The battle in Berlin was fierce and bloody enough during the spring. Though at the end, Dmitry survived with some scratches and bruises. After knowing the enemy has surrendered and no more gunfire heard, Dmitry can sling his gun to his shoulder forever.
One by one Soviet soldiers gathered to the ruined Reichstag. They shoot their bullets to skyward. Celebrating with music and dance. Relaxing on each other's shoulders after never rest for years. Dmitry kept walking, surveying everyone's actions. He pulled small smile whenever any soldier greeting Dmitry with high-five, even if he doesn't know them all. He kept walking, watching over everyone... and trying his best not to visit some suspicious ruins. He know there are corpses stacked there. Or some traumatized citizens from the enemy side hiding in silence. Dmitry rather make a turn, passing by the Reichstag again and watch the celebration still goes on.
Then he noticed one familiar figure standing a bit far away from the crowds. A slight plump woman with her brunette hair shaped onto messy bun. But she wore the medic ribbon on her sleeve. And her grey eyes met his green eyes eventually.
"Dima!"
"Dasha!"
The inevitable tears and hugs happen at the corner of Reichstag. Dmitry can feel her warmth touched his body. After years of only knowing the bodies mostly cold when touched, and the warm thing he ever know is a bonfire and the coat. It's unknown for how long they hugged. But all they know, the celebration still haven't died down yet as they release their embrace.
They walked away from the crowds, so they can hear each other's voices better. Then Dmitry listened to Darya's chatter attentively. To know she has been appointed as paramedic after the military base in Belarus also participated. Sometimes as military cook, too, when the other cooks needs help. She mentioned too about her almost died from the bomb shards, but thankfully not until infected enough.
Soon Dmitry also told about his original duty to sing as chorist, to entertain the soldiers. But of course, the original duty shattered as everyone dispersed. He doesn't know where was he going. He only know to ration his bread, seek water source, shooting any visible enemies, and quickly join any group that passing by his path...
His voice halted for some minutes as he walked quietly with Darya. Shall he tell what's next? Would Darya understand her name dragged in the past?
"Dima, you went silent in sudden," Darya nudged on his arm.
Dmitry gulped and chuckled "Ah, what I've been told you before? I forgot."
"You met some of your colleagues again at border of Germany. Then what's next?"
Ah...
That moment...
"One of them ending their life in front of me. He choose to just run to the gunfire and let himself shot by the enemy," answered Dmitry with heavy sigh, "I just wish... he would cool down his head better. Not giving up too easy. Just like he always told me. I have consider him as big brother."
Their steps halted on an empty house. It's not completely ruined, but it was clearly abandoned by the owner during the war. They entered carefully, making sure no debris fallen right from the top. Inside that house, there are some rotten ingredients inside the chest. Four dining chairs and large dining table with one leg missing. One large metal bed, with its sheet covered with dust and ashes. As Dmitry placed his belongings to the chair, Darya found some dresses in the broken wardrobe... which seems fits her when she put them close to her body. Dmitry looked at her, start to imagining Darya with a red dress that she hold right now. It starts to be... hotter in here despite still spring.
"Oh, I know that look," Darya's chuckle dispersed Dmitry's mind.
"What?"
"The same look at men's eyes everywhere. Before I start to hit them with broom or anything sharp."
"Ah... uh... sorry. I- I will look away and wait outside-" but before Dmitry turned his back, Darya pulled Dmitry's belt fast.
"You scared I will hit you?" teased Darya.
"Y-yes. I... I was admiring you too much-"
"You are literally my boyfriend. Of course you have to admire me," her purr somehow ignited Dmitry from inside. For the first time he heard her like that.
Once again Dmitry embraced this plump woman. Though this time, his face slowly buried to her neck than just leaning to her shoulder. Even if her skin smelled like ash from the war residue, the warmth was still hers. The dusty bed somehow become a magnet for them two. It's almost evening, before the Soviet soldiers start patrolling to seek treasure or enemies among Berlin. The only chance is... now.
Then everything went messy. The dust on the bed glued to Dmitry's wettened back and hair. The wooden floor creaking as the metal bed moving. The undignified gasps echoed in this abandoned house... well, because the sight of a woman staring down at him was too beautiful to his eyes. In that moment too, the slight flashback of Vitaly's obsession become the fuel too for Dmitry. He craved more heat from her like a greedy man. Even stronger than his normal hunger for bread, until his grip never loosened from hers.
The cravings only fulfilled in few minutes later, just when the sun has fully set. The abandoned house become dark. The only light resource was from the hole in the ceiling, showing starry sky above. Satisfied Darya now plop herself to Dmitry's unbuttoned chest and looked up too. The embrace still not loosened yet, of course. Even though the pairs of green and the grey eyes are admiring the stars above. They don't talk anymore, as they fell asleep early. The exhaustion finally overcome their consciousness.
Still, in his deepest heart, he was glad to stay alive. To defend what's his, and soon to make her officially his after went back to Moscow.
And he will stay alive no matter what.