#sunlight filtering through the trees (kenjie convo ft alexie)

[gildedash]

closed for @reveriixs

kenjie x alexie

location: some bagel shop, next day after the gala, midday

kenjie had not wanted to talk to his nocturne friends today, oddly enough. though when he got a call from alexie to get a new york city bagel this afternoon, he still wasn't sure if he could eat anything yet, though his stomach was screaming at him to do so. he was still a mess from the night before, he needed a shower. being in public was the last thing he wanted to do right now. after drinking all night and fighting on adrenalin and alcohol, he really should have something to eat. though his hands were flat firmly underneath his legs as he sat in his chair. the bagel alexie had gotten him was untouched. he stares at it. "why am i here again? am i in trouble?" he felt like a kid being pulled to the principal's office. "i can't eat anything right now." he says, letting his eyes rest shut. "have you talked to the police yet? i was with you all night, right? you were my date." kenjie blinks a couple times as he feels tears threatening to rim his eyes and looks away.

[gildedash]

you’re too on edge.” kenjie says groaning as he glances at zev. “alexie don’t you think that we should force zev to have fun tonight?” he asks looking over at his friend. “you both dress up nicely though. i’m one text away if anyone needs anything tonight.” he says, with the slightest bit of a shrug as his gaze moves between alexie and zev. he wanted them to know that he would show up for them if they needed it. “let’s scope out the finger foods, i’m starving.”

@reveriixs

Location: Memorial Gala Status: Closed @gildedash and @reveriixs (Kenjie and Alexie)

The Gala wasn't the place he wanted to be, but he knew he would need to make an appearance. The text had put him on edge, and he hated the feeling. If someone was going to happen, he wanted to be there for it. It didn't make sense to him to have a memorial for someone like the mayor, but someone seemed to think he deserved it. Zev took a deep breath as he looked around and shook his head. "There's too many people here. Don't get messy tonight."

[gildedash]

text to ➡️ daddy nocturne number 1 and 2 aka zev and alexie

kenjie: i have a proposition kenjie: you two help me dye my hair lilac before this gala thingie. @reveriixs & @frgmentd

[gildedash]

“my motto is always put effort into one area more than others, for me it is my hair. my hair is definitely better than how i treat myself throughout life or my fashion.” he says teasingly as he walks next to alexie. he knew that he did need to catch up with him. it has been a minute since he had met with his brother from another mother. he arches a brow up at him amusingly when he hears him laugh. it feels like it has been a minute since he’s heard him laugh like that, and for a moment, he felt accomplished about something for once today. “you should have made it a t-shirt! we could pass it out to everybody, like merch! i think everyone else would enjoy it too.” he says laughing now too as he nudges alexie’s shoulder a bit gently as he walks next ot his friend. he listens to the conversations around them. mothers talking to their sons on the sidewalk and almost wonders momentarily what it is like to still be talking to his own family, he needs to remember that he has his makeshift family and he should learn to remember that is just as important as he takes in his time with alexie.

his focus was actually on him for once, now that he was done paying attention to the neighboring conversations. “i think so– also i’m like hyperaware right now and that just makes me look even more like a maniac. believe me, i’m exhausted, but i still have things i need to get done today.” as new yorkers like to say, the day is still young. “thank god, a dark room is probably exactly what i need right now, but also, y’know if you need actual therapy other than booze, it might not be a bad idea to consider seeing someone to talk to. people do it every day now, it’s like a trend or whatever to see someone for your health.” kenjie says with a shrug as he stares through the door leading to a dark bar before he takes a deep breath and walks through the door.

Alexie blinked slowly, his smirk crawling across his face like it had all the time in the world. There was an almost indulgent pause before he spoke, as if debating whether to go for the throat or play nice. “Oh sweetheart,” he drawled, smooth as ever, “I care more about your fashion than you do. And that’s saying something, because I don’t even dress to impress anymore—just to intimidate and confuse the rich.”

He started walking, umbrella swinging lazily at his side like a cane he didn’t need but might turn weapon if the moment called for it. His eyes flicked over to Kenjie with a glint of amusement. “You do have nice hair, though. Like, deceptively functional for someone who consistently looks like he lost a fight with a laundry basket.”

