DIMITRI


GEG to OBV. Spokane, Washington to Novosibirsk, Russia. I must have searched this flight a dozen times over the past year and a half. Of course, I'd never actually purchased any tickets, but on the days when I was stressed, lonely, or just missing my family, it was a comfort to know that I could.

A part of me had hoped to make the trip this summer. Lissa would be at Court, so getting a temp guardian for a week or two would have been easy. Granted, I say that now, but how many times have I planned to go only to later decide, 'Now isn't a good time. Maybe next year?'

Now it's been what? Four years? Longer?

It was a wonder that Mama hadn't tracked me down and dragged me home by the ear.

Now, I was searching these airport codes for a whole new reason.

One passenger. One way.

The fact that I only needed a one-way ticket made things a little easier, at least financially. I had hoped that maybe I could have joined Rose, but it was impossible with things being so last minute. I hated sending her all by herself. I knew my mother would welcome her with open arms, but I still would have preferred to be the one to introduce her to my family.

Before I could hit 'purchase' on a ticket leaving Sunday after sundown, a thought struck me. Quickly, I switched the ticket to Monday morning.

I heard a slight groan behind me as whatever Rose had been watching on TV flipped to something new.

"I really don't get these reality TV shows," She mumbled, probably to herself more than me. "I mean, I guess the competition cooking shows are pretty cool, especially those ones where they have to make something edible out of crazy ingredients. But things like 'housewives of whatever' are just so annoying. I have enough drama in my own life. Why would I want to watch someone else's?"

"Maybe that's the whole point," I offered. "Watching someone else's drama probably makes other people feel better about their own issues."

She smirked, lips tilting to one side as mischief filled her eyes. "Are you into reality shows?"

"Roza, I don't think I've watched a TV show in years."

"Ah, yes." She reached across the bed to grab the paperback on my nightstand. "Books. The TV of the mind. I'm honestly so bored, I'm half tempted to read this."

"Feel free," I offered, crossing my arms across my chest as I turned to face her.

"I said 'tempted.'" She fanned the pages once with her thumb before tossing it back where she had found it. "That doesn't mean I'm actually interested. I just don't want to lay around doing nothing."

She was right. Rose needed to get out of this room before she went crazy and started climbing up the walls.

An idea flickered. "Would you like to go to the gym?"

Rose popped up with all the excitement of a puppy hearing the word 'walk.'

"Could we? I know I'm supposed to be locked in here until they shove me out the door. Wouldn't Kirova be pissed?"

"Probably," I admitted unapologetically. "But let me deal with that, alright? Plus, if we get one of the private rooms, we can still keep you away from the other students, which I think was the most important detail to them anyway."

It was still ridiculous that they considered her a threat, but I couldn't change that now. What I could do for her was give her an outlet for her restless energy. I quickly logged into the gym's online scheduling system and reserved one of the smaller rooms.

"There won't be any weight machines, but there will be some mats for sparring and a heavy bag if you want to do some combo work." Hopefully, that would be a happy medium between what the school wanted and what Rose needed. "Is that okay?"

"Yes! Please!" She was already off the bed and unzipping her luggage to find something suitable to wear. Her eagerness – as well as the way she so freely stripped off her t-shirt without caring that I was right behind her – made me smile.

"Sounds good, then. We'll need to drop by my apartment for a moment, but it shouldn't take long." I didn't tell her about the spare set of gear I kept in my gym locker. It wasn't the clothing I needed to retrieve but something much more important.


"Best of five?" Rose asked, helping me pull down the last worn blue folding mat into the center of the room and pushing it alongside the others we had already laid out. There were boxing-style rings in the main gym meant for sparing, but this would have to do in here. The private rooms were nothing more than a 30x30 box with mirrors across one wall and a heavy bag tucked into the corner. We had spent a little time warming up with some combos, but I knew Rose was just itching to spar a little. Truth be known, I was a bit eager to as well.

Especially if it was anything like our last battle.

"To start." We'd burn through five matches within an hour, and I'm sure neither of us liked the idea of leaving any time soon. "I believe we have a rematch."

"Mad I kicked your ass, Comrade?"

"You got lucky." I arched my brow, giving her a little smirk at her sass. She didn't, of course. Rose beat me fair and square, and we both knew it. Still, I wasn't going to let her get away with her trash talk. "It won't happen again."

Rose pulled her hair up into a high ponytail as she laughed. "I never took you for a sore loser."

