Nik sat on the hood of his car, cigarette between his fingers, watching the smoke curl into the afternoon air. He'd stopped near a park, hoping the calm would help him think—or at least distract him.
He didn't show it, but everything happening lately was beginning to wear him down. Usually, in times like this, he'd drown it all out with sex. But since he'd promised Dmitri he'd quit drugs—and couldn't do it sober—he was left with only a cigarette to keep him company.
The soft sound of children laughing, the rustle of leaves, and the gentle chirping of birds pulled his mind somewhere far away—to a time that almost felt like a dream.
Their father had never allowed them to play outside much, so he and Dmitri barely had any friends. But their mother... she was everything. She filled that emptiness, spending hours playing and laughing with them, no matter how much their father complained she was "making them soft."
When she died, Nik's world cracked.
He was only five when they told him she was gone. Too young to understand what death really meant, but old enough to feel the hollow ache it left behind. From that day, he had to be strong—not just for himself, but for Dmitri too.
After she passed, their father's training became brutal. Dmitri had always been the softer one, clumsy and gentle. He made mistakes—and Nik took the punishments for him. Every strike, every scar, every harsh word… he endured it, because he couldn't stand to see his little brother cry.
Sometimes, Nik still wondered how things would've been if she were alive. Maybe he wouldn't have turned out like this. Maybe, right now, he'd be lying on her lap, listening to her hum softly while the world outside stayed simple and kind.
He exhaled a long drag of smoke—then froze. His eyes locked onto a familiar figure across the park. For a second, he thought he was imagining it. But then the shock made him inhale at the wrong moment, choking on the smoke.
Coughing, Nik straightened—and that's when Ash noticed him and hurried over.
"Hey, are you alright?" Ash asked as he reached him, worry written all over his face.
Nik, still coughing lightly, lifted a hand in front of him—silently signaling Ash not to come any closer. His other hand pressed against his chest as he tried to steady his breathing.
After a few seconds, he finally calmed down and turned toward him.
"H-hello," Nik muttered awkwardly, his voice softer than usual. His gaze flickered up, only to land on Ash's lips. Instantly, his ears turned red.
Ash tilted his head slightly, noticing how strangely Nik was acting.
"You sure you're alright?" he asked, one brow raised in concern.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," Nik replied quickly, forcing out a small cough as if to prove it.
Ash smiled faintly, deciding to let it slide. "You know," he began, stepping a little closer, "when I first saw you, I wasn't sure. But when you turned and I caught those green eyes of yours…" his lips curved into a small, teasing smirk, "I knew it had to be you."
Nik froze, not sure why—but his heart suddenly started beating faster, loud enough that it almost drowned out the sounds of the park around them.
Ash's next words snapped Nik out of his thoughts. Scratching the back of his head, Ash said, "Oh… sorry about last time. I—I don't know if you remember, but we…" He trailed off when he saw Nik's face turn bright red.
"Hey, are you sure you're okay?" Ash asked, reaching to place a hand on Nik's forehead.
Nik quickly slapped it away.
"Heyyy!" Ash frowned, surprised.
Nik's cheeks heated even more as he realized what he did.
"S… sorry," he muttered, turning his head to the side to avoid Ash's gaze. His voice dropped to a low whisper. "About that day… thank you."
Ash noticed the shy, almost vulnerable look on Nik's face and couldn't resist teasing him. "Huh? Why is your voice so low? I didn't catch what you said."
"Thank you," Nik repeated, his voice just a little louder this time, still avoiding eye contact.
Ash leaned in closer, his voice soft. "Can you—"
Before he could finish, Nik turned his head and froze. Ash's face was impossibly close, and Nik could feel the warmth of his breath. Why is his face so close? he thought, heart racing.
"I… thank you for taking care of me last time," Nik whispered, finally meeting Ash's gaze.
Ash chuckled softly, a low, teasing sound that only made Nik more flustered.
"What is funny?" Nik asked, clenching both fists like he might punch Ash if needed.
But what Ash said next made him freeze.
"I could never believe you're this cute," Ash said, eyes glinting with mischief. "You know… our first encounter was not really…" He paused, trying to find the right words. "You were actually…"
He stopped mid-sentence, shaking his head. "Forget it. How about a drink?"
"A drink?" Nik echoed, blinking in disbelief.
"Yeah," Ash said with a playful smirk. "To show you're really grateful for my help—buy me a drink."
Nik stared at him, still unsure if he was joking.
"There's a place to drink somewhere around here," Ash added, pointing to one side of the park.
Nik nodded slowly.
"Fine… You can start moving. I'll join you later."
I really need to calm down first, he thought.
"I'm Ashley, by the way- but Ash is fine. We didn't do a proper introduction last time." Ash said starting to walk.
Nik let put a relieved sigh as he watched him move forward.
After a few minutes, Nik arrived at the mini bar. Ash had already reserved a table for them.
At first, Ash asked few casual questions—his name, where he worked and other small talk —but Nik completely ignored them or rather gave no clear answers. From there, Nik realized that Ash didn't actually know who he was, and he decided it was fine that way.
He only told Ash that he was a "bodyguard in the mafia," which didn't make much sense to Ash. Everything about Nik—the way he carried himself, the confidence in his gestures, his sharp dress—didn't match the idea of just a bodyguard. Ash noticed this but chose not to press further, letting the thought slide.
From then on, they simply drank, letting the evening pass.