Coming Home

[OblivionWalker 333]

"Slaaaavaaaaaa."

 

Grumbling to himself, Slava Kovalenko turned over, tucking his pillow over his head. "No, Sergiy." he yawned, his eyes not even opening. "Leave me alone."

 

"It's time to get up, grumble guts." Sergiy countered and before Slava knew what was happening, his older brother had yanked the covers off of him, tossing them aside.

 

"Says who?" Slava demanded, finally sitting up. His blond hair was going every which way and the glower that was currently directed at his brother might have struck a little fear into the heart of a lesser man, but Sergiy just snorted at him. His brother knew him far too well and had developed an immunity to Slava's laser stares over the years.

 

"Me. It's time to get moving. I thought we could go for a walk and then have breakfast together. I don't have any flights today."

 

Some time with his brother was rare, as Sergiy was a pilot, and Slava would be stupid not to take advantage of that since he'd come back to Alberta with the intent on spending some time with his family after his first season in Warsaw. "Fine." he sighed, forcing himself to slide to the edge of the bed and root around in his duffel bag for some socks. He figured the sweats and t-shirt he was wearing would be decent enough for their walk. He could change when they got back.

 

"Don't sound so excited." Sergiy teased and while Slava rolled his eyes, there was already a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. He had missed being home so much, especially given how things had gone for him this season and it was nice to just be back in Alberta with most of the people that he loved the most.

 

Stopping to get a hoodie on, Slava also paused to put on his touch bracelet, the other being with River of course and as he always did first thing in the morning, he tapped on it. He didn't even have time to get his shoes pulled onto his feet before he felt the answering buzz. It was a small and simple way for them to let the other know they were thinking of them throughout the day, and it was just another piece that made up Slava's life these days.

 

"You seem more at ease." Sergiy commented as they made their way out of their parents' home and began to amble around the familiar neighborhood.

 

Slava considered that for a long moment. "Of course I'm more at ease. I'm back home. I don't have to be anyone else or anything other than just Slava. You guys aren't fans asking me when things are going to turn around for Warsaw or journalists that I'm trying to dodge so I don't have to think of answers to questions I'd really rather not answer." he said wryly, shoving his hands into the middle pocket of his hoodie. This season had weighed heavily on him and while he had been quiet before. Slava could easily go a couple of days without even speaking to anyone, which wasn't healthy, and he knew that. Even his efforts to utilize a little retail therapy once in a while had limited success. Plus, he only had so many bookshelves in his apartment in Warsaw.

 

"You're not happy there." Sergiy stated calmly and Slava nodded wordlessly. It was the truth and while it wasn't anyone's fault, he still didn't like to talk about it. There was nothing he was going to be able to do about the situation and he saw it as complaining. All he could do was keep his head down and continue to try his best, even when it felt like it was utterly futile.

 

It took Sergiy a moment before he spoke again, as though he was weighing his words and Slava was immediately wary because that usually meant his brother was about to say something that Slava might not like or want to hear. "Have you tried talking to your gm about this? Because you can't keep doing this to yourself."

 

"What am I supposed to say?" Slava retorted. "They drafted me because they saw something in me. Am I supposed to just quit?"

 

Sergiy sighed. "I wasn't suggesting that, Slava. But maybe there's a way where you can still help Warsaw while maybe being able to get yourself a change of scenery."

 

Slava shrugged, clearly not wanting to discuss it. "Who knows? My plus/minus ratio sure as hell isn't going to help me."

 

He was surprised to feel Sergiy's hand give his arm a little smack. "Stop that, you doofus. There's more to hockey than just your plus/minus. You were literally second in the entire VHL in blocked shots. As a rookie. That definitely has to count for something, and you were still able to put up over 30 points on the worst team in the league. If I were a gm, I would be looking at you and asking myself what you could do on a team that wasn't in a rebuild. Sometimes you have to stand up for yourself, Slavochka."

 

"Only Baba can call me that." Slava said immediately and his brother held his hands up, as though acknowledging that he may have overstepped a little with that nickname. Their Baba Irina was the only one who called Slava that and the younger Kovalenko always made sure everyone remembered.

 

"My point still stands. Besides, it might not hurt to just sit down, see what the plan is. Maybe if you knew that, then you could discuss and see how everything fits."

 

That was a little more Slava's style and perhaps that wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.

 

Humming in response to Sergiy's words, things drifted toward a more comfortable silence as they walked along, taking their time. However, as they rounded the corner on their way back to the Kovalenko home, Slava felt his phone buzz in his pocket. Taking it out, he blinked as he saw the text.

 

His gm wanted Slava to call him.

 

(word count: 1,015)

Edited February 6 by OblivionWalker

[OblivionWalker 333]

Week 2 claim