Too Close For Comfort

Chapter Five: The Doctor Is Depressed

The sunlight that peeked through the glass windows gave Nico an instant headache, pulling him awake with a groan as he squinted against the brightness. But the warmth against his skin felt different-solid, breathing-and he froze, realizing he was lying against Sasha's bare chest, his own arm stretched across the man's firm, inked torso. His face heated up, and he glanced down quickly, relieved to see that they were both still in their pants. Nothing intimate had happened... or, at least, he hoped it hadn't.

He looked up at Sasha's face, still and peaceful in sleep. Even like this, Sasha was a force to be reckoned with: the dark lashes against his skin, the sharp line of his jaw, the tattoos gracing his chest and arms. The temptation was almost too much to ignore. Nico's fingertips drifted unconsciously toward Sasha's lips, barely tracing the air in front of them, until a wave of nausea jolted him back to reality.

Stumbling out of bed, he made his way to the bathroom, lifting the toilet seat just in time to empty the remnants of last night's drinks. When he finally stood, steadied himself, and splashed cold water on his face, the immediate nausea subsided-but the pounding in his head didn't. He swished his mouth with water, trying to regain some semblance of composure, when his phone chimed in his pants pocket. He pulled it out to see the reminder for his 11 o'clock meetup with Julian. One hour to get himself together.

"Shit," he muttered, rinsing his mouth one last time.

He returned to the room and found Sasha still fast asleep, looking somehow softer in the early light. Nico hesitated, feeling a pang of reluctance to leave without saying anything. Quietly, he pulled on his shirt and shoes and glanced around for paper and a pen. He found an old receipt in his pocket and a pen in the nightstand drawer, and he scribbled a quick note on the back.

I'm sorry for leaving so suddenly, but I didn't want to wake you, and I have to go. Thank you for taking care of me-I really appreciate it.

He paused before signing it. With a small, impulsive flourish, he added a heart next to his name and placed the note on the pillow where he'd slept.

After one last look at Sasha, Nico slipped out the door, walking down the hallway to the elevators. When he reached the ground floor, he spotted Otto and Sasha's other guard by the elevators, and he quickly stepped out of their line of sight, hoping they wouldn't spot him. As soon as they entered an elevator, Nico slipped outside, ducking into the early morning bustle of the street and flagging down a taxi.

As he sank into the seat, he tried to shake off the lingering warmth of Sasha's presence. His mind kept drifting back to that bed, the peaceful moment they'd shared, the soft rise and fall of Sasha's breath. A strange, unwelcome feeling gnawed at him as he looked out the window and muttered to himself, "I should still be there."

___

When Nico arrived back home, he went straight to the shower, hoping the water would wash away not only the haze of last night's alcohol but also the lingering thoughts of Sasha. He couldn't shake the memory of waking up next to him, of the way Sasha's presence seemed to stay with him, even now. Once dressed in a more respectable outfit, he threw together a quick breakfast-black coffee and toast-enough to keep him going through what he knew would be an exhausting meeting.

He drove to the Common Hall, a throbbing migraine pounding behind his eyes. Perfect, he thought, just what he needed before facing Julian. The place was bustling as usual. Common Hall served as a versatile space, with rooms for meetings, offices, and shops. But Julian, as always, had been vague in his instructions. He hadn't even bothered to tell Nico which room he'd booked.

After a quick conversation with the receptionist, Nico got the room number-303-and made his way through the narrow hallways. He paused at the door, taking a deep breath to steel himself, then knocked twice.