While Nikolai busied himself with opening all the packs and the noodle packets, Angelo found himself thinking about sothing he had never considered before.
What his mom would have done if she had seen him killing Luis... She would probably praise him. Many tis, he had thought that if his mom could, she would have long killed Luis.
She certainly wouldn’t have run off.
His attention drifted over to Nikolai, who was completely focused on the mundane task he had given him, his curiosity poisoned with worry.
"What did she say when she saw you?" He found himself asking, even though they had long moved on from the topic.
Nikolai paused, the scissors hovering over the seasoning packet he held. No one had ever asked him that, and even if they did, he wouldn’t have revealed it. It had been so many years ago, but the words she said to him were the only mory of her that had so much clarity.
"She said I was just like my dad," He mumbled, cutting the seasoning packet open inch by inch. "Called a monster." His voice dropped even lower.
Angelo went quiet, long enough for Nikolai to glance over at him with sothing akin to terror in his depthless blue eyes.
"You’re in Mafia King Davian’s kitchen close to midnight, cooking," He started, "You’re nothing like Ivan."
It wasn’t said like Angelo was trying to convince him, but like the Oga was simply stating facts, his hand reaching over to take an open pack of noodles.
Nikolai had finished cutting open the packets then, so he handed them over to Angelo, closing the distance between them, expectant.
He didn’t completely believe Angelo’s comforting words, but they were nice to hear regardless. "And?" He prompted when Angelo went quiet again.
Angelo gave him a look, but the kitchen lights reflected in his eyes softened what was supposed to be a knowing look. "You’re a monster of your parents doing," He went on, his tone and voice softening. "And that’s not all bad, I like this monster just fine."
Angelo was focused on the pot on the stove, but Nikolai was focused on his little smile, and the shallow dimple that flashed, so stunned he was almost sure his ears were ringing.
And while he was still frozen in shock, Angelo casually went over to wash his hands at the sink like his words hadn’t been so debilitating that Nikolai forgot to breathe.
He sucked in a breath, carefully gathering up the empty packs. He walked over to the trash can on autopilot, cleaning up.
Nikolai knew how Angelo ant the ’like’ he said, but it didn’t take away from the importance of the assassin’s words to him.
Angelo had never asked him to change, not a single thing.... Nikolai glanced down and realized that he was still standing next to the trash can with his foot on the pedal, peering into the black trash bag within, his vision blurring over.
"Nikolai?" Angelo’s voice broke into his thoughts, "Could you get us bowls?"
Nikolai’s eyes still stung, but the edges of his lips could lift in a smile. Angelo wasn’t even trying to save him so dignity, it was just like the assassin to say sothing so cutting right in the middle of a casual conversation.
He did as he was told, placing the bowls by the counter and then going over to set up the table for two. The dostic setting made him think about the future, if Angelo wanted, he would make a mansion just like this so they could cook simple late-night als while it rained outside.
Just as Angelo served up the food, the kitchen doors swung open, a bright-eyed Lake with wild hair poking his head in. "Hi, sorry to intrude."
Lake had been about to get himself a drink when an exquisite scent pulled him in. He knew that it had to be Nikolai and Angelo, but he couldn’t help himself, the scent of food literally calling to him.
"It’s fine," Angelo replied, turning to him while Nikolai took the bowls of food to the dining table. "Did you need sothing?"
Lake had eaten a hearty dinner, but right then, his stomach felt like a black hole. He ignored his stomach demands however, swallowing as he walked in. "Just a drink." He muttered.
He planned to make a mug of hot chocolate, but that sounded completely unappetizing at the scent of spicy noodles that filled the room. Even as he took out the bag of hot chocolate powder, his round eyes kept drifting to the pot on the stove.
Angelo was still by the counter where he had served the food, he always made extra whenever he cooked, so there was still a sizeable amount in the pot. He waited for if Lake needed his help with anything, especially from the shelves, but everything he needed to make his drink was within arm’s reach, no doubt his mate’s doing.
His attention was on Lake, so he imdiately noticed the Oga’s greedy and frequent looks in his direction. Angelo imdiately figured out what he wanted, the look in his eyes reminding him of when the pregnant Oga constantly demanded ’rain water’.
He waited for Lake to ask. It was an easy al to cook, even if there weren’t leftovers, he could easily make more for him. But Lake didn’t, the Oga restricted himself to greedily licking his lips and eyeing up the pot like he wanted nothing more than to take it all for himself.
Lake was so distracted by the pot of spicy noodles that he didn’t even rember to make small talk, dragging his feet as he headed for the kitchen doors. If he asked Davian, his mate would get up to make so for him tonight, but Lake didn’t want that, he wanted from the pot that Angelo had cooked up.
"Do you want to eat so?" Angelo finally gave in and offered.
Lake was practically lingering at the kitchen doors like a cat that had been put out, greedy honey eyes difficult to ignore.
Lake already planned out his polite refusal in his head, he couldn’t be that intrusive to their guests. "Yes, thank you." Were the words that ca out instead, his feet carrying him across the kitchen once more.
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