Snowflake Circus

Part 8

Petro caved first. His eyes run amok from Ergo to wall to back before his lips tightened and his shoulders slumped.

"No," he said gruffly, "we didn't fight each other."

If looks could kill – Ergo shot one at the blond that promised there would be a fight after they finished here and the blond winched at the knowledge. There was silent exchange between them, a comradeship that was about to steel against common enemy or crumble like the sloppy sandcastle it was.

Maksim tilted his eyebrow. "That was only half of the answer?" He prompted him to continue.

"They started it!" Ergo shouted when Petro remained quiet.

"Who?"

"We don't know them."

"Were they locals?"

"Are you deaf, I said we don't know them!" Petro repeated slower.

"Alright!" Laura intervened before they could get downright rude. "Where?"

"At the shop." Ergo whispered and winched at a new bruise blooming under Petro's fist that hit his lower arm.

"Petro, two steps, please." Laura said calmly and the boy obeyed with obvious reluctance, stepping sideways. Probably something they did at the orphanage, he gathered, but he remembered that order, seeing how the boy was now nicely removed from the immediate range of dangering others. "You weren't allowed to go off the grounds."

"I know." Petro whispered.

"Then why?"

Silence.

Maksim's eyes fell on Ergo's bulging pocket. His frown deepened as he got up and reached for it. Ergo immediately stepped back, but under his scrutinizing eyes, he stopped and turned his eyes down. He reached out and raised the edge of the pocket, gritting his teeth as he saw familiar edge of smoke pack. He turned his eyes at the boy and waited in silence until the boy relented and took the pack out himself, handing it over. It was still closed.

"Did you pay for it or did you steel it?" His voice dropped, turning the pack in his hands. It wasn't what Urmas smoked and the old man would kill them if he'd find any of them with his. God, if they actually stole it, how on Earth would he look at Nola next time they went to town.

"Well?" He demanded louder when they shrank from him.

"I paid for it." Ergo whispered.

He quietly breathed out – this meant the old hag was still selling alcohol and smokes to toddlers. Damn her! But he wouldn't let the boys see his relief, they were still guilty purchasing it. He turned his attention at Petro, who had yet to say anything.

"He had nothing to do with this!" Ergo added, his eyes widening on the horror playing on his friend's face.

Maksim didn't think he had, but he didn't stop looking as there was something off with him. He looked scared to death over pack of cigarettes. His light cheeks flushed and he seemed very uncomfortable.

"Ok, you can go." He heard Laura say and both started to the door, relief playing over their faces, but it dropped as Maksim reached his hand out and stopped Ergo. Petro stopped too, surprised.

"You'll help us tomorrow on shopping while others go to the cinema." He said calmly, patting the pack against his shoulder few times. Ergo nodded, his blue eyes never leaving his, before he quickly retreated from the office.

His eyes returned on the woman leaning against his table. She wouldn't meet his eyes. He closed the short distance between them and tossed the pack on his desk.

"I'm sorry." She said, jolting from the sound.

"Did you know he smoked?"

"Yeah, when he was on the street."

Damn.

"I won't tolerate alcohol or underage smoking in my house, are we clear?" He asked seriously. She nodded, pushed up from the table and quickly left. He heard her hands rise to her eyes and quickly wipe over it.

God, she was shivering! He turned to see, but the door closed and she was already gone.

The rest of the evening went quietly. The odd sense of discomfort wasn't directed strictly at him, but he kept imagining himself as a big bad wolf with punch of sheep. They wouldn't meet his eyes, nor make noise. It was surprisingly frustrating when little children tried their hardest to be good boys. All that was missing were their little sailor suits and white bow ties. He shivered – Jevgeni ruled with iron fist, when it came down to show their good side. He made a mental note to always be aware of their good boy act.

Laura let them be, her eyes suddenly weary of everything. He didn't like it. She rubbed her temples, and while the boys ate their after dinner snack, she disappeared through the front door.

Jevgeni's eyes never left his sister's back and the moment the door closed, he discreetly took a step back and checked on her through the kitchen window. Maksim sighed. He was desperate for a shower. Instead he past Jevgeni, quietly telling him to join others in the living room and waited until he was sure all were listening to Urmas before following her to the balcony.

She didn't acknowledge him in any way when he took a place next to her. After all the rush and shouting, the evening had cooled down completely and left nothing but locusts singing in the high grass.

"You have your proof now, huh?" She said soberly. "I could've..." She shook her head.

"Proof? That you can't handle them? And how can you stop them from throwing punches?" He nudged him with his shoulder and sighed. "They're boys."

"Not an excuse for bad behavior."

"Noted." He smiled. "Which is why he'll join us on food trip and can't go to the cinema. He'll hate the shopping part, I promise. I hated it when I was little. He'll hate it with the same viciousness."

She nodded and shivered lightly. Without thinking he threw his arms around her shoulders and pressed her against his side.

"Come now, it's cold."

He got up, pulling her along.