2. mercenaries by Vashtan Marquesate

Author:Vashtan Marquesate
Language: eng
Format: epub

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309

The doctor had checked Vadim over only briefly, low priority, and he wasn’t wounded, had only caught a bit too much sun, and that was it. A shower, dressed to be debriefed, told his story a few times, had the feeling he was only confirming Dan’s and Jean’s story, then was al owed to go. Stripped again, and lay down, to sleep, lay restless though for a long time. Dan. Dan close. Dan laughing. Dan. He couldn’t be angry at Jean, not right now, al he felt was a mild astonishment and regret that things had come this far. Mul ing over his decision to flank instead of letting Jean do that. He’d been far too wil ing to leave Dan, hadn’t made a stand to get him out and instead went off alone. It had been the right thing, tactical y, but he wondered what Dan would think about it.

But then, Dan spent time with Jean, and not with him, so the priorities were set. Vadim groaned, shook his head at the thought. Dan and Jean – that image was enough to be painful. He should be glad Dan was alive, and instead replayed the whole mission in his head, over and over again, questioning every word, every decision, until he wasn’t sure what had been right and what had been wrong and he doubted everything. He couldn’t sleep.

He stood up, groaning, dressed again, didn’t want to be caught out in anything but with gear and knife, then stepped outside to breathe air, and feel the space around him. No cel .

Dan looked up when he heard the noise of a door opening, and a smile ghosted across his face. Of course, who else. How fitting. He couldn’t tel how long he had been standing in the dark, unwil ing to knock on anyone’s hut, unable to bear company in the Mess, and not wanting to be on his own. “Hey, Russkie.” He cal ed out quietly.

Vadim turned at the words and saw Dan, who stood there, stiffness betraying the pain. He came closer, gave Dan a nod and a smile. “Couldn’t sleep. What about you? Smoking?”

“Aye, that and drinking. Doctor’s orders.” Dan shrugged lopsidedly, glancing around. “Just don’t feel like being scooped up. Do you …” stal ed, didn’t know what to say nor even what he wanted, “do you know a place to booze in peace?”

Vadim grinned and nodded upwards. “Up on the roof there. Good view up there, and no patrol comes looking. Too lazy.” He paused, hesitant for a moment. Thought, against his wil , that Jean was probably right. Being nice.

Talking. Flirting. Wel , maybe start with the second part of that. He’d been relatively nice, he felt. Saving somebody’s life was damn nice. “Care for company?”

“That’d be, too, what the doctor ordered.” Dan grinned, held out the bag with the bottles. “Vodka and whisky. Cheap crap, but beggars can’t be choosers.”

“Sounds like we have a party on our hands,” murmured Vadim and took the bag to help Dan carry.

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