Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Academy or anything surrounding it (but I do own this plot :D)
DPOV
3 days.
3 days I had sat by my best friend's side as he clung to life on a ticking support machine. 3 days I had not slept, eaten or even moved from the lowly plastic chair that the hospital had issued for my watch. 3 days: the longest three of my life.
"Right then-oh – Mr Belikov, how lovely to see you." The nurse said with a smile plastered across her face. "Have you been here all day?" She asked and I lifted my gaze to her sparkling blue eyes.
"Is it night?" I asked, my accent leaking through all but making my English inaudible.
"It is indeed." She replied chirpily, placing her clipboard down on the white cabinet and resting herself against it.
"Then yes, I have been here all day." I answered void of emotion and turned back to face a sleeping Ivan. The nurse sighed a little but did not press for more conversation.
As promised, Sonya kept me involved. She said that the case had nearly been completed; all they had to do was bring the shooters in. Easier said than done, according to the data. As it turned out, Ivan had gotten himself into a great deal of trouble. The day Rose came over to my apartment and Ivan said he had to go somewhere was the day it all came crashing down – I had originally thought that he was making up the meeting but it was apparently legit. The security footage identified two of the five men that followed Ivan into the alley as brothers Jesse and Ralph Sarcozy who were New York's most infamous drug dealers. Much to my horror, Ivan had gotten into a lot of debt with them and they were demanding that he pay. According to Sonya, he couldn't afford the amount as it kept changing at their every meeting so they ultimately lost it and shot him to finally get rid of him. However, they couldn't finish the clumsy job they did on Ivan because the manager came out a moment later.
All this for money.
Once upon a time I would have condoled it; I would have actually accepted it. I once thought that money was the key to everything. It gave you power, but that power corrupted you. It bled out your humanity and froze your heart. I once thought if I had money I would be fine, but if I could trade it all for Ivan – if I could sell everything I owned in exchange for his life – I would do it in a heartbeat…
Eventually, the nurse left and the doctor returned. Once she had checked Ivan, she came over and checked me. I batted her away harshly but she insisted that I go and get some fresh air. She recommended a walk because, apparently, I was 'emotionally unstable'. This was not the best thing she could have said to me at that moment but my reaction seemingly proved her point. My all too familiar angry temper was unleashed and I stormed out of the hospital in a fit of pure rage like I was a child being sent to my room by my mama.
God I missed home. Not just my family, Russia too. America was nice – and it really was true: if you could make it here, you could make it anywhere – but it lacked feeling. Everywhere was cold and logical block work and skyscrapers that seemed to only get higher. It lacked art and passion, it was just… grey.
But it was unquestionably my family that I missed most. Why had I pushed them away? I missed them so dearly; did they miss me? No. No-one could miss me. Not after what I had done. I was ashamed of what dishonour I had brought to the Belikov name – Dimitri Belikov: the cold business man who once swore that he would never let his family down. I couldn't even bring myself to look in the mirror anymore, let alone even begin to forgive myself for what I had done.
Whether it was the need for alcohol, company or something more, I did not know what brought my feet to walk subconsciously to the Shadow Kiss Inn. My constant. If Vlad's was where everything fell apart, this is where it would slowly be glued back together. I ran my hand along the polished wood that lined the windows and expanded into an arch that draped around the door. The old sign hung above the door's entrance and moved in the night's deathly wind. The night had fallen like a shadowy ghost over a grave but inside laid the warm comforts of life. I smiled and pushed open the door, revelling in the sound of the bell as the wood brushed against it as it opened. Families and friends all sat round tables enjoying each other's company: talking, laughing and having a good time. I saw a group of young people gathered round a dusty TV watching a young man fall to the ground in a parachute. That must be Adrian, I thought to myself as I saw him locked in the embrace of the skinny, young blonde waitress with the golden lily tattoo on her arm.
