taintedbloom

[taintedbloom]

Natalie thought she was the kind of woman who knew what she wanted and wasn't afraid to demand it, but then came Dominik, throwing her for a loop. He presented the golden opportunity of a lifetime, freedom from the burdens of the expectations weighing on her shoulders, and here she was...not taking it. Then again, playing witness to the brutal murders of her friends will do that. Still, Nat found herself struggling to keep a head above the water and resist the temptation. It would've been easy seeing his side and accepting that maybe she wasn't as good of a girl as she claimed, but from her perspective, there had to be humanity left within her.

And then there had been the disagreement over Dean's potential demise. Natalie tossed and turned for a majority of the night pondering the best solution avoiding more bloodshed and violence, even though her attempts at convincing Dominik otherwise landed on deaf ears, and she knew perhaps nothing existed to change his mind. If she couldn't keep her boyfriend from tracking them down, he was as good as dead. After all the bullshit he put her through, would it have really been so awful allowing the chips fall where they may and simply do nothing while Dom took care of the problem? No, but it wasn't moral and it wasn't right.

Natalie woke up to the sound of wood being chopped outside her window, but didn't fully arise until the alluring scent of freshly brewed coffee forced her from the bed. She threw on a robe, tried not to cringe as she checked her reflection in the bathroom mirror, before making her way downstairs. "Is it really a good morning?" Natalie couldn't help snarking, gaze finding the man's before landing on the breakfast he laid out for her. God, she was starving. "You already made it perfectly clear that any reasoning I give you is moot anyway. I can't keep either of you at bay forever." Doesn't mean she wouldn't make the attempt. Pulling out a chair, Nat took a seat and nudged the plate forward, a frown marring her lips. "One week." She repeated slowly. "Tell me why I should trust you to keep that promise, Dominik. But fine, it's not like I have the choice."

their conversation had gone around and round in circles the night before, which perhaps was to be expected. dominik wasn't naive enough to believe that natalie would come around to his way of thinking so quickly, but he was frustrated that every step in the right direction that natalie took, she took three steps back almost immediately. every time she'd see his side, she'd talk herself out of it.

he'd given up eventually, sending her off to get some sleep and doing the same for a couple of hours. he got up early to head outside and chop some wood, half wondering how long it would be before natalie's meathead of a boyfriend managed to track them down. she'd done little to convince him that letting dean live was a good idea.

eventually, dominik made his way inside, put on a pot of coffee and began cooking breakfast. soon enough, he heard movement in the other room and nodded when natalie stepped into view, " good morning, natalie. " he plated up the food and brought it to the table, before returning to fill two cups of coffee and bringing them back. " look, we can go back and forth as long as you like, but you're not likely to change my mind. all I ask is that you give me a week, one week, then I will let you go home. " @taintedbloom

[taintedbloom]

He spoke her name and Natalie knew this was a battle she's bound to lose much sooner than what her strength allowed. "There still are good people in the world. There has to be." Nat struggled with the truth blatantly shoved in her face, a truth disproved by those around the blonde. Dean wasn't good, her parents were not good allowing their daughter to date a monster even though she hid his marks well. Her friends pressured her into staying with an abusive piece of shit. Here she was, playing the part. "And maybe that's my real problem, that I can't continue being what they want. I try so hard pleasing everyone when it's just useless. So, yes, I am angry...and there's not a damn thing I can do about it." Natalie's breath hitched in her throat as he leaned closer, finding herself leaning slightly forward as she pondered the question. "No. I knew you wouldn't pass the judgement."

Natalie pushed the plate with the half-eaten sandwich to the side and closed her eyes briefly, shaking her head, "You know what they all see when they look at me, right? The popular prom queen every girl wanted to be and all the guys wanted to date. They saw the lie, you saw the truth." And it scared her more than Dean's temper tantrums ever could, but the fear turned into something intoxicating. Something Nat was willing to sell her soul to the devil for. She peeled her eyes open, dropping them to the hands in her lap. "It hasn't occurred to either of us that the thing I was really afraid of wasn't you then. It was me. That I could ever feel an ounce of power knowing I had a way out from the shitty hand I was dealt with, but you gave me that when no one else did."

Her gaze lifted, latching onto Dom's features. Absent parents weren't a mind-blowing shock, but the knowledge of a sibling caught Natalie's attention. "You have a sister?" Before Nat could hurdle through a barrage of questions, she watched as the man rose from his chair and disappear, only to return a minute or so later carrying a photo frame. She immediately took it in her hands, scanning the picture as if she was starving for more information. His sister was pretty, clearly the eldest of the two siblings, and Dominik seemed so innocent. Yet, even she spotted a look in his gaze that hinted something lurking underneath. "She knows she has a killer for a brother. Great, why wouldn't it be great? It's great." And his sister still loved him regardless. This left her with more questions unanswered, more questions Natalie would pry and pry until her demands landed her in hot water.

