#i love kris' horrible short hair actually. its so funny to me

[crazyyyslots]

somewhere in ljubjana in 2018:

[marshmallow-phd]

In Your Arms

Genre: Mafia!AU

Pairing: Kris x Reader

A/N: Warning, this is a bit long. And I think I squeezed some fluff in there? I hope I did?

**

The view of you was distorted through the bottom of the glass, but Kris could still make out the small flickers you sent his way. He wasn’t allowed to approach you, not here. This place… it was too dangerous. Too many watchful eyes, too many loose lips. So, reluctantly, he kept his distance, leaning against the bar with one elbow while the opposite hand clutched the short glass of scotch.

You looked beautiful. Wearing the same dress from the night you first. It was almost like a taunt, the sparkle in your eye just adding to the torture.

As far as the people around were concerned, the two of you weren’t associated in any way. As the daughter of a rival mafia leader, you were kept away from this world for the most part, for your protection. But every once in a while, your father brought you to events like these, treating you like a fashion accessory or luxury car to show off. You were proof that he had it all - on the surface anyway.

At first, Kris had no interest in you. He was too busy making deals and watching his own back to care about the girl capturing everyone else’s attention. When he did look at you, he still felt nothing. There was no sparks, no failing of his breath, absolutely nothing that the fairytales spoke of happened to him. But things would change quickly as the night went on.

“Eyeing some new real estate?” Junmyeon - aka notorious mafia head Suho - slid up beside him and motioned for a drink of his own from the bartender.

Kris scoffed, all but tossing down his glass. “You’re real funny, Suho.”

“You’re the one with wandering eyes,” Suho shrugged. He was leaning forward on the bar with both his elbows, facing the opposite direction. He didn’t know about the two of you - no one did - but he was perceptive. He could see Kris glancing at you and that was dangerous. It was probably best that he left.

“I didn’t realize that observing the room was a bad thing.”

“Observing a room is innocent.” Junmyeon threw up a look to Kris. “But focusing on a certain mob boss’ daughter isn't.”

Kris rolled his eyes. “Keeping making up stories, Suho. I know how much they keep you company.”

“Ha-ha.” Junmyeon took a drink as Kris clapped him on the shoulder.

He shuffled his way through the crowd, stopping every so often to say hi or have a short conversation with a colleague. Being here, seeing you but having to pretend not to care, it was too hard. There was no way he could conduct business when his thoughts were so preoccupied. Leaving was the only option. He’d send apologies later. Wining and dining always worked in his favor. So, with his shoulders slumped and energy drained, he made it back to the valet waiting outside.

It took too long for his liking for his car to be brought up, but he gave a generous tip anyway and sped back to his place.

Kris loved living on top of the world.

Alright, so it wasn’t the top of the world, but it was a penthouse that took up the entire top floor of one of the tallest high-rises in the city. Walls made of glass gave him a breathtaking view of the streets below. Up here, he felt relaxed, away from the danger and the fast pace of the lifestyle he chose.

Reaching out, Kris placed a hand against the cold glass, staring at nothing in particular. The world was at his feet, practically no door was closed to him. He had almost everything he wanted. Funny how that works. You live a life where you want for nothing, but the moment you find something you can’t have, you need it. Its even worse when you didn’t want it in the first place.

Knock, knock, knock.

Kris frowned, letting his hand drop from the glass. It left behind a perfect outline of his fingers before quickly fading away. 

Who could that possibly be this time of night?

Making his way to the front door, Kris took out the gun that rested on his hip. He had his back against the wall so he was nearly side by side with the entrance, the only thing between him and the door being the monitor that was currently off. As quietly as he could, he scanned his thumbprint on the little box below the screen, bringing it to life. A sigh of relief blew out from his lips.

It was you. A black pea coat and hat covered most of your features from anyone else, but it was certainly you.

Putting his gun down on the foyer table, he opened the door just wide enough for you to scurry in. After locking up again, he turned to you.

