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mint-yooxgi · 2 years ago

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Rover - Spy!Jongin X Reader X Yandere!Spy!Kai

Twin!AU, Spy!AU & Yandere!AU - Based off of Kai's Mini Album Rover

Genre: Mature, Horror, Angst, Tragedy, Smut

Pairing: Jongin X Reader X Kai

Words: 25,600

Warnings: Violence: physical and gun related, blood and injuries, unhealthy relationships, allusions to cheating (but not actually in that particular context), major deaths, assault and mentions of sexual trafficking. Smut: Dub-Con (there is explicit consent, but it's immediately negated due to the fact that OC is misled to believe she is consenting to her husband when it is not actually him; unknowing infidelity), oral (fem. rec), praise, body worship, dirty talk, very sensual and intimate. This is a Yandere story, it will contain themes such as stalking, violence, obsession, possessive natures, and just general overall creepiness and swearing. You have been warned.

A/n: *Ding ding ding* @ninibears-erigom come get your dinner!! Hehehe, anyways, this is heavily inspired by Kai's third mini album and the subsequent MVs/Films for it. I'm a little hesitant posting it cause of the dub-con aspect, but this is a much darker fic than I usual write and I really like how it turned out. Also, please don't come in my inbox saying OC is stupid for not realizing things, I don't wanna hear it lmaoo anyways, as always feedback is greatly appreciated! Enjoy!~

P.S. Please don't let this flop guys. If you enjoyed it, please reblog!!!

“What’s your position from the target?” A deep voice sounds in your ear, but you appear to pay him no mind.

“Twenty metres.” Comes your low reply, taking a sip from the crystalline glass held in your hand.

“Whenever you’re ready: approach.” Another male responds, and you can feel his eyes locked onto your figure from the side of the room.

Carefully, you place the champagne flute in your hand onto a side table, weaving your way through the crowd. People hardly notice you, too wrapped up in their own worlds to see nothing but a fleeting shadow dancing in the corner of their vision.

You smirk.

A moment later, and you feel someone bump into your front, spilling wine all over your satin gown.

“Pardon me,�� a rough voice greets your ears as you wear an expression of shock.

“It’s all my fault, I wasn’t watching where I was going,” you smile sheepishly, curling in on yourself as hushed whispers and pointed glances are sent your way.

“Be more careful next time, lass,” he responds with a firm nod of his head before turning away.

A waiter offers you a napkin to begin cleaning yourself off with, of which you accept graciously as you begin to walk away.

Little does anyone notice the smirks that tug subtly on either one of your faces.

A shrill scream reaches your ears as a dull thud echoes around the room. The music from the string quartet stops abruptly, people gathering in a circle around a now convulsing body. Not just any body, but the body of the man you had just ‘accidentally’ bumped into.

Not even a second later, the body stills, laying dead upon the floor.

Turning down one of the side hallways of the banquet hall, you appear to slip into the bathroom to freshen up. Only, you mange to slip out of the side door instead.

The cool night air is crisp against your skin, hands immediately coming up to grasp your arms for warmth. That cloth is still held in your hand, but you’ve long since given up attempting to save your dress. There’s no use, anyways. You’ve done what you’ve came here to do, so now all that’s left is to rendezvous at the meeting point, and call it a night.

“Did you get the rest of the information we needed?” That same deep voice from earlier echoes through your little earpiece, but you know he’s not talking to you for the moment.

“Signed, sealed, and delivered.” The other answers just as you hear the same door you exited out of creak open behind you.

Sparing a glance over your shoulder, you see that same waiter step out of the building. A smirk pulls at his lips as he sees you, loosening the first few buttons on his shirt as he approaches.

“God, I don’t know how these servers wear these things all night,” he grumbles, fingering the tie looser to ease it from his neck.

You grin, wrapping your arms around his shoulders as he steps in front of you. “Well, I think you look very handsome.”

“At your service, My Lady,” he grins right back, a teasing glint shining within his eyes as he wraps his arms around your waist.

A small silence settles over the both of you as you begin to lean in to one another. You stare deeply into his soft brown eyes, lips quirking as he squeezes your waist gently in his hold.

“If you two are done flirting with each other, we have a job to finish.” A sharp voice interrupts the moment you had been having with your husband.

“Yeah, yeah,” you roll your eyes, turning to face the second male who now stands at the end of the alleyway. A male who is identical in every way to the one who still stands behind you, save for a small mole on the back of his neck, directly beneath his hairline. “We’re coming."

“Just because you don’t have a wife, Kai, doesn’t mean that I’m not allowed to appreciate mine.” Again, his arms slide around your waist, resting his chin over your one shoulder.

Kai’s jaw tenses, lips pursing as his frown deepens.

“Jongin, don’t boast.” You poke said male’s arm lightly while letting out a soft giggle. “It’s unbecoming of you.”

“It’s never stopped him before,” Kai mumbles, crossing his arms over his chest. Then, without waiting for either one of you to respond, he continues, “Come on, let’s get going.”

Without another word, the three of you are heading down the alleyway and towards a sleek black car.

The all leather interior is cool against your skin as you slide into the backseat, a chill running down your spine.

Kai’s eyes flash in the rearview mirror, a silent puff of air escaping him as your husband doesn’t even seem to notice.

“There’s a blanket under the passenger seat if you’re cold.” He states, somewhat gruffly as the engine purrs to life.

The lights illuminate the path before you, and without waiting another second, Kai speeds out of the alleyway, racing off into the night.

“Stop taking better care of my wife than me.” Jongin grumbles, crossing his arms over his chest somewhat childishly. “Get your own."

“Maybe if you payed better attention to her, I wouldn’t fucking have to.” Kai remarks, weaving in and out through other cars as he heads for the agency you all work for across the city.

“Boys,” you tut, shaking your head in amusement. A moment later, and that blanket is wrapped around your figure. It’s surprisingly warm. “We’ve just got to find your older brother a partner of his own to worry about, and then he won’t have to worry about me.”

Briefly, his eyes glance at you again within the rearview mirror.

Impossible. He’ll always worry about you, since his brother never seems to want to.

“What type of person are you in to, Kai?” You lean forward, resting your arm on the back of Jongin’s seat as you look towards the elder of the two.

“You ask me this every time.” He grumbles, hands tightening on the steering wheel.

“And you never have an answer for me.” You reply with an amused hum, somewhat knowingly. “Do you fancy men, women, both, or any type of person there is?”

Jongin quirks a brow, shaking his head while muttering about your incessant need to find his brother a life partner.

“Why is it you really want to know?” Kai shoots a look towards you out of the corner of his eyes, lips quirking as he pulls off of the highway. “Worried you might make yourself jealous?”

A loud, boisterous laugh falling from your painted lips greets his ears. You even go so far as to pat his shoulder a few times in jest, wiping at your eyes with your free hand as if you had tears gathering at the corners.

“Now, why would knowing you fancy someone make me jealous?” You remove your hand. “You know I’m married, right?”

That damn ring of yours glinting beneath the artificial lights illuminating the street he drives down mocks him, the matching one sitting proudly on Jongin’s own hand. A ring which should have been on his finger instead.

Kai grits his teeth. “How could I ever forget?”

“No, I want to know your type so I can set you up with someone,” you say, as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “Perhaps Shinobu from logistics, or my friend Sunmin.”

He blinks, staring blankly ahead as he turns into the entrance to the underground parking lot for your agency. “I’m perfectly happy on my own.”

“Your comments about our marriage suggest otherwise,” Jongin grumbles just as Kai pulls into a spot.

Your brow quirks, but you say nothing as you exit the vehicle.

As soon as your foot touches the concrete flooring, the engine is cut, the two males stepping out to join you immediately after. Jongin instantly has his arm around your waist, helping to guide you inside of the building.

The whole time you walk inside and to the elevator, you can feel Kai’s eyes on you. However, little do you realize the way his shoulder still tingles from your touch mere minutes before.

The ride up to the main facility is silent, both males flanking you on either side. The only difference is, Jongin has his hand placed lowly on your back, even with that blanket still resting over your shoulders. It’s faint, but the material smells of jasmine and a certain type of musk you can’t quite put your finger on. All that you do know, is it smells incredible, and you find yourself leaning in to catch that scent more often that not.

A fact of which Kai picks up on.

A subtle smirk pulls at his lips as he sees you wrap that blanket tighter around yourself as the elevator doors slide open with a slight ding. The fact that you lean into it, wanting to smell more of him mixed with you sets his heart racing in his chest.

Now, if only he could have you smelling like that naturally.

“I’m going to go change, and then I’ll meet you boys in the boss’ office.” You say, voice managing to pull both of them out of their thoughts for the moment.

A nod is all you receive from Jongin as you turn to place a gentle kiss onto his cheek. Pulling away, you smile softly at Kai before heading down a separate hallway and towards your own private office at the one end of the facility.

As soon as you disappear from sight, Kai is shooting a pointed look at his younger brother.

“You didn’t even ask if she was okay.” His tone is pointed, disproval heavy in his gaze.

“Oh, don’t give me that crap.” Jongin rolls his eyes, already heading down the opposite hallway and towards their boss’ office. “You didn’t either.”

“At least I noticed she was cold.” Kai huffs, eyes narrowing at the back of his brother’s head as he follows after Jongin.

“If she was cold she would have said something.” Jongin replies nonchalantly as he tucks his hands into his pockets. Taking another step, he rounds on his brother. “Stop meddling in our affairs. What my wife and I do is none of your concern.”

“It is when you don’t fucking treat her properly.” Kai seethes, pushing Jongin harshly against the wall using his forearm. “Did you even notice that bastard didn’t even fucking apologize for spilling his drink all over her? Or were you just too busy eye-fucking his wife.”

“We got the job done, didn’t we?” Jongin spits, shoving his brother off of him.

“You’re fucking lucky we know what we’re dong.” Kai snaps, brushing past his twin with a harsh knock into his shoulder. “Why did you even bother to join this agency if all you ever do is complain about the jobs we get told to do, and the covers you get assigned?”

Of course, Kai knows exactly why Jongin does everything he does. It’s to prove that he always gets what he wants. At least, everything that Kai has ever desired. It’s not like Jongin actually likes the same things as his elder twin, he just wants to prove that he can take whatever it is that Kai wants for himself. Yet, whenever Kai points it out, no one believes him. Instead, they fall for Jongin’s little innocent act. Every. Single. Time.

To say Kai is frustrated would be an understatement. If he needed a new phone, Jongin’s always had to come first. If he wanted to follow a specific career path, Jongin did everything in his power to prove how much smarter, how much better he is at it than him.

The final straw had been you.

Kai had been smitten ever since he first laid his eyes on you in high school. Only, Jongin took notice of the fact of yet another person his twin had desired and made it his mission to get you first. Kai had lost many friends and lovers throughout the years because of this, but he thought you would be different. You had never played into Jongin’s tricks, so Kai couldn’t help but hope that finally, he could claim someone as his own. Someone who he had always desired above everyone else. Someone whom he loves.

That’s when the two of you announced you were getting married. With the same damn set of rings Kai had wanted to use to propose to you someday, too.

Kai had seen red that day, taking the most intensive and erotic bender of his entire life. It took him days to recover, and when he did, he was never the same man.

None of these other women were you. No one else mattered to him but you.

Yet, he couldn’t hurt you. No, never you. He couldn’t ruin your own happiness for his own selfish gains. Not like his brother. So, no matter how badly it pained him to watch you walk down that aisle in a dress he only ever dreamed you’d be wearing for him, he grinned and bared it. All because he loves you. More than anything.

The worst part? You don’t even realize how badly Jongin treats you. At least, in Kai’s opinion.

Jongin doesn’t bring you your favourite flowers on your birthday like he does. Jongin doesn’t remember your favourite take-out order when you’re feeling down. Hell, Jongin can’t even offer you the love that you have always deserved like Kai can.

If only you could see that, too.

Sitting within the boss’ office with his brother is tense, the elder woman leaning against her desk with her arms crossed over her chest. Her stern gaze looks over the both of them sharply, the usb they were required to use to hack the system of the banquet held firmly in her one hand.

“Do one of you want to tell me how this got destroyed?” Her tone is pointed, and they both know she won’t accept a bullshit answer.

A moment of silence before Jongin is letting out a loud sigh. “I told him to be more careful, but this idiot managed to crush it while subduing the waiter he was supposed to be impersonating.”

Kai’s nostril’s flare.

“You were the one that insisted that he take out the waiter instead so he could ‘keep an eye on his wife’. If I remember correctly.” He seethes, nothing but malice in his gaze as he glares at his brother.

“Jongin trusts his wife with his own life, why would he need to babysit one of our top two agents?” Their boss, Quincy, replies bluntly.

“Oh, is that what he told you?” Kai scoffs, sitting back in his seat as he rolls his eyes.

“I’m getting real sick and fucking tired of your attitude, Kai.” Her gaze sharpens, turning the full intensity of her heated glare onto him. “You may be the other half of our top two agents, but every day you push your luck.”

“If it weren’t for Jongin’s fuck up tonight, I wouldn’t have had to hack into the security mainframe manually, and we could have been out of there sooner.” Kai shifts in his seat once more, gripping the arms of his chair tightly beneath his fingers.

“Your purpose in these dual missions is to give each other an alibi should people start getting suspicious.” Quincy looks between the both of them, her lips pursed in a tight line. “We can’t keep your covers hidden if the both of you don’t cooperate. You’re brothers for crying out loud. Act like it.”

“I don’t know what you know about brotherly love, boss,” Jongin chuckles, “but we’ve never had it.”

“Then you better learn some before one of you ends up dead.” She huffs. “I know someone who would be devastated if they were to learn of at least one of your deaths.”

The pointed look she sends Jongin has a white hot fury flooding Kai’s veins at how unbothered his twin looks by this statement. Not only that, but a tightness begins welling inside his chest, heart aching at the truth behind those words.

He swallows thickly.

Just then, a knock sounds on the door. A second later, and you pop your head in, entering the room in a fresh pair of pants and a new shirt.

“Good. You’re here.” Quincy nods, pushing herself off of her desk and walking behind it so that she can take a seat. “Now, the three of you,” she looks between you all, “give me the rundown of your latest assignment.”

Stepping over beside Jongin, you perch yourself on the one arm of his chair as you meet Quincy’s gaze across from you.

“Target: William Darcey, eliminated.” You begin, pulling out a small pin no bigger than the size of a pill capsule. Leaning forward, you place the empty container on the edge of her desk. “The new toxin Jeremy developed works like a charm. Dropped dead within a minute of being administered, and looked like a seizure to boot.”

“Excellent.” She nods her approval. “As always, it’s what I expect from you, and you always deliver.”

“Thank you, Ma’am.” You nod back, keeping your head tilted forward in gratitude for a moment longer.

“I expect none of you were discovered.” Briefly, she looks over all three of you.

“If we were, we are unaware of it.” Jongin answers her, his hand moving to settle on your lower back.

The way you lean into his touch has Kai tensing in his seat beside you.

“My moles haven’t heard anything. Darcey was pronounced dead at the banquet, by natural causes.” Quincy shuffles some papers on her desk. “The information Kai managed to hack gives us our final target. The man pulling the strings behind this entire operation we’re attempting to shut down. Already, our Zero Division has moved to rescue those who have been trafficked by Don Vanderleen. The rescue is underway as we speak.”

“Are operations running as usual?” You inquire, and you notice her eyes flash. You shrink in your spot, noticing the disappearance of Jongin’s comforting touch. Though, you’re not the only one that does. “My apologies, Ma’am. I should have known better.”

“Next time, don’t interrupt until I’m finished.” She places the papers in her hands rather firmly on top of her desk.

You can only avert your gaze to the floor as Kai shifts once more in his seat.

His fingers twitch, longing to comfort you like he knows his brother should be doing right now. Even if it’s as little as his hand on your back, he would offer you his support in any way he can, not take it away.

“As I was saying,” another sharp look is sent your way by Quincy, “in two days’ time, Don Vanderleen will be attending the ballet Swan Lake at the Holly Theatre. We have already reserved the booth seats for you and Jongin to attend with him. You’ll be covering as two private investors interested in his more personal affairs.” She looks at you when she says this, shifting her gaze to the man sitting to your left in the next second. “Kai, you are expected to perform the assassination from the rooftop through the large domed ceiling. We will not tolerate failure. Not when we’ve been working towards this goal for the past two years. It’s time we bring this warlord to justice.”

Immediately, the three of you are nodding your understanding, accepting the files she hands you from across her desk. Your alibis, new cover profiles, as well as all the information on who you’re going to be sitting with, interacting with, and how you will be acting are all included inside.

“Learn this inside and out,” Quincy states, leaning back in her chair and observing the three of you carefully. Then, she turns her sharp gaze towards both you and Jongin. “Tomorrow, you’ll be fitted for your outfits. Don’t be late.”

“Yes, Ma’am.” You reply for the both of you.

“Until then,” she turns away from you to begin riffling through the one drawer of her desk. “Dismissed.”

The three of you do not need to be told twice.

Standing, you all exit the room. Jongin leads, not even bothering to wait for you as Kai holds the door open. You smile slightly in thanks, and from that simply action alone, Kai can feel his heart attempting to beat right out of his chest. At least he knows that if anything were to happen, he will take much better care of you than his brother can.

Catching up with Jongin, you fall into step beside him. Casually, he wraps his arm around your waist, not even bothering to look in your direction as he does so.

Stopping in the main hall, you turn to face Kai once more.

“Thanks for covering for his ass tonight.” You meet Kai’s gaze as you poke Jongin in the side of the ribs. “I swear he’s never outgrown his baby stage.”

“Oh, so, you’ve noticed, too?” Kai quirks a brow, a grin tugging at his features.

“Hey!” Jongin whines, lips tugging downwards in a pout before pulling upwards in a smirk. Leaning in, he whispers in your ear loud enough for his brother to hear, “that’s not what you were saying last night.”

Kai’s jaw twitches, and he has to restrain himself from clocking his brother right in front of you at this very moment. He knows what Jongin is trying to do, and he won’t give him the satisfaction of seeing him snap.

“Jongin,” you hit his side, averting your gaze so sweetly as you do so.

If only Kai could make you react like that. Oh, what he wouldn’t give to see you so bashful because of him. Him, and only him.

“Anyways,” you clear your throat, noticing how the elevator opens before you. Jongin must have called it while you weren’t looking. “We should get going, but did you need-“

“Come on, Darlin’,” Jongin tugs you into the elevator beside him. “I’ve had a long day, and I want to get home.”

You blink in mild shock, attempting to turn back towards Kai to finish offering him a ride home since you all drove in together this morning. Only, before another word can so much as leave you, Jongin is turning you towards himself and pressing his lips against your own as he cups your face.

The last thing Kai sees before the elevator doors close in his face is your surprised face before you’re completely melting into the kiss. The fact that he could just tell his brother had been watching his reaction out of the corner of his eyes sets his blood boiling.

Heading towards the stairs, Kai harshly slams the door open. His fists are clenched by his side as he begins to rush down them, the familiar burning of tears igniting behind his eyes. With how tight his jaw is clenched, he’s surprised his teeth don’t crack from the pressure.

Jongin is ruthless: dangling you in front of Kai like some toy. Viewing you as some grand prize to hold over his older brother every chance he gets. Only, that’s what Jongin doesn’t understand. You are not some toy. You are not an object to be owned and used as he pleases.

That is what angers Kai the most. Jongin doesn’t even view you as a person, but simply another conquest that he can hold over his twin. A trophy to display whenever and however he wants, just to hurt Kai as much as possible.

If only you weren’t so blinded by your own emotions.

Emotions which shine clearly in your eyes as you pull away to stare deeply into Jongin’s own. The silence in the elevator is comforting, and the soft smile you see painting his features as he looks at you sets your heart racing.

You chuckle. “I wish you would stop doing that.”

“Doing what?” He hums innocently, his arms once more wrapped around your waist, and holding you flush against him.

“Kissing me so suddenly,” you poke his chest lightly. “If you want to kiss me, just ask.”

“Where’s the fun in that?” He grins, leaning in to peck your lips one more time.

You roll your eyes playfully as you hear the familiar chime of the elevator doors opening.

Stepping out, Jongin follows close behind, grabbing your hand in his own. He swings your arms gently between the both of you as you walk to the car, pulling the keys out of your pocket and unlocking it quickly. You part only to slide into the seats, hands immediately finding one another over the console once you’re both settled inside.

Jongin turns to you, a tender look in his eyes. “Stay with me until sunrise?”

You smile, heart warming at the secret code you made for each other ever since your wedding night. A code which lets you know that you not only love one another, but will stay with each other until the end of time.

“Only if we get to watch the sunset.”

Pulling out of the parking garage, you take off down the road. The drive home is quick, quaint in the silence that settles around the both of you. Yet, with the comforting way he squeezes your hand, you wouldn’t want it any other way.

***

The next morning, you wake to an empty bed.

Pulling yourself up and tossing off the covers, you’re quick to get ready for the day. Jongin must already be up and waiting for you, opting to have let you sleep in for a little while longer.

Once you reach the kitchen, you’re surprised to see no sight of Jongin waiting for you. Not even a note has been written for you in attempts to explain his whereabouts.

Your brow furrows in slight worry. He couldn’t have left without you already, right? It wouldn’t be extremely odd for him to; not completely out of the ordinary. The last time he did something like this though, was at the very beginning of your relationship. Back when you were still learning everything there was to know about each other.

After having a quick breakfast, you begin to make your way towards the agency. You hope beyond everything that Jongin is already there waiting for you, and not having decided to just up and disappear. You know that he hates fitting days, but you never thought he’d run out on you like this.

Stepping through the door to the clothing department reveals Nancy waiting patiently for you behind her desk. Her sewing machine whirs softly, a piece of fabric being pushed beneath the threaded needle.

“I’ll be with you in a second!” She calls, her glasses close to sliding right off her nose as she concentrates on the hemline she seems to be sewing.

“Take your time, Nance,” you call, already moving over to your usual fitting spot.

A soft sigh escapes you as you sit on the edge of the little pedestal in front of the three way mirror. Blankly, you stare at your reflection, leaning forward to rest your elbow on your knee.

Jongin still hasn’t answered any of your calls or texts, and you’re getting a bit concerned. The last time he skipped out on fitting day for an upcoming mission, you thought Quincy was going to hang him by his toes off of the side of the building. You just hope he has a decent excuse this time.

The sound of the door opening behind you draws your attention just as you finally get a response from him.

“Sorry I’m late,” a deep voice sounds, and you lock eyes with who appears to be your husband in the mirror.

You glance down to read the message.

Had an emergency arise. Cover for me?

“Jongin!” Nancy exclaims, eyes lighting up with mirth as she finally finishes sewing that piece of fabric together. “You’re right on time! Come in, come in!”

He gives her a tight smile, before turning to face you.

“I was worried.” Your brow furrows slightly, a disappointed downturn of your lips as you stand to your feet.

“I know,” he grimaces slightly, playing the part of the remorseful husband well. “I’m sorry, Darling.”

You let out another sigh. “You’re here now.”

Nancy glances between the two of you curiously, a minor quirk to her brow. “Trouble in paradise? I’ve never seen you two act so cold.”

“We’re fine, Nance,” you reply quickly. “Let’s just get this over with, yeah?”

“Alright,” she shoots you a skeptical look. “I’ve already got the outfits ready for you both, so you just sit tight and wait here.”

Scurrying off to the back, Nancy disappears from sight.

You can hear her fumbling around with some clothes, cursing as she drops something. A loud clatter is heard from behind the stacks of fabric, and you see some beads scatter across the floor.

“You okay, Nan?” You call out.

“Yeah!” She assures you, cursing a few more times under her breath as she shifts things around. “I’m just going to be another minute.”

You can hear her muttering to herself about finding where she put the matching vest as more shuffling occurs.

Taking this opportunity, you turn towards the male standing beside you, only to see him already staring at you.

“Thank you,” keeping your voice low, you lean into him subtly. Your arms are crossed over your chest, and you notice that he blinks a few times, as if you’ve just pulled him out of his own thoughts. “For covering for him.”

“Yeah, well,” Kai lets out an exasperated breath, “you know my brother.”

“He doesn’t deserve you.” You tell him honestly. “I don’t know how you put up with his shit all the time.”

“He’s done this before?” His brow quirks, an irritated twitch to his lips.

“Fittings aren’t the only things he likes skipping out on from time to time.” You say, glancing down at the ground with a frown. “‘Emergency’ my ass.”

You swear you see Kai’s nostril’s flare, but before he gets a chance to reply, Nancy is returning with two separate outfits in her hands.

“Sorry I took so long, couldn’t find the one vest for the life of me.” She chuckles, handing each of you your respective outfits. “Change into these. and then I can finish any alterations you may need.”

Grabbing the garments from her hands, both you and Kai enter your respective changing rooms. Not even five minutes later, you both step out, moving to stand on each of the two pedestals in front of the mirrors.

A low whistle escapes you.

“I always knew you’d look good in red.” You comment, eying the finely tailored suit that hugs Kai’s figure delicately.

The bright crimson stretches from the jacket, all the way down to his slacks. Even the vest he wears beneath is the same colour, exposing the slightest bit of his chest as there doesn’t seem to be a shirt buttoned underneath. The fact that his hair sits that golden blond atop his head only adds to the look, his honeyed skin practically glowing despite the harshness of the artificial lights.

Kai absolutely revels in your gaze. His breath hitches slightly as he sees you give him a few glances from head to toe, a shiver caressing his spine as he notices the corner of your lips twitching upwards. He knows you’re probably only picturing what Jongin will look like in such an outfit, but like hell is he letting anyone take this moment from him.

Finally, you are gazing at him just as he always knows he looks at you, and right now is no exception.

