Dear all,

as promised earlier on here is the new chapter with a new pace picking up. Let me know what you think of it as I love to read your comments and messages!

Thank you once more for your support, your words, your sweetness and your being my fans and readers!

Sorry to bother once more, but hey, like my FB page, as I enjoy post many nice things there :-) Here is my link: https://www.facebook.com/TheWitchAndTheCat?ref=tn_tnmn

It would my cat and I very happy ^^

Now, a picture of Vincent and a song that felt perfect for this chapter.

I dedicated it to my friend Shifting2wolf for many reasons and because she was close to me and because it is my way to be close now. Thanks for everything!

Now, enjoy the chapter!

ANATOLY POV:

"If I were the rain could I connect with someone's heart just as it can unite the eternally separated earth and sky?" by Tite Kubo, Bleach Vol. 3

"Can I talk to you a moment?" I asked without leaving his eyes a second.

It was not the easiest thing and damn it, it felt as if they were burning, but no way in hell this time I would let go. Apparently the granitic beast here had attended some course about how to drill freaking holes in people with just your stare and how to make them flee away in a nanosecond. I had to gulp and it pissed me off already, triggering irritation and blood rushing, realizing I was about to start with the wrong foot. I was about to open my mouth and let out an idiot remark, but the problem was that no idea for how long I would be able to contain it.

Oh dear God in the sky, what was wrong with this bastard here and with me? Ha, with me I was damn pathetically afraid to already know what was wrong.

Give me a very thick wall where I can slam my moronic head, please.

I swallowed down as more of Oleg's smell reached me and my mouth felt dry. My eyes stupidly quickly ran over his entire Hulk-like huge body and huge muscles and ran too further, reminding me of another huge part he had. Argh...

I so wanted to bang my head somewhere and actually, bang someone and...oh fuck me. Stop it! Stop it! I couldn't let him see this and it was absolutely out of mind. And moronic. And pathetic. And dangerous. And absolutely out of character. And dangerous once more on more different levels.

Why Oleg?

My mouth went drier and I felt suddenly unsure on why I was here at his house at all. It was probably a mistake due to my short fuse and impatience, and I was evaluating the chance of turning back and say I needed nothing. Wait a moment, wait a freaking moment, Anatoly. What the heck are you? A spineless little coward? The hell with that. Man up and face this impassive creepy bastard, who, by the way, pissed you off very much for days.

"So, can I talk to you or not?"

Oleg considered my question for a long moment, thinking about something, and then he let out a very quiet sigh. He stepped back to the side and opened the door for me, eyes fixed on me. He was not sensing what was going on inside me, right? I really hope not.

"Come in, Anatoly."

I shot him another look and then without breathing out a single word, as his eyes were literally drilling freaking holes in my freaking face, I stepped in and fuck me, my jaw tightened as my arm brushed against his and fuck me even more when my little buddy decided to show up and stiffen up as my nostrils got filled with this impassive bastard's scent. It was a mix of shower gel, some cologne he probably used every day and fresh sweat, because he had probably finished doing some Hulk-like work-out or he was in the middle of that. I could see it from his t-shirt and from those sweat-pants, from the way his muscles were even more pumped than usual, his veins bulging out. I mentally groaned and I wonder if something was showing on my face because when I looked at him he stared at me with a lifted eyebrow, as if asking for something.

Oh freaking freak.

I had to slam my head somewhere and do it pretty soon.

"What?" I barked and he simply fixed his hard stare on me without showing one little stupid emotion.

Why was I even here? I had no idea right now and I knew that probably it was stupid and pretty much demented, but something came over me earlier on and if I wasn't going to see this scary beast here, I would have gone probably out of mind. Argh, there was something of genetically moronic in me and it wasn't exactly the nice thing to discover.

Not that that would take much long to go out of mind, considering my present state and how my entire body reacted whenever close to him.

I walked into the small hall and Oleg closed the door behind us, for then turning looking at me with a rather hard expression.

"Are you well, Anatoly? You seem rather edgy." Once more my blood spiked up because I guessed what he meant.

"I am not on drugs," I snapped.

"I know that very well, Anatoly." The way he said my name meant to begin to behave or he would kick me out. I swear that I had no idea why whenever I was around him my temper would go on a rampant. "Now tell me, are you OK? What do you want to talk about?"

"I am not OK and that is because of you, impassive bastard." There, I let it out and for crying out loud of course I had dug my own grave. There was something genetically damaged in me and that was my self-control and no-existent sense of preservation. Oleg arched his brows and stood there without uttering a word or changing stance. He simply leaned on the door with a shoulder, his arms crossed in front of his chest and of course nothing on him was out of place.

"Anatoly," he said pushing himself straight and keeping his impossible to read stare on me. "You said you wanted to talk about something and hence tell me what it is. However, before you let your bratty side out, think about that well and answer my question. Are you OK?"

I took a deep breath and counted till thousand before answering, not really because I did not have that much patience, but you know what my point is. My mind and blood somehow cooled down because I understood what he in fact meant.

"I am OK, in a way. My arm is much better and I could ride my sexy babe here." I had pretty much talked between my teeth, but he seemed not to mind it. "Do we have to talk here in the hall? If you mind me being here, just say it straight. I'll leave immediately."

"I do not mind it, Anatoly." He moved in front of me and motioned me to follow him. "We can talk in the other room, but I need a shower first."

"Were you working-out?" I removed my shoes, as it was one the rules of his house.

