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syluxs · 3 months ago

Text

playing with fire

pairing: sylus/reader

words: 3948

summary: at a party full of shady business deals, you’re stuck being your father’s stand-in, just trying to get through it and minding your own business... then there’s sylus--the tall, confident, handsome guy you always look for (he’s the only reason you even tolerate these events). you’ve had a crush on him for ages, and despite your best efforts to try to keep things casual, sylus keeps pushing your buttons.

notes: reader is shorter than sylus, wears a dress

"your father couldn’t make it?"

you turned, already knowing who it was before your eyes even landed on him. sylus stood beside you, red eyes sharp as ever, a glass of wine held loosely between his fingers.

he was taller up close, his presence something you could feel-- an undeniable weight in the air.

"he's busy with something else," you replied smoothly, offering the same polite smile you always did at these events. "so i’m here in his place. again."

sylus hummed, tilting his head slightly. "i’ve noticed."

well, okay. you felt a lump form in ur throat for half a second before you covered it with a sip of champagne.

the party buzzed on around you--shady businessmen all over, deep in conversation, deals being spun between clinks of glasses and quiet laughs. but in this moment, it felt distant, like the noise had faded into the background. thanks to sylus.

you felt his gaze on you before you even looked.

cautiously, your eyes flicked up.

and there it was.

sylus was watching you--watching you in a way that sent something sharp through your chest.

not just looking. not just observing.

it was the kind of gaze that was deliberate. like he was studying you, or maybe something more than that.

your pulse stuttered.

"what are you looking at?" you asked, voice steadier than you felt.

sylus didn’t look away. "nothing."

liar.

you exhaled, turning back to your glass as if that would shield you from whatever this was. "don’t look at me like that," you muttered under your breath. "i’d catch feelings."

okay.

it was meant to be a joke, but the second the words left your mouth, you immediately regretted them. why do you never think before speaking?

because sylus just smiled--slow and amused.

he lifted his glass slightly, voice smooth as silk.

"would that be so bad?"

your fingers tightened slightly around your champagne flute. you weren’t sure if it was the drink warming your skin or the way sylus was still looking at you, like he had already figured out the answer before you even had time to think about it.

"depends," you said, trying to keep your voice even. "are you planning on making me?"

his smile deepened just slightly, it almost imperceptible, but you caught it. sylus was always like this--subtle and calculating, he never lets people see too much. but right now, standing this close, you could see something in his expression that most people never get the chance to.

"well, i don’t make people do anything," he murmured. "but i do enjoy watching them come to their own conclusions."

the air between you felt different now. around you, the party carried on, but it may as well have been on a different planet.

sylus took a step closer, just enough for you to catch the faint scent of expensive cologne and something electric beneath. his gaze flicked over your face, his red eyes taking their time, like he was committing every detail to memory.

"you’re so shameless, staring again," you pointed out, pretending to check the drink in your glass.

"and?"

"and you should stop."

"why?" he asked, tilting his head slightly.

you exhaled, shaking your head. "because i really will catch feelings." it was meant to be a joke--again--one of those offhand, sarcastic things you say just to play with fire. but of course, sylus, being the flirty bastard he was, who never wants to lose in this game, latched onto it like you’d handed him a gift.

a low chuckle. "then i suppose you have a decision to make."

sylus lifted his glass again, a silent toast, before taking a slow sip. but even as he walked, just slightly away from you, acting as if the conversation was over, you knew it wasn’t.

not even close.

because even as you tried to focus on something--anything else, you could still feel his presence around you.

the warmth of him, the quiet but heavy weight of his attention. he wasn’t looking at you anymore, not directly, but you knew without a doubt that he was still aware of every move you made.

and then, just when you thought you might finally be able to collect yourself, he spoke behind you.

you barely had time to react before his voice was in your space again, smooth, deep, velverty and entirely too close.

"you know, if you’re already thinking about it," he said, "then you’ve probably already made your choice."

your breath hitched.

you turned around, he smiled at you, then sauntered away again, just like that. you think you caught the knowing glint in his crimson eyes. he was so effortlessly composed.

oh, how you thought that he's so full of himself--but then again, sylus is just that. simply confident, never boastful or arrogant. and sure, maybe you had stroked his ego a little, but honestly--he didn’t need it stroked. the man had every reason to be that confident. still, it was meant to be a joke, of course. just something to get under his skin. but with sylus, the flirty, smooth bastard, that kind of thing only ever seemed to make him worse.

you scrunched your nose and narrowed your eyes, forcing down the warmth threatening to creep up your neck.

two can play this game.

