Where do you find love?

Perhaps a question some would find an easy answer to.

Is it in pretty words?

If so, Nikolai could do a pretty good job. An excellent job.

"My sweet butterfly!", he would often call you.

"My sugar fairy!"

And his favourite yet: "My dove."

Every time you'd see each other, he would make sure to call you any cute pet name and make you feel all special with this. After long days, he'd often just barge in and go like: "How's my faaaaaavourite person doiiiing?~"

He would compliment you a lot.

"You're as beatiful as a flower..."

"Your voice is as soft as an angel's..."

"Your presence is as refreshing as freedom..."

And then he'd talk about how he missed you all day - even if he was gone just for a few minutes - while also pampering you all the way. He'd talk how he missed listening to your angelic voice, how he missed looking at your pretty face, how he missed talking to his one and only.

...

Is it in gifts?

You have been aware of Nikolai's 'weird' behaviour - and it would go as far as him sometimes bringing a duck or a chicken back home.

"Look, darling! I found our dinner!"

Or sometimes, he'd bring random rings, necklaces or bracelets. Though, where he got them from ... one can only wonder.

...

Is it in acts of service?

There were some occasional times when he would insist on doing some chores in your stead. Or some other things. He took his freedom to give you yours.

He never told you, but he could sense when something was wrong. He would make sure to ease your life in any way possible. Especially since he also knew he could be a handful to handle. And if someone dare to threaten, scare or hurt you, he will personally make it his task to free the world of such a person.

He can do many magic tricks for you. And this one was his favourite for you.

...

But no - it's not so simple.

You know. And he knows.

Distant bells ring quietly across the landscape.

Everything feels calm. Everything feels distant. And somehow ... different...

Where do you find love?

It is an incredibly difficult question. The answer to it, though, may or may not be nearer than you thought...

You could see Nikolai, his face forcing a smile through tears. He's holding you gently, tenderly in his arms.
Somehow you could see his face clearly despite everything else fading into blurriness.

Death... Death, my dear.

Your shirt was wet.

A stain was forming - in red.

You cough up.

Blood...

Death ... is freedom. Death ... is love...

Nikolai didn't blink away from you. Not even once!

"This is not goodbye... my dove", he mutters through sobs and pain.
"I know."

Each breath is getting harder to get in, and out. Slowly, you could feel your strength fading away.

...because after death...

"We will be reunited..."

You muster up a smile as you slowly reach his face, caressing his cheek very gently with your hand.

"I love you... I'll love you eternally... Kolya..."

...you truly have the freedom to love.

(Author's note: I am so sorry for the angst right at the start- In my defense, I wrote this in school xD. I'll try to upload more fluffy things as well, don't worry! Until then - stay happy, healthy and out of harm's way! ♡)