Nika inhaled, silently, shoulders easing.

Resignation was blunted by fading euphoria.

"Know when to take a punch, don't you," he said, with wry appreciation.

Oleksei's fingers in his hair were the last thing he expected from the interlude, but it felt nice, in contrast to the difficult question.

"To be honest, I haven't decided."

Nika paused.

"I don't think it matters what I do in the end, do you?"