Found in Winter (Sergei Dragunov x OC)

Company

The fireplace was the only color that liven the lobby. Sergei sat on a big, cushioned couch facing the fire, his body comfortably covered by a knitted wool blanket. He was scolded to rest but was too stubborn to lay back in one of the upstairs bedrooms. Claudia conceded and allowed him to relax in the lobby. 

At first, she thought it was odd. But then thought it was a good idea to keep an eye on him on a good distance. Sergei's reasons were the same. Even without sensing any hostility from her, he still kept his guard up that perhaps she was with the organization that experimented on animals for weapons, an innocent civilian who was actually an enemy of his.

Claudia was finally done with her chores, but only one work was left to be finished. She took out his laundry that was torn from the attack. The uniform could not be saved, but at least the jacket had hopes. She sat down on another couch that was not too far from Sergei, to get herself warmed up as well.

"How are you feeling?" She asks.

"..."

"Right." Claudia cleared her throat, trying to ease the awkward tension. She grabbed a basket full of sewing items, taking a thread that matched the color of the jacket and a needle. Stabbing through the cloth, she started mending the jacket. 

The crackles of the wood were the only thing that created sound in the silent room. For a while, Claudia became accustomed to the silence. She was so preoccupied with her stitching that she started humming in a soft tune, forgetting that there was someone else in the room.

Sergei glances at her as soon as he hears her tune. To his surprise, she had a smile. Perhaps she was recalling someone dear to her when she hummed, lullabies are after all sung by their parents. She looked quite peaceful in his eyes, too peaceful to be one of them.

The inn is a mile away from the underground headquarters that Sergei had intercepted and destroyed, and because of that, he suspected her. But seeing how peaceful and calm she was, seemed like she had no idea about the organization at all.

At the coffee table were a couple of picture frames, Sergei took one and looked at a seemingly happy family. A tall blonde man with a full beard who only looked at the camera with a straight face, and a blonde young girl who stood beside him with a smile. 

While Claudia continued her hum, she noticed that Sergei's face was relaxed, almost as if he was smiling. "That's father and I." She spoke, "Dad owns the place til he died of cancer. So, I'm left here still running the business. This inn is the only family I have left." She looks into his eyes and asks, "Do you have a family, Mister Sergei?" 

"..."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to pry into your personal life. But I do need to ask you." She shifts herself from her seat, bending slightly down, "What were you doing in these mountains? It's clear that you're alone, no other soldiers are coming to look for you after the past hours. Is this place, unsafe?" She was worried. Seeing a soldier this far out in the mundane countryside only meant something was in conflict.

"Your wound, no ordinary bear had done that. Is the beast still roaming the area?"