Dimitri fought the urge to roll his eye at Claude’s characteristically jovial entrance, though he suspected the gesture would lose much of its impact while lying on the floor. Though he could not deny a measure of relief at finally seeing the man, it was tempered heavily by irritation at the hour Claude had chosen to grace him with his presence.
Sleep usually avoided him with remarkable consistency, but for a reason he couldn't quite explain, his confinement had improved matters. Six hours was still well short of what most would consider healthy, yet it was a notable improvement over the meagre four he typically managed.
He wasn't entirely sure why he slept so soundly in such an environment at all. Given how the isolation and monotony were steadily wearing away at his psyche, it seemed counterintuitive. Yet somehow, it did. Perhaps all the restless energy with nowhere to go was simply exhausting him, even if he wasn't nearly as physically active as he would have been outside captivity.
Dimitri took his time pushing himself up from the ground before shuffling over to the bars and accepting the offered parchment. His eyes caught on the faded band around Claude's neck. The sight drew an unexpected feeling of relief from him, though he was careful not to dwell on why.
Ugh. This wretched lack of conviction was rearing its head again. Was this truly how he meant to view those who might one day stand against him?
Whether Claude posed an immediate threat or none at all was irrelevant. Dimitri had made his choice, and yet here he was, burdening himself with remorse as though it would change anything.
Besides, Claude had been the one who instigated, dragging him away without any regard for his opinion or what consequences it might have brought. If Claude was telling the truth, then perhaps things could work out, but what bothered Dimitri still was the fact that it had all been set in motion by the man himself.
At last he skimmed the parchment, brow furrowed in concentration. Reading came slower than it ought to, his thoughts dulled by fatigue and further hindered by the simple fact of having only one eye.
He did not react at the mention of Felix, though inwardly he could not help but feel a faint sense of ease at hearing a familiar name; down to the familiar temperament which, in its own way, lent some credibility to Claude’s account. As far as Dimitri knew, the two had never interacted. Felix had always been either on the training grounds or hauled up in his personal quarters.
Claude’s apparent attempts at provocation did not go unnoticed, not that they were effective, but Dimitri could not help but think the man lacked any meaningful sense of self preservation. He had been in a position to kill Claude, and yet the man continued to address him with the same familiarity as though nothing had changed since the Officers Academy. It was frankly astonishing. Almost reckless enough to be suicidal.
When he noticed Claude still hovering close to the bars, he realised he wanted the parchment returned. An unruly, almost childish part of him briefly considered tearing it to shreds in front of the man, but Dimitri reigned in the impulse.
it was hardly worth jeopardizing his chances of being released.
Instead, he slipped it back through the bars into Claude’s waiting hands.
He then wrapped his hands around the bars and met Claude’s gaze.
“Enough Claude, let me out.”
