[SERGEI]

Breakfast.

Not one.

More breakfast meals.

Oh, Sergei was happy.

"Y... You mean that? You want to have breakfast with me?" Sergei asked as Katya glared at him as if he hated to strangle the barbarian.

Sergei could see the displeasure on his omega’s face, and he knew it was probably because of the way he had broken fast.

"I would never hurt you," Sergei said as he flipped a button, and Katya’s seat came back upright, as it slowly and very carefully freed the omega who was looking at Sergei like he was already reconsidering what he had said.

"You can’t take it back," Sergei said, and Katya still glared.

What was he even supposed to do?

One moment, they were flying through risky traffic because Sergei Moskowsky had decided that Katya apologizing was the worst possible thing.

And the next, the barbarian was looking at him like there weren’t stacks of boxes that threatened to spill on both of them.

"The hospital is just around the corner. I could recommend a psychiatrist for you," Katya said very carefully, his words so genuine and his anger so real that it had Sergei feeling some type of way.

His omega cared for him.

That was the only thing he was seeing.

A man who wanted to share meals with him.

A man who was willing to get himself treated.

Sergei was a goner.

"I’ll go after work if that’s your wish," Sergei said calmly.

"Are you sure you’re okay in the head? Who are you and what have you done to the barbarian of Frolo?" Katya asked as if he was trying so hard not to get himself into shit that would have him apologize.

He just about had enough of apologies and consequences for the entire week.

"Focus on what’s important, Solnyshka," Sergei said calmly, like he hadn’t almost murdered both of them.

"Ugh, you’re impossible," Katya huffed as he took that chance to look out the window.

Many people were staring and minding their business at the same time. The drivers who were honking and road raging earlier had somehow learned that silence was an art when they got to the front and saw the devil of Frolo.

Everyone who had been cursing the alpha out suddenly went back to pretending like the morning was normal.

But Sergei didn’t care about that.

"Breakfast," Sergei reminded, and Katya looked at him like this was not the time.

Yet for Sergei, this was pretty much the time.

"Is breakfast with me more important than the fact that you almost killed both of us?" Katya asked, staring blankly at Sergei like he was not ready for this.

This version of Sergei was more unsettling than the version that he probably knew.

And Sergei could tell that from the look Katya was giving him.

But that didn’t matter, right?

"Yes and no," Sergei said as he sat upright, only to wince in pain.

Turns out even the mad barbarian wasn’t spared from the consequences of his madness.

"You’re hurt... Of course you’re hurt. What kind of a maniac drives a hundred on a twenty lane?" Katya rambled in disappointment, and something that Sergei couldn’t quite read well.

If he didn’t know any better, he would be tempted to think the omega cared about him. Especially when Katya unbuckled his seatbelt and turned toward Sergei.

He pressed two fingers on Sergei’s forehead, oblivious to his suddenly stiff the man had become. And as if that wasn’t enough torture for the man, Katya unbuttoned Sergei’s coat to feel for any bruises.

Sergei hadn’t moved.

Hadn’t breathed in or out.

He stayed stiffer than anything anyone could compare to.

Hell, he looked dead.

"Where does it hurt?" Katya asked worriedly.

Sergei didn’t say a word.

How could he, when he could smell Katya so close that citrus was rewriting his entire sanity.

The ride to work had been some, and Sergei had been focused on the road instead of the man beside him. Then Katya offered breakfast dates, and Sergei lost his mind. Now he looked at Katya like he was not sure what to do.

He didn’t know, truly.

He didn’t even trust his mouth to say better words.

His brain was all jumbled. You would think this wasn’t the same man who made grown men and women cry with just a raised brow.

"Vladimir?" Katya asked when he noticed how stiff the man was.

"You okay?" Katya added.

Sergei nodded.

Sergei Moskowsky nodded.

"You don’t look okay... Switch seats with me. I’ll drive you to the hospital for a checkup," Katya said as he got ready to open the door and walk around to Sergei’s side. But the barbarian locked the car.

"What are you doing? You need medical care. If you’re too proud for it, I won’t tell a soul what happened. Just let someone, anyone, take care of you. This is what you get for being a maniac in the morning.

"Where is your phone?" Katya rambled, like he was so loving his jailer.

His jailer, who was frozen in time, was like he was not sure what to say.

"I’m fine. We have to get to work," Sergei forced out.

"The company is not running away," Katya said, returning his words to him.

And Sergei let out a pained chuckle at that.

"Where’s your phone? I don’t have mine," Katya insisted as he looked around for it.

But Sergei held his hand gently, stopping him.

The alpha felt his body jolt, and it took everything not to turn the car back so he would go home and spend his day thinking of Katya and dreaming of the omega and all his little gestures.

"I’m fine," Sergei insisted.

"Did you mean it when you said you wanted to share more meals with me? Breakfast, I mean..." Sergei said instead, and Katya sighed.

"That is what you’re worried about when you could be dying here?" Katya asked tiredly.

"It’s important. I make it a point to remember important things," Sergei defended.

Katya didn’t understand.

It was written all over his face.

But Sergei had to know. Because just around the corner, there was a whole new reality waiting for them both.

Sergei was determined to stall for as long as he could. He wasn’t terrified, no, he was Sergei Moskowsky.

But the weekend hadn’t been kinder to Katya. And if breakfast was the Chapter of the day before, they had to face what the weekend had been, then he would stall for as long as possible.

He did what to have breakfast with Katya daily, though.

"If I say yes, will you get checked when we get to the company then?" Katya bargained, and Sergei chuckled.

"For someone who hates me, you sure seem to care about me," Sergei said passively, and Katya just halted at him.

"Or maybe I don’t want your swarm of loyalists coming after me, thinking I murdered you in your own car. I already have enough debts to carry," Katya said sincerely, his sarcasm making Sergei smile.

It had been a while since he had seen the version of Katya he had met in the hospital a month ago, and it was refreshing.

"Is that a yes to breakfast?"

"Yeah, whatever," Katya said, and Sergei stared.

"What."

"That’s not sincere."

"Do you want the breakfast to be willing, or do you want me to follow your orders? I can do both," Katya said tiredly.

And Sergei’s shoulder slumped.

Katya noticed, exhaling slowly.

"Yes, Vladimir. I would love to share the first meal of the day with you. Whenever you are available," Katya said, looking at the barbarian.

"Every day."

"Huh?" 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"I’m available for you every day, Solnyshka."

"Alright, great. Can we now go to work?" Katya asked, and Sergei didn’t make a move to touch the steering wheel. It was almost like he had something to say, and he did know where to start.

"What is it now?" Katya sighed.

"Do you trust me?" Sergei asked in earnest, and Katya raised a brow.

Sergei Moskowsky never cared if anyone trusted him or not.

So, what was his deal this time?

"You are Sergei Moskowsky," Katya said as if that was the reminder the barbarian of Frolo needed to know what Katya’s answer would be.

"Solnyshka..."

"Just because I agreed to breakfast doesn’t mean I have to trust you, Vladimir. I’m your servant at the end of the day. Your property. Asking me if I trust you is a long stretch, don’t you think?

"Have you ever seen tools saying no to their masters?" Katya asked, and the breath knocked out of Sergei’s lungs.

Wordlessly, the alpha buckled Katya up and began driving toward the company.

Oh, but the silence was deafening.

Until the camera flashes appeared.