#sho's full government name has a tag?!

[yvknda]

menace boyfriend x stressed of his shit lovers

[ninus9607]

To love a witch pt1 - Wanda Maximoff

Pairing(s): Wanda Maximoff x Female! Vampire reader

Word count: 5.5k

tags: l content: Soulmate AU, Fluff, Enemies to Lovers, Vampire!Reader, Slow Burn Romance, Dark Themes, Blood & Violence, age-gap, Morally Grey Protagonist, Supernatural Abilities, Blood Drinking

The story contains graphic violence, dark themes, and slightly possessive behavior

AN: Hiii guyss! I am back! Finally ahahahha.... I decided to split one big oneshot into 2 parts soo enjoyyy. I will try to write the second part asap <3 Also sorry about every mistake, and I will be glad for every comment, like or vote <3

xx

The clock on the wall rang too loudly in the silence, and the smell of aged whiskey and stale cigar smoke hung heavy in the air. You did not mind. You thrived in environments like this—quiet, heavy, and unpleasant. It improved people's ability to read. And the man sitting across from you was nervous despite his well-made clothing and government connections.

You could smell it on him.

You sat back in the leather chair, one leg crossed over the other, one hand resting lightly on the armrest, and the other casually tracing the rim of your drink. When his gaze shifted to the clock for the sixth time, your lips curled in a slight grin.

"Relax, Mr. Calloway," you said, your voice silky smooth yet with a sharp edge. "You've called me. I believe you know what type of organization you were looking for."

He cleared his throat, attempting to find bravery that he did not have. "Yes, I did. I'm just- this is complicated."

"Isn't it always?" You answered in an annoyed tone. "You fools never call me when it's simple."

He slipped a thin, cream-colored folder across the table. You did not rush to open it. Instead, you fixed your focus on him, seeing the slight shine of sweat forming at his temple.

"You don't seem like the type to be this anxious," you said, enjoying how his throat bobbed when he swallowed.

"This man is dangerous. And connected," Calloway stated hastily, as if saying it faster might help him get out. "It has to be clean, quiet, no traces back to me."

"Of course," you said quietly, eventually reaching for the file.

Your fingers grazed the front cover, and you waited a moment before opening it. A few security photographs, clipped stories, and a name you had heard in traveling: Thomas Crane. Former government spy. Asset has gone crazy. Nothing you hadn't come across previously.

Until you noticed a line buried halfway down the final page.

Currently under the protection of the Avengers.

Ah.

A smile pulled at the corner of your mouth as you leaned back, the folder still open on your lap.

"You left out an important detail, Calloway," you remarked, your tone cold but strong. "He's got Avengers breathing down his neck."

Calloway paled and tugged on his collar. "I-I didn't think--"

"No," you interrupted him, raising your hand. "You didn't. Luckily for you, I'm good at cleaning up other people's problems."

You grabbed your phone out of your pocket and wrote a fast message. Full info. Tomas Crane. How heavy is the shield that surrounds him?

The response came very instantly. Stark monitoring is at its highest degree. Barton, Wilson, and Maximoff are on rotation.

That got your attention. You let out a soft giggle. Interesting.

You put down your phone, meeting Calloway's chaotic glare. "Normally, I'd ask for eight hundred grand."

His face twitched, revealing an anxious smile. "Consider it done-"

"I'm not finished." You lifted your eyebrows, cutting him down with just a glance. "Since you forgot to add Earth's Mightiest security detail, it's one million. Half now and half when his dead body is cold."

The room became quiet. Calloway soaked his lips, clearly considering his choices before immediately nodding.

"Done."

You grinned, slowly and dangerously. "We didn't even negotiate. You must really want this bastard to die."

"I... do."

"Any preferences?" you said softly, scrolling over the file once again. "Quick and quiet?" Or should I send a message?"

He paused for too long, then his expression darkened. "Make it hurt."

You smiled wider. "That's more like it."

You got to your feet and slipped the file back over the table.

"It's a pleasure doing business with you, Calloway," you muttered, placing your phone back into your jacket pocket. "You'll get your receipt soon enough."

And without another look, you stormed out of the room, the weight of his gaze hanging on your back like a ghost.

You spend your next week stalking him and his routine.

The apartment smelled of old money and terrible secrets. You walked across the room like a shadow, the aroma of perfume and cigars lingering on the walls. Thomas Crane wasn't at homehis calendar was busier than most politicians', but you knew how to sneak in. Your inside contact had handed you the codes an hour ago.

It was far too simple.

You searched through his desk drawers, looking for confidential information, coded records, and images you couldn't take your eyes off of. The man was worse than the whispers said. Not only a trafficker in influence and blood money, but a pedophile. One drawer had horrible photos. Your stomach twisted with disgust, and the anger was sharp and icy.

Your throat tightened. Even a vampire that has lived for hundreds of years might feel sick.

You weren't focused on the photos, but the one you caught made you uncomfortable. Killing this man no longer seemed like a job. It felt personal.

"Fucking bastard" you said under your breath.

You went for your phone and sent a discreet text message to one of your team members who was waiting outside.

Find the nearest opportunity for assassinating him. now

You'd complete what you came for tonight.

But before you could go, your stronger senses noticed something. Footsteps. Not one pair, but several. Moving quickly and with discipline. You froze, your head jerking towards the door.

Voices.

Shit.

A female voice talked clearly and confidently over an earpiece. "We're in position."

Recognition flashed. You have heard that voice before. Black Widow. Natalya Romanoff. That meant...

Avengers.

A cold feeling rushed through you.

You rushed back toward the balcony window, disappearing into the shadows as the front door flew wide.

Then you felt it.

A pull. An unusual current of electricity in the air. Old magic grew on your skin, like something awakening after decades of sleep. Your pulse quickened. Your fangs pushed firmly on your bottom lip.

Then you saw her.

She stormed into the room, wild hair, piercing stare, and strength hanging to her skin like a second, living creature. Red energy flashed across her fingertips.

You didn't know her name. You'd heard murmurs of the Scarlet Witch, but files never did acknowledge the truth.

Because one look, one heartbeat, and your world is shattered.

Time slowed. The air thickened.

Your vampire instincts - honed, cruel, and disciplined- were destroyed by something older than bloodlust.

Your body reacted before your brain did. Fangs dropped. Pulse roaring. Every inch of you lit up with wild, unrestrained want.

Your hands held the window frame so tightly that the metal cracked beneath your fingers.

You should not have stayed. You should have gone as soon as you felt them coming. But you could not move. You couldn't take your eyes off her.

She looked around the room, her power surrounding her like a real being. And for a single second, her eyes shifted from the window to you.

A burst of fresh, essential electricity passed through you.

She did not see you. Not really. But she felt something.

You could see it in the slight wrinkle on her forehead, the way her eyes narrowed, and her lips parting slightly as if to taste the air.

"Someone was here," she said softly, her voice heavy with accent and skepticism.

Natasha said behind her, "Then they're long gone."

However, they weren't.

You were still there, huddled just beyond the balcony, hidden by shadow and glass, watching her.

Your chest heaved, and something deeper was twisting in your stomach. You'd never felt like this before. Not with anyone. Not even close.

It scared you.

And it surprised you.

"What the fuck are you?" You whispered to yourself.

Because you weren't meant to have a soulmate, that was not in your cards. You symbolized death, violence, and decades of blood-soaked nights.

But one look at her—one incredible, soul-binding glance—and you knew.

