For Anatoly, Pre-New Years

[capable_of]

As he walked to the yurt that had been his home for a few day in the past month, Lex couldn't help smiling. All his plans and scheming...it all came down to tonight. Tonight he'd know if it was worth it and he was positive it would. Everything was set up and now it was time to put things in motion.

As he approached the yurt, he carefully schooled his features back to a more amused expression. He was just here to collect Anatoly for a party, as usual. Nothing more. Or so the Russian needed to believe. He didn't even bother to knock as he slipped inside. "Anatoly, are you ready?" He said expectantly, rubbing his gloved hands to warm them up.

Comments

[chesspolitik]

Anatoly had given this a lot of thought, and he had decided he was not going to the party tonight. He was feeling unsettled tonight, and the prospect of being social and around people was more than he thought he could stand.

As if that weren't enough, the clothing box had seen fit to give him a Soviet dress army uniform, complete with hat and shiny boots. He'd given up and taken it, as his cursing was doing nothing but attracting odd looks, but he was less than thrilled about actually wearing the damned thing.

"Go on without me," he said, waving a hand in the vain hope that Lex would accept that without a fuss. "I think I will just stay here tonight."

[capable-of.livejournal.com]

Lex just looked at Anatoly for a moment, his mind going a mile a minute. "Pardon me?"

[chesspolitik]

This was going to be difficult but Anatoly was determined to stand his ground. "I'm not going."

[capable-of.livejournal.com]

Lex only considered this an option for a moment. "Why don't you think your going?" He asked, though from his tone, he fully expected that Anatoly was coming with him.

[chesspolitik]

Anatoly knew that tone well, though usually it came from Molokov or one of his deputies. At least here, he knew he had nothing to fear from Lex, more or less.

"There will be too many people, and it's just - I would rather stay here."

[capable-of.livejournal.com]

"You'd rather spend a holiday alone?" Lex asked in a tone that spoke of how much he didn't believe what he was hearing. "Not to mention you seemed to enjoy yourself last time. What's different about tonight?" He asked pointedly.

[chesspolitik]

What Anatoly would prefer to do is spend it alone with Lex, but he could hardly say that. "Nothing is different, I am just not feeling very social."

[capable-of.livejournal.com]

As would Lex but this was necessary.

"You are never feeling social, yet you've never said no to me before." Lex pointed out, though he'd softened his tone. "Come on Anatoly, believe me when I say, a holiday is no time to be spent alone. Being around people will get you in the spirit, I promise."

[chesspolitik]

"Checkmate," Anatoly conceded the point, ruefully. Lex was right, as much as he hated to admit it.

But there was still one appeal he could take. He gestured to the bed, where the hated uniform lay. "I'll have to go out in that. I don't think I can. The winter clothes were bad enough, but this? No."

[capable-of.livejournal.com]

Lex inwardly sighed with relief. Crisis averted.

He walked over to the bed and looked down at the uniform. "You have nothing else, even informal?" He asked carefully, already thinking of how to salvage this.

[chesspolitik]

"You've seen what else I have. It's all Red Army issue," Anatoly said disgustedly. "I haven't been able to get anything else out of the damned box."

[capable-of.livejournal.com]

With a small nod to himself, Lex shrugged off his coat and began removing the rest of his outer wear. "It's no worse then some school uniforms I've worn. Remove some of the patches and decorations and it won't be so bad." He said offhandedly as he removed his suit jacket and began loosening his tie so he could unbutton his shirt.

[chesspolitik]

Anatoly stared at him, his mouth open in shock. "What are you doing?" Of all the things he expected Lex to do, this was hardly the first thing that came to mind.

[capable-of.livejournal.com]

Lex just gave him a small obvious smile as he removed both tie and shirt and sat down on the bed to remove his shoes so he could take off his pants. "I'm going to wear the uniform. You can wear my clothes."

[chesspolitik]

He couldn't help but stare a little at Lex's bare chest, though he did his best to not be obvious about it. "But, I don't understand - why?"

[capable-of.livejournal.com]

If Lex noticed the staring, he paid it no mind as he pulled one boot off and started to work on the other.

He glanced up with an impish smile. "Because I want you at the party and I'm not about to let the island's sick humor to prevent me from getting what I want. Wearing a Soviet Uniform for one night won't bother me as much it will you so I don't mind."

[chesspolitik]

There was no arguing with Lex, not when he was this determined, Anatoly was starting to learn. There was only one thing to do, and that was to give in gracefully. He shook his head, laughing softly. "When you put it like that, how can I refuse?"

[capable-of.livejournal.com]

"Exactly." Lex said with the same satisfied grin, as if he'd known all along Anatoly was going to give in.

Pulling the second boot off, he undid his belt and removed his pants, laying it all out on the bed for Anatoly as he stood there in his briefs. "There. Well? Get changed!" He said looking at Anatoly expectantly as he reached for the pants of the uniform and slipped them on.

[chesspolitik]

It was a moment or two before Anatoly collected himself and stood up, pulling off his (army issue) sweater. "Right, yes."

