#tonysstevex

[the-darklings]

If someday you are in the mood to write I'm BEGGING you to write something about the reverse role au. It's already amazing!

“Why did you do it?”

Your head tilts and you observe the painting in front of you with mild disinterest. 

“Are you jealous, Santi?” you wonder, amused, and your attention goes to him. Behind the lenses of his glasses, those pretty green eyes spark. You reach out, your thumb smoothing over the round curve of his jaw. “I know you and Johnathan had been…close.”

He leans away from your touch even if his reluctance to do so is clear. You suppress a smile at his little tantrum. So spirited. Perhaps you enjoy poking fun a little too much. But he always tries to shield away, wall himself off, and you dislike it greatly. Because when he doesn’t, he comes alive. He becomes someone wilder, bolder, and that’s what you always try to drag out of him. That wildness that rages beneath his sunkissed skin. You’re patient…to a degree. 

“I’m not,” he shoots back hotly. “Though from what I’ve heard, the same could be said about you, no?”

You exhale softly. If Gianna were here she would scoff and tell you to forget about these ‘stupid men who won’t treat you right’ but…

You have become ever so fond of them. Hmm.

Still, your sister would likely eat them both alive right now. She had certainly terrified John though the stoic man had been exceptionally good at hiding it. 

“Yes,” you tell him blankly, watching his reaction carefully. “We were involved before he met you. Father never approved, you understand? Forbade it. Bad timing, I suppose.” 

“And now?”

Your fingers flatten a tiny crease in your suit pants and you sigh absentmindedly. “Ah. Well, I can’t say I’m too pleased with how the situation between you two played out, green eyes,” you tell him frankly, ignoring the way he sucks in a deep breath at the reminder. Your eyes meet his and you know your expression is frigid at best. “But he will make amends for what he has done. One way or another.”

Santino takes a step closer, his expression pinching, “So you are punishing him by calling in this Marker, aren’t you?”

Taking note of his frustration, you reach out, twisting one of his unmanageable curls around your index finger. Oh, you do love them so. They’re you’re favourite—aside from those bright eyes of his, of course. 

Shadow and flame—John and Santino couldn’t be more different, yet they’re both so delightful. 

“Naturally,” you drawl with a slight, secretive smile and lean closer. For a split second, his gaze flickers to your lips and you find his insistence that he doesn’t feel anything…charming. It’s fine though. It’ll be that much sweeter when you finally tear apart that wall between you. And you’re getting close. “Everyone assumes that Gianna is the vindicative one, but oh well…”

He swallows unsteadily and you lean even closer, your fingers trailing down the skin of his face and this time he doesn’t pull away. “I told you, have I not? Something like Tokyo will never happen again.”

His hand settles against your hip and you don’t pull away, your slight smile widening. 

But the moment doesn’t last long. 

Footsteps approach and Santino jerks back, blinking a few times though the heat in his eyes makes you suppress a knowing smirk.

It’s darling Ares. Right behind her, a familiar dark-haired man. 

He still moves with that preditor’s grace and seeing him outside of casual clothes and back in a suit takes you back years. 

“Thank you, darling,” you tell Ares who winks at Santino but watches John approach you both with guarded unease. “You can leave us now.”

Ares hesitates. Always so loyal and protective, and you give her another reassuring smile to ease her mind. She steps out of the gallery but you don’t miss the brief look she shoots Santino. 

Oh.

She must fear that John will harm you in some way. Though you suppose that’s your fault, you haven’t exactly been forthcoming with information considering your late-night meeting with the Boogeyman.

“Jardani,” you greet pleasantly, your voice practically a purr, but there’s just enough ice there that halts the man a few steps away. “So glad you could make it.” 

Santino sucks in a breath at the casual mention of John’s real name but you don’t look at him. 

“What is it that you want?” John asks reluctantly.

Never one to waste time. Such a charmer. 

You pretend not to notice how both men avoid looking at each other.

“Thank you for agreeing to see me,” you say instead, and gesture for him to join you. “We have much to discuss, you and I.”

Santino is still beside you. It’s painful, you know that, but it’s better than prolonging this. The sooner the air is cleared the sooner you can begin. 

“What do you want, (Name)?” John repeats, this time more instant, and you glance down with a slight chuckle. 

“Well that’s rather simple, Jardani,” you divulge pleasantly and clasp your hands together, regarding him thoughtfully. “I want you to kill my father.”