That was her.

And she'd destroy you.

You waited a little longer, putting her face on your mind. You had never seen a picture. Only classified information. Names in a file.

Then, finally, you forced yourself away, dropping down silently onto the fire escape, vanishing into the night. But even as you fled, your heart, your bones, your blood screamed for you to turn back...

Later that night, the city sprawled out in front of you, bursting with neon lights and noise.

The world seemed small from your position on the ledge of the high-rise rooftop. Cars snaked through the streets like arteries, lamps blinked like distant stars, and a faint thrum of music, sirens, and drunken laughing slipped into the darkness. The wind tugged on your hair, expressing the bitter fragrance of rain, yet the storm clouds stayed without breaking.

It should have calmed you.

It used to.

You'd always enjoyed looking down at the city from above, feeling distant and untouchable. The world below, with all its cruel secrets and ruthless little games, could not reach you up here.

But tonight, it seemed too loud.

Too alive.

Because of her.

Your fingers beat wildly on your thigh as you leaned back against the cold stone ledge.

You had not seen her face until this evening. You'd heard murmurs, sure, but everyone in your line of business knew who the Avengers were. An issue that you avoided. Something that you didn't want to start.

But then you walked inside that flat,

That pull.

And then you saw her.

You knew what it meant. Your kind only got one.

And yours... yours was standing in the same goddamn room, "Fucking perfect," you'd hissed to yourself.

Your vampire instincts didn't make mistakes. She was yours. Fate had written it in blood centuries before you were born.

And you'd rather tear your own heart out than claim it.

Because you didn't do love.

You didn't do forever.

You killed people. You enjoyed it, you survived.

Not this.

Your phone buzzed.

A text from one of your people.

"Files secured. Attendance confirmed. Party next week."

Good. Work. A distraction, you slammed the file shut. But the job wasn't done.

The event was set for a week starting tonight. A high-profile gala. Charity for appearances; dirt behind closed doors. Politicians, businessmen, military leaders, and, as you may have heard, the Avengers are on security detail. Of course, they'd be there. A perfect, shining cover.

You had already set the plan in acmotionPower would go out at your signal. Your blow would be covered by chaos. Inside and outside. Quiet and clean.

You took the paperwork and tucked it under your coat, your fingers firm even if your heart wasn't.

"One million dollars, you son of a bitch," you mumbled. You tipped your head back, one last look at the restless city, then stepped off the building's edge, vanishing into the night.

Next week....

Your car's engine hummed as if it were alive, sleek and threatening beneath your palms. It was midnight black and polished to a mirror shine, cutting through the city streets like a predator on the chase. The city lights flashed across the glass as you drove, one hand on the wheel and the other gripping the earpiece between your fingers.

"Status report," you whispered, your voice cool and chilly, conveying authority without having to exude it.

"Perimeter's set," Becca said via the communicator, "Security at the west gate has doubled since this morning, but we have eyes. The power grid is ours as soon as you say so."

You grinned while tapping a nail on the driving wheel.

"Good. What about Mr Crane?"

"Upstairs. VIP lounge on the third floor. A tight circle of bodyguards. There has been no evidence of the Avengers, but rumours suggest they will arrive soon."  Pffft

Of course they will. You almost hoped they would.

As you got long road leading up to the event, the magnificent mansion became visible. A huge, large property served as the site for the evening's incredible show. Expensive cars lined the way in, and photographers flashed lights at everyone with enough money or power to matter.

"Final check," you repeated into your communicator. "Exit ways?"

"North gate is left alone. The east hallway leads to the removal spot. There are no snipers or drones overhead."

A delighted murmur escaped your throat.

"Then it's a beautiful night to have fun, right?"

You came to a stop near the red carpet, and an attendant arrived, showing nervousness soon as he noticed your sipresenceGood. You wanted them to be nervous.

You stepped out of the car, heels clicking on the ground, your dress catching the light like spilled wine. Conversations stopped, heads turned, and gazes lingered. You didn't recognize any of them.

You were here for one reason.

As you neared the great hallway, a security guard stood in your path, hand raised.

"Name, invitation, and—"

You glanced at him, a slow, deadly smile twisting your lips.

"Look at me," you murmured, your voice a gentle blade, "you're going to let me through." His eyes widened immediately, as the vampire's affect slipped over his mind.

"I'm... going to let you through," he repeated, dazed, stepping aside as if it had been his idea all along.

"And forget about me." He simply turned around and let me in; oh, how simple that is.

The hunt had begun.

You slipped through it all as if you belonged there, which you did. Nobody would question you. Not tonight.

A glass of rich red wine slipped into your palm, snatched from the table with expert elegance.

"Eyes on him yet?" Becca's words crackled in your ear.

"Not yet," you muttered, gazing at the shining crowd.

You moved to one of the tall, arched windows, leaning a shoulder against the marble frame as you let the soft notes of the quartet wrap around you. It was a game of patience now, and you were very, very good at waiting.

Another sip.

You let your gaze wander, catching snippets of hushed conversations... 

Every clink of glass, every scent of perfume, and every heartbeat in the room fought at the back of the throat. The wine had been a poor replacement for what you truly desired. You could feel it: the tightness in your jaw, the way your eyes remained just a little too wide in the dim light, and every pulse in every neck around you ringing out like a siren.

Hunger.

You rolled your eyes and tipped your head back, suppressing the urge to groan. "God, I need a drink," you muttered under your breath.

Thomas Crane, greasy little bastard in an overpriced suit, reeking of power and fear, moving through the crowd like he owned the place. You straightened from where you leaned against a marble column, eyes locking on him like a hawk. The pulse in your throat skipped.

There you are, you piece of shit.

You began to move, moving through the crowd with the grace. The world slowed, and your senses sharpened like blades.

And then—of course.

Captain America himself was standing alongside him, smiling as if this was a healthy gathering rather than an evil lair. Steve freaking Rogers. A clean-cut, good boy scout with biceps. His presence was like a cold shower in your warm, twisted night.

You paused in your steps, squeezing the bridge of your nose.

"Are you kidding me right now?" You whispered, partly to yourself, half to the communicator. "Of all the goddamn nights..."

Becca's voice cracked back, suppressing a chuckle. "Problem, boss?"

"Yeah, America's Ass is speaking up my payday." You looked at them with droopy eyes. "If I didn't already want to kill this guy, I'd do it just to get the blonde boy scout off my case."

Your hunger spiked again. Not just for blood, but for the satisfaction of sinking your blade into Crane's smug chest and feeling the heartbeat stop under your hand.

Your communication crackled faintly in your ear. "The south doorway is protected. The power generator is ready when you are, boss."

You grinned, one sharp canine just grazing your lip.

"Good," you muttered, your gaze never leaving Crane. "We drop it on my word."

Someone is watching you.

Natasha Romanoff appeared in front of you, over polished marble and clinking glasses.

Red dress. Eyes like ice. One brow rose in silent awareness.

Shit.

She was not shocked to see you. But she was worried.

You saw her tilt her head, fingers quietly stroking on her comm. Your increased hearing allowed you to hear the words as if they were said right next to you.

"We have a problem, guys. Protect him immediately."

Your lips curled into a slow, wicked grin.

The music kept playing. The guests kept laughing. But for you, time felt like it held its breath.

Your hand lifted, brushing dark hair off your shoulder as if to flirt with someone across the room, but the motion was for your team.

"Lights down."

You whispered it.

And the world obeyed.

