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The lights of the cabaret bar glittered like a thousand tiny stars reflected in the polished glasses lined up on the bar. Sigma stood behind the counter, his sharp, silver hair catching the faint golden glow of the lamps above. The murmur of the crowd mixed with the jazzy hum of the live band playing near the stage. It was another busy night at the cabaret—his cabaret—and everything was running smoothly.
Until he appeared.
Nikolai Gogol swept onto the stage, his dramatic entrance impossible to miss. Dressed in an elaborate white suit adorned with glittering embroidery, his movements were as fluid as the music that enveloped the room. He carried a cane that he twirled like an extension of his own body, his laughter bubbling over as he greeted the crowd. His mismatched eyes—one piercing blue, the other a swirl of vibrant colors—sparkled with mischief as he adjusted the tall hat perched atop his head.
Sigma sighed, knowing that Nikolai’s routine wasn’t limited to his performances. Offstage, he was just as unpredictable, and that unpredictability had a way of throwing Sigma off balance.
The first set ended to thunderous applause, and Nikolai leaped off the stage with a flourish, landing gracefully in front of the bar. He didn’t waste a moment before sliding onto a stool, tossing his hat onto the counter like it was a claim of ownership.
“Sigma, my darling!” Nikolai’s voice was loud enough to turn a few heads. “Why do you hide behind this bar when you should be the star of this show? I can picture it now—feathers, sequins, drama!” He flung his arms out wide, narrowly missing a patron.
Sigma raised an eyebrow, unamused. “Someone has to make sure you don’t set the place on fire.”
Nikolai grinned, resting his chin on his hands as he leaned across the counter. “Oh, Siggy, you wound me. I only set the stage alight—metaphorically, of course.” He winked.
Sigma sighed, but a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. No matter how exhausting Nikolai could be, there was something about him that drew people in. Including Sigma.
“Do you want your usual drink, or are you going to create a scene until I kick you out?” Sigma asked, reaching for a glass.
“Why not both?” Nikolai replied, leaning closer, his mismatched eyes studying Sigma with an intensity that made him pause. “But tonight, I want something new. Surprise me.”
Sigma frowned, glancing at the selection behind him. “You say that, but I’m not the one who likes surprises.”
“Maybe I just trust you to know what I’d like,” Nikolai said, his voice quieter now, more thoughtful.
That caught Sigma off guard. He glanced at Nikolai, who was watching him intently, the playful mask slipping ever so slightly. Sigma turned back to the bottles, trying to shake off the sudden flutter in his chest.
He poured a drink, something simple but strong, and set it in front of Nikolai. “Here. Don’t cause trouble.”
Nikolai took the glass, lifting it in a mock toast. “To the most dazzling barkeep this cabaret has ever seen,” he said, his grin returning as he took a sip.
The night carried on, with Nikolai’s antics continuing to light up the room. But every so often, his gaze would drift back to Sigma, who was busy managing the chaos from behind the bar. And every time their eyes met, Sigma felt a strange pull, like a thread connecting them across the noise and movement of the cabaret.
Later that night, when the bar was quiet and the last of the patrons had left, Sigma found himself cleaning up while Nikolai lingered by the stage, sitting cross-legged on the edge. The stage lights had dimmed, casting the room in a soft, golden glow.
“You’re still here,” Sigma said, setting a glass down.
“Am I not welcome?” Nikolai asked, feigning offense.
Sigma shook his head, walking over. “You know that’s not what I meant.”
Nikolai tilted his head, his mismatched eyes studying Sigma with an intensity that made him want to look away—but he didn’t. “You’re different when the crowd’s gone,” Nikolai said softly. “Quieter. Softer.”
Sigma frowned. “And you’re different when you’re not performing. Less…” He paused, searching for the word.
“Chaotic?” Nikolai offered with a smirk.
“Intense,” Sigma corrected.
Nikolai laughed, but it wasn’t his usual boisterous sound. It was quieter, almost wistful. “You don’t hate it, though,” he said, his voice dropping into something more vulnerable.
Sigma hesitated, the weight of the moment settling between them. “No,” he admitted finally. “I don’t.”
Nikolai’s smile softened, and for once, there was no teasing in his expression. He reached out, tugging lightly on Sigma’s sleeve. “Come here.”
Sigma raised an eyebrow but stepped closer, stopping just in front of him. Nikolai’s fingers brushed against his wrist, his touch light but deliberate.
“You work too hard, Siggy,” Nikolai said, his voice barely above a whisper. “This place wouldn’t run without you, but you deserve to be seen too.”
Sigma’s breath caught in his throat as Nikolai’s hand moved to his cheek, his thumb brushing gently against his skin. The world seemed to shrink, leaving only the two of them in the quiet cabaret.
“Nikolai…” Sigma began, but the words caught in his throat as Nikolai leaned in, his lips brushing against Sigma’s in a kiss that was as soft as it was unexpected.
For a moment, Sigma froze, his mind racing. But then he relaxed, his hands finding Nikolai’s waist as he leaned into the kiss. It was slow and tender, a rare moment of stillness in the chaos of their usual lives.
When they pulled apart, Nikolai’s mismatched eyes searched Sigma’s face, a rare seriousness in his expression. “Don’t hide behind the bar forever,” he said softly. “Let someone see you. Let me see you.”