There you stand, in a gorgeous golden gown which accentuates every sinful curve of your body. A slit rests on the left side of the dress, following your leg upwards until about mid-thigh, allowing for ample movement in case things go south. Either way, you look absolutely radiant, and Kai curses his brother for being stupid enough to miss this.

He should be here, worshipping the very ground you walk on. Not fucking off on some random trip just cause he’s throwing a tantrum over fitting day.

“You look…” the words get caught in his throat as you meet his gaze, his breath hitching once more. He blinks, clearing his throat, “stunning.”

A soft smile graces your features as you avert your gaze, and if Kai didn’t know any better, he’d say he just made you shy.

His heart warms. Finally, he can say that he was the cause of your bashful reaction. Him, and him alone.

“Are you sure these outfits aren’t too…” you turn towards Nancy, “loud?”

“Yours? No.” She shakes her head. “His? Maybe.”

A chuckle escapes the woman’s mouth as you nod.

“I just remember you saying how you would love to see your husband in a bright red someday, that preferably isn’t blood.” She winks. “Though, I’m just surprised he didn’t fight you on it like he usually does. Equally surprised he didn’t complain this time around.”

You and Kai share a look.

“I simply decided that maybe I should listen to my beautiful wife for once.” Kai answers smoothy. “She’s usually right, after all.”

“Oh?” Nancy quirks her brow at this. “She finally smack some sense into your whiny ass?”

“I did no such thing!” You gasp, as if you’re truly scandalized by her words. Only, the playful wink you offer her immediately after has grins pulling at all of your faces.

“I just finally realized that I should appreciate the woman I love more often.”

There is nothing but sincerely within his gaze as he looks at you when he says this. An intensity you almost long for from another male who looks exactly like him.

A puff of air escapes you, shaking your head lightly. “You always were the hopeless romantic.”

“For you?” He hums, turning back to face the mirror as he straightens out his blazer. “Always.”

Out of the corner of your eyes, you notice Nancy feign gagging.

“Bleck! Will you two stop being so lovey-dovey?” Her nose scrunches as she moves over to you to fix the hem of your skirt slightly. “It’s seriously gross.”

“You think this is us being lovey-dovey?” You snort out a laugh, the corner of your lips twitching upwards knowingly. You lift your head to meet Kai’s gaze, a playful roll to your eyes. “Oh, Honey, you’re just so sweet. I cannot bear to call you anything but.”

Kai shares a laugh with you, despite the way his heart races inside of his chest from your words. Sure, you may not mean it, but he’ll cherish this moment for as long as he can. After all, your words mean more to him that you’ll ever know.

“But, My Darling,” the grin that stretches across his features is nothing short of sultry, “you know that nothing can compare to your beauty. It’s enough to rival even the deepest of oceans, and highest of mountains, for it is eternal in the ways you captivate me.”

You both share another laugh, though this time, it doesn’t quite reach your eyes.

“Okay, now you’re just rubbing it in.” Nancy sighs, shooting an almost longing glance towards who she thinks is your husband.

A glance which you immediately pick up on.

You tense.

“I wish someone would speak to me like that. Maybe I should flirt with you brother more often. See if he has as silvered a tongue as you, Jongin.” Nancy darts her gaze over at the male briefly before focussing back in on the task at hand.

Thank fuck Nancy is too busy hemming your skirt to look up to see the way Kai cannot hide the grimace that pulls onto his face at her words.

“You shouldn’t use him like that, Nancy. Kai is a gentleman, and you shouldn’t joke about getting him to do what you want. He doesn’t deserve that, and I don’t think he’s in the market anyways.” You state, rather casually as you smooth out the front of your dress. “Besides, aren’t you married.”

The judgement is clear on your features as you meet her gaze in the mirror. Lightly, you shake your head in disproval.

“A girl can dream.” Nancy sighs, her gaze once more flicking over at the male to your right.

“If you’re that unhappy in your marriage, Nance, you should probably get a divorce.” You say, a hint of concern now shining in your eyes. “To even imply you would cheat-“

“It was just a joke, sweetie,” she huffs, rolling her eyes a bit exasperatedly. “Lighten up.”

You purse your lips, letting out a long sigh through your nose.

“Jokes are meant to be funny.”

Nancy shoots an incredulous look towards the male standing to your right.

“Geez,” she huffs, “didn’t realize you’d be so sensitive about your brother.”

The two of you share a look.

“Anyways, you’re probably right about the red being too loud for the ballet.” Nancy sighs, standing back to her feet. A second later, and she’s disappeared around the stacks of fabric only to reemerge holding a standard black suit and tie. “Change into this instead.”

Seamlessly, she hands the male the new outfit before he disappears back inside the change room.

Once the curtain has slid closed, she leans into you, “Don’t worry. I’ll pack that little red ensemble for you separately.”

You quirk a small smile, somewhat sadly, “Thanks, Nance.”

A minute later, and Kai is stepping out in the muted suit, looking just as fine as he did in the red one.

“Your husband can certainly pull off anything he wants.” Nancy chuckles, a certain spark shining within her eyes that you don’t particularly like.

You simply quirk a tight smile in response as you step in to ‘adjust’ his tie.

“I think you’re negating the true beauty in the room.” He replies effortlessly, gaze locked with your own.

Your breath hitches, freezing right in your spot as you search his features. The sincerity alone that you can see shining within his eyes has your heart fluttering.

You turn away, clearing your throat. “So, should these be ready by tonight, or tomorrow morning?”

“I’ll have them ready for tonight. That way if you need to make any last minute alterations before the mission tomorrow we can do so then.” Nancy tells you, seeing you nod your understanding. “Kai will be in the same outfit as Jongin in case he gets spotted, only with a black button up to blend in better with the night.”

This time, you both nod your understanding. Of course, Nancy fails to see the way the two of you lock gazes.

You let out another sigh.

“Well,” you step back into the change room, “better prepare for tomorrow.”

Sliding the curtain back over the rail, you slip out of the dress and back into your regular clothes. The moment you step back out, you’re handing the golden gown back to Nancy, thanking her lowly again. You notice Kai has also taken the liberty to change, handing the aforementioned female his brother’s outfit once more.

“I’ll be by later to pick them up,” you say, seeing her nod her head as she retreats back to her sewing machine for the moment.

Without another word, the two of you leave the room.

The walk to the elevators is silent, a sort of tension filling the air between the both of you. A tension which finally boils to a head when the elevator doors open to reveal Jongin laughing along with Shinobu inside. Her one hand playfully smacks his shoulder as her other covers her lower face, attempting to stifle her giggles as he grins widely. A faint blush creeps up her cheeks, her eyes shining with clear affection towards your husband.

Kai swears he sees red as he stands there, just as stiff as you as you both witness the scene before your very eyes.

Noticing the sudden tension around them, both Shinobu and Jongin turn their heads to see you and Kai standing there. Your expression remains unreadable, steeling your nerves as you step into the elevator with a curt nod to the other female. Kai, on the other hand, can barely control the shaking of his hands in anger.

The moment Shinobu scurries from the elevator, Kai is closing the distance between himself and his twin. His arm is pressed harshly across Jongin’s chest as he pins his younger brother to the back wall.

The elevator doors slide closed.

“The fuck was that all about?” Kai hisses lowly. “Bailing on your wife to fucking flirt with your coworker? On fitting day, no less? Was that your fucking emergency?”

“Kai-“

Your somewhat exasperated reply gets cut off by Jongin shoving his twin off of him.

“You think I would be the one to cheat?” Jongin’s eyes widen slightly, his tone incredulous. “We just so happened to step into the elevator at the same time. Why are you always so adamant on finding something that isn’t there?”

“Maybe if you stopped acting like a fucking asshole, and treated you wife properly, I wouldn’t have to.” Kai spits, nothing but pure fury reflected in his gaze.

You can tell Jongin is about to reply, but your hands firmly pushing them apart stop him from going any further. You step between them, further separating the fire that continues to rage on between the two brothers.

“Enough.” You look from one male to the other. “We have a mission tomorrow, and the last thing we need is for you two to be at each other’s throats more so than usual.”

A brief silence where the tension crackles in the air like lightning before Kai is heaving a tremendous sigh.

“She’s right.” He takes a reluctant step back. “You should listen to your wife more often, it might just save your life.”

“Are you threatening me?” Jongin’s eyes are wild as he tilts his head at his brother.

“If you feel threatened, then by all means,” Kai gestures loosely towards Jongin.

Jongin’s lip part in retort before your sharp gaze is causing the words to catch in his throat. You turn to Kai.

“Thanks for covering for him today.” You say. “Him and I need to have a talk on the way home. See you tomorrow for the mission.”

Without another word, you’re hitting the button to open the elevator doors, a silent command for Kai to leave you and Jongin alone.

Reluctantly, the male exits the elevator, watching the doors close behind him with a look of pure irritation on his features. Irritation aimed directly at his twin, who only looks annoyed at this specific turn of events.

Clicking his tongue, Kai turns around. There’s not much for him to do for the moment, so he might as well release his anger doing something productive.

Heading to the shooting range, Kai rolls his shoulders. At least this way he can kill two birds with one stone: practice for the assassination tomorrow evening, and pretend he’s making his brother suffer as much as Jongin has made him throughout the years.

Oh, how Kai longs for the day where he can see that complete look of devastation wipe that smug grin from Jongin’s features. He’s fantasized how it would happen more times than he can count. The biggest being a scenario where you end up in his arms while Jongin is forced to reap the consequences of his actions. With how things are going, perhaps such a dream may come true sooner, rather than late.

Kai sighs, pulling out his favourite sniper rifle from the cage. At least once he’s done here he can prepare everything for tomorrow. After all, he never misses.

Meanwhile, back in the elevator, a tense silence settles over both you and Jongin as you ride down to the parking garage. Your arms are crossed over your chest as you refuse to so much as turn in your husband’s direction. The moment that familiar ding chimes and the doors open, you’re walking over to your car, an unreadable expression on your face.

“Come on, Darlin’,” Jongin flicks his bangs out his eyes, a look of annoyance on his features. “You seriously can’t be mad at me right now.”

“And why is that, Jongin?” You round on him, nothing but bitterness shining in your eyes as you stare at him from overtop of the car. “You left before sunrise, on a day where you knew we had somewhere to be. I understand you dislike fitting days, but do you realize what would have happened if you had been caught skipping again? Our line of work is already dangerous without having our own agency breathing down our necks and watching our every move. Do you want to be put on lockdown again?”

“We won’t be put on lockdown, again.” He sighs, exasperatedly while sliding into the passenger seat of the car. “Besides, Kai handled it just fine.”

Your nostrils flare as you move to sit in the drivers seat, slamming the door closed and pointedly starting the engine. “I’m lucky your brother even showed up.”

“Next time, you should just text him. He always seems to be at your beck and call, anyways.” He grumbles, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Oh, no.” You shoot him a glare out of the corner of your eyes as you pull out of the parking garage. “You don’t get to pull the jealous card here.”

“Me? Jealous of my brother?” Jongin nearly scoffs. “As if he would ever have a chance with you.”

“I don’t know, he looked remarkable in red.” You comment lowly, noticing how he stiffens almost immediately from your words. “Quite slick with his tongue, too.”

“How dare you-“

“You honest to god think I would ever cheat on you, Jongin?” Your grip tightens on the steering wheel as you merge onto the highway. “After everything I’ve told you that happened with my parents? On how I feel about the matter? You think I would be capable of inflicting that type of pain on a person I love?”

“Well, when you say things like that…”

“How do you think it makes me feel to see you arrive late to work with Shinobu of all people after you run out on me claiming there’s some ‘emergency’ you have to take care of?” You counter, noticing how he averts his gaze in shame in the next second. “Do you have any idea how that looks, not just to me, but to anyone aware of the situation? I know for a fact you claimed ‘emergency’ just because you don’t want to deal with Nancy’s subtle flirtations with you. I don’t blame you for being uncomfortable around her, but the least you could do is tell me where you are. I’m your goddamn wife for fuck’s sake! You think I don’t notice when my own husband is both being hit on, and is uncomfortable by it?”

“Then, why don’t you say anything to her?” He grumbles, crossing his arms over his chest.

“I do!” You exclaim, voice rising in pitch slightly. “I have, and when I did, you were the one who got mad at me for bringing it up!”

Of course, he didn’t get mad at you in front of her. Only once you were behind closed doors did he say to lay off of Nancy. Turns out your husband rather enjoys the attention, more so than the discomfort it causes him. Which is why you found Kai’s reassurance today, even if it was something as simple as backing you up while pretending to be your husband, so refreshing.

Before he can respond, you’re letting out a sigh through your nose. “Either way, it looks like you don’t have to worry about her flirting with you anymore. It seems as if she’s moving on to target your brother.”

“You say that as if it bothers you.” He mumbles lowly, refusing to meet your gaze as you pull off of the highway.

“Does it not bother you?” You cannot hide how appalled you sound. “He’s your brother, for god’s sake, Jongin! Kai deserves better than that, and you know it!”

“Then, why didn’t you marry him?” He snaps, slapping his hands onto his thighs in exasperation.

You go quiet, the silence deafening inside of the car.

You swallow thickly, keeping your voice low, “Because he’s not the one I fell in love with.”

You can feel him staring at you through the stillness that settles around the both of you.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know why I said that.” His voice is low, averting his gaze back down to his lap.

“Well, I do.” You reply quite sharply. “I know you’ve always been insecure about your brother, Jongin. It’s just not fair that you take it out on me.”

He remains quiet for the rest of the drive, still staring down at his hands.

You’re right. He knows you’re right. He’s just too proud to admit it.

Kai has always been the better twin. Smarter, funnier, more popular. Jongin cannot help but get jealous, even if he hates to admit that he does. Everything Jongin does, he does for approval, but all it seems to do is irritate Kai. He thought that following in his brother’s footsteps would make the elder like him more, but no matter what he does, he can never seem to win.

And now he’s pulled you into that mess.

The moment the car stills in the driveway, Jongin is stepping out wordlessly. He can hear the low sigh you let out behind him as he moves to unlock the front door. Only, it seems as if he’s misplaced his keys again.

You heave another sigh, louder this time as you pull out your own keys to unlock the front door. Once inside, the two of you each head your separate ways.

The rest of the afternoon and evening is spent like this, a tense sort of silence between the both of you. Sure, you’ve had fights before, but never anything like this. You know Kai has always been a touchy subject for Jongin, but he’s never gone so far as to avoid you when you bring him up. Perhaps you should talk to him after you get back from picking up your outfits for tomorrow.

Only, when you step back through the door, Jongin has up and disappeared on you again. At least this time he left a note.

Needed to sort out my head. Be back in time for mission.

Letting out a sigh, you retreat to your bedroom. You might as well get as much sleep as you can before tomorrow. You have a feeling you’re going to need it.

***

Jongin doesn’t return home until an hour before you’re supposed to leave for the ballet. He walks in to see you pacing near the front, already dressed and ready for the evening assassination.

You can see the words forming on his lips, but you raise a hand into the air to stop him. “Save it. You need to get ready.”

A solemn nod is all you receive in response as Jongin retreats to the bedroom. Not even forty minutes later, he reappears, fully dressed and ready to go.

The button up he wears beneath his open blazer is slightly larger than it should be, the white material spilling out further than it should where it’s tucked into his pants. He struggles to fix it, and you can only click your tongue in response. Nancy adjusted his outfit based on Kai’s measurements yesterday, and Jongin’s brother just so happens to be the slightest bit buffer than he is.

The clothes still fit, just not as well as they should.

Looking upwards, you finally meet his gaze.

“I won’t ask you where you’ve been.” Your first real words to him since he’s gotten back. “Whatever you needed to sort out was your business. Just-“ you let out a somewhat sad sigh, “if this isn’t working out for you anymore, Jongin, all I ask is that you don’t string me along.”

Immediately, he’s shaking his head, closing the distance between the both of you in order to take your hands gently into his.

“I-“

The front door opens, and in steps Kai.

You drop Jongin’s hands. “We’ll talk about this later.”

Kai’s brow quirks, gaze darting between the both of you, “Am I interrupting something?”

Jongin is quick to recover, the corner of his lips quirking upwards as he huffs out a laugh, “Nothing of importance.”

He fails to see the way your entire demeanour falls, but Kai doesn’t. However, before the elder male can so much as ask if you’re okay, you’re walking past him.

“Let’s get this over with.” You mumble, grabbing your clutch from the front table and heading out the door.

Kai spares a brief glance over to his brother, of whom simply shrugs in response.

Letting out a deep sigh, Kai is quick to follow right behind you, shaking his head the whole while. Looks like his brother royally screwed up again, and of course, Kai will have to do damage control to clean up his mess.

As Jongin locks up, Kai takes this time to subtly lean into you.

“You look gorgeous, by the way.” He keeps his tone low, the corners of his lips twitching upwards as his eyes roam your figure.

You smile lightly. “Thank you.”

“Come on,” Jongin’s pointed huff draws both of your attention. “Let’s go.”

Silently, Kai watches as you both slide into the backseat of his car. He’s supposed to act as your chauffeur this evening, and drop you off at the venue before finding a place to safely park the car and assume his position. He just hopes you can all last the night.

About halfway through the drive, you get a call from Quincy.

“Have you heard the news?” Her gruff voice sounds through the speakers of your phone, allowing the two males to hear the conversation at her instruction.

“What news?” Kai’s brow furrows.

“Both Shinobu and Nancy were found dead in their homes this morning.” She says, and you cannot prevent the way your breath hitches in your throat. “We suspect it was Don Vanderleen’s men sending a warning to us before the events of tonight. You three be extra careful, and make sure you don’t fuck this up. The last thing we need is more of our good agents being taken down.”

“Yes, Ma’am.” Your reply is somewhat breathless as she soon ends the call.

A heavy silence permeates the air between the three of you as you get closer to the theatre. The news is both sudden and shocking, causing your blood to run cold. You might not actually be prepared for what you’ve just gotten yourself into.

“Are you okay?” Jongin stares intently at you, reaching over to place a gentle hand over your own in your lap.

“Yeah.” You blink, seemingly focussing back in on the reality around you. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

You fail to see the worried glance Kai sends you through the rearview mirror. Though, there’s something else hidden there, too. Something far more sinister than either of you two realize as his gaze shifts to the male offering you comforts from beside you.

“We’re almost there,” Kai states, somewhat roughly.

He clears his throat.

“The sooner we get this done, the better.” You sigh, eyes falling shut as you run a hand lightly over the side of your face. “Remember, if anything goes wrong, we rendezvous at the hotel across the street.”

“Right.” Both males respond at the same time, firmly nodding their heads once each.

Pulling up just outside of the theatre, you exhale a breath through your nose. Steeling your features into a look of determination, you motion for Jongin to exit the car.

“Let’s do this.”

The moment the car door opens, you can tell that Jongin has slipped into his persona for the evening. As he reaches back to help you exit the vehicle, you immediately do the same.

No longer are you both mister and missus Kim, but the Rover’s. Two souls madly in love with one another to the point of it becoming obnoxious to the people around you. People cannot help but to notice how you cling onto one another, giving you each the perfect alibi for when the time comes. You are to be inseparable. At least, to those around you.

Jongin is quick to wrap his arm around your waist as soon as you move to stand beside him. His touch is nothing but gentle, thumb smoothing over the material of your dress as he guides you inside. Each step is meticulous, your eyes subtly scanning the crowd for potential targets, security, and escapes routes. You all may have planned for this evening, but that doesn’t mean something couldn’t go very wrong.

Stepping up to the entrance, Jongin is quick to pull the two tickets reserved for the both of you out of the inside of his suit jacket. Wordlessly, he hands them to the concierge, whispering lowly how excited he is to spend the night with his beautiful wife.

You giggle at this, leaning in to him and placing a hand on his chest. Your own reply is low as you tell him it’s because you’re finally able to spend some time with your handsome husband that you’re able to look this good for him.

The way the concierge smiles tightly at you both while handing you both your tickets says it all. At least the act is believable.

“Enjoy the show.” He comments lowly, eyes pleading for the two of you to hurry inside.

“Oh, believe me,” your painted lips curl upwards in a sultry grin. “We will.”

You swear that were the poor man not working, he would have gagged at the way you giggle after your own words. You can tell he’s relieved to be rid of you as he holds the door open for the both of you to slip inside, nearly chuckling to yourself at his tight expression as soon as you’re passed him.

Jongin’s grip tightens slightly around your waist.

“There he is.” He leans in once more to whisper lowly in your ear, motioning to the side with his chin.

Shifting your gaze, you follow in the direction he’s pointed you in. A blink, and you see your target standing by the complimentary bar. A glass of wine rests in his grubby hands, high profile women and men surrounding him on either side. A boisterous laugh escapes him, his dark hair slicked back with grease as a wolfish grin tugs at his lips. Even from here, you can see the sheen of sweat that paints his flushed skin, and you nearly gag.

“I just hope I don’t get a single drop of that man’s vile blood on me tonight, but I know that’s just wishful thinking.” You mutter, disgust pulling at your features.

“You and me both, Darlin’.” Jongin replies, holding you tighter against him. “Are you ready?”

“If we didn’t have to interact with him all night, I would count myself blessed.” You exhale sharply through your nose. “Let’s just get this over with.”

Jongin squeezes your waist reassuringly as he begins to lead you both over to that group of investors surrounding Don Vanderleen. A group which your agency painstakingly infiltrated to make both you and Jongin a part of as the Rover’s.

“Good evening, Mister Vanderleen,” you cut in smoothly into the conversation, drawing everybody’s attention as you extend your hand out for him to shake. “It’s an honour to make your acquaintance.”

Recognition flashes in his eyes, and immediately he’s reaching out to grasp your hand in his own. Only, instead of shaking it, he brings the back up to his lips, placing what you’re sure is supposed to be a delicate kiss onto your skin.

You nearly grimace at the moist feeling left lingering on your hand, resisting the urge to wipe off the residue of the kiss this vile excuse of a man has given you. Hell, even Jongin tenses beside you.

“Ah, yes,” he hums, nodding firmly in Jongin’s direction. “You must be the Rover’s. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“The pleasure is all ours,” Jongin replies, forcing a polite smile onto his lips.

“Once my dear hubby told me about the opportunities our investments could lead to with you, I couldn’t wait to meet you.” Your voice portrays the perfect mix of both enthusiasm and excitement. “He said you’d have further information for us on what this grants us in shares tonight?”

Vanderleen laughs at this, his whole chest shaking as the people around you all chuckle.

“Someone’s a little eager lily,” he grins, but it only serves to make you feel unnerved. You don’t particularly enjoy the way he continues to eye you up and down, licking his lips as if he is ready to consume you at any moment. “I promise to let both you and your husband know everything you need to know when the time is right, little missy. Preferably when we’re somewhere a little more private.”

You smile your understanding, even if it doesn’t quite reach your eyes. Still, it’s enough to fool the people standing around you.

You both fall into idle smalltalk after that, conversing with the rest of his supposed investors for the evening. That is, until the doors open, and everyone is filing into their respective seats.

Jongin and you follow Don Vanderleen all the way up to the special booth that has been reserved for you this evening. Only you, your husband, your target, and three others of Vanderleen’s party have been reserved for this balcony, making it much easier for you, Jongin, and Kai to do what you’ve come here to do.

The six seats rest three to a row, you and Jongin in front, while Vanderleen’s men file in the back. Unfortunately for you, the man of the hour decides to sit on your left, and he doesn’t seem to be that big of a fan of personal space.

The only thing separating you from the male beside you is the armrest, and you choose to angle yourself as far away from him as possible without drawing suspicion to yourself. Of course, with your covers, it’s easy for you to lean as close to Jongin as possible. It simply appears as you being unequivocally in love with him, but it becomes increasingly difficult not to twitch each time the man on your left ‘accidentally’ brushes against you in some way.

Clearing your throat, you steel yourself for talking to this man once more.

“We’re somewhere more private now, Sir Vanderleen,” you comment. “Wouldn’t you agree?”

“Please,” he leans in closer to you, and you can smell the alcohol clinging to his rancid breath. You nearly gag. “Call me Don.”

“Alright then,” you smile politely, eyes crinkling, “Don.”

You swear you see the man shiver before you.

“Well, as you know, my company handles many different aspects of many different industries.” The moment he sees you nod eagerly, he continues, “my business covers every domain you could possibly imagine: finances, political influences,” he purposely meets your gaze, “pleasure.”

You cannot prevent the way your eyes widen naturally at this.

“Ah, I see that has caught your interest.” He chuckles, his hand resting dangerously close to you on the armrest as his fingers curl around the wood. “I suppose I could let you in on the more private aspects of our company later on. After all, you seem like a very respectable woman who knows what she wants.”

“She certainly doesn’t take things for granted,” Jongin chimes in, his arm casually settling around your shoulders as he pulls you the slightest bit closer to him. “Unlike some people.”

Something within the other male’s eyes flash, but he backs off. For now.

“I see,” he hums, settling back into his seat. “I suppose that conversation will have to wait for a different time, then.”

The lights begin to dim, the orchestra picking up their instruments in preparation for the beginning of the show.

“I suppose so.” You hum, turning your attention to the front as you settle further into Jongin’s side.

It’s almost time.

The curtain rises, and the true event finally begins.

Near the end of act one, Jongin excuses himself to the men’s room just as planned. Only, you don’t expect Don Vanderleen to take this opportunity to lean further into you.

Casually, the male replaces where Jongin’s arm had been with his own, his wandering fingers dancing along the skin of your shoulder.

You nearly shiver in disgust.

“I’d say this is more private, wouldn’t you?” He grins, keeping his voice low as he closes the remaining distance between your bodies. “Perfect timing to talk about more personal matters, if you’d like.”

