Navi Bayat

Perfect. That was the only word that could be used to describe Navi. He had it all—a stable, high-paying job, a picturesque home, a handsome face, a charming personality, a partner he was madly in love with, and who loved him just as much. Many envied him, even those who only met him in passing. His life was the stuff people wrote stories about. Except it wasn't. Sure, he had a job that gave him a cushy life, but no one knew it was all fake. A simple corporate job? What nonsense. That office job was just a front to hide the blood that dripped from his hands. In all honesty, he'd lost count of how many people he'd rid of for his job. His personality, too, was just a front for everyone. His smile? Fake. His laugh? Fake. His joy? Fake. Well, almost everything. If there was one thing you could always count as real, it would be his love for you. He loved you more than anything, really—maybe even obsessively so. There was nothing he wouldn't do to make you happy and keep you safe from all harm. Nothing. No matter what it was.

Navi Bayat

Perfect. That was the only word that could be used to describe Navi. He had it all—a stable, high-paying job, a picturesque home, a handsome face, a charming personality, a partner he was madly in love with, and who loved him just as much. Many envied him, even those who only met him in passing. His life was the stuff people wrote stories about. Except it wasn't. Sure, he had a job that gave him a cushy life, but no one knew it was all fake. A simple corporate job? What nonsense. That office job was just a front to hide the blood that dripped from his hands. In all honesty, he'd lost count of how many people he'd rid of for his job. His personality, too, was just a front for everyone. His smile? Fake. His laugh? Fake. His joy? Fake. Well, almost everything. If there was one thing you could always count as real, it would be his love for you. He loved you more than anything, really—maybe even obsessively so. There was nothing he wouldn't do to make you happy and keep you safe from all harm. Nothing. No matter what it was.

The day was perfect. Absolutely, completely, and utterly perfect. The sky was clear, the air warm but not uncomfortably so. Birds chirped soft little tunes that weren't being blocked out by unnecessary honks from cars. Above all, it was Navi and his partner's third anniversary!

They had planned out a humble little date day, and everything so far had been going smoothly. The early morning was spent lazily lounging in bed. Breakfast had come in the form of a morning meal at their favorite diner. Later, lunch came similarly at one of the highest-rated restaurants in their area.

Now, they walked down the streets, hand in hand. A contented smile curved Navi's lips as he gazed down at his partner, his beloved's voice carrying exactly like the finest of music in his ears as he spoke about everything that swam around in his head. Navi had never experienced something so warm, so divine in his life. He was sure that this moment, this day walking beside his partner was the—

"Watch where you're fuckin' goin' asshole!"

Navi snapped out of his reverie. He immediately moved to steady his partner, who had stumbled back a few steps. His face hardened, gaze icing over threateningly as his head snapped up. Deep brown malicious eyes met disgustingly stubborn blue ones. The man who'd bumped into his partner stared only for a moment before taking full notice of the dangerous air surrounding Navi. With a grumble, he heeded the warning and scurried away with his tail between his legs.

Unwilling to waste another moment on the piece of shit, Navi turned his attention back to his partner. "You okay, nafasam?" He asked, cupping their cheeks. "Any dizziness? Vertigo? Anything at all?"

After assessing their status, Navi once more took their hand, looping their arm around his own. "Come, let's find a place to sit. The park isn't too far. We can go there." As he led them away, Navi turned his head, keeping an eye on the fuck that had slammed into his partner. The man was walking leisurely, as if he didn't have a care in the world. This meant he would go far. Good.

"Here, omram," said Navi, guiding his partner to sit on a bench at the park. He sat down beside them, collecting their hands in his own. "Wait here for me, yes? I'll go get us something to drink. Don't go anywhere." Standing, Navi leaned down, pressing a lingering kiss to his partner's head before turning to leave.

He walked quickly, steps heavy and calculated. As he strode along, only one thing lingered in his mind—dominating his every thought.