Donetsk, Russia: 2018

Time× 10:56 pm

Viktor's eyes were glued on the huge holes on the wall that were made by his fist. There were a total of twelve holes and Viktor still felt the urge to add another one. He was annoyed, annoyed by everyone and everything that cursed him wanting to be with Natalie. He just couldn't understand it, why the universe and the people on it were trying so hard to keep them apart.

His fist balled up again as the muscles in his body tensed, he felt an ache in his hand and decided to look down at it. His fist was bleeding again, for the third night in a row but he simply didn't care. What he cared about was being with Natalie. His heart clenched at the thought of her.

A total of four days had gone by and he still didn't speak to her and he hated himself for it. He didn't want to speak to her because of the threat that his father promised to go through with.

Viktor couldn't live with himself if anything ever happened to Natalie, so he decided to fall back and distance himself until he found out what to do. The American catchphrase, that Natalie always told him when he was struggling played in his head like a broken record. "Where there's a will, there's a way." He said out loud in the empty apartment.

Yesterday his dad decided it would be best to throw out everything, except the things that they would need to sleep on, which is the only reason why Viktor still had the small couch. His father and Buddy's flight took off at exactly eight, which was two hours ago. For some unknown reason, Ivan decided to fly with Buddy, which left Viktor to fly alone. His flight would take off at twelve in the morning, so until now, he was stuck at home, punching holes into the walls.

Viktor pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling himself gaining a headache. He sighed and leaned back on the couch before closing his eyes, not caring that his own blood was seeping out into the world. Everything in his life was getting too hard to juggle all at once. Boxing, Natalie, his dad and now Buddy with his stupid ass contract.

His heart skipped for a moment, wondering what it would be like if he ended it all and just killed himself. Would he have freedom? Would he be able to feel like he's not being suffocated? Would it feel like he finally found his purpose in the world?

He heard Natalie's voice inside his head. "Boy, you better not. I'll kill you my damn self if you go through with it." A deep loud hearty laugh came from Viktor. He laughed because he knew for a fact that would be something she would say. Natalie always did say the most outrageous things at the right time.

Viktor sighed, the thought of killing himself disappeared and was now replaced with how dying would affect Natalie.

She would hate him, he knew that for sure. She'd hold a grudge against because he basically took away the one person she loved in this world, which was himself. Call him a fool, but Viktor knew Natalie was in love with him. She's had way too many slip-ups and the way she looks at him... it was a look that couldn't be described. He wondered when she'd finally admit it, even though he himself, had yet to admit it as well.

As crazy as it sounded, Viktor knew that he loved Natalie even though he's never felt love before. He knew because of the way his heart would beat uncontrollably when he looked at her or was just in her proximity. Or how he always wanted to be near her, no matter what time of the day. And how complete the world felt when she was by his side. When she was happy, he was happy, the same as when she was mad or even sad.

Viktor's eyes opened as he suddenly stood up.

He grabbed the suitcase that was on the couch and walked out the door, knowing what he had to do.

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Viktor walked down the empty sidewalk as the wind blew fiercely outside. His body was freezing all because he hadn't thought to wear a jacket, but it didn't matter, getting to Natalie did. Viktor glanced at his watch and his feet moved faster against the pavement wanting to get to Natalie's house before it was time for his plane to leave.

Viktor warped an arm around himself and lowered his chin. He looked down at the sidewalk, watching his feet move. He could feel the hairs on his arm raised and the goosebumps forming. Viktor bit down on his lips as the cold started to affect his bloody fist, he knew he should've wrapped it... again, but he just had to get to Natalie.

"блядь." Viktor cursed, finally making it to Natalie's. "She better be here." He thought out loud. The house wasn't massive but it was a pretty decent size, seeing as there were only two people who lived in the home. The house still looked the same way, from when Natalie and Viktor were in middle school. Orchids were planted on the lawn, aligning perfectly with the walkway. There was still the kidding swing that was attached to the giant tree in front of the yard. The house bricks were still painted white, along with having some yellow to complement the color.

Yellow, Natalie's mother's favorite color.

Gaining some courage, Viktor walked up to the small steps and knocked on the door twice. It took a moment, but someone on the other side finally opened the door. It was a man, one with grey hair and the same pair of eyes as Natalie. "Viktor?" Natalie's father questioned, looking at him like he was crazy.

