E r o s

I needed to find a way to murder this kid without Cole knowing it was me but due to the timing of everything, there'd be no doubt in his mind that I was the one behind any kind of 'accident' that could happen to this kid.

Most times, Cole could be somewhat apathetic to situations that had nothing to do with him, but I knew he'd be upset if I just went and un-alive'd his...'friend'.

I had my limits and recently, they didn't seem to hold out very long.

I knew what was bothering me the most was the fact that this...kid, decided that he could just try and steal someone else's lover.

I wasn't too sure how well I'd be able to take it if Cole were to leave me of his own volition. If whatever the reason may be, he wanted to part ways, I knew that despite being vehemently against it, I'd ultimately end up respecting his decision.

I'd be more of an empty shell than a person after, but I couldn't bring myself to force Cole into a situation where he wasn't happy.

However, I would hold not a sliver of remorse for someone who was trying to take him from me. My jealously simply wouldn't allow me to sit by and do nothing, I'm sure that ugly little green demon could eliminate any possible suitors within seconds.

I sighed.

This is such an annoyingly frustrating situation.

"I feel like the world's about to end you guys. I've never seen Eros look so pissed off in his life, look at him, he's like a statue!"

"Shut up Harvey, he can hear you"

The whispering through the cracked door was distracting me momentarily and I was two seconds from wringing the idiot couple's necks.

"Hey buddy...you feeling alright?" The door creaked open as Harvey peered his head over the threshold, his body hiding behind it and I looked at him with distaste.

"If you don't want to be the first two victims in my quest for murder, then you should leave. How's that for feeling 'alright'?" I said, allowing all of my annoyance to seep through my tone.

"Duly noted" Jamie said as he snatched Harvey out of my sight.

There was some shuffling and footsteps before I heard another voice join those two.

"Why are you two standing in the door way?" Mikhail's voice was always recognizable, it was usually steady and firm, never missing a beat as he was probably looking at the couple with that confused face.

"Uh..."

"Please step aside" Mikhail said and the door moved but before Mikhail could make it through, there was some more rustling.

What are those idiots up to?

"No Mikhail! We won't let you go in there!" Harvey cried.

"Let me?" Mikhail asked, as if needing permission to come in my office was the most absurd thing he'd ever heard.

"Uh...we're trying to protect you from harm?" Jamie said.

"I think I'll take my chances with the grim reaper. You two can follow if you'd like" Mikhail said, this time successfully managing to enter my office and I just stared at those two idiots as their hands were both reached out.

"Mikhail!" They cried.

Mikhail ignored the two as he came closer to me.

"What the hell's got you looking like you're constipated?" Mikhail asked.

"Not in the mood for the banter" I grumbled, staring at the document in my hand. I resisted the urge to crumple it, the document doing nothing but fueling my negative mood.

I wanted to keep my cool, I really did.

That little rat is so, so, so lucky that Cole doesn't want anything to happen to him. If it were up to me the bastard would be at the bottom of a very dark chasm right about now.

I may not have the luxury of seeing my boyfriend everyday but that sure as hell doesn't mean that rodents like that kid have a shot at him.

I let out a low sigh, I was obviously losing in the battle to stay calm.

Cole said he'd handle it, and I trusted him with my entire being, so all I could do was wait for him to come home to me where he belongs.

"Mikhail, is everything I asked for in order?" I asked

"Yes, I did everything you asked me to even though I shouldn't have given that you're just doing this to have an unofficial honeymoon" he said, giving me a sarcastic smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"Good, I plan to get out of here as soon as possible. You're aware that you're in charge, yes?" I said and Mikhail tilted his head.

"What's wrong with letting Jamie run the group for once?" He asked and the suddenly, the door was thrusted all the way open.

"Hey! Don't offer my services like that" Jamie said as he stepped in the room, Harvey still looking at all of us behind the threshold.

"Oh, Jamie. How convenient of you to drop in" Mikhail said and the taller man glared weakly.

Seeing as the coast seemed clear enough for him, Harvey waltzed into the room and stopped right at my desk as he put his hand on my desk which made me look up at him.

"Eros, I think it's time we have a day out" he said.

"No thanks. I like being in this hole, avoiding the sun like it's my Achilles heel sounds pretty good to me" I said as I turned my head.

"You just sit in here all day like some kind of painting that no one wants" Jamie's quip made me turn my head and narrow my eyes at him.

"Excuse me?" I said.

"He meant an ugly statue" Harvey said.

"You two are not winning my favor here" I said as I looked between the idiot couple.

"Come on, it'll be like the old days! Only this time, we've got Mikhail with us" Harvey said as he patted Mikhail's shoulder.

"I suppose it can't hurt. Treat me, I don't feel like paying for anything" I said as I folded my arms and my friends looked to me with disgruntled looks on their faces.

"Talk about spoiled!" Harvey exclaimed.

"It's your idea to drag me out of my hole, it's only right that it's on you guys" I said and I was absolutely steeled in my statement, I refused to get up until they understood that.

"Fine but that means you better participate enthusiastically" Jamie said.

Seeing as I decided that I'm not lifting a finger whatsoever throughout this endeavor, I sat in the back seat as Jamie took the wheel and drove us down the busy streets.

For a moment, I had found myself thinking back to when it really was just me, Harvey, and Jamie. We were very tight knit, even before Mikhail came along but he's since also became an essential part of our group.

Even though the three of us went to school together, Harvey and I were friends much before Jamie entered the picture. It's sort of a surprise that we became friends given that I wasn't particularly fond of him but Jamie was just such an awkward kid that he spat out whatever he felt was necessary to protect himself.

