Nikolai had always been captivated by birds. Their elegant wings, the way they soared effortlessly through the sky-it was a kind of beauty that never ceased to amaze him.
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He often watched them from his window, imagining what i...
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CHAPTER SEVEN
It was the weekend, and the afternoon sun cast a warm, gentle glow across your balcony as you read a book, savoring the cold, crisp air. Your wings were comfortably relaxed against your back, and the tranquil ambiance was a welcome reprieve from the usual hustle.
Suddenly, an eerie yet familiar sound reached your ears. Instead of feeling startled, you found yourself oddly calm. Turning your head, you saw Nikolai materialize behind you with his signature grin, having used his portal ability to appear out of nowhere.
You smiled, feeling a pleasant surprise. "Good afternoon, Nikolai," you greeted him warmly.
Nikolai smiled widely, that mischievous gleam never leaving his eyes. He leaned in closer, peeking over your shoulder and looking at the book you were reading. His playful energy was impossible to miss as he threw one arm over your shoulder, drawing himself even nearer. "Hi, my angel!" he exclaimed with a dramatic flair, poking at your wings as if testing their softness. His fingers lightly brushed against the feathers, a teasing grin pulling at his lips.
You chuckled softly, rolling your eyes at his antics, though there was no real annoyance in your expression. You were used to his playful nature by now. It was almost comforting, knowing he was this familiar with you. "You always manage to sneak up on me," you replied, turning your attention back to the pages in front of you, though your focus was now completely shattered by his presence. "Don't you have other places to be?"
Nikolai shook his head dramatically, still letting his arm rest around your shoulder as he mock-pouted. "Nope! I only want to be where my favorite dove is," he declared, voice full of exaggerated sentiment. "What's the fun of being anywhere else when I can be here, basking in your angelic company?"
You couldn't help but laugh at that, amused by his over-the-top words. "You and your endless compliments," you mused, your eyes momentarily drifting back to the book, though the story was long forgotten. His energy had a way of making you lose focus on whatever you were doing.
"But they're all true!" Nikolai insisted, poking your wing again, his fingers trailing along the edges of a few feathers. "I mean, who else do you know who has wings like this? You could fly anywhere and everywhere, but instead, you're sitting here reading. How quaint."
You turned your head slightly, raising an eyebrow at him. "And what would you rather I do? Fly around the city like some kind of oversized bird?" you teased, knowing full well that he would probably love the idea. You could already see the glint in his eye as he dramatically pretended to consider it.
"Obviously!" he said with a laugh. "You'd be the most graceful bird in the sky, a sight for sore eyes in this drab, boring world. Imagine it, you soaring through the clouds while everyone else is stuck down here, bound by gravity." He gestured to the city below, his voice full of exaggerated wonder. "Why walk when you can fly, dove?"
