Metanee

“I thought I was better than you.” He felt too much, was tearing himself open with all this, but nine years deserved all his pain. “How wrong was I.” Vadim reached behind him to touch Dan’s neck.

“I wanted you even then. And I was... curious. I tried to... get into your mind, and instead let you in. Not good, and yet best thing I’ve done in this whole war.”
“Best thing I’ve done in all my life”.”
― Aleksandr Voinov, Special Forces - Soldiers

“If I don’t wear anything, I’d probably make the food go off, and the children run away screaming. What with all the scars and all. I’m not what one could call particularly pretty.” Unlike you, Vadim, and your goddamned perfection, except for a word cut in blood and flesh.

Vadim shook his head, already retreating towards the open door. “'Pretty' is different,” he murmured. “'Pretty' has no scars. You are... Jaw muscles tensed again. “Like the morning sky in Afghanistan. Not ‘pretty’. Word’s ‘breathtaking’.”
― Aleksandr Voinov, Special Forces - Soldiers

“Never realized how much you might have been hurt, or worried...you know. Others. Until I found out how fucking painful it is to fear losing you.'

'I never wanted anybody else after I'd found you. After I understood what it is we have. Didn't want any other man.”
― Aleksandr Voinov, Special Forces - Veterans

“Hey, comrade,” Dima said, tone, choice of words, everything exactly as it would have been in the eighties, in that forsaken country.
Vadim peered at him in the mirror. “Yes?”
“Are you guys in trouble?” Dima moved closer, stood within touching distance. “I don’t mean your little crusade a while back. I mean the rest.”
Vadim inhaled and lowered his gaze for a few moments. “Life isn’t easy, Dima. That’s our set of rules.”
“You know you can change them. If he’s fucking around….”
“So am I.”
“But you’re not happy with it?”
“It’s just sex, Dima.”
Dima looked at him for a long time. “It’s never just sex for you, though. Am I wrong?”
“No. You’re right.” Vadim shook his head. “Rules, Dima. We’re a different case.”
Dima reached out and took him by the shoulders, pulling him up and back against him, which made Vadim look at himself in the mirror.
“It’s not easy. I wish it was.”
― Aleksandr Voinov, Special Forces - Mercenaries Part II