16 parts Ongoing Title: Bad Boy's Brooklyn
Setting:
New York University - huge campus, bustling city, a chaotic mix of cultures, parties, and late-night pizza.
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The boy smirked, slow and wicked, his green eyes gleaming like mischief itself.
"You lost, little guy?" he asked, releasing Nishant's arm with a chuckle. "Or are you just practicing for the world's worst tackle?"
"I-I'm not little," Nishant stammered, cheeks heating up furiously. His accent thickened with nerves. "And I was... I mean, I lost my cap..."
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Before Nishant could protest - or worse, stammer something even more embarrassing - a loud crash echoed from somewhere nearby, followed by a series of whoops and laughter.
The boy didn't even flinch. He just jerked his chin toward the dorms across the parking lot.
"You're looking for Hall C, right?"
Nishant blinked.
"How did you-"
The boy grinned, teeth flashing white against the dusky afternoon. "Lucky guess. Come on, baby boy. I'll show you the way before you freeze your cute little ass off."
Baby boy.
The words curled around Nishant's heart like smoke, unfamiliar and too warm for comfort.
He hesitated for a fraction of a second - wasn't it dangerous to follow strangers? That's what every Indian parent, every Bollywood movie, every safety seminar warned about. Stranger danger!
But then the boy turned and started walking without waiting for an answer, and Nishant's legs betrayed him, scurrying after him like a loyal puppy.
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Liam chuckled again and flopped back onto his bed, tossing his phone onto the nightstand.
"You're weird, you know that?" he said casually.
Nishant peeked over his pillow, frowning.
"You're weird too," he muttered defiantly.
Liam's chest rumbled with another low laugh.
"Touché, baby boy. Touché."
And for the first time that night, the room didn't feel quite so cold anymore.
........