The blonde placed the frame on the table's surface in front of her, "You went on a rampage through the cabin, Dominik, of course I couldn't-" What he said next caused Natalie's head to snap in his direction, brief devastation and surprise coating her features. "You're telling me all of this could've been avoided? One life doesn't make up for the six you took, Dom." She replied through gritted teeth and slightly turned toward him in her chair, "I'm alive and now you're scrambling because you never had a survivor before. You didn't give two shits about my friends or Dean, so the only person standing between your way of life and prison is me. Believe it or not, I don't want you going to prison. Didn't mean to hurt you either."

A short pause rose through the air between the two, a minute passing before Natalie broke it with a whispered confession, "You say that showing Dean mercy is a danger to you. What kind of person would that have made me if I let him come to the party knowing I was leading him to the slaughter? Knowing I'd have blood on my hands and could live with it? What if that's the part of me you fell in love with?"

" natalie, " he breathed, a frown touching his features. " there is no such thing as a good person, you have a good heart, but I see you, really see you, and I have no interest in the woman that dean needs you to be, that your parents want you to be, that your friends expect you to be. I like you, the real you. the one that is confident, and sexy, and intelligent, and angry, challenging and sarcastic. I never asked you to perform for me, and so you never did. I saw a side to you that I imagine very few people have seen in your life. " he leaned closer, " are you going to tell me that you felt the need to be something you weren't with me? "

a faint smile touched the man's lips as he glanced away from natalie and leaned back once again, " you were shocked to find out how I really am, so I know you never mirrored my personality. you gave me insight to who you are when you're comfortable, and I loved you. but that s cared you, I bet, nobody had ever saw the real you and liked it, because you never let them. that's not your fault, but you don't get to pretend like it was fake, that it w as for my benefit, when you had no idea what you were really enjoying in me. "

he shifted at her question, sighing softly. " I have parents, they're not exactly-- involved, and I have my sister, who knows me better than anybody. " he paused, then slipped from the chair and disappeared into his office. he returned shortly after with a picture frame. he offered it up to natalie, a picture of himself and sophia as children. " she is aware of who exactly I am. " he let natalie sit with that for a moment, knowing it only answered some of her questions, without really deep diving into the who and what and why he did what he did.

" I acted in anger, you broke my heart-- when I began, there really isn't any stopping, natalie. you can't kill one person, show mercy and carry on living your life. although, for the record, your friends may still be alive if I got to dean first. " dominik was nonchalant about it, and he figured that may hurt her feelings, but he had to be honest, after all, isn't that what she wanted? " I did what I had to, to protect myself. with one contradiction, you're alive, and you're trying to talk me into letting dean live too. that is a danger to me, you are a threat to my entire life, but I do care about you, natalie, even if you did hurt me. "

[taintedbloom]

Nothing actually went right with his original plan, mainly including stepping over the line as a familiar and seducing his mistress, and while that temptation remained at the back of his mind, Archie couldn't completely bring himself to use Kaia in any unforgiving way. The vampire maybe didn't see it, but she matched his intelligence and candor on every level. Friends couldn't come close to describing what they were, not lovers either, although Archie wouldn't deny how he welcomed the notion out of immense honor being called hers. He was hers as a familiar. A servant and his mistress, two companions surviving in a world where vampires existed and keeping each other's company close.

Archibald mulled over the woman's suggestion for a pause, silently cursing at himself for not thinking of it sooner. "Contrary to popular belief, the mess fascinates me. It's the tedious chore chopping them all to bloody bits that's irksome." He moved further into the room and planted a seat on the cushion next to her, resting the length of his arm along the back cushions comfortably. His free hand dropped to gently pull at the hem of his sweater as he carefully inspected the stains, "My clothes?" The man scoffed, "My brightly colored clothes are the only thing livening up the doom and gloom of our abode, love."

He reached over and playfully yanked at the sleeve of Kaia's shirt, allowing his fingers to linger improperly for a man ranked in his position. "I provide a stark contrast for the affinity to black you possess, Mistress. Just because you're a vampire, doesn't always mean you should feel pressured dressing like one." It was a half-serious half-joking observation. Kaia looked mysterious in darker colors, sexy, a true femme fatale. It left Archibald wondering how she would glow in a lighter shade such as an ocean blue. "I think I'll opt for an apron next time. Save my poor favorite sweater the painfully harsh neglect."

familiars came and went, if kaia had learned anything during the span of her lengthy life, it was that much. she'd rarely found anybody she enjoyed enough to make a mate for eternity, and she had indulged them more than a few times for simply having someone around who worshipped her. she preferred to be worshipped, that was a fatal flaw most vampires had, and although not often, it could bite them in the ass.

kaia was never a familiar, she'd never endured the hoops in which familiars had to jump through to earn good favour with their masters. that alone made her more egotistical when it came to her own, and she found herself often using and discarding of those that tried desperately to win the gift of her bite. she couldn't bring herself to make the commitment, to live up to the promise, mostly because she found their whimpering, their begging, their worship outright infuriating in the end. they'd never make it as vampires, that was her belief.