Sigma swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his chest. “You already do.”
A slow smile spread across Nikolai’s face, and he leaned in again, resting his forehead against Sigma’s. The two of them stayed there, wrapped in the quiet intimacy of the moment, the cabaret their sanctuary from the world outside.
Sigma’s breath came unevenly as Nikolai’s forehead rested against his, their quiet intimacy shattered only by the faint hum of the cabaret's fading lights. The quiet weight of Nikolai's words lingered, but before Sigma could respond further, Nikolai closed the small gap between them again.
This kiss was different—deeper, more deliberate, yet still laced with that same tenderness. Nikolai’s hands moved up to cradle Sigma’s face, his thumbs brushing faintly against his cheeks. Sigma felt himself melt into it, his usual sharp edges softening under the warmth and sincerity of Nikolai’s touch.
Sigma hesitated at first, his hands hovering awkwardly by Nikolai’s sides before he gave in, pulling him closer. It felt foreign—comfort and vulnerability intertwined. Nikolai tilted his head slightly, deepening the kiss, his curls brushing against Sigma’s forehead as he smiled faintly against his lips.
When they finally pulled apart, both of them were breathless, their foreheads pressing together once more. Nikolai’s grin was dazzling in the dim light, his mismatched eyes shimmering with a mix of affection and playful triumph.
“See, Siggy?” Nikolai murmured, his voice soft yet teasing. “You’re a natural at this.”
Sigma huffed, though his lips twitched into a reluctant smile. “You make everything sound like a performance,” he muttered, though there was no real annoyance in his tone.
“Life is a performance,” Nikolai replied dramatically, though his hands lingered on Sigma’s arms. “But with you, I don’t mind improvising a bit.”
Sigma couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped him, the sound surprising even himself. “You’re impossible.”
“And yet you’re still here,” Nikolai said, tilting his head in mock innocence. “What does that say about you?”
“It says I’m regretting my life choices,” Sigma deadpanned, though his hands didn’t leave Nikolai’s waist.
Nikolai laughed, leaning back just enough to properly look at him. “Admit it, Siggy. You’d miss me if I weren’t here.”
Sigma rolled his eyes but didn’t deny it. “You’d burn this place down without me.”
“And you’d be bored out of your mind without me,” Nikolai shot back, his grin widening.
Sigma sighed, his hands tightening ever so slightly around Nikolai’s waist as if grounding himself. “Maybe,” he conceded softly.
“Maybe?” Nikolai teased, his voice dropping to a murmur as he leaned in once more, his lips brushing lightly against Sigma’s. “Let me convince you.”
The kiss deepened, Nikolai’s movements languid yet insistent as he pressed closer. Sigma responded more confidently this time, his hands slipping up to Nikolai’s back. The cabaret’s golden glow seemed to wrap around them, amplifying the warmth between them as their lips moved together in a slow, unhurried rhythm.
Nikolai’s cane clattered to the floor, forgotten as he shifted to better straddle the edge of the stage, his arms winding around Sigma’s neck. Sigma tilted his head, his fingers lightly tracing the curve of Nikolai’s spine. He found himself marveling at how natural it felt, like they’d done this a hundred times before, even though they hadn’t.
For once, Sigma wasn’t thinking about logistics or consequences. He wasn’t worried about tomorrow, or the bar, or the fragile balance of his life. In this moment, it was just Nikolai—eccentric, maddening, and entirely captivating.
When they finally broke apart, Nikolai’s grin returned, smug yet endearing. “If I knew kissing you would shut you up, I’d have done it ages ago,” he quipped.
Sigma let out a short laugh, shaking his head. “You have an uncanny ability to ruin a moment, you know that?”
“It’s a gift,” Nikolai said, preening.
Sigma shook his head again, but his hands stayed firmly on Nikolai’s waist, grounding them both. “You’re infuriating,” he muttered, though the words were softened by the faint smile tugging at his lips.
“And you’re far too serious,” Nikolai countered, his tone light but his gaze warm. “It’s why we work so well together.”
Sigma didn’t have a response for that, so he simply rested his forehead against Nikolai’s again, letting the quiet stretch between them. The soft murmur of the cabaret’s closing preparations filled the background, but neither of them seemed to notice.
For the first time in a long while, Sigma allowed himself to relax, to let the moment linger. Nikolai’s fingers traced absent patterns on Sigma’s shoulder, the intimacy of the gesture sending a warmth through him he hadn’t expected.
“So,” Nikolai said after a while, his voice breaking the silence. “Does this mean I get free drinks from now on?”
Sigma groaned, his head dropping against Nikolai’s shoulder. “And there it is.”
“What?” Nikolai asked, feigning innocence. “I think I’ve earned it.”
Sigma lifted his head, meeting Nikolai’s mischievous gaze. “If you think one kiss is worth a lifetime of free drinks, you’re delusional.”
“One kiss?” Nikolai repeated, his grin widening. “Oh, Siggy, you’re underestimating me. I’ve got plenty more where that came from.”
Sigma’s lips twitched despite himself. “You’re exhausting.”
“And yet, you love it,” Nikolai said, leaning in to press another quick kiss to the corner of Sigma’s mouth.
Sigma didn’t argue.
For once, he didn’t feel the need to.