"you really love the sound of your own voice, huh?" you mused, tilting your head. "what would you do if i just ignored you completely?"

sylus smirked. "i’d wait. however long it takes. hopefully, not that long."

your mouth parted, caught somewhere between a scoff and a retort that never quite made it out.

every single time you saw him, without fail, it always ended in this--banter, flirting and teasing, a back-and-forth that neither of you ever truly won.

but even with all the "annoyance" he causes you, even with the way he always found a reason to smooth his way out, you couldn’t deny it.

you liked it.

you liked him.

which was exactly why this was dangerous.

"enjoy the rest of your evening," sylus said, like he hadn’t just sent your heart into a full sprint.

then, with a final glance, he stepped away, slipping back into the crowd with that same impossible grace he always carried.

you let out a slow breath, trying to ignore the way your pulse was still racing.

you should ignore him. you should brush this off like you always did after, convince yourself that this was just another round of your usual banter.

but as your eyes flickered back to him--his tall frame standing effortlessly among the crowd, his crimson gaze glancing back at you for just a second--you knew one thing for certain.

you were in so much trouble.

because even now, even with the thrill of your back-and-forth, you felt it-- the dizzying ache of feelings. and it scared you, a little too much.

because sylus wasn’t just some guy you could flirt with and forget. he was powerful, polished, terrifyingly smart. the most dangerous man in the room, always, wherever. but god, he was also handsome, a gentleman, rich, tall, smelled so good, strong in the way that made your knees weak, and, to make things worse, he loved animals. he wasn’t just out of your league--he was playing a completely different sport.

you weren’t even sure what you were doing here. you were just your father’s daughter attending the party in his stead. sure, your family had money and a bit of influence, but we are talking about sylus here.

he was on a different level entirely.

and you?

well, you were just you.

unthinkable didn’t even begin to cover it.

the party carried on around you, but your mind was elsewhere. no matter how much you tried to ignore it, sylus’ words still echoed in your head.

"then you’ve probably already made your choice."

the way he said it, it was driving you insane. like he already knew exactly how you felt, like he was waiting for you to admit it.

well. if he wanted to play this game, you were going to make it interesting.

your eyes flicked across the room, locking onto sylus with ease. he was speaking to a small group of people, nodding along as one of them droned on about something you were sure was very important. but even from a distance, you saw it--the way his posture never fully relaxed, the way his red eyes flickered your way the second he felt your gaze.

hook, line, and sinker.

you made your move, weaving through the crowd with practiced ease.

as you passed, you let your fingers lightly wrap around his wrist, without a word, you tugged him lightly, your grip firm enough to pull him away from the small group he was conversing with, but without asking for permission. he stiffened for a split second, caught off guard by your sudden actions. his crimson eyes flickered with surprise, his lips parted as if about to speak. but before he could protest, you were already walking toward one of the private lounge rooms tucked away from the chaos of the event, leading him behind you.

his hesitation lasted only a moment, and then, with a subtle but deliberate shift in his stance, he followed, the smoothness of his movements matching the calm composure he always carried. he didn’t resist, but instead of simply letting you lead him by the wrist, he reached and gently adjusted your grip--sliding your hand from his wrist into his own, hands molding together like it was the most natural thing in the world.

your brain short-circuited for half a second. it wasn’t what you expected--not the warmth of his palm, not the deliberate intimacy of the gesture. it was soft. dangerously sweet. holy shittery.

but you shook it off. you were the one dragging him away, not the other way around.

your grip tightened slightly, reaffirming control, and you kept walking like your heart wasn’t suddenly throwing a tantrum in your chest. sylus followed in step, hand in yours, as if it had always been that way.

he may have made that smooth annoying move that made your stomach feel things, but you were still the one pulling the strings.

the moment you stepped into the quiet of the lounge, the door clicking softly behind you, you knew you had caught him off guard in a way that neither of you had expected.

you couldn’t help the slight smirk tugging at the corner of your lips.

this was a game, and now, you were the one in control.

it was a risk. a bold one. but you had a feeling sylus wasn’t the type to leave things unfinished.

sure enough, it didn’t take long.

you let go of his hand, the door closed itself, clicked shut behind the two of you, and before you could turn, you felt him--his presence was filling the space again, his warmth pressing at your back like a phantom touch. is this some sort of phenomena eveyone feels? or is it just you?

you were breathing quite heavily, heart pounding so fast it felt like it might give out at any moment. you couldn’t tell if it was from the speed-walking or the nerves about what the heck was happening, or both.

of course, you tried not to show it, back still turned to sylus.

"bold move," sylus murmured. "should i be worried, suspicious, what?"

the corners of your lips lifted. finally a bit composed, you turned to face him and tilted your head up to meet his gaze, and shrugged.