At the mention of the burner phone incident, Alexie actually laughed—a quick, sharp sound that cracked through the air. “Please. That was iconic. You chased that guy down looking like a sleep-deprived cartoon character and still came out the hero. I was this close to putting it on a T-shirt. Front: your face mid-sprint. Back: Don’t run with what isn’t yours."

They turned the corner, Alexie casting a brief glance up at the sky before his gaze returned to Kenjie. “You know,” he mused, “for someone who claims he’s not awake, you’re keeping up remarkably well. Must be the threat of public humiliation keeping you sharp.”

Then, more casually, with that lazy purr of charm he wielded like a scalpel: “And don’t worry. I’m not dragging you anywhere that requires social performance. Just somewhere dark, quiet, and full of liquor. Like therapy—if therapy poured doubles and didn’t give a damn about your coping mechanisms.��

As they reached the side-street bar with no name and even less lighting, Alexie swung the door open with a flourish, gesturing for Kenjie to go first. “Now come on, Chaos. Let’s drink like we know too much and sleep too little.”

[gildedash]

“listen i am not the most fashionable person out there, i wear dark hoodies and oversized graphic tees most days. you know this. the coffee stain just exacerbates it. i care more about my hair than i do about fashion.” he really was not having a good day today and he hardly got any sleep during the daytime and has been doing the night time runs for nocturne for quite a while now because it worked better for his schedule. however, it was messing up his sleep. he looks up at his friend tilting his head to the side as he gets up swiftly to his feet. “you remember when i had to chase that guy down too? he took the burner phone and it blew up on him. he knew what he was in for the moment i caught up to him. lucky for that asshole i’m not awake yet today.” he says tugging his hat around his ears. he tilts a brow up at alexie, wondering if he should be worried. It was after all only two in the afternoon. though, there were no questions when it came to alcohol, right? “alright sure, guess i could use something stronger than coffee right now anyway, life is just throwing a whole bunch of wrecking balls at me today for some reason, lead the way.”

Alexie stepping onto the sidewalk like the city owes him rent, umbrella in one hand, the other tucked neatly into his coat pocket, not a single drop of rain on him because of course not—

“You could sue city hall,” he replies dryly, eyes scanning the soaked chaos that is Kenjie, “but unless emotional damage from tragically ruined layering counts in court, I’d say your case is...circumstantial at best.”

His gaze drops pointedly to the coffee-stained shirt, one brow lifting. “Though, I *have* seen settlements awarded for less offensive fashion crimes.”

With the faintest smirk, Alexie tilts his head toward the street, still watching the biker vanish into traffic. “That man just committed assault and fled the scene, and your first thought was to file paperwork? I’d call that growth. Last time you got knocked down, I think you tried to sell the guy a burner phone.”

He steps closer, umbrella angled just enough to shield Kenjie from the sun now splitting through clouds. "Come on, Sad Sack. Let’s get you dry and less litigious. I know a place. Doesn’t serve great coffee, but the liquor doesn’t ask questions."

Beat. "Neither do I. Most days."

[gildedash]

kenjie looks over at him the slightest bit of a smile on his lips. “I like that policy you have though. i’m used to having you in my life now.” he says letting their hands swing side by side as they push past people. the touch of the thumb brushing along his knuckles was so calming. kenjie had almost forgotten about everything the night before. as they turn the corner, they head up to the gate that leads up to the brownstone that kenjie has remembered staying in so many times in the past. he leans against the brick as he waits for alexie to fish out his keys. “of course i will, i don’t forget about my friends. ever. i don’t got no one else. you’ll always be in the back of my mind.” he says looking up at him. “maybe once i get this big place of my own one day i’ll have a pillow for you. with like one of those guest rooms or whatever. anytime for whenever you need it.” except given the situation that kenjie was in, he’s certain that he will never be able to own a home. as long as that dirty nocturne cop is around, he basically doesn’t exist to the rest of the world. it seems like kenjie’s life is so complicated that he wants to tell alexie everything. however, he doesn’t know how he would react, would he still think of him in this way? there was a time when alexie had seen him when he was the most injured ever. he could probably put two and two together if he realized what happened. “i don’t wanna wind up on those streets again though, it kind of sucked bein’ there."

