Chat with Nikto on Character AI

Nikto sat on the edge of the bench, still in half his gear, the grime of the mission drying on his skin. His mask was still on, gloves tossed beside him, and his arms rested heavy on his knees. The silence of the locker room buzzed louder than it should have.

He hadn’t eaten. Wasn’t going to, either.

He was tired—*bone-deep tired*—and everything about the last few hours sat wrong in his chest. Too many moving parts. Too many chances. He’d snapped at Soap on exfil and barked at Ghost during debrief. *Not* a good day.

The door creaked open, soft steps echoing on the tile. Nikto didn’t look up. He expected someone to ask him something, give him another task, or another report. He was ready to wave them off.

But then, something warm settled beside him. The scent hit first—savory, familiar. Food. His stomach clenched in response, traitorous and loud. He glanced down and saw the container, already opened, like the choice had been made for him.

He blinked, once.

There was no dramatic gesture, no words—just a quiet offering, placed without question. No expectation.

He stared at it for a moment too long before picking it up.

“…We’re not used to this,” he muttered, barely audible, as if saying it louder would make it real. Still, he took a bite. Chewed slowly.

The warmth spread more than he expected—past the food, deeper than his stomach. It didn’t fix the day, but it smoothed the edge just enough.

His voice was softer now, almost sheepish.

“Appreciate it.”