I Will Be Your Knight

Chapter 10

Snow falls from the sky in slow, lazy circles as you and Ivan walk into a café. The two of you were silent the whole way there. You find a small table in the back while Ivan orders something at the counter. A few minutes later, he joins you at the table with two steaming mugs of hot chocolate. You take a small sip, grateful for the warmth it brings.

Ivan is the first to break the silence. "I'm so sorry (y/n)."

"For what?"

He looks down at the mug between his hands. "For avoiding you for so long. I did it to keep you safe from Natalya. I hope you understand that, подсолнечник (sunflower)."

"Is she...always like that?" you ask.

"More or less," Ivan says with a sigh. "I have two sisters. My elder sister is Katyusha. She's the one who gave me this шарф." He touches his scarf fondly. "My younger sister is Natalya." He shudders. "She is...very fond of me." He shudders again. "Unfortunately she is also not afraid to hurt anyone who gets in her way."

You reach out and hold Ivan's hand. He becomes increasingly distressed as he talks about his younger sister. "This has been going on for a while, hasn't it?"

"Da. This isn't the first time she's come to see me since I've come here." Ivan takes a long drink of hot chocolate. "The last time, I let her stay with me until she had enough and left. That took a few weeks. I usually have the Baltic trio help me with that."

"The Baltic trio?" you ask, and then it dawns on you. "Oh, is that what you call Ravis, Toris, and Eduard?"

"Yes," Ivan confirms with a nod. "Although most call them Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia."

"Toris said something about being an associate of yours. What's up with that?" you ask taking another sip of your hot chocolate. It tastes amazing, especially since it's cold out.

"Ah yes, I told you I want to start a business, da?" You nod remembering the conversation the two of you had in your dining room. "Well they are going to into business with me, once I get my degree. We decided on construction since it's a business I know very well."

"Are you all friends then?" you ask after finishing your hot chocolate. It leaves you feeling very warm inside.

"In a manner of speaking, yes," Ivan says after finishing his own mug of hot chocolate. "That's why I ask them to help me with Natalya."

Natalya. You had almost forgotten about her. "How long is she going to be here?"

"I don't know," he answers with a frown. "Actually, I was hoping she'd leave soon. I tried to keep you away from her as long as possible." Ivan puts his head in his hands. "I'm so sorry (y/n). I couldn't protect you this time."

"No! Ivan, don't say that," you say jumping up from your seat. Ivan looks up when he hears your chair clatter. "You're my knight!" you insist. "Besides, she hasn't actually done anything to me, so there's nothing to worry about."

Ivan smiles slightly. "You have a lot of faith in me, подсолнечник (sunflower)."

"Of course I do." You walk to his side of the table. "You're my knight. If I don't have faith in you, who will?" You lean in and give him a kiss on the cheek.

Ivan wraps his arm around your waist and pulls you even closer. "Thank you, (y/n)," he says softly. "Let's go home, da?" You nod nervously. "Don't fear, подсолнечник (sunflower). I will keep you safe."

The two of you exit the cafe hand in hand, and walk to Ivan's house. When you arrive, the Baltic trio are still standing outside in the snow, too afraid to go into the house. They jump slightly when they feel Ivan's presence. They sure are nervous, you think to yourself.