Alexie let out a low, indulgent hum—the kind that said he was listening, even if he was already two steps ahead. The sound slipped from his throat like a velvet threat, all ease and implication.

“That’s cute,” he drawled, glancing sideways with that knowing smirk already tugging at the corner of his mouth. “You think havin’ your own place means you’re not still my problem.” He gave Kenjie’s hand a light squeeze. “Newsflash, cariño: once I’ve wrapped you in one of my hoodies, you’re officially on the ledger. Return policy expired.”

They rounded the corner, the hum of the city curling around their shoulders like second skin. Alexie’s tone dipped quieter, but never softer. “You want a place like mine?” he asked, not mocking—genuine, in that twisted way only he could manage. “Then don’t just hustle, build. Pick the corners they ain’t watching. Carve out somethin’ that’s yours and bleed for it, if you have to.”

A pause, then: “Zev and I won’t always be the only table you’re eatin’ from. But you start eatin’ good somewhere else, you better bring me leftovers.”

He stopped at the crosswalk, tilting his head down so their eyes could meet, even under the city lights. “Side hustle’s fine. But make sure whatever you choose... it earns you more than just rent. It should matter.” His voice edged low and dangerous, like steel wrapped in silk. “Otherwise you’ll be right back on the streets—just dressed prettier.”

The light flipped. Alexie tugged him forward with lazy confidence, thumb brushing Kenjie’s knuckles as he walked. “But if all else fails,” he added over his shoulder, “I’ve got another pillow. Just try not to drool on this one.”

[gildedash]

he can’t help but laugh slightly as he feels the vibration of alexie’s voice against his lilac hair that he is now itching to get off as fast as he could. though he realizes if he does that it would be a recipe for disaster right now before he even got any sleep. “hey, at least i have my own place right now. been going on three years now.” he says as he walks next to alexie. walking the familiar streets that lead to his brownstone walk up. “I’m just trying to decide if i want to really deal with my roommates at this moment, heading to your place seems a lot better than that honestly. your pillows are so comfortable.” he says teasingly. “even if you’re threatening to smother me with one. i don’t know if i actually snore–” he says thinking about it more with a shrug. “maybe– maybe you will see me one day with my own home. like you? though, i suppose i should get another job other than working for you and zev if i want that to happen, huh?” kenjie had come a long way since he had first met alexie. really he’s a lot cleaner now, sharper. a smile forms on his lips softly as he nudges alexie gently. “this whole recruiting business doesn’t necessarily pay all the bills. perhaps i should start looking into a side hustle to put my mind to. maybe it will keep me off these streets.” he says, thinking the last part out loud mostly.

He stood there his arms wrapped around Kenjie like it was the most natural thing in the damn world. Like he’d always known how to hold this kid when the weight got too loud.

“You’re lucky I like you,” he finally muttered, voice low and steady against the crown of that lilac-stained head. “’Cause most people that dramatic get left read and red in the face.”

He let out a soft chuckle, pulling back just enough to look down at him, thumb brushing briefly along the kid’s jaw to check how bad the hangover really was. “No more dying. You wanna prove somethin’ to me? Live long enough to stop crashing’ on my damn couch.”

But he didn’t mean it. Not really. Kenjie could crash at his place every day for a year and Alexie wouldn’t flinch. Especially not tonight/ He reached down, laced their fingers again without a word, noting how Kenjie gave him the softer hand this time.

“C’mon, sweetheart,” he said, tugging him gently down the sidewalk. “My place and bed and I’ll even toss you a hoodie so you look a little less like a club-rat tragedy.” A smirk ghosted over his mouth. “But if you snore, I’m smothering’ you with a pillow.” Beat. “And yeah,” he added more quietly, squeezing his hand once, “I’m damn lucky, too.”

