Chapter Text
Chapter 1: The Space Between Almost
The first time I saw Dimitri again, I didn't get a dramatic reunion, which, honestly, was very on brand for him.
I was standing in line at a small café just outside Court. Not one of the overly polished Moroi places where chandeliers did most of the personality work. This place was different. Warmer. Slightly chaotic. The kind of place where guardians actually relaxed instead of pretending they didn't need to.
The sign above the counter read: Black Veil Café. Dramatic. I respected that.
It smelled like roasted beans, cinnamon, and something faintly herbal that probably had Moroi claiming it "balanced their energy." The real standout, though, was the plants. They were everywhere. Hanging from the ceiling, climbing along beams, crowding every windowsill like the building had lost an argument with nature.
"Next," the barista called.
"I'll take a—"
"I know."
I froze because I would've recognized that voice anywhere.
I turned slowly, already irritated at how my body reacted before my brain caught up. Dimitri stood behind me, calm as ever, wearing his duster like the world had never once managed to surprise him.
"You know?" I said.
"Latte. Whole milk," he replied. "You will add sugar afterwards anyway." He attempted to smile.
I narrowed my eyes. "That was one time."
"It was more than one."
"Okay, first of all, rude. Second of all, you don't get to remember things about me like that if you're going to act like we're strangers."
The words came out sharp, but behind all my bravado was the girl who felt like even though she gave her all, it wasn't enough. He still knew me. You don't just forget someone who's seen every version of you.
His expression shifted slightly. "I'm not acting like that."
"Could've fooled me."
The barista cleared her throat. "So… two drinks?"
"Chai tea, please," Dimitri said.
I blinked. "Of course you drink tea."
"It is functional."
"Coffee is functional and delicious."
"For you."
That earned him a glare.
"I'll take mine to go," I added.
Dimitri nodded once and quietly said, "Me too."
The barista gave us a look that said she wanted no part in whatever this was and moved on.
I could've left. That would've been the smart thing to do. Clean exit, no emotional damage. Instead, I heard myself say, "Why don't you sit with me?"
We ended up outside.
The patio was small but intentionally beautiful. Wrought iron tables, plants spilling everywhere, ivy curling along the railing like it had claimed the space. A wind chime tapped softly near the door, just enough to make the quiet feel less empty.
I sat before he could reconsider.
Do you come here often?" I asked, aiming for casual.
"It's quiet," he said.
"It's never quiet when I'm around."
"I've noticed."
I smirked. "You missed it."
He didn't hesitate. "Yes."
That answer did something to me. I covered it by taking a sip of my coffee. Simple, strong, sweet enough to pretend I wasn't running on exhaustion. Lissa would've turned it into a science experiment by now with all the milks and customizations. That had always been our balance. Queen and guardian aside, we were just best friends; we made sense together.
"Well," I said, "at least the weather's decent."
On Court time, that meant sunset. Since we followed the Moroi time, our mornings were actually evenings.
His eyebrow lifted. "Are you attempting small talk?"
"I'm attempting normal human interaction. You should try it some time."
"I am trying now."
"Wow. Growth."
We sat there, not quite comfortable, not quite awkward; I'd call it aware. Too much history sitting between us.
"You've been avoiding me," I said.
"I have not."
"You switched rotations."
"That was assigned."
"You requested it."
He held my gaze. "Yes."
At least he wasn't pretending anymore. I realized then that I missed being able to have honest conversation with Dimitri, the kind that came when his guardian mask wasn't on, and he'd see me as more.
"Why?" I asked.
He took a second in which it felt as if our eyes were saying everything.
"You were rebuilding your life," he said. "And we were both occupied with our duties."
I leaned back. "That's your excuse?"
"It is not an excuse."
"It kind of is."
"You were with Adrian; I thought you needed space."
There it was. I leaned back in my chair.
"I'm not with Adrian."
"I know that now, but I still thought you wanted space."
I exhaled. "Do you? Because it sounds like you made a lot of decisions without actually asking me."
Adrian had Sydney now. That part of life had moved forward without me in it, which made me happy. We had ended the way things sometimes ended, not explosively, just slowly realizing we weren't meant to keep pulling each other in the same direction. Adrian wasn't happy about it then, but I think he understood.
Dimitri didn't answer right away.
"He cared for you," Dimitri said.
"Yeah," I said. "He did."
"We didn't end because of you," I added.
It felt strange saying it out loud, but also honest. It was always easy to say things like this to Dimitri.
"We ended because… we weren't right anymore." That was the simplest way to say it. "He deserves someone who chooses him without hesitation, someone who makes him want to be better. Not that I'm an expert at these things, but… I don't think I ever made him feel the way Sydney does. He's a great man," I continued.
"That is… very self-aware," Dimitri said.
"Don't sound so surprised."
"I am not."
We held each other's gaze longer than necessary.
"Thank you for telling me," he said quietly, after a moment. "I know sometimes I act like I don't, but I truly care about you."
The problem was that I believed him.
"I know," I said. I just wasn't ready to admit the rest out loud. I was scared of what it would do to me if I did.
He attempted a smile again, but it didn't quite reach his eyes.
When we then stood to leave, but I didn't want this to become another failed attempt at fixing things. I didn't have big expectations, but he started it this time.
"You still training the newbies tomorrow?" I asked.
That was actually an assignment we both had gotten, but I kept finding reasons not to do it just because I thought two could play that game of evasion.
"Yes."
"Good."
He paused. "Why?"
I shrugged. "Because I'm showing up."
He studied me carefully.
"You don't get to avoid me anymore," I added. "We work together. We figure it out."
After a moment, he nodded. "Tomorrow."
And just like that, something started again.