No Turning Back

Chapter Fourty-Four: Reminiscence

Kiana found it so strange watching Richtofen sleep. It seemed like something few - if any - ever got to ever see. His bare chest slowly undulated with deep restful breaths as Kiana looked on with curiosity. She could not take her eyes off him; it was a moment she did not want to forget.

She wanted to know Richtofen like this. He looked vulnerable but he also looked peaceful - freed from the emotional turmoil if only for a brief moment. And she knew that once he awoke; this moment would feel like an all too distant memory - buried beneath the glacier of his icy scowl. 

Richtofen was surprisingly muscular for an older man. His lean physique had been lost beneath his general's uniform - nevermind the cumbersome cosmonaut suit. It was strange enough just seeing Richtofen's bare hands since they were always hidden away under his black leather gloves. But now, Kiana got far more than she bargained for seeing him in nothing but a pair of high-waisted briefs. 
 
Her eyes began to trace their way down along the scars on Richtofen's chest. Her curiosity was getting the better of her as she finally allowed herself to look at them. Every scar seemed to tell a story; from shrapnel scars on his chest to the bayonet scars on his forearms. Even on his abdomen she could make out the silvery shimmer of scar tissue from a stab wound. His body was looked like a kintsugi piece - except his wounds had been mended with silver instead of gold.  

The more scars her eyes uncovered; the more questions arose. What on earth had Richtofen been doing to get these? Were they all just from the war? Some of them looked far older - and others far newer. It was clear he had lived a turbulent life for many years. Perhaps even as far back as childhood, Kiana thought. 

The man in question stirred gently in his sleep which caused Kiana to quickly look away guiltily. Her eyes had dared not stray any lower than his abdomen anyway.  Instead, she finally went over to the other sofa. As she sat down she could feel herself sinking into the soft brown leather of the sofa. Even in its aged state it still retained its comfortability. 

"Jou know, zhis reminds me of somezhing very shimilar", Richtofen whispered - catching Kiana off guard.
 
"Crikey, had he been awake the whole time?!" Kiana began to question in her mind.

"Oh, and what's that?" She feigned surprise. 

"Bah! How zhe tables have turned. I distinctly remember it was jou in jour underwear", he smiled through closed eyes. 

Kiana thought back to the day she arrived in this universe. The day they found her in Der Riese. 

"Jou looked so vulnerable", Richtofen continued. 

"I don't even vant to zhink about how I must look right now", he sighed. 

"Oh, don't be daft! You're still terrifying... just minus your nazi gear", she fired back with a smile. 

"Do I look insignificant vithout zhat uniform?" He asked.
 
"You look like a human being", Kiana answered which caused Richtofen to frown slightly. 

"And you also look slightly less terrifying when you're not scowling and frowning too", she added. 

"I'm honoured to be one of the few people to see it", she smiled. 

"Is zhat how jou shee me?" He asked sharply. 

"I think it's how you want people to see you", Kiana answered promptly.
 
Richtofen sat quietly on the sofa as he stared intensely at Kiana. It was obvious he was deeply assessing the sincerity of her words. But as usual, she just seemed to sit there unfazed - which always fascinated him. Then, his eyes fell on the gun strap slung over her shoulder before his gaze fell on the submachine gun itself.