He meant it in more than one way. He knew it might take time for the requisition, he knew Isaev was sorry about his gloves, he knew that inspecting the body had been more than unpleasant.
He knew that Isaev just wanted to get out of here, away from the corpse, and get the lingering residue of death off of him.
He knew Isaev probably didn't want to be alone tonight.
Kassian felt the same way.
He acknowledged Ocelot with a brief but grateful nod. Ocelot was a natural leader, Kassian thought. He understood a few things about people, and what they needed, in spite of his relative youth.
Experience, and instinct, counted more than the mere passage of time.
Kassian turned away and lightly nudged Isaev's arm. The lieutenant needed no coaxing, but began to walk back up the hill toward Groznyj Grad.
They walked in silence, passing more soldiers and personnel who hurried past them toward the greenhouse ruin. Kassian walked close, closer than was necessary or even proper, and every so often his hand would brush the back of Isaev's.
It might have been to reassure Isaev that he was there, and close, and alive; it might have been to say he understood, and Isaev didn't need to say a word.
But it also might have been to tell himself the same things, Kassian thought.
He let out his breath in a long sigh, watching it mist the air in front of him, but then fade away.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2007-02-08 05:18 pm (UTC)He meant it in more than one way. He knew it might take time for the requisition, he knew Isaev was sorry about his gloves, he knew that inspecting the body had been more than unpleasant.
He knew that Isaev just wanted to get out of here, away from the corpse, and get the lingering residue of death off of him.
He knew Isaev probably didn't want to be alone tonight.
Kassian felt the same way.
He acknowledged Ocelot with a brief but grateful nod. Ocelot was a natural leader, Kassian thought. He understood a few things about people, and what they needed, in spite of his relative youth.
Experience, and instinct, counted more than the mere passage of time.
Kassian turned away and lightly nudged Isaev's arm. The lieutenant needed no coaxing, but began to walk back up the hill toward Groznyj Grad.
They walked in silence, passing more soldiers and personnel who hurried past them toward the greenhouse ruin. Kassian walked close, closer than was necessary or even proper, and every so often his hand would brush the back of Isaev's.
It might have been to reassure Isaev that he was there, and close, and alive; it might have been to say he understood, and Isaev didn't need to say a word.
But it also might have been to tell himself the same things, Kassian thought.
He let out his breath in a long sigh, watching it mist the air in front of him, but then fade away.