A Soviet's Struggle

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The undercover cruiser buckled as it rolled lazily over a speed bump, the crackling of gravel under its wheels and its rumbling engine the only noises audible from the rolled down windows as it pulled into the restaurant parking space. Once settled, the engine ceased and the windows rolled up, the door clicking open and allowing the emergence of Theodore; who gazed at the restaurant suspiciously from over the cruiser hood. Mariya picked this place to eat, finding an inability to welcome meat products back into her diet from her unspoken trauma with the Resistance. The two were now within German borders, in the city of Munich - Gerwalt and Burhardt's stomping grounds - with only a few more hours to go. They had been driving for about two days, the two stopping only at a hotel in Linz the previous night to sleep; and at various drive thru restaurants to allow time for food and drink.

Now within the German state, the two were much less stressed and tensions had ceased. Naturally, Mariya didn't talk to Theodore much once released from the hospital's care; opting to instead keep to her thoughts throughout most of the car ride. Theodore didn't mind this, as he knew that the Russian had much healing she needed to entertain, and it was a thought that Mariya was reluctant to pursue.

Theodore walked to the trunk of his cruiser, opening it with his keys and grasping his travelling companion's crutches. Even now, Mariya still refused to be within the wheelchair, arguing with the Panda Bear in Linz when they needed to check into the hotel; with the Panda giving in and simply giving her the crutches. He did not quite understand why, exactly, Mariya thought of the wheelchair as a sign of weakness in her visage, but he came to respect the position and learned to not question it.

He walked to Mariya's side, opening the door and handing her both crutches and helping her find her balance as she got out with them. The two then looked to the restaurant once more, Mariya much more relaxed than Theodore, not saying a word to him as she walked past him and towards the doors. Theodore shrugged, sighed, and closed the cruiser door; locking the car with the FOB, in which gave an audible honk that left him satisfied.

Upon catching up to - and entering - the restaurant with Mariya, which a doorbell kindly announced their arrival ; a host, who had been hunched over the podium he was sat at, shot up to meet the new guests and composed himself quickly upon seeing the rugged young adult with her much older male companion.

With hesitancy in his voice, he began his spiel:

"Welcome to Livia's Herbivorus House. Will it be for..."

He glanced at Mariya, eyeing her up and down, then to Theodore.

"...For two?"

Mariya frowned, her paw shaking as her grip on her crutch tightened. Her body yearned greedily to spill his blood, a thought that Mariya briefly entertained before becoming mortified within her mind; pushing the unsavoury thought out and rather, confronted the man's hesitancy.

"Hey, mudak, relax. I just got out of hospital, got my ass kicked. Be kind, will you? I'm not scary or anything."

She knew that last part was a lie.

"I-I'm sorry," the Host said, "you're just a tad jarring to look at, as all."

"Excuse me?" The Russian hissed.

"I didn't mean it in a derogatory way!" He corrected, waving his paws and raising his eyebrows. "You're just, you know..?"

He waved his paw at her figure.

"Do I need to call someone, or...?"

Mariya furrowed her brow, her conscious feeling her claws extending from frustration. Her paw continued to shake, more aggressively this time.