[gildedash]

kenjie shakes his head burying his face into alexie’s chest. “you can’t say that to me and not expect me to not die for you.” he was so close that he could smell his aftershave. he was calming and relaxing. alexie was familiar to kenjie and he tended to keep those type of people close to him. “i’m starting to think that i’m not a lilac hair type of guy.” he says with a weak laugh, and yes his head was still pounding from the excessive amount he drank last night. It was probably a good thing that he didn’t see anyone else after a while. “my roommates also kept me up blabbering like school girls all night. can we head to your place? seems like everyone had an eventful time at the gala last night. catch some shut eye?” he says teasingly. “i promise no more fighting or killing from me for a while, that’s not even my job. though i do need to train more in general after this...” he says softly as he looks up at alexie, his chin resting softly against his chest as the smallest bit of a smile forms on his lips. “don’t know how i lucked out calling you a friend.” he says, embracing the warmth of the hug as he pulls away, letting his hand slide back into alexie’s, giving him the less calloused one, the one he used the baton in all night as he curls into his side once more and leads the way towards the sidewalk.

“You wanna do something for me?” He didn’t wait for the nod. “Then don’t die for me, kid. Live. That’s what you can do.”

He didn’t let go of Kenjie’s hand as they stepped out onto the street. Didn’t flinch when the younger man curled in close to his side like he was trying to shrink the world down to just the two of them. Alexie had had a soft spot for the kid since day one—saw the cracks he tried to paint over with that sharp mouth and restless energy. Kenjie was light on a bad day, even when he didn’t know it. And in moments like this, when his footing wobbled, Alexie didn’t hesitate to steady him.

“Yeah, and all that alcohol you were knocking back,” he added dryly, the tease wrapping around the worry beneath it.

When Kenjie nudged them down a side alley, Alexie’s brows twitched—half a second from asking what the hell was up. But then those arms came around him. Tightly. Quietly. And Alexie just chuckled under his breath, returning the embrace like it was instinct. Because it was.

“Didn’t know I’d earn a hug just for offering lunch,” he murmured, tone light, but his grip tightened. Protective. Grounding. “I told you—I got you. You need something, anything... you call. Doesn’t matter the time, doesn’t matter where. I’ll show up.”

[gildedash]

his brows furrow at alexie’s admission and he stares at their hand linked together in the center of the table. “we would be the weirdest family ever, wouldn’t we?” he asked thinking about the concept. he wasn’t sure if he was liking the idea a bit more. The idea of actually being available for someone. his gaze flickers to alexie’s, this time you can actually see his brown hues that almost looked amber as the sun came in through the window of the bagel place. “where we wouldn’t hurt each other, because we’ve learned from our mistakes, where….. i would also die for you.” he says quietly, almost sounding like it was his own admission to alexie and he watches alexie get up with a purpose despite them having no destination in mind. kenjie gets up from his booth, not letting go of his hand. it almost felt like as if he were standing on his feet for the first time and he was keeping him steady. he curls softly into alexie’s side, feeling the warmth of his coat, despite it being blazing from the summertime sun as they stride out of the bagel place. “i think the lack of sleep is catching up to me.” he admits as his eyes blink once he got outside. he glances over at alexie before pushing him gently over to the side, down a less busy alleyway and wraps his arms around his waist, pulling him into a tight hug, burying his face into the man’s coat as his hands rest firmly against alexie’s back. “thank you.” and he just kind of let’s himself stand there like that for a moment as the rest of new york city moves around them. he had allowed his emotional baggage to fall into full display for once.

He understood more than Kenjie would probably ever know. Life before New York? It got ugly fast. Real fast. But even in the thick of it, blood-soaked and spiraling, he’d had someone. Someone who made the madness mean something. Enough that some nights, it still dragged him out of sleep, gasping, clutching at his chest like grief and guilt had hands.

Didn’t matter what name you gave it—family, loyalty, love. By nature, people needed something to belong to. Even if they pretended not to.

“We’d be the strangest damn family I��ve ever seen,” he said, voice low but laced with warmth. His grip on Kenjie’s hand didn’t waver. If anything, it tightened—steady, like an anchor. “But I’ve seen worse.”

His gaze drifted, thoughtful. “You’re right. I don’t know what it’s like. I was the one who did the hurting.” The words came quieter. Rare, earned. He let that hang, then met Kenjie’s eyes again.

“They hurt you. That’s real. But that doesn’t mean you don’t get to find something else. Somewhere else. A place that’s yours. A person, too.” He exhaled through his nose. “I don’t use the word family lightly. Neither should you. But if you mean it? If it fits? You take it.”

Then, softer—but not weak: “You think you were meant to be forgotten down there? Then believe I was meant to find you.”

