Chapter 370: Need No Brake, No Breaks, Constraint

[SERGEI]

The sun was high up already.

Sergei had been waiting at the playground for hours. Maybe because he had arrived at eight o’clock, when this place had kids streaming in from eleven o’clock mostly. It was his routine lately, especially after the past weeks had been busy.

He hadn’t come by for a few weeks, and he was worried he wouldn’t be able to catch them today.

Maybe he was thinking too much about it.

Maybe he was trying so hard, but what the hell was he supposed to do?

"Uncle Moskowsky!!" Sergei heard, and fuck if his heart didn’t beat a little too hard in his chest.

Sergei turned to the source of the sound he’d been looking forward to all week, a boy wearing a helmet and with his protective gear on his elbows and kneecaps.

He was running toward Sergei, and instinctively, Sergei went on his knees and waited with open arms. And the boy... simple, happy, full of life, ran into his waiting arms as if he belonged there.

"There’s my favorite kid," Sergei said into the hug, holding the boy a little longer, and he felt tiny hands rub his back like it was normal. And honestly, this was why Sergei came here whenever he had time.

It was the reminder that maybe at the end of the day there was still a chance for him to be saved from himself.

Behind the boy was a man in his late twenties, six years older than Sergei, smiling at the sight like the world was getting brighter every single day.

"You spoil him too much, Sergei. He almost blew his kneecaps training for your skating competition," the man said, and Sergei pulled the boy back from the hug, pinching his chubby cheeks softly, while he patted his helmet gently.

"Uncle said skating is good for health, and..." the boy trailed off before speaking the same words as Sergei.

"It’s healthier to get hurt on the playground than away from the playground!" both of them cheered, giving each other high fives while the man the boy had come with just watched, his heart full at the sight.

"That’s my boy," Sergei said before adding in a whisper, "Alright, go find us a skating spot while I make sure your papa won’t ground us again."

The boy smiled brightly, stopping for a moment to kiss Sergei’s cheek before running off, while Sergei stayed on his knees, watching the boy run around.

Gods, the boy was adorable.

"Uhh... Hi... Good morning," Sergei said, tripping over his words as he looked at the prettiest omega he’d ever laid eyes on.

He knew he was older, but love and life didn’t give a shit about anything where a connection was, and gods be damned if Sergei let go.

"The gate attendant said you came early today too... You know phones work, right?" the man teased, and Sergei just smiled sheepishly.

"Waiting for you is better. Besides, if I come early, I get hugs from Yaro. And see his smile too," the alpha said, staring into those beautiful brown eyes.

"You’re so beautiful, moya dusha," Sergei breathed heartily as he stared at the older man whose cheeks instantly turned pink and his ears red.

[Trans: Moya dusha = my soul]

"You can’t just say that here!" the older man scolded, and Sergei smirked at him.

"Well then, Mr. Vitya Gamov. It’s a pleasure to see you looking as beautiful as ever this morning.

"Seeing you is a grace I hope the moon goddess grants me for the rest of my life," Sergei said, trying to keep a straight face like there weren’t enough hearts in his eyes for a Vitya Gamov.

"You’re unbelievable," Vitya scolded as he looked ahead and saw Yaro still checking their skating spots.

"Nope. Believably and unconditionally in love with the prettiest omega the realm ever brought to life. At least there’s something good about this fucked up city, moya dusha," Sergei said, and Vitya’s ears turned red again.

Oh, he was usually painfully flustered whenever he was around Sergei.

The younger alpha was always finding ways to make Vitya feel like he was the only person in the world that Sergei cared about.

"You’re missing your skating sessions with Yaroslav," Vitya dismissed, and Sergei turned to the boy playing on the sand already.

"Ah, right, I shall get going now," Sergei said, looking into Vitya’s eyes tenderly.

"The attendant thinks you’re Yaro’s father," Vitya teased, and Sergei paused.

"I... I’m sorry," Sergei apologized instantly.

"For what? You didn’t do anything wrong," Vitya shrugged, and Sergei stared at him apologetically still.

"I know it must be uncomfortable since his father is probably back home waiting for you guys," Sergei said earnestly.

"Well, he knows about you, so that shouldn’t worry you as much. Besides, Yaro seems to like spending time with you more than his father. His drawings are mostly of you and him, instead of his father," Vitya snorted as Sergei stared, horrified.

