Burden ✄ MilaSara

6) ''It Must Be A Russian Thing''

Mila's mind was running in circles as she stalked back to the office. It was still early and she had nothing else to do. Someone somewhere would listen to her sulking, probably. Georgi would hopefully be at the front desk by now and if anyone would listen to her, it was him. He had his own tales of heartbreak, he would gladly listen to anyone else's suffering.

The walk wasn't too far but Mila's leg's still ached as she came to a halt at the front desk. As presumed, Georgi sat there, furiously typing at his computer. 'Hey, Georgi.' She sighed, pulling a chair up from the window and next to the office chair in which Georgi sat in. 'Someone's angry.' She noted, her usual playfulness nothing more than a hint of a smile.

Georgi scoffed and bashed his finger against the enter key to send the message that no doubt had consisted of many capital letters and swears. 'Who was it?' Mila asked, trying to shadow her downcast look with a wan smile.

'Newest ex. She claims that her husband knew she had other partners. Even so, I didn't. I told her as much.' Georgi scowled at the screen as a new message popped up on the screen. Mila leaned over to read it. She wasn't surprised by it at all.

'What does she mean: okay, fine! Does she think I don't care at all!' He raved, going to reply. But, with a hand on his, Mila stopped him and pulled his fingers away from the mouse.

'From the looks of it, the message you sent wasn't much better. How about you just leave it for now?' Mila tried to reason. Georgi gave in easily, sighing and leaning back in his chair, watching the ceiling with dull eyes.

'You seem down too. Want to talk about it?' He asked, his neck still craned backwards but his eyes now trained on her. She sighed, nodding. At least, with Georgi, she didn't have to deny that. He was always glad to listen.

'You know that Sara girl?' Georgi nodded. 'Well...' She was cut off by the doors creaking open and a weary looking Viktor stepping inside, a cup of coffee in each hand. To say he was a mess was an understatement. His hair was sticking in all the wrong directions, the bags under his eyes weren't far from black and his skin looked cracked and tear-stained. His eyes were dull and his body looked sleep deprived. Yuuri had said he was bad...he hadn't said he was this bad.

Viktor attempted a smile for the pair but was barely able to lift his lips before he set the coffees on the front desk and fell dramatically onto the couch by the window. Mila stood up, approaching the man whose eyes were now closed. Nudging his shoulder, she whispered: 'Viktor?' No reply. 'Viktor!' She hissed, although quietly. Still no reply.

'I think he's asleep?!' She addressed Georgi incredulously.

'What?' Georgi hissed.

'The poor guys fallen asleep!' Mila repeated although it was clear enough that Georgi had heard her the first time.

'Wake him up! If he's going to fall asleep in the office, we might as well just send him home. It looks as if even the coffees won't be enough to keep him up.' Georgi complained, worry lining his words. Mila, cautiously but surely, shook Viktor's shoulder. When the man remained still, she shook harder and then, when the man looked as if he might have passed out and not just fallen asleep, she decided to do the only thing she could think of.

She stormed up to the water machine, clicking on the large button that said cold and waited for the plastic cup to be filled before releasing it. She returned to Viktor, looking more mischevious than sorry before pouring the entire cup onto his face. It was for his sake, she told herself.

Viktor startled awake, panting as if he had awoken from a nightmare. He looked down at himself and at his now soaked clothing and then back up to Mila who was withholding a laugh. 'What the hell?!' Well, at least, he seemed awake now.

Mila let out a quiet chuckle before butting in before Georgi rambled on about how Viktor interrupted his work. 'You kind of passed out so we thought it would be better if you went and slept at home. No offence but you look like hell.' Mila sighed again, her good mood lost again, the days' events beginning to pile up on her.

'No, I'm fine. Just tired.' Viktor explained, stumbling over to the counter where he picked up both the coffees, downing one before sipping slowly at the other. Mila watched the scene with wide-eyes, trying to comprehend what she was seeing.

'Do you even feel heat, Viktor? You don't seem all that cold from the water nor do you look like that coffee burned you like it should have done.' Mila spoke in disbelief.

'I'm too tired.' He explained, his eyes closing, only to open again as Mila flicked at his head.

'Ow, what was that for?'

'No sleeping on my watch, not until we get you home.'

'Well, you're in a sour mood.' Viktor complained, rubbing at his head. Mila sighed, looking down to the ground. There was no point in denying it.

'It has to do with Sara!' Georgi called from behind his desk in his usual, annoying-little-brother fashion. Mila scowled at him but didn't deny his words, it was true after all.

'Yeah, she seems to be causing a lot of bad moods lately.' Viktor spat before shaking his head. 'No, ignore me, this isn't her fault.' He sighed, rubbing at his forehead, looking like he was about to fall asleep again.

'She needs help.' Viktor hummed in agreement. 'You're worried about her, aren't you. That's why you're like this.' Viktor nodded again, he hadn't the energy to speak. 'She refused my help. It's annoying. She knows she needs it...I just want to help.' Viktor looked over at her pityingly.

'You know, when I met Yuuri he did the same.' He gave out a dry chuckle. 'Refused help. Refused to talk to me. Even said I was too forward.' Viktor smiled at the memory.

'Sara said the exact same thing to me.' Mila smiled gently, feeling slightly more assured in herself.

'It must be a Russian thing.' Viktor laughed, his smile seeming more real. It always did when he thought of Yuuri. Mila wondered if she would ever have someone that would make her feel like that.

'Yeah, I think it is. What changed then? I mean, you guys are together now.' Mila asked. This could be the key. She didn't know what she was doing wrong but now, she had a chance to fix things with Sara.

'Persistence.'

Well, it seemed Mila's original plan was going to be the one to work.

word count: 1129

published: 04.08.17