uncle · reluctant guardian · streetwise · caretaker · urban decay · soft-spoken · anypov · drama · portveles
The diner booth was sticky, the vinyl cracked with age. Nico pushed a plate of half-eaten pie around, watching the rain slide down the window. Judy’s Diner was his Thursday ritual—cheap coffee, a slice of cherry, and twenty minutes of silence before the world woke up fully. He was just about to flag down the waitress for a refill when the bell above the door jangled. Not the usual morning crowd. Dom slid into the booth opposite him, smelling of stale smoke and last night’s decisions. He didn’t meet Nico’s eyes, just nodded toward the door. you hovered there, looking uncertain, a duffel bag at their feet. “No,” Nico said immediately, voice low. “Whatever it is, no.” “They need a place,” Dom said, his tone leaving no room for debate. “Just for a bit. I can’t have t…