No, what you’d like is to continue watching the ballet. You wish for Jongin to hurry the fuck up with clearing out Vanderleen’s bodyguards from the booth, and to get as far away from this man before the bullets start flying. However, you know that that’s not what you came here to do. You nearly sigh, putting on an expression of pure curiosity instead as you turn to face the male beside you.

“Of course,” you reply, just as lowly. “I would like nothing more.”

“This one aspect is very dear to me, I hardly tell anyone about it unless I consider them truly worthy to hear it.” He meets your gaze, a sort of lull in the way he speaks to you, as if he were speaking to a child. “What I tell you stays between us, alright little missy? This is for your ears only.”

You nod your understanding, fingers tightening over one another as you hold them stiffly in your lap.

“You see, I only offer these positions to the utmost important people who have proved they are qualified to suit my needs.” He licks his lips, gaze shamelessly roaming down your front. “It’s a personal position which guarantees you’ll never have to worry about another thing in your life.”

You have to prevent yourself from clenching your teeth in anger. You know exactly where this is leading, for this is the exact same spiel he tells all the women he tricks into signing themselves over to him to be trafficked.

“You would be living a life of complete luxury, moving from one place to another, and visiting countries of your wildest dreams.” He continues, creeping closer with each word. “You would meet so many important dignitaries. Everyone would want to be you, and everyone would desire what you have.”

“Why, this offer sounds almost too good to refuse,” you chuckle, somewhat nervously.

Jongin sure is taking his sweet time. He should be back by now, right?

“You would be foolish not to accept.” He chuckles along with you. “After all, you’d never have to worry about anything ever again. I’d take care of all of it for you, and I’m a man who never goes back on my word.” His free hand comes to settle on your knee, and this time, you cannot prevent the shiver of disgust that trails down your spine. Only, he perceives it as something else. You can just tell from the way that he smirks. “Especially not when you’d be personally working for me.”

You absolutely despise the way he drawls those words out, his rancid breath tickling the shell of your ear.

Luckily, it’s at this point that Jongin finally returns, taking note of how stiff you sit while Don Vanderleen practically drapes himself over you.

Harshly, he clears his throat. “Am I interrupting something?”

Vanderleen smirks, pulling away from you rather slowly, “Not at all.”

“Don was just telling me all about a special opportunity he had for me,” you say innocently as Jongin sits back in his seat to your right.

You notice both males stiffen on either side of you.

“Missy, I thought we agreed that that was to stay between us.” There’s a sudden sharpness to his gaze that you do not fail to pick up on.

“Yes, but I don’t do anything without my loving husband.” You chuckle, leaning yourself further into Jongin’s side. Your gaze darts to him, and your eyes nearly widen at the small stain of red that smudges the collar of his white shirt. Thinking quickly, you angle yourself into him, lips pressing delicately against the material and leaving a bright red lipstick stain over the mark. You blink up at him innocently. “Isn’t that right, My Love.”

“Always, My Love.” Jongin purposefully meets Vanderleen’s gaze from over the top of your head as his arms pull you in closer. “I’m sure you’d do the same to protect what’s yours.”

Vanderleen’s eyebrow twitches in annoyance. “Undoubtably.”

The moment the male turns back to observe the stage, all hell breaks loose.

The sound of shattering glass is synonymous with the screams of terror that suddenly fill the venue as gunshots ring throughout. People panicking and running from their seats to the exits block every chance of escape, swarming the aisle as shouting reaches your ears.

A bullet just misses your shoulder.

A loud cry of pain from your left reaches your ears, and in the blink of an eye, you feel yourself be pulled down onto the ground on top of a body. Sparing a glance downwards reveals your husband clinging to your for dear life, a fear unlike ever before shining within his gaze. Blood seeps into the material of his blazer, staining his white shirt red beneath his black suit as he holds you above him.

To the side, Don Vanderleen bleeds out. A cough escapes him, nothing but red falling from his lips and choking him out as he reaches towards you one final time before falling dead right before your very eyes.

Another gunshot is heard from above.

Scrambling to your feet, you duck for cover behind the wall of the balcony. Jongin follows right behind, using his body as a shield to cover you this time.

“Are you hurt?” He turns to you once you’re both out of range, checking you over for injuries.

You shake your head. “Are you?”

Your eyes catch on the red now staining his clothes and your breath hitches, hands scrambling to find the injury before he bleeds out.

“Don’t worry, Darlin’,” he assures you, gently stroking his hands down the sides of your arms despite the chaos erupting around you. “It’s not mine.”

His words only help to ease your worry a fraction.

“There was another sniper.” You comment lowly.

“Kai can handle it.” He states.

At the look you send him, he sighs.

“Fine.” Jongin removes his blazer, wrapping it securely around your shoulders. “You’ve done what you came here to do. I’ll go check on him, and then I’ll meet you at the hotel across the street. Okay?”

“But-“

“Darlin’,” there’s that same look of fear in his eyes from only a few minutes ago, “I almost lost you tonight. Don’t make me go through that again.”

A silent understanding passes between the both of you, and you recognize that he’s not just referring to tonight, but yesterday as well. That fight feels like so long ago now, given the circumstances of the evening. Yet, you still find yourself nodding your head.

“I promise to be as quick as I can.” He kisses your forehead briefly.

“Be safe,” you squeeze his hands gently. “I want to be able to watch the sunset with you.”

He smiles. “As long as you stay with me for the sunrise.”

A nod is all he receives from you before he’s disappearing around the corner. He can feel his heart pounding as he races to the roof, hoping beyond everything that you manage to get out safely, and that his brother is okay.

***

Looking back on it now, this is probably the second worst night of Kai’s entire life. Sure, the male has been in some tricky situations before, but none as harrowing as this one.

First, he had to watch you be even more loving towards his brother all evening. Then, he had to sit through that filth of a man coming onto you throughout the entirety of the second act of Swan Lake. He was so distracted by his anger, that he failed to see the second presence creeping onto the roof a little ways away from him. It wasn’t until he saw the reflection of the lights upon the sniper’s watch that Kai noticed the other male taking aim directly at you.

Kai saw red, his body moving on instinct at that. It nearly cost him the mission, but more importantly, your life.

What made the situation worse was when he watched his brother pull you on top of himself for protection. The bastard couldn’t even protect you properly, opting to sacrifice you to save himself.

Now, as he wrestles off the other sniper’s back-up, he finds himself gritting his teeth in frustration. He has no idea if you got out safely, or if you’re injured. The only thing he does know, is that that bastard Don Vanderleen is finally dead.

Like hell Kai would ever let that pathetic excuse of a human live after watching what he did to you tonight.

A gunshot sounds in the night air, and Kai swears he’s about to feel the worst pain of his life. Only, at the way the man on top of him falls limply to his side, he realizes that someone is here to aid him.

“Couldn’t handle a few measly little troopers?” Jongin’s familiar mocking tone calls out through the silence. “You’re losing your touch.”

“I was doing just fine until you showed up.” Kai responds gruffly, pushing himself back to his feet and noticing all of the other henchmen have been disposed of.

“Uh-huh,” Jongin hums knowingly, a quirk to his brow as he tosses the gun in his hand to the side. “Sure.”

Kai spares a glance at his brother, noticing the blood that stains his once pure white shirt. He freezes, eyes locking on that mark of bright red lipstick that practically glares at him from the collar of Jongin’s shirt.

“Is that-“ the words get stuck in his throat. He swallows.

At the way his elder twin keeps glancing at the blood on his shirt, Jongin is quick to understand what he’s asking.

“I know, right?” Jongin scoffs, rolling his eyes. “Disgusting. The bastard bled all over me.”

Kai nearly lunges at his brother, but he realizes Jongin isn’t actually talking about you. He clears his throat. “And our partner?”

“My wife is fine, thanks for asking.” Jongin replies, a dry huff escaping him. “You nearly missed by the way.”

“Yeah, well, I had my hands full.” Kai begins to quickly disassemble his rifle, storing it back in its case.

“Didn’t think a few weaklings like this could slow you down.” Jongin rolls his eyes.

“I was a little busy attempting not to blow the fucker’s brains out early for assaulting your wife.” Kai snaps, his patience growing thinner by the second. “While you were off eyeing the ballerinas, I was actually doing my job.”

“You think I would risk the mission to go peep on the performers?” Jongin’s voice is incredulous. “You really think I would cheat on my wife?”

“Now that your other two hustles are dead, I assumed you were in the market for a new one.” Kai retorts, zipping up his rifle’s case quite pointedly before slinging it onto his back.

“Never thought you’d be one to disrespect the dead, but here we are.” Jongin shakes his head. “You are so adamant on making me into the bad guy, Kai, and I just don’t understand why.”

“How can I make you into something you already are?” Kai tilts his head, almost mockingly at his brother.

“What do you think I could have possibly done this time?” Jongin replies, throwing his hands into the air exasperatedly.

“I definitely didn’t think up you pulling your own goddamn wife on top of you when bullets started flying just so you could save your own skin!” Kai’s tone is harsh, nothing but pure anger pulling at his brow. “How about that conversation I walked in on tonight. Did you or did you not practically admit to her that she was unimportant? To your own wife, nonetheless. Not to mention the countless times you’ve ignored her needs in favour of your own. Do you even know how she feels when you flirt so openly with other people around her? I can’t imagine it feels good.”

“You know nothing, Kai,” Jongin seethes, his hands clenching into fists beside him. “Stop pretending that you do.”

“Don’t I?” Kai drops his bags, the material making a dull thunk as it hits the roof. “I’ve lived with you our whole lives, Jongin. I know when you’re lying, and I know for a fact that you don’t love her. If you did, you wouldn’t do half the shit that you do.”

“How dare you say that I don’t love her!” Jongin spits back, voice low and deadly. His eyes flash with the same intensity as his brother’s across from him, the air becoming thick with tension. “I love her more than anything in this godforsaken world!”

“Like hell you do!” Kai’s fury spikes, sanity close to snapping.

“What would you know of the matter? You don’t know half the shit I’ve done for her.” Jongin hisses through gritted teeth. “I made sure to kill every fucking doubt she’s had about our relationship recently. Doubts you don’t know anything about. There’s nothing, no one in this world that loves her more than I do. I would do anything for her, and that’s more than you can say.”

Kai goes so still, he swears that he’s stopped breathing. His mind races with all that tonight has offered him. Not even a second later, his entire body begins to tremble.

“You’re wrong.” His voice is low, deadly like the approach of an oncoming storm. Already, he can see his vision blurring, fading in and out as he attempts to ground himself. “There will always be one person who will love her, who can always love her, more.”

“Oh, yeah?” Jongin scoffs, crossing his arms in front of her chest. “And just who might that be?”

A beat of silence as the two males lock eyes from across the roof.

“Me.”

Without wasting another thought, the two males lunge.

***

His breathing is uneven as he stumbles down the hallway of the hotel. The stairs were a bit of a challenge, but he figured it’d be easier and less conspicuous than taking the elevator to the top floor. Even still, his lungs burn as he braces himself against the wall, chest heaving with every breath.

Blood drips down his face and onto the white of his shirt, nearly smudging against that perfect imprint of your lips on the collar. Blood that is no longer his own. Every time he closes his eyes, he can still hear the sound of his fist on flesh, bones cracking beneath his fingers as fabric tore upon his skin.

Out of the corner of his eye, a ring glints on his finger. The light from the fluorescents makes the golden band glow, and from that simple glance alone, he can feel his heart racing inside of his chest.

The only thought on his mind right now is you.

He needs to find you. To make sure that you’re okay. To make sure that you’re safe.

His head spins, and he can barely see through his blurring vision. He doesn’t even know how he managed to get down from the roof of the theatre and make his way to the hotel across the street, but he did. All just to see you.

Stumbling to the door, he checks the room number once more. Seeing it’s the correct one this time, he begins to jostle the knob.

Locked.

A sigh heaves from his throat, resting his forehead against the dark wood separating you from him.

If only he still had his key.

Movement heard on the other side of the door catches his attention. A moment later, and the lock is sliding out of place, the wood opening to reveal your face gazing upon him in worry.

“Jongin,” you seemingly breathe out a sigh of relief. “Leave it to you to lose your keys again.” You shake your head lightly, pulling him inside quickly. “Come on, let’s get you cleaned up.”

Not even a minute later, you’ve sat the male on the bathroom counter, a towel held in your hands as you stand between his legs.

“I was worried about you, you know.” You dip the towel in some water before beginning to gently clean the blood from his face. “I didn’t think you would take so long.”

He clears his throat. “I’m sorry for making you wait.”

His voice sounds a bit strained, tone a deeper than usual. You chalk that up to stress. He usually sounds this way when he’s tired.

“Are you okay?” You pause your movements to stare deeply into his eyes. “You’re not hurt, are you?”

He shakes his head, gaze flitting everywhere over your features as if to commit your concerned expression to memory.

“Good.” You smile lightly, continuing to clean the blood from his face. “This doesn’t mean I’m not still upset at you, by the way.”

“I’m sorry.” His response is immediate, hands coming up to cup your face gently as he meets your gaze. “For everything. I know I’m an asshole, and I can be selfish. The thought of losing you is just too difficult for me to bear, and after tonight I promise you I’ll be a better man. I’ll be the perfect husband from now on. I won’t make you doubt. I’ll treat you right, like you’ve always deserved.”

You quirk a brow, the corner of your lips twitching upwards slightly in amusement.

“Someone still in character?” You joke lightly, shifting the cloth to begin wiping the blood from his neck. There seems to be a small scrape near his left eyebrow, but it no longer appears to be bleeding.

Softly, he releases his hold on your face, grabbing your wrist in his one hand to halt your movements.

“Tonight has just made me realize that I need to stop taking things for granted, especially you.” He replies earnestly. “Every day, I count myself lucky that a sinner like me has been blessed to love an angel like you.”

Your eyebrows raise in amusement. “I thought you didn’t like all that religious talk?”

He hums, pulling you the slightest bit closer to wrap his arms around your waist. If only you could hear just how fast his heart is racing. “I think I can make an exception just this once.”

“I should mark the calendar.” You tease, poking his chest. “You finally admitted your faults for once.”

His lips part dramatically. “But Darling, you know that I’m already perfect.”

“There he is,” you chuckle, shoving him playfully.

“Who?” He quirks a brow.

“My loving husband, of course.” You grin, rolling your eyes lightly.

His lips part, and he pulls you flush against his chest. Tightly, he holds you to him, his face buried into the side of your neck as his whole body shakes.

“Jongin, what’s gotten into you tonight?” You pat his back warily. “You’re awfully affectionate.”

“I told you,” he whispers lowly, “I need to appreciate what I have before it’s gone.”

“You’re not going to lose me.” You gently begin to card your fingers through his hair, hearing him hum lightly in response. “Not that easily.”

His grip tightens around your waist, absolutely revelling in this moment here with you. “I don’t deserve you.”

Immediately, you pull away to look into his eyes, a somewhat stern look on your face. “Don’t start that again.”

“What?” His brow furrows the slightest bit in confusion.

“Saying that you’re unworthy of my love.” This time, it’s you who cups his face in your hands. “You are more than worthy, Baby. Don’t ever forget that.”

You notice tears begin to well in his eyes, spilling over in the next moment. Tears which you are quick to brush away.

“You know, sometimes I cannot help but wonder,” you hum, noticing you have his complete and utter attention, “would you still have proposed if you didn’t think your brother approved of me?”

The way he tenses slightly, breath seemingly hitching in his throat has you smiling reassuringly at him.

“I know how desperately you long for his approval, Jongin, and I know that’s why you act out sometimes,” you keep your voice low. “Know that you don’t need his approval for anything. He probably doesn’t need yours, so don’t worry about his.”

All the male before you can do is blink.

“I’m proud of who you are.” You tell him, finally finishing wiping the blood from his skin. “I hope that counts for something.”

“It counts for everything,” he breathes, thumbs stroking languidly against the skin of your hips.

Again, you smile, placing the used towel in the hamper provided for you beside the sink.

“He’s okay, though, right?” You search his features, noting the irritated twitch of his brow. “You managed to find him on the roof?”

“I didn’t see him,” he replies, somewhat gruffly.

Your head tilts slightly, brow furrowing in worry. “I thought the whole reason I sent you up to the roof in the first place was so you could make sure he was okay.”

“I’m sure he’s fine, Darling.” A sigh escapes him through his nose. “It’s not like he hasn’t up and disappeared on you before.”

“On us, Jongin.” Your frown deepens, turning to exit the bathroom. “Maybe I should call him just in case.”

A hand on your wrist stops you.

“Why do you care so much about him, anyways?” There’s something shining behind his eyes that you don’t quite understand, but you turn around to face him regardless.

“I thought we talked about this, Jongin.” You sigh lowly. “Kai is still your brother. I care about him in the same ways I know you care about him. Even if you don’t want to admit it, I know you worry about him.”

“He didn’t care about me.”

“That’s bullshit, and you know it.” You meet his gaze with a stern one of your own. “Your brother-“

“Can we please stop talking about my brother?” The exasperation is clear in his voice as he practically pleads with you using his eyes.

Your expression softens, “Of course, Baby.”

The male seemingly breathes a sigh a relief, releasing his hold on your wrist not even a moment later.

“Why don’t you grab a shower, and then we can head to bed?” You turn to the cabinet to pull out a fresh set of towels. “We’ve both had a long day.”

“Will you join me?” Before he can stop himself, the words are out of his mouth.

Turning to look at him from over your shoulder, you smile, repeating your words from a mere minute earlier, “Of course, Baby.”

Grabbing another set of fresh towels, you place them both on top of the counter. Even though you already showered off before he returned, you don’t mind joining your husband one bit. Besides, he looks like he could use your company.

By the time you’ve turned back around, he’s already undone all the buttons on his shirt, his torso on full display. You couldn’t really tell before, but it’s as if his shirt suddenly had fit him better, unlike at the beginning of the evening. Either way, you shamelessly trail your gaze over his front, watching with a darkening gaze as he begins to unbuckle his belt.

The way his breath hitches as he looks up to see you already staring at him with hooded eyes does not go unnoticed by you.

“What?” The corner of your lips quirk upwards. “Am I not allowed to admire my husband from time to time?”

He swallows thickly, his Adam’s apple bobbing with the movement. “You can admire me anytime you’d like, Darling.”

A tender smile is all he receives from you in response as you move to turn on the shower. Testing the water, you make sure it’s a desirable temperature before ridding yourself of your own clothes.

The whole time you strip, you can feel his eyes on you, watching your every move. You can feel your whole body warm beneath his stare, even more so when you turn to face him.

There he stands, looking completely mesmerized by you. He’s gazing at you as if you hung each and every single star in the night sky personally just for him, his eyes shining with the deepest form of admiration you’ve ever seen him give you. It makes you feel shy, darting your gaze to the side briefly to avoid the intensity of his own.

“Stop looking at me like that.” You mumble, stepping into the shower shortly afterwards.

He follows right behind, humming lightly. “Like what?”

“You’re acting like you’ve never seen me naked before,” you chuckle, turning to face him and poking him lightly on his chest.

He stands beneath the spray of water, feeling it cascade down the planes of his back as he meets your gaze. He quirks a brow, never shifting his eyes from your own for one second, “Am I not allowed to admire my beautiful goddess that has chosen to fully reveal herself to a sinner like me?”

You can feel your cheeks heating, and you know it’s not from the steam of the shower. “Again with the religious talk?”

“Maybe I’m a changed man.” He grins, hands finding purchase gently on your hips, but never wandering.

A fact which you find quite peculiar at the moment, for you know Jongin would take every and any opportunity to squeeze your ass while you’re both naked in the shower.

“You’re certainly acting like it,” your hands settle on the skin of his shoulders, sliding upwards to caress his neck, followed immediately by you cupping his face gingerly as you stare into his eyes.

“I thought I told you that I was going to start appreciating you more.” He hums knowingly. “After all, you deserve no less.”

Again, your brow quirks teasingly. “Okay, Mister Rover.”

He simply smiles in response, the familiar crinkling of his eyes offering you comfort during this time.

Nothing more is said between the both of you as you wash each other beneath the warmth of the water. Every touch is careful, tender in the way his fingers caress your skin. What’s even more surprising is that he watches your reactions carefully, never lingering too long on your ass or your breasts more than is necessary. A stark contrast to what you’re used to with him, but it’s quite nice for a change. Refreshing, in a way. Something you have always longed for with him.

Softly, your fingers massage his scalp as you wash his hair. His eyes flutter shut, absolutely revealing in such a tender moment with you here in time.

All too soon, you’re both stepping out of the shower. You hand him one of the towels as you begin to dry yourself off, noticing how his gaze still never leaves your form. Only, his gentle touch halts you before you can get very far.

“Here,” he takes the towel from your hands, his already secured around his waist as water droplets cascade down his chest. “Let me.”

His touch is soft as the plushness of the towel caresses your form. He starts at your shoulders, sliding the cloth down each arm individually before bringing your hands up to place a kiss upon the back of them both times. Then, he’s moving down your torso, thumbs smoothing over the fabric as he dries your chest. The way he cups your breasts is so tender, your nipples hardening from his ministrations as you nearly let out a low moan.

He steps closer.

Everywhere that towel graces your skin, his loving gaze is quick to follow. There is not a single part of you that goes untouched, that he has not touched before, but this is the most intimate moment you think you’ve ever shared with him. Never has he caressed you like this before. Hell, never has he gazed upon you like this before.

Selfishly, you never want it to stop.

The sound of the towel being dropped onto the floor draws your attention. His hands rest on your waist, fingers trembling against your skin as he looks up at you with pleading eyes.

“You are perfect in every way, Darling. Did you know that? Perfect, and so, so, so, so, so beautiful.”His voice is barely above a whisper, but you still hear him loud and clear. He sighs your name so tenderly, as if it is a gospel upon his lips and only you can offer him rapture. “I love you. So goddamn much.”

Your expression softens, hand coming up to cup the side of his face as you stare down at him with nothing but love in your eyes.

“Please, Darling,” his grip tightens ever so faintly around your waist, “may I touch you? May I kiss you, and make love to you like you’ve always deserved? I want to treat you right, and make you feel good. Tonight, it’s all about you.”

Your heart positively flutters at his words, breath catching in your throat.

“Please?” He’s close to begging at this point, but he doesn’t care. This night has already been everything that he could have ever asked for, and so much more.

You swallow the sudden dryness in your throat, your heart swelling in your chest. He actually asked this time.

The answer escapes you before you even have the chance to think about it, tears of content welling in your eyes.

“Yes.” You nod vigorously. “Yes, you may.”

The smile that stretches across his features is nothing short of brilliant, staring up at you with nothing but awe reflected in his gaze. Slowly, his hands slide down your waist, settling onto the sides of your thighs as he leans into you.

Softly, he places his lips upon your skin. Starting at about your mid-thigh, he takes his time trailing gentle kisses up your body, hands holding you steady. You cannot tell who’s shaking more, you or him, but at the feeling of his tongue darting out to soothe over your skin, you find that you don’t particularly care.

Each press of his lips against you is meticulous, nothing more than a gentle caress as he ascends your figure, muttering praises all the while.

“Your curves are hypnotizing, Darling.” He breathes against your skin, hands trailing along your sides as if to emphasize his words.

“I adore your thighs. They’re so soft and warm, and attached to the most beautiful legs I’ve ever seen.” He brings his one hand down to give your flesh an appreciative squeeze, fingers sinking delicately into your skin.

Gently, his hands find purchase on your waist once more as he trails kisses all along your stomach, breathing deepening with each one. The press of his lips becomes more desperate with every meeting against your flesh, beginning to sensually lave his mouth over you the further upwards he gets.

Darting his gaze upwards, he sees you already staring down at him with hooded eyes. Your breathing has deepened, and your lips are slightly parted. What makes this moment even better is the way your hand comes up to lightly begin threading your fingers through his still damp hair.

He hums, licking a strip up your body starting from your mid-torso to between your breasts. Gently, he nuzzles against your chest, nose brushing against your skin as he moves to settle his face into the side of your neck.

“There isn’t a part of you that has not captivated me from the very first glance,” he whispers lowly against your skin, sending a pleasant shiver down your spine. “I’m sorry that it has taken me this long to be able to fully appreciate you, Darling.”

You’re sure he can feel the way your heart stutters from his words alone, feeling him smile against the skin of your neck.

You swallow the sudden dryness in your throat. “Shall we move this to the bed?”

This time, there is no mistaking the way he smiles as he pulls back to stare lovingly into your eyes. “I would love nothing more.”

Grasping your hand in his, he leads you out of the bathroom. His towel has long since fallen from his hips, and you take the time to admire his broad backside as he walks back out into the main area of the room.

To the side, your dress hangs. Not a single spec of blood can be seen, juxtaposed to the black suit jacket which had dripped a lethargic pool of red onto the floor.

“You know,” you hum, drawing his attention to you once more as your eyes shine playfully, “my husband’s got a nice ass.”

The corners of his lips quirk upwards slowly, mirth dancing in his orbs as he helps you settle onto the bed. “It matches my wife’s perfect one.”

You slap his arm lightly as he craws over you, grins dancing on both of your features.

“Jongin!”

You swear the male above you flinches, but before you can say anything, his forehead pressing against your own draws your attention.

“I would prefer if you didn’t call me that tonight, Darling.” His voice is but a quiet whisper upon your ears.

You blink, tilting your head slightly in curiosity. This isn’t the first time he’s wanted you to call him something else in the bedroom, and you’re sure it won’t be the last. “Then, what would you like me to call you tonight, Baby?”

He takes a moment before he answers, and you cannot tell if it’s in hesitation, or if he actually has to think about it.

“My Love.” He finally seems to settle on a response. “I want you to call me yours. Your one and only. Your love.”

You smile softly, fingers back to threading through his hair. “I can do that.”

The way his eyes light up in excitement makes you chuckle fondly.