"I just finished and once I moved here I heard your bike."

Oleg moved on walking to the living room, but I grabbed his bicep to stop him. Damn it. This man was not done just with normal blood and flesh. Normal human muscles couldn't be this much ripped and solid. He stopped immediately and shot me quite the stare, basically asking what the heck I wanted.

"What is it?" It was evident his patience was reaching half way the limit. I shook my head and cleared it up. I came here to talk in the most civil way it was possible for me around him.

"I am bothering you by being here right now, am I?"

He sighed and shook his head.

"I had been clear already on this matter." He turned the other way and led to the living room, but he stopped a moment to look at me directly in my eyes. "You do not bother me, Anatoly."

I nodded and remembered what he told me last week.

"You said I could come here if I wanted to."

"Indeed." This was his simple answer and I fought not to smile right there in front of him. The creepy bastard probably guessed it because he smirked in his usual way.

Damn, even that was hot.

I was in such deep shit.

Very, very deep. Argh...just wonderful.

"Sit there until I am done with the shower." He indicated the sofa in the living room; as always he had to boss me around and tell me what to do.

"Hey, how about you stop always treating me like some stupid brat ordering me around all the time?"

"If you want to talk about whatever you have in mind and I can tell it is something that might take time, I will have to shower. If you cannot wait for that, you already know what else I will say."

"What the hell?" I snapped. "Listen, you ignored me for days and basically disappeared completely avoiding me, and I have not even idea why and what on Earth I did to piss you off. Listen, not my fault if that moron decided to pick a fight with me, actually yes it was my fault in a way, but you know what I mean..." I rushed a hand in my hair and groaned frustrated because I didn't realize how edgy I was before being in front of him. I had to pipe down if I wanted to talk to him, but somehow my blood began to pump faster and the frustration and irritation of the past days took over me. "I wanted to talk to you days ago, but hell, you did a good job in being a ninja and it is so maddening to have you always treat me like a brat."

"Because you are an impulsive one, Anatoly," he stated with such composed expression and matter-of-fact voice that of course I saw red.

"What?"

"Anatoly, count until ten before you open your mouth next time. I might have patience with you, but not that much as you probably think, given how you let your temper run free. You wanted to talk to me and I am here to listen to you, but I need a shower and I will have that shower, am I understood?"

I said nothing, just stared at him. He was right and I knew it, but it was still too hard to admit it that openly and to boot it, right in front of him. I would rather eat crap than give him this satisfaction right now.

"Anatoly, am I understood? I asked you before if you were OK and you are not in any trouble, correct?"

I was not in any trouble, he asked? I had to repress the dry and sarcastic laugh. We had to clarify and define the meaning and extent of trouble, what that comprehended and what did not.

"Anatoly."

"Sir, yes sir," I mocked and needless to say he sure did not appreciate that. "Not in any trouble, so no need to worry now and get premature grey hair, or wait? Given how old you are you probably already have some." He stared at me untouched by my provocation, as if I hadn't spoken at all, basically ignoring me; something that was damn annoying to say the least. It was something in which he could win the award of the best impassive and ignoring jerk. Oh well, screw that and screw him...hmm...maybe that and maybe him me...argh! Anatoly, just drop it. "I will sit there like a good boy and wait in silence, better?" I dropped on the couch with a loud sound and crossed my arms in front of me. Yes, I know it was all very mature of me and no wonder Oleg kept calling me immature brat, but it was stronger than me and couldn't avoid it. Plus, the thought of before triggered blood downstairs and I had to sit and hide a rather pathetic and very idiotic issue.

"You honestly question me on the reasons I call you immature brat?" He asked arching one brow. I didn't bother in stating the obvious. I bothered in telling my buddy to close the store.

He walked away and probably to the bathroom.

"Impassive annoying bastard," I muttered.

"My ears and hearing sense work both perfectly."

Argh...I rolled my eyes and snorted, sprawling more comfortable on the couch and fixing my closed eyes to the ceiling.

"Good for you, now let me rotten here in boredom while you shower." I was getting more and more mature here; you didn't need to underline it for me.

"Anatoly?"

"What?" I barked.

I opened my eyes and realized Oleg was there in front of me, his usual emotionless expression stamped on that rock-shaped face, his stubble impeccably styled, his tattoo wrapping up that bull-like neck, his dark and intense eyes boring into mine as if wanting to read in my brain. Mostly though, Oleg was there in front me shirtless, in all of his oh-freak-me-so-huge glory, as he held the t-shirt with his hand. I had to gulp down.

"I take your rather irritating mood and attitude is due to something you have in mind and apparently brewing for days. I am absolutely out of duty today and patience might run thinner in shorter time."

My brain registered one thing only, not bothering to give much attention to the patience crap. I knew it already, anyway. However, he said something; those three words he already said last weekend and that left me back then with a very weird feeling inside me gripping at my guts. Oleg was out of duties today.

I had the real one in front of me.

I hoped it meant he would see me as Anatoly only.

"As I said, my patience might run short very soon and you are in some very troublesome mood, thus, just cool down and talk."

With that said, he pinned me there with such firm and authoritative stare as to say to dare to act or breath differently, and then turned back walking away.

"Talk to whom? To the wall? You are going to shower."

"Talk there then." Come again? "And no more bratty tantrum and sarcasm."