I smiled at the couple before it dawned on me how alone I was. My smile became emotionless and I realised I just wanted to be alone. I looked back outside and saw that it had started to rain so I ventured into the pub, looking for an isolated place to sit. Before everything, that wouldn't have been difficult in the Shadow Kiss Inn but it had become increasingly popular over the past couple of weeks so locating somewhere alone had become a very difficult trail.
Mercifully, I noticed a door that led to, not the kitchen, but a separate room entirely. One might have imagined that it housed an extension to the dining area itself but it was dusty and dark, only lit by a few candles, so probably was sectioned off when customer rates fell.
I sighed and wandered into the room unseen. It was silent and I breathed in the bliss. Alone again…naturally.
The old song popped into my head and I laughed weakly at my mind's attempt at comfort before noticing something that intrigued me. I was almost certain that this room had been locked away for goodness knows how long but some of the dust had been brushed aside and equipment lay in its place, more specifically, music equipment. There were guitars and a flute; a harp and even a drum kit. But in the centre of it all lay a lonely piano. It looked worn and beaten but I related to it a lot. My mama had taught me how to play when I was little and I never forgot. It was a rare moment of unadulterated contentment that stayed with me all these years.
In the need of distraction; I walked over to the seat and sat down. I pushed the open the lid and ran my fingers along the key's surface, parting the sea of dust that had accumulated over the years. The candle light flickered a little as I blew the dust from the piano. Sliding my thumb into middle C, I smiled surprised at how in tune it was. I began with scales, running the notes in a strategic and chronological pattern before improvising with some arpeggios.
Realising just how helpful this was, I shut out the world and continued. My fingers parted easily and the tune of Elton John's Candle in the Wind begun to play out from the keys. I continued to revel at the sound and decided to rack my brain for other songs. Looking round the darkened room for inspiration, my eyes landed on a discarded box set of Indiana Jones and the iconic theme tune began to fill my mind and the room as I hit each individual note.
"Having fun, comrade?" I jumped out of my seat and round, causing the lid to slam down and the whine of shaken notes to echo in the dark room.
"I-I am so-sor-" my apology was cut off as I truly looked at Rose. She had put on light make-up and wore the same outfit as always but the way the dim light from the flickering candles bend round her face, causing streams of gold to run down her oh so beautiful hair made me completely and utterly speechless.
I really needed to get a hold of myself. Your best friend in a coma! My mind yelled at me. Stop staring at her – how many times? She. Does. Not. Like. You! But no matter how much my inner subconscious screamed at me, I could not stop my heart swelling and my mind reliving how her soft and beautiful – so beautiful – lips felt against my own.
"I didn't know you could play." She said nodding towards the piano. I blinked out my daze enough to smile at her.
"My mama taught me when I was young, I never really forgot." I shrugged and little and the look she gave me was awing. "What?" I asked as her eyes continued to search my face.
"You really are a miracle." She said piercing my soul with her eyes. She beamed at me before pealing away to look at the piano. "So…" her voice brought me back from another daze and I turned to see her sitting on the long piano stool. "Can you play anything I would know?" she asked patting the seat beside her.
"Depends." I said, timidly placing myself next to her exquisite frame.
"On what? She asked slyly.
"On what you have heard." I teased back and she laughed.
"Come on then, comrade, play me something…powerful." She said gesturing to the keys. I looked at her adoringly before a song crept into my mind: the only song that could fit the situation. Something powerful but gentle like the candles that surrounded us.
My fingers glided onto the keys and began to tenderly break chords. Rose frowned for a moment before recognition spread across her face.
"The Power of Love." She grinned. "Funny."
I smirked, looking back at her as my fingers continued to play the melody. Suddenly, I didn't care. Suddenly, the whole world slipped away. I stopped playing and captured my lips with her own…
RPOV
"Hathaway!" Ah, good evening Stan. No, we haven't just raised over 13 grand to save your ass so please keep yelling at me. "Stop daydreaming and tell me where Sage is." I looked up at Stan and smiled innocently.
