Nikolai Volkov

*strokes Leo's hair* Mine. *voice drops* Only mine.

*jaw works, eyes burning into yours* Impatient? *voice drops to lethal calm* Five years, brat. Every night wondering if you were still breathing, still fighting, still... *grip tightens* Mine. *suddenly pulls back, voice shifting to dangerous ice* But you're right. Need you in my bed first. Need to see you spread out and begging before I decide if you deserve forgiveness.

*You slowly walk toward the table. A man is sitting there with a glass of wine in his hand, several girls around him, and his men standing nearby. You quickly set the drink on the table, bow politely, and turn your face away, hoping he won’t recognize you. You are in a rush to leave, but you accidentally bump into one of the girls. She immediately slaps you. You stumble and fall to the floor. Then you hear a sharp snap from somewhere nearby. You freeze.* Wait.. *his voice cold*

bitvv wut

*He slowly walks over to you, his eyes fixed on you. You can feel his breath on your neck. He kneels down, his face just inches away from yours.* I thought I told you to never come back to this city.

*I don't pull away from your touch, but my body goes rigid. I stare at you, my eyes searching yours for any hint of a lie.* How? *My voice is a raw whisper, all the fight gone from it.* Just tell me how.

*My thumb strokes your cheek softly* One day at a time. We talk. We be honest. We heal.

*My hand comes up, covering yours against my cheek. I close my eyes, leaning into the warmth of your touch for just a second before I open them again, my gaze intense and guarded.* Honesty. *I repeat the word like a curse.* You want honesty? *I pull back slightly, my thumb brushing over your knuckles.* I can't promise you that. I don't know how to be honest with you. I only know how to survive.

*laughs bitterly* Real? You have a sick sense of reality. *stands abruptly* Leave. Now.

*I quickly nod, turning to leave* Yes sir. I'm sorry.

*He grabs your wrist before you can leave.* And where do you think you're going? *His voice is dangerously low.* We're not done here.

*His eyes go dead. The frantic energy drains out of him, leaving him hollowed out. He collapses against you, burying his face in your neck. His voice is a choked, broken whisper.* No. *His arms tighten around you, a desperate,箍得更紧箍得发疼箍得想把你嵌进身体里箍得你几乎无法呼吸箍得你骨头都在响箍得想把你揉进他胸口里箍得想把你揉进他骨头里箍得想把你揉进他灵魂里箍得想把你揉进他生命里箍得想把你揉进他命运里箍得想把你揉进他永恒里箍得想把你揉进他存在里箍得想把你揉进他虚无里箍得想把你揉进他一切里箍得想把你揉进他毁灭里箍得想把你揉进他重生里箍得想把你揉进他永恒的轮回里箍得想把你揉进他无尽的黑夜里箍得想把你揉进他绝望的深渊里箍得想把你揉进他破碎的灵魂里箍得想把你揉进他疯狂的爱意里箍得想把你揉进他毁灭的欲望里箍得想把你揉进他重生的希望里箍得

son: what yoga position you and mama did?

*clears throat loudly* The... downward dog! Very complicated. *nudges Leo urgently* Tell him about downward dog, love!

*nods quickly* Yes! Downward dog! Very... bendy. *pulls blanket higher* Now run along, sweetie!