My entire body and mind froze there for a long moment as his words sank into my brain completely, absorbing the meaning of it. Talking to him while he was naked and showering? Once more my mouth went dry and too much chaos thundered in my head. I had already seen him naked and for the life of me, I had needed a very cold shower to calm down. I...I banged my head in the first thing there and groaned. I could not pull back and at the same time I could not move, but freaking hell I wanted to move and as moronic and pathetic as it sounded and it was, I damn wanted to see him naked. I was gay, you get my point? Gay and a very healthy nineteen years old guy, and that beast over there was quite the hunk...no, he wasn't quite the hunk. He was Oleg. He was The Hunk.

I debated over what to do for a few seconds until he of course said something that threw everything out of the window and made my blood shrill in my ears.

"What is it Anatoly? Are you perhaps shy like some little school girl?"

"What the fuck?" I hissed and in no time I was in that freaking bathroom, cursing at my lack of control and at my demented temper.

Oleg was there in all of sadistic and impassive and oh-for-crying-loud-so-not-humanly-hot beasty glory about to remove his sweatpants. I was staring and I was staring badly.

"What is it?" He said as if it was nothing to strip in front of me, knowing how much gay I was. Well, he was probably used given the life he spent in the Army and for sure Oleg did not strike me as someone shy about his body. But something bothered me and it was the fact that as sure as hell, I was the only one here being this moronically affected and he for sure felt as cool as ice.

"Anatoly?"

I averted my eyes away and in the motion I caught his dark smirk, obviously enjoying this. The bastard here indeed had a sadistic streak in him and no kidding.

"We are both men and we already undressed in front of each other." Was he doing this on a sadistic purpose? "Now, speak Anatoly. What is it?"

He completely stripped and I wished I could smack my head in the wall right there, right then, but that would make it too obvious. Shit. He really was...huge. I really was starving, a lot. There was no way to avoid the staring at his body, his muscles, his tattoos, his freaking huge dick that made me fantasize about how bigger it would get once aroused, once hard, how to make it hard, all the ways I would...oh fuck me...the crap was deep indeed, but then he turned to open the shower and then my eyes stopped on a very deep scar on his back. Had I miss it before? It was so thick, already pale, but obviously it must have caused almost unbearable pain.

Then, once more, just like last weekend, my hand moved alone and I didn't bother to stop it. The need to touch it was so imperative and maddening that it was impossible to deny it; I wanted to know more about this man here in front of me, what had caused him such scars, and then something twisted inside me. It was anger. Anger for...I had no time to dwell into that because my fingers touched his warm skin. Jee...the scar was thick a lot.

Oleg didn't stiffen at my sudden action, only he stood there and did not move.

"What happened here?" I asked and my voice was raw.

Everything was still and no sound could be heard; only his calm breathing and my less calm one.

"The same it happened for the scar on my arm." His voice was levelled.

I don't know what was wrong with me, but I couldn't stop touching him and for some unknown reason he seemed not to mind it. Like that Sunday my fingers skimmed the length of that mark and my heart thundered so loud that I might have turned out deaf already. I was aware of my actions and at the same time not; it was crazy and I knew. It was crazy and I liked it. I liked it too much and I knew I should have stopped. Only, I could not. My fingers roamed more of his hot and slightly sweaty flesh and my breath became heavy and incoherent because damn me in hell, I was getting aroused and damn hard. Yet, no way I could possibly stop it. I was going insane and I was risking big time here and yet, here I was, touching this man here. He felt so incredibly solid and his scar...his scar awakened something new in me.

"What happened?" I asked once more. "Oleg, tell me what happened."

"I explained you last time, Anatoly."

"No, tell me more."

"Anatoly..."

"Who the hell did this to you? This scar is so insanely deep; it must have hurt like a bitch." I was mostly talking to myself. This was not normal. I was not normal and I was definitely shooting on my own legs. I had to stop. I had to stop. I had to stop. Now. Damn it...I couldn't. His skin felt so warm, so alive and pulsing under my fingers and my own skin, it felt so good and so right.

"Years passed." He said that as nothing, as always his voice calm and composed, no emotions slipping out like this brat here.

"But what the hell happened?"

"Anatoly.."

"Tell me."

Silence stretched between us. It was not uncomfortable, but it was very loud and very heavy. My heart raced as a crazed horse on doping and my blood had probably already melted my veins clearly suffocating my brain and sanity. His back rose in a deep breath and then went down.

"Torture."

My fingers dug into his scar. The nails dug into my skin as my other hand fisted up. How could he pronounce such word with such tranquillity? I knew so little about this man and the idea maddened me to an eerie level.

"I know nothing about you," I admitted with a bitter taste suffocating me.

"Some things are not so nice to know, Anatoly. Just believe me."

"But I want to know."

"Not now, another time perhaps."

Some more silence stretched between us and the room started to become too small and the air too charged and suffocating. My breathing had picked up some very unstable rhythm and more than once I had to swallow down from my dry mouth.

"It was my duty and it was my life, Anatoly," he added, once more is voice not breaking the smallest emotion. How could he do that? But those words penetrated in my brain and in my guts. I never questioned my parents or him about his leaving the Army; I never bothered to care about a damn small thing that it wasn't me and my fucktarded idiocies. This beast of a man was born to be a soldier and to serve the Army, and it was clear he considered it a huge deal honour.

Once more irrationality kicked in and completely blinded me and any drop left of sanity. I wasn't going insane anymore; I wasn't going slightly mad anymore, as the amazing Freddie Mercury sang in that bad-ass song. I was already gone. Awareness completely sank into me and my eyes close, right when my forehead pressed on his naked back. Kill me and do it now, because it felt too good.