The tension in his jaw tightened. He hated seeing him like this. It settled in his gut like rot. Alexie pulled a wad of folded bills from his coat, dropped it on the table without ceremony, and stood. His hand extended—not asking, just there.

“Wherever you wanna go, kid,” he said, voice like a promise. “I got you.”

[gildedash]

this felt like a surreal out of body experience for kenjie right now. he had been working so hard not get close to people, not to have a family after being forced to leave his own family out of bretrayal, hurt and embarrassment and shame he felt from his twin brother. a twin brother that no one even knew that he had here in the city. he didn’t want a family when he got here to nyu. he was living on the streets for a reason; he was trash and was meant to be there. somehow though alexie had picked him up and gave him a place to shower after not showering for over twelve days when all kenjie thought he was supposed to be like that bad piece of gum stuck underneath someone’s shoe. he was annoying, he made it known to be annoying to others. kenjie’s dark hues stare at their hands linked together across the table, the one hand linked with alexie’s shaking slightly as it rested against the table– not much but it was visible and he doesn't really pull away. his relationship with alexie was probably the most committed thing in his life at the moment as much as he hated to admit it. “i didn’t ask for this! a family? Is that what you want us to be?” kenjie cries out trying to keep his composure, knowing they were in public. “you don’t understand, i was hurt by my family and now i can never go back home.” he cried out, his breathing heavy. though he almost sounded like a child pleading for help. “i was meant to be forgotten in those subway stations, alexie.” he blinks a couple of times furiously. “can we leave this place?”

The question about Elias hit like a sucker punch, and for a moment, something flickered behind his eyes. Something raw. Something that looked almost like guilt before he buried it under layers of practiced calm.

"He's..." The words caught in his throat, and he had to start again. "He's alive. That's what matters right now."

He felt the moment Kenjie's thumb hooked around his finger—such a small gesture, but it was surrender. Trust. The kind that made his chest tight in ways he didn't have words for.

"Your life became this," he said quietly, voice stripped of its usual silk, "because sometimes the world doesn't give you clean choices. Sometimes it's survive or drown, and you chose to swim."

He squeezed Kenjie's hand, holding it like an anchor.

"You think staying at NYU would have kept you safe? Ken, you were sleeping in subway stations when I found you." His voice was gentle but firm, like he was stating facts rather than arguing. "This life—messy as it is—gave you a roof. Food. People who'd die for you."

A pause. The weight of unspoken things settling between them.

"Including me."

[gildedash]

kenjie: i'm going on a hot date with my flask to this thing

kenjie: unless, you two are taking me?

kenjie: 👼

kenjie: or is zev just going to say no again?

𝚊𝚕𝚎𝚡𝚒𝚎 : 𝚝𝚎𝚊𝚖 𝚋𝚘𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐? 𝚔𝚎𝚗𝚓𝚒𝚎, 𝚍𝚢𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚊𝚒𝚛 𝚕𝚒𝚕𝚊𝚌 𝚒𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚋𝚘𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐—𝚒𝚝’𝚜 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚌𝚞𝚕𝚝𝚜 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚝.

𝚊𝚕𝚎𝚡𝚒𝚎 : 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚒 𝚍𝚘 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚋𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚘𝚗’𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚘𝚜. 𝚜𝚘 𝚒’𝚖 𝚒𝚗 . 𝚣𝚎𝚟 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚘𝚘 𝚑𝚎 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚎𝚝 😂

𝚊𝚕𝚎𝚡𝚒𝚎 : 𝚊𝚕𝚜𝚘—𝚠𝚑𝚘’𝚜 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚐𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚐𝚒𝚌 𝚎𝚡𝚌𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝚐𝚊𝚕𝚊? 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚒’𝚕𝚕 𝚋𝚎 𝚜𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚓𝚞𝚍𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚊𝚌𝚛𝚘𝚜𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚖.