"dunno."

honestly, you don't really know, like, for real. this was all impulsive, a reaction to the moment, and you were just doing and saying whatever came to your mind. there was no plan, no script--just the heat of the moment, pulling you along.

"how much self-control do you have?"

he looked at you, and for the first time tonight, you knew you had the upper hand with the way his eyes changed.

you took a step forward and let your gaze drag over him.

tall, refined, handsome, so impossibly composed-- damn.

sylus might have been a master at hiding his emotions, but he's not completely immune. well, actually, he may be immune. sigh. but still, you wanted to try, just to see. maybe he wasn’t immune to you.

"why aren't you answering?" you mused, "you're always in control. always watching."

sylus didn’t move, but his red eyes followed your every tiny motion, whether it was the way your eyes moved, how high the corners of your mouth were lifted, the way your hands were semi-closed-- "observation is an important skill."

"what exactly are you observing now?"

you took another step closer, your eyes dropping from his face to his body, your hand casually reaching for the lapel of his coat--just to feel the texture of the expensive fabric.

his jaw tightened, ever so slightly.

ooh..... got him.

"careful there." sylus said, voice smooth but quieter. "you’re playing quite the game there."

you couldn't help but smile, tilting your head up again to meet his gaze. "oh, sylus," you said, fingers ghosting over his chest before trailing up--light, teasing, just enough to make his breath hitch. "i am the game."

you were acting all confident, but in your mind, you know full well you’ll regret saying crazy stuff like this later. but still. it just comes out, like your mouth is writing checks your heart absolutely cannot cash.

for a second, neither of you moved. the air between you was thick, the tension was heavy. you felt like beads of sweat were going to form on your forehead any moment, despite the air-conditioned room.

then, deliberately--you grabbed the lapel of his coat again and pulled him down to be at your face level.

closer.

it was an awkward position bcs of the height difference, but who cares. he wasn't complaining, anyway.

your breath fanned against his skin, lips ghosting against his own, and you felt it--the way his fingers twitched at his sides, the way his gaze flicked between your eyes and your mouth, the way his control almost wavered.

and then--

you pulled away.

not far, just enough to leave a whisper of space, enough to make him feel the loss of warmth.

"hm." you tapped a finger against his chest with a teasing smile on your face. "maybe you’re the one with a decision to make.

his red eyes burned into you, it was impossible to read.

and for the first time all night, sylus was silent.

victory tasted sweet.

you took a step back, smoothing down your dress, dusting it off as if nothing had happened. "good talk," you said breezily, turning toward the door. "see you around, boss man."

you didn’t need to look back to know he was still watching you, still standing there, still processing the very obvious challenge you had just thrown at him.

but one thing was certain--this game was far from over.

the second you left that room, you left the party.

you told yourself it wasn’t because of sylus. you told yourself it wasn’t because your heart was still racing or because the feeling of his breath against your lips was burned into your mind.

but deep down, you knew better.

the moment you stepped into the night air, you let out a breath you hadn’t realized you were holding.

what the hell did you just do?

you had played with fire before, but this was sylus. and you--you--had just leaned in like you were going to kiss him, only to pull away at the last second. and the look in his eyes when you left..... oh, you were so done for.

so when your father got an invitation to another event just three days later, you weren’t exactly thrilled.

"i can’t make it, i have plans with your mother and your grandma." he had told you over breakfast, setting the invitation down beside your plate. "you’ll go in my place, won’t you?"

normally, you wouldn’t mind. these parties were nothing new. but after what had happened with sylus, showing your face again felt like walking straight into a trap.

"do you know if sylus is attending?" you asked, trying to sound casual.

your father shook his head. "no idea. but you told me some time ago that he rarely attends two events in the same week."

you nodded, the memory clicking into place. whether you were tagging along with your dad or showing up on your own, you always found yourself scanning the room for sylus the moment you walked in. you always looked for him first, after all. pathetic little crush of yours.

your father didn’t even question why you asked. he knew you and sylus got along every time you crossed paths, even if it usually involved a fair amount of bantering. still, your father had a quiet suspicion that sylus was fond of you, and he thinks that sylus maybe even sees you a little differently than most. still, he's not quite sure bcs it's sylus.

well, right. right, that made sense. sylus was busy. he had actual business to handle, not just party-hopping.

so you agreed. and you walked into that event thinking you were safe.

you weren’t.

because the moment you stepped into the ballroom, a very familiar presence made itself painfully known.

sylus was there.

and worse--he was looking straight at you.

heat crept up your neck before you could stop it. you immediately turned toward the bar, desperate to get away, to put some distance between you before you completely lost your composure.

but you didn’t even get the chance.

before you could order a drink, before you could breathe, sylus was there, stepping into your space with that same grace.

