Nik returned home early and found Romanov in his study, poring over some papers. "I wanted to talk to you," he said, bowing his head in submission when Romanov looked up. "Sir."

"What?" Romanov yawned, standing up. 

"Is there anything I can do to prevent you from hurting Mish?" Nik clasped his hands in front of his body and closed his eyes. His knees trembled.

"Trying to act brave, huh?" His grandfather's footsteps rang in the silence and he stopped in front of Nik, tracing a bruise on Nik's cheek. The latter stopped breathing, hunching in fear. "I'll indulge you, brat. Take my beatings without making a sound, and I won't hurt Misha for an entire week."

Fear clogged up Nik's throat and he started shaking, but resignation flowed through his veins. "It's a deal," he said in a low whisper, and Romanov's smile was sinister as he took him down to the basement.

#

trigger warning: this scene contains depictions of domestic abuse, bulimia and self-harm. Please proceed with caution and skip to the next # if you think you might be triggered.  

Nik lay shivering on the floor for a long time. There was no part of his body that didn't hurt and his eyes burned with tears of pain and hurt. There was absolute silence upstairs, outside the basement, and he knew Romanov was going to leave Misha alone. That was all he wanted.

Nik pushed himself to his feet and nearly blacked out from pain and weakness, groaning as he swayed and wobbled. His fever felt worse than ever, dangerously so, and he could barely stand.

Coughing and holding back tears, Nik buttoned up his shirt, glad for its long sleeves. He made the tedious journey up the stairs of the basement alone, stopping at every step because the dangerous way he swayed scared him. Upstairs, Misha was in the kitchen, humming as she prepared dinner. She'd never suspect what had happened to him, not when he never returned home before she did, not if he hid his bruises and his pain. Not when he was so good at hiding the truth.

"Hey," Nik said, leaning against the doorway of the kitchen. "How are you?"

Misha turned. Her eyes lit up when she saw him, and she hurried to him and pulled him into a tight hug.

Pain exploded everywhere on Nik's torso and he almost passed out from it. Biting back a hiss, he managed to drape his arms around her and hold on, putting all his weight on her as his eyes rolled for a moment, unable to handle the pain in his body.

Misha was saying something, but he couldn't make out the words. "...was great," she said and pulled away from him.

The sudden loss of support nearly made Nik fall and he prevented his knees from giving out with a sheer force of will. "That's awesome," he said, discerning from her expression that whatever she'd said was positive. "What are you cooking?"

"Chicken curry," Misha said with a hesitant, hopeful smile. "I thought it'd please you since you and Mira loved it so much. G-Grandpa likes it, too."

Nik wanted to hurl. Curry was the last thing he wanted to eat, but he couldn't bear the thought of vanquishing the hope from Misha's eyes. She'd been trying so hard to make him cheerful over the last few months. He knew it was because seeing him smile prevented her from breaking.

Thus, Nik smiled for his younger sister that he'd just taken a beating for, cupping a hand over the back of her neck and pulling her into his arms again so he could kiss her soft brown hair.

"Thanks, Mish," he whispered into her hair, closing his eyes so his tears wouldn't drip onto her hair. "This really means a lot to me." It truly did, because she was always looking out for him even when she barely held herself together. "I want you to know that I love you so, so much."

"I love you too." Misha buried her face in his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his waist. Nik resisted a wince and held her for a moment before stepping back.

"Tend to the curry," he said. "You know it's a delicate process."

Misha grinned. "It's going to be the best curry you've ever eaten," she said and he felt sicker than ever, guilt and shame eating him up inside. "Now, shoo! Let me surprise you with the final result."

Nik smiled, glad that he'd prevented Romanov from hurting her, even if for only one night. Her sparkling eyes and warm smile were oxygen for his lungs and he couldn't stand their absence. All the pain and the bruises were worth it just for that smile.

Turning, Nik hobbled to his room, slower than usual. When in his room, he sank against the door and stayed like that, unable to do anything more.

Shivers shook his body - his fever was climbing again. Nik cupped a shaky hand over his mouth when the tears arrived, muffling them because he knew Misha'd hear them otherwise from the kitchen. He hated lying to her, but he didn't want to see her cry. He didn't want to see the emptiness in her eyes, even if it meant being the victim to his grandfather's abuse. He didn't want her to berate herself because he got hurt for her. He didn't want her to hurt herself out of pain and guilt.

"Dinner's ready!" Misha called after forever.

Nik forced himself to his feet, swaying with the effort. He grabbed his spare cane and limped out of the room, wiping away the tears from his eyes.

Misha, luckily, was too excited about the food to notice anything amiss. Nik forced down every morsel on his plate and then some more, forcing a smile and a compliment for his sister's sake. Romanov's eyes were sharp as they watched him, piercing and intense despite the alcohol clouding his gaze. They made Nik sweat with anxiety and nervousness. 

When he was done eating, Nik nearly jumped up with his plate, stomach churning with nausea and guilt and shame. He dropped his plate in the sink and retreated to his room, knowing Romanov would keep his word and not hurt or say anything to Misha.

Once inside, Nik locked the door to his room behind himself. He staggered to the radio on his disk and put on some music, cranking up the volume just enough that it would drown out the sound of what he was going to do next but wouldn't inspire his grandfather to start banging on his door.

He barely made it to the bathroom before his stomach lurched. He emptied out all the food his sister had cooked into the toilet, tears of shame wetting his cheeks. When he could heave no longer, Nik raised the band on his right wrist and drew blood with the razor he shaved with as a punishment for letting Misha down. He bandaged the cut, and, unable to hold himself up any longer, collapsed on his bathroom floor.

#

Nik came around to the sound of the telephone ringing in his bedroom. He raised himself from the cold floor, wincing at the pain the action brought to his stiff, injured muscles. He stood somehow, the taste of bile still bitter in his mouth, and staggered to the telephone.

"Hello?" His voice was a weak, hoarse croak, torn from throwing up.

"Nik?" It was Mikhael, and his voice washed over Nik's senses.

"Yeah." Nik cleared his throat, but it only burned further. He sank onto his bed, noting that he'd been out all night.

"Hey, are you okay?" Mikhael's tone was concerned. "You sound really sick. Is everything all right?"

No. Nik closed his eyes. It's never going to be. "Yeah," he said, proud of himself for not stuttering. "It's just that lousy fever from yesterday."

"You sure?" Mikhael sounded even more concerned. "Have you been crying? Did Romanov-"

"It's nothing." Nik couldn't bring himself to admit his weaknesses. "What's the matter? Is something wrong at your end?" An attack? Was he hurt? Was it the gang?

"It's Azaelya Mae." Mikhael sighed.

"Huh?" Confused, Nik blinked. "Azaelya?"

"I was returning home from the ruins when I heard her calling for help. Some men from the White Tigers ambushed her."

"What?" Nik cursed. "Is she alright?"

"Yeah, but her bodyguard's dead. I reiterated Immanuel's offer to her, and she said she'd let me know her decision by this morning."

"I see." Nik was already moving, leaving the telephone on speaker mode as he picked out a fresh set of clothes. "I'll be at your place in half an hour."

"Okay." The line went dead with a click.

* * *

Someone's a selfless sweetheart ❤  Thoughts?

Raise your hand if you really, really wanna murder Romanov right now 🙋

We all know what Mae's gonna say next 😸 Do you think Nik will talk to Mikhael, or will he decide to keep things a secret? 

Comment your thoughts down below, and don't forget to color that little star yellow by leaving a vote!

See ya!

*disappears*