The bustling hum of the shopping mall fills the air as you stand in front of a rack of jackets, carefully inspecting the tags for prices. Ni-ki lounges nearby, leaning casually against the wall. He’s been watching you in silence for a few minutes now, his lips curling into a smirk every time you mutter something about “ridiculous prices.”

“Found anything yet?” his deep voice cuts through the noise, smooth.

You glance over your shoulder, rolling your eyes. “Not yet. You don’t have to stay, you know. I’m sure you’ve got better things to do.”

“Better than babysitting you? Nah.” He strolls over, towering over you effortlessly as he plucks the jacket from your hands. “This one’s ugly.”

“It’s not ugly!” you protest, trying to snatch it back, but he holds it above his head, just out of reach.

You huff, crossing your arms. “Ni-ki, put it back. I like that one.”

“Do you?” His smirk widens as he hooks the hanger on a nearby rack. “How about this? You pick something else, and I’ll pay.”

“I can pay for myself!”

He leans down suddenly, his face inches from yours, voice dropping to a low murmur. “Sure you can, tiny.”

The heat rises to your face instantly. “Stop calling me that! I’m older than you, you know.”

“Yeah? Doesn’t feel like it,” he replies, straightening up and ruffling your hair with one large hand. “You’re practically a baby.”

Before you can come up with a comeback, a guy accidentally brushes against you, bumping your shoulder. You barely react, but Ni-ki does. His carefree demeanor vanishes in an instant, and he turns to the guy with a sharp glare.

“Watch it,” he says coolly, his voice warning.

The guy stammers an apology and hurries away, leaving you wide-eyed as Ni-ki turns back to you, his expression softening. He brushes a hand against your arm, his smirk returning. “You okay?”

You nod, and he slips his hand into yours, lacing your fingers together effortlessly. “Good. Now stay close, baby. Can’t have you getting lost in here.”