"I have no idea where Sydney could be…" He narrowed his eyes before wandering off and grumbling something not remotely complementary. As you can imagine, I knew perfectly well where Sydney was. Let's just say, after a painful year of loving from afar, she and Adrian had a lot of time to catch up on. I continued to smile amusingly when Lissa walked in wearing a big fluffy coat. "Cold?" I asked and she just rolled her eyes.
"Just a little." She grinned and I put the tequila where it was meant to be. "I just popped in to ask if you could check that we had everything for rehearsals." Lissa had organised everything and had pretty much wanted to start as soon as Adrian left the helicopter.
"Yeah, we put all the kit in the old room where the grand piano is." Why we had a grand piano, I will never know – probably Stan drunk buying things on Ebay…again – but we may have found its one and only purpose.
"I still haven't found anyone to play it." She sighed.
"Don't worry," I reassured, "I'll drag someone of the street if I have to." I grinned which caused her to laugh.
"Just go and check the stuff would you!" She ordered still laughing.
Tossing the towel back on the bar top, I bowed at my best friend. "Yes, your majesty." I mocked which only caused her to laugh more.
"Oh, Rose, it hurts." She said clutching her stomach and I my eyes widened.
"Are you okay?" I asked forcefully and she rolled her eyes again.
"Yes, you are just making me laugh too much; now go!" She said pointing to the door. I saluted and skipped off to the dusty old room where we shoved all our useless shit. No-one ever used it after it was closed off.
So you could imagine my confusion when I heard Indiana Jones coming from it.
Frowning, I gently pushed to door to see a sight that nearly made gasp in awe. Dimitri, in all his Godly glory, was sitting by the old piano, playing Indiana Jones. I bit my lip to hold back whatever sound threatened to escape my mouth. I could just imagine him wearing a Stetson and riding a horse to this music.
"Having fun, comrade?" I asked and he fumbled and scrambled to his feet in shock causing a racked to collapse behind him and echo in the dusty room.
"I-I am so-sor-" he started to apologise and I bit my lip again. This was way too adorable. Manly Belikov playing the piano and fumbling like he got caught stealing his sister's make-up. Then the full force of what had just happened fell on me. He was playing the piano, as it, he could play the piano…
"I didn't know you could play." I gestured to the piano behind him and he seemed to snap out of his daze to look back at it.
"My mama taught me when I was young, I never really forgot." he said with a slight shrug but I could not stop myself looking at him awe-stricken. "What?" He asked frowning.
"You really are a miracle." I replied shaking my head a little. "So…" I said wandering towards the seat and sitting, kinda excited to see what he could do on the piano. "Can you play anything I would know?" I patted the seat beside me.
"Depends?" he shrugged again, settling down gently next to me but the rush I got whenever I was near him still pelted through me.
"On what?" I asked slyly.
"On what you have heard." I outright laughed.
"Come on then, comrade, play me something..." I thought for a moment, "…powerful." He hesitated a little before letting his graceful hands drift towards the piano keys. A soft, harmonic tune echoed in the candle-lit room and I frowned as I tried to pinpoint the tune. Then it clicked.
"The Power of Love." I grinned. "Funny."
My smile persisted and I felt a warmth build inside me as I noticed he was looking straight at me. I could feel my heart racing and my whole essence was crying out for some release. Yes. The tune slowly came to a silence and the world stilled as his he brought his lips down to my own.
His mouth moulded back onto mine as though they belonged in a slow, heated passion that made me shudder to my very core. His hands, that so gracefully made music out of nothing, now ran their way through the lengths of my hair, pulling me closer to his body. His tongue trailed along my bottom lip, begging for an entrance. I allowed him in and he began to explore every alcove and cavity of my mouth with the tenderest of touches yet could have easily made worlds collide. The sensations ran deep into my being and drove me wild with an inferno of desire.
