For Mika, sothing like a slap, he would’ve been fine with that...Truly.
Even if she had hurled that dagger straight through his stomach, tearing out his guts, he would’ve taken it without complaint. After all, his body would heal, the pain would fade, and life would move on as always.
...But this?
This trembling woman in his arms, her soft, warm body pressed against his, her fingers gripping his shirt like he might disappear again, this was infinitely harder to endure. He didn’t know where to put his hands, what expression to wear, or how in the world he was supposed to handle her tears.
Mika’s throat bobbed as he looked down at her carefully, his voice soft, hesitant.
"I...honestly, I was totally expecting to get slapped after hearing all that." He murmured.
Her shoulders shook faintly, but she didn’t pull away.
"You really seed like you wanted to choke out for all the things I’ve done..." Mika chuckled awkwardly, scratching his neck. "...But I never, never, expected you to do sothing like this."
At that, Yelena finally lifted her head, pulling back just enough for her luminous green eyes, now glistening with tears, to et his. The sight made his heart stutter, his words catching in his throat.
She smiled ruefully, her voice low and almost breaking. "So I really seed like soone so cold-hearted...that I’d slap my beloved boy after not seeing him for so long?"
Mika’s eyes widened, and before she could say anything else, he shook his head furiously, nearly knocking her with his chin.
"N-No! Not at all! You’re..." He raised his hands dramatically, almost like a kid caught in trouble. "You’re the most gentle, the most loving person in the world! There’s no way, no way, you’d ever do sothing like that! Never in a million years!"
Hearing this, Yelena blinked at him for a mont before her lips curved into a knowing, almost smug smile.
"Exactly." She whispered softly, her voice warming as though the words themselves healed a part of her. "So why would you even think to ask such a thing in the first place?"
Without waiting for his reply, she leaned forward and wrapped her arms tightly around him again to which Mika froze, then let out a shaky, reluctant smile.
"Well, it’s just...after hearing all that, and seeing how angry you were, it totally made sense. Even a gentle, caring, kind woman like you could’ve gone all out and wanted to slap the stupid grin off my face..." He admitted sheepishly. "Honestly, I would’ve totally understood, and I would’ve gladly taken it too."
Yelena’s embrace tightened, her crimson hair falling over his shoulder as she rubbed her cheek gently against his chest, almost like she was trying to absorb his presence after so long.
"That really was what I wanted to do." She murmured into his shirt. "After everything you’ve done to avoid , Mika...I an, it was bad to the extent that there were tis I was so furious I actually got headaches just thinking about it."
Mika let out a reluctant, guilty chuckle. "Y-Yeah...I might’ve gone a little overboard with the whole ’don’t pick up her calls, jump out the window, fly across the continent’ thing."
Her fingers brushed against his cheek now, tilting his face down gently as she looked up at him with a gaze that was both lonely and endlessly tender.
"But the mont I stepped closer and saw the face of the boy I raised all these years..." She whispered, her thumb brushing across his skin. "I didn’t have the strength to do it."
Her voice cracked slightly.
"My hands, they went weak. Instead of slapping you, I couldn’t stop myself. All I could do was embrace you."
She hugged him tightly again, burying her face against his chest as if she feared he might vanish if she let go.
"Just seeing you again, so close...It was too much for to handle."
Then, in a quieter voice, she asked. "Would it have been better if I slapped you instead?"
Mika blinked, startled, and stamred. "N-No! It’s not like that. It’s just...I don’t know how to handle this. A hug is...way more confusing than a slap."
At that, Yelena laughed softly, a rich, lodious sound that sent shivers down his spine. She shook her head, her locks brushing his chin.
"Stupid Mika..." She whispered.
"In these monts, you’re supposed to just hug the person back...and everything will make sense."
Hesitating for only a second, Mika did as she said and slowly, awkwardly wrapped his arms around her, returning the embrace to which Yelena’s smile deepened, her eyes closing as she lted into his hold.
"Yes...this is all I needed." Yelena murmured, her voice muffled as she pressed her face into his chest. "This is enough."
Mika hesitated, staring down at her as a complicated blend of emotions churned inside him. His hands, still resting awkwardly on her back, twitched faintly as he spoke in a quiet, hesitant voice.
"...Is this really all you need?" He asked softly.
Yelena tilted her head up slightly, her tear-streaked face glowing faintly in the soft hospital light.
"If it were in your position..." Mika continued, his brows furrowed. "And if soone was causing you this much trouble...making you so worried, so anxious, and so damn upset...I swear I wouldn’t be able to stay calm like you are right now."
"I’d probably, no, I would lash out. I’d scold them so hard my voice would hurt them. I’d make sure they’d never forget it."
At that, Yelena let out a gentle laugh, though her eyes shimred with amusent and affection.
