Chapter 340: Of Smokey Pines And Clean Linens

[FROLO]

"You came because of Alek, didn’t you?" Katya said quietly as they ate breakfast in the break room.

The alpha had insisted on feeding Katya, and while that wasn’t new, the way that he was staring at the television hung there like a man who was expecting something was obvious.

"It’s been a while since we shared breakfast," Sergei said, and Katya stared at him like that was the worst lie.

"I woke up in your arms today, Vladimir. You made me breakfast and drove me to work, remember?" Katya said, and Sergei looked everywhere but at his omega.

He’d been caught in a lie, one that he wasn’t even opposed to, even if it meant making a fool of himself in front of Mr. Romanov just so he could see Katya.

"It’s different. Besides, you woke up early. The meal you ate wasn’t enough. That’s why I brought more," Sergei defended, as he held the cup to Katya’s lips, making the omega drink coffee.

"I’m not alone anymore, Vladimir," Katya said to the alpha who was intent on taking care of him.

"The food will get cold, Solnyshka, and your papa might just strangle me for real," Sergei said, making Katya let out a soft laugh.

This man’s priorities were skewed in the kind of way that ensured his comfort, and gods was Katya not sure if he was to be happier or scared on behalf of the people who tried shit with Sergei.

The senior researcher had made Katya uncomfortable with his touch, and Sergei had reacted before he even said hello to Katya. He’d been watching Katya quietly work, and then snapped at the researcher.

Now here they were.

With breakfast.

Or rather, their second breakfast of the day.

"What we have... It makes me feel free. I’m not scared anymore. I don’t even have to wear a tracker, too. Nothing anyone says will make me second-guess what my alpha reminded me so passionately," Katya said, and Sergei smiled in pride.

This trust.

This omega.

This was what he’d been striving toward.

Katya free. Comfortable in his own skin. Embracing the world like every normal person out there. It wasn’t that hard for Katya anymore, and gods was Sergei thankful for that.

"About Alek..." Sergei began, and Katya shushed Sergei with his thumb against Sergei’s lips.

The alpha looked at him, into his eyes, then Sergei licked Katya’s thumb sensually, making Katya pull his thumb, but Sergei didn’t let him.

"We’re in public," Katya whispered as Sergei’s tongue rolled around his thumb, sucking as if suddenly Katya’s thumb was the one thing the alpha was starved for.

Sergei’s eyes never left Katya’s.

Only when Katya relaxed did the alpha pull the wet thumb out, and before Katya could complain again, Sergei pulled him into a kiss, right as the screen shifted to a press conference.

"I have heard the accusations against me," Alek began in the background.

But Sergei didn’t pay attention.

Kissed Katya delicately for a little longer.

And when they pulled back, Katya’s lips swollen, Sergei’s eyes filled with desire, and the scent blockers doing a whole lot of work to not turn Romanov Steel into a madhouse of both Katya’s and Sergei’s scent:

... the alpha knew he had to trust Katya to work through this too.

He’d be here if Katya needed him.

Always.

"You look so beautiful, lyubim," Sergei whispered, voice hoarse as he held Katya’s hand, while they both looked up at the screen moments later.

"I could be looking homeless and retarded, and I’d still look beautiful in your eyes," Katya grumbled, a tender smile playing on his lips.

"I never argue with facts, my beautiful Solnyshka," Sergei said as a matter of fact, as they watched Alek defend his whereabouts. And what had happened that day. They watched Alek try to spin everything in his favor.

"He’s still acting like the good senator," Katya said, like he was disappointed but not even surprised at this point. The man he’d loved had turned out to be a turncoat who was trying to save himself in front of everyone.

"Do you think the accusations about the coat are true?" Sergei asked.

Katya knew the Myrtles were associated with Sergei.

But he also knew that they were independent in their operations.

Besides, they had made that announcement while saying they didn’t care what Moskowsky had said before. It was something that Katya believed. Because Sergei had done damage control weeks ago, but the Myrtles didn’t have shit to care about.

"I’ve been thinking a lot about that afternoon. Alek had come in intentionally shabby. The alpha who always took a proper look at himself before any function had come to the expo that day looking different.

"Slightly disoriented, like he didn’t want to be there. I assumed it was because of the Bratva stress, but after everything I learned about Alek the last few weeks;

"...I’d believe anyone who says Alek is capable of murder," Katya said quietly, his disappointment and sadness showing for the first time since the Alek incident.

He knew what it all looked like and that Alek was standing there all polished because he had to try and salvage his reputation.

But what reputation was there to save?

The city knew he was involved with the bratva somehow. Katya knew Alek was the bratva’s puppet. Whatever show Alek was putting on, Katya knew it wouldn’t be worth it in the end.

Because at some point the truth would come out.

That Alek really was involved with the bratva.

"He broke your trust," Sergei said like he wanted to strangle Alek himself.

"Humans are odd at times. I was so focused on making him comfortable that it slipped my mind that I would ever be a target for the bratva like that... The video with Kenzo should have changed perspectives;

"...especially how Alek wasn’t even surprised and didn’t try to seek me out. But there is nothing I can do about it," Katya laughed sadly.

It was as if the realization that his ex-boyfriend had framed him was one that he refused to embrace openly, yet couldn’t ever fight against.

What use was it at this moment anyway?

"You know if you choose to speak up against him, and confirm his bratva relations, I’d stand by you, right?" Sergei reassured and Katya squeezed his hand for a moment.

"I know... but I don’t want to fight with him. Even if I step out there and you back me, Frolo will just say you twisted the narrative because you love me. That you are trying to save me by throwing Alek into the fire.

"And after the shared rut speculations, and my resignation, I can’t burden you with fighting my battles," Katya said, and Sergei turned to look at him.

His precious omega, who was always so considerate.

Even now, when everything was probably going to be against him with every word from the senator, he was still choosing kindness.

"But Solny—"

"You have a business to run, Vladimir. Not an omega’s reputation to defend," Katya said flatly, and Sergei sighed.

"I’d burn him for you if you ask me to," Sergei offered.

"Nope. He’ll meet his karma eventually. The bratva might even turn on him. Whichever way, I just want to do research and live a simple life," Katya said, smiling, resting his head on Sergei’s shoulder.

He was painfully oblivious that the karma he was talking about...

Called him Solnyshka, sneaked to bring him breakfast.

That karma...

Had the face of the man he loved.

His alpha.

"Karma," Sergei said, smiling sinisterly, staring at the screen.

"Yup," Katya said, oblivious to the look on his alpha’s face.