None of us spoke or moved. Only my breathing and heart-beating went on a rampant and so did something else inside of me. I was not hearing anymore what my rational self was hissing and yelling at me.

"That was your life just fine, wasn't it? It was what you wanted to do, what you were born for, I bet...So why you left the Army?"

He took a long inhale and then a quiet exhale.

"I had to leave the Army, Anatoly." Once more, his tone and words spoke calmly and without breaking any sweat.

My entire body and mind were very aware of the closeness to this man, to our skins touching, myself going over the point of being out of mind. I knew Oleg was aware of that, too. It was strange, yet it felt natural. It was insane and wrong on many levels, yet right and normal on many other different levels. It was dangerous and I knew it. About this there was nothing to counter debate or counter balance. It was plain dangerous. Nevertheless, my feet couldn't stop walking in the risky maze I found myself in. Moronic pretty much? You nailed it.

"Why?"

"I simply could not perform my duties at its best."

As always, his answers very cryptic and left me with hundred more questions. The bastard was good at that, too damn good.

I kept there a moment feeling a complete mess of everything and cursing myself in my mind with all sort of insults my brain could rank through now. I had to move. I didn't want to freaking move. Oleg stark naked in front of me and my head on his back, along with my hand, almost sinking my fingers in his scar and pulsing, hot and sweaty flesh. He did not mind it for what I could tell because he did not move and did not bark at me to beat it. However, I already knew the price of this: one step forward and two steps back.

"Sorry," I munched out. "I will let you shower in peace and then we can talk." If he would still allow me around him and in his house.

Without adding more, I left the bathroom, closed the door behind me and sat on the floor leaning with my back on the couch. I took my head in my hands, violently pulling and stroking my hair, insults travelling at the light speed in my head and resonating so loud in my ears that I couldn't decide what was louder: my boiling blood or them? I didn't know anymore. Only one thing was clear and held no doubts for me. I sighed heavily.

"I am in such deep crap..."

I furiously ranked my hair more.

"I am officially a lost-case-of-fucktarded-moron."

Something was definitely malfunctioning in me and hell could froze if I knew how to freaking fix it.

OLEG POV:

When I heard the sound of Anatoly's Kawasaki Ninja, I already knew he had come over my place to talk or somehow discuss about something. What made break the very distant and professional attitude I had imposed myself over the week was the honest worry he was going through some problems or having some personal and emotional issues he apparently was able to communicate me only. I had sworn as my own duty to take care of him and make sure he would be well and safe, no matter what; however, even though I was entirely convinced there would not be any break of duties or limits, no stepping the wrong line and therefore no issues in handling this particular matter, I had to take a step back and admit my very inexcusable limit.

The Anatoly I knew in the past was a different person, without any doubt very complex and not simple to handle, he faced harsh moments that bent some of his features towards more difficult and dangerous shades, but to my personal burning disappointment at my own limit I failed to realize the many hidden layers he had and that now where there, after the storm had partially cleared, because nobody and nothing could convince my instinct and I that we were completely out of it, it was now that my controlled and disciplined self experienced new nuances of his complex personality. Anatoly had a dangerous power he was not aware of and that I tried to perfectly store away and crush it: he had the power to pull some invisible strings in me wakening emotions I had forgotten it was possible to experience on my own skin and more dangerously, strings attached to my limits.

I could not close the door I had already opened in front of his face, and chasing him away or, as I could see myself from the past week, avoiding him were not efficient methods. I did not want to chase him away, for two reasons.

First, such action would have led to worse consequences. He was still unstable and we both were aware of his very delicate balance, of our very delicate balance we somehow found and that meant for him to trust me and feel at ease enough to rely on me whenever he needed it. He said my room could calm him down, which meant my presence as well, aside the outburst of his bratty temper, was able to relax him. I knew why. I did not need to ask questions or to force things out of him. We could be silent for hours. His temper and lack of patience were quite the interesting aspect of him and many times they reached very high level, but quieted down very soon with me.

Second, very selfishly I did not want to chase him away from my life. I enjoyed riding bikes with him, as I enjoyed that evening when he silently read a book and I trained. There was a touch of deep peace in that moment, as if no storm was approaching soon with all chances. It was where my limit stood and it was tinted of grey, because Anatoly made it difficult to mark black or white solely. Anatoly made difficult many things.

He made things difficult like now.

I could see how edgy and nervous he was and it did not surprise the outburst he had literally groaning out how annoyed and frustrated he was by my avoiding him the entire week. I expected questions about that, but they did not come yet; however, I was not going to indulge in the hope he would not inquire. Anatoly was impulsive and to say he had a short fuse did not make justice to his nature. Something else I wished my presence and methods would teach him to control. Anatoly kept staring me, his silvery blue eyes clouded by his emotions, clenching his jaw and looking on the verge of exploding from one moment to another, like a mine. Seeing him in that state made me realize the mistake made in trying to avoid him.

His reactions were not so obvious and immediate to me at first, but since Monday a doubt crept in my brain and nailed me the entire week. There was an edge in the way he looked at me, at my tattoos, in the way he tried to challenge my stare and in much more. It was not plain looking, but blatant staring in certain occasions. He would swallow down and avert his eyes away, shaking his head. I did not miss it; I had always been very good in reading people's body language and very subtle details. The problem was that I begun to read him well and entirely only now, and the pages of his book held prohibited contents for me.