"That’s true." She admitted. "And knowing myself..." Her voice lowered to a silky murmur. "Rather than scolding them, I’d much rather send a sword hovering right behind their back for the rest of their life, so they’d keep running unless they’re brave, or stupid, enough to let themselves get stabbed."
Mika shuddered involuntarily, a faint smile twitching on his lips. "Yeah. That sounds like sothing you’d do." He said, his voice dry but tinged with fondness.
But Yelena’s expression softened as she gazed up at him.
"But luckily for you." She whispered, her thumb brushing lightly against his chest. "You’re not just anyone else, Mika, you’re soone who I hold my dear then my life..." Her words caught him so off guard that his chest seized. "...and there’s no way I could ever bring myself to do sothing like that to you."
"...You’re quite lucky, you know." She added with a rueful smile, her voice warm but with a faint edge of teasing.
"I...guess I am." Mika muttered, unable to et her eyes.
But then a mischievous smile curled her lips, her eyes glinting playfully.
"But still..." She murmured. "Since you asked—"
Mika tensed as her fingers traced lightly over his shirt.
"...don’t you think it’d be better if you didn’t give such a half-hearted hug?"
His eyes widened. "H-Huh?"
"You heard ." Yelena said softly, her smile deepening. "This little loose-ard, awkward thing you’re doing right now? It’s pathetic. If you’re going to hug , Mika...then hug properly. Tight and firm. Like you an it."
Mika’s mouth opened, but no words ca out.
"Go on." Her tone was gentle but commanding. "Pull in properly. Or are you too scared to hold tight?"
He exhaled shakily, his breath warm against her hair, his throat suddenly dry as his arms shifted with the slightest hesitation. Then, slowly, he drew her closer, as if afraid she might vanish if he moved too quickly.
His hands slid tenderly along the curve of her back, fingertips tracing the delicate lines of her shoulder blades before settling around her slender fra. As he pulled her fully against him, her warmth seed to seep into his very bones, lting away every ounce of tension in his body.
The soft press of her breasts against his chest made his heart stumble, thudding hard against his ribcage. And for a fleeting, breathless mont, it felt as if he was cradling sothing impossibly fragile and irreplaceable in his arms, even though Yelena was, by all asures, one of the strongest, most unshakable won alive.
Yet here and now, she felt so small, so achingly precious, that he tightened his embrace ever so slightly, as if to silently promise he would never let her go.
"Ahh...yes." Her voice was a hushed sigh as she closed her eyes and smiled, resting her cheek against him. "That’s much better...much, much better."
She cozied into his chest, inhaling deeply like she was taking in his scent after an eternity apart.
"Now..." She murmured, her words slightly muffled. "Rub my back too. Slowly, smoothly. I want to feel your hands all over my back."
Mika stiffened. "Huh? But...people don’t normally rub soone’s back like that during a hug."
At that, Yelena pulled back just enough to laugh softly, her eyes sparkling with a dangerous playfulness.
"Mika." She said sweetly. "Are you disobeying ?"
His entire body tensed. "N-No! Not at all!"
"Then do as I said." She whispered, her voice dipping into that dangerously affectionate tone.
Mika swallowed hard, then nodded frantically. "Y-Yes, ma’am..."
Carefully, he slid his palms along her back, his fingers tracing over the fine silk of her clothes as he began to rub in slow, gentle strokes. Her back felt slender beneath his hands, warm and delicate despite the power he knew lay coiled in her muscles. The contrast made his throat tighten.
As he continued, Yelena let out a soft, contented hum, her body relaxing completely in his arms.
"Ahhh...that’s it. Perfect. My sweet, sweet boy..." She whispered. "This is all I wanted...This is all I need from you and nothing else."
Hearing this, Mika felt a faint, rueful smile tug at his lips as guilt gnawed at his chest.
’She...She could’ve asked for anything.’ He thought. ’She could’ve punished , scread at , stabbed ...but instead, all she wanted was this. Just to hold ...’
His arms tightened slightly, a quiet pain settling in his chest as he realized how much he had made her worry, how many tis he had ignored her calls, her ssages, her desperate attempts to see him.
He had kept his distance all this ti, thinking it was for the best, but now...now he felt like the world’s biggest fool.
He wanted to apologize. To fall on his knees and beg her forgiveness if he had to.
But just as the words began to form on his lips,
"Hmph..." A soft sniffle cut through the tender mont.
Mika’s head jerked up and saw where the distraction ca from.
Floating a few feet away, Charlotte still hung suspended in the air by the dagger hooked to her collar, her face red and her cheeks puffed up like an indignant child. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears as she watched the scene below.
Her lips wobbled, and she sniffed again.
"M-Mama...this isn’t fair...How could you?"
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