A heartbeat later, the chandeliers flickered once. Twice.

Then the entire room plunged into darkness.

Steve Rogers was good. Fast, powerful, and experienced. But you were something else completely.

Before he could respond, you appeared in front of him like smoke, a blur of grace and power, and swung your arm once, one clean, amazing backhand — sending him falling into an iron pillar with a loud boom.

He collapsed to the ground with a moan, stunned but breathing. Not your problem.

Your dagger was already at hand.

You turned on Crane, your grin wild in the darkness, teeth shining as his eyes widened.

There was something delightful about his fear, the way his throat shook as he tried to swallow it, the way he stumbled back against the wall as if he could melt through it and get away from you.

"P-please—"

You put a finger to your lips, mockingly. "Shh," you grinned. "You're ruining my fun."

Then you laughed.

Not respectful. Not gentle. A deep, rich, sharp-edged sound rang true through the darkness.

Without saying anything further, you plunged the dagger immediately into his belly, twisting as you went. He made a wet, gasping sound, his eyes became hazy, and red spilled down his front.

You leaned in closer. "I normally take my time," you hissed against his ear, voice smooth and deadly, "but you, Thomas... You were never worth the effort."

He slumped. Dead weight.

You let him fall.

And as his body hit the ground, you lifted your gaze to the shadows, already hearing the buzz of a repulsor charging and footsteps scrambling.

But you simply grinned. Because it was done.

The lights snapped back on.

Everything stopped for a single second. The shining room was a jumble of fallen tables, broken glass, and terrified guests gathered together, murmuring in terror.

Natasha was already moving. She ran across the floor, dropping to her knees near Thomas's crushed body. Blood pooled beneath him, painting the marble floor a rich scarlet. His dead eyes gazed up at the ceiling.

"Shit," Nat whispered under her breath, pushing two fingers on his neck despite knowing it was pointless.

Tony burst in through the glass in full costume, metal boots crashing against the floor.

His mask pulled out, revealing a confused, annoyed Tony Stark.

"What the hell happened here?? I leave for two minutes, and it turns into a murder mystery?"

Steve stared around, tensed. "Someone took Crane. Fast."

Tony reviewed the room. "Security said there was no breach of security. Whoever did this was already inside."

Natasha kept silent, her gaze fixed on the window.

Tony gazed at her. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

Natasha's voice seemed calm, yet something about it was odd. "We need to talk in private."

Steve lifted his eyebrow. "You know who did this?"

"I'm not sure," she replied. "But I've got a bad feeling."

Tony frowned. "That's helpful."

Natasha stood slowly, cleaning blood off her gloves. "Trust me. If it's who I believe it is, we have a much bigger problem than one dead billionaire."

From across the city, you stood on a rooftop, one hand resting comfortably on your hip. A smirk tugged on your lips.

You knew she had seen you. And that was the fun part.

Avengers Tower – Next Day

The conference room on the top floor of the Tower felt naturally quiet. The morning sunshine came through the huge glass windows, catching on the edges of modern technology.

Wanda Maximoff sat at the far end, holding a cup of tea with both hands. She looked drained, her dark brown hair a little tangled, her eyes influenced by a sleepless night.

Pietro fell into the chair next to her, his fingers beating on the polished table like a clock. He wasn't meant to wait.

"Why are we even here?" he murmured, flashing a gaze at the door. "It's too early for this."

Wanda glanced at him. "Maybe if you didn't stay out half the night causing trouble, it wouldn't feel early."

Pietro grinned. "I wasn't making problems. I was practicing."

"конечно" (of course)

Across the table, Sam Wilson rested in his chair, nursing a mug of black coffee. "Practicing what? How do I get detention?"

"Wouldn't be the first time," Tony Stark said as he entered the room, sunglasses pushed up into his hair and a cup of something expensive-looking in hand. He sank into a seat with a big sigh.

Wanda leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. "Where's Natasha? She called this meeting."

"No clue," Tony muttered.

For a little while, the room was quiet.

Sam looked around. "Does anyone else feel like...? Is something wrong?"

"You mean besides someone getting murdered right under our noses?" Steve murmured.

"Yeah. That."

Before anybody could respond, the door opened and Natasha walked in, a file clenched in her hand and her face stone.

"Morning," she responded, her tone harsh. "We've got a problem."

Without saying anything, she dropped the folder onto the table. Photos poured out — primarily unclear security camera footage,

A woman. Dark eyes, like twin daggers. A bright dagger in one hand. Blood splattered on a cheekbone like battle paint.

"That's our killer," Natasha said without preamble.

Everyone leaned in.

"Who is she?" Sam asked.

Natasha took a deep breath.

 "Her name is Y/N. We've known about her for years, or believed we did. She is a vampire. A professional assassin. No loyalty, no reason. People hire this type of person when they do not want to leave any trace. Shield had attempted to track her previously. "Never came close."

"A vampire," Tony repeated, as if to make sure he had heard correctly.

"Fast. Strong." Natasha continued, "Smart as hell." And risky. She has taken out politicians, CEOs, and military officials. Last night, she threw Steve across the room as if he weighed nothing. That alone should frighten you."

Wanda muttered softly, "She was laughing." Everyone turned to her. She hadn't intended to say it out, but the picture stuck in her brain. That grin. Like a beast in blood-soaked silk.

"She's the best there is," Nat replied, holding Wanda's gaze for a time, something unreadable going between them. "And she doesn't miss."

"Why the hell was she after Thomas?" Tony asked, confused.

"This was not a random hit. Someone spent a lot of money to get Thomas Crane out, and Y/N doesn't do favors. Whoever it was has money and influence. And I do not believe this is over."

"What do you mean?" Sam asked.

"I mean, whoever hired her isn't done," Natasha said gently. "There will be another target. And another after that. I can feel that this is part of a larger play."

"So what's the plan?" Tony asked.

"We don't just hunt her down. We get her on our side."

"She's dangerous, yeah," Natasha said. "But if we don't get her first, somebody else will. And we cannot afford to allow whoever is behind this to continue to use her as a loaded gun. She may be the only one who can bring us close to whoever is pulling the strings."

Wanda's fingers curled around the cup. She wasn't sure if it was an itch of fear or something else completely, but she didn't speak.

"We find her," Natasha murmured, her voice quiet and confident. "And we make her to be on our side before they do."

A few days later....

You noticed her long before she showed up.. The quietest sound of a heartbeat struggling to keep steady.

Amateur.

You turned onto a side path without breaking stride. The darkness greeted you like an old friend. You waited.

"Miss Romanoff," you said without looking around, your voice silky as good whiskey. "Surely you have better ways to spend your afternoon than chasing creatures older than your country."

Natasha entered seconds later, mouth set and arms folded. "You don't make yourself easy to find."

"That's rather the point."

A pause. The tension was tight, heavy. Natasha gazed at you seriously, but you were not in a hurry. You never were.

"We need people like you," she eventually said, her voice low. "Things are moving. Borders are being drawn. We could need a lady who knows how to get her hands dirty."

You smiled softly. "Delicious. But, sweetheart, I've been through more of your selfish problems than you can count, and they all end the same way: bodies in the ground with no one left to remember why."

Natasha kept staring. "It doesn't have to be that way."

You took a step closer, the distance between you charged, but you made no effort to threaten. "I am not a soldier in your battle, Romanoff. I choose my own battles. And my loyalty, once bought, is expensive." A smirk. "More than your Stark's pocket change can cover."