Done with our banter and ready for action, we squared off, both positioning ourselves for an attack. Rose fought like she lived life: always ready to make the first move. I braced myself for whatever she was prepared to throw at me, the anticipation slowly building as her eyes flitted towards any possible weak point in my guard. When I couldn't stand it anymore, I lunged for her with an open-hand strike near her temple.

She ducked it effortlessly, moving tight within my range and offering a knee to my left side before pushing me aside. "Really, Dimitri? Are you going easy on me?"

"Just warming up," I assured her. Lord, help me if she ever thought I was letting her win. A lot more than my pride would be at stake if that happened.

She grinned. "Well, you aren't going to beat me fighting like that."

While she was gloating, I rushed her again. We exchanged a few blows and blocks until her leg cocked back and shot out towards my solar plexus. With our height difference, Rose rarely threw kicks my way. The move took me by surprise for a moment, just long enough to strike me hard and knock the wind out of me. She quickly followed up, just as I had trained her, and before I knew it, I was on the flat of my back. Instead of pinning me down, she set her foot against my chest and raised her hands in victory.

"Defending champion, Rose Hathaway, has taken the title again!" She postured towards the imaginary crowd, and in a moment of opportunity, I swept her leg out from underneath her. She barely had time to let out a little yelp before she was laid out beside me.

After making sure I hadn't hurt her, we both fell into a fit of laughter.

"I still win," she insisted.

"It's a draw," I countered. "And if anything, I won. I made the last strike."

She shook her head, looking over at me as if I were nuts. "Nu-uh. You took a cheap shot after the match ended."

She was right. It was a fairly cheap shot, but a match isn't over until the opponent is subdued. When I told her as much, she rolled her eyes, kipped up, and extended her hand to help me off the floor.

"Fine. A tie. That means you're still down one, though." She faced off against me, ready to go again. "And this time, no dirty hits."

'Best of five' quickly became 'best of seven.' Then 'best of nine.' For the most part, things were evenly matched between us. It was amazing just to see how far Rose had come since we first started training together. In the beginning, I would have to pull my punches so I wouldn't hurt her when we sparred. Now, I could fight full force and still lose to this remarkable woman.

We eventually stood tied at 4-4, and with how late things were getting in the afternoon, we both knew our next match would most likely be our last. I rolled my neck and shoulders, feeling the strain of the past few hours on my body. There were times when the age difference between Rose and I felt a whole lot more pronounced, and seeing her bounce on her toes as she prepared for our final match while I tried to fight off my fatigue was one of those times.

"Last round," she declared, vocally noting what I was hesitant to admit. "You can do it, Grandpa."

"Grandpa?" Now she was going down. "I think I preferred Comrade."

I took the offensive, not hesitating to strike immediately after touching gloves. Rose barely ducked in time, jumping out of my range and to the right as she tried to recover.

"Shit!" She cried out, trying to find her footing again.

"Not so much of a 'grandpa' now, am I?"

Rose stood, ready to battle, and I was prepared to give it all I had. I intended to win, and I knew she did, too.

Training together had made us intimately familiar with the other's quirks and combat styles. Something as small as a twist of her wrist could telegraph Rose's next strike if she wasn't careful to conceal it. Because of that, I tried to change up my usual technique in hopes of throwing her off. It wasn't anything so dramatic as 'surprise, I'm not actually right-handed,' but it was still enough to make her notice and try to adapt to the change. I shortened my stance a little, sacrificing the power I typically utilized for a little extra speed. Unfortunately, it also sacrificed some of my balance. Not a lot, but enough.

It didn't take long for Rose to find her opening.

I threw a cross, but it never connected. Rose had managed to not only block it but also wrap and lock her hand around my arm. Before I knew what was happening, she turned into my body and used my momentum to flip me over her shoulder and back onto the ground.

Even with the cushioning the mat provided, my body stuttered as the shock of the fall jolted through me. I groaned, but before I could recover, Rose had me pinned beneath her. She straddled my hips with her body, trapping my legs in place with her own. Her forearm pressed into my collarbone, threatening to slip to my throat if I didn't play nice. She didn't have a stake this time, but her palm slamming down directly over my heart was enough to end the fight.

"Win."

Rose's breath came in heavy pants, the rise and fall of her chest making for an enticing view. It was impossible not to remember the last time we were in this position. Everything was the same. The feel of her nails digging into my body, the sheen of sweat coating her skin, even the way my pride mixed with pure animalistic lust.

Yes, everything was the same...except for one tiny detail.

We didn't have an audience.

I reached up and grasped her by the back of her neck, pulling her down to my lips in one smooth yet bruising motion.

