#c: aviv kasyanenko

[milaxkorshunova]

Awards After Party @aviv-kasyanenko

"Before you dismiss me completely ––" Lyudmila slid a shot glass filled with clear liquid in front of him, while she held a matching one in her other hand, "–– consider this a peace offering."

Given that he was about to marry her best friend, she resolved to make an effort, at the very least.

[yulivorshevsky]

Tel Aviv

August 1st, 2022

@aviv-kasyanenko​

The last two months was pure torment. 

Ever since Yuliya received the news that Mikhail had been kidnapped, she found herself in a cycle of waking up to anxiety and anticipation, only to be let down when no one had found him or had any updates, having to fall asleep not knowing what her baby brother was going through—if he was hurt, if he was in pain. Rest itself had been hard to come by when her thoughts drifted to not just him, but also to Katarina and Larissa, their parents. She prayed for Mikhail to not suffer their same fates until they turned into her nightmares, or worse—into dreams that only fed her hope until dawn would rip it away from her. 

Yet, Yuliya would rather have it that way than for a second believe her brother was gone.

Some days were harder to get through than others, but Yuliya knew she couldn’t have gotten through them if she didn’t have Lahav to wake up to and Vera to wake up for. Though her heart forever breaks for the family she had to leave behind, the family the three of them built from the foundations filled its gaps and gave Yuliya a life she once accepted she had to let go of.

As she laid on the giant blanket, Yuliya smiled when she heard Vera’s laughs among the beach waves. Léa’s and Sophie’s, too. As much as Yuliya was suffering, she felt more so for those two kids, having lost their parents so young. Their childhoods weighed heavy too soon. 

Some days were harder to get through than others, but Yuliya hoped today was one of the easier ones, not just for herself, but for Eva’s children as well.

They had Aviv to thank for that. It was his idea after all for Vera, Léa and Sophie to get together while they were all in one country. Though his violent reputation tended to precede him, that was not the Aviv she had come to know. To Yuliya, Aviv was incredibly kind, loyal, thoughtful—he was her brother, her family even if the only bond they had was their love for her sister. Yuliya knew in these trying times, Aviv was just as tormented as she was over Mikhail’s disappearance, even if he did a better job of hiding it than she was. Mikhail was his brother, too.

When she heard him approach, Yuliya shifted to the side to give him more space, wincing as the pain in her back reminded her of why she was there on the blanket instead of the water. “They grow up so fast, don’t they? I could have sworn I could still lift Vera up,” she complained to him before laughing. “They sound like they’re having a lot of fun.” Yuliya didn’t need to specify who, nor point out how much they probably needed a day like today. How much she needed a day like today. 

“So when are you adding your kid to the litter? If you get any older, it won’t be some ruffian who breaks your back but a seven year old.” Though Yuliya meant it as a joke, she did wonder, hope even, that Aviv would be as fortunate as she was to one day have someone to wake up for. Someone to wake up to, even if it couldn’t be wasn’t Larissa. “You’re supposedly handsome. Don’t tell me you haven’t fooled someone into liking you yet.”

[yulivorshevsky]

@aviv-kasyanenko​​

Despite being countries and even continents away from family, Yuliya kept tabs on those she cared about, going as far as pulling some favors to remain updated when keeping in touch didn’t suffice. When she learned about a fight club event both Konstantin and Aviv not only attended but also fought in, Yuliya quickly made arrangements to head to London. Though she wasn’t ignorant of the violence they were capable of, she found it incredibly stupid why they would voluntarily put themselves in that situation. It was baffling, infuriating even that she almost wished they did get a few punches to knock some sense into them. 

But she didn’t really. They were family, and it was easier to be angry at their foolishness than admit she was worried about them, concerned over the idea of them hurt, terrified at the possibility of losing them. 

The feeling never really went away anymore.

“You look terrible,” Yuliya greeted as soon as she heard the door open with a friendly smile on her face, the blonde hoping whoever did come to get her was the person she had intended her words for. Of course Yuliya had to visit Aviv. They might not share blood nor have any papers that connected them—not even the person they both loved anymore—but he would always be her brother. Larissa didn’t need anything more from Aviv, and neither did Yuliya.

“Now tell me where you’re not hurt so I know where to hit you.”