Konichiwa! Long time no see! (haha!) Okay, this is the second chapter to "Katyusha" I promised. I have a third chapter written as well and I'm working on the fourth. I'm not super happy with it, but I'm having a hard time writing Russia's character because seriously he's just too complex! Anyway, I'll stop complaining now and post it. Catch you reader-sans later~!
- Turtle-chan
Morning comes too soon and you hastily pack your things. It's still fairly dark out, but you know you have to move if you want to make it to the battle on time. What use is a soldier that doesn't fight?
The camp disappears within an hour and the company is off once more, marching in perfect formation. This time, you stand between Yekaterina and Natalia since you have, more or less, hit it off with them. Natalia doesn't know about your encounter with her brother yet and you plan to keep it that way. Your mind has been spinning with thoughts and questions about the mysterious man. Why is he a commanding officer at such a young age? Why does he hate Nazis so much as to wish to kill all of the Germans? Why does he hate women soldiers? What is he really like? Is he cold and cruel or is he kind and gentle? Somewhere in between maybe? You don't know why, but you want to get to know him better. You're drawn to him, for lack of a better way to put it. He enthralls you.
"I am sorry about leaving you so suddenly yesterday, (y/n)," Yekaterina says to you a little sheepishly.
"Oh, it's fine. I understand that you have to do what must be done," you respond, hoping that Natalia doesn't listen in or that Yekaterina doesn't mention names.
"Yes, I hope that one day I will be able to talk to my little brother again like when we were children...," she says wistfully. "Did he speak to you? What do you think of him?"
You risk a nervous glance over at Natalia who is squinting her deep blue eyes toward the front of the company, trying to catch a glimpse of Colonel Braginsky. "We spoke briefly," you respond, treading lightly. "He seems to be an interesting man. I look forward to fighting alongside him."
"He was always such a sweet boy," Yekaterina smiles. "But he seems to have become very serious. I worry for him because he never smiles. He has a lovely smile, you know?"
"Oh, I'm sure he's alright. You have to be tough to become a colonel at such a young age. He probably feels like he has to prove himself to the older men," you assure her while also probing for information.
"Yes, I am so proud of him! But I fear for him as well. It is so dangerous to fight this war!" she exclaims, tears welling up in her big blue eyes. "And he is not fighting at the back like we are. He has to be right in the middle of it all! Oh, I am happy to be in this company but I do not wish to see my little brother killed!"
"Oh, don't cry," you tell Yekaterina gently. "I'm sure he will be alright. He's made it this far, hasn't he? And he's a big, strong man now. I'm sure he can take care of himself. Besides, you can protect him from afar. We are snipers, after all."
Yekaterina looks over at you with teary eyes and smiles. "You're right! Thank you, (y/n)! I feel much better now," she tells you.
You smile back at her, but your smile falls when a large, dark shadow falls across your path. You look up to see Colonel Braginsky himself standing in front of you, his arms crossed and a look of utmost displeasure on his face. You shiver a little in fear.
"If you have time for idle chatter then obviously you are not working hard enough," he says in a voice as cold as the Siberian winter.
Immediately Natalia perks up. "Big brother!" she exclaims, running over to him with her arms outstretched, a look of pure joy on her face.
Without looking at her, Colonel Braginsky slaps her away, knocking her on her back in the dirt. You're indignant. "This is why women should not be in the military. So easily distracted. It disgusts me," he says, looking you in the eyes.
"Sir, I will not stand by and watch a man strike a woman," you growl, looking over to see Natalia sitting up and rubbing her cheek where Colonel Braginsky hit her. There is a large, red handprint there now, each finger perfectly outlined. You're trembling with rage.
"You would do well to remember your position, Private (y/l/n)," he tells you menacingly, leaning in toward you.
"My rank has nothing to do with this. I will not allow harm to befall any of these women simply because of a prejudice. They have done nothing wrong. If you wish to punish someone, then punish me, but leave the rest out of it," you declare, meeting his cool violet eyes with a hot glare.
"(y/n)...," Yekaterina murmurs, giving you a sad look before turning her head away to hide her tears as Colonel Braginsky's eyes come to rest on her. The other soldiers are looking on similarly and the company has come to a complete halt to watch this faceoff between the colonel and a measly private--a female at that!
"You have gall, daring to contradict me, Private," Colonel Braginsky says, turning away from you with his hands behind his back. You're tense, watching his every move. You know something is about to happen and you want to be ready. "It seems you have a stubborn streak."
"No, sir, just morals," you reply, knowing you're digging your own grave but unable to keep your mouth shut.
"'Morals...,'" he repeats, stopping his pacing. "I don't seem to recall anyone ever saying that war is a place for morals." He looks at you over his shoulder with an ironic smile. "Do you?"
You gulp. His smile is more terrifying than his usual blank expression. "No, sir, but I will not allow myself to be broken by this war. I have seen too many good men come out of war as a different person, so I must hold on to my values. One of those is that men should never harm a woman," you respond, holding your head high in defiance and pride.