Without breaking the kiss, I pushed myself onto his lap and wrapped my legs around his waist. His hands left my hair and made their way to my hips to keep me attached to him. I let out and involuntary moan and I could feel Dimitri smiling against my mouth.
I pulled back a little, succumbing to the need to breathe. His forehead rested on mine and our breathing became in sync. I did not bother fighting to grin that consumed my face. "Have I ever told you, you are an amazing kisser?" I whispered and he chuckled lightly.
"You're not too bad either, Roza." He murmured teasingly, drifting his gaze to meet my own.
"Not too bad!?" I stared at him incredulously "Is that it?" His face softened into a look of adoration and he cupped my face in his muscular hands.
"You are greater all the words in every book, in every language. You are beyond perfection and I am so, so, so lucky to have met you…" his eyes darted between my own and I could do nothing but resume our prior activity. I could feel his desire and desperation in his kiss but there was also something else… something sad.
I pulled away to see his eyes watered. "Dimitri?" I asked softly and he just shook his head.
"It's nothing, don't worry." He reassured, tucking a lock of my hair behind my ear.
I frowned and said with a greater force: "Dimitri, what is wrong?"
He sighed, realising that he was not going to win this, but cast his gaze away from me. "It is Ivan. H-he was shot." I saw a lone tear trace its way down my comrade's cheek and I moved my hand to brush it away with my thumb. "They don't know if he will make it." He added distantly and I couldn't hold myself back anymore.
I tightened my legs around his waist and wrapped my hands round his neck. "I am so sorry Dimitri; if I could do anything to stop this, I would."
I felt him sigh as he tightened his hold of me. "I know, I know you would, but I'll be okay." He pulled out of my embrace and looked me in the eyes. "I am really sorry by the way."
"What for?" I asked, genuinely confused.
"Uh, the kiss – I," he stumbled so I intervened.
"Wait, you regret kissing me?" I asked attempting, and failing, to raise an eyebrow.
"No!" he said more defiantly than I think he intended which made me smile. "I mean, I should because we are friends and I am supposed to be helping the pub and I am a mess right know and-"
"Dimitri," I cut him off.
"Yes…" he said timidly.
"You're rambling." I smiled and he sighed. "And, as it has so clearly escaped your notice, I was kissing you back." I pointed out and he caught my gaze again. "I like you – more than I should really – and I don't know what it is about you but these feelings are not going away. And I know first hand what it is like to admire from afar and not do anything about it, justifying this with the notion that we are 'just friends'. It is painful to watch, and I can't begin to imagine what it is like to go through it, so this is me making a sweeping confession – I like you Dimitri Belikov and I know you are hurting right now but have told yourself that you are too manly for a good cry but if you ever need a shoulder in which to renounce your manliness, I give you mine." I took a deep breath after my little speech and prepared for any reaction from the man I was currently sitting on top of.
Really, I had not thought this through, but I was quickly learning that thinking was not an option around Dimitri. Watching how Adrian and Sydney tried to deny their feelings for so long was excruciating to watch and I didn't want to go through that because denying my feelings for Dimitri was just going to make me just like Adrian…and then he would be the one telling me to grow a pair and confess up.
Irony is a bitch.
And so, I figured that this was a better option – tell him now so that he can break my heart now and I'd be all the better for it. Well, at least it thought he would deny me, but the recent activity had made me reconsider this and, in all honesty, gotten me a tiny bit hopeful.
I kinda felt a little bad at the bluntness in which I delivered my speech and I remembered I was still wrapped around him, sitting by a piano. I made to unravel myself but Dimitri's hold grew tighter and I involuntarily gasped at the motion. "I don't want to let go, Roza." He said and my eyes widened.
"Really?" I asked, thinking that I had imagined what he had just said but his eyes – oh his beautiful, beautiful eyes – gave me all the confirmation I needed.
"Really."
*Wee note: I know that Jesse's last name is not Sarkozy but he is here for the purposes of this plot - Ivan is a Zeklos and it needs to be made clear that Ivan and Jesse are not related.
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