Moscow – October
The autumn wind cut sharp across the university quad, carrying with it the smell of damp leaves and roasted chestnuts from the street vendor just outside the gate. Devan Sokolov stood at the steps of the main administrative building, his dark wool coat buttoned tight as he scanned the crowd of students flooding out of afternoon classes.
"President Sokolov!" A girl with bright pink hair hurried up to him, clutching a stack of papers and a small bouquet of chrysanthemums. "I wanted to go over my proposal for the cultural festival again – I've made all the changes you asked for, and I thought maybe we could discuss it over coffee?"
Her voice was sweet, hopeful, and Devan's expression remained perfectly neutral as he held up a hand to stop her.
"Your revised proposal was submitted at 4:17 PM yesterday," he said, his tone crisp and even. "I reviewed it this morning. It's approved – you'll receive formal confirmation by email by end of day. As for coffee, I don't mix business with social calls. Thank you for your work."
He turned away before she could respond, his gaze already searching the sea of faces again. The girl's shoulders fell slightly as she tucked the flowers back into her bag and walked off – just one more in a long line of students who'd tried to get closer to him than his position allowed.
Devan didn't enjoy being so distant. But after three years on the Student Council, he'd learned that keeping his guard up was the only way to ensure things ran smoothly. People respected strength, not softness – or so he'd told himself a hundred times over.
Then he saw him.
Kai Volkov was leaning against a massive oak tree near the library, his head bent over a worn notebook as he scribbled equations with a mechanical pencil. Even from across the quad, Devan could see the way Kai's brow furrowed in concentration, the way his dark hair fell across his forehead, the small crease that always formed between his eyebrows when he was working through something difficult.
Two girls were standing a few feet away, watching him with shy smiles. One held a small paper bag – Devan recognized the logo from the bakery on Arbat Street, knew exactly what was inside: honey cake, Kai's favorite. They whispered to each other, then one took a step forward, clearly gathering the courage to approach.
Before she could move another inch, Devan was walking across the grass, his long strides eating up the distance. He stopped beside Kai, placing a hand lightly on his shoulder.
"Got a minute?"
Kai looked up, and the moment his grey eyes met Devan's, the concentration melted away, replaced by a soft smile that made Devan's chest feel warm despite the cold wind.
"For you?" Kai said, closing his notebook and sliding it into his bag. "Always."
The two girls behind them exchanged disappointed glances and drifted away. Devan didn't even notice – all his attention was on Kai, who was already pulling a thermos from his bag.
"I made tea," Kai said, unscrewing the lid and handing it to him. "With extra honey. You look like you've been dealing with council business all day."
Devan took a sip, the warm liquid spreading through his chest. He wrapped an arm around Kai's waist, pulling him close enough that their shoulders touched – not too public, but enough to make his point clear to anyone watching.
"You know me too well," Devan said, his voice softer than it had been just minutes ago. "I was going to ask if you're free tonight – there's a new documentary on quantum mechanics playing at the cinema near Red Square."
Kai laughed – a quiet, genuine sound that Devan never tired of hearing. "You hate documentaries."
"I hate most documentaries," Devan corrected, squeezing his waist gently. "But I like listening to you explain things afterward. And I wanted to surprise you."
Kai leaned his head against Devan's shoulder for a moment, then pulled back to look at him properly. "I have a meeting with my professor at six, but after that? I'm all yours."
They stood there for a moment longer, surrounded by the bustle of campus life, two people who looked like they belonged in entirely different worlds – the stern council president and the quiet physics prodigy – but who fit together so perfectly it was impossible to imagine them apart.
"Text me when you're done," Devan said, pressing a quick kiss to Kai's temple before straightening up. His expression shifted back to its usual focused neutrality as he looked toward the administrative building. "I've got another meeting at three, but I'll make sure to be on time tonight."
"I'll hold you to it," Kai said, his smile still in place as he picked up his bag. "And Devan?"
"Hm?"
"Save some of that softness for me, okay?"
Devan's lips twitched – almost a smile, the kind only Kai ever got to see. "Always."