Nikolai flexed his numb fingers, the feeling of helplessness gripping his heart as he realised he could not escape his bonds. The older him, Nikki, had made sure the wood was strong and the ropes even more so. Nikolai looked up at the figure of his older self.
The man was a terrible alcoholic with little sanity left. He was fierce and dangerous beyond what they had expected. This Nikolai was unwilling to let go of anything - his past, his future, this reality - nothing.
"They will come for you" Nikki said. "They are stupid!"
Nikolai could not respond, for this, in a way, was true. His comrades would come to his rescue and they would perish at his hands. Nikki walked to the other end of the room, in perfect advantage over anyone coming up the stairs or trying to sneak up to the building, thanks to the hole in the wall. He could even stare straight into the blue eyes of his younger self, eyes that begged for mercy. Nikki had forgotten what that was.
Their attention was drawn to the stairs as footsteps echoed from the floor underneath. Heavy boots and breathing - Tank Dempsey. The American didn't know this was a trap, and still didn't when it was over.
Like a curious creature, his head popped up as he ascended the stairs, spotting Nikolai, before hurrying up to get to his bound comrade. Nikolai tried to stop him, but as soon as Dempsey was on the floor, Nikki shot one bullet. The bullet lodge itself in Dempseys' back, so close to his heart, he dropped to the ground, face first.
Nikolai felt his heart break as he stared in horror at the still body of Dempsey, the marine barely clinging to life, as the shooter moved towards him. Like a hunter with his trophy, Nikki lifted Dempsey by his jacket, looking over is work, before dragging the body out of view of the stairs. Nikolai could only watch as his older self did this, but was concerned when the man stared out the hole.
Unknown to the young man, Takeo was making his way towards the building at full speed. He had heard the shot and known of Dempseys' departure in this direction, but he knew not of what was unfolding upstairs. He was not without caution.
Upon entering the broken building, he drew his katana, then proceeded further into the building, heading for the stairs. He could hear something moving at the top, but it stopped all too quickly. Carefully, he stepped upwards, craning his neck, until he saw the horrified face of Nikolai.
"Tak! Stop!"
A gun fired and a bullet bounced off the shield on Takeos' back. Takeo ducked in fright, thanking his luck, before quickly taking shield in hand and racing up to face his would be assassin. Through a cracked visor, he spied the other, older Nikolai glaring at him, gun aimed. They both knew the shield was about to break, but it would suffice. Takeo charged forward, shield taking each bullet fired, until it broke, but by then, he was within striking distance with his katana.
He made his mistake.
Takeo raised his katana high, ready to bring it down. Nikki had seen this before and fired at Takeos' open body, the bullet taking it's place in his stomach. Takeo crumpled to the floor, pain rippling through him, katana clanging on the wood. Nikki laughed, half in relief, half of joy, as Takeo hugged himself, tensed in agony, blood gushing from the mortal wound.
At the other end of the room, Nikolai felt tears escape his eyes, cold horror filling his heart as it shattered in his chest. He was watching his love die in agony and he couldn't even move to be with him. Nikki turned away to his vodka and ammo, clearly happy to let Takeo die this way, but the Japanese man would not die without trying one last thing.
Slowly, so as not to draw Nikkis' attention, Takeo rolled over onto his stomach and slowly began crawling back towards the stairs and his Nikolai. The young Russian felt his breath hitch in his throat and a strangled sob escape his lips as he watched Takeo bleed out and crawl towards him. He strained against the ropes binding him, begging them to break and let him get to Takeo. He prayed to whatever God was out there to let Takeo live, but the Gods were cruel.
Nikki turned around, vodka in hand, and spied his enemy desperately trying to get away. He took a long drink, watching the pitiful scene with cold heart and cold glare. He hated Takeo, the Take from his time and this young one, but this Takeo made his blood boil in a different way: this young Takeo loved the young him and Nikolai loved Takeo in return. Nikki hated it.
When Takeo was at the stairs, blood marking his agonising path, Nikki tossed his gun down and picked up a sizeable rock in both hands. He strolled across the floor and stood over the Jap, who had stopped, unable to move anymore. Nikki adjusted his fingers on the heavy rock, glaring down at the wounded man, and watched as he extended an arm to his lover.
Takeos' teary and pain-filled eyes looked to Nikolai for just a moment, but the look they held would haunt him forever: it was the look of a helpless victim who would die before his loved one. Takeo closed his eyes and looked down, awaiting the worst, while Nikolai cried out to Nikki.
"Nikolai! Don't do it! Please! You are not this monster!"
It was sickening to hear himself so in love with a Jap, so Nikki stopped it. With all his force, he smashed Takeo on the head with the rock, killing him. Takeos' arm fell to the ground with a thud, lifeless and bloodied. Nikolai cried and struggled so hard against his binds, his wrists cut and bled, but his heart hurt too much for pain to be given elsewhere.
Nikki cast the rock aside, going to his younger self and cut him free. Young Nikolai half crawled, half ran to Takeos' body and knelt by it, grief over whelming him. Nikki watched himself for a short time, before taking his young self by the head and placing his Bowie Knife to his throat. Nikolai was too upset to care if he died, but it was what this insane man said next that had his attention.
"You know who did this. Ubey yego."
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Edward Richtofen waited anxiously by the wrecked stairs of the second storey shop, worried for his missing companions. There had been gun shots and cries, but now, it was all deathly quiet. A sense of oncoming trouble was sending his already paranoid mind into turmoil, but it settled a little at the site of Nikolai.
Edward took a relieved step forward, but stopped to stare in concerned and confusion at the Russians' unreadable blank expression. Even his blue eyes were clouded and glazed, red from weeping. Edward looked behind him briefly, but there was no one else, which raised many questions.
"Nikolai" he looked at his comrade in the eyes. "Where is Takeo and Dempsey?"
The eyes seemed to flare. "Dead."
Richtofen gaped. "D-dead? How?!"
"You killed them."
With no warning, reflexes like a striking snake, Nikolai grabbed Richtofen by the shirt front and reefed him off the ground. Edward kicked and cried for freedom as the Russian carried him to the balcony, eyes filled with unspeakable rage and sadness. Nikolai was silent as he held the struggling German in the air.
"You killed him."
And with that, Nikolai threw Richtofen over the balcony edge. Richtofen screamed, until his body hit the ground with a sickening thud. Silence filled the air, like a fog. Nikolai looked down over his dead comrade, the world melting and warping all around him, until it was just an empty darkness that stretched into nothing and eternity.