"That’s..."

"Uncle Moskowsky... that’s what Yaro says each time," Vitya laughed like Sergei didn’t feel his soul leaving him.

"You can’t just say things like that!" Sergei grumbled lowly.

"If it’s any comfort, the boy likes you. He doesn’t like any adults, yet for some reason he trusts you more than anyone he gets to interact with at home," Vitya reassured.

And Sergei held back a smile at the idea. It was nice knowing the boy trusted him.

After all, Vitya trusted him enough to tell him that. Life was most certainly worth living.

"May I never lose his trust in me," Sergei said quietly, and Vitya rubbed his arm softly.

"I doubt you’d ever do anything disappointing in Yaro’s eyes. You’re his cool uncle and his mischief partner. Quite the combo if you ask me. Unbreakable bond," Vitya laughed lightly right as Yaroslav rushed to where they were.

"Papa, uncle, I found a really good place, but the other kids are still there. Can we go for ice cream while we wait?" Yaroslav asked, and Sergei was never one to say no to the boy.

He’d gotten used to him over the months since he’d learned Vitya had a son, and honestly, this boy was slowly consuming his world in the best of ways.

"We need to ask your papa for permission first," Sergei said as he looked at the boy, who then hugged his father’s waist.

"Papa, please, can we go to the ice cream stand? Uncle promised last time, pleeease," the boy pleaded, and Vitya stared at the two of them.

He knew it was useless refusing because at the end of the day, where Sergei and Yaroslav were, the options were mischief or supervised bonding.

And ice cream didn’t sound as bad as skating on sand and breaking their knees again.

Sergei still had scars from the last time he and Yaroslav had gone skating. And it was not even surprising that Vitya had carried protective gear for the alpha too.

"Alright, alright," Vitya said, and the two didn’t wait for him to say anything else.

Just raced each other to the ice cream stand, high-fiving each other when they got there like it was some great achievement.

"Uncle, I made a drawing for you," Yaroslav said hours later when the sun had gone down, and they were the only ones left in the playground.

Vitya was resting on the side, tired of monitoring the chaotic duo.

"Oh, yeah? I’d love to see it," Sergei said in earnest, only for the boy to pull a drawing from his father’s bag.

It was one that had Sergei, Vitya, and Yaroslav in a family setting.

The title...

My Family Tree.

"This is good, but where’s your fa—"

"He’s always working, but I drew one for him and left it on his desk," the boy said innocently, and Sergei stared at the drawing.

A drawing of him and Vitya, and Yaroslav.

It was the closest thing to a photo that he’d ever have of them three. Maybe Sergei would buy a real phone and take a photo of the three of them.

"Oh, that’s kind of you," Sergei said, not sure what to say.

And Sergei, feeling nervous about the interaction, took his watch and gave it to Yaroslav. It was big for the boy’s hands, but surely he had to give something too, right?

"I... I uhm have only this," Sergei said, handing the watch over, and Yaroslav laughed at him, his young voice confusing Sergei even more.

"Uncle Moskowsky, when someone gives you a gift, you say thank you. You don’t give them something in return," he scolded, and Sergei found himself laughing along with the mini-Vitya.

"I’ve been planning to give you this for a while. That way, you can know when I’ll be back," Sergei said, and Yaro stared, intrigued.

"Next Saturday!" Yaro said, and Sergei laughed softly.

"Absolutely. But only if you’re a good boy to your papa," Sergei said, already looking forward to the weekend.

"Of course, uncle."

Sergei watched as the boy stared at the watch, trying to understand it like it was some phenomenon.

"I’ll keep this and wear it when I’m older, Uncle Moskowsky. Thank you," Yaro said moments later.

"I’ll carry your painting with me too. Always," Sergei promised before their discussion spanned across several mundane things that reminded Sergei that he was human.

That he could live life too, away from the life he was living, away from these two.

But one thing stayed with him. Even weeks after the playground.

Yaroslav trusted him.

And Sergei would do everything he possibly could to never break that trust.

****

Three decades later... He’d broken it.

"You need to be clean for your four o’clock date with Katya, father," Yaroslav said, holding out his hand for his father.

On his wrist...

Was the watch from years ago.

And Sergei...

The alpha breathed a sigh of relief.

Maybe Yaroslav still trusted him, right?