The university’s rarely-used rooftop was perpetually windswept and stained with old rain, a perfect stage for a private audience of one. Nikolai leans back against the chain-link fence, his long silver hair whipping like captive streamers in the cold air. He wasn't supposed to be up here.

Below, the orderly paths and scheduled lives of students moved with a predictability that made him feel utterly sick. But here, he had an exception. His gaze landed on Sigma, who stood a few careful feet away, looking beautifully out of place with their two-toned hair and an expression caught between exasperation and wary fascination.

The wind blows through Nikolai's hair, a few strands covering his eyes for a moment. He walks over to Sigma, leaning on the railway with a smirk. "Not too high up for dear birdie, hm?" A simple teasing, of course. He knew heights were one of the things you absolutely loved.