Leo drove Youri back to his apartment after Mia finished patching him up, the city lights of Vegas streaking past the windshield as the engine hummed low. Neither of them spoke much on the way. Youri leaned against the passenger-side door, eyes half-closed, one hand pressed firmly against his ribs where the pain pulsed with every breath. Even with the bandages and painkillers, Zeus had done real damage to him.
When they arrived, Leo parked in front of the aging apartment building on the outskirts of the city. The structure looked tired—cracked concrete walls, flickering lights, and narrow staircases that twisted upward like a challenge. No elevator. Never an elevator.
Leo sighed as he stepped out, already knowing what came next.
"Alright," he muttered, looping Youri's arm over his shoulder. "Let's get you home."
They climbed slowly, step by step, Leo bearing most of Youri's weight. By the time they reached the fifth floor, both of them were breathing hard. Sweat rolled down Leo's temple, while Youri winced quietly, refusing to complain.
At the door, Youri tapped Leo lightly on the back.
"Thanks," he said, voice rough but sincere. "I owe you."
Leo waved it off with a grin. "You owe me nothing. Just don't die before your next shift at Lux."
Youri smirked faintly as Leo turned and headed back down the stairs, his footsteps echoing into the distance.
Inside, Youri barely made it to the couch before collapsing onto it. The impact sent a sharp wave of pain through his ribs, and he sucked in a breath through clenched teeth, staring up at the cracked ceiling.
Fragments of the fight replayed in his mind.
Zeus's fist.The cage rattling.The moment he almost had him.
Youri groaned softly and rolled onto his side, pressing a pillow against his ribs. After a moment, he forced himself upright and staggered toward the fridge, hoping for ice. When he opened it, cold air spilled out—but there was nothing inside except a half-eaten container of leftovers and an old bottle of water.
He shut the door with a dull thud and leaned back against the counter, exhaustion washing over him.
After a long pause, he pushed himself toward the bathroom.
The shower sputtered to life, water pouring down in uneven streams. Youri stood before the mirror, shirtless, staring at his reflection. His body was a map of scars—some old, some new. Jagged lines across his torso. Burn marks. Surgical scars. Each one carried a memory he never spoke about.
His jaw tightened.
He closed his eyes.
For a moment, everything rushed back—the pain, the loss, the nights spent screaming in silence. He took a slow breath, grounding himself, then stepped into the shower and let the water wash it all away.
The next morning, sunlight crept through the tall window, casting pale streaks across the room. Youri stirred, groaning softly as he sat up. To his surprise, the pain was… manageable. Still there, but dulled. His breathing came easier.
A knock echoed through the apartment.
Leo stepped inside moments later, stopping dead when he saw Youri walking toward the kitchen.
"What the hell?" Leo said. "You were barely breathing last night."
Youri shrugged and tossed him a beer. "Fast recovery."
Leo cracked it open, took a sip, then shook his head. "That's not normal."
Youri smirked but said nothing.
After a short pause, Leo glanced at his phone. "I've gotta head to Mia's hospital. She forgot her medical bag last night and asked me to bring it."
Youri leaned against the counter, sipping his drink. "You want company?"
Leo raised an eyebrow. "You're coming."
The hospital smelled of disinfectant and quiet tension. They followed the receptionist's directions down the long hallways, eventually reaching the children's wing. Laughter echoed faintly somewhere nearby, soft and fragile.
Room thirty-three's door stood open.
Inside, Mia stood beside a small hospital bed, checking monitors. Lying in the bed was a young blonde girl, pale and thin, her breathing shallow but steady. Standing nearby—arms crossed, posture rigid—was Zeus.
Leo froze. "Uh… hey. I brought the bag."
Mia glanced up and smiled faintly. "Good. Just wait outside. I'll be there in a minute."
They stepped into the hallway. A minute later, Mia joined them.
Leo didn't waste time. "What was Zeus doing here?"
Mia adjusted her glasses. "He was with his daughter."
Leo blinked. "He has a daughter?"
"Yes," Mia replied softly. "And she's very sick. She has Cosplex."
Youri stiffened.
Mia continued, voice calm but heavy. "Her cells can't maintain their functions properly. She's bedridden most of the time. Treatment is expensive… and it only slows the inevitable."
Youri looked away.
"At this rate," Mia said quietly, "he's just buying her time."
Leo swallowed hard. "So that's why he fights so much…"
Mia nodded. "I help when I can."
At the exit, Mia turned to them. "Zeus may seem cold, but don't judge him too quickly."
Later, as Leo drove toward Lux, he sighed. "I feel like an asshole for thinking he was just another brute."
Youri stared out the window. "Everyone's fighting something."
Lux was already alive when they arrived. Music thundered through the walls, lights flashing in hypnotic patterns. Gloria sat in a VIP booth with a man getting a tattoo right there at the table.
She spotted them and waved.
"Boys! Come here."
They joined her, and she gestured to the man. "Meet Kano. Old friend."
Kano looked them over with sharp black eyes. "I'm looking for muscle. Casino job."
Leo leaned forward. "What kind of job?"
"Security," Kano said smoothly. "Simple."
His gaze shifted to Youri. "Not sure about him."
Leo smiled. "Trust me. He's tougher than he looks."
Kano studied Youri for a long moment, then smiled.
"Alright, boys," he said. "You interested?"