The easygoing nature of Mikel's response made Viktor feel more at ease. For a brief moment, he allowed himself to forget the complexities of their situation and simply enjoy the conversation. He watched the way Mikel's face lit up when he spoke, the way his energy filled the room. Viktor found himself wanting to protect that light, that passion, at all costs.
But the reality of their situation loomed over him like a shadow. He knew this was only the beginning, that he would have to tread carefully in the days and weeks to come. Mikel was still a stranger to him in many ways, and yet Viktor felt as though he had known him for lifetimes.
Their meeting was brief, but Viktor knew that it would leave a lasting impression on both of them. As he prepared to leave the studio, he promised himself that he would return. He would take the time to get to know Mikel, to build a connection that was more than just destiny.
Because while fate may have brought them together, it was Viktor's choices that would determine the future of their relationship.
"I'll be back," Viktor said quietly as he stood at the door, his gaze lingering on Mikel for a moment longer than necessary.
Mikel smiled again, that same warm, genuine smile that had captured Viktor's attention from the start. "I look forward to it, Viktor."
---
Viktor found himself returning to Mikel's studio the very next day.
The sun was low in the sky when he arrived, casting a golden glow over the bustling streets of Paris. Viktor stepped into the alleyway again, he noticed Mikel sitting in the same spot, hunched over a sketchbook. The young artist looked up and smiled brightly as soon as he saw Viktor.
"Back so soon?" Mikel asked, his voice playful but carrying a hint of genuine surprise. He set his sketchbook aside, standing up to greet Viktor. "I didn't think I'd see you again so quickly."
Viktor felt the corners of his mouth lift in response, something that had become almost foreign to him over the years. "I told you I'd be back."
Mikel's eyes lit up with amusement. "You did, didn't you? I suppose you've come to critique my work some more?" He gestured to the sketchbook, teasing but friendly.
Viktor glanced down at the sketch. It was a rough drawing of the Parisian skyline, full of movement and life, though incomplete. "I wouldn't presume to critique a work in progress," Viktor replied smoothly. "But I do enjoy seeing what you create."
Mikel chuckled, his laugh a light, carefree sound that seemed to lift the weight of the world from Viktor's shoulders. "I'm not sure anyone's ever told me that before." He paused, looking at Viktor curiously. "You're... different."
Different. Viktor felt the word hang between them, the truth of it so much heavier than Mikel could ever know. He was different in every way, ancient, immortal, bound to the shadows. And yet, standing in the warmth of Mikel's gaze, Viktor felt as though he could be something more. Something almost human.
"Different, how?" Viktor asked, his voice calm, though his heart wasn't, he was dying to know what Mikel think of him.
Mikel tilted his head, eyes narrowing thoughtfully as he studied Viktor.
"You just… don't seem like most people. There's a quietness about you, like you're watching the world from a distance, but you're still deeply connected to it." He smiled sheepishly, realizing how strange his observation might sound. "I don't know, maybe that's silly."
Viktor's chest tightened at Mikel's words. Mikel didn't know how close to the truth he had come, how Viktor did, indeed, watch the world from afar, never fully able to immerse himself in it, and yet never able to escape it. But Mikel's understanding, even without knowing the full truth, made something inside Viktor soften.
"It's not silly," Viktor said quietly. "I think you see things most people overlook."
Mikel's smile returned, but this time it was softer, more intimate. "Maybe that's what makes me a decent artist," he said with a small shrug. "I see things in the details."
Viktor nodded, though his gaze never left Mikel. The mate pull had begun to work its way deeper into his mind, into his very being. It wasn't just about the physical attraction, though that was undeniable, it was the way he felt compelled to protect Mikel, to know him, to share in his life. But how could he? How could he pull Mikel into his world without destroying him?
For now, Viktor pushed those thoughts aside. He had made a decision to take things slowly, to understand Mikel as a person before revealing the truth. But every day that passed made it harder to resist the growing bond between them.