"you left in a hurry last time," he said, his voice as smooth as ever.

your grip tightened around the glass in your hand. "i was tired."

"oh?" he nodded.

you braced yourself, expecting him to tease you, to call you out, to make some infuriating remark about the way you had clearly run from him.

but instead--

"if you came here just to avoid me, you’re doing a terrible job."

you nearly choked. "i wasn’t--i mean, i didn’t think you’d be here."

you didn't mean to sound a bit pouty, like a little girl, but what the heck. the things this man managed to pull out of you.

sylus raised a brow. "and if you had known?"

you averted your gaze. "i would’ve stayed home."

his lips twitched slightly. "then it’s a good thing you didn’t."

you felt all sorts of movement in your stomach. you needed to say something before you completely lost your ability to function.

"look, about last time," you started, forcing yourself to meet his gaze, "i….. may have went too far. i was just messing around, but i probably shouldn’t have done that. that was unsolicited. so, uh--yeah. sorry."

sylus regarded you for a moment, his red eyes unreadable. then, he exhaled softly.

"no need to apologize."

you blinked. "really? well, okay then."

he stepped just slightly closer--enough to make you feel it, enough to remind you just how much taller he was.

"but if we’re being honest," he said, his voice smoothly invading your personal space, "i’d rather take the initiative."

your breath hitched. "what does that even mean--"

"it means," sylus interrupted smoothly, "that i’d rather be the one asking you out."

huh.

"well, okay?" you stared at him.

he let out a quiet sigh, shaking his head and pinching the bridge of his nose like your obliviousness physically pained him. the gesture was exaggerated, feigned annoyance barely hiding the amusement underneath.

"what? hold on. i mean, not to be slow...... but, you’re--are you actually asking me out right now?"

"yes."

no hesitation. no teasing.

you opened your mouth. closed it. opened it again.

"oh."

sylus’s lips quirked. "that’s all you have to say?"

"no. i mean--yes? i mean--” you sucked in a breath, willing your brain to function. "what the heck? are you serious?"

"i wouldn’t say it if i wasn’t."

he was so calm. so composed. meanwhile, you were seconds away from exploding.

"i just--" you ran a hand through your hair. "i didn’t think you actually--"

“like you? that i’d be interested?” sylus asked, watching you with quiet amusement.

your face burned. "i mean..... yeah?"

he exhaled.

"you really don’t pay enough attention, do you?"

your entire body locked up. tensed. you want to be relaxed, but all of your joints seemed like they were frozen, your internal organs feel like they have become solid.

okay, he did attend two events in the same week.....

before you could react, before you could even process what just happened, sylus straightened again.

"so?" he asked, tilting his head. "do i get a yes or a no?

your heart was hammering. this wasn’t how you expected the night to go. but standing here, looking at him, remembering every single time you had ever caught him staring at you--

you let out a slow breath. oh shit, maybe he does like you too.

however, you wanted to say no. just to spite him. to wipe that smug look off his face.

but god, you liked him. way more than you probably should.

well, whatever.

he could break your heart if he wanted to. he could ruin you. kill you, even. whatever happens, happens.

but instead of saying yes, you lifted your chin. "no."

sylus blinked. "no?"

you crossed your arms, heart still racing. "yeah, not like this. i want a proper confession."

for a moment, he just stared at you, and then something shifted in his gaze. slowly, his lips curved into a smile--one of those rare, genuine ones that didn’t come with a smirk or teasing.

"alright," he said, stepping closer. his voice was softer now, a little less sure. "i like you. i’ve liked you for a while. you get under my skin, and you drive me a bit insane, but i’d still rather be around you than anyone else.

you watched him, heart racing faster, trying not to show how much his words got to you.

"that proper enough?" he asked, as if he didn't felt an ounce of embarrassment from saying his feelings out loud. but, he needed to say it. to let you know exactly how much he liked you--because you were a bit of a dolt who didn’t want to read between the lines and needed things straightforwardly given to you.

and of course, sylus would willingly do that.

to your surprise, though, his smile faltered a bit. his ears turned a shade of red you’d never seen before, and a pink hue dusted his cheeks.

so sylus can feel a bit of shyness and embarrassment too.

you couldn't help but smile and giggle at the sight, covering your eyes with your hands to show him how amused you were as you let out a laugh.

"uh... yeah, well," he cleared his throat awkwardly. "there. happy now?"

you couldn’t hold it back anymore. you smiled, a soft, genuine smile. "yes."

sylus’s eyes widened for a split second, his smirk returned--this time a little shy, a little less confident--but it was still there, unmistakable.

"good." he said, his voice steady again, but with a hint of something playful.

and just like that, the game had changed completely.