22The first night on the train, Alexei could not sleep. For the longest time he lay awake, watching Dmitri’s peaceful form. He kept checking that he was still a solid thing, real and warm and sweetly dreaming in his bed.
Eventually he drifted off, not realizing he had until sunlight bit beneath his eyes and when he opened them the first thing he saw was Dmitri smiling down at him.
“Are you hurt?” Alexei asked staring at the abrasions on his wrists from being bound.
“It’ll heal. Nothing’s permanent,” he shook his head.
Alexei touched the wounds, tenderly. Tears were crawling down his face.
“Goddamn it,” Alexei sobbed, curling into a ball.
“I’m sorry,” was all Dmitri could say. Alexei sniffled, wiping his nose on his sleeve.
“You’re a liar. Some things are permanent.”
“I thought you
