When he came to, a pang of dizziness swirled in his head.

Cole opened his eyes, gazing over at the bedroom door. Ilya was walking inside, holding a glass in one hand and a piece of candy in the other. How long had he been out for?

Cole sat up, hugging the covers that had been placed over his body. Ilya offered him the glass and wrapper, crawling back into bed with him. “I can get something warm for you, too.”

“That's okay,” Cole said, sipping at his drink. “Thank you, Ilya…”

It didn’t take long for him to empty the whole thing. He didn't expect the water to go down as fast as it did. The chocolate wasn't bad, either.

It soothed his body, but exhaustion was starting to creep in. After placing the cup and the tiny packaging on the nightstand on his side of the bed, he wrapped his arms around Ilya, pulling him down into the sheets with him. He needed his comfort more than ever right now.

“Hey there,” Ilya said.

“Mine…” Cole nestled his face into Ilya's chest. His new favorite pillow.

“I'm… all yours,” Ilya said, chewing over his own words.

“You sound embarrassed. Sappiness not your thing?” Cole smiled, letting out a contented sigh, as Ilya's hand slid down his back to his ass, gently massaging him.

“Never was. Never will,” Ilya said.

“Say you love me,” Cole teased.

“Way too soon for that,” Ilya said.

“Asshole,” Cole said.

Ilya laughed, his other hand caressing Cole's back. Cole could easily doze off right then and there. He had never felt so tranquil.

“I made a good choice in letting Aleksei take care of Shoko for the night. That dog wouldn't have known what to do about all that screaming.”

“Watch out. I'll bite you again,” Cole said, squeezing Ilya tighter.

“Please do,” Ilya said.

“There's no winning with you,” Cole said.

“I'm a professional,” Ilya said.

“Ugh…” Cole trailed his lips up Ilya's chest, neck, and jaw until they came eye to eye. He placed a hand on his cheek, watching Ilya's smug face turn into a fond smile.

“Say it…”

“I… like you, Cole,” Ilya said.

This word likely didn't come out of Ilya often. As far as Cole was concerned, he had said it.

The tears from earlier were coming back.

“Oh… Ah, I'm sorry.” Cole dug his face into Ilya's neck out of embarrassment.

Ilya chuckled, ruffling his hair. “Get some sleep.”

“Fine…” Cole leaned into his touch, letting his eyes fall shut.

A comfortable silence settled over them.

Ilya's hands had stopped moving. But neither of them was sleeping. “What about, uh, you? You know…” That didn't come out easily. Cole had learned by now that Ilya wasn't one to discuss his feelings or in any way be vulnerable, so nothing surprised him there.

“I like you too. Obviously. Why else would I insist so much?” Cole hooked a leg over Ilya's waist. “And, well… Don't make me say it.”

“Cry?” Ilya welcomed the gesture, drawing circles with his finger on Cole's skin.

“Almost. Almost,” Cole said.

“Right…” Ilya was unconvinced as usual. Not that Cole could blame him. “I take that as a compliment, though. People don't usually get emotional around me.”

“Oh, look, finally something you can learn from me,” Cole said. “Showing some emotion could be good for you.”

Ilya clutched the back of Cole’s head. “We've talked long enough,” he said. “Night.”

“You're impossible,” Cole said.

“And your body is still in pain,” Ilya said. “Resting could be good for you.”

There really was no winning.

“You're good for me,” Cole said.

Ilya shifted in his arms. “Fuck…”

Cole thought he heard a sniff.

Before long, unconsciousness finally took him.

The sun forced Cole's eyes open. There were no dog noises to wake him. Or Ilya, for that matter. He was alone in the bedroom.

An enduring pain lingered in his limbs as he pulled himself out of bed. He collected the clothes that had been strewn across the floor and dressed himself.

No thoughts were coming to Cole, so he kept going. He stumbled out of the bedroom and through every room he passed. Ilya had to be here somewhere.

As he peeked inside the kitchen, the man's silhouette contrasted with the bright light coming through the window. Ilya was leaning on the counter, watching the clouds with a cup in his hand. The spoon was still inside, even as he drank from it.

Beside his elbow stood another cup that Cole could see the hot contents of. Had he made tea for both of them?

Cole made it over to him, stretching his arms as he did. “Why aren't you taking that spoon out? Seems inconvenient.”

“Let me keep some secrets,” Ilya said.

“You have enough of those,” Cole said.

“Yeah, but you're decoding them too fast,” Ilya said.

“Speaking of... Sorry about telling you to get more emotions or whatever the hell I said. With a past like yours, I can't really fault you for it,” Cole said.

“Don't worry about that. It felt good to let out a few tears. It's been way too long,” Ilya said.

So he did hear that correctly.

“I knew it.” Cole smiled, but was met with an instant glare.

“Shh.” Ilya poked the cup near him toward Cole. “Drink before it gets cold.”

Cole picked it up, locking eyes with Ilya as he took a big swig of it. Not quite how you were supposed to drink hot tea, but he needed that. Delicious. Cole's energy was already coming back to him. Even if his throat was burning. Getting whiny about something minor like that would be pretty ridiculous after everything Ilya had—lovingly—done to him.

As Cole continued sipping from the cup, he mirrored Ilya by leaning on the counter. “Can you blame me for believing in that stupid dream… and getting all enamored with the people at my job? It's like ingrained in us from birth.”

“No, I've dealt with it in many ways. It feels kind of cultish, so I get why you were seduced,” Ilya said, turning a blank expression to the window.

“But it's not completely crazy. I think…” Cole said.

Ilya didn't respond. He had gone completely still.

Cole reached out and rubbed Ilya's arm. “You okay?”

“Huh… I'm just—I was just reminded of something,” Ilya said.

“I didn't bring back any memories, did I?” Cole asked.

Ilya sighed, twisting the spoon restlessly between his fingers.

“Wait. That situation with Reid. I never even considered it might have triggered something,” Cole said. “Please be honest. Are you alright?”

“Because… I'm not. So, you don't have to be either,” he continued.

“I wasn't as deeply involved as the others. It really doesn't affect me that much. Really…” Ilya said.

“You're not downplaying anything… right?” Cole asked.

Ilya's cup landed on the counter with a clink. He wrapped an arm around Cole's shoulder, pulling him close with a surprisingly powerful half-hug.

Cole placed his own tea down to avoid spilling what was left. He hadn't expected that from Ilya.

“I'm happy I met Aleksei and Evelyn,” Ilya said.

“And you. I see potential in you,” he continued. “It makes me hopeful for the future.”

“Ah… that's good. I'm starting to see why you might be so tired.” Cole completed the hug by hooking his arm around Ilya's neck. “Please don't give up.”

“I won't,” Ilya said. “I'm… willing to give the world another chance. Even if it feels like wasted effort sometimes.”

“But it's never really wasted, is it?” Cole asked.

Ilya loosened his grip, pulling away until he could look Cole in the eyes.

“Never,” Ilya said. “My grandparents taught me better than that.”

Cole grinned, pressing his lips against Ilya's jaw. “That's my warrior.”

Peace. He knew it was temporary. But that didn't matter. Not anymore.

“I try,” Ilya said. That was all he could ask of him.

Whatever happened in the future, Cole was ready to face it.

All he needed was Ilya.

And Evelyn.

And Aleksei.

And anyone else.

Anyone willing to join them.