Chapter Text
December 20th, 1944
Liliya was done.
She just wanted to go home, but the very familiar ache in her chest reminded her there was no longer a home to go to. Her family was gone and her house was destroyed. Liliya felt her hands tremble as they swiped the tears falling down her face.
‘Don’t worry my lily, you are stronger than all of them. All except me!’
She could still hear her father’s bark of a laugh, feel her brother's hands on her shoulders as he jokingly shook her, and if she closed her eyes she swore she could smell her mama’s perfume as she grabbed Ivans’s collar and lovingly scolded him.
‘Don’t tease your sister!’
The cold started seeping into her bones, and a shiver ripped through her body. She thought the trees around her would provide some sort of windbreaker, but once again she was wrong.
Idiot, idiot, idiot
The words echoed in her head like a broken record, and this time when the tears came, she allowed them to flow freely down her face, thinking she deserved the extra chill that came with them. Her chapped lips parted, and she breathed out roughly.
How could I let this happen?
Liliya stared numbly at her Po-2 plane, or what was left.
Three years prior
The temperature was still dropping outside when Liliya came in for her shift at the Cossack Keg. The bell rang above her head as she walked through the door, letting all the cool air outside come rushing in.
The regulars greeted the bartender with a quick nod of their head before continuing what they were doing. Some were talking to their friends around them, while others stared blankly at the rim of their drink. The latter becoming more common every day that had passed since the Germans invaded the motherland.
Tying the apron around her waist, Liliya started taking orders from new inhabitants. She fell back into the rhythm of collecting, cleaning, and pouring new drinks–but never once stopping for fear of drifting off into her mind. In the following months of the invasion, Liliya found It was the most dangerous place to be.
“Gospozha, do you have any kompot?” Liliya turned her head to the stranger, eyes widening slightly. In front of her were two women– early thirties if she had to guess–in the standard red army uniform that most men frequented, but what caught her eye the most was the medals along their left chest, right above their heart. Most high-ranking men Liliya had seen only ever had one maybe two, but these women had three.
“Are you done staring? We would like our drinks,” The one on the right spoke this time, a slight snarl curling at her lips. She had blonde hair tied tightly to the base of her neck, and Liliya could guess the woman could run through a snowstorm before it would fall. Her comrade next to her sent her a dirty look before returning to look at Liliya. She had a twinkle in her dark eyes that showed this woman knew something she didn’t.
Liliya cleared her throat before answering, “Apologies, I don’t see most women wearing uniforms. It’s refreshing, to say the least.” The brunette woman on the left gave a small, yet crooked smile. Liliya thought she was striking, but not in the way most Russian men would agree.
Liliya turned and filled two pints of kompot before either of the women could respond, not daring to look behind, knowing if she did, they would be there staring. She placed the drinks in front of them, only glancing up momentarily.
As Liliya began to leave, the stiff blonde spoke, “It’s a new bombing regiment. For women who want to serve their country.” Liliya glanced behind her at the two women waiting patiently for her reaction. Her eyes flickered between both women, a curious look on her face, prompting the brunette to speak up this time. “It’s dangerous, but we need good, strong women.” Liliya could feel the gears in her head turning, and based on the women's reaction they could see it too.
Liliya spoke quietly, “What did you say your names were?” The brunette woman’s eyes shimmered with amusement, “I’m Evdokiya and this is Natalia, but you can call me Dunya, would you like to have a chat after your shift?” Liliya nodded and turned away to help a customer who had spilled their drink on the counter.
Liliya worked quietly for the rest of her shift, but every so often she would glance up to find the women looking right back at her.