Dating Nikolai meant experiencing the charm of a simple man. It meant takeout picnics in his garage, starry nights spent on the roof of his helicopter hangar, and casual slowdancing between workbenches and toolboxes to the melody coming through his old radio. It’s not that he wasn’t making an effort. He was more than glad to take you to a fancy restaurant, to the movies, or to spend the weekend at a flea market. But spending time with you in his space, showing you his world, sharing his comfort zone with you—it held more meaning to him than anything else. That’s how you knew that you’re special to him.

You loved watching him work. When his strong hands were calloused and dirty with grease, but he would wipe them clean before touching you with tenderness that was almost strange coming from a rough man like him. You loved sitting in his lap when he was explaining what all the buttons and switches in his heli’s cockpit are for. Nikolai was making it all sound so easy, and he was always showing you everything as he worked around his heli. You were pretty sure that you could actually fly that thing if you only tried.

But that was the thing. You have never flown Nikolai’s heli. He offered many times to take you, promised all sorts of romantic moments while watching the sunset above the clouds. But to you, this wasn’t romantic. It was terrifying.

You were always scared of flying, and you made sure to avoid travelling via plane if possible. That also included helicopters. But after a while, Nikolai stopped buying your excuses. And you had to tell him the truth.

“I’m scared, alright?! I hate flying, I prefer to be on the ground.” You admitted.

It took Nik a moment to even comprehend what you were saying. To him, flying was like second nature. Like he was born to do it. Nothing could compare to the feeling of gliding through the sky, the adrenaline that caused pleasant tingling in his stomach, the powerful feeling of guiding the roaring machine.

“Malishka... scared? With me, you don’t need to be scared of nothing.” Nikolai smiled, wrapping his big bear arms around him. Being held by him really made you feel as if nothing bad could ever happen to you.

“What are you scared of? Beautiful views? You’re already an angel, let me give you wings.” Nikolai whispered, pressing a kiss to your forehead.