Viktor had no doubt in his mind that he did look crazy right now. "Yes, it's me," Viktor said, rubbing his hands together for warmth. "Hello Mr. Scott I know that it's pretty late in the night, but I was wondering if you could tell Natalie that I'm here for her."

Mr. Scott's brows knit together. "I don't think she wants to see you son." He said as an awkward tension found its way between them. Natalie's father was conflicted for a moment, he saw the look of desperation on Viktor's face and he felt bad for me. But then he remembered how his only baby girl was mopping around the house for the past few days. He closed his eyes, thinking about what his wife would do in this situation. "But I'll at least inform her that you're here." Mr. Scott pointed at Viktor. "Stay here, don't go anywhere." He said before closing the door. He knew it was freezing outside and he should've let Viktor in, but keeping him outside was his way of getting payback since Viktor had his daughter crying.

"I'm not gonna talk to him," Natalie said, as soon as her father shut the door. She leaned up against the wall and crossed her arms around her chest.

Her father sighed. "That doesn't mean you don't want to talk to him." He said, walking towards her. "At least hear him out, he walked all this way in the cold for a reason." Natalie only shrugged stubbornly. Her father rolled his eyes. "Did I mention that he has no jacket on?"

"I don't care," Natalie responded, sounding like a child.

Mr. Scott rolled his eyes again. "His fist are bleeding as well." He stated, knowing that would get her attention.

Natalie gasps, standing up straight. "Oh no." She mumbled, starting to feel worried. Viktor's fist was only injured when he had a bad fight or when something was just bothering him, which caused him to get angry.

Mr. Scott smiled, "I knew that would get your attention, now go talk to the boy before we have a frozen dead body on our porch. I don't have time to bury anyone tonight, the game is on." He said, walking into the living room.

Natalie took a big deep breath, before opening the door. Heart skipped a beat as she stared at Viktor. He looked cold, tired and... hurt. "Get in here." She said, pulling him into the house. She quickly ran into the living room, to grab her blanket, then ran back towards Viktor, wrapping it around him. "Why would you walk all this way with no jacket Viktor. That's so dangerous, you could catch Pneumonia. Pneumonia is bad, very, very bad." She commented.

"Nat," Viktor called, but she ignored him.

"And your fist is bleeding. Not like normal bleeding but bleeding, bleeding as in a lot and you didn't even bother to take care of it. Do you not know that it could get infected and then they'd probably have to cut off your hand, maybe even your entire arm." She said, overreacting. She paused, just noticing the grey suitcase. "What's going on? Why do you have a suitcase?"

Viktor sighed, letting go of the suitcase. "I was trying to get to that." He paused, taking her hands into his. "There's too much to say in such little time, so I'm just going to cut it short. That recruiter that my father signed the contract with, he wants me to come fight for him in the United States." Natalie goes still and Viktor noticed. "The reason that I didn't call or meet up with you after the jail thing, is because I was thinking. Thinking about me, thinking about you and everything else in my life. You see my father threatened me... he threatened to take your life if I didn't just go and leave you behind. And I know I shouldn't be here right now because it jeopardizes your safety, but I couldn't just leave. Not without seeing you first. Call me selfish or an asshole for this, but Nat I'm asking you. Please come with me to America." He begged, pulling out a flight ticket from his pocket. Natalie's mouth was glued shut, she was in shock. "As crazy as it sounds, after knowing you all this time, it took me today to realize that my life means nothing without you in it. And I'm nothing if I don't have you, my girlfriend, right by my side."

Natalie took her hands out of Viktor's grip, surprised by his words. "Did you just say, girlfriend?" She asked, wiping at the tears welling in her eyes.

Viktor chuckled at her, before placing both his cold hands on her cheeks. "Is that really all you got from everything I just said."

"Duh," Natalie said, smiling up at him. "I never thought I'd hear that word come for your mouth."

Viktor laughed, a deep laugh that caused his stomach to rumble. "Me too." He said before his face suddenly turned serious. "So you'll come with me?" He questioned.

Natalie punched him in the shoulder. "Of course I'm coming with you Viktor. Your dad doesn't fuckin scare me." She said boldly.

"Language!" Her father warned.

Natalie grimaced. "Sorry, папа. It won't happen again." She yelled back, before looking back at Viktor. "Your father doesn't scare me Vik and it's gonna take a lot more than some threat, to ever make me back off."

