S E R E N D I P I T Y

- s e v e n t y e i g h t -

"And there's a dazzling haze, a mysterious way about you, dear."

* * *

Eros' fingers absentmindedly traced along my arm as I sat comfortably in his lap, his grip steady but reassuring. He didn't need to say much because his presence alone was enough to calm me.

"So, about the Russians... what do we do with the boy?" Art asked, his eyes flitting towards me for a split second when Eros tensed, his movements halting before they continued once again.

The image of the bloodied men still haunted me but I did my best to push the memories to the back of my mind. Eros, ever the protector, tightened his hold on me when he noticed the shift in my mood.

"I'll deal with it," Eros said coolly, his voice steady but the sharpness in his eyes suggesting something darker underneath, "He's not going to be a problem anymore."

"I've been thinking about what Emerald said. I'll admit, I didn't trust him at first, but he's not like the others," He paused, his eyes flicking to me briefly, "You were right. He could be an asset with the skills he has, and we can't afford to ignore that."

I smiled softly, a sense of pride warming my chest. Eros had always been cautious about letting people into his circle but I'd seen something in Armen that he had missed—a vulnerability beneath the surface, but also strength. 

The decision to bring him in and to give him a second chance meant more than just strategic thinking, it was also about trust. I trusted him, and Eros knew that.

"So, you're going to recruit him?" Arty asked, the corner of his mouth twitching into a grin.

"Yes." Eros said begrudgingly when I looked up at him, my hand gently resting on his chest as I spoke quietly. 

"I'm glad you thought about it. I know he's not perfect, but he doesn't deserve to be punished for things he didn't do. Besides, he was with his mother all along, trying to get away from what his father did for a living." I said and saw his small nod.

"We'll have a conversation with him soon to make sure he knows what's expected." He said, looking into the distance but I knew he was talking to both Arty and me.

The air in the room shifted, a sense of relief settling over us. The decision was made and now it was just a matter of executing it when Arty clapped his hands together, breaking the moment of silence. 

"Well, I'm glad that's settled but if you don't mind, I've got more paperwork to get through, and I'd rather not stick around for whatever makes you two so... comfortable together." He said, his mouth morphing into a disgusted one.

I let out a small laugh, feeling the tension slip away completely while Eros remained relaxed, still holding me close. 

"You're dismissed." Eros spoke with an annoyed edge to his tone, like a father dealing with his mischievous child.