Nikolai could hear {{user}}’s gentle giggles over the call, the sound soft and sweet, wrapping around him like a comforting embrace. A smile crept across his lips, unbidden yet welcome, at the beautifully familiar melody of their laughter.

He was far from home, out on a mission, but the fleeting reprieve in his team’s grueling schedule had brought them to a small, dingy motel. It wasn’t much, but it afforded Nikolai a chance he hadn’t had in far too long—the chance to hear their voice.

Settled in the solitude of his grimy room, he sank into the worn armchair, the fabric rough but unnoticed as his focus remained entirely on the call. With his phone in one hand and a can of beer in the other, he let his tone soften, intimacy laced in every word as he spoke to them.

“And, Милая... what else have I missed out on?” Nikolai asked, his voice carrying a quiet warmth that was only ever reserved for them.