"Come inside," Mikel said suddenly, breaking the silence. "I've been working on something new, and I think you'll like it."
Viktor followed Mikel into the small studio, the familiar smell of paint and charcoal filling the air. Canvases were scattered around the room, some leaning against the walls, others still drying on easels. Mikel's hands moved as he spoke, animated and full of life, pointing to different pieces as he explained his process. But Viktor found himself less focused on the art and more on the way Mikel's eyes sparkled when he talked, the way his lips curved into a smile so easily.
"You're very passionate about your work," Viktor observed, watching Mikel's hands as he gestured to a particularly large canvas. The energy that radiated from Mikel was magnetic, impossible to ignore.
Mikel laughed softly, rubbing the back of his neck. "I guess I am. It's the only thing that really makes sense to me, you know? When I paint, everything else just fades away. It's like time doesn't exist."
Viktor understood that feeling all too well, though his experience of time was far different. For him, it stretched endlessly, each day bleeding into the next, with little meaning attached to the passage of time. But for Mikel, a mortal, time was precious. Each moment was fleeting, making every experience, every emotion, that much more vibrant.
"And what about you?" Mikel asked, turning the conversation around. "What do you do, Viktor? I mean, you've got this air of mystery about you, and I can't figure you out."
Viktor smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes. "I'm just a traveler," he said evasively. "I've seen many places, but I don't belong to any one of them."
Mikel's eyes softened at Viktor's words. "That sounds lonely."
Viktor felt his chest tighten again. Loneliness was something he had grown accustomed to, something he had learned to endure over the centuries. But hearing it spoken aloud by Mikel made it feel heavier, more unbearable.
"It can be," Viktor admitted after a pause. "But sometimes, it's better to be alone."
"Do you really believe that?" Mikel asked, stepping closer to Viktor. His gaze was searching, as if he could see past Viktor's calm exterior into the depths of his soul. "I don't. I think people are meant to connect, to share their lives with others."
Viktor's throat tightened, the mate pull growing stronger with every word Mikel spoke. His instincts screamed at him to claim Mikel, to reveal the truth and bind them together. But he couldn't. Not yet. Not while Mikel was still so vulnerable, so unaware of the danger Viktor's world held.
Mikel, sensing the shift in Viktor's mood, smiled softly and placed a hand on Viktor's arm. The touch was warm, grounding, and it sent a shockwave of electricity through Viktor's cold skin.
"Hey," Mikel said gently, "you don't have to be alone. Not if you don't want to be."
Viktor's gaze locked onto Mikel's, his breath catching in his throat. Mikel's touch, his words, his very presence were making it impossible for Viktor to keep his distance. The attraction between them was undeniable, and despite his best efforts, Viktor could feel himself being drawn deeper into Mikel's world.
But the mate pull wasn't just about desire, it was about love, connection, and a bond that transcended the physical. Viktor knew he couldn't ignore it much longer. His feelings for Mikel were growing stronger, and soon, he would have to make a choice.
But for now, Viktor allowed himself this moment. He reached up and placed his hand over Mikel's, feeling the warmth of his skin against his own cold flesh.
"Thank you," Viktor said quietly, his voice laced with emotion. "But there are things about me you don't know. Things that might change how you see me."
Mikel frowned slightly, his brow furrowing with concern. "What do you mean?"
Viktor hesitated, the weight of his secret pressing down on him. He couldn't tell Mikel the truth, not yet, but he couldn't lie to him either. "Let's just say... I have a complicated past."
Mikel's frown deepened, but he didn't push. Instead, he squeezed Viktor's arm gently and gave him a reassuring smile. "We all have our secrets. But when you're ready to share, I'll be here."
Viktor's heart ached at Mikel's kindness, at the trust he was offering so freely. It was dangerous for Mikel to care for him, to get closer to him. And yet, Viktor couldn't bring himself to walk away.
"You're a good man, Mikel," Viktor whispered, almost to himself.
Mikel chuckled softly, shaking his head. "I'm just a guy who paints. But I appreciate the compliment."