“As long as you do the same for me.”

You can feel the way his semi-erect cock twitches against the skin of your thigh from your words.

“I would love nothing more.” His voice is breathless, the deepest of affections shining within his gaze.

“Oh?” You quirk a brow at this, a teasing lilt to your tone. “And here I was thinking I’d have to beg you for it like the last time.”

He tilts his head slightly, amusement dancing on his features. Though, you swear you see his eyebrow twitch.

“I thought you didn’t like using those types of endearments in the bedroom?” Your expression is nothing but playful as your fingers still in his hair.

“Changed man, remember?” He grins, leaning down to press a kiss onto your forehead. “I said I would take care of you, and that’s exactly what I intend to do. In every and any way imaginable.”

“I suppose so,” you hum, pulling him closer into you.

“Now, My Love,” he stares deeply into your eyes as he licks his lips, gaze darting down to your own briefly, “may I kiss you?”

Once more, your heart swells inside of your chest, a pleasant warmth flooding your veins. You nod your head, “You may.”

His lips are on your own without another thought, pouring everything he is into the kiss. His one hand comes up to cradle your cheek, thumb stroking tenderly against your skin as he slowly grinds himself into you. The way you moan into his mouth makes his head spin.

Reluctantly, he parts from your lips, trailing his own back down your neck. Lightly, he nips at your skin, sucking gently until he finds that one spot that has you moaning for him again. Once he finds it, he cannot help but smile, laving his tongue over your flesh before suckling at the spot eagerly.

Sensually, he places open mouthed kisses all along your collarbones and down your chest. His hands hold onto your waist firmly, grounding him to you and the beautiful reality before him. His thumbs barely ghost along the undersides of your breasts, yet still, he waits for your permission.

The moment you nod, practically begging him with your eyes to touch you, his hands are on your breasts. Eagerly, he palms the tender flesh, giving them each an appreciative squeeze as he trails more open mouthed kisses between them. His thumbs move to trace over your pert nipples, circling them gently as he moans against your skin.

“So beautiful,” he trails kisses over the swell of your one breast, tongue darting out to trace over the same path shortly after. He gives them another appreciative squeeze. “So soft.”

Carefully, his mouth envelopes your one nipple, sucking eagerly at the pert bud. His tongue flicks over your skin, moaning around you as he feels you arch into his touch.

He can never get enough.

Reluctantly, he parts from you only to languidly trail open mouthed kisses to your other breast. Of course, he makes sure to give your other nipple the same amount of attention, rolling the one he’s just parted from slowly between his thumb and index finger.

“My Love,” the blissful sigh you breathe out has him twitching against you once more, his heart stuttering inside of his chest.

He moans, grinding his hips into your own and letting you feel every inch of his hard cock pressed against you.

Your breath hitches, tossing your head back as your eyes flutter shut.

“Do you feel that, My Love?” His voice is low, airy as he continues to nip at the tender skin of your breast all the while. “Do you feel how hard you make me? How hard you always make me, even just from the thought of you? You have no idea what you do to me.”

“Baby,” your grip tightens in his hair, pulling him closer into you. “Kiss me.”

Who is he to deny the one he loves?

In an instant, his lips are back on your own. Tenderly, his tongue caresses yours, holding you close as he continues to grind himself into you. The movement of his hips are almost synonymous with the movement of his tongue, sensually meeting yours every time.

Each sound you make, every reaction you give him, he absolutely revels in. The fact that he is the one to elicit such sinful sounds, such beautiful reactions from you, has a warmth unlike any other flooding his chest. Still, his head spins and his heart races, hands continuing to explore your body eagerly, yet sensually at the same time.

The moment he feels you wrap a leg around his waist, pulling him in closer, he nearly comes on the spot. Only, the feeling of you pushing on his chest halts his every move.

“What are you doing?” His brow furrows as he pulls away the slightest bit to look at you.

“This is usually around the time where you tell me to suck you off, is it not?” You blink up at him, brow furrowing in mild confusion. “Do you not want me to?”

He practically stares down at you, dumbfounded. A moment later, he’s blinking quite rapidly, as if coming back to the reality before him.

“I thought I told you that tonight is all about you,” he can tell that his answer catches you off guard, for now, you are the one staring at him in mild shock. “Besides, I’d rather see you falling apart on my tongue.”

You blink at him a few times, as if in a daze. “You want to eat me out?”

“More than anything,” he practically pants out his answer, chest heaving as he slowly begins to descend your body. His eyes are dark, locked on your face as he places wet, open mouthed kisses against your skin the whole while. Once he’s settled between your legs, he licks his lips, hands eagerly spreading you open for him as his fingers dig into the skin of your thighs. “You don’t know how long I’ve been dying for a taste.”

Your breath hitches, and your thighs twitch, feeling yourself clench around nothing from his words alone. A movement which you know he picks up on, for you can see the way his lips tug upwards smugly as his dark eyes dart to your core.

“I thought-“ you blink your surprise away, “I thought you didn’t like giving head?”

He licks his lips, pulling you in closer as he meets your gaze.

“I lied.”

The second those words escape him, his lips are on you, and the way your whole body shudders does not go unnoticed by him. He smirks, hearing you sigh in pleasure.

A loud moan falls from him as his tongue drags through your wet folds, eyes fluttering shut in bliss. Gently, he laves his entire mouth over your pussy, sucking eagerly at your essence all the while. Each movement of his tongue is precise, parting your folds only to flick at your swollen clit in the next moment. He is shameless, and messy, slurping at your wetness as he pulls you closer into him.

The whole time, he never breaks eye contact with you. The heat from his gaze travels straight to your core, and you cannot help the way you clench around his tongue as he circles your lower lips. You can feel the tips of his fingers digging into your skin, holding you down as his nails prick your hips. A sensation unlike anything you’ve felt with him before.

His plump lips kiss over your clit, the ghost of his touch sending little jolts of electricity racing up your spine. Not even a moment later, he wraps them around that pert little bud, suckling as he flicks his tongue over you once more.

You cannot help it. Your one hand moves to tangle in his hair, hips shifting against his mouth with his every movement. Your eyes flutter shut, breathless moans escaping you as the wet sounds of his mouth fully devouring you reach your ears. He seems to be enjoying this even more than you are, and you can feel yourself clenching just from that thought alone.

“So fucking sweet, Baby,” he moans directly over your core, the vibrations sending pleasant tingles up your spine. “Best I’ll ever have.” Something within his eyes flash. “Only one I’ll ever need.”

A moan of his name nearly escapes you, but you catch yourself just in time. The last time you disobeyed his wishes in the bedroom, he left you high and dry for weeks. The last thing you want is for him to stop now. Not when he’s finally eating you out like you’ve always dreamed about. Just like you’ve always wanted him to. Especially not when he’s getting this lost in your pussy.

“Fuck, My Love, just like that,” you sigh, nothing but bliss pulling at your features as you tug him in closer by his hair.

He moans, tongue lapping eagerly at your juices which continuously flow from you like the sweetest nectar he’s ever had the pleasure of tasting. He never wants this to end, becoming addicted to the desperate way your hips grind against his mouth, seeking more of him.

His grip tightens, moans bordering on low growls as his dark eyes consume every reaction you give him. Slowly, he begins grinding himself down on the mattress, seeking any sort of friction to relieve the aching of his hard cock. Seeing you like this, and knowing you’re seconds away from falling apart because of him and him alone has his head spinning.

He wouldn’t want it any other way.

His eyes nearly roll to the back of his head, feeling the way your essence begins to drip down his chin as he becomes drunk on you. His arms are wrapped around your legs, thighs tossed over his shoulders as he pulls you in closer. His grip is desperate, as if you might disappear from him at any moment, only emphasized by the eager way he sucks your clit back between his lips. Not even a second later, he’s shaking his head lightly from side to side, mouth eagerly consuming every drop you have to offer him.

“Fuck yes- just like that,” your voice is airy, lips parting as your moans begin to increase in pitch. Your eyes squeeze shut in bliss. “Don’t stop! Please, don’t stop!”

The deepest of browns gaze at you with nothing but tender love and affection, pleading you with his eyes to fall apart. He’s just as desperate as you are, moaning against you unabashedly with each movement of his lips. Every flick of his tongue is precise, focussing all his attention to your clit now, and begging you to come for him, even without saying it.

His one hand reaches up to intertwine your fingers of your free hand with his own. Gently, he squeezes them, reassuring you that he’s right here, and that you can let yourself go. He needs to see you fall apart for him. Because of him. Him, and only him.

Not even ten seconds later, you do.

Your thighs tremble as your back arches off of the bed, eyes squeezing shut as your orgasm crashes into you. A loud moan escapes you, hands subconsciously tightening their holds on him for support as your entire body thrums with pleasure. The euphoric sensation is unlike anything that you’ve felt before, and you can feel yourself rhythmically clenching around nothing as you come down from your high.

Languidly, he hums between your legs, loving how he can feel them continuing to shake around his head as he laps gently at your cunt. No drop is to go to waste, needing to clean up the mess he’s made of you, and making sure he does so well. Only when he begins to feel you lightly pushing his head away from your quivering entrance does he pull away from you.

He meets your gaze, a primal sort of lust shining within his own as he licks his lips.

“Goddamn addictive, you know that?” He places tender kisses onto the skin of your inner thigh, nipping lightly at the sensitive flesh all the while. “I have half the mind to tell you to sit on my face right this very second so I can continue getting lost in this beautiful pussy of yours, Darling.”

The way you clench from his words alone does not go unnoticed by him.

“Oh, you’d like that, wouldn’t you, My Love?” The grin that pulls at his lips, still shining with your essence, is nothing short of feral. “Smothering me with your dripping cunt so I have no choice but to give you the loving you deserve.”

Your chest heaves with each breath, your eyes searching his own as your lips remain parted. “You’ve been holding out on me this whole goddamn time? Who knew you were this desperate for my pussy.”

“I’m always desperate for you, My Love. In any and every way possible.” He hums, kissing his way back up your body until he can nuzzle his face back into the side of your neck, nipping at the shell of your ear. “I’m sorry it’s taken me this long to show you.”

“You’re showing me now, and that’s all that matters.” You bring a hand up to cup his cheek tenderly, noticing how he immediately leans into your touch.

“I’m here now, and you never have to worry about anything ever again.” His eyes flutter shut, a content sigh escaping him. A moment later, he’s turned his head, placing a gentle kiss upon the palm of your hand. His eyes open, and your breath hitches as the darkness you can see swirling within. “Now, let me love you like you’ve always deserved.”

His lips are on yours in an instant, sensually moving against you as he shifts his hips to fully settle between your legs. Naturally, your thighs part to offer him unrestricted access, soft hums falling from you as you pull him in closer. You part only to begin trailing your own lips down his neck, biting and suckling on his skin as his breathing deepens.

“Baby,” the soft drawl from your lips catches his attention, “you’ve already done so much for me tonight. Won’t you let me love you, too?”

A guttural groan escapes him, head falling forward so that his forehead rests against yours.

“Lay on your back, Baby,” your hands slide tenderly down his spine as you move to flip your positions. “Just relax, and let me take care of you.”

The way his honeyed locks look splayed out on the pillow accentuate his golden features beautifully. His warm, brown eyes reflect nothing but awe and love as he stares up at you, his lips parting with every breath that falls from them.

“I thought-“

“Shh,” you bring a finger to his lips, your own tugging upwards in a sultry grin, “This is still about me. Only now, I wish to please my husband just as he has pleased me.”

A shudder wracks his entire body, a moan tumbling from his lips at your words.

You smile.

Gently, your fingers begin to dance along the skin of his chest, nails teasingly raking down his torso as you sit above him. Just as he did with you, you begin placing kisses all over his tanned skin, biting your marks for all to see.

“You’re so handsome, Baby,” your tongue comes out to soothe over a particularly harsh bite you’ve just given him. Not that he seems to mind from the way he’s keening beneath you. “Always looking as if you were sculpted by the gods, and all just for me.”

You feel his cock twitch beneath you as he moans shamelessly, “Just for you.”

Slowly, your hands trail up his sides, feeling the way he shivers beneath your touch. At the same time, you begin to grind yourself down onto his aching cock, hearing how he moans for you as you do so.

Without wasting another moment, you take his hard cock into your hand, pumping him a few times as you line him up with your entrance. You tease him, dragging the head through your wet folds a few times before you purposely grind the tip against your clit. The way his fingers dig into your skin says it all.

“Please, Darling,” his chest heaves with every breath, barely able to hold himself together, “Don’t tease me like that.”

The corner of your lips twitch upwards, beginning to sink yourself down on his cock. Still, you cannot help but to tease him, sliding yourself a few inches down, only to lift yourself back off of him shortly after. Each time you do this, you sink lower and lower, noticing how his gaze rests transfixed on the space where your two bodies meet. His breathing comes in jagged pants, clinging onto you for dear life.

Finally, you decide he’s had enough teasing for now, and you slide all the way down. The way he feels fully sheathed inside of you has moans falling from both of your lips, your warm walls pulsing around him almost in time with his heartbeat.

Did he suddenly get bigger? The stretch you’re so used too feels the slightest bit different, as if his cock is even thicker than you remember. Perhaps he’s just that hard.

The feeling of his thumbs stroking lightly over the skin of your thighs grounds you back to the reality before you. His touch is nothing short of tender, and you cannot help the way your heart races from that fact alone.

“Are you okay, Darling?” There’s nothing but deep affection shining within his gaze as he look up at you in awe.

You nod your head. “Are you okay, My Love?”

“Never better.” He smiles, his eyes crinkling at the sides as you feel him throbbing within you. “You can move whenever you’re ready, Darling.”

The only response he gets from you is the twitching of your lips upwards before your hips are shifting against his own.

His eyes nearly roll to the back of his head for the second time tonight, his fingers pressing desperately into your skin. The feeling of your warm cunt sucking him in, your essence dripping down his shaft and onto his skin makes his head spin.

He did this to you. Only he can make you feel this way, and for that, he could not be prouder than he is in this very moment. Only he knows how to please you in such intimate, intricate ways. Ways he’s only every dreamed about.

Finally, all of his wishes are coming true.

He meets your gaze.

“I love you.” His voice is breathless, his own touch gentle on your hips as he helps to guide your movements over him. “I love you so fucking much.”

Again, you smile, humming to yourself as you look down at him in adoration. “I know.”

“Do you-“ he swallows thickly, “Do you love me, too?”

Your expression softens, slowing your pace for the moment. “You know that I do.”

“Say it.” His words are a near whimper on his lips. “Please, My Love, I need to hear you say it.”

“Baby-“

“Say you love me.” His grip tightens, almost desperately on your hips. “Even if it’s just for tonight. Please, say you love me.”

You cup his face in your hands, leaning over him as you stare deeply into his eyes.

“I am so in love with you, Baby.” You breathe out, stilling above him. “And I don’t think I could ever stop.”

“I never want you to stop.” His hands begin to creep up your back, pulling you flush against him.

“Then, I won’t.” You hum, placing a kiss right above his racing heart.

“Please, My Love,” he whimpers, his eyes squeezing shut as he fights off his tears for the time being. “Say it again.”

Immediately, you comply. “I love you, Baby.”

He flips your positions, sensually grinding his hips into yours as he moans lowly.

“One more-” He pleads, voice catching in his throat. He rest his forehead against your own as his one hand comes up to intertwine with yours. “One more time.”

“I love you.”

Slowly, his hips roll into your own, letting you feel every inch of his cock pressing against your walls with every movement he makes. He’s in no rush, wanting to savour this moment, this feeling here with you for as long as he can. This is everything that he’s ever wanted, and so much more. Finally, he gets to experience it with you.

After all, everything that he is, everything that he does, is for you.

Blissful sighs escape you with each movement of his hips, only emphasized by the way he grinds himself into you each time he’s fully sheathed inside of you once more. His one hand holds onto your own desperately, fingers interlaced with yours as he presses his body against you in every way that he knows how.

A single touch isn’t enough, he needs to feel all of you. A simple glance is too fleeting, he needs to have your attention focussed only on him at all times.

“Look at me, Baby,” his deep voice draws your gaze to his own. “Keep your eyes on me.”

A choked whimper escapes you, your free hand desperately clawing at his back to draw him in closer to you.

The feeling of your nails raking over his shoulders is a sensation unlike any other, and it has him twitching inside of you yet again. He can never get enough of you. Nothing will ever be enough. Not when it comes to you.

“You’re so pretty,” he nips lightly at your jawline, thrusts becoming the slightest bit sharper as he continues to grind himself into you. “So pretty spread out beneath me, letting me take care of you like this.”

A gasp escapes your lips as the head of his cock brushes against such a tender spot within you.

“Oh? Is that it?” He shifts his hips, angling his cock to grind against that spot once more. The way you keen into him, walls clenching involuntarily around him has a smile tugging at his features. “Am I making you feel good, Baby?”

“So good,” you breathe out, eyes fluttering shut as he continues to sensually roll his hips into yours. Your breath hitches, “Yes, just like that.”

Softly, he begins to press kisses against your skin, tongue soothing over everywhere he can as he claims you in every way he knows how.

“So beautiful for me,” he hums. “Letting me take care of you like this.”

He can tell there’s a word beginning to form on your lips, but you bite them to keep it from spilling out. He bites down the slightest bit harder on your neck, thrusts increasing in pace as he desperately needs to hear you say it.

“Go on, My Love,” he encourages lowly. “Let it out. Let it all out.”

A desperate moan escapes you, pulling him closer. “Mine.”

His hips stutter against your own, a deep, guttural groan escaping him as his brow furrows. His heart feels as if it’s about to beat right out of his chest, grip growing all the more tighter on your body.

“Yours, Baby.” His head falls against your own as he snaps his hips into your own a little more sharply now. “All yours, and I always will be.”

Your breath hitches at that, and he notices you staring at him with wide, glossy eyes.

“Am I-“ your voice is small, innocent, as if suddenly uncertain of yourself. “Am I yours?”

His heart swells inside of his chest, a loving smile pulling at his features.

“Forever, Baby.” He kisses you, pouring everything he is into the movement of his lips against your own. Pulling away, he rests his forehead against your own. “You will always be mine.”

This time, it’s you who pulls him down for a kiss. The way your tongues move against one another is desperate, moaning into each other’s mouths as he begins to pick up his pace.

His hips snap into your own, adjusting his position slightly so that he can bring his free hand down between your bodies to begin flicking at your clit.

Your eyes fall shut, head being tossed back as a low whine escapes your throat. Your thighs begin to twitch around his waist, holding him desperately to you he kisses you like his life depends on it. Which, to him, it does.

Gently, his thumb circles over that sensitive little nub, feeling your walls beginning to spasm around him in time with his thrusts. You can tell that you’re getting close, that familiar tightening building within your abdomen with every move that he makes.

“Oh, fuck- just like that, Baby,” you whimper against him, clinging to him for dear life. “Don’t stop- you’re gonna make me-“

A desperate keen escapes your lips as your whole body stills. Not even a moment later, your entire form trembles in his embrace, eyes rolling to the back of your head as your orgasm washes over you. Whimpers and whines continuously escape you as he helps you ride you through your high. He holds you as close as he possibly can, feeling your walls clenching around him, squeezing him so sinfully as his hips begin to stutter.

Not even a moment later, he stills inside of you, releasing deep into your warmth as he moans your name. He can feel his cock twitching inside of you, lazily thrusting a few more times before grinding his hips into your own.

Every movement, every touch, you both are sensitive to, breaths mingling as you attempt to heave air into your lungs. A second later, and he’s collapsing on top of you, his skin sticking to yours as he holds you close.

Gently, you begin to card your fingers of your free hand through his hair.

“So good to me,” you hum lightly. “So, so good to me.”

“Only for you, Darling.” He places a tender kiss onto the skin of your chest. “Only for you.”

“I love you, Baby.” You manage to catch his gaze, watching as it shines with nothing but adoration for you.

“I love you.” He breathes, finding enough strength to lift himself up in order to kiss you deeply once more.

Slowly, he pulls himself out of you, the both of you whining at the loss of contact. Almost immediately, he goes to wrap you in his arms, but you standing from the bed draws his attention.

“Where are you going?” He pouts, following your figure as you retreat back to the bathroom.

“To pee, what does it look like I’m doing, silly.” You giggle. “I don’t want to get another UTI like the last time.”

The way his brow furrows slightly has you giggling once more as you disappear into the bathroom. Not even two minutes later, you’re reappearing, a damp cloth held in your hand.

He looks at you curiously, “Shouldn’t I be doing that for you?”

You nearly snort out a laugh. “When have you ever done that for me?”

His gaze is nothing but soft as he watches you clean him up, your touch soothing against his heated skin. The care you extend towards him makes his heart swell, and he cannot help but fall deeper for you in that very moment.

Just as you return to the bathroom to disposed of the cloth, he moves to open the mini-fridge. Pulling two bottles of water out, he immediately hands one to you once you return to him.

“Drink.” A firm nod is sent your way at the skeptical look you shoot him.

Wordlessly, you obey, sitting back on the edge of the bed after pulling the covers back. Once you’ve had your fill of water, you’re placing the bottle onto the bedside table, right beside your phone.

A warmth at your back has you sparing a glance at the male behind you from over your shoulder. His hands lightly trail over your shoulders, rubbing tenderly against your skin as he places gentle kisses against the side of your neck.

“Are you okay, My Love?” His voice is low, so as not to disturb the quaint moment between the both of you. “Sore anywhere? Stiff? Tender?” He hums, nuzzling his face into the crook of your neck. “I could give you a massage if you want?”

You blink, caught off guard by his inquiry. Normally, it’s you who has to give him a massage after sex, not the opposite way around. The fact that he even offered has your heart racing pleasantly inside of your chest.

“I’m alright,” you place a loving hand over his arm, of which settles over the skin of your waist, pulling you flush against him. “Are you okay?”

You take the time to face him now, staring deeply into his eyes.

“Never better.” He smiles, cupping your face gently in his one hand. “Lay with me for a while, yeah?”

You mirror his expression, lips pulling upwards tenderly as you nod.

A moment later, the two of you are laying yourselves beneath the sheets, your head resting over his chest as he holds you close. His one hand holds your own, fingers intertwined as his other strokes calmly over your spine.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” You ask him after a few minutes of silence. “You’ve been acting different all night.”

“Have I?” He hums, almost knowingly. “Maybe I’ve just realized that I never appreciated the love of my life like she’s always deserved. You are everything to me, Darling, and I hope you never forget that.”

“You’ve been smooth talking all night. Since when have you been known to enjoy all of this ‘lovey-dovey, romantic crap’ as you’ve so put it before?” You quirk a brow at him, shifting your gaze to look up at his face.

“But you like it, do you not?” He hums, hand continuing to stroke tenderly over your spine.

“I do.” You hum in confirmation. “But when have you ever been known to do things like this for me?”

He remains silent, and you believe he’s actually contemplating your words. A surprising fact, considering he would normally scoff and retort with something like, ‘I always do things for you.’

Your heart warms for the moment, choosing to revel in his embrace and the way he doesn’t seem to fight you on this. It’s quite refreshing, and you wish it could be like this all of the time, but you know that by tomorrow, he’ll probably be back to his regular self.

You sigh, somewhat wistfully.

“What is it?” He hums, sparing a glance down at you resting in his arms.

“No retort, and you’re actually listening to me and my desires for once?” You reply, somewhat blissfully. “I wish you were always like this.”

“Like what, My Love?” There he goes with that term of endearment you’ve always been fond of. A term which he never really used to enjoy before tonight, it seems.

“My perfect lover.”

You swear that this night is too good to be true. A sentiment that is unknowingly shared by the male that holds you even tighter while laying in bed with you. Yet, for you both, neither of you particularly want this night to end.

With that thought, you allow yourself to fall asleep, succumbing to the darkness pulling you deeper into an unconscious abyss. Besides, you’ll probably wake up in the morning to this having all been a dream. A beautiful, blissful dream which has fulfilled all of your deepest desires.

Morning comes, and instead of waking from the dream like you thought, you are awoken to the sound of your phone buzzing on the side table. Groggily, you blink the sleep from your eyes, bringing your hands up to rub them in the next moment.

You can feel a weight pressing against your back, and when you turn your head, you see the sleeping face of your lover staring back at you. His arms are wrapped securely around your waist, as if he’s afraid you might disappear at a moment’s notice.

You must have shifted your positions overnight, you turning onto your side with him following right behind, even unknowingly. Still, it takes you a good minute to wiggle out of his embrace, hearing him groan in annoyance as he turns onto his back. Luckily, he appears to stay inside of the realm of dreams, even as your phone begins to vibrate with a call once more.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, you grab the device. One look at the screen and your eyes are going wide, standing from the mattress as you answer the call.

“Hello?” Your voice is still rough from sleep, that much you can tell, even as you speak into the receiver.

“Finally! We’ve been attempting to contact you all morning!” Quincy can be heard through the speaker as you quickly toss on some pants and a shirt. “We have an emergency.”

“What’s going on?” Your brow furrows, mind focusing more on the scenery around you finally.

“We found a body this morning.” She states.

“Yes, Don Vanderleen has been dealt with as of last night.” You confirm, wondering where this is all going.

Nothing could have prepared you for the next words out of her mouth.

“No, it’s not just his body.” Quincy sighs pointedly. “We found Jongin’s body. Well, what’s left of it.”

You let out a laugh of disbelief. “That’s impossible.”

“As your superior, I would never lie to you over these types of matters.” She states, rather firmly.

“That’s impossible, because I’m staring at him right now.” You reply, tone a bit harsh at being woken up with something like this. “You must have found Kai’s body instead.”

“Genetics confirms that it was Jongin’s body.” She sighs. “I’m sorry to have to be the one to tell you.”

