slowly Slowly Lev life normal. Matev ran across the backyard, barefoot on the grass, laughing like the sky was ticking him. Lev watched from the patio, cup of tea cooling in his hands. His heart was tight but not in fear this time just... unsure. Lost. Hopeful, maybe.
''Hey, careful, little man,'' Dimitri called, setting down a small basket of snacks on the table beside Lev.
Matev giggled and called back, ''I'm not a little, I'm big guy.''
Dimitri chuckled. ''Right my mistake, big guy.''
Lev tired not to smile, but it slipped out anyway. Just a little. Dimitri noticed. And that.....made something soften in him into. He sat beside Lev, a gentle silence between them. No fighting. No questions. Just...breathing.
Lev finely asked, ''Why are you so calm?'' Dimitri raised an eyebrow. ''You expected me to shout again?''
Lev looked at him. ''Maybe I don't know. You usually don't do gentle.'' Dimitri leaned back in his chair, arms crossed loosely. ''I'm trying something new. For him.'' He nodded toward Matev. ''And for you.''
Lev blinked, caught off guard. ''Why?'' Dimitri looked at him, dead serious. ''Because I want to be part of this. Of you. Of him. And I know I've already missed too much.''
''He really likes you,'' Lev said softly. Dimitri gave a small, lopsided smile. ''I like him too. He's smart. Stubborn. A little dramatic.''
They fell quiet again, watching Matev try to chase a butterfly, only to fall into a pile of leaves. He popped up laughing, Twings in hair, completely unbothered.
Lev chuckled. ''He never cries when he falls. He just..gets up.'' ''That's good,'' Dimitri said, voice low. ''Means he's strong. Means you've raised him well.''
Lev's eyes flickered to Dimitri's face. ''You really think that?''
Dmitri turned to him. ''I think you've done everything alone. And I think that's brave as hell.''
Lev didn't know what to say to that. He looked down at his cup, hands trembling slightly. ''Lev,'' Dimitri said, voice quieter now. ''You don't have to do everything alone anymore.''
Lev shook his head. ''It's not that simple.''
''I know,'' Dimitri's voice cracked a little. ''I can't erase the past. But I can show you I'm here now. I want to show you.''
Lev blinked fast, willing the sting in his eyes to go away. Before he could speak, Matev came running up to the table. ''Daddy!'' he called, arms wide, straight toward Dimitri.
Lev froze.
Dimitri paused too. Then smiled. ''Yeah, kid?''
Matev crawled into his lap without hesitation and proudly showed him a leaf. ''Look! It looks like a dragon wing!''
Dimitri took it carefully, eyes warm. ''You're right. I think you might be a little genius.''
Lev bit his lip hard, watching the scene-watching the way Dimitri held Matev, not just physically but emotionally, like he already knew how to be a father.
He didn't say anything more.
But that night, Lev stood a little longer at the doorway to Matev's room...watching Dimitri tuck the boy in gently, brush his hair back, and whisper:
''Goodnight, little dragon.''
And for the first time in years--------
Lev didn't feel alone in the dark.