"I want to run this half-marathon," Daniel repeated patiently, spreading tartare on a thin slice of bread.

"Jesus Christ!" Alexander threw his fork and knife back on the plate and looked up at the ceiling tiredly. "Why do I love this stubborn monster?"

"Stubbornness and strength of character, I suppose," Daniel countered, chewing on the tender tartare. "Mm, it's delicious. Try the tartare."

"I don't want to. Danny, you were just lying in bed like a vegetable, and now you want to take on a huge physical load. Where's the logic in that? Besides, it's dangerous to be out in the open now. I don't want to scare you, but something's going on. Not good. My father has increased security for all family members and sent the eldest grandchildren to a closed boarding school in Switzerland. You wait a few months, then you can run when it's over."

Daniel thanked Gyuzel, who had changed the plates, and stared blankly at the roasted lamb loin oozing with meat juice, shot a look at Alexander's plate, thinking that he should have chosen the ribs too. Daniel hadn't contacted Sennoy since installing the program but he must had noticed the security breach and started taking action. He wanted details, to understand what was going on - the vague threat was getting on his nerves.

"Explain yourself, please. Don't beat around the bush, or I'll jump at every rustle."

"Later," Alexander hinted at Gyuzel with his eyes. "Everything is under control, Danny. You're safe..."

"Look, we've already talked, laid the cards on the table. Why are you repeating the same phrases? I've already got them ingrained in my mind. 'You're safe with me, you're safe with me,' Daniel teased angrily.

"Don't be angry, Danny," Alexander was embarrassed. "I say it out of habit. Frequent repetition has ingrained them in my mind too. How do you like the lamb?"

"It's good, but the mint sauce isn't great," Daniel dipped the lamb in the sauce and shook off the excess. The thick jelly flowed reluctantly, viscous, mixing with the brown meat juice and pooling on the plate. Daniel dragged a piece through the puddle, drew the creepy face from Scream, smiled at it, and then smeared it all over.

It was important to run the Moscow half-marathon. Daniel had no doubt that Sennoy would get in touch with him there, but he hoped to speak with him before then. Everything depended on finding a phone or any clean device where Alexander couldn't track their communication. It was fortunate that on that momentous day he had the presence of mind to delete the secret chat and the Telegrm app from his tablet, and that Alexander hadn't found out about his secret helper. What would he do if he realized that Daniel had been seeing his former shot caller lover? It was scary to imagine.

Daniel looked at Alexander, who was devouring the lamb and asparagus with gusto. Sharp white teeth tore into the meat, the red tongue licking off the brown drippings and fat - Alexander preferred to eat lamb ribs with his hands at home without guests. The predator seemed peaceful, tame, but he didn't deceive with his calm appearance.

In the bedroom, Alexander quickly slid up behind him, nuzzled, and purred into his neck. Daniel snorted and pulled away.

"Let me digest the food first," he flopped onto the bed. "And let's talk in the meantime. What's this dangerous mess about?"

"Damn, I was hoping you'd drop it," Alexander shrugged off his jacket onto the ottoman, followed by his shirt. "Nothing too critical, really. I started hunting down the bastards who kidnapped me, and then you. I pitted them against each other, made them fight, but they figured out someone else was pulling the strings. They suspected my father, tried to stage an assassination, but failed. I felt so guilty for putting him at risk. I told him what they did to me, and now I'm determined to bring them down. I didn't mention you at all, and I told Gosha not to either. My father understood; he'd have done the same in my place. Now we're working together to handle this as quietly as possible. There are complications, though. They're part of the system, deeply rooted. We're trying to figure out who's loyal and who's not. Information leaks occasionally, which is frustrating. Someone's leaking from the inside, damn it."

"I see," Daniel's voice trembled. He took a deep breath, wiped his sweaty palms on the bedspread. It wasn't just anyone leaking information; it was him, who had planted the bug in the system. A moment of fear washed over him - what would Matvey Bystritsky do when he found out Daniel had helped their enemies?

"Don't worry, Danny," Alexander said, concerned, sitting on the bed and gently stroking his chest. "I'll handle everything within the next few months. Plus, I'm not alone; my father and Gosha are with me, along with the rest of the team. You're not in any danger."

"But what about you?" Daniel squeezed his fingers. "What if they figure out you're behind this?"

"You're worried about me?" Alexander smiled happily. "My God, I've lived to see this day. Thank you, Danny," he kissed him tenderly and straightened up. "Don't worry about me; I'm hard to take down. And my father has been through worse. We'll put everyone in their place."

"You mean, you'll lay them in their place, right?" Daniel held his breath, looking into the turbulent green eyes.

"Why do you need unnecessary details, Danny?" Alexander kissed his nose, his cheeks. "This will all pass by you. Better focus on your studies. By the way, when are you applying?"

"Don't change the subject. Studies can wait," Daniel pushed him away, grabbing his ears. "You said you kept those files as a reminder never to do the same, Sasha."

"If I have to defend myself, I won't hold back. Let go, that hurts," Alexander tried to pry his fingers free. "Danny, that's enough. I'm not going to kill anybody - is that okay with you?"

"You won't, but your father?" Daniel twisted his ears slightly. Alexander hissed.

"Children aren't responsible for their father's actions! Oh, you're such a jerk!" Alexander retaliated by slipping his hand into Daniel's underwear, shaking his still-flaccid cock with satisfaction, and laughed when Daniel let go with a groan. "How do you want it tonight?"

"I want to be on top," Daniel lazily stroked his chest, rubbing a nipple that instantly hardened, and asked in a detached tone, "Am I still on the drug?"