"That's right baby girl." Mr. Scott said, behind her. He was now leaning against the doorway looking at the both of them. "Natalie." He said, his accent sounding thick. "Go pack your bags, I'm sure it'll be time to catch your plane soon." Natalie looked back and forth at Viktor and her father worriedly. She wasn't sure if she should leave them alone. "Go on, I'm not gonna hurt him. I just want to talk." Her father reassured. Natalie nodded, taking one final glance at Viktor before going up the stairs. "Join me in the living room Мальчик."

Viktor swallowed his spit as he listened to Mr. Scott's command. He followed behind him, quietly, not wanting to make a sound. When Mr. Scott sat down in his regular chair, Viktor did the same, sitting across from him. "Your home is just as I remembered sir," Viktor said, nervously. He didn't know what to say.

"Mmh." Natalie's father mumbled his eyes, trained on the television, watching as one of his favorite golfers, golfed. "Natalie is my baby girl, you do know that boy?" Viktor nodded. "Good. So you do know that because she's my baby girl if anything and I mean anything bad was to happen to her while she's under your care, I'd kill you right?"

"Yes, sir," Viktor said, his cheeks were turning red. "I promise to take care of her and do right by you."

Mr. Scott nodded, liking his answer. "I've known about you Viktor since you were a kid. Natalie would always come home from school talking about you and from the way she described you, I could tell you were a good boy. I'm proud to see you grow up to be a fine young man you are today. And I know for sure that my wife would've loved seeing you with Natalie."

"Thank you, sir." He responded. It really met a lot hearing him say those things.

"Natalie told me your story. Don't let your father or anyone else for that matter, ever get in the way of your happiness." He says. "Growing up with a father like yours, I need you to know that you aren't like him, nor are you like your mother. You're better than both of them." He pauses. "My daughter loves you... a lot, so don't ruin this. Because I swear on everything I love Drago, if you break my baby girl's heart, I'm coming after you with everything I got. I don't care if you beat people up for a living."

"Y...yes sir,"

"Natalie bring your ass in here and stop eavesdropping." Her father yelled. Natalie huffed and came walking into the living room with two suitcases in her hands. Her father stood up and pulled her into a hug. "I'm expecting a call, every-single-day that you're there. I don't care what happens, just call me." He squeezed her harder. "Take pictures and be sure to send me V.I.P passes to every game Viktor has." He looked down at his daughter, sadly. "I love you, baby girl."

"Dad stop," Natalie whined. "You're gonna make me cry and I don't wanna cry. Besides, I won't be in America forever, I'll be back.

Mr. Scott chuckled. "Your mother said the same thing to your grandfather when we left for America. Once she saw how beautiful it was over there, she never wanted to come back."

"But eventually she did," Natalie said, before placing a kiss on her father's face. She backed away from him. "Just like how I'll eventually come back."

Her father smiled. "Alright, you kids better get going before you miss your plane." Viktor shooked his hands before both him and Natalie walked out the front door. Mr. Scott sighed and looked at the portrait of his late wife. "She'll be okay." He said to her. "The both of them will be."

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Natalie and Viktor were both sitting down in their seats as they listened to the cabin crew explain to everyone what to do in case of an emergency. They showed a video of where the exits are, how to fasten your seatbelt, and where the bathroom was. They also gave instructions on how to use the safety card, that was in the pouch on the back of the seat in front of them.

"That video was so long," Natalie said as she looked at Viktor.

"Very." He agreed. "I didn't expect to see so many people on one plane." He said, looking at all the faces around him.

"Same," Natalie said, looking as well.

Soon, the captain spoke, giving them a speech about the flight and what to expect. He talked about how long it will take until take-off, what the weather would be like and how long the flight should take.

"You think we can sneak off to them and have sex?" Natalie asked, causing Viktor to choke on the water he was drinking. Natalie patted his back as he regained himself.

He coughed. "That was... unexpected." He said looking at her. "But I think we can and maybe if you're quiet we won't get caught."

Natalie smiled brightly. "Perfect." The plane began to move onto the runway with a gentle gliding motion. When it picked up speed, it bumped and rattled people around. When the plane lifts up, Natalie gets pushed back into her seat. After a few minutes, the plane levels out and everything below them begins to shrink. "It's so beautiful," Natalie said, looking out the window.

"Truly is." Viktor agreed, but he wasn't starting outside the window, he was staring at her. He knew in his heart that he made the right decision, to not leave without her.