She responded instantly, kissing me with just as much fervor as we had fought with before. She ground down on my hips, moaning into the kiss. I flipped her so that I was now positioned above her, not putting my entire weight on her, but certainly trapping her enough that she would have to fight to push me away. She didn't. Rose may have beaten me just moments ago, but she was now at my mercy, and I was ready to claim victory over her.

My fingers found the hair she had tied up earlier and pulled it hard to reveal her neck. I bit down, not quite hard enough to break the skin but hard enough to make her whimper before I lavished the spot with a kiss. Already, I could imagine the bruise forming under my lips. She would wear my mark on her, and I was shocked at how hot the idea made me. I couldn't wait to see it.

"Rose," I murmured against her lips between kisses. "We should probably stop."

I didn't want to, but it was the responsible thing to do, right? Especially since I was close to forgetting all propriety and burying myself inside her right here against the mats.

"Probably," she agreed, just before capturing my lip between her teeth as I growled and pressed into her harder. She was playing a dangerous game. She didn't resist, instead rocking her hips into mine and moaning when she found me hard and ready for her. She teased me again. And again. She teased me until I couldn't take it anymore.

While her hands grasped at my biceps, holding on for dear life as I tried to make my claim, I lifted her leg over my hip and pressed my erection against her heat. Even though our clothes, I could feel it. I wanted it. I knew it was too risky to strip down her and take her right here, but oh, how tempting it was. I'd have to make do with watching her come on my fingers instead.

My hand slipped under the tight fabric of her leggings, struggling against the spandex to reach my prize. Between gasps and sighs, she shifted her hips to help guide me, and the moment I found the small pearl at the crest of her sex, she cried out.

I covered her mouth with my other hand, hushing her while continuing to torture her with pleasure.

"You have to be quiet, Roza," I whispered in her ear as I nipped and licked at the spot below it. "We don't want anyone interrupting us, right?"

Shook her head, and the moment I lifted my palm, I was treated to my name on her lips.

"Dimitri. Please."

I let my fingers wander lower against her folds, massaging her slit until she was wet enough for me to slide deep into her core. I knew I should be gentle with her. She was a virgin only a few days ago. For all I knew, her body was still sore from the first time I had taken her. Last night, too. However, there was no holding back, and that seemed true for both of us.

Her hips lifted to meet my hand as she slowly fucked herself on my fingers. I don't think she was even aware of what she was doing. With her eyes closed and her head thrown back, she was utterly lost in this moment. It was a sight to see, and I was torn between letting her come like this, using me for her own pleasure, or stealing that honor for myself.

In the end, I allowed us a middle ground where she could set the pace, but I was free to twist and curl my fingers against her walls until she begged for release.

Her eyes pleaded with mine as I watched her writhe in sweet anguish. When I knew she couldn't stand it any longer, I took control, thrusting in and out of her tight sex until she spasmed against my fingers and arched into my embrace. She pressed her face into my body, muffling her climax rather than letting it echo in the empty room.

I held her as she stilled, her breath stuttering as she returned to herself. Her eyes fluttered open just as I brought my fingers to my lips, eager for the first taste of the woman I loved. She was sweeter than I had imagined, and I wasn't ashamed anymore to admit that I had imagined it more than once since meeting her. I couldn't wait for the moment I could feel her against my tongue. If I could make her fall apart like this with my fingers, I knew she would be a sight to see with my face between her legs while she screamed my name.

"You are so beautiful, Rose. So damn beautiful." Especially with her skin flushed, hair mussed, and wearing the contented smile of a woman fresh off her high. Knowing that I was the one who put that smile on her face made me feel on top of the world. How had I survived so long without her in my arms?

I pulled her tighter against me, remembering just how lucky I was to have her in my life. I was still hard against her hip, and I knew the instant she realized it.

"Wait…" She met my eyes for a moment before I felt her fingers tug hesitantly at the waistband of my pants. I placed my hands on top of hers, stilling her worries.

"It's okay, Rose. Trust me when I say that watching you fall apart like that was more than enough to satisfy me."

"Are you sure?" She seemed hesitant to believe me.

"I'm sure," I promised, touching my lips to her forehead. "Plus, it's getting late. We should probably go before someone comes looking for you."

With one last kiss, deep enough to almost make me regret my decision to end this little tryst, we prepared to leave the gym for the final time.

Rose and I slid the last of the mats onto the tall stack against the wall. While neither of us acknowledged it out loud, I think we both felt the heavy weight of the moment. Who knew when we'd have this chance again?

However, I didn't want to leave the gym on a sad note.

"Do you mind waiting here for a moment?" I asked, patting the top of the mats. "I have something for you."

