A Soviet's Struggle

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Christmas went off without a hitch, the curfew put in place encouraging partygoers to celebrate earlier in the day. Silsina and her coworkers - which had become a new type of family to her - came over to Brittney's place to celebrate with Mariya.

During the festivities, gifts and food were shared, a Christmas photo was taken, and all things merry were exchanged. During the celebration, Burhardt did the impossible and helped Chahsa with her son, Noah, which was seen as a first from the playboy. Silsina and Mikhail proudly and ecstatically shared a kiss under the mistletoe, which made Mariya almost spit out her eggnog. The hybrid even went so far as to shout out loud how did Silsina have a boyfriend, and why didn't she tell her. Silsina didn't have an answer to give her.

At work within the week following after Christmas, Mariya inquired about Yani's father, and if he was found yet. Yani declined, stating that him, Zamir, and now presumed, Karl's disappearances are now being assumed as abductions from the Resistance. A nerve struck Mariya as the realisation hit her; if it was the Resistance, her demons were catching up to her, and Alyosha had yet to make another appearance to help her. She shook it off as nonsense, stating the assuming it was a Resistance kidnapping, three times in a row, was rare and unlikely. Commenting to not lose hope on his father, and that Zamir probably went back to his home - which she learned was in India - where he was probably tried.

"What about Karl? That makes no sense." The Croc asked, leaning against the bar counter as Mariya mopped the floor in front of him.

"That might've actually been a resistance kidnapping." Mariya added, looking over her shoulder.

"You say that so calmly." Yani muttered, placing his hand under his chin. He watched as Mariya's right ear fwiped, indicating she had heard him.

Mariya dipped the mop into the bucket of water. It was just the two of them up front, with Yani closing the bar. Everyone else had practically left, with the exception of the main cook. As she rung out access water, she let out a loud sigh; closing her eyes and rubbing her temples.

"I'm not calm," she said, grasping the neck of the mop, and splashing it on the floor. It made a sloppy sound as it made contact with the tile, a hint of it's wetness. "I'm horrified. I don't know what's going on, they won't give details. I'm fucking scared, Yani. For Silsina, for Xiao, for me, fuck, for you!" She moved the mop in rhymic figure eights, going down the aisle, her eyes focused on her work.

She wrinkled her brow, biting her lip in thought. Yani looked to the bar counter, taking his hand off of his chin, using both to support him as he stood upright. He continued to organise the glasses in the crate handed to him by the cook - which he had abruptly stopped down as Mariya asked about his father.

"I'm glad you care about me," Yani spoke after the fit of silence, watching Mariya come back to the bucket to dip the mop once again. "I understand your fear, trust me, I'm scared too. I'm sure your friends are, too."

Mariya scoffed, putting a paw on her hip and looking at Yani with a raised eyebrow. The sudden change in mood confused Yani, who responded with 'What' as he put the cup on the rack next to the drink station.

"My friends were rather merry last week, oblivious, really. They were all drunk, high, and happy. Though..." she paused, looking to the mop in the ringer. "...I think that a few of them know I'm stressed, that I'm weary."

"Like Xiao?"

Mariya looked at Yani for a moment, feeling an inescapable flush of warmth hit her cheeks. Yani knew he mentioned something sensitive, with Mariya's facial expression morphing drastically.

"Did something happen between you two?" Yani asked, a tingling curiosity tickling his head. Mariya grabbed the mop, finishing the rest of her closing duties without saying a word. In her mind, thoughts rushed; heart pounding against her ribcage. Pictures of her, of Xiao, kept flooding in her mind no matter how hard she tried to fight them. Her body fought with a different kind of need, a battle of friendship and a battle of lust. Despite only knowing Xiao, who had quickly became her best friend due to their commonalities, for 5 months, they grew extremely close. If she wasn't going to her sisters after class, she was with Xiao, studying and joking on the upper floor of the library. Xiao made her feel good, and she supposed that attraction was always there; even when they first met. Mariya recalled her fluffy, near-bare body in a bikini, offering her a drink. Her inkling of kindness to a masked stranger, her curious eyes, her intiutiveness to a muted conversation. When Mariya even ditched the mask, Xiao was the first to be supportive and caring as her friend. As they grew closer, Mariya had found herself subconciously wanting to spend more time with her. She started visiting her at her job, ditching Silsina at times to do so. When they studied together, she sat closer to her, smelling the sweet scent of her perfume, longing for a sense of touch; to touch her fur.