Nikto and Krueger [Call of Duty AI Generated Stories]

Aftermath: A Nikto and Krueger Story

The following morning was a strange one for Nikto. He hadn't slept much, and when he did, his dreams were haunted by old memories. But when he woke, Krueger was still beside him. The weight of his presence was both grounding and overwhelming. Nikto had never allowed himself to rely on anyone—had never been good at it—but the way Krueger sat there, quietly watching over him, it felt... different.

Krueger had woken early, keeping close, never leaving Nikto alone. He could sense Nikto's unease, the way his thoughts still seemed distant, still circling the dark places in his mind. But he also saw a shift in him, something small but significant, as if Nikto was slowly coming back to himself. He hadn't pushed, hadn't forced anything. He'd simply been there, and that seemed to make all the difference.

"You okay?" Krueger asked softly, his voice low as he sipped his coffee, glancing over at Nikto from his seat by the window.

Nikto nodded, though it was more reflexive than genuine. "Better," he replied, his voice still raspy from sleep. His gaze flicked toward the plate Krueger had set out for him—another breakfast, simple but filling. He wasn't hungry, not really, but after yesterday, he knew better than to refuse it.

Krueger leaned back in his chair, his eyes studying Nikto with that same quiet concern. "You need more than just 'better,'" he said, his tone gentle but firm. "But we'll get there."

Nikto allowed himself a small, tired smile. It felt strange, having someone look out for him like this—someone who genuinely cared. He wasn't used to it, and part of him still resisted it, but the larger part of him was starting to accept that maybe, just maybe, he needed it.

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the weight of the previous night still hanging in the air between them. It wasn't heavy or oppressive, but it was there, unspoken but understood. Krueger didn't need to say anything more; he knew Nikto was processing everything in his own time.

After a few more minutes, Krueger stood up, stretching his arms as he moved toward the door. "I'll be back in a bit," he said, his voice casual but tinged with a bit of reluctance. "Got a briefing with Horangi. Nothing major."

Nikto's eyes followed him, a flicker of something unreadable passing through them. "Don't be long," he murmured.

Krueger smiled softly, his hand resting on the doorknob. "I won't," he promised, before slipping out of the room, leaving Nikto alone with his thoughts.

As soon as the door closed behind him, Krueger's face tightened. Horangi's briefings were never simple, and he wasn't in the mood for whatever mission they'd been assigned. His mind was still on Nikto, his focus entirely consumed by his partner's well-being. He didn't trust leaving him alone for too long.

The walk to the briefing room was short, and when Krueger entered, he found Horangi, König, and a couple of other soldiers already seated around the table. König was in the middle of a conversation, but his eyes flicked up when Krueger walked in, narrowing slightly.

"Nice of you to join us," König remarked, his tone clipped but not quite hostile.

Krueger ignored the underlying tension in König's voice, sitting down across from him. He had no interest in whatever König's problem was. Right now, all he cared about was getting through this briefing and getting back to Nikto.

Horangi, who had been studying a tactical map laid out on the table, glanced up at Krueger and nodded in acknowledgment. "This won't take long," he said, his voice level and professional. "We've got a recon op lined up—nothing too intense, just surveillance."

Krueger let out a silent sigh of relief. Surveillance he could handle. His mind wandered briefly back to Nikto, but he forced himself to stay focused. He had to trust that Nikto would be okay for a little while longer.

Back in the quarters, Nikto sat at the edge of his bed, staring blankly at the far wall. The room felt strangely empty without Krueger's presence, and the silence seemed to stretch on endlessly. He'd gotten used to Krueger being there, his steady presence a balm to the chaos that still churned inside him.

He hadn't realized how much he relied on that until now.

Nikto ran a hand through his hair, feeling the familiar wave of unease creeping back in. His chest tightened as the silence pressed down on him, a suffocating reminder of the darker thoughts that always seemed to lurk just beneath the surface. He tried to shake it off, to focus on something—anything—else, but it wasn't that simple.

For a few long minutes, he debated leaving the room, going for a walk to clear his head. But the thought of running into König or anyone else made him hesitate. He wasn't ready for that. Not yet.

Instead, he stood up and moved toward the small window by the bed, pulling the curtain back just enough to let some light in. The sun was high in the sky, casting a warm glow over the base. It should have been comforting, but all Nikto could feel was a hollow ache in his chest—a gnawing emptiness that he didn't know how to fill.

The door creaked open, and Nikto's head snapped up, his heart skipping a beat.

It was Krueger, back sooner than expected.

"I told you I wouldn't be long," Krueger said, stepping into the room with a small smile. He looked Nikto up and down, taking in the way he stood by the window, tension still visible in the rigid set of his shoulders. "You okay?"

Nikto nodded slowly, but the tightness in his throat made it hard to speak. He hadn't realized just how much he'd missed Krueger until he was back in the room, filling the empty space with his presence.

Krueger crossed the room in a few quick strides, wrapping his arms around Nikto without hesitation. The embrace was warm, solid, and Nikto leaned into it instinctively, his eyes closing as he let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding.

"You didn't miss much," Krueger murmured into Nikto's ear, his voice soft and reassuring. "Just some boring recon details."

Nikto managed a small chuckle, though it sounded strained. "Good," he said quietly. "I'm glad you're back."

Krueger pulled back just enough to look at Nikto, his hand cupping the side of his face gently. "I'm not going anywhere," he said, his voice filled with quiet certainty. "I've got you."