"I see," Colonel Braginsky says, slowly turning to face you once again. "You contradict yourself, Private (y/l/n). You said before that you are happy women are now allowed to fight, for the equality, but what you speak of now is inequality. So, which is it?" Before you get a chance to answer, his gloved right hand shoots out and grips your chin, squeezing it hard as he forces you to look up into his blazing violet eyes.
"This and that are completely different matters," you spit out. Your jaw hurts and it feels like he's going to break something. You know that you'll have a nasty bruise later.
"Oh, are they?" he asks in mock surprise before chuckling to himself and bending down until his face is only inches from yours. "You're a part of the army now, Private. Do you know what that means?"
You refuse to give him the satisfaction of an answer, so you just continue to glare up at him. There's a sadistic gleam in his eyes and you can tell you've managed to hit a nerve somewhere along the way.
"You are nothing. Simply a tool in this war, like that rifle on your back. Disposable and easily replaced. If you continue to prove to me that you're a defective tool, then I'll just have to get rid of you," he growls, a smirk playing at his lips. His grip on your chin tightens to an almost unbearable vice before he slowly lets go. "Now, since you so kindly offered yourself up to take the punishment for everyone, we will give it to you and then move on."
You stand in front of him, your body stiff and your eyes facing forward, preparing yourself for the worst. What he had in mind was much different and much more painful than anything you had imagined, however.
"Women," Colonel Braginsky barks, startling everyone to attention. "Line up. You will be giving your comrade the punishment she so desires." The women all glance at each other with wide eyes but do as he says, knowing full well that it could be them next. "Remove your rifles!" A low murmur goes through the company. "I want each and every one of you to strike her with the butt of your gun. She says she will not tolerate men striking women, so let women strike her instead. If you are gentle it only means that you will have to hit her again an again until I am satisfied. Now, go! We have wasted enough time as it is."
The first woman gives you a hesitant, pitying look. "Do it. I can take it," you assure her, bracing yourself. She still appears to be uncertain, but she hits you anyway, slamming the hard wooden butt of the rifle into your cheek. It hurts, but you know it could be much, much worse, so you roll your head on your neck and beckon the next girl forward.
Each strike makes you more numb than before. Your nose is bleeding and you have scrapes across your face that are steadily oozing blood. When it's Yekaterina's turn to go, she shakes her head. "No, I can't," she says.
"You have to," you tell her.
"I won't!" she exclaims, her eyes teary, pain written across her face.
"Hit me!" you shout. She shakes her head again stubbornly. "Hit me, damn it! I'm doing this for you! Do you really think one more will do anything?"
She takes a shaky breath in and looks back up at you with determination. Slowly, she approaches you, rears back, and throttles you. The impact knocks your head back a little, but you're satisfied. It's better that you take it than the rest of them.
After the last woman has her turn, they return to formation. You turn to face Colonel Braginsky once more, attempting to seem calm and relaxed but knowing it's not as effective when your face is a bloody mess. "So? Is that all?" you ask him.
"Have you learned your lesson?" Colonel Braginsky responds.
"Which one? That rifle butts make for good bludgeoning weapons or that you're an immature tyrant?" you shoot back. You instantly regret the words, but you're feeling like nothing could make things any worse at this point.
Without warning, Colonel Braginsky rears back and swings his massive fist into your stomach. You're on the ground, looking up at the grey sky for a moment before you push yourself into a sitting position. "Next time you dare talk back to me I will not be so gentle," he says coolly, walking off. "Well? What are you all standing around for? War will not wait for us!"
You glare at the colonel's retreating back, spitting a mixture of blood and saliva into the dust. "Bastard," you mutter under your breath.
"(y/n)! Are you alright?" Yekaterina exclaims, crouching next to you.
"I'm fine," you tell her, trying to smile.
"I-I'm so sorry," she tells you with a shaky voice as she pulls you to your feet. "Does it hurt?"
"Nah, didn't even tickle," you tell her, putting on the bravado for the others. "It takes a lot more than that to break me."
She doesn't look like she believes you, but she doesn't press the matter. "Vanya never used to be like that before. I never thought he had become so cruel...," she murmurs, a look of concern etched onto her face.
"War changes people," you say quietly, trying to block the memories attempting to flood back into your brain.
You feel a tap on your shoulder and you turn to see Natalia, still with the pink outline of a hand on her cheek, looking at you intently. "Th-thanks," she mumbles with embarrassment.
"It was my pleasure," you respond with a smile. She's awfully cute when she's being shy.
"Don't let it go to your head, though! I still won't allow you to get near my Vanya!" she declares, crossing her arms petulantly.
"Don't worry. I wouldn't want to after this," you tell her. It's not entirely true, though. Despite it all, you feel like getting pummeled was worth it because you have more insight as to the different aspects of Colonel Braginsky's personality now. He's merciless and cruel, but you thought you saw the faintest glimmers of humanity in his eyes when he was gripping your chin. He could have easily just struck you down and been done with it, but he held out. He threatened and waited until you gave him no choice but to harm you. You think that somewhere, deep, deep down, he has a heart and a soft one at that. You want to find that side of him, to see what he's really like. "Now, let's get to marching. I, for one, would like to get some sleep tonight!"
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