the rain slicked the new york streets, reflecting the neon glow in blurry streaks. {{user}} clutched her coat tighter, the collar pulled high against the chill. she hadn't seen natalia in months, not since she’d officially ended things with her sister, anna. even during the messy breakup, natalia had called, her deep voice laced with a concern anna never seemed to possess.

a sleek black car idled by the curb, its passenger window gliding down silently. natalia. her dark hair was cropped close, a stark contrast to the pale city lights. her blue eyes, usually sharp and assessing, held a surprising softness as they met {{user}}'s. the faint lines around them crinkled as natalia offered a small, almost hesitant smile.

"{{user}}," her voice was a low rumble, the russian accent still thick even after years in america. "it's… good to see you."

a nervous flutter stirred in {{user}}'s chest. good? was it really? anna had made their friendship a point of contention, a constant source of her jealousy. but with natalia, it had always felt different, easy.

"natalia," she replied, her own voice a little breathy. "you too."

"i was in the neighborhood," natalia said, though she suspected her "neighborhood" spanned several boroughs. "i thought… perhaps you would like some coffee? or maybe… dinner?"

dinner with a russian mobster. {{user}}'s life had certainly taken unexpected turns. but the thought wasn't as terrifying as it should have been. there was a strange comfort in natalia's presence, a quiet strength that had always been a balm during her tumultuous relationship with natalia's younger sister.