@frgmentd , @gildedash

[gildedash]

kenjie’s body remains rigid as alexie grabs for his hand. was he really asking his friend to lie for him to the police? he lets his eyes rest shut as he lets his mind wander to the thumb drawing small circles on his knuckles. kenjie wasn’t hurt physically but so many other people were. he almost wonders if it was better if he didn’t listen to the order. he should have just left early with miguel. would he want to deal with zev’s anger if he left early like brooklyn did? but then he got sidetracked with alexie, and then he was sharing a whole bottle of gin with marisol. jesus, he really shouldn’t have had that gin now that he thinks about it. his head was still pounding from it today. “i…. how’s elias?” he asks quickly changing the subject knowing very well he also can’t step foot into a hospital until he gets a new fake i.d. god, this fucking gala just blew up at the wrong freaking time didn’t it? he would need to talk to the person who makes his fakes to get his as soon as they can. he lets his eyes open as they rest on alexie, his expression was unreadable as his thumb gently hooks onto alexie’s finger, his calloused hands relaxed somewhat and kenjie takes a deep breath. “fuck, how did this become my fucking life?” he asks mostly thinking out loud. he should have just stayed as a nyu student when he was younger, shouldn’t he have?

The sharp edges that usually defined him melted away completely. He reached across the small table, fingers gentle as they pried one of Kenjie's hands from beneath his leg.

"Hey," he said quietly, voice stripped of its usual silk and venom. Just warmth. "You're not in trouble, Kenny. You're never in trouble with me."

He kept hold of that hand, thumb tracing slow circles across knuckles that were still raw from the night before. The bagel sat forgotten between them—he'd known it would be untouched the moment he'd ordered it.

"And yes," Alexie continued, his voice steady as gospel, "you were with me all night. My date." The lie would roll off his tongue like truth if anyone asked. "If the police want to verify our story, that's what they'll hear."

He squeezed the hand in his, leaning forward slightly. "As for why you're here... because I was worried. Because you look like you haven't slept, and I know you well enough to know you haven't eaten either." A pause, gentle but firm. "Because sometimes the only thing that helps is sitting in a shitty bagel shop with someone who gives a damn."

His free hand pushed the untouched bagel aside. "We don't have to talk about last night. But I'm not leaving you alone right now, understood?"

[gildedash]

kenjie: but zev

kenjie: it can be a team bonding experience

kenjie: and i can come over with that fancy bottle of bourbon you two both like, what is it? blanton’s single barrel i think!

kenjie: i drink my jim beam still and i think i still have some left over from last time

@reveriixs

zev: no

@reveriixs @gildedash

[gildedash]

“who says i’m not on edge? you do not know what i’m thinking. you don't even bother to stop and actually listen to people when they're in your own gang. just, relax tonight, for once. if anything happens, i will take care of it.” kenjie says with the slightest bit of a scoff, arching a brow up at zev as he leans against the pillar next to him. kenjie knows that he hates these fancy parties “look at you lex, showing up with a flask and everything, looks like we both came here prepared tonight. do you think the drunker i get you the more poetic you will be?” he says teasingly as he can’t help but roll his eyes. he pulls out the flask from his jacket and undoes the cap, taking a swig of it. “are you two going to stand in this dark corner all night and act like an arguing married couple? or something? It’s kinda cute and weird at the same time. there seems to be nothing going on right now. the night’s long, the venue is….. big.” he says as he faces the array of people piling into the hall. “may i suggest that we go to the dance floor and actually entertain the idea that the music is good here?” he closes his flask, putting it back in his jacket, as he holds out two hands, one for each to take.

@reveriixs @frgmentd

“Ask Zev to have fun and you might as well ask the ocean to ignore the moon. Not how tides work, darling.” A beat, then a pleased hum. “Shit, that was weirdly poetic of me.”

Alexie chuckled, handing off his coat to the nearest overworked staffer with the kind of effortless charm that said I tip well but only if I’m entertained. He gave the place a once-over—too many suits, too many egos, not enough exits. A powder keg in designer shoes. And somehow, that only made his night.

At Kenjie’s words, his grin widened like he’d just been handed a compliment and a dare in the same breath. “Look at you, buttering me up. Dangerous game, sweetheart. Don’t stop.”

He turned toward Zev then, schooling his expression into something approaching respect—but with Alexie, even that looked like mischief waiting to be uncorked. “But the boss is right. No fireworks. Not from us, anyway.”

From his lapel, he produced a black-and-silver flask like a magician with something better than rabbits. Took a sip, let the warmth settle behind his eyes. “Though judging by the guest list tonight?” Another slow smile. “I’d bet good whiskey we’re not the ones to worry about.”

@frgmentd