Anatoly perhaps felt physical attraction for me, given his sexual orientation, and nothing of very strange and wrong, if it were not for our situation. I began to think he indeed felt attracted to me and I had to see where that lay. I was not sure about the nature of his attraction, whether purely physical or for the way he saw me, for my role in his past mess and the way I managed things and pulled him out of that; if there were emotions somewhere. It was something I did not calculate at all, given his initial behaviours towards me, the way he always had to contrast me and probably could not stand my presence. That did not bother me, even if I had already grown attachment for him. I understood him and his feelings. The problem now was to discover the nature and depth of that and make him see it was probably just a phase and infatuation due to what happened months ago.

It had to be in that way. The question was that it was two of us feeling physical attraction and no need in denying Anatoly would always be the sweetest and most forbidden fruit for me.

I had not seen it myself, the attachment and sense of duty growing in deeper attachment, in more personal feelings and physical attraction. This is something I would never cease to reprimand myself for. I had never been attracted to women in general, but due to my past, I kept it a secret. I had never been someone very much driven to sex or such, but there was that power in Anatoly. There was that impact he had on my primal self. I would be lying to myself if I were to deny the fact that very deep in my mind, very buried away and constrained with all I got, I had wished to have him until his last drop of sweat and blood. I had always reprimanded myself for having such thoughts and desires, telling myself what my duties where and where the fine red line stood. I was aware of that. Nonetheless, I could only ignore and bury it even deeper and further away, because the attraction and the wish to posses all of Anatoly would not fade away or diminish.

Now I pushed the situation a bit further because I needed to test his reaction and somehow base on that new methods and approach. Aside this matter, the brat here was so on the verge of some inner explosion that I had to ease it down for him. Provocation worked very well every time and pocking his pride always obtained good results.

Once more though, I did not foresee his reaction and possible behaviour. When I provoked him to come and talk to me in the bathroom, I had no second means in my mind or heart; for sure my nature was not shy and undressing in front of other men, given the past in the Army where you had to share showers, rooms, sometimes have toilets without walls and more, was not a situation that made me uncomfortable. I was used to that.

Now, here we were. Me stark naked and Anatoly touching one of the scars on my back, one of the many my body had. I had closed my eyes a moment as he followed the path of that mark and studied its thickness; my breathing was forced to be levelled because I could not slip. There he was again, pulling hidden and invisible strings, caressing the trigger of a very dangerous weapon, invading my personal space without realizing he was doing that and with me allowing it. His fingers slightly trembled at first and the rhythm of his breathing soon became erratic, heavier, and I could almost hear him swallowing down. This is where Anatoly pushed the limit to a very risky grey zone. The rather interesting part was that he was not aware of any of this.

I admit the struggle reaping my inside and resonating in my mind. My skin felt his touch and liked it; my entire body enjoyed his touch and his immediate presence a few inches away from me. I tightened my jaw and concentrated on my role. Anatoly's hand wondered more and somehow his fingers and nails dug into my flesh. It was then that I needed more control and composure, because this intimacy and this side of Anatoly, outrageously straightforward and unaware of how much he had stepped into my personal zone, had awakened primal and very demanding needs. I grinded my teeth and chastised myself for not being able to properly rule my body and sensations, but it was not an easy task. My body felt aroused by his touch and by such intimate closeness with such forbidden fruit. I was physically aroused and hard; it took a great amount of self control to stay there apparently calm with composed voice and breathing. The last thing we both needed was him being aware of my reaction and of my hardness.

Anatoly came here to talk and he needed the Oleg that would never fail him, the Oleg that would rather shoot his own head than put him in any dangerous or unsafe situation.

Even his voice was broken and I detected anger in his words. Anger for what was not clear to me. For what had happened to me? I was a soldier and in an elite group, hence what happened was part of it and I never gave much thought about that. It was a great honour for me to serve my Motherland and the price for that was something I gladly paid.

This of course was all foreign to him and I understood it.

"But what the hell happened?" He insisted, still touching and studying my scar with his fingers. I opened my eyes and closed them again.

"Anatoly.." There was no need to burden his mind with old facts.

"Tell me."

I kept silent a moment to evaluate his demands. He wanted to know and he already knew what happened with my arm; Anatoly was strong enough to take the crude reality. A deep breath though was what I needed to calm down as his hand pressed more on my back, as he closed the distance even more and I could almost feel his body pressing on my naked one.

Oleg, very unprofessional of you.

You disappoint me very much, lieutenant Azarov.

"Torture," I simply uttered.

He took a deep and broken breath and hissed barely audibly. His nails sank into my scar and skin. It was me now taking a controlled deep breath. When it had begun? When did I start to feel in this way towards this brat here?

"I know nothing about you," he said sounding very upset and angry.

"Some things are not so nice to know, Anatoly. Just believe me."

Mr. Denisov knew a fair amount of my life, given he was the one that gave me a second chance and welcomed me in his family; however he did not know everything. If there was a person I would ever feel comfortable enough to burden with my life experience and past, that person was the immature and very short-tempered punk standing behind me and clearly being a terrorist for my quietness and discipline.

"But I want to know."

Anatoly was stubborn indeed and not just that; Anatoly was persistent and very straightforward in rather peculiar things.

