"Mama!"
The small voice rang out through the hallway with startling clarity, cutting straight through the lingering awkwardness that had settled between Yu and Artem. Yu's eyes widened instantly. Beside him, Artem's head turned sharply toward the source of the sound, his attention immediately drawn down the long corridor.
A second later, a small figure appeared. Vladimir Dimitri came charging toward them at full speed.
His tiny winter coat flapped behind him with every frantic step, his messy black hair sticking up in several directions as though he'd been running for far longer than he should have been. Clutched tightly in one hand was his beloved stuffed wolf, which bounced wildly with each movement as he barreled forward without the slightest concern for who might be standing in his path.
"Valdi—!"
Yu gasped. The child slammed directly into Yu's legs with enough force to nearly knock him off balance. Without hesitation, Yu crouched down and scooped him into his arms.