Natasha exhaled through her nose. "Think about it."

You dipped your head with that old-fashioned, mocking bow. "I do not think, miss.  I make the decision."

Without extra word, you turned and vanished into the darker streets, leaving Natasha alone.

"She's going to be a problem," Natasha whispered into her comm.

And you smiled to yourself as you blended into the crowd.

They've been doing this for almost a month now.

You feel them – they're always watching and chasing shadows. Their footsteps are trying too hard to be quiet, and their gaze stays just a second too long when you pass by in the crowd. When one of them gets closer, the tension in the air is palpable.

Foolish.

You always manage to slip past their grasp. You're there one moment and gone the next, like a ghost in the wind.

And in the meanwhile, you feed.

Not recklessly - you're far too careful for that. However, your hunger has always cost a price. A politician here and a trafficker there. A man whose crimes would make the devil tremble. Targets for hire, or simply those that the world would not miss. The monster is kept under control, but only just.

Until your last mission…

The ballroom was a return to another era, with tall chandeliers shining with hundreds of candles.

It felt like home.

This was your world once. A world where monsters wore silk and pearls and death arrived disguised as midnight.

Your target tonight: Lord Sebastian Hale. A man as vile as the rumors claimed. Whispers of the children gone missing in the neighboring villages.

You watched him now, laughing too loudly, his hands too familiar on the waist of a girl who couldn’t be older than sixteen.

Pervert.

You swirl the wine in your glass, seeing the crimson wine reflect the candlelight like blood in a vase. The old ballroom hums with subtle string music.

You lean against a stone pillar, mainly listening to the symphony and half watching your target giggle at a private joke near the fireplace. His fate was locked in the moment you accepted the job, and his blood would soon mark the floor.

But for now, the wine is plenty, and the night is young.

A presence draws you, and you recognize it before you see her: warm, electric, pulling at something old and buried in your chest.

And then you see her.

The woman in front of you is clothed in red, which seems wicked against her pale skin, and her dark hair falls loosely over her shoulders. Her eyes—God, those eyes—were a shade of green you'd never seen before, soft and powerful all at once. You feel like the world is closing in on you.

"May I have this dance?" Her voice is lilting, with a strong accent.

For the first time in a very long while, you forget how to speak.

You gently placed your wine down, a tiny, amused smile curving your lips. "I suppose I can spare a moment," you say softly, your voice softer than normal.

Her smile grows wider, and she extends her hand.

Without hesitation, you accept it. Her touch is warm, and it causes a shiver in your freezing skin. Everything falls into place as if it were always meant to be.

She brings you to the floor, and you let her, which surprises you more than it should.

The music surrounds you both as you drift smoothly around the floor. Wanda's hand feels warm in yours, steady and confident. You attempt to duplicate her calmness, but your dead heart beats a little quicker than you would want.

"So," you continue quietly, trying to sound casual, "how is the Avengers' recruitment work going? I guess I am not your first target tonight." You said ironically.

Wanda giggles softly, as if revealing a secret. "You're definitely the most interesting one."

Your lips move into a little smile, a nervous habit you don't notice yourself doing. "Is that a compliment, or a warning?"

She leans in, "Maybe a little of both."

You swallow, trying to focus on the dance rather than the fire building in your chest. "I've been around for a long time. You believe you know someone based on a few stories and rumors, but the reality may be darker."

Wanda nods and takes a step closer. "I'm not afraid of the dark. Sometimes it's the only thing that seems honest."

Your eyes meet...

"So, what's next?" You ask, dropping a tone. "Are you going to convince me to join you? Or threaten to stop what I'm doing?"

She smiles,  "Neither. I want you to decide. "Because only someone like you can make that decision."

You chuckle with a short, breathy tone. "Miss Maximoff, you're brave. I like that."

"And I'm just getting started," she continues, keeping her gaze fixed on you.

You tighten your hand slightly around hers, a delicate, almost undetectable move, and guide her into a slower turn as the orchestra transitions to a more gentle melody.

"So," you mutter, your voice a little harder and softer, "tell me, Miss Maximoff... Do you ever get tired of the hero business? Saving the world must be exhausting."

Wanda lets out a small laugh, her lips curling into something genuine. "More than you'd imagine. But I suppose being hunted down for a living isn't really a holiday."

You chuckle, your thumb brushing over her hand in a way that could have been innocent if not for the way your gaze stayed on her. "Touché. But we aren't here to talk about me or the world breaking apart, are we?

Her brows rise, revealing a hint of question and maybe something warmer beneath. "Then what are we here for, exactly?"

The song is slowing, though neither of you makes a move to leave the floor.

"You're not what I expected," Wanda said softly, her voice cutting across the thick air between you.

The corner of your mouth twitched. "Is that so, Miss Maximoff?" you drawled, allowing an old accent to twist your words. It always made them pause and made their pulse race. However, she didn't. No, she only grinned, as if she knew you too well already.

"I expected a monster," she said.

"And what am I, then?" Though your throat felt tight, you asked with a light expression.

"Something dangerous," she confessed. "But not heartless."

"You shouldn't say such things, Miss Maximoff," you murmured, leaning in just enough to get a whiff of her perfume.  "You might give a girl the wrong idea."

Her smile became cheeky. "Maybe I'm hoping to."

The music slowed down, the violins soft and quiet. The rest of the world was focused on her hand in yours, the rise and fall of her chest, and the slight flicker of red light beneath her lashes when she blinks.

"Come with us," Wanda asked softly. "Please help us put an end to this.You don't need to be alone in the dark anymore."

You swallowed hard. Every instinct screamed to run. You didn’t owe them anything. Didn’t owe her anything.

And yet.

"Yes."

Wanda's lips parted, a little flicker of surprise reflecting in those forest-green eyes.

But before that warmth could sink in, you leaned in closer, your breath ghosting across her ear.

"But first," you muttered, "I have one last piece of business."

Wanda hardly had time to respond before you gently removed her hand. You moved across the floor, the crowd separating like water in your path.

Your gaze fell on Lord Hale, who was too busy talking to a group of impatient, pervet nobles to notice death coming.

You removed the blade hidden beneath your dress with one quick, trained move, its silver sparkle catching the light of the chandelier. Before anyone could shout, you stabbed it deep into his chest.

His shocked cry rang in the sudden silence.

Blood erupted against his white waistcoat, leaving a growing, damning sign.

Gasps, shouts, and everyone comes to a stop.

Across the room, you caught Wanda's gaze: calm, steady, and without judgment. Only the same quiet promise.

You grinned, blood pouring through your veins and your vampire senses burning. Around you, chaos exploded. Guards reach for weapons, guests cry, and someone shouts orders via a communication device.

"We've got a situation—" a voice crackled over the Avengers communication line.

"сестра, what's going on?"  Pietro asked.             (Sister,)

But Wanda... Wanda just grinned. A slow, secret thing as she tilted her head and spoke into her communication device:

"Let her go."

That stupid smile was the last thing you noticed before diving through the stained-glass window in a spray of color and light.

You knew you'd come back.

Because now you belonged to her.

And she'd wait.

[eastonia-blog]

I’m going to do a weird.

