Otkroveniye Complex // Book 1 of the Takaryev Series

Chapter 111

Another song for you- Breezeblocks by Alt-J. It's on Soundcloud, go find it, set it on loop and read this. Eventually I'll release the Soundcloud playlist I've got for Otkro a.k.a. Fifty Shades of Gay (thanks Andrew, also thanks for making me write that alternate ending for this, now I'm emotionally empty)

Ravil sat down on the couch with Artem. 

"I'm pissed," Ravil said plainly. 

"Wait, what?" Artem asked, glancing over at Ravil, whose viridian gaze was clouded with stormclouds of anger. 

"Larionova forced me to point a gun at you." Ravil explained. "I hate her and all her accomplices for making me do that to you." 

"But she's your biological m-" Artem started, furrowing his brow. 

"I don't give a crap!" Ravil barked. "She made me kill people, made me hack the Department, made me point a gun at you." 

"So what do you think you're gonna do about it, Ravil?" Artem asked. "She's an ocean away and they know you've turned against her, so you wouldn't be able to hurt her even if you wanted to. They'd kill you!" 

"I'll hack her servers," Ravil mumbled, eyes wide as if he'd just been graced by an epiphany.  

"Ravil! No!" Artem begged, shaking Ravil by the shoulders. "You know what happens when you speak up against Larionova- you get killed! And I can't live without you, so don't effing go out and get yourself killed!" 

"They won't catch me," Ravil protested. "I promise."

Artem took a deep breath, running a hand through his dark brown hair, which was pulled back in a messy ponytail as usual. "But I need you to understand this, my love. When you disappeared the first time, I was terrified. I thought you were dead. I dropped out of school to look for you, and when I didn't find you? I became a shut-in. I sobbed for days on end because I was sure you were dead. Then, fast forward to the day I arrived in America. I was thrilled, because this meant I'd finally be free to have a life with you, and we wouldn't have to hide ourselves. And when those masked men took you away, I hated myself. I failed in protecting you, and I'm sorry. I didn't know how to deal with the possibility of your death. I didn't know what to do, so I floated aimlessly for days on end, angry at myself for letting them take you. Honestly, if you'd never come back, I probably would've killed myself. So don't go throwing yourself into harm's way again just to try to get at Larionova. It's not worth it, Ravil. It's not worth it!" 

Ravil's gaze darkened with the weight of the realization of everything Artem had just said. "I'm so sorry." 

Artem hugged him, pulling him into an embrace. "Don't go getting yourself hurt, my love. It's not worth it. You really think you'd be putting a damper on her parade? She sees you, Ravil, and she sees a tiny speck. She'd already volunteered you for spy work; what makes you think she wouldn't kill you, too? I love you too much to let you do this. I hope you understand." 

"I get it," Ravil said. "I'm sorry."

"It's alright." Artem replied gently. "You still pissed?" 

"No, not anymore." Ravil answered. "You've helped me understand. Thank you."