𝗕𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗗 𝗔𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗔𝗦 𝗪𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗥 ⚔︎

8

before the sky had a chance to fully darken, at three o'clock, ivan and giovanni wished their goodbyes to the family. ivan kissed his mother on the cheek, no matter how much she resisted, and giovanni shook the hands of his grandfather and uncle, all whilst trying to ignore the cold, hard stares he received from his cousins. they got back into the white truck and headed for the chekova household.

despite chugging three glasses of wine and a bottle of beer throughout christmas dinner, giovanni was wired. he shifted endlessly in his seat, and when he wasn't smoking a cigarette, he was biting at his nails.

"oh, jesus christ," giovanni murmured. "i feel like i'm going to throw up."

ivan frowned and reached a hand over to feel the temperature of giovanni's forehead. "how come you're so hot?"

giovanni put a fist over his mouth. "i'm just... so nervous."

"nervous? nervous for what?"

"to see natasha again — and her whole family."

ivan lit a cigarette and stuck it between his son's lips. "have this. you'll be fine. they've always liked you, especially her parents, and i doubt there'll be that many people there."

"well, i— i didn't get her a gift," giovanni stuttered, taking a long drag of the cigarette. he really didn't want to be stinking of tobacco in the chekova house, but alas, this is what it had come to.

"so?" ivan scoffed humorously. "i'm sure she will be just as thrilled to see you."

"right..." giovanni said. "i just don't want to seem like an asshole, that's all."

"well, you're not an asshole."

upon their arrival at the chekova house in detchino, the truck was practically begging for mercy. as ivan took the keys out of the ignition, the engine sputtered and coughed like an old hag, the windows vibrating with the motion. giovanni slouched in his seat and covered his face in secondhand embarrassment. he hoped nobody had been watching them from the living room window.

once again they left the truck, parking it at the bottom of the gated driveway. several cars lined the rural street, their bonnets and rooftops blanketed with snow. giovanni hoped that there wouldn't be too many guests at the house: he did not take well to parties and gatherings very often, especially those hosted by his ex-girlfriend's father. overhead, the sky was beginning to darken, and giovanni knew that the chekova's porch lights would be automatically switching on soon.

they walked up the icy pavement with caution so as to not fall over. at one point, ivan tried to walk on the lawn to make the whole ordeal easier for himself, but his son dragged him off of it faster than lightning.

"are you insane?!" giovanni whisper-yelled.

ivan glared at him. "oh, get a grip."

they reached the porch. giovanni took several deep breaths to calm himself as his father took the brass, lion-faced knocker between his fingers.

leonid and yulia chekova both answered the door with smiles and shining faces. his arm was wrapped around her waist and they both held thin glasses of champagne.

"the volkovs!" leonid greeted, firmly shaking the hands of the two men. "how nice to see you both again. welcome!"

ivan dipped his head. "thank you, leonid. you as well."