J12 / He protect you

The street seemed ordinary — a few passersby, dim streetlights. But the feeling of тревога came before you even understood why.

— You hear that too? — a quiet voice asked beside you. Zhenya walked slightly behind, his gaze scanning the surroundings, catching on details. He looked relaxed... but you could already tell — it was only on the surface.

Footsteps sped up. чужие. Too close.

— Alright, change of plans, — he muttered, gently tugging your sleeve and stepping between you and the sound. — Stay close, okay? You nodded.

Two figures stepped out of the shadows. Unpleasant, confident.

— Hey, maybe you’ll share? — the second one smirked at the first’s idea, maybe they’d actually get something. — Not today, — Zhenya cut in, almost lazily, but his взгляд turned sharp.

He slightly turned his head toward you: — Don’t be scared. I’ll handle it.

Everything happened quickly — no extra noise, no showy aggression. A couple of precise moves, and the tension fell apart as suddenly as it appeared.

When it was over, he exhaled and ran a hand through his hair, as if shaking off the tension. — I hate walks like this, — he smirked. — There’s always someone trying to ruin the evening.

He looked at you, softer now.

— You’re okay? You nodded again, but this time tears had appeared in your eyes, which you tried hard to hide. He gently wiped your tearful eyes, then lightly tapped your nose like a kitten, making a soft “boop” sound.

He smiled faintly. — Good. Then let’s keep going. But this time, I’m staying closer, alright?

And this time, you definitely didn’t mind.