#❝ 𝙙 . 𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙣 ❞ ╱ 𝚐𝚊𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚕 𝚍𝚎 𝚕𝚊 𝚌𝚛𝚞𝚣

[saccharinexvenom]

FEATURING    ›     dominic & gabriel ( @betrayedandbrave ) LOCATED AT    ›     the velvet oasis hotel

the scorned son. that is the title that had followed gabriel from the foundations of the serpents. to the depths of the society. and dominic had been privy to all of it. in a sense. for good business had always been about knowing his clients. and those that they were, or had been connected to. one false step, and his firm could be known as the least likely to keep one protected. gabriel had all the knowledge. he knew the innerworkings of the serpents. and that made him more dangerous than many others. yet, not quite to dominic. not in the same sense, at least.

" the prodigal son . " teased words as his gaze settled on the other. gabriel de la cruz. a man with perhaps more power in his hands than he knew. or what to do with it. and perhaps that is why dominic had shown his face at the hotel. albeit out of his usual working attire. " is this where you've been hiding out ? "

[saccharinexvenom]

FEATURING    ›     dominic & gabriel ( @betrayedandbrave ) LOCATED AT    ›     halloSCREAM

" ah, gabriel . " the name slid from his tongue as if it were a breath. or perhaps a prayer. " apologies that i couldn't attend as your guardian angel . " teased words as his gaze took in the sight of the other. a brow quirked, as he seemed to work out precisely who the other was dressed as. " now, which gangster are you meant to be dressed as ? "

[saccharinexvenom]

andres de la cruz ; yes, dominic had once had many dealings with the previous head of the family. god rest his soul, he supposed. like many others, it had certainly been quite the shock to dominic when gabriel's younger brother had been named his successor. even in the folders that sat within dominic's office, it had named gabriel as such. what a shame it had been to discard those. " aware, and yet ... you remain dubious. what, worried that i sell you out to the next highest bidder ? " a brow quirked. a challenge, and a curiosity. while it had been no secret, the way his organization worked with each of the gangs. where would he be if he allowed the lines to blur ? " i'm a man of action , " was all that he offered to gabriel's claim of him. which were not entirely a lie. but there was little thought to that.

as the flask had been raised, its open mouth mere inches from his waiting lips. his gaze remained locked with gabriel's. as the air around them seemed to spark. there had been no denying the challenges that continued to be set by each of them. the game that had seemingly formed between them. and dominic had never been a man to back down from such a thing. so his hand lifted, curled around gabriel's hand and the flask. which he brought the rest of the way. until cool metal touched against his lips. and with both their hands still upon it, he tipped the flask back to drain some of the liquor into his waiting mouth. only once it had been swallowed down, did dominic ease the flask away. and release his hand from its placement atop gabriel's. that same hand lifted to his mouth, as his thumb brushed along his lesser lip. riding any reminder of the liquor that had just passed them. " one day. once you've assured yourself you wouldn't do such a thing for me . " the smirk on his lips was confident. as his gaze held gabriel's. " i find it's more ... pleasing that way . "

Gabriel shook his head, a wry smile playing on his lips. "Little? Not at all. I’m well aware of what you and your organization can do. My father had plenty of good things to say about you, but I think you can understand why I’m skeptical of his judgment." He waved a hand dismissively, though his gaze lingered on Dominic’s grin, hinting at an intrigue that broke through his cool exterior. "Doesn’t ring any bells for me." He took another sip from his flask, unfazed by his unfamiliarity with Tyler Durden. "I can’t imagine you’ve ever begged for anything in your life," Gabriel said, his voice low and teasing as he brought the opened flask closer to Dominic’s lips. "Don’t say I never gave you anything." He studied Dominic, intrigued by the playful challenge in his eyes. There was something thrilling about this banter—humorous and just a little daring. How far could they take this joke? A smirk played on Gabriel’s lips as he leaned in slightly, "So, what’s next? Are you going to make me beg?"

[saccharinexvenom]

amusement colored his own features. albeit, in a slightly darker hue. as he listened to gabriel's words. his claim to how the darkness hung from his shoulders. there had been files upon files of the de la cruz family. just as there had been of the other serpent founding families. each one necessary in dominic's understanding of the organization. of precisely how he would hold their favor. yet ... papers were only one way to fully understand a person. hardship had always been another. and when gabriel had been dealt such a blow, it had allowed dominic a greater insight into the man. though, he would not comment to how that repainted the image that he had in his mind of the other. even now, as he moved the glass to his lips. as he took a sip of the bitter liquor instead. yet ... as gabriel's questions fell from his tongue. dominic couldn't help the amused chuckle that parted from his own. the glass had been returned to the table, as his gaze focused upon the other. he supposed that it were all a game. some rather twisted, yet amusing one. " i have always been, and always will be what is necessary. why, do you need me to be your guardian ? "

Gabriel's lips curled into a faint smile, a blend of amusement and disdain. He leaned back against the plush chair, folding his arms. Dominic approaching him was bound to happen some time. Gabriel was loose thread in his security business, at least for the Serpents. "Hiding? Hardly, Dominic. You know as well as I do that I’ve never been one to shy away from the shadows. They simply suit me better than the spotlight." He gestured dismissively, letting the air thicken with unspoken tension. The title "the prodigal son" had been both a curse and a cloak, shaping his identity in ways others couldn’t fathom. Gabriel paused, letting the weight of his words linger. "So, if I’m the prodigal son, what does that make you? The watchful guardian? Or just another player in a game far more dangerous than either of us can control?" Gabriel challenges, not wanting to play Dominic's silly games.

[saccharinexvenom]

a hand lifted. placed against his chest as if he had been truly wounded. " you sell me so short. or perhaps you just think so little of me . " a look of pain flashed across the set of his features. for had his firm not proved well enough what it was capable of. though, he supposed that were only to those that requested it. dominic had no issue watching others succumb to their own hubris. " clyde barrow . " he repeated the name, as his gaze swept over the outfit donned by the other. a brow perked, before he offered up a grin. " ah, almost as embarrassing as not knowing who tyler durden is. wouldn't you say ? " that teasing edge had not yet rid itself from his tone. as he observed the other man. " now ... are you going to offer to share ? or will i have to start begging ? " a concept that would never find itself upon dominic's tongue. but oh, how he enjoyed the humor of it .

“Dominic,” he echoed, eager to match the man’s vibe. Gabriel had never quite figured out Dominic’s angle, but he was ready to play along—after all, Halloween was all about tricks and treats. “It’s adorable that you think you could protect someone like me. I’ve got more enemies than you have contracts,” Gabriel replied. “You work in security and you don’t know who Clyde Barrow is? That’s a little embarrassing,” he teased, pulling a flask from his jacket. Gabriel took a step closer, trying to decipher the character he was channeling. “Are you some kind of edgy tourist? The floral shirt and jacket are sending mixed signals.”