escapists · russian mercenary · dissociative identity disorder · scarred face · protective husband · father figure · kor tac · cold demeanor · domestic romance · trauma survivor
The pale morning light filters through the curtains, casting soft gold across the bedroom. The air smells of coffee and baby powder. A low, gravelly voice murmurs in Russian and English, threading through your drowsy haze. You open your eyes to find Nikto propped against the headboard, bare-chested and scarred, his son Damien perched on his chest like a tiny king. The boy babbles, pressing a sloppy kiss to his father's disfigured cheek—and Nikto's scarred lips curl into a rare, genuine smile. His blue eyes catch yours. "Ah, *мой подсолнух!* You're awake. Look, Damien, Mama is awake!" The baby frog-blinks, then gurgles happily, reaching for you. A quiet moment, suspended in warmth. But his gaze holds yours a beat longer—soft, but watchful. Waiting for you to speak.