#slm.

DIGGING DEEPER.

TW: parental death, murder, house fire

 sasha had it hard from the moment he let out his very first wail. he didn’t come from very much, the only child of a single mother who’s father ran off before he could even name his only son – his heir. vanya petrova was young, only eighteen years old when she left the community she was raised in ( comprised of families who had once resided in what is formerly known as russia ) in order to follow a handsome stranger, vladimir yarkin, who told her he loved her. but, how could you possibly love someone if you leave them behind without even considering them, likely to start a new life? she tried her best to make things work, but between rubbing pennies together to put food on the table and working as an escort at night – sasha took on significant responsibility very quickly to become the “man” of the house. not because she asked him to, but out of his own volition. it was almost like selflessness was woven into his bones.

hardship strikes again, however, when the home his family had built catches fire – and his mother sacrifices herself to get her son out safely. It’s a crushing blow to the young boy, no more than ten. he’s sent to live with his aunt on the afterglow compound – a woman he’s never met, but who happens to be his only living relative. his mother hadn't spoken to her own mother and only sister in years, ever since she left with her father. lyra, his aunt, took the position at afterglow to be near him – upended her entire career just so he didn’t have to leave devil’s elbow. of course things begin to get easier, and for the first time, sasha’s childhood is normal. his grieving process is far from linear. and yet, he promises himself he’s going to be something.

he graduates at the top of his class, the eyes of afterglow already on him. his aunt could not be more proud – my brilliant nephew, she says. you have beaten every odd stacked against you. if you can do that, you can do anything. it’s because of her that he decides to become a researcher ( a chemist to be more specific ) – and he immediately excels. that is, until tragedy hits him like a truck once more. lyra has been found just outside of the compound, dead with no explanation. it’s uncovered when he goes through her things that she had been documenting what was really going on with the test subjects and their treatment, intent on making things public. one might think that such an act, such a monumental loss would cause sasha to fall in line. it was a message, wasn’t it? however, it did exactly the opposite. he pressed forward.

sick and tired of being sick and fucking tired, he takes advantage of his position as an underestimated mouse of a human being and begins collecting solid and sound information to feed to the rebellion. information that could torpedo projects, or at least exceedingly difficult to get off the ground. he never thought he could be a scientist, but also an actor. he plays his role perfectly, eyes scanning the crowd for a chance to exit stage left. the thought of being caught is on his mind, of course it is.  but, just as he’s always done, he does everything for his family. even if it means putting himself on the line.

his exit came two years ago, when he finally handed over the years of information he had compiled and ran to the resistance. he starts a new life – takes a job at the mad scientist to keep a roof over his head while he does his work on the side. he still continues to offer a hand to the resistance when he can, determined to take them down. he may be soft-spoken and equally as soft-hearted, but sometimes it’s actions that speak louder than words – right?

EXTRAS.

monty turner: former research partners (who used to kiss a little)