So the weird little guy still had some guts after all.
Consistency, no, but Utrov didn't consider that much of a virtue, anyway.
Rakitin disengaged and took a small step back, seeming not to notice when his back struck the metal container.
“This isn't right,” he said.
Utrov opined, “That's half the fun.”
Muzhelostvo's less-than-legal status hadn't bothered Rakitin before....
Shit.
Utrov hadn't been the one the MVD's threats were aimed at.
But the look on Rakitin's face was remorse, not recrimination, like he'd remembered that something forgotten had been left far away.
“It's not you I want,” he said, with bluntness that might've irked another man. “It's anyone. That's not right. I- don't even know you, yeah?”
“That can change,” Vasya suggested, more for the sake of argument than anything.
Just as well. Rakitin was already shaking his head. That weird almost-white hair. He looked like a snow sculpture someone'd put in uniform.
Didn't feel like one, though.
“But me, I know too well. I know what I'd do to you. No one should have to bear a dog's devotion.”
He smiled weakly.
“Even if he's a crazy, stupid bastard.”
Vasya laughed quietly.
“Well, I can't pretend to know what you're talking about. But if you change your mind, you know where to find me.”
“Yeah.” Some relief was evident on Rakitin's face. “Just- don't go trying to make trouble, all right? We don't need any more bodies around here, or more paperwork.”
“I'm not making any promises.”
Rakitin rolled his eyes. “I had a feeling you wouldn't.”
“Hell, they could've sent me out here to get rid of me,” Vasya joked. “I've heard the commander here is some big, dumb son of a bitch who gets it up slaughtering bystanders.”
As his voice faded away, he noticed that Rakitin's eyes suddenly looked a lot harder.
The temperature seemed to have dropped suddenly.
“It would be a good idea,” Rakitin said, pitched low, “if you didn't speak to me again.”
“Eh?” Confusion turned Utrov's mouth. “What's wrong with you?”
“Was that too complex?” His voice had risen, with a distinct edge. He stepped forward, looking taller than he had a minute before, semi-permanent slouch vanished. “Then let me simplify; Shut the fuck up and Get out.”
Utrov blinked. He glanced around at the empty courtyard. “Out of where?”
“Try my sight. Work from there.”
The sudden change in mood didn't make any sense. Utrov tried again. “What-”
Rakitin's lips were white with rage. “Now.”
It occurred to Utrov, as he turned to walk away, that he'd never really seen this man angry before.
no subject
Consistency, no, but Utrov didn't consider that much of a virtue, anyway.
Rakitin disengaged and took a small step back, seeming not to notice when his back struck the metal container.
“This isn't right,” he said.
Utrov opined, “That's half the fun.”
Muzhelostvo's less-than-legal status hadn't bothered Rakitin before....
Shit.
Utrov hadn't been the one the MVD's threats were aimed at.
But the look on Rakitin's face was remorse, not recrimination, like he'd remembered that something forgotten had been left far away.
“It's not you I want,” he said, with bluntness that might've irked another man. “It's anyone. That's not right. I- don't even know you, yeah?”
“That can change,” Vasya suggested, more for the sake of argument than anything.
Just as well. Rakitin was already shaking his head. That weird almost-white hair. He looked like a snow sculpture someone'd put in uniform.
Didn't feel like one, though.
“But me, I know too well. I know what I'd do to you. No one should have to bear a dog's devotion.”
He smiled weakly.
“Even if he's a crazy, stupid bastard.”
Vasya laughed quietly.
“Well, I can't pretend to know what you're talking about. But if you change your mind, you know where to find me.”
“Yeah.” Some relief was evident on Rakitin's face. “Just- don't go trying to make trouble, all right? We don't need any more bodies around here, or more paperwork.”
“I'm not making any promises.”
Rakitin rolled his eyes. “I had a feeling you wouldn't.”
“Hell, they could've sent me out here to get rid of me,” Vasya joked. “I've heard the commander here is some big, dumb son of a bitch who gets it up slaughtering bystanders.”
As his voice faded away, he noticed that Rakitin's eyes suddenly looked a lot harder.
The temperature seemed to have dropped suddenly.
“It would be a good idea,” Rakitin said, pitched low, “if you didn't speak to me again.”
“Eh?” Confusion turned Utrov's mouth. “What's wrong with you?”
“Was that too complex?” His voice had risen, with a distinct edge. He stepped forward, looking taller than he had a minute before, semi-permanent slouch vanished. “Then let me simplify; Shut the fuck up and Get out.”
Utrov blinked. He glanced around at the empty courtyard. “Out of where?”
“Try my sight. Work from there.”
The sudden change in mood didn't make any sense. Utrov tried again. “What-”
Rakitin's lips were white with rage. “Now.”
It occurred to Utrov, as he turned to walk away, that he'd never really seen this man angry before.