“What are you doing here?” he asked almost breathlessly.

With a shrug you took off the hat and peeled away the coat. “I didn’t want to be there anymore. Especially after I noticed that you’d left.”

Kris shook his head. “I wasn’t really in the mood for all the schmoosing.”

“Are you ever?” A teasing smile pulled up in the right hand corner of your lips.

A groan rumbled in Kris’ throat as he leaned his head back. Eyes closed, he fought with himself.

Going on like this was dangerous. More for him than you. The most your father would do to you would be something along the lines of stop taking you to the large gatherings of the families and keep an army of bodyguards around at all times. Him, though? He’d be dead. Perhaps left in an alley or dumped in the bay. Either way, he’d get a bullet in his head.

But he loved you. So much that he could forget about how every minute with you put his life at risk. Because when he was with you, he was more. More than just a gangster, more than a greedy criminal. You were different from the others because while you could understand this life he lived, you weren’t tainted by it. Your father had somehow succeeded in keeping you out of this dark underworld and for that, Kris was thankful.

At his lack of response, you nodded solemnly. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have come. I’ll go… and leave you alone.”

You were barely able to unlock the door and open it an inch before Kris was slamming it shut, whirling you around to crush his lips against yours. His grip on your face was tight, but not too much that you were in pain. He could never hurt you.

“Don’t leave me,” he whispered, his lips brushing yours with each little word.

Your answer? A kiss. Gentle and sweet, soft and full of love.

**

You were sulking. You knew it. Your father knew it. In the corner of the lounge, you stood apart from everyone else, arms crossed over your chest and wine glass in hand. While your face was neutral, it was getting harder and harder to contain the irritation underneath.

This was the last place you wanted to be. For last few “get togethers” of your father’s friends, you’d been conveniently unavailable – out of the country, away at school, horribly sick. But it seemed your luck had ran out finally and now, after a good hour long fight with your father, you were forced to tag along. Somehow you were expected to be both aware of who exactly was around you and completely naive of what they did for a living. You never chose to be your father’s daughter. If you actually had a choice, you wouldn’t ran as far as you could a long time ago. 

Too many people had come up to you and engaged in conversations that you didn’t care to have. Shallow, meaningless words. These people were only kind to you because you were the mysterious daughter of the most powerful man in the room.  

“A frown doesn’t really belong on that beautiful face.”

Resisting the temptation to roll your eyes, you looked to see who’d decided to interrupt your solitude. Your frown only deepened. You had no idea who he was.

Tall, silver hair, a smirk that was not at all attractive even given his somewhat handsome face. You took a swig of wine, carefully swallowing it before replying, “Too bad. It’s my favorite accessory.”

“Now don’t be like that,” the man purred, slinking in closer to you. Your eyes scanned the room for your father, but he was nowhere to be found. If he got even a whiff of what this man was doing….

“Last I checked, I could be any way I wanted. Now, please leave.”

The man’s smirk deepened. “Give me a smile and then maybe I will.”

You scoffed. “How about I give you-”

“Back off, Xiao Fe.”

A new man entered the conversation, even taller than your unwanted guest. He stared down at the first, apparently called Xiao Fe, with a hardened look and a raised eyebrow. “Unless you want to end up tortured in the back of a van?”

Xiao Fe straightened up, unaffected by the threat. “I’m not scared of you, Kris.”

“I don’t give a crap about what you do,” Kris shrugged. “But given who her father is, I think he would care a whole deal on how you’re speaking to his daughter.”

“Her father?” Xiao Fe looked at you. He measured you up and down and then laughed. “The old man finally brought you out of the dungeon, huh?”

“Just get out of here before I throw you out a window,” Kris growled.

Something must have finally broken through because the idiot listened, stalking off. But not before throwing one last wink your way.

Rolling your eyes, you started off in the opposite direction.

“Wow, not even a thanks?” Kris asked sarcastically. You barely turned around enough to look at him.