"Not now, another time perhaps." I could feel his tension and almost hear the thundering of his questions in his head. He had so much to learn and that was another reason I could not leave and chase him away. "It was my duty and it was my life, Anatoly," I felt right to add, only for him to possibly relax down. He had no need to feel angry.

He stiffened a bit and kept silent, but then he did something that surprised me considerably and froze me a moment. No, it was not correct. It froze me a moment for then having something boil and simmer.

Anatoly let his forehead press on my back, still keeping his hand there. Not just his touch, but now his hair, his raw breath and his warm skin touched me.

Not a sound could be heard in the room; we both stood there still and as if frozen in place. I could not utter a word. This was dangerous and it was over the line, yet I did not pull back, afraid to make him feel rejected. I did not pull back for I knew the price to pay for this brief moment of bliss would never allow any more almost grabbing and tasting my sweetest fruit.

I let this moment sink into my system and in my mind. My entire body and self were aware of Anatoly and I knew he was aware of me. It was not any more only physical attraction and sexual arousal.

I knew some very peculiar and delicate connection formed and I was well aware of the extreme attention and caution I had to handle it.

"That was your life just fine, wasn't it? It was what you wanted to do, what you were born for, I bet...so why you left the Army?"

That question; why I had to leave the Army. I took a deep breath and silently sighed. Mr. Denisov was the one that gave me the second chance and Mr. Denisov had my entire gratitude. I would never be able to entirely repay such debt. I sighed more.

"I had to leave the Army, Anatoly." My voice was still and held no emotions what so ever. It was all in the past, old memories.

How odd and somehow unfair was to find such peace and pleasure in the most prohibited thing? I closed my eyes and savoured it until I could, because as far as it was wrong, dangerous and pretty much borderline with immoral due to our difference in age and my role in his family, it felt good and natural.

"Why?" He insisted. The answer was one only.

"I simply could not perform my duties at its best."

He let everything deepen into his mind and kept still close to me a moment longer. I had no need to ask. Anatoly was aware of the fact that his behaviour would not come without a price to pay. I was out of duty and permitted myself more than allowed pleasure. It was time to be the man and figure Anatoly needed beside him.

"Sorry," he muttered, "I will let you shower in peace and then we can talk."

He closed the door and left the bathroom. He was more tense than before but for a completely different reason. I shook my head and opened the shower box, stepping inside and letting the water fall on me. My eyes glanced down and could see my member still hard and pulsing, so my head bent back and cold water washed over me. I fisted my hands and smashed them on the wall. My head dropped and my jaw clenched. I had been absolutely irresponsible, because the attraction the punk felt for me was not a matter of joke. I swallowed hard and sighed heavily. I could not avoid him anymore; it was unfair to him and very much the wrong tactic. However, I had to keep very neutral and Anatoly had the power to dissolve neutrality.

It was going to be like walking on a mine-field. The wrong step would lead to lethal consequences.

I showered quickly and walked back to my bedroom to wear something appropriate for an out-of-duty Saturday, which meant normal jeans and today a simple t-shirt because the weather was very fine outside and it gifted us with a sweet October. Once I moved back to the living room Anatoly was sitting on the floor with his back on the couch, staring at the ceiling and muttering something I could not distinguish; as soon as he registered my presence, he stiffened up and opened his mouth to say something, but closed it immediately. The last thing I wanted was to make him feel that uneasy; he had already experienced enough in his young life and he did not deserve more confusion or pain.

"Oleg..." he went to say, but stopped.

I kept standing on purpose and then put him out of that state.

"You wanted to talk to me about something, so tell me. I am here to listen to you." I took a step and sat on the couch in front of him.

"Yeah, I had something to tell you." Even so, he dropped silent for some time. He passed a hand on his Mohawk out of being nervous and grunted something in English. Then suddenly he sprang up and growled out what was his irritation. I let him be, but in a way I could not help smirking and he caught that. Of course he rolled his eyes and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Having fun at my expenses?"

"You are an amusing view right now." I smirked more and I knew it would break the tension. He snorted and addressed me with his favourite epithet for then sitting on the sofa in front of me.

"Whatever, impassive bastard." I really could not help smirk more at that. Anatoly sprawled his legs wider and kept his arms crossed as his eyes met mine. "Cool t-shirt, by the way. I like that brand, too." I wore an Affliction t-shirt, brand that apparently was famous among bikers and as well among MMA fighters in UFC and outside UFC. Anatoly had black jeans slashed at his knees and a simple white long-sleeves t-shirt from Harley Davidson; the leather jacket he wore when he rode here lay on the couch beside the helmet. His ears were of course pierced and I noticed he had a couple of chain-looking bracelets.

"So, now you can speak."

The authoritarian tone worked well this time and he forgot whatever was occupying his mind earlier on.

"Gee, thank you for the permission," he snorted oozing sarcasm. "Whatever, I am here to talk and I will. Deal with that. Now, this is pretty much annoying to admit it and believe me, rather than do this I would eat crap, but what's fair is fair, and I'm tired of going round in circles playing the immature idiot part." He clenched his fist and took a deep breath. No doubt he was going to admit something that cost him quite the effort. "Listen, you are absolutely the most infuriating bastard sometimes because I swear, I can never read into you or understand what you feel, granted you are even capable of human-like emotions." I gave him hard stare as to say to spit it out. "So, what I want to say is that...oh God, this is so annoying...argh..." He passed his hand on his hair once more. "Anyway, I wanted to tell you that you were right about my tattoos. I have to modify them or do something. Can you tell me about a good place where I could go to?" He had voiced everything out almost in one fast go.

