Past, Russia.
"Please, please, please... Don't die."
It took Alexei a long minute to realize it was his own voice, begging the pale boy not to die.
Miles and Alexei had been friends since middle school.
The boy was shy, almost painfully so. The first time Alexei had met him, some guys were trying to extort money from Miles.
Alexei, bored out of his mind, decided to use them as his punching bags for the day. Anyway, it was in the name of justice.
So even when he would beat the shit out of these sorry excuses for humans, no one would come after him.
Of course, his family background also played a big role.
Since that day, Miles would silently leave him a drink as thanks.
Back then, the young Vetrov was even more unhinged, not knowing how to control his temper. That also meant he easily got flustered by the constant stream of drinks.
Anton and Niko would always tease him that he had a suitor, though they were well aware of the identity of this 'secret admirer'.