“Last I checked, I didn’t ask for your help. So… no. I don’t think a thanks is really in order.”

The gangster shook his head. “Typical princess behavior.”

“Don’t act like you know a thing about me,” you hissed. Your grip was getting dangerously tight on the glass and it didn’t feel that sturdy in the first place. “Now, it’s probably your turn to walk away before my father sees. Wouldn’t want him to get the wrong idea about you talking to me, now would we?”

“Whatever you say, princess,” Kris mocked. “Just don’t expect me to be there the next time you need help.”

You stared daggers into his back as he blended into the crowd, silently cursing at the fact that he was able to get in the last word. 

Deciding that you’d had enough, you down the rest of your wine and headed for the elevator. No one stopped you as you stepped into the little box that would take you to the ground floor of the hotel. Your father’s bodyguards tended to not watch you as closely as they were supposed to, however that was a good thing, working in your favor. You weren’t planning on going anywhere specifically, just away. You’d probably simply sit in the back of the car and wait for your father to be done in a few hours or so.

Outside, the air was chilly. The faintest wisps of smoke left your lips with each breath. You pulled your coat in closer to you as you searched the parking lot for the familiar SUV. Your father always preferred the bigger, more fortified cars than the tiny luxury vehicles. Finding the right one, you hurried over to get out of the cold. And, of course.

The door was locked.

Why didn’t you think about that before you came all the way down here?

You groaned, letting your forehead rest against the tinted window with a tock. You really didn’t want to go back upstairs. Maybe you’d be able to hold out here in the cold?

“Well, what an easy catch this was.”

Oh. Crap.

A pair of hands grabbed you before you could even think about running away.

Xiao Fe looked on smugly as you struggled against his goon’s grip. One hand covered your mouth, preventing you from screaming out for help, while his other arm caged you in against his chest. The two of them dragged you over into the alleyway, out of the eyes of someone who could possibly help.

“You know, I might actually feel bad if you hadn’t been so icy earlier,” Xiao Fe teased. The only response you could give was a glare as sharp as a knife. “I’m sure your father will hand over quite the pretty penny to get you back. Oh, how I wish I could see his face once he-”

Bang!

The man who was holding on to you dropped to the ground, dead. Blood poured from the gaping hole in his neck on to the dark asphalt by your feet. Xiao Fe was quick, taking the place of the goon. His own hold around your waist wasn’t as strong, but the gun he pulled out and held against your head was incentive enough not to fight back.

Kris emerged from the shadows, gun still smoldering from the first shot as he held it up in your direction. “Give this up, Xiao Fe, and I won’t tell her father what you tried to do.”

Kiao Fe laughed behind your ear. “Like I could take you at your word. How do I know you’re not looking for a reward for stopping me?”

“I’ve got enough money,” Kris said. “I don’t need pennies when I’m making dollars. I’m just trying to stop you from doing something you’d regret.”

“Not a chance,” Xiao Fe growled. “Just move along. No one will know you were involved if you leave now.”

Kris hesitated. His eyes lowered to your own fear-filled gaze. Silently, you were begging him not to leave. To not leave you in the hands of this monster. Who knew what he would do to you once he got you alone?

Shaking his head and cursing under his breath, Kris took a step forward. Xiao Fe retaliated, shooting Kris in the shoulder.

“NO!” you screamed out. Kris fell back onto the ground. He clutched the spot where the bullet had torn through the skin, red liquid oozing from between his fingers. Xiao Fe struggled to keep ahold of you as you fought to get away, to get to Kris to see if he was alright. You hardly knew this man – you didn’t know him at all, really – but something inside of you was desperate to get to him, to make sure he was okay. The idea of him dying, because of you and your stupidity, was unbearable.

Moving up to his knees, Kris grunted and looked up at you. He motioned with his free hand for you to get down. Immediately, you bent forward, giving him a clear shot. And he met the target.