My lips almost tilted in a genuine smile because Anatoly was amusing indeed and because I was aware of how much that cost him. As well, I was glad to see more sense was beginning to pour into his punkish and mulish head.

"What made you change your mind?" Of that I was curious.

He hesitated a moment and then spoke.

"I...I talked with my mum a few days ago. I realized what kind of garbage I had been and how I made her felt. Can you believe it? She felt guilty and thought she had failed as mother and parent. It enraged me to hear that because I know for a fact that many others would have kicked my ass out to the street. Fuck me...they both felt they failed, because didn't understand what happened to me. I had been a piece of junk, Oleg." His head fell back on the couch and his eyes closed. "My tattoos only remind me more of that and I bet it's the same for my entire family. Once I caught the chipmunk glancing at that and I am ready to bet my nuts he reviewed in his mind what I had done to him. I cannot stand this anymore. I...I need to have them changed."

I sighed silently. I should have never avoided him during the week. He had a lot brewing in his mind.

"I take now things are much smoother with your mother, correct? You needed to hear her feelings, Anatoly. You were afraid at first, though. You were afraid to learn something different, correct?"

His eyes widened in surprise and I smirked at that. It gave me pleasure to have the upper hand in some matters.

"How do you always freaking figure everything out this much?"

"Sometimes it is very easy to read into you." He gulped down and looked away. "But it is because I am good at that and I had been trained to read into people. As well, Anatoly, it would be a failure of mine if I could not interpret such thoughts and fears in you."

He looked up at me and something different passed on his face, while his eyes assumed a more serious expression, holding my stare.

"You could never fail anyone, Oleg. At least this much I know about you." Anatoly meant every single word and I simply nodded acknowledging his words. "This is why I came here to talk to you."

We held each other gaze for a moment and then he dropped it, looking somewhere else. His words bore a considerable weight in my mind and made me realize even more how deeply he did trust me.

"Very well, Anatoly. I know a place where I had two of my tattoos and where I am sure they will do an impeccable job. Although I think you might need laser to erase the one on the arm."

"I don't care. Whatever it takes to get rid of this crap here is fine by me." He massaged his forehead and looked suddenly tired.

"Spasiba." It was very quiet but nonetheless he said it once more.

"Nye za shto."

Silence filled the room, but none of us felt the need to make conversation, but I want him to have a break from everything.

"Are you hungry? I have not eaten after working out yet."

He looked at me surprised and then smirked pretty much like the punk he was.

"Wow, so even a machine like you needs food," he joked. "Seriously, where did you train?"

"Here, I made a personal gym in the basement."

"Really?" I nodded. "Will you show me sometime? Maybe you could.."

"Yiest, Anatoly. I will show it to you and will show you more routines you could do in terms of weight lifting." He repressed a smile and the corner of my upper lip tipped up at that.

"And well, yeah, now that you make me think about it, I'm starving, man." He had finally eased down a bit.

"So we can go to eat something."

"Where?"

"Do you have any preference?"

"Not really to be honest; I just need to put something under my teeth."

"Very well then, I know a place it could be of your liking." He arched a brow in a mute question. "A place similar to where we went last Sunday, but quieter, if that suits you."

"Hell yeah, because I sure don't want another couple of bimbos trying to get in your pants right in front of me and trying to impress me with their boobs." I said nothing to that. "So, my babe this time?"

I considered that and I saw nothing wrong in that. It sure would completely release his tension. I nodded and stood up to go grab my jacket and helmet.

"You'll see, old geezer, this immature brat will you make you grow gray hair."

"I hardly doubt that."

"You never rode behind me," he smirked satisfied and clearly challenged me.

"Then show me, brat."

There was nothing to hold onto while sitting on the rear seat of his Ninja and the only option was to hold on him, because his way of riding the bike was rather reckless. I knew he was smiling under his helmet and that adrenaline pumped in his system as soon as the black Kawasaki Ninja roared to life. He shifted gear and in no time sped over the allowed limit. Immature punk. However, the same adrenaline rushed into my veins, because this was a passion we entirely shared. Speed and racing with my Ducati were a powerful form of excitement.

We reached the place and had a relatively civil and quiet dinner, Anatoly too busy with his food to let his usual temper out. I as well knew he was rather at ease. The quantity of food he could make disappear in little time was impressive and in that he was identical to his brother. Girls eyed him immediately as he stepped into the place and I could tell a couple of them debated whether to entertain a conversation with us or not; I gave them a severe look as they probably made the first step towards our table and they understood my authoritative stare at first. I was not in mood to frivolous and pointless conversation. Neither of us was interested in such thing and both of us wanted to enjoy the food in quiet and peace. He told me about a Halloween party his school would have next weekend and then asked me when we would go race again.

"We will see."

"Well, I want to go soon."

"As I said, we will see. I will have to assist Mr. Denisov for a case and it might require weekends as well."

"Argh...always duty and only duty. You never get tired of that?"

"I do not reckon to be on duty right now."

He thought about that and unconsciously smiled. His silvery eyes had a different and warmer light in the rare occasions Anatoly genuinely smiled. Then he dropped silent and seemed to think over something.

"You said you are out of duty today, right? And you don't have to work for my father, hmm?"

"Why you ask me this?"

I felt his tension almost stretching to my skin; he toyed with one of the bracelets and thought about something for longer time.