Your heart leaps into your throat unpleasantly, seeing the male on the bed beginning to rouse the longer that you’re on the phone.

“No,” you shake your head, tears forming in your eyes. “You’re wrong.”

A tremendous sigh is heard on the other end of the phone. “There was no mole on the back of his neck. I would send you the photos forensics took, but I fear it may be too soon for you to see.”

“This can’t be happening.” You mumble, running a hand over your head desperately.

“I’m sorry.” Quincy sighs once more. “I’ll call you again when I have more details. As his wife, I thought you should be the first to know.”

Without waiting for a response, she hangs up, and you are force to watch who you assume to be your husband finally awaken to the world around him.

The male sits up, rubbing lightly at his eyes. Slowly, he lets his arms fall back to the bed, blinking the remaining sleep from his vision. You notice his gaze darts slightly around the room, brow furrowing in minor confusion before he turns his attention to you standing in the corner. As soon as he sees you, his eyes are widening ever so slightly before a smile of almost pleasant disbelief is painting his features.

He runs his fingers through his hair.

It seems as if he thought all of last night had been a dream, too.

“Good morning, Darling-“

“How dare you call me that.” Your voice is low as the first of your tears begin to trail down the side of your cheeks.

Immediately, worry crosses his features, the male shifting to move closer to you and comfort you in any way he can.

“Don’t come any closer!” You raise a hand, halting him right in his tracks.

“Baby, what’s gotten into you?” His eyebrows furrow, nothing but concern shining in his eyes. Eyes which plead desperately for you to tell him what’s going on.

You swallow thickly. There’s only one way you know to prove that Quincy spoke true.

“Turn around.” You keep your voice low, hoping beyond anything that it remains steady for the moment. “I want to see the mole on the back of your neck.”

His whole body tenses slightly, but you do not fail to catch it this time.

“What are you talking about? You know I don’t have a mole on the back of my neck.” He chuckles, somewhat nervously.

“Then, you should have no problem showing me.” Comes your blunt reply.

“Baby, what has you so paranoid?” He searches your face. “Do you not trust me?”

He shifts off of the bed, pulling on the closest pair of pants he can find as he stands.

“I got a call.” You state, and he glances down at your phone held in your hand. “They found a body.”

His gaze darts back up to your own.

“A dead body.” Your whole body begins to tremble.

He blinks.

“It’s your brother.”

He remains silent, and you swear you can hear a pin drop with how still you both have gone.

He swallows, “I told you that I couldn’t find him when I went up to the roof.”

Your shoulders seemingly relax the slightest bit when he says this.

Cautiously, he takes a step closer.

“A lot has happened in the past twenty-four hours,” he speaks to you calmly, as if attempting to calm you even further from the edge. “Why don’t we just take it easy, yeah? Take a deep breath, and then we can handle this together.”

Softly, you begin to nod your head, seemingly dropping your guard for the moment as your shoulders slouch.

“I suppose you’re right,” you sigh, clutching onto your phone as a lifeline as you step closer to him, resting just at the foot of the bed. “Let’s just stay together, and watch the sunrise.”

You see his brow furrow slightly in confusion, and your heart drops.

“But the sun’s already up, My Love.” He offers you a somewhat perplexed smile.

“Oh,” you chuckle, but you know that it’s quite stiff. “I suppose you’re right.”

In the next moment, you reach for him, appearing to seek his touch just as he does the same to you. Only, you’ve been planning this since the second he stepped out of bed.

A blink, and you have him pinned on his stomach, his one arm trapped beneath his body while you pull the other one behind his back. Your touch is nowhere near as gentle as it was last night as you shove his head into the mattress, pushing the ends of his golden locks upwards to reveal what you’ve been dreading since you got the call.

There, resting just below his hairline, resides a small mole, practically glaring back up at you in the light of the morning sun.

As if the code he botched wasn’t enough, this just proves it.

Your breathing deepens, chest heaving with every stuttering inhale you take as the harshness of reality sinks in around you. Suddenly, the room is thick with tension. So much so, that it weighs on your shoulders, suffocating you with every beat of your frantic heart.

You push yourself off of him, shaking your head as more tears fall from your eyes.

“No,” you back yourself against the wall as you watch him push himself up from the bed with a disappointed sigh. “No, this can’t be happening.”

Your heart feels as if someone has reached inside and torn it from your chest, the betrayal you feel coming through as clear as day on your face.

“Darling-“

“Don’t fucking call me that!” You shriek, eyes blazing with an unbridled fury. “You- you-“ you push yourself as far against the wall as you can, your voice breaking as you attempt to find words, “you made me believe you were him.”

A deadly silence washes over the both of you.

“I should have known,” you scoff, a sort of sadness taking over your features. “I should have known it was too good to be true. He’s never listened to me like that. He’s never loved me like that.”

Kai’s jaw twitches in irritation, watching you break down in front of him like this.

“The entire night,” you laugh bitterly, “the entire night he was missing, probably already dead. Yet here I was, fucking his brother.” Your expression drops, horror painting your features. “I fucking cheated on my dead husband with his brother. I- I-“ You meet his gaze, breath hitching in your throat as you realize something. “Why did you let me believe that you were him?”

He remains silent, lips pursed into a thin line.

“Why?” You shout, tears streaming down your face.

“He could never love you the way that I could.” Kai’s voice is low as he replies, watching your every move carefully. “He’s never loved you in the way you deserved.”

“That’s bullshit!” You spit. “Who are you to decide who can and can’t love me? Who are you to decide what kind of love I deserve?”

“He’s never deserved you, period.” He keeps his tone steady, but you can hear the restrained anger he holds back for the moment.

“And you do?” You counter, incredulously.

“I loved you first!” His one hand slams over his heart, nails biting into the skin of his bare chest. “I wanted you first. He only wanted you to prove I could never have you; to take you away from me. He never loved you, he only loved knowing he had something else over me. The only thing I’ve ever wanted. The only person I’ve ever loved.”

Your eyes catch on that gold band wrapped around his one finger.

Pure dread washes over you as realization sinks in. Your blood runs cold.

“How did you get that ring?”

Kai notices your gaze locked on his hand, and he pulls it away only to gaze down lovingly at the metal adoring his finger.

“It belonged to me before he stole it.” He replies, somewhat bitterly. At your skeptical look, he’s quick to continue, “Yes, your loving husband took this set of rings from me to propose to you with. After I had told him of my intentions of doing the exact same thing. Only, he got to them first.”

“So, you had two sets.” You voice, attempting to wrap your head around this new information.

“Oh, no, Darling,” he shakes his head, the corner of his lips tugging upwards maniacally. “Just the one.”

Your brow furrows, until morbid realization paints your features. “You killed him.”

“He didn’t deserve to live.” Comes his blunt reply. “Not after everything he’s done. Not after everything he’s put you through.”

“That wasn’t for you to decide.”

“Wasn’t it, though?” Kai hums, tilting his head mockingly. “He couldn’t protect you properly. I saw what that bastard did to you last night. Do you really think Jongin would have done anything about it? No. Instead, he pulled you on top of himself when the bullets started flying to protect himself. He never cared about you, because no matter how much attention you could give him, it would never be enough. You were never enough for him.”

“He pulled me on top of him because I said I didn’t want any of that man’s vile blood to touch me.” Your voice is low, like the approach of an oncoming storm. “You are so jealous of your brother, you continuously make up false claims just to tarnish his name. You never saw how he treated me behind closed doors. You don’t know what our relationship was like.”

“Really? Because I certainly learned enough last night.” Comes his pointed retort. “He was a fucking selfish lover, wasn’t he? Always putting his pleasure first over your own. He used you in every way he could to get himself off, both physically and emotionally, yet you’re still too blind to see it!”

“Don’t pretend to know what he was like.” You snap, arms crossing over your chest. “At least he never made me believe he was someone he was not.”

“You’re the one who assumed I was him.”

“You’re the one that went along with it!” You counter, your chest heaving as you swear your heart might collapse at any moment from the suffocating feeling of pain that surrounds it. “Now, I’ll have to live my entire life knowing I slept with my husband’s murderer on the night he was killed. I cheated on my dead husband!”

With each word, your voice rises. You’re almost hysterical at this point, beginning to pace while laughing insanely the whole while.

“You want to get mad at me for killing someone as vile as him?” Kai’s nostrils flare. “I killed him before he could kill me. It was self defence! Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like Shinobu or Nancy were that lucky.”

“Are you seriously implying that my husband was the one who killed Nancy and Shinobu?” You reply incredulously, eyes going wide in disbelief.

“He told me himself that he killed any further doubts you might have about him last night.” Kai states, somewhat matter of factly.

“And I’m supposed to believe you?” You scoff, shaking your head.

“I would never lie to you.” There is nothing but honesty dripping from both his tone and his gaze, and you hate how you actually do believe him.

“Yet, you made me believe you were your brother.” Your voice isn’t as firm as before, your tears slowing, too.

“You said it yourself last night,” he meets your gaze, eyes flashing, “I am your perfect lover.”

“You’re despicable,” you spit, noticing how he slowly begins to creep towards you now.

Your heart leaps into your throat, and you begin to angle yourself away from him. Only, he’s faster, pinning you to the wall as he rests his forehead against your own.

“Every night could be like the last when you’re with me. No, it will be.” He breathes, pressing himself right up against you despite your best efforts to shove him off of you. “You know I can treat you right, Darling. I think I’ve more than proved myself to you. I have always wanted you. I have always loved you. With me, you’d never have to question that again.”

You hands come up to rest on his chest, keeping him distanced from you as much as you can.

“You’ve betrayed me, Kai.” Your voice is but a mere whisper on your lips, the devastation clear on your features. “I can never forgive that.”

“That’s bullshit!” He pushes himself off of the wall, anger pulling at his features. “You can’t forgive me, but you can continue to love a man who continuously cheated on you, and could never love you in the ways that you’ve always deserved?”

“Jongin never cheated on me, Kai.” You state lowly. “Your brother was a lot of things, but cheater he was not. Not after he knew what happened with my parents.”

The male before you remains silent.

“You knew what happened with my parents, how they didn’t know the meaning of loyalty. You know how I feel about cheaters, and you purposely led me to believe you were my husband just so you could fuck me.” You slowly begin backing away from him again, leading yourself towards the hallway that will lead out of the room. Your phone begins buzzing in your hand. “How do you think that looks to me, Kai? You say you love me, but would someone in love do something as unforgivable as that to the one they claim to love?”

“I do love you.” His tone is firm, taking a step forward as tears gather in the corners of his eyes.

“No,” you shake your head, finally having reached the bedside table. “You don’t love me. You want to own me.”

His breath hitches, the first of his tears beginning to trail openly down his cheeks.

“I have always loved you.” He repeats his words from earlier, a bit more desperately this time. “Last night-“

“Last night was you manipulating me into getting what you’ve always wanted from me.” You say. “You want to make Jongin out to be the bad guy when you’re the worst one!”

“I only want to love you!” His fist slams against the wall beside him in frustration before he begins tugging desperately at his hair. “Can you not see that?”

“I cannot love a man like you, Kai.” You shake your head, feeling your phone begin vibrating once more in your hand. “I never can, and I never will."

Something within his eyes flash, and he goes so still, you swear that he’s stopped breathing.

“You don’t mean that,” he starts to hyperventilate, his eyes crazed as he begins clawing at his face. “You- you- you need me like I need you! You said you loved me! You said I was yours!”

“I said I loved my husband, Kai.” Your voice is firm as you meet his devastated, tearstained face. “Not you.”

“No!” He lunges, managing to knock your phone out of your hands as he wraps his arms around you. You both go tumbling to the floor. Desperately, he clings to you, sobbing into your neck. “You can’t leave me! I love you! I did this for you. For us!”

“Kai, let me go.” You attempt to push him off of you, but he doesn’t relent his hold on you even in the slightest.

“No.” He begins to shake his head. “I- I’ll make you love me. You’ll see!”

“Kai, this isn’t an opportunity for you to change my mind.” You, again, attempt to shove him off of you to no avail.

“I don’t need to change your mind,” he starts to nod, as if he’s convincing himself more so than you, now. “I’ve already proved it to you. You felt it, didn’t you? You felt my love last night. You wouldn’t call me your perfect lover otherwise.”

You can tell he’s no longer talking to you, but reasoning with himself. The more he speaks, the more he seems to believe, calming himself down with each word that he says.

A knock at the door breaks his train of thought. He stiffens.

“Don’t answer that.”

Another knock, more frantic than the first sounds.

You attempt to break free from his grasp once more, only for him to pull you firmly back into his arms each time.

“You’re not going anywhere, Darling.” His voice is low, suddenly much more ominous than only moments before. “I won’t let you leave me.”

You still, heart stuttering as a fear unlike ever before floods your veins. If he can kill his own brother, there’s no telling what he might do to you.

A call of your name from a familiar voice outside the door draws your attention.

“Are you in there?”

It’s Quincy.

Just as you open your mouth to respond, Kai slaps a hand over your lips.

“Shh,” he keeps his voice low right by your ear, sending an unpleasant shiver down your spine. “Wouldn’t want the big boss lady to disturb the happy couple, now, would we?”

You shake your head, deciding to play along with his games for the moment. You’d rather stay alive than upset him further and truly set him off. He already seems incredibly unhinged, and there’s no telling what he might do.

Another knock sounds.

Slowly, Kai beings to lower his hand, trusting that you won’t act out.

Only, you know better.

A loud yelp escapes him as you bite down on his hand quite harshly. This causes him to loosen his hold on you, and you managing to scramble free after elbowing him in the chest. Rolling away from him, you’re quick to fling open the closet door right beside you, seeing as you wouldn’t have enough time to stand and open the door to the room. Luckily, you know where you’ve stashed all the guns, and the closest one now rests in your hands as you stand back to your feet.

“I’m inside, Quincy.” You call over your shoulder, watching as Kai slowly stands to his feet with his arms raised beside him. You cock the gun. “Kai’s gone mad.”

You hear a low curse come from behind the slab of wood behind you, some shuffling occurring as she whispers order too low to make out.

“Please, Darling,” he expression falls. “Don’t do this. You know I can make you so happy.”

“Take off that ring.” Your eyes briefly dart to his hand, that metal band glinting almost mockingly at you now. “Besides, I thought I told you not to call me that.”

“And I thought I told you that these rings are mine.” His eyes flash. “Ours.”

Your nostrils flare. “Fine then.”

Shifting your hand, you begin to slide your own wedding band off of your finger. Except, Kai takes advantage of your movements, lunging towards you while you’re distracted. He manages to wrestle the gun from your hands as you go tumbling to the ground. You scramble onto your back, hands supporting you as you look at the man you thought you could trust.

The gun is now pointed at your head, tears streaming down his face as he gazes down at you with nothing but sorrow on his features.

“Don’t make me do this.” He nearly chokes on a sob.

You can hear some scratching at the door. The slow, telltale movements of someone picking the lock.

“I’m not making you do anything, Kai.” You shake your head. “You did it all yourself.”

“Please,” he begs, hand trembling as that barrel stares you down. “I don’t want to lose you.”

“You can’t lose what you’ve never had, Kai.” You reply lowly.

His expression falls, and you notice his hand has stopped shaking.

“Fine then.” He swallows thickly, as if steeling himself for what he’s about to do.

You hear the click of the lock falling out of place.

“If I can’t have you,” his eyes are crazed, wild as he meets your own, “No one can.”

The sound of the door swinging open is synonymous with the gunshot that echoes throughout the room. The second shot is quick to follow, a body falling limply to the floor.

#yandere kai #yandere jongin #yandere exo #yandere kpop #kpop scenario #exo scenario #jongin scenario #kai scenario #kai smut #jongin smut #kpop smut #yandere au #spy au #twin au #kpop au #exo smut #tw: dubcon #tw: dubious consent

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sugoi-and-spice · 7 months ago

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Chapter Twenty-Eight - Playing Pretend

Summary: Tomura Shigaraki was her dad’s boss’s son. He was the creep that stole girls’ underwear and tried to grope her in his room. But it’s not like he could get her Dad fired just because she wouldn’t sleep with him, right? …right?

CW: Quirkless!AU, Explicit Smut, Dub-Con, Coercion, Blackmail, Cheating, Sexual Guilt, Humiliation, Unhealthy Relationships, Power Play, Hate to Love, Emotional Manipulation, Emotional/Psychological Abuse, Self-Harm, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Slow Burn

A/N: Hnnnnnnnngh, something something, commentary commentary idk. I'm caught up with the manga. Life is meaningless lol. Hopefully this chapter can ease the pain a little (though probably not much since we're hopping right back into angst town lmao, I'm so sorry)

Read Full on AO3

[excerpt]

Luxury. That was the word of the night. Everything about this experience dripped with luxury. Luxury was in the limousine that All for One had been so generous to charter for their pick up. It was in the Don Perignon chilled and waiting for them inside that her parents were kind enough to let her have a glass of. And it was in the Palace Hotel Ballroom that the company had rented out for this party. From every tuxedo-wearing waiter carrying trays of canapes around the room, every member of the string quartet playing Schubert as they entered, even to every Swarovski crystal ornament on the ceiling high Christmas tree in the center of the room. It was all pure, unadulterated luxury.

And it honestly had her wondering for a moment.

“You sure we’re in the right place?” she whispered to her mom, earning a reassuring squeeze.

“No, I’m not,” her mom joked back, just as hushed, “But we’re going to pretend like we are regardless.”

She looked back at her mom curiously. If she was feeling uneasy about the sky high expenditure and decorum of this place, she could only imagine how out of her element her mom was. She herself had spent her entire life ping-ponging between lower and upper middle class. But her mom, even before she’d been in foster care, had only known the heights of a paycheck to paycheck smalltown flower shop. Tie in the not insignificant times she’d spent living exclusively in manga cafes, and she could only imagine what an out of body experience she was having at this moment.

Although, maybe she wasn’t as out of her element as she thought.

If her mom was feeling any nerves or apprehension, it all went away the moment they were approached some of her father’s new, upper echelon bosses and colleagues, beautiful women on their arms (some being the mens’ wives, some being definitely not the mens’ wives), and she was rubbing elbows and talking the talk like the best of them.

“So, was that your first time in a limo?” Yamamoto, one of her dad’s bosses asked the bunch.

“Is it that obvious? ” her mother smiled politely

“Oh on the contrary. I think you all look quite natural at an event like this,” he turned then to her father, “A very handsome family, son. You should be proud.”

Her father smiled, giving her shoulder a little squeeze, “More than you can imagine. My oldest here is a senior at Kamino, and one of the top in her class.”

“Is that so?” Yamamoto said, turning to her, “Entrance exams are just around the corner, aren’t they? You feeling ready?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be,” she answered, trying not to think about it too long, lest she get nervous.

That was pretty much the course of all her conversations tonight, so far at least. If it wasn’t asking her about her college plans, it was middle-aged VP’s telling her what a looker she was and how she “must have guys lining up for her at school”. Blegh.

All throughout she just smiled and nodded politely while trying not to look around too much for Shigaraki, who surprisingly, for the first quarter of the party, was nowhere to be found. Same for All for One.

Weird, she thought at first, considering that this was their freaking party. Until she overheard one of her dad’s coworkers mention to him, “You know how much that ol’ bastard likes to make an entrance.”

As if on cue, the double doors to the ballroom opened (she hadn’t even realized they’d been shut?!) And in strutted All for One, standing tall and pompous as ever. She had to fight the biggest eye roll of her life as a soft applause filled the room, and he waved them off as if he wouldn’t have been completely pissed had the room been silent.

But just as fast as annoyance crossed her face, she couldn’t fight the skip in her chest when Tomura Shigaraki followed into the ballroom behind him.

He’d cleaned up, and he’d cleaned up freaking good.

His typical ill-fitting sweats and hoodie had been switched out for an impeccably crisp, slim fit suit that did his long legs and defined figure all the favors in the world. His hair was not only brushed, but obviously had some care put into it, fringe still in his face, but strategically so. He kept his eyes, staring forward intensely, intimidatingly, in full view.

And on top of it all, much to her shock and joy, was the red jacket she’d bought for him hanging off his shoulders almost capelike. He’d even kept the fur part on and she’d be remiss to say it didn’t make him look like royalty.

He didn’t just look amazing, he looked like a leader.

Her mom leaned down to her, nudging her not so subtly out of her awe, “Didn’t I see you bring home a jacket like that the other day?”

“No idea what you’re talking about,” she said, swatting away at her, but still unable to take her eyes off Shigaraki through it all.

The two crossed to the center of the room, stopping directly under the giant Christmas tree, where a member of the hotel staff was there to meet All for One with a microphone.

“Thank you all so much for coming tonight…” he started an inevitably long and pompous speech that she was eager to tune out.

And it was easy to do so, the longer she stared at his ward, admiring the way he stood off to the side of All for One, head held high, but still unmistakably himself as he stuffed a hand into his pant pocket.

She smiled at the sight. Seeing him like this, she couldn’t help but be brought back to a few months ago. To that fateful dinner her family had shared with the Shigarakis. The one that Tomura had worn a ratty old hoodie to and had spent the whole night either slouching in his chair, avoiding eye contact, or feeling her up under the table. There was none of that immaturity or recalcitrance here tonight. While he may not have learned the ways of the fake smile and schmoozing that practically permeated the air here, the hard bitterness in his expression was one that could actually be interpreted as polished stoicism. An authority that was hard to impress. And above all, the model heir to his guardian’s company.

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lcvehee · 8 months ago

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lost and found

#01. 'what am i getting into?' (smau+written)

ft. sohee (riize), female reader.

꩜ .ᐟ synopsis: after a chance meeting in the hushed aisles of the uni library and bickering over the last copy of "an introduction to statistical learning", fate keeps tugging y/n and sohee closer. despite their reserved nature and initial resistance, they find themselves drawn into each other's orbits, finding solace in each other's company.

꩜ .ᐟ wc: 0.9k

꩜ .ᐟ a/n: chapter one is out!!!!! we cheered!!!! IK THEYRE BOTH BEING MEAN TO EACH OTHER BUT ITLL GET BETTER I PROMISE YALL‼️ i hope you enjoy this sjnwjs if you have suggestions just tell me!! and what do you think of the written portion? is it too long? anyways I LOVE SOHEE !!

꩜ .ᐟ light theme is from y/n's pov and dark is from sohee's pov.

meanwhile, in sohee's orbit...

━˖°˖ ☆ ˖°˖ ━━━━━━━

y/n was in the front row of the lecture hall, silently playing with her pen as the professor rambled on and on, and on. she tried to focus, but she just couldn't. her mind drifted to the infamous book she had to get her hands on.

what am i supposed to do? every single copy in this campus is already borrowed, and buying the book is out of question—i'm so broke...

the sound of classmates loudly whispering behind her brought y/n back to reality. once again, she focused her eyes on the professor, reading the slide and jotting down something.

soon enough, the professor wrapped up her lecture and in a flash, y/n was out of the door, slinging her tote bag over her shoulder. she knew exactly where to go; the coffee shop she frequently went to was a few blocks outside of campus. this was her friend group's thing: twice a month they'd go there to study (as they like to say, but it's more of a gossip session...) and get their usual order. another tradition is that the last person to arrive was the one who paid for everyone's drink; hence, she speedwalked on her way there.

when she arrived, she let out a sigh of relief as she realized that she wasn't the last to arrive. giselle and anton were already sat at a circular table, chatting quite animatedly already. yeri was missing.

"y/n, over here!" giselle smiled warmly, waving her hand. y/n made her way over to the table, hugging giselle in the process.

"hey anton." y/n grinned, opening her arms.

"hi you," he replied, hugging her.

"i missed you guys." y/n pouted as she sat down.

yeri walked through the door and instantly spotted the three, and made a beeline towards them.

"heyyyy, i guess i'm gonna use my hard earned money on you. again." yeri deadpanned, emphasizing the last word.

"it's not our fault you're always late to everything." giselle shrugged, "and you have a corporate job."

━˖°˖ ☆ ˖°˖ ━━━━━━━

the quartet chatted for a good hour and a half, catching up with each other, when y/n's phone buzzed loudly on the table, startling her.

"ugh, who's interrupting our tea time?" anton groaned.

y/n stood up abruptly, eye blown wide in utter shock. "i need to go!" she exclaimed, putting her bag on her shoulder.

"what's wrong?" yeri asked, panicking. the other two were just as confused, eyeing y/n's frantic figure leaving the café.

"nothing's wrong. the book, i-uh, it's available! i need to get it!" y/n put her hands together, eyebrows dipped low. "sorry!" she mouthed.

"this girl is hopeless." anton chuckled dryly.

━˖°˖ ☆ ˖°˖ ━━━━━━━

y/n burst open the door, earning glares from students. as she looked for the reception desk, and next to it, she spotted the book on a cart. she speedwalked, as if she were a woman on a mission.

approaching the desk, the librarian came into view, with another student talking to her. "i'd like to borrow this," he pointed to a book. y/n's eyes followed his finger, and the realization hit her like a brick.

"you can't!" she whisper-shouted.

the two turned their heads towards her.

the guy lifted a brow at her remark. "what do you mean?" he replied, "i got here first."

the librarian sighed, shooing them away with her hands. "figure this out elsewhere, kids. find me when you're done." she went back to her computer, fixing her glasses.

the man snatched the book out of the cart, clutching it close to his chest. "this is so stupid." he let out a deep sigh.

"no it's not!" y/n glared at him, crossing her arms.

he ignored her, and started walking briskly towards a secluded part of the library, with her trailing behind him. the tension between the two was high, you could almost feel a sort of heaviness in the air.

once they found a spot with no one around, he looked at her for the first time. his soft boyish facial features contrasted with the frown adorning his face. "look," he stared in her eyes. "i suck at programming... and my project depends on this and i cannot, in any circumstances, fail this class," he uttered, irritation apparent in his voice. he sighed again, ruffling his dark and messy bed of hair out of frustration.

y/n stared back at him, not backing down. "well. i need it too! i might fail my class if i don't have it..." she argued back.