I know a whole lot of us are stuck at home due to the COVID19 outbreak and all our respective governments attempting to flatten the curve. So I’m going to break out my VAST library of fanfiction recommendations for you to read! Please bear in mind that my tastes in fics are not necessarily like yours so the following 15 Fandom reccs might be hit or miss. All ships and above T ratings will be tagged with brackets, all crossovers will be mentioned in those same brackets. Also, if I mention it’s part of a series, I’m not just recommending the fic I mentioned, I’m recommending the whole series. I’ve tried to recommend a different author’s fic each time. So! Let’s start with the 3 fandoms I mention in my blog description.

1) ATLA Fate Deferred (Zutara) Aang remains in the iceberg ten years longer. Sozin’s comet comes, the world keeps turning with no Avatar to save it, and by the time he’s finally found by a waterbender and her Fire Nation husband, a lot has changed. [Zutara established relationship full series rewrite; Now on Book II: Earth]  Cheating at Pai Sho (Canon Divergence) “You said you were the Avatar!” “…I lied?” Aang doesn’t get rescued in episode two, and no one’s seen him go glowy yet… so he starts bluffing. Hard. Or: “The Avatar joins Zuko’s quest to find the Avatar.” In which Zuko doesn’t join the Gaang, the Gaang joins Zuko.  The Undying Fire: Blood and Fire (First in the Undying Fire Series, eventual Zutara) Book 1. In which rescuing the Avatar from Pohuai Stronghold doesn’t end so well. It’s a tough life being a banished prince trying to get home, especially when the Avatar just wants to be your friend and keeps making everything confusing. Oh, and did Zuko mention he somehow healed the kid? Yeah, that happened. Stalking Zuko (First in the Stalking Zuko Series, eventual Zutara) Katara has developed a new hobby. At the Western Air Temple she takes to stalking Zuko. Much silliness and shenanigans follow. In chapter 20: Katara and Zuko return home to the others. Katara hates the F word and she comes to a decision regarding Zuko.  Embers (Canon divergence) Dragon’s fire is not so easily extinguished; when Zuko rediscovers a lost firebending technique, shifting flames can shift the world…  2) Percy Jackson and the Olympians The Father (Percabeth in the GFFA, eventual Anidala) It all started with a wish, but because it was Percy Jackson it couldn’t have been a friendly goddess granting him a wish. No, it had to be Nemesis, goddess of revenge and balance. Now Percy and Annabeth are stuck in a strange new galaxy right when an ancient and powerful darkness finally begins to stir.  Glass Figures (MCU Mashup) I lifted my gun, pointing it towards the minefield of shattered fragments, and kicked the small coffee table out of the way.Only to stare down at an awfully familiar face, which split into a somewhat lopsided grin. The intruder raised his hands in a mocking surrender. //“Long time no see, dude.” //I lowered the gun. “What the hell are you doing in South Peru?” //Or in which Clint Barton and Percy Jackson have a long personal history that starts in high school. All Together, Cousins (Canon divergence) When Thalia ran away with her toddler brother, Jason, she slowly gathered her cousins: she and her cousins being Big Three children. As Jason gets older and their motley group expands to six, Thalia resigns herself to the fact that she won’t always be the leader of the pack. As she accepts that, something more is coming, able to challenge even the gods above. A Crown of Golden Leaves (Historical AU) Annabeth, a Lady from the declining polis of Athens, must marry the Heir Apparent of Rome to save the rapidly expanding world from a threat even the gods couldn’t foresee.  Deluge (Percy in the Arrowverse) Barry has to deal with yet another Metahuman that Zoom has pitted against him. But this ‘Metahuman’ is an unwilling pawn in Zoom’s plan and really wants to find a way around killing the Scarlet Speester. But how can he when Zoom is holding something against him? 

3) DC Firework (First in the Sparks in the Dark Series) Orphaned and removed from the only life he’s ever known, Dick feels like there’s no light left for him in the world. His new benefactor, however, still sees something worth saving… Chronological beginning of the Spark in the Dark series.   Iron, Fire, Mirror-Glass After a brutal confrontation with Bane, Bruce comes away with a broken spine and the certainty that his days as Batman are over. An unexpected discovery offers him another chance—but at what price? The story of a man who risks his soul for the sake of his mission, the dangerous creature he names Robin, and the unlikely partnership that will shape the legend of Gotham’s Dark Knight.  Get Back Up There was a mole, one who played a long game. The team was betrayed, crushed. Robin nearly died. What are they going to do now? Only one chirped the answer. Get back up. WARNING: lots of talking, little action, many follow ups  Five Times …Five times Damian thought of Dick Grayson as his father, and the one time Dick thought of Damian as his son. Future-fic. YJ characters will show up later. Batman!Dick and Damian as Robin. With guest appearances from Jason, Tim, Cass, and Steph.  Unveiling the Mystery Series of one-shots about the team learning a little about Robin (Dick Grayson).   With all the fics, I heavily suggest you also read what else these authors have to offer in their archive.

And now here’s the plethora of other fandoms I read fics in under the cut!

4) Harry Potter The Horse (Mature) Looking after a Muggle animal should be easy compared to saving Hogwarts from Voldemort. Harry and Draco might disagree with that. Featuring Luna, Marauders, peppermints and, of course, a tall, black, badtempered horse named Simon. The Potions Master’s Nephew An accident occurs and Professor Snape finds himself trapped in his fifteen-year-old body. Enrolled into Harry Potter’s fifth year, he is forced to hide his true identity. Girls, drama and teenage angst do not bode well with Severus. Keeping Up with the Grangers (Dramione, Mature) Mr. Malfoy, I invite you and your mother to tea next Tuesday, May 25th at 2o’clock to discuss recent events. Dr. Helen Granger //…  …// He glances at the boxy too-uniform numbers flashing on the face of Richard’s radio. It’s nearly noon, and he should be getting ready to leave; but there is still a harsh tension in his shoulders and neck that he wants to work out before Hermione finds him. It is, after all, Tuesday; and while his Tuesdays were designated ‘tea with Helen’ days previously, they are now ‘lunch with Granger’ days, ever since the chance meet-up with the Weasel’s wife and the insufferable swot herself. Faceless (Dramione, Mature) New year. New love. New threat. A powerful enemy is on the rise, and Hermione Granger finds herself intertwined in a relationship with Draco Malfoy – only she doesn’t know it’s him. / / RUNNER-UP: Enchanted Awards Summer 2017 for Best Relationship Development 

5) Devil May Cry And the Rest is Silence (Mature) The destruction of the Saviour wasn’t the end. Too many people had too much invested.  An Uncle’s Thoughts Dante’s thoughts and feelings regarding one particular quarter-demon kid. Vignettes that span from the start of Devil May Cry 4 through Devil May Cry 5, and beyond. Fortuna’s Fool Events after DMC5 with flashbacks to the events we briefly see in DMC4SE only with Vergil telling Dante all about Nero’s mother. Family ties are so complicated, aren’t they? Family of Happenstance Some orphans have happy endings, getting adopted or finding their family. Having a demon slaying half devil for a father tends to throw a tiny monkey wrench in the process. AU Father!Dante, Son!Nero. Rated because hunters don’t exactly have clean mouths.     