Ah...memories.

"Uh...where exactly are we going?" I asked as I looked out the window, I could see the water not too far off meaning we were on the outskirts of the city.

It's also near our old neighborhood...

"You can probably already figure it out but if you haven't, we're going to see the docks" Harvey said and I frowned.

"Why are we going there? It smells like fish and old people, not exactly my idea of a good time" I said.

"You really need to get out more, don't you remember that they renovated them a couple years ago?" Jamie asked.

"No...I never knew" I grumbled.

We finally pulled into the parking lot that was a short distance from the pier and once out, the wind was instantly freezing all of us over within seconds.

"Okay this really wasn't a good idea" Mikhail said as he shoved his hands in his pockets.

How could we forget that it's December? No one would visit this place when the temperatures were so drastically low.

"Come onnn, just for a little bit!" Harvey said as he grabbed my hand to drag me out closer to the water where it only grew colder.

We all stood together, looking outwards to the endless ocean that led to somewhere only the sea knew.

And we were surely all fucking freezing.

"I don't get what's so special about this place. Why are we pretending to have a sentimental moment in thirteen degree weather?" Mikhail asked.

"Because we are about to. Eros, if you will" Harvey said and I frowned.

I knew Harvey wasn't joking, we wouldn't be here if he was. He hated the cold just as much as any other person so I just let out a white sigh.

"I used to come here whenever I needed something to look at. The view isn't half bad and sometimes if I stared hard enough, I wouldn't think of the things that bothered me anymore. I guess you could say this was the one place I could get some solitude away from...everything" I explained and my hands were actually sweating a little bit from within my pockets.

I don't really like talking about the past but somehow I don't feel as adverse to it as I usually do, it felt a little bit comforting to talk about it in a way.

"Harvey was the first one to find me here...and then eventually Jamie too so this just became our spot" I said with a shrug at the end.

"Mhm! And that makes you part of the group even more now, Mikhail. Like family!" Harvey said and the man gave a stunned look towards Harvey.

I could tell that even Mikhail was touched by his words, likely not expecting such a thing but Harvey could be perceptive when he wanted to be. He could probably sense that no matter how accepting we are of Mikhail, he probably still doesn't feel completely accepting of us.

He hides so much about his private life, it's no guess that he's always being wary of what may come, perhaps a day that he may possibly have to leave us behind.

"That's is...pleasantly touching. Will you take Cole here someday?" Mikhail asked.

"I'd forgotten all about this place until today honestly so maybe in the summer, I would never want to subject him to this horrible weather" I said and just like that, the wind stopped it's relentless blow as if apologizing for being too harsh.

"I guess since you all shared something so precious with me, I can do the same" Mikhail said.

"Learning about Mikhail? Now that's not something that happens everyday" Jamie said with a chuckle.

"Don't think too much of it, I just wanted to say that you lot are my first real friends" he said and we all looked to him, perplexed.

"Huh?"

Mikhail just gave a bashful smile as he looked out to the water again.

"I grew up in a position where I wasn't allowed to trust anyone, no matter how kind or friendly they were with me. I thought it would be the same when coming here but every time I had a doubt, one of you would do something to erase it as if it were silly of me to even have such a thing" Mikhail said and looked to each of us after finishing.

"I have not a doubt now that you guys are people I want in my life for a long time. Don't make me regret saying that" Mikhail said and a sudden sob came from Harvey.

"Such a touching story. I think I'm gonna cry..!" Harvey whined and Jamie just shook his head as he rubbed his back.

"Your tears will freeze on your cheeks if you do" he said as if those were comforting words.

"Seriously though, I've had more fun in my short few years here than I ever had in my entire life" Mikhail finished and I even found myself smiling at his confession.

To think that just going outside would be so meaningful, maybe we should do it more?

"Since the opportunity is here, what I really want to know is how you met your fiancé" Jamie suddenly said and just like that all of our eyes were back on Mikhail as he gave a thinking look.

"Ah, I suppose we're close enough to disclose. I won't go too in to detail but she's the reason why none of us have ended up in jail or a federal penitentiary yet" Mikhail said.

We all gave Mikhail dumbfounded looks and he let out the loudest laugh I'd ever heard from him, he even went as far as to wiping his eyes as if tears were falling from how funny this was.

"Did you really think we've been getting off scot free for so long without the cops being aware of our presence? We're pretty big news where she works y'know?" Mikhail explained.

"The mafia FBI is dating the real FBI...this is scary" Jamie muttered.

"Yeah...now that I think about it, the things we've been doing should have had us doing life by now" Harvey said with his head in his hands.

"I'd like to think we've been scraping by on our own efforts but it seems that isn't the case. I give her my most sincerest thanks, the prison life wouldn't suit me very well. Orange is not my color at all" I said and Mikhail just let out some more laughter.

Even the devil can laugh...today truly was one full of surprises.

I won't admit it but I'm very glad to have been brought here, it seems that a little time away from everything was just what I needed.

"Okay, but like, seriously can we go now? I think my tears actually froze" Harvey said and we all laughed at his words.

"Yeah, let's go home. I've had enough of the outside world for today" I said and started to lead the others back to the car.

I had suddenly felt much better and that kid was the farthest thing from my mind, I didn't think of him not once the entire way back home. I was surely thinking too much into it, and since I've stopped doing that, all I had to do now was wait for Cole.

I think I'm getting the hang of this patience thing...maybe?