Panzerfaust

Chapter 19 - Under fire

October 22th, 1944, Berlin, Greater German Reich

Otto stirs when Sophie slips from the bed, even if she does it as quietly as possible, naked feet shuffling on the wood of the floor. He lets out a sigh and reluctantly rolls to his other side, facing his watch; 6:13. Why does she always have to get up at such ungodly hour? The Sturmbannführer knew that she was an early bird and he was a night owl, but this has to stop because he didn't felt like giving up on the luxury of waking up with his little wife-to-be in his arms.

Yawning, he stretches his muscles, stirring a sleeping Macskacicó curled up by his feet, meowing her displeasure. 

'My deepest apologies, Prinzessin Schnurrhaare, for disturbing your slumber.' He tries to make it up with pets to the soft black fur until the kitty settles back into a Kipfel, content once again. 

Now I was looking for another Kätzchen. 

By the time he reaches the bathroom, Sophia is lounging in the bathtub surrounded by fragrant foam, glancing at the opening door from behind half-opened eyes. We did this once already, Schatzie, do you remember? I hurt you and then you end up in a bathtub.

'Guten Morgen, Liebling. Did you slept well?' 

'Ja, danke.' 

'I... want to apologize for yesterday.' Otto stops by the tub awkwardly, like a schoolboy who brought home a bad grade. 'I didnt meant to cause you any discomfort. I was showing you into my home - our home - and you berated it.'

She wants to cut in but he stops her with raising his hand.

'I am sorry I cannot buy you a bloody castle just yet. In Budapest, I lived in a palace fit for a prince and maybe in a couple months, I'll be sleeping under the starry night on nothing but a camp bed.' And you'll be sleeping here alone, in my bed. Maybe with my child in your womb. 'This is how I live, Sophia.'

'I... didnt meant to hurt you with my words Otto; you have nothing to be ashamed of. I was just excited, my head buzzing with ideas, I needed to say it out loud. I am sorry it came out harsher than intended.'

'It is forgiven.' He kisses his regret into her soft temple. 'Are you alright tho? You were in pain last night.'

'Well, I am a little sore, but nothing more.'

'You're bleeding!?' A small red stream is making its way between her thigh into the water, soiling the white bubbles and Otto feels an icy fist grabbing his heart and twisting it in two.

'Ah yes, that's just my period blood, you know, that time of the month. I felt the cramps since we left Budapest, so actually it was a great relief this morning. The warm water helps.' 

Yet Otto's head pounds with guilt; what the fuck was he thinking, doing that what he did last night to her fragile body like that?

'There is a phone in the hallway, if you missed it. You can call your father to notify him of your safe journey and ask to send the rest of your belongings here. There is another phone in my office, but I ask you to use it only for emergency.'

'Running out of my favourite bubble bath counts as one?' 

Otto playfully pulls on the wet tresses to get his point through and she offers her head from him to wash her precious head.

'Alexa got a couple of things for you - like this shampoo.' He is massaging her scalp with the tips of his fingers, and she humms in pleasure, stretching into the gentle touch. 'And you know you're not locked into this apartment, right? You can go out and get whatever you want.'