Chapter Text
It was 1953. Moscow.
The Cold War in Russia led to bleak times in the city. Husbands had been sent to fight, children left without fathers, wives without husbands or money and Poverty was rife in most areas. The city was patrolled by officers from the Ministry of State Security, otherwise known as MGB. These men were known to be pigs. Brutal, slaughtering soldiers who sought out potential spies and executed them without Warrant or proof. Sometimes without reason. It seemed as though they were destroying more lives than the war itself.
MGB Captain Leo Demidov, had moved up rank due to his efforts as sergeant and secret police officer in the war - raising the soviet flag in Berlin and becoming known as an icon to the Soviet Union.
He had had a poor upbringing as an orphan in the Ukraine, taken under the wing of an officer, and grown up in an era of cold blooded murder.
He went about his day to day tasks of rape, torture and homocide with a detached ease. He controlled his rank with a steel temper and iron fist but despite this he was respected and well liked among his peers.
Upon patrolling a station in Moscow centre he had spotted a young blonde girl, no more than 20, her head in a newspaper. He fancied himself a wife for the lonely nights consisting of hot sweated nightmares he had been suffering lately. He approached her and she startled when he read a line from the paper over her shoulder aloud.
"What iz a pretty little lady like you doing unaccompanied?" he said to the nervous girl.
She recognised his uniform as MGB instantly and couldn't quite get her anxiety in check.
She didn't speak.
"Mizz I believe i asked you a question, so what iz your name?" He asked her firmly.
"Laina" she replied quietly. It wasn't.
"Laina?" He said. "Beautiful. May I accompany you on your journey Laina?" He asked her solemnly.
The girl didn't know what to do, she had been approached and quizzed by an officer who obviously liked her, she had lied to him and now she was going to be followed. She knew it didn't matter if she said yes or no to his offer of accompanying. He would come anyway.
"No. No I don't mind" she said, her lie a whisper.
Leo and Laina boarded the train together and he stood quietly by her side, studying her wondering gaze as it stopped 3 stations later.
They exited the train and the girl turned to him.
"This is my village. Thank you officer." She said, hoping he would leave now, but knowing he wouldn't.
"Leo, you call me Leo. Like Zee lion." he said, an air of intensity about him, although he was smiling.
"It would be nice to see you again Laina." They both knew It wasn't a request. When MGB targeted you, you did what they said. And you smiled whilst you did it.
He looked at her and leant down to touch her cheek, brushing his finger on her porcelain skin. She was cold to the touch. He bent down and kissed her lips with his own large warm ones. He couldn't quite tell if she kissed him back.
When he pulled apart, she bowed her head, looking down at her feet and he pulled her face up by her chin.
"I will come here for you tomorrow then Laina. We can go for something to eat" He said.
"Raisa." She mumbled.
"Huh?" He grunted, puzzled.
"My name iz Raisa" she said, as she walked away.
"I will see you tomorrow, Leo like a lion." She added.
He smirked after her, impressed.