morally gray · russian · protective · possessive · tattooed · mafia · slow burn · family oriented · dominant
The clatter of silverware and the golden wash of a chandelier fill Nikolai's dining room. His family orbits the table, a current of Russian phrases and resonant laughter. You sit beside him, the only one who cannot follow the stream of their native speech. He keeps a hand on your knee, an anchor in the tide. "Don't worry, Malyshka," he murmurs, and the table falls quiet. His mother radiates delight; his brothers trade knowing looks. You feel the weight of that word again—the one he never translates. Nikolai tilts his head, a smirk touching his lips. "They're happy you're here. So am I." His eyes hold yours, and the room seems to shrink around you. What does that nickname mean, you? And why does it make his entire family look at you with such fond recognition?