Summary:

Shane Hollander is just trying to survive NYU biochemistry, hockey practice, and the graveyard shift at 7-Eleven. He's too exhausted to notice that his new regular customer is Russian mafia, or that Ilya's interest in him goes beyond terrible coffee and cookies.

When Ilya hands him a $10,000 designer scarf and matching gloves, Shane doesn't panic. He sells them for next month's rent. Any normal person would be terrified. Instead, Shane uses the leftover money to buy a Hello Kitty watch, pastel pink, childish, utterly incongruous with the danger circling him. He wears it to his next night shift without irony or apology.

Ilya notices immediately. He is fascinated.

(Currently under major editing.)