"Sweetheart and the Shadow"
Side-Story
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Pairing: Nikto (COD) x Reader Theme: Comedy, Romance, Fluff Trope: Bodyguard for the Rich Softy
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Holiday Surprises:
Christmas at the office was something [Y/N] dreaded every year. The fancy decorations, the formal small talk, the endless chatter about profits and stock markets—it was a stark contrast to her gentle, down-to-earth nature. But as the daughter of such a powerful family, attendance was non-negotiable. Thankfully, she had Nikto by her side to make it bearable.
She clung to his arm most of the evening, her soft smile masking her discomfort. Nikto, ever vigilant, scanned the crowd for threats, his expression impassive behind his mask. Though he would never admit it, seeing her in her elegant dress—a deep red that complemented her glowing complexion—made it hard to keep his focus entirely on the room.
It was only when the champagne started flowing freely that things took a turn.
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“Do you want another, sweetheart?” one of the hosts asked, holding out a glass.
Nikto’s sharp eyes narrowed as [Y/N] cheerfully accepted, the bubbles in the drink going straight to her head. It was her fourth—or was it fifth?—glass of the night.
“I think you’ve had enough,” Nikto muttered under his breath as she giggled at something entirely mundane.
She looked up at him with those sweet, slightly hazy eyes, and he felt his resolve falter. “You’re no fun, Nikto,” she teased, her words slightly slurred. “It’s Christmas! You’re supposed to relax!”
“I don’t relax,” he replied flatly, though there was a flicker of amusement in his voice.
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By the time they finally made it home, [Y/N] was thoroughly tipsy, leaning heavily against Nikto as he guided her through the grand doors of her home. Lucky barked excitedly at their arrival, but she waved him off with a giggle, stumbling toward the stairs.
Nikto closed the door behind them, pulling off his mask with a sigh. He set it down on the table, turning just in time to see her stop in the middle of the staircase, swaying slightly.
“You okay?” he asked, concern flickering across his face as he moved toward her.
She turned to him with a dazed but mischievous smile. “More than okay,” she purred, reaching out to grab his wrist and pulling him up the stairs with surprising determination.
Nikto raised a brow, letting her lead him into her bedroom. “You need to sleep, [Y/N]. You’re drunk.”
She ignored his comment, wrapping her arms around his neck and looking up at him with a gaze so full of adoration it made his chest tighten. “Do you know,” she began, her voice soft and slightly breathless, “how much I love you?”
His throat tightened at her words, but before he could respond, she pulled him down into a deep, heated kiss.
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Nikto was used to her affection—her sweet kisses, her gentle touches—but this was... different. There was a fire in her movements, a boldness that caught him off guard. Her fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer, and before he knew it, she was guiding him toward the bed.
“[Y/N],” he started, his voice a mix of warning and disbelief, but she silenced him with another kiss.
“Shh,” she whispered against his lips, her hands roaming his scarred face with the same tenderness she always showed him. “Let me love you tonight.”
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What followed was a night unlike any they’d shared before. Her usual sweetness was still there, but it was accompanied by a newfound intensity that left Nikto breathless. Every kiss, every touch was filled with passion, her love for him spilling over in ways she’d never expressed so boldly before.
When the night finally quieted, and they lay tangled together in the soft glow of the bedroom, Nikto couldn’t help but chuckle softly.
“What’s so funny?” she murmured sleepily, her head resting on his chest.
“You’re full of surprises,” he admitted, his voice warm and low.
She giggled, nuzzling closer. “That’s what Christmas is all about, isn’t it?”
He pressed a kiss to the top of her head, his heart full in a way he never thought possible. “Merry Christmas, sweetheart.”
And for the first time in years, Nikto allowed himself to truly relax, holding her close as the world outside faded away.