6) Power Rangers (Focus on Might Morphin’ and Dino Thunder teams) Of Love and Bunnies Set just after Dino Thunder. When Angel Grove announces another Power Rangers Day, Tommy takes the Dino Rangers to Angel Grove for a reunion with the original team… including Kimberly. TommyKim, JasonTrini, KiraTrent. The Reason (Part 1 of eclyptyk neo‘s Dino Thunder AU) COMPLETED. DT. AU. Years go by as Tommy Oliver becomes accustomed to his job as a teacher. A person from his past returns. The new ranger team grows interested in its outcome. How will these new changes between rangers young and old be? Sequel: Ordinary World Change of Hearts (Wild Force)   PRWF: When Jindrax and Toxica set out to find themselves, they had no idea that their greatest adventure was only beginning. Chronology Conundrum DT/MMPR - After a strange mutation is released in Reefside, the five Dino Thunder Ranges find themselves thrown back into the past, circa 1995 Angel Grove. Somehow, they have to figure out how to make it back to their present without destroying it or themselves. And if they succeed, they must navigate the consequences of their actions in the past, while still protecting Reefside. 7) Merlin (Mergana leaning) The Other Version of Events What if Merlin and Arthur had met when they were children? What if a mysterious illness fell over Ealdor and Merlin was blamed? What if Arthur had actually felt sorry for him? What if destiny was thrown at them in a whole new way? AU, no slash, Bromance, A/G M/M… You get the idea.  Flipping the Coin, Part 2 of Coins (2nd story in the Coins Sage but 1st multichapter) Merlin and Gwaine are sent on an adventure to discover their past and stay one step ahead of Morgana. Fearing for them, Arthur and the other knights set out to find them, but soon discover much more than they bargained for. Alt version Season 5. Sequel to “Two Sides of the Coin” Angst, Adventure, BAMF, Bromance, Redemption, Twists on Arthurian Legends.  The King’s Legacy “I hope you are rolling in your grave brother, I will find your son, and I hope he is like you. I will ruin him and gain a lovely weapon in the process.” Cenred spat on the grave, “I win Balinor.” .Sequel posted.  The Warlock’s Quickening (First in the Albion Cycle) Merlin might have come to Camelot to master his magic, not to end the Purge, but he’s not going to sit idly by while his kin suffer. Oh no. Whether it’s releasing a chained dragon, smuggling sorcerers out of the city, or trying to change Arthur’s mind, he’s fighting back. Now. Series rewrite beginning after 1X02 featuring Proactive!Merlin. AU. 

8) Dragon Ball Under the Radar (Gohan/Videl) Gohan is living life as a secret superhero, but Videl is making it her business to find him out! How will Gohan manage her and Saiyan hormones? Will he fess up? Or will he try to live his life -puts on sunglasses- “Under the Radar”? *applause* Thank you! Thank you! And GOODNIGHT! G/V obviously. Rated T because adult situations and language in later chapters. COMPLETE! Golden God (Mature) To save the lives of millions, Gohan is forced to expose himself as a Super Saiyan, proving that his tricks are indeed very real. And it drives the whole world to insanity. Warning; becomes a little graphic goes as it on. Walking Towards the Sunset Bardock’s curse sends him to a mysterious place where weaklings are abundant and an odd trio claim to be his family. Eventually giving in, he stays with them to discover that Earth is more unlucky than Planet Vegeta. Impatiently waiting for his son’s arrival, Bardock has to survive a new life with his estranged family and a certain girl set on finding the truth. (Saiyaman-Buu Saga) Plus One (Gohan/Videl, Mature) Tired of being pursued by the gold-digging, glory-seeking, Satan obsessed freaks of the world, Videl will resort to the only method open to a celebrity like her to find Mr. Right. 9) Sailor Moon (Mainly SenshiShitennou) The Crystal Age (Rewritten) In an alternate version of Season 1, as a result of Beryl’s curse at the end of the Silver Age, Tuxedo Mask and the reincarnated Shitennou are fighting a losing battle to save the city and find the lost princess. Sailor Moon has disappeared, Sailor V is working on her own, and the other Senshi are still just ordinary girls. Sequel to The Silver Age. MxU, SxS. Please R&R. Hooligans It’s after Galaxia and time for University. The Senshi and Mamoru settle into life in Great Britain and meet some old friends. Inner Senshi x Shitennou and Usagi x Mamoru. Modern Timeline. Strong language, crude humour, hilarity and sexual situations abound, be warned, there will be some heavy angst later on too. Never Gone R A single choice can change the course of Fate: a choice, say, like waking up on time. If that choice were made, Chiba Mamoru would never meet Tsukino Usagi; but, he WOULD meet Unami Seiya and the burden of Terra’s future would fall onto his shoulders. Never Gone AU. The Dinner Hour (Part of The Dinner Series) It can be hard to be patient in the face of eternity. But good things come to those who search and refuse to give up on their dreams. R/J. (Sequels: Dinner And Again, Dinner at Last completed!)

10) Les Miserables (Warning: Enjonine ahead) When Apollo Met Persephone (1st of the 1830s AU) The revolution, or at least the first part of it succeeds. Enjolras confronts political and personal realities. Eponine is suddenly faced with more opportunities than she ever thought. Can they guide each other in a world that needs them as much as they need it? Les Choses Qui Sont Arrivées Après “You must flee Paris at once.” Enjolras and Eponine. The thief and the leader, the marble Apollo and the dark street girl… two wholly different survivors of the Revolution are forced together under a dangerous circumstance. Can they successfully fight their demons as well as each other? Neither of them knows quite what is going on, or what will happen when they figure it out.     Teacher of Man The first time Enjolras and Éponine meet, it is their wedding day. (arranged marriage AU) My Best Friend’s Wedding Éponine Thenardiér always thought that Marius would eventually come back to her, until the wedding invitation came in the mail. Now she is going to do everything that she can to get him back from that blonde tart Cosette. Nothing goes according to plan and even her partner in crime Enjolras is becoming an obstacle. E/E. 11) Naruto Beginnings  Naruto was six years old when he met the man who changed his life. …Now he’s kind of just hoping he survives it.  An Inch of Gold (Part of the Legacy of Fire series) Team 7 is sent on a mission to investigate a disturbance outside of the village, where they encounter an unconscious girl in a crater. The mysterious Sarada insists she’s a shinobi from the Hidden Leaf trying to rescue her teammates. When the team discovers she possesses a Sharingan, things become even more unbelievable. [Part of the Legacy of Fire Series]     Guilt of Innocence Uchiha Sasuke abandoned Konoha in his persute of power to join Orochimaru. However, this was only a cover story. In fact, on Tsunade’s orders, Sasuke is to act as Konoha’s spy within Otogakure. One agreement and his path had changed forever…  Blind (SasuSaku) It was almost time, Orochimaru was going to take his body as a vessel. He hated being used…he refused to be used. With that thought, he took the kunai in his hand and slashed across his eyes.     