"Oh? Like a gift?" I could see her trying to reign in the child-like excitement over the idea. While she wasn't a materialistic person by any means, Rose seemed to adore presents. It didn't have to be expensive or elaborate, nor did it have to be wrapped up in pretty paper or a bow. Even a tube of lipgloss in nothing more than a plastic department store bag was enough to make her eyes light up like a kid on Christmas morning.

"Something like that," I assured her, holding back a chuckle as Rose tried (and failed) to jump up onto the mats. After a second botched attempt, she finally relented to asking me for help. I offered her a hand, and once she was settled and comfortable, I went to retrieve my bag and the precious item inside.

I hopped up next to her, smirking as she gave me a glare over the ease with which I was able to do so. Height had some advantages, and using it to torment Rose a little was one of them. Her annoyance was soon forgotten as I handed her a cloth-wrapped bundle.

I had hoped to present it to her in a more appropriate way, something befitting the gift and what it symbolized, but apparently, one of my old St. Basil's shirts would have to do.

She carefully peeled away the layers, and I heard her breath catch once she realized what was inside.

She pulled out a stake. Not just a standard, mass-produced guardian-issued one, though. This was a family heirloom from a time when stakes were crafted artfully by hand with the individual wielder in mind. It wasn't made for me specifically, but it had served me well. It was as much a part of me as my family name.

And now, it belonged to Rose.

Her thumb brushed over the floral pattern that wrapped around the blunt end and scrolled through the handle. Vines were etched into the silver, giving a sharp contrast between the polished silver and the oxidized design. Among the leaves and thorns, tiny roses inlaid with gold were scattered about. I knew Rose wasn't a big fan of her namesake flower, but by the way she traced the intricate petals, I think this gift was the exception to the rule.

"It's stunning." She stared at it in awe, turning and twisting it in her palms. It was a little heavier, with a longer tapered shaft compared to what she was used to. However, the more I watched her handle the stake, the more convinced I was that it was always meant to be in her hands. "Where did you even find a stake like this? I've never seen one so beautiful."

"It was my grandmother's, though I believe it was first wielded by her father. She gave it to me when I graduated, and now I want you to have it."

"I can't take this," she said, eyes wide as she tried to pass the stake back to me. "It belongs in your family. This is… it's too much."

"It's yours." I closed my hand over hers and pressed it back towards her, letting the stake and our clasped hands settle firmly above her heart. "I've planned on giving this to you for a while now. I wasn't expecting to pass it on to you this weekend, but what better time than the present, right?" I didn't mention that it was supposed to be a graduation gift, but I'm sure she could put the pieces together.

"I don't deserve this, Dimitri." Tears started to rim her eyes, and I wasn't sure if it was out of gratitude or guilt. Perhaps both.

"Yes, you do. You deserve this and so much more. It kills me that they are denying you the title and marks that you have earned. If I could change that, I would." I saw her lip quiver, and I bent down to kiss it away. When that didn't chase away all her sorrow, I wrapped her in an embrace. "None of that matters, though. Not to me. You don't need a tattoo to convince me of your devotion and talent. To me, you are a guardian. You have been since the moment I met you."

I felt her quiet tears against me as she tried to hide her emotions, but she couldn't hide them entirely as she whispered her thanks.

"Anything for you, Rose," I promised. "I love you."


Author's Note


I have been waiting to share this chapter for so long! It's one of my favs thus far. A little fighting, a little smut, a little sweet, a little angst. I just love it. Hiccupped_Studio, who happens to be one of my favorite artist in the VA fandom, has graciously helped bring the heirloom stake to life. So, if you would like to see it for yourself, check out my tumblr (user gigi256) under the hashtag "the rose stake." I'm sorry I can't post it directly, but FanFiction doesn't allow links. While you're over there, feel free to check out my VA tumblr page (user VAfiction).

Some of you saw that I posted an extra little sweet and silly one-shot yesterday. Tomorrow morning, I'll be posting another one-shot called "Bottom's Up." If you follow me on Ao3 or Tumblr, you might have already seen it, but it will be cross-posted here. Just as a quick FYI, its quite a bit different than my usual fare.

Also a BIG thank you to everyone who has been sharing my various stories on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and other social media. Just this morning, a book review shared my DPOV series with her 2.8 MILLION followers. Talk about crazy, right? I am blessed to have so many wonderful readers and I love each and every one of you.

Question of the Week: Are you planning on dressing up for Halloween this year? If so, what are you going as? I'm planning on taking a page out of Rose's book and dressing up as an Identity Theif!

Thank you for reading and have a wonderful week!