ideas?"
Miho suddenly shot up, grabbing Joshua's shoulders and looking him in the eye as her face lit up
"Boko! You're my Big Boko Bear!"
"No. Please god no."
Seeing her smile, however, made him unable to deny her as he forced a grin through grit teeth
"... S-sure! Sounds... great!"
The rest of the night went much more productively, Miho's smile getting bigger whenever she spoke to her Boko Bear, Joshua tolerating it for her sake
"Hector! HECTOR!"
The tall American strode into the room at his summoning, looking down at Pravda's commander
"Yeah hun?"
"Katyusha desires to go into the village and go to dinner! Nonna is indisposed at the moment with Klara debriefing Nina. But I desire to go to the shops today! This you must do! For the match is tomorrow, and we shall celebrate our certain victory early!"
Hector ruffled his commanders hair, causing her to blush and angrily fight off his hand
"Sure thing hun. Lemme get showered and changed, meet you back here in an hour?"
"Yes! Katyusha shall be waiting for your return eagerly! B-but not too eagerly! Katyusha waits for nobody! So do not be late!"
Hector chuckled, walking out the door and making his way down the street. But when he reached his dorm complex, he kept walking, turning right at the street that led to the tank garages
"Hector! Have you ever seen such a fine dress?? It's colors are as beautiful as a sunset on the Russian steppes! I wish to try it on!"
The aforementioned dress was a traditional Russian one, red with gold stitching and very pretty, even to the Americans untrained eye. He nodded, making his way into the shop as Katyusha ducked to fit under the door, smiling at her height
"Good evening! Lady Katyusha, it is an honor to have you in my shop! Please, please, pick anything you like! Try it on!"
Katyusha climbed down from her mount, pointing at the red and gold dress before being led off to the changing rooms. Hector began looking around, eyeing a black fur Ushanka as the shopkeeper returned
"Oh, yes, that one is quite beautiful! It's real mink fur, you know, imported from the Soviet Union! A true collectors item! Unfortunately, it seems too big for almost all the girls here... It's sat on my shelf for months..."
Hector gently picked up the hat, before putting it on his head and looking in the mirror.
The shopkeeper was silenced, staring at the man in his uniform as he wore the hat
Hector smiled to his reflection, "I'll take it."
The girl nodded dumbly, unable to tear her eyes away; The man before was handsome, no doubt, but with the Ushanka on his head, he was... incredible. Her knees felt weak as she shakily rung him up and he nodded his thanks.
Soon, Katyusha came dashing out of the changing room, dancing and throwing the long hem of the dress as she did so
"Ah! It's perfect! Surely the dress matches Katyusha's own beauty! Hector what do you... think..."
The small girl was taken aback at the sight of her assistant in his new hat. By the Urals, she had never seen a man look as attractive as he did! He was godly, perfect-no, better than perfect! Katyusha would admit she had a bit of a crush on the boy before, but now? With his hat? There was something about him that was... irresistible.
Hector fixed her with a smile, "You like it? I like it."
"Uhm... yes... yes it's... it's very fitting..."
The man grinned, preening in front of the mirror some more while Katyusha payed for the dress as her and the shopkeep stared at the Adonis that had manifested underneath the Black Ushanka
Returning to Katyusha and Nonna's apartment, he let the girl climb down off his shoulders and got to work in the kitchen. Katyusha went to her room to put her dress on, claiming she wanted to surprise Nonna.
As the man made dinner, he kept his hat on; He was quite fond of his hat. The sound of the door opening brought him out of all hat related thoughts, as Nonna's voice carried through the house, announcing her arrival. Klara's light Russian accent soon followed, as Katyusha called down she would be there soon
"Ladies, dinners almost done! Borscht like Klara showed me and Stroganov!"
As he heard footsteps approaching from behind, they suddenly stopped as Nonna and Klara made a sharp inhale of breath. He turned to greet the women, only to meet their star struck stares.
"Нонна?"
"да?"
"Он ... не был таким красивым раньше, правда?"
"Н-нет, я так не думаю..."
Hector cleared his throat, "You gals alright?"
Both girls shook their head, Nonna's stoic expression returning
"Yes. Yes, we apologize. It was... rather cold outside."
Klara joined, "Yes! Yes, many cold it was outside!"
At that moment, Katyusha came around the hall, proudly displaying her adorable red dress for her friends to see
"Behold! Katyusha has purchased a new dress today, and it's beauty only enhances her own! Do I not look fetching, Nonna!?"
Nonna couldn't speak, staring at the small girl while Klara had to sit down
"Боже мой ... это слишком мило..."
Katyusha gasped, "Nonna! Your nose, you are bleeding! Sit, sit at once! Hector, help me treat Nonna!"
Nonna waved them off, going to the bathroom for a tissue as Hector set the table. Minutes later, Nonna had returned, nosebleed free, and they all sat down for dinner.
As Hector moved to take his new hat off (Mamma always said it was rude to eat with a hat on at the table) a loud and forceful shout sounded from all three girls
"NO!"
Dinner was, as always, delicious. Katyusha was soon out off to bed, kissing Hector on the cheek as he said goodnight
"Katyusha will miss you tomorrow... but unfortunately the rules are clear. You must be returned to your own school the day of the match. But do not forget your time at Pravda! Do not forget Katyusha!" She begged, grabbing his shirt collar with tears in her eyes
Hector smiled sadly at her, "No, little snow, I won't forget. It's been an adventure here. I'll write to you, yeah? And I'll have your phone number whenever you wanna talk."
Katyusha nodded at that, cuddling her KV-2 plushie to her chest, while Hector read her final bedtime story before taking his leave.
Waiting outside of the room was Nonna, who saw him out the door; The guest bedroom wouldn't do for the night, as he had to pack his things before leaving.
Nonna's face took on an uncharacteristically soft look, as she and Klara saw him out
" We thank you for your time, Mister Perkins. You have made Katyusha very happy here. I thank you, personally. She is... so special to us... To me. She deserves all the happiness in the world, and I thank you for providing it."
Hector smiled, kicking the ground with his shoe
"Aw shucks hun... I didn't do none... But I'm grateful for your hospitality And just Hector is fine."
Walking to the door, Hector turned to bid the girls goodbye
"Well, I do hope we meet once more, Hector. You have been a wonderful man for your time here, and I hope you remember Pravda's gifts. Tomorrow we will be foes once more, but I shall always consider us friends"
"I as well Hector! You were of very fun man to be around! And hat is so... How you say Nonna?"
"Handsome?"
"Sexy!"
Hector coughed at that, Klara laughing at his reaction before she leaned in and kissed his cheek, Nonna taking the other side, causing the Montana born boy's ears to burn red
"Tomorrow we shall returned you to your team. Sleep well, Hector. And sweet dreams"
With that, he fixed his hat on his head, and the girls shut the door behind him. Hector made his way down the avenue, the cold snow of Pravda his only companion, as the dark outline of the approaching shore appeared on the horizon.
For anyone curious, Katyusha's dress is her Traditional Russian outfit that's on her wiki page. I can't remember where it was first published, but I always thought It was absolutely adorable.
I hope I did the characters justice; I'd like to think that Nonna and Klara would warm up to a guy like Hector rather quickly, especially if Katyusha liked him.
Also, Ushankas are sexy.
