Fate's Game ~HARULAS

Weeks had passed since the day of the wedding, and Harua still wasn't sure how to navigate the unexpected changes in his life. But one thing was for sure—things between him and Nico had shifted. In the quiet moments of their shared life, amidst the awkwardness of being forced together, something real had started to form.

They'd gone from distant strangers to reluctant partners, to something that almost felt like genuine friendship. They'd talked about their pasts, their hopes, their fears. Nico had shared the burdens of his family, the weight of being heir to a legacy he wasn't sure he wanted. And Harua? He'd shared the heavy load of loneliness, the pain of being misunderstood for so many years.

There were still moments where Harua wondered if this was all real, or if he was just dreaming up some idealized version of his life. But when Nico smiled at him—really smiled, not the guarded smile of the man who had once walked into Café Étoile like he owned it—Harua found himself believing that maybe, just maybe, this was real.

It was a Friday evening when things took a turn. Harua had been walking home after a long shift at the café, his body aching from the day's work. He had his jacket pulled tight around him, trying to block out the cold, when he heard the familiar voices.

"Look who it is," one of them sneered. Harua's stomach sank.

The gang of bullies had found him again. They'd been a constant presence in his life for years, but it was different now. They knew about his marriage, about Nico, and they weren't shy about showing their disapproval. Harua had tried to avoid them, tried to hide, but tonight, there was no escape.

They were faster than he'd expected, cornering him in an alleyway. Harua took a step back, trying to keep his distance, but they closed in, blocking every exit.

"You think you're too good for us now, huh? You think you can just walk around like you're some big shot because of that marriage?" One of them stepped forward, his face twisted with malice.

Harua's heart pounded in his chest. He knew this wasn't going to end well. He had hoped it wouldn't come to this, that things could just stay calm, but the universe had a cruel sense of humor.

"I'm not here for your drama," Harua said, his voice shaking despite his best efforts. "Just let me go."

"Not this time," the bully growled, taking another step closer.

Before Harua could react, a sharp blow landed against his side. His breath left him in a gasp, and pain shot through his body. His knees buckled, but he didn't fall. Not yet.

The others piled on, shoving him, hitting him with fists, laughing like this was some kind of game. Harua tried to fight back, but the pain was too much. He barely had time to raise his arms to defend himself before another punch landed on his jaw. The world spun around him, the cold air turning hot as blood trickled from his lip.

"Get away from him!

Harua's eyes went wide as he turned toward the source of the voice. He barely had time to process the figure stepping out of the car, his frame tall and imposing in the streetlight. It was Nico.

But this wasn't the Nico Harua had gotten used to seeing—the calm, collected, almost aloof man. This was a different side of him, one that was raw with fury, his jaw clenched tight, his eyes narrowed to slits as he stepped out of the car and toward Harua's tormentors.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Nico's voice was cold, like a blade cutting through the tension.

The bullies paused, a few of them laughing nervously. One of them scoffed, trying to act tough. "Who the hell are you, huh? This is none of your business."

"Oh, it's my business now," Nico said, his voice steady but laced with a dangerous undertone.

Without another word, he lunged at the nearest bully with a speed that was almost inhuman. His first punch landed square in the man's chest, sending him stumbling back. Harua's eyes widened as the group's cocky attitude faltered for the first time.

"You're going to pay for this," the leader of the bullies snarled, trying to advance on Nico.

But Nico was already on the move, his eyes flashing with a kind of cold fury Harua had never seen before. With one swift motion, he blocked a punch, twisting the attacker's arm behind him and throwing him to the ground with surprising ease. The sound of flesh hitting pavement echoed through the alley, and the rest of the bullies hesitated.

Harua stood frozen, his breath caught in his throat. Nico wasn't just defending him—he was going on the offensive. The man who had once been so carefree in his teasing at the café was now like a force of nature, his movements fluid, calculated, and full of a quiet, terrifying strength.

One of the bullies swung at Nico, but he ducked, grabbed the attacker's wrist, and slammed him into the wall. Nico's hand tightened around the man's collar, lifting him off the ground. "You really want to test me?" he growled, his voice dangerously low.

The remaining bullies finally seemed to understand they were outmatched. They glanced at each other, realizing this wasn't a fight they were going to win. With a few nervous glances, they scrambled to their feet, muttering curses under their breath, before bolting down the alley and disappearing into the night.

"Harua." Nico's voice was low, tinged with panic. He rushed to Harua's side, kneeling down beside him. "Are you okay? What happened? Talk to me, please."

Harua could barely respond. His body felt numb, and his head was spinning. He was aware of Nico hovering over him, his strong hands gently pressing against his shoulders, trying to keep him steady. But the words wouldn't come.

"I—" Harua's voice cracked. "I don't know... I don't know what to say."

"Shh. You don't have to say anything right now," Nico said, his voice impossibly soft. He looked around, and when he saw the blood on Harua's face, his expression darkened. "We're going to the hospital. I'm not leaving you."

Harua didn't argue. He couldn't. He was too tired. Too broken. Nico helped him up, wrapping an arm around his waist as they made their way to the car. Harua barely registered the drive, his mind swimming with everything that had just happened.

When they finally arrived at the hospital, Nico didn't let go of him. He held Harua's hand the entire time as they moved through the sterile white halls. The nurses rushed around them, assessing the severity of Harua's injuries.

Harua winced as a nurse cleaned the cuts on his face, her hands moving efficiently. Nico stood beside him, his presence a constant reassurance, though his eyes were burning with a mix of anger and concern.

"Do you want me to stay?" Nico asked softly as Harua was wheeled into a private room. His voice was full of uncertainty, but Harua could hear the desperate need in it. Nico needed to stay. He wanted to be there.

Harua nodded, his throat tight. "Please."

Nico didn't leave. Not once. He stayed by Harua's side, holding his hand, talking to him in gentle tones, doing whatever he could to comfort him. When the doctor gave Harua a few painkillers, Nico made sure he took them, keeping a watchful eye on him as he drifted in and out of consciousness.

Harua wasn't sure what exactly it was, but it felt like the walls that had been so carefully built around his heart were crumbling, piece by piece. Maybe Nico wasn't just a husband by title, maybe he wasn't just a protector in the traditional sense. Maybe he was something more—a friend, a confidant, someone who cared.

Harua finally let his eyes close, the pain slowly dulling as Nico's presence anchored him to reality.

And as he drifted off to sleep, Nico's voice was the last thing he heard.

"I'm not going anywhere, Harua. I promise."