“Are you sure this isn’t too much?” Nik asks, looking up and meeting Finn’s gaze.

He’s blushing, Nik notices, and soon he feels his own cheeks flair. Finn’s eyes break away and start to scan up and down, checking the suit out, causing Nik to cross his arms over his chest.

The suit fit really well, but the sleeves and pants were too long, making him look like a little kid in a suit made for someone talleri. Nik looks over and sees Balthazar behind the counter, furiously scribbling into his little notebook.

“You, uh... look really good,” Finn breaks the silence, clearing his throat right after. He looks down at his shoes and Nik starts to worry at his hair; the silence is awkward and he doesn’t know why Finn is acting so odd. “I think my bosses will like you.”

Nik pulls his hair out of its braid and begins to redo it, a habit he knows happens when he’s nervous, but he isn’t exactly sure what’s making his knees shake. His stomach feels tight and his chest feels full as Finn runs his hands through his hair and smiles at Nik, teeth flashing bright.

“How much is it, Balthazar?” Finn asks, walking up to the counter. Balthazar smiles at Finn and begins typing away at his register. He says something to Finn, but Nik misses it as he disappears inside his own head.

Why was Finn being so nice to him? Why was he doing all these things for Nik, and what did they all mean? Is this what normal friends are like in America? Was Nik truly just ignorant to the culture of this fairly new country?

“Nik?”

The mention of his name snaps Nik out of his reverie, his eyes focusing on the hand waving in front of his face. “C’mon. Suit’s paid for. Go get changed so we can go home and unpack all your stuff.”

Nik’s mouth pops open in protest, but the eyebrow that snaps up on Finn’s face stops him. He mumbles a thanks and retreats inside the back room like a dejected dog. He hears Finn chuckle and can’t help the shy smile that spreads across his own face.

********

“You’re sure he’s not your boy-toy?” Finn rolls his eyes at Balthazar’s question.

“For the last time, we’re just friends” Finn barks, the words muffled as he runs his hands down his face. “I’m not just going to dump this one.”

Finn sounds more confident than he feels.

The pair sit in silence, waiting for Nik to come back. When he finally does, his cheeks are still dusted pink and the suit he was just wearing is draped carefully over his arm.

“You can set that right up here, boy,” Balthazar says, patting the counter. “It’ll be ready in two days.”

“Wonderful. Thank you, Balthazar,” Finn answers for Nik, trying to hide the annoyance he feels for the old man. He grabs Nik’s coat from the place it hangs and helps him into it quickly, grabbing his sleeve and dragging him through the door.

“Have a good day, boys!” Balthazar shouts just before the door slams closed. Finn doesn’t say anything back, just continues dragging Nik down the street towards the car.

They only pause when Nik digs his feet into the cracked cement and stops Finn. He’s panting heavily and Finn can see his breath form small clouds against the biting New York air. His browns are turned up, his expression a mixture of confusion and worry.

“Finn, wait,” he says, bending over and bracing his hands against his knees, gasping. Finn overdid it. “What happened back there?”

Finn grinds his teeth together and takes a deep breath through his nose, letting the bite of the cold air clear his head. He realizes his anger is irrational, but the thought of anyone calling Nik a “boy-toy” infuriates Finn to no end.

“Nothing,” Finn lies, though his head is finally level. “Just couldn’t take the old man’s jokes.”

Finn smiles, and swears he sees Nik’s cheeks darken slightly. Nik bites his lip and turns his head around, looking back at the shop that’s now at the end of the road.

“Okay...” he says, clearly not believing Finn, but letting it go regardless. Finn is grateful as they make their way to the car and get into, sitting quietly for a moment.

“You really didn’t have to do that,” Nik starts, staring down his lap when Finn looks over. “I appreciate it. Really, I do. But.. I can’t keep asking you to do so much for me.”

“You didn’t ask for anything, Nik,” Finn rations, his brows furrowing. “We’re friends now, and I’m going to do everything in my power to help you. I... I saw the state of your apartment.”

Nik sucks in a breath at that and presses his eyes closed, pressing the palms of his hands into his eyes.

“Fuck, was that too far? God, Nik, I’m so sorry-”

“No, it’s not that,” Nik says, removing his hands and finally looking at Finn. “It’s not like you saved me from the jaws of death, but I was struggling. This city is impossibly competitive.”

Finn laughs bitterly at that. “You’re not wrong. But you got here all on your own, getting into one of the top schools in the entirety of New York. That’s something you should be proud of. You’re making your own way in the world, and I’ll... I’ll be here to support you in whatever way I can. You’re going to make a difference in this city, I can feel it.”

Nik laughs just as a fresh batch of tears rush down his face. Finn brings up one hand and wipes away the tears that streak down Nik’s left cheek, smiling as reassuring as he can.

“Thank you, Finn.”

“Of course, buddy,” Finn grinds his teeth together. “We’re in this together now.”