Another love (zelenskyy fanfic)

Chapter 6 (edited)

Our fingers intertwined without even noticing as if they naturally fit and we have been doing this forever. I let him guard me wherever he's taking me to have dinner. It was hard not to allow myself too long to look at him as we walked down the back hall. We were still in the office, and even though the likelihood of anyone is not secure, I had to keep the separation I wanted, that I asked for.

As we approached the front door of the office building my heart began to beat faster. I could not only feel it but hear it; it was so loud to me that I thought he would be able to hear it. I must have been tensing up too. I have not left the office and bunker much after the attempt.

"What's wrong?" He asked. For a moment I thought about lying, but I also know he knows when I'm lying trying not to talk about something.

"Where exactly are we going?"

"Well... I was going to take you to Mariinskyi palace, but we don't have to if you don't want to."

I agree, and we get escorted into an armored van, that does not take long to start moving. He squeezed my hand, as I was looking down at them still interwoven, I looked up and met a smile. I allowed myself to sink into his side, even though I knew it was a short drive. His jacket shields him from more skin connections but also comforts him.

There are still people going about their days on the streets. The threat is real, but the city is prepared if there's more of a push towards the center. In the distance there are explosions, but they aren't moving closer. These people are still going about their day-to-day lives because they still can. Yet, miles away there are people hiding and others are fighting for our freedom.

Even with the city still having time for regular business, it still does not feel like it used to. There's minimum car movement because of the permanent drivers' need, mostly to keep streets cleared for military and government vehicles. As we drove past people stopped and looked, more out of pure curiosity, probably other than actually interested in who was inside. We are unmarked, but it is clear who we work for.

Before I even knew it, we had made it to the gates of his formal government residence. It's the place I know best out of the two government buildings in which he spends so much of his time. I still question getting around the office building, but the private resident quarters of this palace used to be where we'd meet so often, before this war, when he was in Kyiv. He also had a place outside the capitol he had before taking office.

There were soldiers outside, just like I was used to seeing at the office building. He helped me out of the car before we were rushed inside. Everything was so grand because of the significance of the building. It always felt like so much, but it makes sense why it would be, yet for him it was very over the top.

We walked hand in hand to the private quarters of the palace, which was still over the top, but not as much as the places that are seen publicly in videos and the press. Our hands only let go once we were inside his space.

"I know it's nothing special." He started, standing in front of me now, facing me.

"Doesn't need to be." I was just happy to be here right now with him.

"Why don't you make yourself comfortable?" He offered, "I'll get us something to drink."

I do make myself comfortable. I knock off my shoes at the door and go over and may myself on the couch in the main living space. It's leather, but I know my spot. After all, this is not my first time here. I settle into the spot on the chair.

Volodymyr had gone off to the kitchen area that was right off this main room. With little commotion he returned with cups of hot tea. He had discarded his fleece jacket, leaving a brown shirt pulled tight across his chest. He hands me my cup before sitting down next to me.