12) Legend of Zelda (Zelink) The Conviction to Save The princess is dead. Those are the words being whispered in the streets. A great shudder sweeps across the land of Hyrule as news of its beloved monarch’s passing spreads like wildfire. In the midst of the ensuing chaos, a humble village doctor happens upon the body of a gravely injured young woman on the road. Legend of the Miraculous (Concepts taken from Miraculous Ladybug)   A legend retold through many a tale, but when a darkness resurfaces after so long, Athena and Sheikhan Wolf must return again! Will Link and Zelda be able to combat this threat? and will they figure out each others’ identities? Come inside and take a look! Hit List AU. It all started as a typical day at Ordon High, until a sudden school shooting turns the life of Link Hero upside down. Now, surrounded by enemies, can Link save his friends and escape the school alive? (Edit 10/2015) Counting Stars Link finds himself caught in the middle of an elaborate gang war. Lucky for him, being a B-list superhero makes that predicament a tiny bit easier. / Modern AU ZeLink, inspired by Spider-Man. Under Revision! 13) Hunger Games Vox Libertas Due to things playing out a bit differently in the last few minutes of the Quell, the rescue also goes a bit differently than expected. Now Peeta has the responsibility of representing the Rebellion thrust upon him. No pressure. *AU Mockingjay. Part I of Dandelion in the Storm AU. Mainly Peeta POV.*     Someone To Watch Over Me (Everlark, 1st in the Series) A HG rewrite. What would happen if Peeta was just a little bit bolder, and Katniss a little less emotionally confused? You’d be surprised. Let the Games begin. This is an AU, but I’ve tried to stay as canon as possible. Rated T to be safe.     Enthralled (Everlark, Gadge, Mature) Thrall (þræll), n., a slave or serf in Viking Age Scandinavia. After a successful raid, Gale is rewarded with a slave girl: the Saxon noblewoman Madge. Meanwhile, shieldmaiden Katniss grows closer to captive monk Peeta. Gadge/Everlark historical AU with background Odesta and other pairings.   Katniss, Vampire Slayer (Mature) “Into every generation a slayer is born.” the man droned out slowly, quietly, in a way that made her think he was quoting something. “One girl in all the world. A chosen one. She alone will wield the strength and skill to fight the vampires, demons, and the forces of darkness; to stop the spread of their evil and the swell of their number. She is the Slayer.” //  Haymitch mocked. “One girl in all the world. Ain’t I just lucky it had to be you.” 14) How To Train Your Dragon Becoming Lífþrasir (Hiccstrid) People often wondered what kept Hiccup going during those early years. When that single, most-treasured thing is taken from him, there is little left to keep him on Berk. The day Stoick returns, and the day before the best recruit is finally chosen, Hiccup leaves Berk; little knowing that he would one day return under … strange circumstances. H/A, R/F, rated for violence.     HTTYD Easter Special Sequel to “The Unholy Offspring,” set after the season finale. When Alvin the Treacherous threatens Asgard with a rogue demigod’s help, Hiccup and Berk’s Dragon Riders must prevent an early Ragnorak. It doesn’t help that Alvin has learned to tame dragons, and that the only god that can help Hiccup is a sullen, suspicious boy named Mud. Happy Eos week, Hiccup!     The Blacksmith’s Apprentice (Hiccstrid) AU. Hiccup never took the shot on that fateful night-and the war continued. Three years later, Berk is beset by dragon raids and hostile tribes while the boy who should have saved the island is merely the assistant in the forge. With only Astrid as his friend, fate gives Hiccup one more chance to end the war and become the hero he was meant to be. Hiccstrid. Snap (Hiccstrid, Mature) He was just supposed to fix her back, and she doubted that at first. She definitely didn’t expect to get dragged into the ethics of a girlish crush. Modern AU. 15) Star Wars Double Agent Vader The one where Vader turned double agent for the Rebellion about three years after ROTS, and Leia is now his primary contact with the Rebellion. Or,  a man attempts to escape slavery by turning into one of his culture heroes, teaching his daughter how to do magic, killing people, and flower arranging. A New History During a heated battle, Dooku escaped into the past! Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker follow to stop him, but discover that Dooku went to the past where Obi-Wan is a young padawan to a very much alive Qui-Gon Jinn. Now, the two must go undercover to stop Dooku’s plans from coming to fruition in order to save not only the future, but also young Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn. Pulse AU for ROTS. As Padme’s life hangs in the balance on Mustafar, a stream of brilliant light causes Anakin to reconsider his choices. Jedi Shmi AU Shmi leaves Tatooine with Anakin and goes to the Jedi Temple.

[norihisahyuga-archived]

Reconnected

Kiriyama Kazuo/Numai Mitsuru Battle Royale 2400~ words. Sfw.

Over a decade after high school ends and when both of them are finally in the same sphere of the world, Mitsuru finds himself running into Kazuo once again. It could almost be called fate if either of them believed in it. Tagging @hironoshimizu and @satominoda

Mitsuru downs the shot placed in front of him, combing his fingers through his hair as he stares down at the empty glass in front of him. The date had been another dumpster fire, another guy who was far too eager to go from spending time together to heading back to Mitsuru’s apartment— or dragging Mitsuru back to his. It’s been a habit of his to somehow pick the worst people to go out on a date with. He’s starting to think his standards may be too high.

In all fairness, he hasn’t been a part of the actual dating world since high school. Once he had graduated and headed to college, he had been entirely focused on his studies. One of his professors had given a good word about him to a friend, and Mitsuru was thrown into an internship for the company he now works for. It had been natural to get his business degree and work his way up the corporate ladder, and he had done so in a rapid amount of time. Privately, he had always wondered how people could throw themselves so wholly into their work and rise so high in such a short amount of time. Now, he supposes he knows the answer.

Sighing, he runs a hand over his face before glancing over his shoulder to catch an eyeful of the room around him. This bar is one of the more exclusive ones in the city, situated in a skyscraper with a wall of windows that look out over the city. During the night, everything is lit up, glittering white and gold all the way out to the black of the sea. It’s a beautiful sight, and though Mitsuru has been here many times to speak to clients and on dates alike, he never quite gets used to it.

Distantly, he wonders what Kazuo would have thought of the view. He was never emotionally moved by anything, but Mitsuru had noticed the way he seemed a little more thoughtful in places that people considered to be beautiful. He had painted a great deal of them, so surely there had to have been some form of interest there.

Chuckling to himself, he shakes his head. He hasn’t seen Kazuo Kiriyama in over a decade, and yet his mind keeps wandering back to him just the same. It makes him wonder if anyone ever really lets go of their first love or if things like this just follow people around forever.

“Why the long face, Mitsu?” The familiar voice makes Mitsuru look up from his glass, one eyebrow raised in disbelief. But the face beneath the styled hair is a familiar one just the same, Sho Tsukioka’s half-smirk curving very full lips. “Who was that guy you were here with?”

Mitsuru chuckles and shakes his head. “I shouldn’t really be surprised to see you here, Zuki. You always show up in the place I least expect you to. What are you doing here?”

“The former bartender quit and they needed someone else to take in the heavy schedule. And you know as well as I do that I’m one of the best in the city, so I got recommended and here I am.” Sho gestures to the wall of bottles behind him, then leans in close again, propping his elbows on the sleek mahogany wood. “Were you here on a date?”

“A prospective one. But he wanted one thing and I wasn’t interested.” Mitsuru knows he doesn’t have to explain what he means by this, of course. Sho of all people would know.

Sho hums at him. “I know what you mean, I’ve noticed that here quite a lot more than I bet you would expect. Like right over there, those two have been here for a good hour and you can completely tell that the man on the right isn’t the least bit interested.”

Mitsuru should keep his nose out of the business of other people, he knows that better than anyone else, but he still glances over his shoulder just the same. The couple in question are sitting at one of the booths and Sho had been entirely correct about his assumption; the man on the right was pointedly turned away, his lips pressed into a thin line, his fingers tracing the edge of his phone case in such a way that suggested he was seconds away from taking it out and focusing his attention on it instead—

And how does Mitsuru know that, just from studying the way the man is sitting?

Sho laughs, the sound startlingly close to his ear, and Mitsuru scowls at him. “What? I thought you would have figured it out much sooner than you did.”

“Figured out what, exactly?” Mitsuru asks, straining his eyes to see better in the dim lighting.

