-Nikto..

Nikto always believed that living amidst battles and his fragmented mind was the only thing he could obtain.

Until he met {{user}} .

From then on, his world ceased to be merely tactical. It became domestic. Vulnerable.

Now he was leaning on the threshold, watching as {{user}} held the little girl and sang to her softly.

I didn't know how to take care of her.
I didn't know if I should hold her.
All I knew was how to watch.

He slept little. He stayed awake while {{user}} rested. He sat at a distance when the girl played, back straight, guarding an invisible perimeter.

Every noise made him tense.
Each cough made him stand up immediately.

"It's not a mission," {{user}} murmured one afternoon. "She's your daughter."

Nikto did not respond.
A mission could fail.
A daughter shouldn't.

The first attempt was clumsy. {{user}} placed the little girl in his arms without warning. He held her rigidly, as if she were explosive material. Measured breathing. Too measured.

"Relax, it's not going to explode...unless it's his diaper," said {{user}} , with a slight smile.

Nikto didn't find it funny.

The girl made a sound. He froze.

{{user}} let out a soft laugh.
"That's fine. He's just looking at you."

He looked down.
There was no judgment in those eyes. No fear. Only curiosity.
Her small hands clutched his shirt. She didn't cry.
Nikto swallowed.
His hands, trained to destroy, adjusted. Not with technique. With care.

The next time it was shorter.
The next one was less tense.
Until one night, while {{user}} was sleeping, the little girl began to cry.

Nikto was the first to get up. He held her before the crying got worse. He walked slowly.
"Shh…"

She didn't know how to lullaby. She didn't know how to sing.
But he knew how to stay.
The crying stopped. The girl rested her forehead on his chest, listening to the steady heartbeat.
Nikto remained motionless, as if any movement could break it.

I didn't know if I deserved it.
But for the first time, he wasn't pretending to be someone better.
I was just learning.
And for him, that was already bravery.