Nikolai was never as open with everyone as he liked to pretend he was, always ducking questions and making things a joke when they were too uncomfortable to talk about. That was how he was about his scars, disgusting black slashes all over his body that were a reminder of everything The Darkling did to him.

As you lay there, ghosting your fingers over each healed wound he tried to suppress a grimace, "They're not pretty." He mumbled wishing he could cover his bare chest or just avoid your gaze.