"what's your major?" he suddenly asked, eyeing her skeptically.

"comp sci, why?"

don't they learn this before us? why does she wants this book?

"then you're supposed to be good at this, why would you even need this book? are you a freshman?"

her jaw dropped, as anger started to bubble inside. "what are you insinuating?" retorted y/n.

"nothing." he looked away.

she groaned, as she looked at the ceiling.

what the hell was this dude's problem?!

she put her face in her hands, sighing loudly.

he stared at her exasperated form, remembering the bags under her eyes and her hunched posture. unexpectedly, he felt strange sense of pity—seeing his tired self in her. he recognized in her a kindred spirit; at the end of the day, they both were just trying to succeed in their respective fields.

we both need it, and she's just as desperate as me. although she could be nicer about it... also this conversation is going nowhere, at this rate, we'll be in here the whole night.

he pushed down his ego, and muttered "i have an idea”.

she looked up to him. yet this time, her eyes were met by a softer gaze. "what is it?" she inquired, voice quiet, taken aback by this display. he gulped, his adam's apple bobbing up and down.

"we can read it together if you don't mind..."

'oh boy, what am i getting into?' they both thought.

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emma23 · 1 month ago

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The translation game:

Anselm vogelweide x reader

————————————————————————

The grand hall was buzzing with the low hum of conversation, expensive suits, and glittering dresses moving like waves in a sea of opulence. Crystal chandeliers cast a warm glow over the polished marble floor, and the sound of classical music played by a live quartet added to the air of sophistication. This was a gathering for the elite, a place where business deals were sealed over glasses of champagne and fortunes were made with a handshake.

Y/N stood near the grand staircase, holding a flute of champagne, trying to blend in. She had never been one for these types of events. The formal wear, the small talk, the constant sizing up—it wasn’t her scene. But Anselm had insisted.

“You’ll be fine,” he’d said with his usual smirk, adjusting his cufflinks in the mirror. “Just stick with me. If anyone asks, you’re my partner. I needed someone charming to keep me entertained.”

She had rolled her eyes at that. Anselm Vogelweide, the charismatic, enigmatic, and somewhat eccentric man who had swept into her life like a hurricane, always seemed to know exactly what to say to make her feel like she belonged, even if she wasn’t quite sure what that belonging meant. His invitation had been unexpected, as most things with Anselm were, and she couldn’t deny the intrigue that came with being by his side.

As if sensing her thoughts, Anselm appeared beside her, his dark eyes glittering with mischief. His tailored black suit fit him perfectly, contrasting sharply with his untamed curls that seemed to defy any attempt to control them.

“Bored yet?” he asked, leaning in so only she could hear.

Y/N smiled. “Not yet. But the night is young.”

He chuckled, the sound low and smooth, before his gaze flicked across the room. His eyes, always sharp and calculating, found their target—a group of men standing near the bar, speaking in hushed tones. One of them, a man with a severe face and greying hair, glanced over at them, his eyes narrowing slightly as he muttered something to his companions in German.

Anselm’s lips twitched at the corners, his expression one of amusement.

“What’s so funny?” Y/N asked, noticing the change in his demeanor.

Anselm’s eyes sparkled as he looked at her. “Oh, nothing. Just that our friend over there thinks you look... how do I put this delicately? Like you might have borrowed that dress from a second-hand shop.”

Y/N blinked, looking down at her dress. It was a classic black number, simple yet elegant. She had chosen it specifically to not stand out too much. “He said that?”

Anselm shook his head, taking a sip of his champagne. “Not quite. He actually said, ‘She looks like someone who wouldn’t know the difference between Prada and Primark.’ But that’s essentially the gist of it.”

She stared at him, waiting for him to be joking. But his eyes held that familiar glint—he was telling the truth, or at least his version of it. “And you found that funny?”

“Not funny. Amusing.” He shrugged. “People are predictable. They see someone they think doesn’t belong, and they lash out in the safest way they know how. It’s boring, really.”

Y/N narrowed her eyes. “And what did you say back?”

Anselm smiled slowly, that devilish grin that could either mean trouble or charm, sometimes both. “I told him that you’re my partner, and anyone who doesn’t recognize your brilliance is a fool.”

She laughed despite herself. “You did not.”

“Okay, maybe I didn’t use the word ‘brilliance,’” he admitted, leaning closer. “But I did say that you’re the most intriguing woman in the room, and anyone who’s too blind to see that isn’t worth our time.”

The compliment, as backhanded as it was, warmed her. Anselm had a way of making her feel like she was the only person in the room that mattered. It was infuriating and intoxicating all at once.

“Come on,” he said, grabbing her hand and pulling her towards the bar. “Let’s introduce ourselves. I’m sure you’ll dazzle them with your charm.”

They approached the bar, and the men turned to look at them. The man with the severe face and greying hair looked Anselm up and down, clearly unimpressed.

“Nathan Vogelweide,” the man said with a thick German accent. “You still insist on keeping strange company.”

Anselm’s smile didn’t waver. “Anselm,” he corrected smoothly. “And yes, I do have a taste for the extraordinary. Y/N, this is Herr Müller, one of the... more conservative investors I’ve had the pleasure of meeting.”

Y/N extended her hand, determined to play her part. “Nice to meet you.”

Müller looked at her hand for a moment before shaking it briefly, his expression unreadable. He said something in German, his tone clipped and dismissive.

Y/N looked at Anselm, waiting for the translation.

Anselm raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying himself. “He said you look like you’d be more comfortable serving drinks than ordering them.”

Y/N’s eyes widened. “Seriously?”

Anselm nodded. “But don’t worry, I told him you’re much too intelligent for that.”

“Did you?” she challenged, crossing her arms.

“Well, not in those exact words. But I did tell him that if he wants to know what true elegance looks like, he should look at you.”

Y/N smirked. “And what did he say to that?”

Anselm leaned in, his breath warm against her ear. “He asked if you were for sale.”

She pulled back, looking at him with wide eyes. “You’re lying.”

Anselm shrugged, his expression innocent. “Maybe I am. Maybe I’m not. Does it matter? He’s an idiot either way.”

Y/N sighed. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

“Impossible to resist,” he countered, his voice dropping. There was something in his eyes now, something darker and more serious.

Before she could respond, Müller cleared his throat. “If you two are done whispering, perhaps we can discuss business?”

Anselm’s face shifted, the playful mask slipping away to reveal the sharper, more dangerous side of him. “Of course, Herr Müller. Let’s talk business. But let’s get one thing straight—Y/N is not for sale. Not now, not ever.”

Müller raised an eyebrow, looking between them. “A joke, Vogelweide. You always did take things too seriously.”

Anselm’s smile was all teeth. “Some things are worth taking seriously.”

The rest of the evening passed in a blur of conversation and subtle power plays, Anselm navigating the social minefield with the ease of a seasoned diplomat. Y/N watched him work, marveling at how effortlessly he could charm and intimidate in the same breath.

It wasn’t until they were outside, the cool night air hitting her skin, that she realized how tense she had been. Anselm’s hand was warm around hers as he led her to his car, the sleek black vehicle gleaming under the streetlights.

“Was that necessary?” she asked as they slid into the leather seats.

Anselm glanced at her, a small smile playing at his lips. “What part?”

“The whole... possessive thing,” she said, mimicking his tone from earlier. “She’s not for sale.”

He laughed, the sound rich and unguarded. “You think I’m possessive?”

“A little,” she admitted.

He shrugged, starting the car. “Maybe I am. Or maybe I just don’t like the idea of people thinking they can treat you like an object.”

She watched his profile as they drove, the city lights casting shadows across his face. There was something undeniably magnetic about him, a pull she couldn’t quite resist. Maybe that was why she had said yes to his invitation, why she had stayed by his side all night despite the uncomfortable stares and whispered comments.

“Thank you,” she said softly.

“For what?” he asked, not taking his eyes off the road.

“For standing up for me,” she said. “Even if you did embellish the truth a bit.”

Anselm glanced at her, his eyes softening. “You’re worth standing up for, Y/N. Don’t ever doubt that.”

They drove in silence for a while, the tension from the evening slowly ebbing away. She felt herself relaxing, the warmth of Anselm’s presence beside her comforting.

“You know,” she said after a while, “if you ever want to actually compliment me, you don’t have to make up insults first.”

Anselm laughed, a genuine sound that made her smile. “I’ll keep that in mind,” he said. “But where’s the fun in that?”

They reached her apartment, the car coming to a smooth stop. Anselm walked her to the door, his hand resting lightly on her back. She fumbled with her keys, suddenly aware of how close he was, the scent of his cologne filling her senses.

“Goodnight, Anselm,” she said, turning to face him.

He was looking at her with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat. “Goodnight, Y/N,” he replied softly.

For a moment, they stood there, the air between them thick with unspoken words. Then, before she could second-guess herself, she leaned up and kissed him, her lips brushing his softly.

Anselm froze for the briefest second, as if surprised by her sudden boldness, but then he responded. His hands cupped her face, his thumbs brushing over her cheeks, and he kissed her back with a fervor that took her breath away.

The world seemed to fade away, the only thing she could focus on was the way his lips moved against hers, the taste of champagne lingering on his tongue. She pressed closer, her hands sliding up to his shoulders, feeling the strength beneath his tailored suit.

He broke the kiss, resting his forehead against hers, both of them breathing heavily. His eyes were dark, the usual mischievous glint replaced by something far more serious.

“Y/N,” he murmured, his voice husky. “If you keep doing that, I’m not going to be able to leave.”

She swallowed, her pulse racing. “Then don’t leave,” she whispered.

Anselm’s eyes searched hers, as if looking for any sign of hesitation. When he found none, he captured her lips again, more urgently this time, as if the floodgates had opened and he could no longer hold back. She fumbled with the door, finally managing to get it open, and they stumbled inside.

They barely made it past the threshold before Anselm’s hands were on her again, pulling her close, his lips never leaving hers. She kicked the door shut behind them, the sound echoing in the quiet apartment.

He pushed her against the wall, his hands trailing down her sides, bunching up the fabric of her dress. She gasped, arching into his touch, her fingers tangling in his hair, tugging him closer. His lips moved to her neck, pressing hot kisses against her skin, each touch sending shivers down her spine.

“Anselm,” she breathed, her voice trembling.

He pulled back just enough to look at her, his eyes dark with desire. “Say my name again,” he whispered, his voice rough.

“Anselm,” she repeated, a smile tugging at her lips.

He groaned, capturing her lips in another searing kiss. She felt his hands slip under her dress, fingers skimming over her bare skin, eliciting a soft moan from her. His touch was both gentle and demanding, as if he was holding himself back and giving in all at once.

Y/N’s hands found the buttons of his shirt, fumbling with them in her eagerness. Anselm pulled away just enough to help, shrugging off his jacket and letting it fall to the floor. She pushed the shirt off his shoulders, her hands exploring the hard planes of his chest, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath her fingertips.

“You’re beautiful,” he murmured against her lips, his hands slipping the straps of her dress off her shoulders.

She felt a blush rise to her cheeks, but before she could respond, his lips were on hers again, silencing any protest she might have had. The dress slid down her body, pooling at her feet, and she stood before him in her underwear, feeling both vulnerable and empowered under his gaze.

“Anselm,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. “I…”

He cupped her face in his hands, his thumb brushing over her bottom lip. “It’s okay,” he said softly. “We don’t have to rush. We can take our time.”

But there was a part of her that didn’t want to wait. She wanted to be close to him, to feel the connection they had been dancing around for so long. She reached up, pulling him down for another kiss, and this time there was no hesitation, no holding back.

Y/N woke to the soft glow of morning light filtering through the curtains, casting a warm, golden hue over the room. For a moment, she lay there, her eyes still closed, relishing the warmth of the body pressed against hers, the steady rise and fall of his chest beneath her cheek.

Then reality settled in, and her eyes snapped open.

She was in bed with Anselm Vogelweide.

Memories of the previous night flooded her mind—their passionate kisses, the feel of his hands on her body, the way he had whispered her name like it was the most precious thing in the world. Her cheeks flushed, and she shifted slightly, trying to gather her thoughts.

Anselm stirred beside her, his arm tightening around her waist. He opened his eyes, blinking sleepily before a lazy smile spread across his face.

“Good morning,” he said, his voice still thick with sleep.

“Morning,” she replied, feeling a smile tug at her lips despite herself.

He brushed a strand of hair away from her face, his touch gentle. “How are you feeling?”

“Good,” she said softly. “Better than good, actually.”

He chuckled, leaning down to press a kiss to her forehead. “Me too.”

They lay there in comfortable silence, the events of the night before creating a new bond between them. It felt natural, as if they had always been meant to end up here, tangled together in the sheets, the rest of the world forgotten.

After a while, Y/N sighed. “So, what now?”

Anselm raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“I mean… last night. Us. Does this change anything?”

He looked thoughtful for a moment before his lips curved into a smile. “I think it changes everything,” he said. “But in a good way.”

Y/N’s heart fluttered at his words. She had been worried that this was just a one-time thing, a spur-of-the-moment decision fueled by champagne and attraction. But looking at Anselm now, she knew it was more than that.

“Good,” she said, leaning in to kiss him. “Because I’m not ready to let you go just yet.”

Anselm’s arms tightened around her, his smile matching hers. “Then don’t,” he said simply.

Later that morning, they sat together at her kitchen table, sipping coffee and talking like they had done a hundred times before. But now, there was a new ease between them, a comfort in the knowledge that they were no longer dancing around the unspoken attraction.

Anselm looked at her, his eyes twinkling with that familiar mischief. “So, about last night…”

Y/N rolled her eyes, a smile tugging at her lips. “What about it?”

He leaned forward, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “I still think you looked amazing in that dress. But I think I like you better without it.”

She laughed, the sound ringing through the kitchen. “You’re impossible.”

“Impossible to resist,” he corrected, a grin spreading across his face.

Y/N shook her head, still smiling. “Maybe. But I think I’m okay with that.”

And for the first time in a long while, she knew she had made the right choice.

#anselm vogelweide x reader #anselm vogelweide #big gold brick #oscar isaac character #oscar isaac #oscar isaac characters

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nomorefstogive · 1 year ago

Text

Our Dearest Sin: Chapter 3: Taking Care of Flowers (Crossposted on Ao3)

@lirational It took me quite a while, but I hope you like this.

The flowers were in bloom, the fragrant aroma of poppies and carnations, lavender and roses, and many others filling the cell, or perhaps chambers is a more apt word, of the woman known as the Mentor of the Garden, her eyes closed in tranquility as gentle fingers carded through her ivory locks, a low humming further aiding in lulling her into a state of tranquility.

Her eyes were closed, and her senses enveloped in the gentle warmth of the lap her head resting on, along with the fingers trailing through her silken locks, as her violet gently caressed her scalp, resting her back against the dark wood headboard of her mentor’s bed as she did so, her own eyes heavy lidded in quiet peace.

Further enveloping the Poppy was the warm body of her beloved ‘Moonlight Cinderella’(1) who lay resting beside her, gently rubbing her stomach as nonsensically babbled into her ear as they nuzzled against her, their forehead resting just above her ear as they fought the urge to fall into slumber beside their Mentor.

Her carnation rested at the foot of the bed, gently rubbing her feet, softly caressing her calves and soles as they looked up at her with a heavy lidded gaze of contented peace and a smile of warm adoration, their lilac hair falling loosely around them as they allowed themselves to relax in full with their family.

Of course these were but 3 of the many flowers that were gathered around her, some lounging against her bed and others against other surfaces, some dozing in peace as they held fast to one another while others lay slumbering or dozing in a state of half awake and half asleep tranquility, the smell of flowers and incense joining with the warmth of gathered bodies and the gentle babbling of water from the fountain that rested in the center of the room further lulling them into a sense of tranquility.

On this day there were no contracts from the Spider and the Hush, there were no quests for revenge or debts to settle, no threats to the one that had offered them shelter and comfort, amidst the storm of malaise and mania that hung over the city as Paradeisos and the Underground waltzed their dance macabre upon the bones of the unknowing and innocent, that needed pruning.

No, on this day there was nothing but each other and the comfort of their family being together, of the younger members huddled together as they listened to the dulcet tones of their elders telling them stories or simply conversing with them as they rested their heads on their laps and shoulders as the older members paired off to cuddle with one another, some exchanging gentle kisses and caresses, and others simply basking in one another's company.

Such was the intensity of the tranquil atmosphere, and so all encompassing its embrace, that none did more than turn a raised brow or inquisitive glance when the doors to the room were opened, an ever welcome and familiar figure entering and, after examining the scene before them for but a moment, moving to approach Coquelic.

Even from her position on her bed, and even with her senses enveloped by her flowers as they were, Coquelic knew who it was that was now winding their way around her room to her, she did not need to see the way Sumire lit up with an all encompassing joy as they approached or how Garofano’s eyes lit up with a possessive love, or how Gekkabajin smirked with a glint of hunger in her eyes, nor did she even need to register the familiar clicking of shoes on stone or the familiar perfume.

Indeed, all she needed was the growing warmth of the Shackles to tell her who it was that had come to stand beside her bed, eyes traveling across the quartet of bodies that lay upon the bed, 3 of them eagerly beckoning for her to join them

Barely had the Mentor of the Garden had time to open her mouth to invite Persephone to lay beside her when she felt her bed dip down, a smile crossing her face as she felt a pair of arms, that were still far too thin for her or any of her Flowers liking, gently wrap around her as another warm form came to rest with her.

Idly Coquelic contemplated turning to face Persephone, to lay her lips against hers and pull her to rest atop her as her flowers gathered around them and joined them, the younger ones being shepherded to soundproofed rooms or turned loose upon the bureau as a whole while their elders indulged themselves in the comfort of their bodies, though ultimately she decided such a thing could wait till later.

For now, she was content just to reach out the arm that was not wrapped around one of her flowers and gently slip it under the chief and embrace her to her side, her fingers gently carding through Persephone’s hair as she felt the Chief nuzzle against her neck, her breath ever so gently caressing her skin as she relaxed.

Silently and in tranquility they lazed there for what could have been hours just as easily as it could have been minutes, time having long lost all meaning to those within the room as they silently enjoyed the moment of bliss they were entrapped within, many seeming fit to fall asleep if they had not already done so, that is until Persephone shifted ever so slightly so that she now was supporting herself with one arm as her other gently caressed Coquelic’s side.

“Oh?” Coquelic raised a brow as she looked at the Chief with a smirk forming on her face, her eyes fluttering shut for just a moment as she felt dexterous fingers caress her ribs for just a moment before they leaned up to lightly brush the side of her breast, moving further up to ghost over her pulse, pausing for but the briefest of moments to feel the beating of her heart before resuming their journey to cup her cheek.

The Mentor’s eyes slowly opened, her gaze locking with Persephone’s own, silently gazing at her for several moments before she began to lean up, allowing for the chief to slip a hand under her upper body as their lips met, their kiss was slow and tender, Coquelic taking care to gently seize the chief’s bottom lips with her teeth and lightly nip as it before she pulled back, a thin strand of saliva connecting them for but the briefest of moment before it fell away.

Already Coquelic could hear her Flowers begin to shift and stir, moving to herd the young pens away even as they giggled at the scene of their mentor begin to flush as desire began to pulse through her body, the other elders on the bed moving to join in as well as Gekkabijin sighed before she rose from the bed, offering a kiss to her Mentor’s cheeks before she moved to help herd the younger ones before she would return to join in what was to come.

The mood in the room began to shift, the Flowers eyes darkening as they began to move to gather around their Mentor, Sumire already leaning down to place her own lips Persephone’s head, taking a deep breath of her scent as she began to reach out to tilt her head up so she could kiss her as well.

At the same time, Garofano, torn between trailing kisses up her Mentor’s legs until she was near enough to her center to savor her scent and taste, or pulling Persephone down and into her arms once Sumire was finished with her so that Sumrie and her Mentor could have some time together, found her gaze flickering between each of the women above her as a pit of hunger and desire began to grow in her stomach.

Though all such movements paused as Persephone leaned down once more to nip at Coquelic’s ear, her tongue lightly caressing it for several moments as her other hand began moving to go under the Poppy of the Garden, Coquelic raising herself up just enough for the hand to slip under her and cup her rear, the Mentor letting out a sigh of pleasure as Persephone leaned in to her ear once more, before she stage whispered to her-

“Sorry about this.” Persephone breathed out, causing all to pause in their actions and look at her in confusion, Coquelic raising a brow and opening her mouth to query just what it was the chief was sorry for, only to be cut off as she continued.

“But I was told flowers need to be watered, and that you needed some exercise.”

“What are you-” But barely had the words left a confused Coquelic’s lips before-

“And I have heard that swimming is a wonderful exercise!”

And with her words said, and a twinkle in her eye, Persephone shifted herself just enough to-

A loud splash echoed in the now dead silent room, the young members that had yet to be shepherded out and the elder members all gaping in silent shock as they saw the Chief flee the room with speed that far exceeded what they thought her weary form could muster, the doors flying open with a resounding *Bang* as they collided with the walls for a moment before closing once more.

Once the echoes of the doors banging open had died down, there came forth an oppressive silence that suffocated all those present to such an extent that none dared to even breathe, indeed they dared not to even move as the sound of water splashing broke the silence.

Coquelic slowly rose from the pool that she had been flung into, her white lingerie soaked through such that all was visible to the naked eye, from the mound of her sex to even the pink of her areola and nipples were visible if one were to focus, her poppy ornament was resting lower on her damp hair than it once was, and said hair hung over her head like a wet curtain of white.

Slowly, and with a visible tremble to her movement, Coquelic lifted up her hand and brushed her hair to the side, delicately tucking it behind her ears and revealing a scene that had the younger members fleeing with as much speed as they could, even the elder members found themselves torn between fleeing into cover or remaining where they were in hopes of being ignored by the threat before them.

For there, upon the Poppy of the Garden’s face was a smile, a wide and beautiful thing that showed off her white teeth and sharp canines, and yet such menace was there radiating from that expression that none could bring themselves to breathe once they gazed upon it, least of all when they took notice of their Mentor’s eyes being ever so gently closed as her body trembled in incandescent fury.

“My darling Flowers,” the words were spoken as softly and delicately as a petal blowing in a breeze, so delicate and gentle that if one were not in possession of senses as heightened as those of the Flowers, they would be unable to register but the faintest of exhales.

There was a brief pause, as a stillness before a storm, the faint breath of their beloved Mentor that of the first breeze of what would soon become a hurricane, the gentle caress that carried upon it the aroma of death and destruction soon to be made reality as nature unleashed its wrath.

And then the stillness vanished as the storm broke.

Not with a bang, nor with a boom came forth the storm, no, instead its arrival was heralded by red eyes opening as twin scarlet stars as there once more came forth that gentle voice, though now it came not as petals in a breeze, but as the breeze of death itself.

“Get her.”

The doors were once more flung open as the Garden vanished through them in blurs that the naked eye could not track, their Mentor joining them after, in a blur of movement to fast for the eye to track, she grabbed a dry robe of a darker color and threw it over her drenched attire, the process taking her not but a few seconds before she joined her Flowers in the hunt.

Line Break

It said a great deal that this was not the craziest idea that Persephone had ever had.

Indeed, compared to facing down Corpseborn armed with nothing but her Potestats, Shackles, that she was barely skilled with at the time, and two Sinners that had no reason being on the battlefield at all and instead should have been in a classroom or bundled up in their rooms, throwing someone into a pool was actually relatively tame.

That the ‘someone’ in question was the Mentor of the Garden and one of the most lethal S-Rank Sinners in all of Dis, especially given the effectiveness of the most recent treatments in regards to her mania, was where the madness of this idea came from.

In her own defense however, she was not particularly well known for her ideas being what one would refer to as sane on a good day, and when one factored in that she had been too busy to do anything other than binge on caffeine and crash when it ran out for several days as she coped with stress levels that rivaled the mania levels of a Black Ring, it was really no surprise that she would wind up in a situation like this.

Granted, at least a small portion of responsibility had to be laid at the feet of Dr. Iron, as if she had not been griping to Anne about how Coquelic had been neglecting exercising in favor of lounging around in her room, then the idea would not have come to her.

Of course, the fact that she wanted to get some manner of revenge on Conquelic for her having put a collar that read ‘Property of The Garden: Hush Do Not Touch,’ that she had been unable to remove for several days, alongside of the rather sizable amount of marks that had been left on her just before an important meeting, was likewise a factor into her decision.

Granted she was also just feeling like fucking with the Garden a bit before they actually got to fucking.

With a shake of her head, Persephone jolted herself from her thoughts as she quickly dived into a hallway, whirling about on her heel to fling open a door to temporarily bar her pursuers path, an indignant squawk echoing behind her as someone rammed into the door.

Seeing the hallways splitting in 2 ahead of her, Persephone quickly darted down the right path, the sign reading ‘Common Area’ giving her an idea, one that very soon proved to make many more members of the Garden let out yelps and cries of indignation and pain, some even ceasing the chase for a few moments as they tried to ease the aches that overwhelmed them.

The cause?

Persephone leading them straight into a field of building blocks, well known for the pain stepping on them caused, that Oliver and Letta were using to build houses for their plush animals, the pair barely having time to blink as the Chief kicked over one of the containers of blocks they had asked KawaKawa to bring them, just as she leaped over another one, whirling about to kick it over as well, before she dashed out the open door, nearly bowling over a returning KawaKawa in the process.

The trio paused for just a second before the door was flung open and the room filled with not only colored blurs and the scent of flowers, but also cries and howls of indignation that were joined with promises of vengeance as the Flowers continued their chase.