Xiao Fe dropped like a marionette doll, eyes wide open and empty.

You scrambled over to Kris, pressing your hands on top of his to try and slow down the bleeding. But he pushed you away.

“Get out of here,” he huffed out in between ragged breaths.

“No, we have to get you to a hospital!” You tried unsuccessfully to pry his hand away from his shoulder. All that accomplished was him pushing you away again.

“Go! Now! I’ll be fine!”

You didn’t believe him. How could you?

“Kris-”

But he didn’t say anything else as his eyes rolled back into his head and his body slumped to the ground.

“NO!”

**

The force of you flinging up into a sitting position was enough to rattled Kris from his sleep. Your breaths were shallow, coming out quickly as you searched around his bedroom frantically. Gently coaxing you into his arms, he shushed softly into your ear until you were calm again.

“Bad dream?” he asked when he thought it was safe.

You nodded, refusing to look up at him.

He pushed a little more. “What did you dream about?”

Your answer came so low that he had to strain to hear you correctly. “The night we met.”

“Wow.” He laughed in hopes to lighten the mood. “Good to know that you think us meeting is a nightmare.” That made you send a fist into his chest. It knocked the air out of him, but he still laughed through it. Having you here did that to him. Rare were the times that you spent the night, that he could have you until the sun came up. Most of the time, one of you had to sneak off before you were caught.  

You weren’t laughing now, though. With the tip of your finger you traced the outlining scar from the bullet he’d taken for you. When it’d happened, he’d called himself an idiot. He’d told you only minutes prior that he wouldn’t come to your rescue again, but there he was, playing the white knight. In turn, you saved him, too.

Somehow, you’d managed to get him to the hospital, keeping him alive. But you were gone before he woke up, only the nurses giving him clues to how he’d ended up there, who had been the angel that brought him in. A week later, he was tracking you down again, “accidentally running into you” to say thanks. From there, the two of you were constantly having “accidental” run-ins. 

“Mutual stalking” was what you’d called it.

It didn’t take long for the feelings to bubble to the surface. Both of you knew it wasn’t the wisest choice. Fear of discovery was always in the back of his mind and yours, but the two of you couldn’t deny the bond, the connection that kept bring you back. He had no ability to let you go. 

“Raul got hurt two nights ago,” you whispered suddenly.

Raul was one of your father’s closest confidants. The fact that you knew about him getting hurt meant it must have been bad. “Is he okay?”

You nodded. “He’ll live. That’s what Father said.”

Kris caressed your face in an attempt to sooth you. “Is that what’s bothering you?”

“Yes. A bit.” Finally, you looked up at him. “I just thought of you. Of you getting hurt. Or worse.” Without warning, you jumped on him, kissing him deeply. You rose up on your knees and Kris steadied you with his hands on your hips. Only when you needed air again did you pull away. “Run away with me.”

Kris furrowed his eyebrows. “What?”

“Leave with me.” You begged. “Please? I can’t take these short nights anymore. I need you. Every day. I can’t stand the idea of you getting hurt in this life, especially because of me.”

“Your father-”

“We’ll go where he can’t find us.” Your eyes were desperate, hoping for the answer you were seeking. 

Kris had thought about it before. Taking you away and keeping you for himself. But he didn’t want to be selfish, to pull you away from the life you’d always known. And yet, here you were, asking him to do that very thing. 

Wrapping his arms around you, he picked you up and put you down playfully on the bed, getting a squeal out of you. 

“If you’re serious,” he said after kissing you, “then we’ll leave tonight.”

A smile spread across your face. “Do you mean it?”

“Absolutely. I can’t ever tell you no.”

This was, perhaps, the most dangerous thing he would ever do in his life. But you were worth it. You were every breath he took. So he would take the chance. It would be a short life together if your father found the two of you. If you were willing to risk it, however, then he would meet you on the treacherous path. 

Because here in your arms was the most perfect place he would ever be.