A Savior
I visited the next day, too. However, that was as long as I dared to be gone. The Reikers and I promised to keep in touch. I was still stunned at how warmly they accepted me. I almost cried when we said goodbye.
It was as I was walking home this second night that it happened. So consumed was I by my own thoughts that I did not notice the drunkards on the other side of the street. I didn't pay attention as they crossed the road.
However, I did notice at their shout of "Fräulein!" My brisk pace faltered, but I kept walking. What was it I had said about the world being a dangerous place for a woman all alone?
"Hey, schätzchen!" another called. I ignored them, trying not to change my pace to show them I wasn't afraid. I should have just run, because they caught up to me easily enough. They circled around me.
"Excuse me," I said, trying to push through them. As if that would have worked.
"Amerikaner?" they asked, then grinned at each other like ravenous wolves. Don't panic, I told myself, but it was awfully hard not to. One of them reached out and tugged at a loose strand of hair. I knocked his hand away, and they all chuckled. Their circle tightened.
"Mein liebling? Ah, na bitte!" came a voice from behind us. I turned, worried that I was about to face the leader of the group, closing in for the kill. But the circle parted, and a man with black hair and grey eyes stepped in and wrapped his arm around me. "Entschuldigen uns, meine Herren, aber wir sollten wirklich nach Hause gehen," he said to my attackers, and began to lead me away.
"Nicht so schnell, kumpel," said one, putting a hand on my savior's shoulder, stopping him. I saw my rescuer tense, his grey eyes darkening. He turned to face the man, then slammed his fist into other's face.
The others began shouting and lunged at my savior. With skill that was most definitely not found in the German army, he quickly disposed of them, while I stood by and stared with my mouth wide open.
My rescuer grabbed my arm and began walking me towards my hotel. His grip was like a vise, and his face was just as hard. When we passed under a streetlight, I could see his lips pressed into a thin line and his eyes dark like a turbulent storm. He stared straight ahead of us, his face set.
I didn't know what to say. I probably should've stayed silent, then thanked him when he left me at the hotel.
But I never could keep my mouth shut.
"Anton?"
I could see him force a smile as his eyes shifted to me. "I'm sorry? You must be mistaking me for someone else. My name is Victor."
"Oh." My face fell. Glancing up, I saw his eyes soften. He shifted my arm so that it was wrapped around his, his hand resting on mine. My heart sped up. His name may be Victor, but he looked like Anton.
Victor shifted awkwardly. "Just to satisfy my curiosity, who is it that I look like?"
"Just someone I once knew."
"Once?"
"Several years ago. Six to be exact." Six years, nine months, three days, to be exact.
"You must have been a child then. Certainly I must be too old for this person." His chuckle sounded forced.
"No, actually." I studied his face. "In fact, you would probably be just the right age."
He smiled at me, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Well-" He stopped abruptly, and I realized that we were at my hotel. "Well," he continued, more cheerful than before, "here we are." He released my arm. I looked up at him suspiciously.
"Yes…" I smiled gratefully at him and clasped his hands in mine. "Victor, I can't thank you enough for saving me. How do I repay you? I have some money…." I trailed off.
His smile was genuine this time. "No payment is necessary. What kind of person would I have been if I had left you to those men, those beasts?"
"Okay, well," I stepped backwards up one of the front steps of the hotel, "um, thanks. Again." Unsure of what to do next, I turned slowly and continued up the steps.
When I reached the top of the stairs, Victor spoke. "There is one thing," he called. I spun to look at him, hope coloring my face.
"Yes?"
His mouth quirked. "I gave you my name, but you never told me yours."
"Patty. Patty Bergen." Some expression I didn't recognize flitted across his face.
The smile was soon back, however. "Well, Ms. Bergen, 'til we meet again." And giving me a slight mock bow, he turned on his heel and left me standing with my brain spinning. Like a carousel. Again.
A/N: So... finally updated. Yay? And finally things are starting to heat up! Yay for Victor, who really looks like Anton!
Oh yes, and I suppose I should translate the German for you, right? Especially since I probably butchered the German so badly that even Germans can't read it!
Fräulein! - Miss!
Hey, schätzchen! - Hey, baby!
Amerikaner? - American?
Mein liebling? Ah, na bitte! - My sweet? Ah, there you are!
Entschuldigen uns, meine Herren, aber wir sollten wirklich nach Hause gehen. - Excuse us, gentlemen, but we really should be getting home.
Nicht so schnell, kumpel. - Not so fast, buddy.
Anywho, so there's that. I apologize to anyone who can actually read German, and was going, "What the heck?" and also to those who can't read German and were going, "I'm so lost!" But there you go.
If you can translate it properly for me, please let me know.
Summer of My German Soldier belongs to Bette Greene, do not own, etc, etc.