Though there were a few Flowers that broke off, pausing the hunt to help clear the way for the rest of their fellows and their Mentor to spare them the pain they went through, said Mentor and their fellows offering them respectful nods that none but they could see as they tore through the room a split second later.

Yet those that managed to avoid the hell of the building blocks were not spared the next torment the Chief had in store for them, for they had barely turned the corner in their pursuit when they noticed that the sprinklers were active in the hallway.

High speed movement met with slick floors and walls in a terrific display of chaos as several younger members were sent spiraling across the floor in indignant heaps, picking themselves up with curses grumbled under their breath as they tried to regain their footing and resume the chase, some of their senior fellowship causing to assist them in their efforts.

Most found themselves hauled to their feet by a blur of white as their Mentor seized their hands and lifted them to their feet faster than they could blink one after the other, never once breaking her own momentum as the chase soon resumed in full.

The next obstacle in their chase soon revealed itself, for now the hallway led to a storage area for recreational goods for the various Common Room and such that filled the prison, boxes and crates piled high with empty pallets resting against them, the towers casting ominous shadows under the flickering lights.

Under normal circumstances, this would be a playground for assassins.

However, with the Chief dodging and weaving between towers of crates and boxes, all while slamming pallets down behind her and occasionally knocking over the less fragile items, such as a tower of surplus pillows used during movie nights, on her pursuers, it soon became a nightmare.

And then several members had the brilliant idea of leaping atop the boxes and crates, trying to pounce down on their prey like a cat would a mouse, only to encounter another issue, that being that not all of the towers were exactly stable and thus it soon became a game of trying not to cause a domino effect that would take out both sides as they had to pause or stop the towers before they could fall before they rejoined the chase.

How long they spent dodging pallets and falling towers, or digging their fellows out of piles of stuffed animals and pillows, they had no true way of knowing, only that at some point the speakers had come alive with an announcement that echoed across the Prison.

“To all personnel, this is Adjutant Nightingale, please be advised that the Chief is currently engaged in a pursuit with the members of the Garden. While I have no knowledge of how this chase occurred, it is safe to assume that she has done something to warrant this chase. That said, please do not interfere in the ongoing pursuit and allow for nature to run its course.”

Persephone’s cry of ‘Traitor’ as she ducked into a slide under a tower before bolting out the door, was soon drowned out by the sound of what seemed to be someone laughing hysterically over the intercoms.

Said laughter soon growing to near hysterical levels as they arrived in the hallways near what the sinners and Staff had come to call the Bazaar, a makeshift marketplace ran by Sinners and staff alike, with lifts allowing for one to traverse to the upper layers and the multicolored tents and stalls, it seemed as though a miniature version of the Drifter’s Camp had been remade within the Prison.

Despite what one would think, Persephone had not been the one to create the sprawling marketplace, made of renovated cells converted to stores and tents, instead it seemed to have simply cropped up overnight at the hands of Sinners and staff alike, and with so many high profile Sinners backing it, along with her own boss, Persephone had allowed it to continue to exist, the place growing into what it was today.

And now the bustling marketplace found a storm sweeping through it.

Sinners and staff alike paused in what they were doing, both as a result of the message over the intercoms and as they saw the Chief run as though a legion of the Apostles of Ashes were on their heels, dodging and weaving around the various stalls and carts that some Sinners had set up as their own businesses and the Sinners and staff themselves in their flight.

As she deftly spun the dumbfounded form of Oak Casket, who had been talking to Dudu as they enjoyed some kebabs that had been made by one of their fellow Sinners but a moment earlier, and placing her in the path of the storm as Persephone plucked the kebab from Oak’s hand as she continued her flight.

The lady of the Romanesque Hall had barely had time to look at Dudu, her mouth opening to ask just what it was that had just occurred, before she found herself watching as blurs passed her by, the smell of flowers enveloping her alongside of the yelps of the stall owner as he found many of his kebabs plucked from him by the group, though a violet colored blur at least left him some Discoins to cover the kebabs.

Slowly blinking, Oak turned to look at Dudu and once more began to open her mouth to speak, only for a blur of white to race past her, seizing a kebab for herself and leaving some Discoins of her own, as the trio of the stall owner, Oak, and Dudu simply silently blinked at the scene for a moment before Oak reached out and plucked the last kebab for herself, the owner simply allowing her to as he tried to process just what had happened.

Soon they were joined in their confusion by Adela, who had been walking to her salon with Crache trailing behind her, or rather Crache was being dragged by Raven who was lecturing her in regards to how her hair was a mess of split ends and tangles due to her avoiding the Salon for so long.

That Crache had yet to slip away via her shadow manipulation was of course in no way related to the promise of a special new doll that the Bird Brained Journalist of Rustfire had made by Garofano especially for her.

Of course not, she simply had nothing else to do at the moment and wanted to get the bird brain off her case, not because she wanted a doll of-

“Sorry!”

“Wha-”

The trio had barely had time to register the familiar voice of Persephone apologizing for something, Crache having barely opened her mouth to ask what was going on, before she barreled through where they had been standing a moment ago nearly bowling them over had they not leapt out to the sides Crache pulling Raven down and onto the ground with her while Adela remained standing.

Crache found herself turning to look at Raven and Adela, the three sharing an open mouthed look of confusion for a moment before they found themselves swarmed by a blur of colors and scents, one of which passed by Crache close enough for a voice to fleetingly whisper into her ear-

“I hope you like the doll.”

Before they passed them by completely in their pursuit.

For a moment the three simply looked in the direction that the fleeting blurs and the chief had gone, before Adela managed to regain her composure and help the pair to their feet, softly murmuring under her breath as she faced the direction the storm had gone.

“I believe we now know what the announcement was about…Miss Inspector, what did you do this time?”

The thought of simply stealing the doll and returning to her room was more tempting than ever to Crache at that moment…though the idea of following along and watching the chaos was also tempting.

Of course, the bird had to start dragging her again as she mumbled under her breath about the articles she was going to be penning later on.

She really should have just stolen the damn doll.

And why could she hear someone eating popcorn over the intercoms!?

In The Command Center

Of course she had no way of knowing that the command center of the bureau was currently watching the scene of the chief blitzing across the bazaar with the Garden in hot pursuit, several sinners that had been nearby doing various tasks having dropped in to watch the show as well.

Nightingale had her face in her palms as she peaked through her fingers at the scene of her superior, watching as she ducked over a stand that was selling records and tapes of bands both current and long passed, Joan and Peggy diving to the sides as the Chief nearly bowled into them in her mad dash.

The pair had barely gotten to their feet before they had to dive back down for cover as the Garden passed over them, Peggy having stood to start yelling at them before a white blur seemed to leap atop her shoulders and then launch off them and over the stall, sending the rapper sprawling back onto the ground in the process.

Snickers and outright laughter rang through the room at the scene, said laughter only growing as the Chief’s next stunt was to seize Hella, who had been arguing with EMP over something trivial while Ninety-Nine watched on as she munched on a slice of watermelon, and then toss the pipe wielding regenerator in the direction of the Garden.

That she had the audacity to say “Go get the Hella, Ninety-Nine,” as though the now currently screaming Sinner was a stick and the dumbfounded berserker was a dog only furthered the laughter, especially when said berserker indeed charged after her sun, forcing the Garden to part like the Red Sea so as to avoid being trampled by her.

Hella’s indignant scream was drowned out by the laughter that echoed within the Command Center, granted that was not the only sound that drowned out the screech, as there was also-

*Crunch*

Nightingale let out a low groan as she turned her head to see the form of Shalom calmly sitting in a chair and watching the screen, a small bowl of popcorn resting on her lap that she was snacking on as she watched the screen with rapt attention.

Where she had obtained it, Nightingale had no idea, though she suspected the form of Rahu, who was standing behind Shalom, was at least partly to blame for it, though it could have likewise been Faye, who was also busy cackling with delight as Persephone pulled off a surprising feat of acrobatics by leaping off one of the platform and landing on the one across from it, tucking into a roll that she soon sprung up from to resume her sprint.

“You have to admit,” came the amused voice of Langley, who had taken a seat and was watching the show that was playing out on the screen as well, “the rookie has some decent moves.”

The spider chuckled to herself as she saw said Rookie make another dash for the edge of the platform, this time latching onto a pipe and sliding down it, launching herself off when she reached the base and seizing onto another one that she dropped down from and onto the edge of another platform that she dropped from and onto the one below it, quickly bolting once more.

“Do we know what she did to get the Garden after her like this?” Cinnabar asked from where she was standing beside Nightingale, seemingly trying to avoid looking directly at the screen for longer than a few moments as she tried to maintain her own professional persona and not give in to the desire to either laugh at her superior’s antics or go and assist her in escaping the Storm pursuing her.

“Not at the moment, no. But knowing her it had to be something that warrants this.” Nightingale said in answer, sighing at the end as she saw Persephone race through a tent where Serpent had been putting on a performance, emerging from the other end a second later with a rather large snake sticking its head out of the opening as if to curse at her before it turned back around.

That said movement coincided with several of the Garden’s Flowers lunging out of other openings in the tent or making their own as they broke off from the hunt and picked up the pace until they were certain they were away from the main tent before they returned to the chase, was surely neither here nor there.

“Should I go and help the Chief?” Came the ever so calm voice of Hecate, the young woman having found herself stopped from aiding her Chief previously by Nightingale, the Adjutant claiming that the Chief needed to learn her lesson.

Though she did not understand what the lesson was and why it involved the Chief being chased, she had been told it was for the Chief’s own good and she had been barred from leaving when she tried earlier, and as such resolved herself to simply watching the screen and waiting to see if she would be needed.

Though perhaps now was her chance to be of use and earn praise from the Chief and perhaps even a head-

“No, she made her bed, let her lie in it.” Langley said from where she was sitting, with Nightingale and Shalom voicing their own agreements soon thereafter, the words making Hecate turn her gaze downwards as she let out a quiet “oh,” before she found herself feeling a hand patting her head.

Blinking in confusion, even as she enjoyed the action though it did not come from her Chief, she looked up to see Zoya smiling down at her, the Wolf Of Syndicate ruffling her hair a bit more before she lifted her hand up and pulled the smaller sinner against her with a one armed embrace, Hecate silently enjoying the contact as Zoya took in the scene on the screen.

“The twig’s detective,” Shalom did not deign to respond to the nickname with anything but a faux smile, “managed to get in touch with her lover in the Garden,” Zoya continued as she moved into the room, guiding Hecate to sit beside her as she took a seat, resting her boots on the desk in front of her, much to Nightingale’s annoyance.

“Apparently the Chief decided to have some fun by tossing their boss into a pool and then bolting, the only reason she was able to learn that is because her girl was one of the ones in charge of herding their brats.” Zoya finished, her lips forming into an amused grin as she saw the way everyone in the room went still, several soon giving way to chuckles and outright laughter as others, such as Nightingale, facepalmed even harder.

The sight of Shalom freezing in place, a piece of popcorn falling from her hand and onto her dress as Rahu turned her head to the side, her shoulders shaking as she fought the urge to laugh, was something Zoya would recall for years to come.

The dumbfounded look Hecate was giving her would be equally as treasured.

“Why Persphone…just…why?” Nightingale managed to choke out as Langley succumbed to laughter, throwing her head back and laughing with delight, her hat almost slipping onto the ground had Hecate not caught it for her and placed it back on her head.

Yet Zoya soon found her own laughter interrupted as she heard Shalom, having let out a few delicate chuckles of her own as she sorted her thoughts, speak up towards her, the woman’s eyes as cold an iced razor blade as they met her own.

“And why is it that Christina would be in contact with you?” The joviality in the room, even with the scene of the Chief spilling several buckets of paint that Lisa was using as she made a painting of the bazaar, and her promptly dodging a bucket the painter had thrown at her as McQueen tried to restrain her, failed to stifle the intensity of the sudden query, an intense bubble forming around them as they met each others gazes, the rest, bar a few, still lost in humorous

That Rahu had ceased her battle with laughter in favor of turning an inquisitive stare towards her as well, her hands clenching ever so slightly as she eyed the wolf, only further heightened the tension in their small bubble.

Yet instead of displaying any form of unease, Zoya instead smirked at the former Hush and her bodyguard, casually reclining in the chair as she turned her gaze to the screen, her smile widening as she saw the chief call out to Horo and have her toss her back on to one of the upper platforms of the bazaar, the lack of an answer making Shalom and Rahu narrow their eyes at her before she at last replied.

“Well, your little detective wanted some advice on how to treat her girlfriend, and decided that I was a better source of it than you. After all, I don’t need a special power to get someone in my bed.” Zoya could not stop her smile from growing as she saw Shalom tense and narrow her gaze at her.

For a moment, there was silence as the former Hush of Paradeisos and the Wolf of Syndicate met each others gazes, before at last Shalom offered a faux smile once again, her frigid gaze developing a hint of something that Zoya could not name as she turned back to the screen, speaking so softly Zoya was certain only her and Rahu could hear it, Hecate likely being unable to as she fought to keep Langley from falling from her chair.

“Oh Chris, you and I are going to need to have a chat aren’t we.” Her words, made Zoya feel slightly worried for the detective, though she soon found her attention shifting back to the screen as she saw the Chief-

Both the Wolf and the Hush joined the Spider and the Adjutant, along with all of the others present within the Command Center, in gaping at the screen, Hecate being stopped but by Nightingale and Langley having firms grips on her shoulders as they all saw the scene of-

The Bazaar.

It is not everyday a chance like this comes, a moment in time where one is permitted to witness one of the most sublime and wondrous scenes that the natural world has to offer, especially within a jungle of concrete and steel.

Already those that had gathered to watch the scene in awe had begun to record and make note of this momentous occasion, for they were among the most privileged and honored few that were permitted to see this magnificent sight before them.

And such a scene it was!

For there before their eyes was a species of Homo Sapiens that most did not believe to exist, indeed there was before them a breathtaking view of a Wild Woman of Minos, her hair blowing backwards as she swung across a great ravine upon a length of colored cloth, her lips parted as she gave voice to the mating cry of her people.

“Fuck!Fuck!Fuck!Fuck!Fuck!Fuck!Fuck!Fuck!”

Ah, such a wondrous sound it was!

Indeed, she continued her mating cries even as she let go of the length of cloth and landed on the platform below her, tucking into a roll and springing up into a sprint as she bolted down a nearby hallway, many cheering her display of acrobatics as her mates echoed her cries and began finding ways down to pursue her.

Though a white blur simply leaped across the divide and mimicked Persephone’s earlier movements of tucking into a roll before springing up and resuming the chase, her fellows already on her heels.

Ah, the wonders of nature.

At the same moment as the gathered Sinners and staff were ruminating on the wondrous sight they had just been witness to, Persephone had barely rounded one of the corners when she noted the form of Hamel walking towards her.

Seemingly lost in her own world, as was the norm for the first recorded sinner, though her eyes gained a light to them as she beheld the chief racing towards her, though it was soon swallowed by confusion as Persephone passed her by, only managed to give voice to-

“Sorry Hamel, I’ll dance with you later, have to run right now bye!”

Before she resumed her mad sprint.

The first recorded sinner simply blinking in confusion as she saw the chief continue racing down the hallway, her keen ears registering the sound of Lynn and Deren letting out twin yelps as they were almost bowled over as they left the room they had been taking her pictures in, before the noise was eclipsed as a storm of colors and flowery fragrances enveloped her.

For a moment she simply stood there and tried to process what she had seen, only to shake her head as she decided to head off to the cafeteria, her curiosity drowned out by the promise of ice cream that Deren had made her.

Already she could hear the director and the photographer hurrying to catch up with her, the pair's conversation on what was going on was drowned out by her own thoughts on whether she should try a new flavor today or not.

A rather loud crash that echoed from a distant corridor jolted her for but a moment, long enough for her to silently pray that her dance partner would survive whatever it was that they had brought down upon themselves this time before she resumed her trek.

Said crash having originated from the Chief having toppled over a stack of boxes to try and buy herself some time, quickly darting through a side door and taking off at a sprint down another hallway, though soon she found herself stopping as she almost ran headfirst into a wall.

Eyes widening, Persephone began to look around for any potential escape routes that she could find, only to be met with nothing but smooth walls, and a growing smell of flowers.

“Well…shit.” Persephone mumbled under her breath, her worries amplified as a reply echoed down the corridor in the form of-

“Indeed, my dear little Chief.”

Gulping slightly, she turned to see the form of Coquelic standing at the end of the hallway, smiling at her as she began to advance towards her, the lights and her hair casting her face in shadows as she advanced.

Beyond her, Persephone noticed the Garden having cut off any potential retreat, many looking winded, many more looking irritated at her due to her stunts, and some were looking at her with what could best be described as a mixture of satisfaction at catching her, and pity at what was to come as Coquelic seized her by the collar of her shirt and pulled her to meet her gaze as she leaned in.

“Do you have anything you want to say my dear Flower?” Coquelic purred to her, lips delicately ghosting her ear for but a second before she pulled back to meet her gaze, her hands shifting such that one rested on her cheek and the other on her neck, scarlet eyes boring into hers for several moments as she patiently awaited her reply, nails lightly digging into her skin as the Mentor thrummed her fingers against her neck as she awaited her reply.

Taking a moment to gather herself and steel her resolve, the Chief of Minos offered Coquelic her best smile as she wrapped her arms around her and gave her a tight hug as she leaned in to place her lips against her ear as she whispered to her.

“Before you punish me, I have one thing to say,” She breathed, sin coating her voice near the end, her smile softening as she felt the way Coquelic relaxed and leaned into her embrace on instinct, the scent of sweat and the floral of a flowers whose name it seemed none knew that oft clung to the Chief gracing the Mentor as she waited for her to continue.

“You always look so beautiful when you are soaking wet. I wonder, are you still wet for me?” Her words made the Flowers gape at her, with Sumire placing her face in her palms as Garofano began to chuckle, both them and their fellows wearing the beginnings of a blush on their faces as they silently agreed with Persephone’s words.

For a moment there was silence, and then it died as Coquelic wordlessly tightened her grip on the Chief, leaning in to let her lips ghost against her ear once more as she spoke aloud for all to hear in a faux whisper.

“Oh my dear, I hope your schedule is clear for…hmmm…what do you all say, the next 4 days or so sound good?” Her words made Persephone gulp slightly, as she saw the gleam that came alight in the eyes of each of the Flowers, each of them sharing a silent conversation with each other in glances before Garofano spoke up on their behalf.

“Let’s make it an even week, shall we Mentor? After all, our dear Chief is going to be a very busy bee and is going to need quite the time to recover.” The smile she wore was as sin coated as the words that flowed from her lips, her pupils were blown as idea after idea played through her mind, each one more delicious than the last.

Persephone felt herself pale slightly when she saw the way Garofano licked her lips as she eyed her, Sumire blushing scarlet next to her as her own thoughts began to run wild as well, with Gekkabijin giving voice to the Flowers thoughts as they began to enclose around her.

“Don’t worry Chief, we’ll be gentle…for now.”

The laughter of the Flowers drowned out Persephone’s cries for mercy as she was spirited away to the Garden’s chambers once more, not to emerge for many a long day, though at the very least, she was able to insure that herself and Coquelic got the exercise they needed.

Something that was readily apparent when she was found tucked into her bed by Nightingale, her freshly sewn clothes resting on top of her dresser with intricate designs of various flowers stitched into them alongside of the repair work needed to make them wearable once more after the Garden had torn them from her form.

Of course, it was not just flowers that were stitched into the clothes, for there, sewn into the collar of her shirt and again into the rear of her pants, was something that made Nightingale sigh upon seeing them as she put the clothes up for Persephone.

The stitching that elicited the response?

“Property of The Garden.”

Upon learning of said writing Langley managed to make a not so small amount of discoins, enough to fill her hat near to the brim, as a result of several bets she had made in the Command Center, a more than fitting final blessing to mark the end of the great Garden Chase of the MBCC.

Line Break

A low sigh left Christina’s lips as she entered her room, one hand beginning to search for her lightswitch as the other began to pull her deerstalker hat from her head and rest it on a-

“Hello Chris.”

Christina would swear to her final breath that she had not screamed when the voice suddenly cut through the gloom and caressed her ears, she had merely released a sound of surprise at the shock of hearing the oh so familiar voice echo from within her room.

Gulping as she felt her blood begin to run cold, Christina turned to where the voice had come from, hearing the sudden *Click* of a lamp being turned on, the light illuminated the form of Shalom sitting in a chair beside her desk, the detective's spare coat resting on her lap as Shalom’s own coat was draped over her shoulders.

Now, while the sight of shalom being in her quarters was already cause for slight concern in the detective, it was the gleam in her eyes that made her truly certain that this was not going to be a pleasant experience for her, something that was further cemented as she felt the towering form of Rahu rest her hand on her shoulder from behind her, somehow having snuck up on her without her knowledge.

“I believe we need to have a little chat about your choice in sources of advice for dating, now don’t we my dear detective?”

It was a faux question, the smile that did not quite reach her eyes and the way she was looking at her told her all she needed to know, and yet still the valiant detective was not one to go down without a fight, and so she summoned forth her resolve and courageously spoke aloud-

“Thistle was the one to make the claim about you needing to use your power on people to make them fall in love with you, and she was also the one to recommend we go to someone else like Zoya for advice since neither of us really know anything about this, and she was also the one who suggested we go to those with more experience before we try anything and-”

Her valiant efforts to throw her lover under the bus and spare herself a lecture were rewarded with a low chuckle from Shalom, the former Hush patting her lap as she smiled at Christina, Rahu letting go of her shoulder and allowing for her to move to sit on the ground beside Shalom and rest her head on her lap, silently accepting her fate.

“Oh I know my dear, she and I are going to have a conversation later on regarding the matter, but for now,” Shalom delicately lifted Christina’s head to where their eyes could meet, before she continued, “We are going to have a conversation about courtship and the necessity of obtaining said information from a trusted and reliable source.”

Christina knew she was doomed, especially when she saw Shalom lift up her tablet and turn it so that they could both face it, the image depicted on it making her squeak and Rahu choke out a yelp of her own.

“Let’s start with the ins and outs of flirting shall we? We will be using Rahu and myself as the study material so please pay close attention Chris, there will be a test afterwards.” As though her words had not made her pale and Rahu blush enough, the way she looked over her shoulder at her shadow covered bed, smiling as she called out-

“That goes for you as well my dear Thistle, I need to know you can be trusted with My Detective, after all.”

Her heart now beginning to hammer in her chest and her blood running as frigid as the arctic, Christina turned to look beyond Shalom, and realized that there, bound on her bed like a trussed up turkey, was her girlfriend.

The same girlfriend she had just thrown under a bus to try and evade this lecture.

‘Well…I’m fucked.’ The detective thought to herself, only for her thoughts to seemingly be read by the woman whose lap her head was resting on as she spoke up with that same gentle and loving voice that Chris had come to cherish over their time together as she carded her fingers through her hair.

“We will cover proper and safe sexual intercourse and aftercare at a later date my dear,” Rahu let out a yelp of shock at the same time Chris and thistle did the same, well as much of a yelp as one with a gag shaped like an apple could in Thistle’s case.

That Shalom looked down at her and, with a wondrous smile on her face, proceeded to tell her, “Oh, and I will be there to supervise you two during that practical exam as well Chris, Rahu will be there as well so don’t worry. I have already planned out a demonstration for you, perhaps I will be able to coerce Coquelic into assisting with it as well come that time…hmmm…” Shalom trailed off for a moment, perhaps unaware or uncaring of the sanguine blush adorning the faces of the other women in the room.

“Now then, let’s start with ‘Establishing a Dialogue for Romance’ shall we?” Shalom smiled again as she resumed stroking Chris’s hair as though she was an extremely terrified kitten, as she pressed the play button on a video of her and Rahu.

Silently, Chris cursed the Wolf of Syndicate, and she knew that Thistle shared her sentiments, perhaps Rahu did as well given the atomic blush she wore and the way she seemed to be doing her damndest to blend in with the shadows and avoid starting at the terminal in Shalom’s hands.

As the video began to play, Chris knew that she was in for a long and painful ride, but at least she would not be suffering alone.

Fin

The English name for the Gekkabajin flower that is Gekka’s namesake.

Well my friends, this makes it 3 acts this play of ours has been going on for, each relatively short by our standards…so how about we spice things up a bit with the next chapter eh?

It will likely take quite a while for us to complete it, and for that we apologize, but we hope to see you all there when it comes time for the curtain to rise on that part of the story.

With all of that said, we would like to give a huge shoutout to JimBoReee on Ao3 for their wonderful opinions and thoughts on this chapter, they are as always a godsend and we encourage you all to go and take a look at their works when you get the chance.

Till next time, stay safe and take care.

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larkspyrr · 1 year ago

Text

chapter ii — tell yourself it's easy (wc. 4.8k)

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reblogs are appreciated!

By the time the dance had ended, you were out of breath, though not from exertion. You couldn't remember the last time you'd felt so alive.

The dance itself was exhilarating. The ebb and flow of the string quartet as they brushed a vivid painting upon a canvas of bars; drawn in, pushed away, drawn back, spun in place like a marionette, round and round the glittering floor of a ballroom that called the night its home, the burning focus of a hundred curious eyes. The bait for a nation's attention; you felt like Coppelia herself. But no one could see the inner workings of your circuitry, the hidden ticking and spinning and clicking of gears that only you and the duke were privy to, concealed between the curtains of your finery, tucked safely in the sparse inches separating your pounding heart from his own.

