The wind cut across the rooftop, tugging at my hair, making goosebumps spike along my arms. Water came up to my waist, slick and cold against my skin, but I barely noticed. Zhenya was leaning against the pools corner beside me, joint glowing faintly, that familiar, sharp scent curling through the night air.

“Zhenya… what the hell are you doing?” I demanded, trying to step back.

He smirked, flicking ash. “Relax, Zaika. Just one hit. Then maybe two. You’ll feel better.”

“I said I’m fine!” I snapped, but he tilted my head, guiding the smoke toward my mouth. I coughed the first time, sputtering, waving him off.

“See? Not so bad,” he said, chuckling, pressing his body closer. My chest stiffened, and I tried to push back, but the water made me slippery.

Zhenya spoke, not letting me go. “Come on. Just one more. You’re shaking.”

“I’m not shaking!” I protested, but my voice faltered. I took the second hit, clumsy and reluctant, coughing almost immediately. My lungs burned, my head felt light, but… nothing else yet.

Zhenya just laughed, low and teasing. “You’re cute when you fight it.” He pressed closer, hips nudging mine in the water. “One more.”

I glared at him. “I shouldn’t—I mean, I’m fine—!” My stomach twisted, heart thundering. Against the waist-deep water, I struggled for leverage, but his hands on my waist were firm, unyielding.

Finally, I hesitated and inhaled the third hit, shorter this time, already noticing a warm haze settling over my mind. My body betrayed me slightly, my balance wavering while i gripped the edge of the pool. “I—ugh… What the hell is the point of this?”

“Want you to smell like me,” he whispered, brushing his lips near my ear. “That haze clouding ur mind? its easy.”

I tried to straighten, tried to protest, but the smoke was creeping in, warming my chest, fogging my thoughts. “I’m not… I’m not gonna—ugh—do anything,” I said, voice wavering.

Zhenya pressed a hand to my side, thumb brushing lightly over the wet skin. “You’re lying. I can see it.”

I swallowed hard, knees wobbling slightly in the waist-deep water. The haze hit harder after the fourth drag. My body softened without me even realizing, spine leaning against him despite my protests. I coughed again, lightheaded, head spinning, the cold water doing nothing to cool the heat rising in my chest.

“See?” Zhenya murmured, smirk audible in his tone. “You've had one before.”

I gasped, trying to pull back, but my fingers slipped on the slick tile. My mind spun with heat and haze and frustration. This is insane. I shouldn’t… I shouldn’t be…

Zhenya chuckled low, exhaling smoke around my face, brushing a wet hand over my waist. “Good… finally letting it get to you.”

And then the haze fully settled in. My chest heaved, knees weak, body trembling. I could barely form completely coherent thoughts, let alone resist. My last thread of control had broken, leaving me utterly affected by the smoke, trapped with this devil.