[September 1937]
"I can't risk to lose you, Dyusha. That tenor soloist and the venue manager has captured randomly. Living together and seen as a normal roommate would be safer than being watched alone by the authority," he said, as he massaged Andrei's wrist on the tram... that slowly creeped to the back arm.
Andrei muttered, "I think so, too..."
"Sweet, I will work on the documents before moving in. You don't need to help me, I can do it alone. Just wait and prepare the second bed, okay?"
"Hmph..."
A large gulp swallowed from both of their throats. Andrei then leaning to Maxim's stiff shoulder, inhaling the faint scent that he always liked.
***
That night, the dirty-blond man stared at the ballet shoebox he held for some minutes. It was something that he rummaged first right after arrived home. He knew what's inside. And the countdown has started since hours ago.
And so, the next day... Andrei went alone to CSKA building. The locker for ballet section are located at the topmost floor. He placed his shoebox there, together with other broken ballet shoeboxes and dirty rag he had inside the locker. He hasn't cleaned up too much since first time working in the ensemble, except to dust the cobwebs and take out any smelly towel.
Well, the hurtful stuff won't hinder him anymore. He will seriously entwined his new relationship with Maxim. Besides, that brunet man knows which parts that sends Andrei to temporary bliss. He can't just give up the bliss after all misfortune he had last year...
And so, the tango started from zero again. Maybe tomorrow it will reach the end. Maybe in the next month. Or maybe in the next season.
***
[Late March 1938]
The concert tour around Crimea region went hindered. The buses for bringing the ensemble artists stuck on the mud puddles, right before they leave Simferopol. The artists had to cooperate with the bus driver; some were pushing from behind, another were pulling with ropes from the bus driver's trunk. Meanwhile, Alexander Alexandrov and other superiors are already waiting at the flat road 300 meters away.
Together with the ballet dancers, Andrei pulled the rope hard. And several orchestra members include Maxim are pushing the bus from behind. After five times attempt, the bus finally able to getting out of the mud puddles. They let the bus leave. Apparently the bus that Andrei and Maxim helped was the last one. The other three buses who brought the ensemble superiors, choir artists, backstage crews and several orchestra members - already waiting from far away.
Maxim wiped his forehead that sweating like a river. Not only have to push the bus, but also have to walk among the sticky mud. He almost slipped as he leaned his body too hard on the left. But eventually, everyone include him managed to left that cursed road and rode the bus again. Another hour passed, and finally the ensemble arrived at the military base of Simferopol.
"Are you okay, Max?" Andrei asked in concern when they are getting out of the bus.
Maxim huffed, "Yeah. I can't believe the street inbetween the cities are this shitty."
"Never changed, actually. Remember five years ago... Oh, you haven't join the ensemble yet. But yeah. the street was same. I got to be the one pulling the bus too, haha..."
"And I almost slipped too. Can you imagine how I might knocked my head to the dirt and mud? Thank goodness the boot was heavy enough until I...."
And Maxim was glad that he was making Andrei listened to him enough.
***
[April 1939]
During Andrei's birthday, he got various gifts from his fellow ballet dancers. From the simple handkerchief, flower bouquet, red-black scarf, till jar of jam...
Ironically, Maxim never gifted nor even say birthday wish to Andrei. But Andrei never realised it. Because he was already content from his ballet dancers, and other colleagues from different section (especially Semyon and Ivan). And yet... when all of the gifts brought to communal, Maxim was the one that making use of the handkerchief in later days. The raspberry jam was eaten for two in every breakfast. Andrei lets it, for he knew his belongings won't go anywhere.
***
[September 1939]
As Autumn came, Maxim wants to wash the red-black scarf. But he slightly tear the red-black scarf, because he was not careful when washing it manually. Maxim decided to abandon that scarf. Andrei finally can wear it for the incoming autumn.
Two weeks later, Maxim's birthday arrived. Andrei made sure to be first one wishing the birthday for his lover. He will always cook the chocolate pudding, as it's Maxim's favorited. And Andrei already content when Maxim said "It's tasty as usual.".
***
[October 1940]
Usually the ballet dancers will wearing the normal gymnastyorka and military cap during Cossack Dance. But this time, the costume crew managed to provide the real Cossack uniforms. Maybe because it's for October Revolution Celebration Concert, and Vozhd wants the full immerse.
With proud, Andrei wore that red Cossack uniform. Though later, his bladder felt full. He rather emptying right now than anxiously held it for another two hours.
Just after he finished, he met Maxim. His breath held and his fingers curled in sudden. Meanwhile that brunet man smirked at Andrei.
"You look handsome, Dyusha. Makes me want the night comes fast in our room..." while purring that, Maxim start to hold the bashlyk and sniffed the laundry scent... that soon creeped to Andrei's nape.
Everything went fast after that; Maxim was on the floor with pained face. Andrei's fist gripped that bashlyk hard as if protecting them... but his eyes twitched and widened in fear.
"Okay, okay, sheez... You seemed love that costume so much..." snorted Maxim, but just after he gets up, another smack comes from Maxim's head. There's a tall, black haired man with blue eyes glaring at Maxim.
"The concert almost started! Stop fooling around and go queue with the orchestra!" rebuked that man, which Andrei only know his name was Vadim from domra section.
Maxim slightly paled and nod in begrudging face, "Fine, fine. I was just from the toilet..."
Oddly, that smack cracked Andrei's lips into a smile. Unlike what he done before that. Andrei quickly shook his head and focused on gathering again with his ballet peers.
***
After the concert, both Maxim and Andrei went fully silent as they went back home. They changed clothes, then sleep in respective bed. Maxim was upset that touching the bashlyk led to be slammed and smacked at the same time. However, Maxim continued to sleep in peace. His lover would get up from the bed and start to squeezing beside Maxim by the next morning.
Once again, such thoughts becomes true. And so, the tango started from zero again. Maybe tomorrow it will reach the end. Maybe in the next month. Or maybe in the next season.
***
[June 1941]
Maxim will be sent to Western Front with Group 1 of Alexandrov Ensemble. Andrei will be sent to Southwestern Front with Group 2 of Alexandrov Ensemble. Maxim looked so sorrow as he packed his trombone. In their communal, Maxim hugged Andrei so tightly.
"Promise me to write a letter, okay? I want to see your smile again," sobbed Maxim. Andrei sighed silently.
"We will see if the war was not too severe..."
Hours skipped. The train wagon brought Group 2 first from Belorusskiy Vokzal. Andrei's first thought is his confusion...
"Why the sound of train tracks vibrating was far calming than hearing my beloved's voice?
Maybe in this dreaded time, the tango will stop from one side first.