You had been pleasantly surprised by his dexterity as a dancer; you couldn't be sure how he'd found the time or resources at the bottom of the sea, but clearly he'd had at least some level of practice. You had certainly had partners with more skill and finesse, but the duke had surpassed your expectations, even if they had admittedly been laughably low; within throwing distance of his fortress. Still, credit where credit was due. He had put on a remarkable performance for someone so new to the crushing expectations placed upon the titled by the court.

In the hush of songs ended, his hand still rested loosely on the small of your back, his own breathing elevated to match yours. You once again registered a chill where your fingers braced against the expanse of his broad shoulder.

The moment thrummed with electricity, a million different thoughts and feelings rattling around inside your skull.

Wriothesley's eyes were bright as he pulled you in so he could whisper, the words fanning across your ear. "Beautifully done. I saw no fewer than three different kameras focused solely on you and me."

Your heart slammed against your chest as you moved to look for the reporters, but a dip of the duke's head stopped you, his icy gaze persistent on your own, demanding your attention.

"Don't look away just yet," he said with a smile far too warm for his words. Your foreheads were nearly close enough to be touching. "We need them to think we are absolutely smitten. Can't afford to squander this opportunity by letting our eyes wander."

You scoffed lightly, but played along. "And miss out on the view of our resounding success?"

He chuckled. "Is the view before you not good enough?"

You tilted your head, letting your face wrinkle in faux confusion. "Are you asking me if your face is as appealing to me as the promise of my freedom?"

"Well, when you put it that way," he sighed. "Humor me?"

You allowed your warmest smile to light your face. The people were watching, after all. His throat bobbed, his eyes flicked down once to your lips before meeting your eyes once more. Nice touch.

You made sure his eyes remained only on you as you gave him a long, hard look, observing his mussed hair, the way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled, the smallest of dimples in his left cheek. The line of his neck, his broad shoulders, his narrow waist. He had a strong frame overall, lithe but powerful. An attractive nose, a knife-sharp jaw. Vivid blue eyes with more depth than the Fontemer itself.

You suppressed an appreciative hum. He truly was a very handsome man.

"Humor you?" you mused, returning the favor as you leaned inward and pressed the corner of your mouth against his ear, the cool metal of one of his earrings brushing against your chin. You could feel more than see the duke holding his breath; a hand flex at your back. You smirked, the curve of your cheek pressing soundly against his. "Not a chance, Your Grace."

He exhaled with a small laugh as you withdrew. The other dancers were walking towards the outer boundary of the Suite, the quartet tucking their violins back into embossed cases.

Wriothesley pulled back then, his hand dropping away from your waist. He barely left you enough time to feel the bite of the cool air on your biceps before he bowed, the very image of the perfect gentleman, and offered his arm once more.

"Shall we?" he asked, eyes glinting playfully.

You easily linked your arm in his own, resting your opposite, gloved hand daintily on his forearm. The debut performance was complete, and judging by the eyes that still lingered on your linked forms, a success. There was no simple way out now, and for all your years navigating the murky seas of the court, you couldn't be entirely sure what was just beyond the horizon. The future felt like a yawning chasm before you for the first time in your life.

Your fingers curled against his arm nervously despite your resistance. "What next?" you asked quietly.

"Shouldn’t you be the expert here?” he asked with a small smirk. “Next, you introduce me to my future father-in-law."

You nodded in agreement, burying your nerves, glad to have a new mission; a next step to ground yourself in the face of your uncertainty. Your eyes scanned the crowd, eventually falling on a familiar form. "Ah, there he is." You grimaced. "Speaking with Lord Thibeault."

Wriothesley grunted, unamused. "Wonderful," he intoned.

You smiled at his evident distaste; the falter in his bravado. You understood. Thibeault had that effect on people.

"It is indeed," you said coolly. You shot him an evil little grin. "Let's go ruin his damned night."

Wriothesley snorted in surprised laughter. He matched your expression, pulling you closer to his side. "Oh, you and I are going to get along."

You led him over to the spot your father stood by the edge of the gardens, having what appeared to be a passably polite conversation with a tall, dour man — Lord Thibeault. He was scowling, though that was hardly an unusual occurrence. Famed for nought but his name and his legendary attitude problem, you were certain that if you ever saw the bastard smile, you'd faint from shock on the spot. Even in your imagination, the sight was deeply upsetting.

You came to a stop before them and two sets of eyes turned to you and your companion: one friendly, one hostile.

“Father,” you began, smiling nervously. “Allow me to introduce you to —”

"Your Grace," your father interrupted suddenly with a shallow bow, as low as his back would allow. You sighed ruefully, watching him pull himself back up straight with no small effort. He coughed. "I don’t believe I've had the pleasure," he continued, blissfully unhindered. "It’s an honor to meet you."

"The honor is all mine, my lord," said Wriothesley with his own bow. "I’ve been looking forward to meeting the man who raised such a delightful woman."

Your father laughed and Lord Thibeault glowered as you indignantly elbowed Wriothesley in the rib, hoping the motion went unnoticed to all but the duke. You could hear him suppress a small oof, tensing briefly, and fought back a triumphant smile.

"I am rather fond of her as well," your father said, still chuckling. He cleared his throat roughly. "...Spirited though she may be."

"Oh, but I've noticed," said the duke, the amusement clear in his voice. "It's rather what drew me to her in the first place."

"A match made in Celestia!" your father said merrily, cheeks flushed with tipsy cheer, raising his champagne flute in a small toast. He clinked the glass against Thibeault's, the flutes ringing softly, before downing a concerningly large quantity of champagne in one go, grinning all the while.

"So it seems," muttered Lord Thibeault with a deep frown, leaving his own flute still sparkling to the brim, untouched but for the slight tremor from the other man's unsolicited clink.

"Well, I'd threaten you to treat her right," continued your father once he'd finished his toast, lowering his now empty flute. "But I'm quite sure the last thing she'd need is an old codger like me were you to try anything. She is more than capable of handling herself. Nonetheless, consider this me doing my paternal duty."

"Of course, sir, and I believe it," Wriothesley said, voice low and earnest. "Still, allow me to assure you I'd sooner die than allow any harm to come to her. You have my word, on my honor as Duke."

Your father nodded, once, twice, satisfied. "Glad to hear it, boy. Er, Your Grace."

Wriothesley laughed good-naturedly. "Please, sir, there’s no need."

Your father nodded once more, slapping Wriothesley jovially on the shoulder before heading off to Archons-know-where, depositing his empty flute on a nearby ledge. "Enjoy the rest of your evening, you two", he called with a slight slur in his voice and a vague wave of his hand. He made no mention of Lord Thibeault’s evening.

Wriothesley turned to guide you away in a different direction, but was halted before either of you made it very far.

Lord Thibeault held Wriothesley’s forearm in a white-knuckled grip, said something to the duke too low for you to hear. Wriothesley smirked and you could see his lips move with his response as he turned toward the other man, obscuring your view of their exchange, to your frustration.

You had been pulled away by a young woman with a wide, kind smile, enthusing about your turn on the Icewind Suite while you listened amicably, nodding at all the right times, when a hand gently took your elbow once more. You were unsurprised to find the duke at your side yet again, but his smile had shifted now, radiating unhappiness; weary, forced. His face was nearly colorless. Your brow furrowed in concern.

You wondered what Lord Thibeault might have said to put a crack in his polished facade like that.

"My lady?" he prompted with an apologetic nod to the young woman, who curtsied graciously and excused herself. He wordlessly led you away to the opposite side of the courtyard. His arm felt tense where you had your own curled around it.

You splayed your fingers against the fabric of his sleeve, pressing down lightly in a gesture you hoped was reassuring. "Everything alright?" you asked quietly, leaning in so as not to be overheard by the people milling around you.

He looked at you and sighed, lip pulling up wryly at one corner. "Never better."

He continued to guide you away, ever away, and you allowed it. But you couldn’t help but feel like he was fleeing.

Wriothesley had been feeling quite proud of himself.

He hadn't been nervous to attend the ball — at least, no one would ever catch him admitting it. He could be forgiven for a little bit of trepidation when facing an enemy he'd never encountered before on unfamiliar grounds. He'd have taken a prison riot over a ball at the opera any day.

And yet, when he had seen you standing there — an unexpected-but-endearing cocktail of boredom and resentment on your face, he couldn't help but go over and see what on earth could make such a lovely woman look so unhappy on such a beautiful evening.

His unsolicited, exuberant entourage merely offered him the perfect excuse. He loved finding strategic reasons for him to follow his whims, wherever they might lead him.

Truly, he had only been curious about you, at first. The thought that you two might be able to help each other did not strike him until you were in that garden, and you showed him a fragment of your reality, weary and vulnerable, not-quite-defeated... but getting there. And while he could sympathize with your plight, Wriothesley was nothing if not an opportunist. It was the reason he was able to get to a comfortable position in life at all. A position that was now being threatened — amongst other things.

He didn't think you'd go for his scheme — whether you were truly uninterested in keeping with the traditions of Fontainian society or just experiencing some fit of pique brought about by a lifetime of luxury and privilege, he cared very little. He didn't trust you, not by any means, but he didn't need to. He could always trust greed. You had something he wanted, and he had something you wanted, and he'd be lying if he said you weren't utterly fascinating and easy on the eyes to boot, so he could think of worse company to keep for his ruse. You'd be an entertaining diversion, if nothing else.

So when your eyes lit up with the first sign of tentative hopefulness and he realized he'd won you over, he felt your renewed vigor reflected in his own soul.

You really were quite something.

The dance had been yet another facet of you which had caught him by surprise, and not unpleasantly so — you were as elegant and graceful as any debutante should have been, yet the power and strength in your frame belied the whimsy of modern courtship rituals. You were at once commanding and formidable and dignified and breathtaking — and Wriothesley was enraptured. He understood in a blink the parallel you had drawn between a ballroom and a battlefield; he saw you embody it. Your shared dance was a clash of wills, a display of skill and dexterity, a middle ground between rivalry and harmony uniting two opposing forces, eternally in orbit of one another. Coppelia and Coppelius, forever engaged in a duel of the heart and mind, cold copper and searing magnetism.

He prided himself on his self-control, but he was a bit of a romantic at heart, and he allowed himself to be swept along for the ride.

He wondered, as the dance came to a close, if you might be as stirred as he was, but your expression betrayed nothing of your thoughts.

Some light banter, a call to action, and your eyes were roving his body, from the crown of his head to the heel of his boot. The smile that took your face was blinding, and he found himself imagining, just for a moment, what it might be like to kiss you. He was only a man, after all, and Cryo vision or not, his blood ran as hot as any other.

You had leaned in, far too close for comfort, all part of the show, but the breath he felt whisper against the shell of his ear was for him and him alone.

"Humor you? Not a chance, Your Grace."

He was doomed.

Your father was an aging, yet amicable man. Wriothesley had been worried, for a split second, that he might present a problem for his plans, especially if he was aware of the notorious duke's past life — and he was certainly old enough to have been around during the trial. It didn't take Wriothesley long to realize that this would not be the case, however, as the man was as easy-going as a Fontainian river. Almost suspiciously easy-going, but Wriothesley wouldn't look a gift Viscount in the mouth.

Lord Thibeault was not going to be nearly so simple an obstacle to surpass, and he confirmed this shortly thereafter, gripping Wriothesley's sleeve in a deceptively strong, unnervingly bony hand as Wriothesley turned to leave. Your eyes had lingered on the two of them curiously until getting distracted by another young woman who'd come barreling over from elsewhere, speaking to you animatedly with expressive hands, a flurry of nearly unintelligible delight.

Lord Thibeault's signature grimace had remained unchanged for as long as Wriothesley could remember; since he had been a boy. Likely longer. "Found your duchess already, have you, Your Grace?" Thibeault droned, voice slow and reedy. Like the buzzing of a wasp. "How fortuitous."

Wriothesley smirked despite himself, relishing in his small victory. "It was love at first sight, my lord," he said in a sickeningly saccharine tone he just knew would get under Thibeault's skin. He winked. "Rejoice! For it seems fairy tales are real after all."

If possible, the other man's expression darkened further and Wriothesley felt a pulse of dark glee. Thibeault leaned in, his upper lip curling, revealing a sliver of teeth. "You forget yourself, boy," he spat. "I was at your trial not so many years ago, when you were scarcely more than a dirty little whelp with blood still crusted under your fingernails. The Chief Justice might have done his best to bury the past beneath all your illustrious 'achievements' and 'contributions', but those of us who witnessed it will always remember, always." He leaned in further still, spearing Wriothesley with more hatred than he’d experienced since he was a child. Wriothesley held deathly still beneath its weight. "I know the sort of person you truly are. I know that you haven’t changed and never will. And I don't believe this display of yours with that rebellious little chit is the genuine article for one moment. This is just another ploy, another poorly-disguised grab for power, and I'm not going to let you get away with it."

Wriothesley yanked his arm free of the older man's death grip, straightening out his jacket. His vision pulsed icily against his shoulder, with rage, with the vestiges of a long-dead boy's fear.

He didn't know much about etiquette, it was true. But he imagined knocking a man in the twilight of his life flat on his ass at a ball in front of a sea of witnesses was probably poor form, no matter how much of a dickhead the man was. Wriothesley glanced back over at you. None the wiser, you smiled and responded to whatever the other girl was saying, radiant and disarming.

He cleared his throat, already turning away; from Lord Thibeault, from his judgment. From Wriothesley’s own history.

"Good day, Lord Thibeault."

He placed a hand, forcing himself to hold it as steady as he could manage, on your elbow to reclaim your attention and get as far away from there as possible. You turned to him easily, but your eyes tinged with worry when you caught his expression, so he fought to offer you a composed smile, and hoped it was good enough. You didn't look convinced.

The evening was winding down, and the next hour largely uneventful. When he wished you a good night and returned you to your father with a kiss on the back of your silk glove, he was more tired than he'd been in years.

Archons. He could use a cup of tea.

With each step towards your family home, an unnamed trepidation intensified. You could feel the pressure of eyes on you once again, yet this time, they felt hungry, expectant; not curious and appreciative like earlier in the night. Your skin crawled, knowing there was a storm waiting for you just beyond the approaching door. Onward you tread, chin held high and proud, body braced for the impending assault, as sure and unavoidable as nightfall.

The ambush happened as soon as you set foot in the foyer.

Shrill giggles pealed through the halls, descending on you like birds of prey on a dying animal. Hands gripped at either side of your dress, their owners as vibrant and exuberant as ever.

"What was it like? Love at first sight?" squealed Chloe.

You didn't bother asking how they knew. You were as aware as they were of the penchant the staff had for gossip. You had only hoped to beat the gossip to your door.

No such luck, apparently.

"Oh, all that and then some," you said placidly, brushing off her iron grip from your waist.

Chloe's liberated hands clutched at her chest in excitement and she giggled again, swooning dramatically. "Oh, a man dashing enough to win the heart of the maiden who had sworn off love, at long last! Who would believe it?"

You rolled your eyes.

"Did he sweep you off your feet? Is he handsome?" asked Sophie in a dreamy tone, eyes glazed and far away as she likely concocted an entire play in her mind about the evening you must have had. You wondered if it involved glass slippers.

"Yes, he did, and he is the most handsome man I've ever met," you intoned, tugging the left side of your dress delicately away from her as well.

"Was Gerard there?" Sophie asked eagerly.

"I didn't see him. I think he's still studying in Sumeru."

"Oh, forget Gerard," whined Chloe. "Tell me more about the duke! I've read so much about the Fortress of Meropide. Its history is absolutely fascinating —"

Your father laughed from behind the three of you, skirting past and allowing the butler to help him out of his jacket. "That's enough, girls, it's time for bed. You can interrogate your sister in the morning."

The other two girls groaned, the very picture of drama, but obediently made their way up the sweeping grand stairs to their respective rooms.

"You're telling me everything first thing!" Chloe yelled from somewhere down the corridor before the sound of two doors swinging shut echoed into the foyer.

While the noise had certainly lessened with their departure, there still remained the usual hustle and bustle of attendants unloading the carriage and other employees of the house completing their evening duties. None of them paid you any mind, a small luxury you appreciated after the night you'd had.

Your father made to retire to his chambers himself, but paused, several steps from the top of the staircase. The household butler stood just behind him, one hand held stealthily beneath the Viscount's elbow. Your father turned, a contented, slightly drunk smile on his face. He swayed slightly. "It warms an old man's heart to see you've finally found someone you like, dear. I feared it may never happen." He went still for a moment, coughing lightly; you waited, knowing him well enough to know he was not yet done speaking. "You deserve the kind of happiness your mother and I had. The duke had a rough start, but he seems like a kind, responsible man. I pray that you will be very happy together."

Your heart panged; it hurt you to deceive him — to know how badly he only wanted you to be happy and taken care of. You consoled yourself with the argument, weak though it was, that this was simply a roundabout way of doing just that. Even if he didn't know the full truth.

You smiled to the best of your ability. "He is, father. Thank you."

He continued his way up the stairs, turning away from you with a shake of his head, butler not far behind. "Though, shame on you, causing your poor old father such worry all these years," he said with a shaky, exaggerated sigh. You smiled. "Good night, dear."

"Good night, father."

He disappeared down the hallway leading to the primary bedchamber, but even then, as the rest of the staff slowly dispersed, you found yourself rooted in place. Frozen.

Your mind was a tempest; anxiety, excitement, hope, shame. Just this morning you had been losing your will, resigning yourself to the inevitability of securing an advantageous, loveless marriage for the good of your family, your dream forever yanked unfairly from your grasp. Just a mere few hours ago, that certainty had been evaporated by a mysterious man with a captivating gaze and an underhanded plot. A few well-placed lies and one dance later, your future no longer felt so sure or predictable.

It was at once exhilarating and terrifying.

"Miss?"

You jumped at the sudden voice, spinning to see your maid, Molly, standing dutifully at your shoulder, fingers knitted together in front of her. You hadn't noticed her approach. She looked at you with a concerned tilt to her eyes, ever the gentle soul. "Is everything okay?"

You smiled, already feeling the turbulence settle a bit at her calming presence. "I'm quite alright, Molly, thank you," you said softly. "Just been a very busy day. I should retire as well."

She smiled in return, looking somewhat reassured. "I imagine so, miss. Good night then." She bent a knee, dipping her head politely, before disappearing into staff quarters.

You allowed yourself to stand on the precipice for only one more moment before finally heading to bed yourself, content at last to let the day come to a close.

The weather was perfect, and the Fountain of Lucine seemed like an entirely different world without the hustle, bustle, and sparkle of the debutante ball. The waters were calm, the jets less vigorous. There were other people meandering across the grounds — couples hand-in-hand, tossing coins into the fountain in the hopes of a happy future; mothers, pushing along strollers with babbling infants inside, light blankets draped over to protect them from the sun's enthusiastic rays; children, playing noisily in the gardens, plucking the couples' coins from the fountain water when they thought no one was looking; Melusines of the Maurechaussee Phantom chatting happily with passers-by about anything and everything. The only music being played was composed, performed, and conducted by an orchestra of birds; the only dances staged by fields of radiant blooms in a warm summer breeze.

You much preferred the Fountain of Lucine like this. It was infinitely more real.

You walked, arm in arm with the duke, enjoying the picturesque day. You fought back a smile every time a pair of gawking eyes rested on the pair of you just a moment too long. Molly walked a respectable distance behind you, ever the considerate chaperone, doing her best not to look as though she were listening, though you were sure she could hear. There were few people you relied on the way you did her — your ruse was safe with her.

Everything was going according to plan. The paper yesterday was just as the duke had foretold — an all-inclusive coverage of the ball, with a special focus on the surprise pairing of the Duke of the Fortress of Meropide and the Viscount Vellerot's eldest daughter. You'd spent the day indoors at home, resting, but had all the chatter relayed to you by your excitable sisters — play-by-play, in excruciating detail, going over precisely everything you'd done the night before. As if they thought you might need reminding, you'd thought to yourself, smiling, fond and amused at their antics.

The next morning, when the Duke had knocked on your estate doors to invite you for a walk about the Fountain, you were surprised, but glad for the opportunity to touch base with him about the next steps of your plan. You quickly agreed, kissing your father on the cheek while he read the Steambird, leaving quickly with Molly in tow, a mumbled and absentminded 'have fun, dear,' called from behind you.

The duke hummed thoughtfully as you walked, eyes looking at something far in the distance. It was something, you had noticed, that he seemed to do when he was preoccupied.

"I have a proposition," he announced.

"Another?" You quirked a brow, lips pressed into a thin line. "You're just full of propositions, aren't you?"

"Yes," he said simply, his smile unsettlingly mischievous. "But you'll like this one, I promise."

You looked at him carefully. "I'm all ears."

"Come visit the Fortress of Meropide," he said. "Chaperoned, of course, but perhaps by someone you... fully trust. If you catch my meaning."

"Molly can be trusted," you said, looking over your shoulder at the woman in question. She kept pace behind you, looking warmly at a pair of children playing tag in the flowers, seemingly lost in thought. "But for what reason?"

"Well... we promised to help one another out, didn't we?" he said, raising his eyebrows playfully. "The Fortress has a Pankration Ring. We can do some training under the guise of an outing together, and then return to my office for tea. And, I suppose, to discuss things further, away from prying eyes."

You gaped at him, stopping abruptly. He made a soft sound of surprise as he attempted to continue walking, finding himself anchored in place. He tilted his head in question.

"I'm sorry," you said incredulously. "Did you just say 'pankration'?"

"Yes," he said slowly, as though he were talking to a child. "As in boxing?"

You blinked. "I am familiar with the term. You are aware that duelists tend to favor the sword, correct? Not brawling like barbarians. I have never boxed, once, in my life."

He rolled his eyes with a huff. "I am aware. However, combat training should never be restricted to just one discipline," he said with a vaguely offended tone, waggling a scarred finger at you. You had flashbacks to a particularly insufferable, imperious governess you'd had growing up. "Pankration is a noble sport! It's vital to stay well-rounded if a duelist doesn't wish to get skewered. Hand-to-hand will be a good place to start our training before we progress to other weaponry. Even the Marechaussee Hunters started with unarmed combat. Strong foundations become strong houses."

You snorted a laugh, patting his arm and continuing your rotation around the fountain. He followed obediently, still frowning slightly, an admittedly adorable, petulant expression you hadn't seen on him yet. "Okay, okay," you said placatingly, patting his forearm once more. "You raise a good point, Instructor Duke. Perhaps afterwards, we could start your training as well."

"My training?" he said, eyes wide, pout forgotten. "I thought we were having tea?"

You laughed, drawing several curious eyes from around the garden. "We can discuss other ways to raise you in the opinions of the aristocracy, based on my personal experiences. That was the other half of our arrangement, was it not?" you reminded him in a low undertone. You smiled mischievously. "I'm sure we can work tea in somehow, if you insist."

"Ah, yes," he said, nodding sagely. "Of course. And I do insist, thank you."

"Consider it a date, Your Grace."

"Wriothesley," he corrected immediately.

"Right." You sighed. "It's quite the mouthful, isn't it?"

He frowned. "It is not."

"It absolutely is," you told him. "Shouldn't we consider shortening it? It may also help our charade, give the impression of intimacy between us. Nicknames between lovers and all that."

He swallowed. You followed the bob of his Adam's apple with a curious eye. "And how would you shorten it?"

You looked away, deep in consideration. "How about just 'Wrio'?"

"'Just Wrio'?" he parroted, face wrinkled in distaste. "Hm. I don't like it. Sounds undignified."

"Oh, come on," you wheedled, bumping softly into his side. You thought his give, the sidestep he took in response, was more for your benefit than due to any actually lost balance from the light impact. You smiled at him from beneath lowered lashes, resting your chin on the curve of his shoulder. You noticed a few other pairs of eyes glance your way in interest from around the garden. "It's cute. It suits you."

If you were a fool, you might have sworn you saw his cheeks color, just a bit, at your teasing. If you were a fool, anyway. He remained stubbornly silent for a beat.

He rubbed the back of his neck. You smiled at your impending victory.

"Maybe it's not that bad," he conceded, grumbling.

You grinned triumphantly, the day suddenly seeming just a little brighter. "That's what I thought. So, what should I bring? A change of clothes? Tea?"

He cleared his throat. "Anything you'd normally use for training. A change of comfortable clothing. We may wish to be... careful, however. It might give the wrong impression if you were to leave in different clothes than you arrived in. Also no, I will provide the tea. I am very... particular."

"I'm sure you are," you said wryly. "And alright. I will bring a change of training clothes only. When should we plan for my visit?"

"The weekend works for me if it works for you. Saturday?" he offered.

"Saturday, then," you agreed with a nod.

"I will be waiting ever so patiently for you to grace our illustrious halls with the unfathomable depths of your beauty and charm."

You snorted in laughter, an undignified, happy noise that you couldn't bring yourself to be ashamed of. "I'm rather excited to see the famed Fortress of Meropide at long last. A duchess ought to know her turf."

He dipped his head graciously. "I will be sure you receive the full tour, my lady, hosted by yours truly."

"Oh my," you said, free hand placed above your heart. "I'm flattered. I really am getting special treatment. Careful, lest your inmates become jealous."

"Oh, I'd be disappointed if they didn't,” he said. “Gossip does have a knack for traveling between the over- and underworlds, and the inmates tend to gossip like old fishwives. We want to make sure we give them quite the show. It'll be sure to make the rounds."

You grinned. "Oh, I'm sure you and I will manage, Wrio."

a/n: title from 'learn to do it' from anastasia bc im in a musical theater phase and it made me laugh to think of the reader teaching him how to fit in among the nobility. anastasia wrio / dimitri reader, anyone? or perhaps "to be a princess" from barbie princess & the pauper might fit better lmfaoo

#wriothesley #wriothesley x reader #wrio #wrio x reader #genshin #genshin impact #genshin x reader #genshin impact x reader #genshin x you #genshin imagines #reader inserts #reader insert #lark.writes #🌊

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