"There is something else I wanted to ask, but I will leave it for today, but just two things: first, can you come with me for the tattoo?"

I saw no problem in that.

"Yes. I will see to fix an appointment."

He nodded and hesitated a moment.

"Oleg, I know I can be a pain in the ass and that I invade your space sometimes, but tonight I would need a break and as much pathetic and irritating it is to admit it, I can't deny your place would do a great deal."

I considered all the angles of that question. Every answer held a potential hidden danger in a way or in another; dealing with Anatoly was not a careless and trouble-free task. As I already stated it felt and it was as if walking on a mine field; a wrong step and everything could be lost and damaged forever. I bore my eyes into his and after a few seconds he tore his away, with all chances guessing the wrong answer.

"As long as you do not behave in any way to challenge my patience, you are allowed to stay."

He first looked at me taken aback as he had expected a different answer, but then he recovered and could not help to hold his sarcasm.

"Hell, thank you for being always such a peach with me. I will play the dead-person game and utter no sound, how is that?"

"That sounds like a reasonable and good idea to me."

"What?"

"It was a joke, Anatoly."

"Gee...you can make jokes. Another step into the human world. What next? I will discover you are not made of iron and concrete?" He went to poke my arm, but stopped, suddenly becoming serious.

"Sorry for before," he spoke under his breath.

Everything in him had tensed up and I could see the pulse in the vein on his neck pacing up. Therefore I did something that would surprise him and at the same time put him at definitive ease; as well something that belonged to this brat only. I let my hand slowly stroke his hair and needless to say the surprise completely repressed the fear of earlier.

"It is OK, Anatoly. I did not mind or else you should know already I would have said something."

He nodded and then fought to repress another smile. Such an immature and stubborn subject Anatoly was.

"That's true."

ANATOLY POV: -DAYS LATER AFTER SCHOOL-

It had been a darn long day and all I wanted was to go home, sprawl on my bed and read a book I have begun on Monday. Of course to have such luck was not my case and when I walked to my bike, someone was there waiting for me, casually leaning on my black babe, his head covered by a dark hood. What the...what was he doing here? The hood would probably cover his face, but I damn well knew that bastard over there, his cocky stance and way of bending his leg, the way he smoked the cigarette, the way he would grin at me. Blood rushed into my head and I saw red, but then I completely froze.

What was he doing there? I had already left that crap time ago and I did not belong there anymore.

I stopped there and I was right; the moment he saw me an idiotic grin spread on his lips, but kept his hood. Damn, I had forgotten how hot he actually was, with those dark green eyes always holding a smug self-satisfied grin, dark hair styled in that peculiar way that made him look a magnet for chicks, his set of muscles and tattoos...muscles and tattoos that were nothing if compared to...but this was not the point. The point was what the hell was he doing there right in front of my bike and right at my school.

"What the fuck are you doing? What do you want?" I hissed already clenching my fist. No time for old memories. He was there when they beat me up and almost left me dead; he was there and sure did not prevent any of that from happening. The memory stung badly in me and moved something I had wanted to forget and bury away with burning passion. Why was he now here?

"Vince, what the hell are you doing here at my school?"

"Tolya.."

"Anatoly for you, now." I sneered already pulling the defensive mood up. He look taken aback, but immediately recovered, the traitor. "Spit it out soon, what do you want?"

"I wanted to see if you were doing well, buddy."

"Well, I am alive and functioning. Now you can beat it."

"Anatoly.."

"What?"

"I saw what happened last week; I had followed you because I wanted to talk to you and saw them beating you up and I swear I was about to jump there and beat their sorry ass."

I let out a dry laugh.

"Who are you trying to kid? You think I forgot? They beat the crap out of me when I left the gang and you were there, beating the crap out of me, too, not moving a finger to stop it, even if I sure deserved it."

"I had to be there, man," Vince said with tired voice. "I asked to be there and take part of it."

"What the fu.." He interrupted me immediately by placing a hand on the nape of my neck, playing with my hair, like he used to do.

"Anatoly, I asked to take part of that to avoid having you killed, do you get it? You know how our leader is crazy and Caden took your leaving the gang very badly." I said nothing to that as I could not bear to listen to those words, even less to believe them, because way too freaking much went through the two of us.

I jerked his hand away without much bothering to cover my increasing irritation and then planted my angry eyes on him.

"You haven't answered my question, yet. What the fuck are you doing here?"

Vince took a step closer to me and grabbed my bicep.

"I told you I wanted to see how you were, also, I wanted to warn you: Caden might be back soon." At those words a chill ran down my back, but I kept my mouth shut. "And Anatoly?"

"What else, Vince?"

He took another step and now he was a mere inch away from me, his hand snaking on my back, tasting my muscles under the jacket. His trade-mark smile appeared on his full lips, as he leaned his face close to my ear, his lips almost stroking my lobe.

"I damn miss you and I still want you."

Author chit-chat:

So, what do you think dear all? Did you expect such chapter?

Did you expect that moment between Oleg and Anatoly? I know many of you want them already kissing, but it would be too rushed now and not adeguate to their story and personalities. Believe in me and in my cat ^^ You won't be disappointed ^^

What about the end? What about Vince? How do you like him? What do you foresee? Troubles?

A hint for the next chapter? Trick or treat? ;-)

Let me read what you felt in this chapter and what you liked!

For now, good night!

Until the next -very soon- update, 

Cheers ^^