𝑭𝑬𝑨𝑻𝑯𝑬𝑹𝑺 - 𝑹.𝑵𝑰𝑲𝑶𝑳𝑨𝑰

chapter 24

TWENTY FOUR

You were lying on Nikolai's bed again, nestled comfortably beneath the blankets as the soft shimmer of the night sky poured in through the window. The stars twinkled faintly, casting a calm and serene glow across the room. A quiet yawn escaped your lips, the weight of the day slowly pulling you into sleep. Everything felt peaceful, almost too peaceful.

But then, breaking through the silence, you heard a familiar voice. "Y/N..." Nikolai's tone was soft, almost a little too sweet for your liking at this late hour. You let out a lazy sigh, shifting slightly as you turned your head over your shoulder. There he was, standing at the edge of the bed, wearing that signature pout, his mismatched eyes locked onto yours.

"What," you murmured, half-asleep already. Your tone was groggy, and you tried to make it clear that you were not in the mood for one of his antics. You'd forgiven him for his earlier stunts, but now, all you wanted was rest.

Nikolai tilted his head slightly, his pale hair falling messily over his eyes, and he let out a small huff. "Why are you so far away?" he asked, like a child who had been left out of something. His voice carried that unmistakable note of playful complaint, but there was something more in it tonight—something softer, more vulnerable.

You blinked, still trying to shake off the drowsiness as you registered what he said. "Kolya," you muttered, "I'm literally right here." Your voice was low, almost a whisper, as you pointed out the obvious. You were lying right there, just a couple of feet away on his bed, and yet somehow, it seemed like that wasn't enough for him.

Nikolai didn't move from his spot. He simply stood there, staring at you with that pout deepening on his lips. "You look so comfortable," he said, his voice dropping into a quieter tone, almost as if he were admitting something he didn't want to. "And I'm over here... alone." He glanced away briefly before turning his gaze back to you, his eyes glimmering with a hint of mischief but also a trace of something softer.

You let out another sigh, rolling your eyes though it was mostly in amusement now. "You're always so dramatic," you replied, though the words were laced with fondness. Despite everything, there was something endearing about Nikolai's theatrics, especially when they were toned down like this.

Nikolai edged closer to the bed, his fingers lightly brushing the edge of the blanket as he peeked at you from under his lashes. "Maybe," he said, drawing out the word, "but you know, it gets kind of lonely over here..." His voice was quieter now, the usual playful tone gone. He was still trying to get a reaction from you, but there was an underlying sincerity in his words.

You raised an eyebrow at him, still half-wrapped in the cocoon of sleep. "What are you trying to say?" you asked, your voice laced with suspicion but also curiosity.

Nikolai hesitated for a moment before letting out a dramatic sigh, his shoulders slumping as he climbed onto the bed. He settled next to you, not too close but close enough that you could feel his warmth. "Nothing, really..." he said, his voice almost a whisper now. "Just that it's easier to sleep when I'm not the only one in the room."

The statement caught you off guard. For all his games and teasing, you knew there was always more to Nikolai than met the eye. He could be chaotic and unpredictable, but in moments like this, he showed glimpses of something deeper—something that made you wonder what really went on beneath that carefree mask he always wore.

You shifted slightly, turning onto your back so you could see him better. "You could've just said you didn't want to be alone," you mumbled, your voice softening as you looked at him.

Nikolai chuckled, the sound low and warm. "I guess I could've," he admitted, leaning back against the headboard. "But where's the fun in that?" His usual playful tone was back, but it was gentler now, lacking the sharp edge it sometimes carried.

The two of you fell into a comfortable silence after that, the weight of the night settling around you both. You could feel the pull of sleep tugging at you again, but there was something about this moment that made you want to stay awake just a little longer. Nikolai had a way of doing that—of making even the quietest moments feel charged with something unspoken.

As you closed your eyes, ready to drift off again, you heard him speak once more, his voice softer than before. "Y/N," he whispered, almost as if he were testing the words, "thank you... for not leaving."

You blinked your eyes open again, glancing at him in surprise. The look on his face was one you hadn't seen often. It was vulnerable, real, and completely devoid of the mask he usually wore. For once, Nikolai wasn't playing a game. He was simply speaking from his heart.

You felt your chest tighten slightly at his words, a small smile tugging at your lips. "I wasn't going to," you murmured, your voice barely audible. "I just wanted some time, that's all."

He nodded, as if understanding completely, and for a moment, you both lay there in the quiet, the sounds of the night filling the space around you. There was something peaceful about it—something that made you feel more connected to him than ever before.

As you finally let yourself drift off to sleep, you felt Nikolai shift slightly next to you, his arm brushing against yours. It was a small, almost imperceptible movement, but it was enough to let you know that, in his own way, he was glad you were there.
"Birds are cool," Nikolai suddenly says out of nowhere, his voice cutting through the peaceful silence of the room.

You twitched, your eye immediately twitching in irritation as you turned your head to glare at him. "I swear on heavens, if you don't shut up and fall asleep..." you muttered, pinching the bridge of your nose in exasperation. A sigh escaped your lips, though you were half-amused despite your tiredness.

Nikolai only giggled at your reaction, clearly enjoying getting under your skin. "But it's true! I mean, they can just fly away from everything—freedom, Y/N, freedom!" His voice was light and teasing, but you could sense the deeper meaning in his words, even if he tried to mask it with his usual playfulness.

"Yeah, yeah," you replied, rolling your eyes, though a small smile tugged at the corners of your mouth. "Now stop talking about birds and go to sleep, or I'm throwing a pillow at your face."

Nikolai chuckled softly, shifting slightly beside you. "You're no fun," he teased, but you could hear the drowsiness starting to creep into his voice.

"Goodnight, Kolya," you murmured, closing your eyes again and hoping he'd finally settle down.

"Goodnight, dove," he whispered back, the playful lilt in his voice softening into something more tender.