Alexander didn't answer, only raised his eyebrows helplessly, looking confused. The silence said it all - still on it. He wanted to cement the positive effect. He was relieved he hadn't been sent for brainwashing. Daniel lifted his hips, letting his shorts and underwear to be pulled off, and exhaled sharply as Alexander's tongue licked the head, teasing the slit. Desire surged instantly, as it always did.

Taking was far more pleasurable than giving - Alexander was as passionate as a bottom as he was as a top. Daniel pushed himself into the hot, tight, throbbing body, heating up even more, licking the firm, powerful neck with pleasure, biting his ankles, nibbling at his lips, grinning fiercely when the urge to bite hard, to cause pain, overtook him. He spread Alexander's muscular legs wider, thrusting harder, faster, with resounding slaps, and Alexander bent toward him, moving jerkily, accepting everything he gave. The strong, beautiful body beneath him trembled, arched, pressed closer, and lifted itself up, resisting orgasm. The green eyes were hypnotic, conveying emotions and thoughts: I'm yours, do what you want.

Daniel thrust a few more frantic times, gasped, and came, collapsing on top of Alexander, slowly straightening his legs. He lay there with his nose against Alexander's sweat covered neck, inhaling their mingled sharp odors, and with a sigh, he pulled out, holding up the frayed condom. Alexander twitched as he exited, gave a short moan, and sighed so contentedly that Daniel laughed.

"And you said you weren't a bottom," he dropped down next to him, slapping his thigh carelessly. "Very passive."

"It's about the partner, kid," Alexander gently brushed his wet hair away from his forehead. "I feel good with you in all ways. But I like it better when I..." Alexander bit his lip seductively, slid two fingers between Daniel's buttocks, and pressed the entrance. "When I take you. Only then are you completely mine," his fingers circled the opening, pushing in.

Daniel turned onto his back, shaking his head. "That's enough for today, I'm exhausted," he irritably swatted away the hand that had come between his legs again. "Can you hear me?"

"Calm down, Danny," Alexander hovered over him, trying to understand the reason for his irritation. "What's got you so upset?"

"Everything," Daniel gritted his teeth. "I'm practically cooped up in four walls. And yes, I'm lying - they do take me for walks sometimes. My 'partner,'" Daniel made air quotes with his fingers, emphasizing the irony, "got me hooked on a powerful, unknown drug that's messing with my psyche. There's an invisible war going on around me where I could fall as a pawn. But other than that, everything's just peachy, right? I could enroll in a doctoral program at a third tier school and try to invent a reactor with no experience. And stop calling me kid!"

"I'm reducing the dosage of the medication, and soon I'll stop giving it to you altogether," Alexander began, stroking his chest gently. "You'll go out more often; I didn't consider that, I'm sorry. The university isn't third tier, it's the best. You can gain work experience alongside your studies. In this mess - I wouldn't call it a war - you won't get hurt. And when the danger is over, you'll be free to move around Moscow. As for the treatment, I'll reduce it to the minimum that doesn't upset you. If you think I call you 'kid' because I consider you an imbecile, you're mistaken. I don't, although I do think you have a lot of youthful idealism and naivety. Oh, and I have some good news for you."

"If you want to tell me, just tell me, don't make these meaningful pauses," Daniel replied dryly.

"You've been cleared of all charges. The case was deemed a miscarriage of justice. You're clean before the law, Danny," Alexander turned pale, his left cheek twitching nervously. "Do you realize how hard it was to achieve this?"

"You're not kidding? Is it true?" The news was stunning. Daniel burst into a joyous outburst, lifting himself up. "Is it true?"

"It's true, but it doesn't change the situation. If you try to cross the border, they'll find drugs on you again, so don't run away," Alexander pressed the bridge of his nose, smoothing his frowning eyebrows. "This measure is temporary. Once I'm sure you're ready to stay with me without restrictions, I'll lift it."

"You'll never be one hundred percent sure," Daniel leaned back against the pillow, thinking feverishly. The habit of analyzing any change, even such an amazing one, stifled his joy. Why had Alexander suddenly cleared his name now, when he seemed least sure of him? "You'll always find a reason to doubt me."

"Then stop giving me reasons," Alexander grumbled, taking a towel from the nightstand and starting to dry himself. "It's one girl after another, and the second time was in the office, for fuck's sake! You've managed to dig up information on a former colleague and won't disclose the source."

"I told you Nastya helped," Daniel stretched, making himself comfortable. His skin was clammy with sweat, but he had no energy left to move. The tension from the conversation's turn didn't help either.

"Nastya confirmed your story, but I don't believe her. She doesn't have access to those kinds of contacts," Alexander threw the towel on the floor, grabbed a second one, and continued to dry off. "Both of you. And I don't like it."

"There are a lot of things I don't like, but I deal with it," Daniel watched his movements from under his eyelashes, studying his darkening face.

Thoughts flew lightning-fast, forming a cause-and-effect chain. The war was clearly taking a serious turn if Alexander had decided to create a safety net in case he got injured and left Daniel unprotected. But Alexander might also reverse his decision when he learned that Daniel had helped weaken the empire from within. The stakes had risen. There was no way he would let him find out.

Daniel gave a feigned languorous sigh, ran his fingers teasingly over Alexander's broad chest and sunken belly, and pulled him close.

"Let's do it again, shall we? I'm in the mood. I want you inside."

Alexander instantly brightened, kissed him reverently, and then passionately. He deepened the kiss vigorously, spread Daniel's legs, and searched under the pillow for lubricant. Daniel responded to the kisses, clenched his strong shoulders, and scratched his nipples, feeling himself ignite from the pressure and Alexander's passion. A little later, he squeezed his eyes shut, accepting Alexander inside him, and thought with relief that he could still distract him from unpleasant topics. Even if it cost him his body.