“I suppose it must have been a long time for you, too. I only just spoke to him last weekend when he was here. With a client that time, you see. He’s rather good at playing the corporate role when he has to.” Sho flashes him a grin, then nudges Mitsuru’s shoulder in a familiar way. “You and I both know the Boss is always the best when he puts his mind to it.”

The Boss. Mitsuru’s jaw slackens a little at the title, especially as it was one Sho never used when they had been the Kiriyama Family together. He had been more a fan of crooning Kazuo-kun where Mitsuru had been forced to hear it, an eternal annoyance for someone who only wanted to show Kazuo as much respect as humanly possible. After all, Kazuo had saved him from an extreme amount of suffering on the first day they met.

Years later, he had dropped the title in private. No one else had known, though.

“It can’t be,” Mitsuru says, spinning around on his seat so he can get a proper look at the man on the right. But when he actually focuses on him, on the features of his face and the shape of his lips, the resemblance is uncanny. “That really is Kazuo Kiriyama.”

Sho laughs again, an edge to the sound. “Of course it is. Though like I said, it’s been a long time since you’ve seen him, and he’s… Well, he hasn’t changed, but he’s grown into himself. And he doesn’t slick his hair back anymore. I kind of like what he’s got going on, actually.”

Kazuo’s hair is shorter than it had been in high school, no longer slicked back, short enough to not look out of place paired with his suit jacket and white button-up, but the front is left long enough that when he turns his head just so, the entire side of his face is obstructed by black hair. Mitsuru sucks in a soft breath looking at him; his bone structure is sharper now, but his eyes are just as dark, just as curiously blank as ever. And the man sitting across from his is refusing to understand his body language, even trying to lean closer across the table.

“Oh, my,” Sho croons when the man reaches for Kazuo’s hand across the table, a movement that makes Kazuo whip his head around. “This is about to get very ugly.”

Mitsuru all but grinds his teeth together, his hands curling into fists as Kazuo jerks his hand away. “I think it would be best if I walked away before I get pissed off seeing this.”

Sho’s hand catches him by the shoulder before he can stand, just as the man makes another effort to take Kazuo by the hand, using his hold on him to pull him across the table. “You know this isn’t high school, right? Kazuo-kun is a very well-known businessman and he can’t very well throw that man through one of those windows like we used to up until graduation. Maybe you getting pissed off is exactly what he needs right now.”

The hidden message in his words is clear enough; Mitsuru pushes himself up from the bar and walks across the room, making a beeline for Kazuo’s table. He knows as well as anyone that appearances in the business world must be kept up as well as possible, and if Kazuo is as intent on keeping up appearances in order to do his job well, that means not making a stir in public. And with a bar like this one, as exclusive as this one and full of businessmen and government officials, there are bound to be reporters hiding in the corners just waiting for an opportunity to snatch a bit of juicy gossip.

So Mitsuru does the one thing he can do to make sure Kazuo can walk away from this situation without a problem or a smear to his name. He walks up to him, pointedly turning his back to the man Kazuo is drinking with, and holds his hand out to him. “Kazuo Kiriyama,” he says, making his voice as loud and pointed as he dares in this setting. “I haven’t seen you in years.”

Kazuo blinks up at him languidly before taking Mitsuru’s hand and giving it a squeeze. “Mitsuru Numai,” he says, his voice deeper but just as blank as always. “If you’ll excuse me,” he says to the man sitting across from him, standing up from the table, “an old friend has arrived who I have not seen in some ten years. My company is looking to create a business relationship with his in the near future, so this is an ideal jumping off point. Good evening.”

The man is silent for a moment before pushing himself up off of his seat and making his way out. Mitsuru keeps his eyes on the man’s back before taking his empty seat, watching Kazuo lower himself back down. “You looked like you were uncomfortable, so I stepped in.”

“As always, Numai, you have an impeccable sense of timing.” Kazuo tips his drink in Mitsuru’s direction before draining the glass of the rest of its contents. “I suppose I could consider this repayment for our first meeting, seeing as this was not going to end well for me.”

Mitsuru doesn’t want to think too hard about those words. “I’m assuming a date gone wrong?”

“You would assume correctly. I do not typically entertain such advances. I suppose I was curious to see if the experience would be worthwhile or not. In this case, it was not.” Kazuo shakes his head, as if the notion was ridiculous to him now that he explains it. “There have been previous offers before now, but I have never been interested. Work interests me far more.”

“That sounds like you. I’d heard you’d gone into business, and I thought I’d heard whispers that our company was looking to work with yours more closely. I just hadn’t really thought to look into it.” Mitsuru shrugs. Maybe he didn’t want to look into it. He’d once tried to look up what Kazuo was doing in college only to be hurt at how excellent he seemed to be doing on his own.

Kazuo hums, tenting his fingers and resting his chin on top of them. “Your company has been moving very rapidly in the last few years, and from the research I’ve been doing into that, it seems to be centered very firmly around you. You’ve developed exceptional instincts.”

“So I’ve been told.” Mitsuru smiles thinly. “From you, though, that is very high praise.”

Kazuo waves a hand at him. “It is not praise, it is a statement of fact. Your investments have turned remarkable profit and the contracts you have formed with other companies have been mutually beneficial for all parties involved. It is largely why I decided to attempt to form a relationship between our two companies. We have been on the move as well, and I do believe we could take hold of the business world should we decide to work together.”

“I’m tempted to ask if you knew I would be here tonight and thought you might have a chance at speaking to me if you showed up,” Mitsuru says, leaning back in his seat.

“I have no way of knowing your movements, Mitsuru, and I assure you that I would not have done such a thing. You are a busy man but your assistant had an appointment set up for us in two weeks so that your employer, yourself, and I could have a conversation about what bridges we may be able to build between your company and mine.” Kazuo cocks his head to the side, and a dark lock of hair tumbles into his eyes in the process. It’s artistic, in a way. He looks like he could be modelling for a magazine, and distantly Mitsuru wonders what Kazuo would look like in one of the spreads in the many business magazines across the country. “However, I have no interest in speaking about business at this moment. You and I have not spoken in over a dozen years, and I am as surprised to see you here as you are to see me.”

Seeing no use in lying, Mitsuru cocks a thumb over his shoulder. “You can thank Zuki for that. He pointed you out to me when he saw you were having a bit of trouble.”

“Tsukioka has always been very useful in his own ways,” Kazuo says. When he leans forward slightly, Mitsuru feels almost pinned down beneath his intense gaze. “I read your interview last month, you know. One of my assistants brought me the magazine when it became clear our companies would be working together. To put it simply, I was intrigued. I had not heard from you in over a decade despite our work drawing us ever closer together, and there you were. And now, here you are. It’s a very curious thing, don’t you believe?”

Mitsuru cocks his head at the words, and this time, he truly smiles. “Since when do you believe in fate, Boss?”

The nickname seems to throw Kazuo off for just a moment before he gets his bearings back. “I told you that you did not have to refer to me as such in private, though that does bring back memories. Are you busy for the rest of the evening, or would you like to keep me company?”

“I just had a date of my own not go the way I wanted it to, actually,” he says, relaxing in the seat now. “I’d be more than happy to keep you company if that’s what you want, Kazuo.”

Mitsuru doesn’t kiss Kazuo when they part so Kazuo can slip into a taxi and head back home, but he thinks about doing it, and they both make plans to see each other again this week. He’s not looked forward to building a relationship with a client quite as much as he’s looking forward to this one.