The sweater was folded and set on the chair. He kicked off his shoes and after an brief pause and an awkward glance at Lex, he slipped out of his pants.

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

[capable-of.livejournal.com]

Lex just shook his head as he picked up the green uniform shirt and began buttoning it, smiling all the while.

"Of course I'm sure." He replied easily. "Why shouldn't I be?"

[chesspolitik]

Anatoly went for the pants first and slipped them on, surprised to find they fit rather well, considering. The shirt was next, and as he started to button it, he answered Lex. "I can't think of too many people who would be willing to put on a Soviet uniform to go to a party."

[capable-of.livejournal.com]

Lex had finished with his shirt and was tucking it into the pants when he looked up to answer with a small smile on his face. "Even when it's for a friend?"

[chesspolitik]

"Even when it's for a friend," Anatoly affirmed as he buttoned the last button and reached for the belt.

He offered Lex a small smile of his own. "But I suppose I can't really be surprised. You did warn me after all."

[capable-of.livejournal.com]

"That I'll do anything for my friends." Lex finished for him as he tied the green tie before shrugging into the jacket. "And that includes wearing a Soviet uniform tonight."

[chesspolitik]

Anatoly paused, tie in hand, to take in the sigh of Lex all dressed in a military uniform. "It suits you," was all he could find to say.

[capable-of.livejournal.com]

Lex looked up as he put on his belt over the coat. "My father always threatened to send me to military school." He kidded as he picked up the hat. He put it on then spread his arms. "What do you think? Is the hat a bit much?"

[chesspolitik]

"The hat is just right," Anatoly answered a little pointedly, though his tone was highly amused. "And warm. It would almost be a crime to forget it."

He knotted his tie, very conscious of the striking picture Lex made, and doing his best to ignore it.

[capable-of.livejournal.com]

At the comment about the hat being warm, Lex let out a short, happy bark of laughter. "Well, if your going to be that insistent..."

Sitting down to pull on the boots, Lex pointedly looked Anatoly up and down as the other dressed in his clothes, grinning all the while. "And you look very fetching in purple, if I must so say."

[chesspolitik]

"Of course I am," Anatoly said firmly. "I think you remember what happened the last time you went without a hat, and I do not think you want to repeat it again, do you?"

The compliment took him a back, and he shook his head, even as he tried to calm his rapid heartbeat. It didn't necessarily mean what it sounded like it did. There was no need to start jumping to conclusions. "I'm not sure I agree, but thank you."

[capable-of.livejournal.com]

Lex tried to fight a playful grin but failed. "I don't know, I could get used to the service." He teased, as he pulled one boot on, then the other.

Then his smile turned more secretive. "You should agree because it's the truth. And I'd bet I could say the same about this uniform, though I perfectly understand why you don't' want to wear it."

[chesspolitik]

"I'm sure you could." Anatoly was very much amused. "You certainly seemed to enjoy making me run back and forth for your tea, heated just so, and your soup."

He sat back down in his chair, pulling out his shoes from behind it and started to untie the laces. "The regular winter uniform was bad enough. I wore it because it was warm and I was given no other option by that damned box. I draw the line at dressing like a marshal of the Soviet Union."

[capable-of.livejournal.com]

"And you did it so very well." Lex quipped back in the teasing snobbish voice that had become a joke between them.

"And I do understand, though I will still say it's a shame. I always did love a man in uniform." He pointedly didn't look up at Anatoly, fiddling with the boots, as if he hadn't said it at all.

[chesspolitik]

Anatoly stared at him, his shoe all but forgotten in his hand. "Do you?" He asked, a beat too slow for it to sound casual. "You are full of surprises."

He was half-tempted to say that he had changed his mind about the uniform, but if if he did that, it would be all too obvious why, and even if Lex might not mind, as he was beginning to suspect he wouldn't, it was still too far, too fast than he was comfortable with.

[capable-of.livejournal.com]

"Doesn't everyone?" Finally the boots were straight and Lex stood up with a grin, ignoring any reaction Anatoly had made to his words. "Well, I certainly wouldn't want to be boring, where's the fun in that?"

He walked over to the bed and picked up the suit jacket he'd been wearing earlier, preparing to hold it open for Anatoly once he finished with his shoes.

[chesspolitik]

"I don't think you could ever be boring." That said, Anatoly quickly slipped on his shoes and stood, stretching slightly. He made a minute adjustment to his tie then turned to Lex.

"Shall we?"

[capable-of.livejournal.com]

Lex held up the suit jacket so Anatoly could easily slip his arms in. Once the other had it on, Lex made some minute adjustments to how it laid on Anatoly's shoulders then walked around in front of him to smooth down the lapels, straighten the collar of the shirt and made another adjustment to the tie. Then he smiled, a very appreciative smile. "Yes, I think we shall."

[chesspolitik]

Anatoly found himself very conscious of Lex's hands as he stood still and submitted to being fussed over. They were quite lovely hands, and while he had noticed this before, he was reminded all over again tonight.

He was a fool, there was no doubt of that, but he was beginning to realize that this - whatever it was - was very possibly not one-sided.

He smiled at Lex then gestured towards the door. "After you, my friend."