then she met archie. he was strong, resilient, playful and didn't shy away from the truth when it was revealed. kaia knew what he wanted, the same thing they all wanted when they stepped into the darkness and realised everything that went bump in the night did in fact exist. but there was something about this one that was a little different. kaia wondered if he'd bring out the same selfish traits in her that familiars typically did, but he'd lasted longer than most did so far.

her gaze lifted from the book in her hand to eye archie over the top of it, " hmm, " she breathed, lowering the novel to her side. she considered his offers for a moment before patting the spot beside her on the sofa, " you should freeze the bodies, it makes for less mess, archie. " she crossed one leg over the other, " you're going to need less brightly coloured clothes. "

[taintedbloom]

The look on Kaia's expression and the bite of her tone provided a clear indication he, once again, pushed the limit of his boundaries. Perhaps, that might have been the relaxation of the previous day's bonding activities plucking the terms of their agreement from Archibald's mind, but a small part couldn't deny himself the satisfaction. Yes, he held a colossal power dynamic between them and yes, this was his house and game. The pet name just felt too comfortable forming on his lips. "Slip of the tongue, love. I'll know who murdered me, at least."

Archie released a playful chuckle at the mention of alcohol and moved past the woman to lead them both down the stairs without saying another word of confirmation. Bringing the pair back into the living room, he proceeded toward an oak cabinet set against the wall and removed two crystal glasses before grabbing the decanter from the top shelf. "If my viperous devil of a mother taught me anything, Kaia, no true gentleman is without his liquor. Whiskey, rum, tequila, you name it and I have it stashed away for personal enjoyment." He poured the liquid in each glass and offered one to the brunette, taking a seat on the couch and gesturing Kaia the one opposite him, "Or my favorite, bourbon."

The assassin sipped at his drink politely, realizing the abnormal amount of booze could have served an entire dinner party when none had ever been hosted at the mansion. Even before Cora and with the risk of her discovery in consideration, the chance anybody would receive an invitation into his home was slim. While Archie portrayed a social personality, he didn't really have a close knit friendship circle. He and his brother weren't close, his father was dead, and his mother, evil incarnate. "You know," Archie regarded her as he took another sip, "I think you'll come to find yourself hating me less and less by the day. It might not be tomorrow or next week, but eventually, I'll grow on you. I'm not really so bad."

the day that followed was a lot more tolerable than kaia cared to admit. she got to spend time with cora, who seemed to be non the wiser about their time spent apart or rather, perhaps, unbothered now that kaia was around again. they laughed and played most of the day, and kaia allowed herself to forget why they were here, and who they were with.

eventually, however, the sun began to set and they all had to head back to archie's home. their evening was as pleasant as the day, and kaia was glad to have some part in putting the child to bed. she pressed a gentle kiss to cora's forehead, breathing her in and sighing contently as s he earned herself a quiet and tired ' love you ' from her niece.

the woman made her way out of the room and the peace of the day slowly slipped away as archie spoke directly to her without cora's presence. kaia's lips pursed as she turned to face, " don't be silly, I can wait -- because I want to be the one driving it. that day will come sooner if you don't stop calling me baby, " she pointed out, her lips curving into a smile as she truned away and moved to the stairs, " you have booze in this castle or what? "

[taintedbloom]

On nearly most days, Archibald oftentimes wondered how he landed in this auspicious predicament. The small collective of company he used to keep over five years ago could not understand how he disappeared from the world so easily, but that is what happened when you knew vampires existed. Being a familiar wasn't terrible necessarily, there's little to no reward in the job, and the few others who shared his position offered stories about how horribly they were treated. The belittling, the lacking pay, all for an empty promise that their employer will turn them. Some would never walk the earth as a vampire simply by dying of old age just waiting around.

Archie would become the exception to that cruel fate. Turning will be the end of playing the familiar role, yet, his story actually began with that fateful meeting one night at a bar with Kaia. Kaia, the seducing spirit, the intoxicating vampire who gripped his soul and could yank it every which way. Desperate as it appeared, she dangled the temptation of immortality in front of the man's face and he couldn't jump at the offer being her companion quick enough. Sure, burying the bodies of her victims in the backyard and cleaning the manor from top to bottom didn't seem appealing, he made his dismay vocally known, but the pain is worth the price. If there ever was a description that most accurately represented him, it was determined. He would prove his worthiness crawling on his hands and knees until he gained what he wanted.

And proved, he certainly did. Archie intentionally went out of his way in order to develop an unusual relationship with the vampire who held his leash unheard of with other familiars. He knew when to speak when spoken to, yes, but he also wasn't afraid to chime in his opinions or sarcasm. Even the slightly flirtatious glances he threw Kaia's direction from time to time could cause gasps from his contemporaries. By some divine miracle, pushing the limits didn't result in a shredded throat as one anticipated.

Archie stepped into the parlor with hands formally folded behind his back, the cream knit sweater he had been donning painted scarlet red that absolutely ruined the fabric. "I took out the trash as you instructed, Mistress. The woodchipper will need another deep cleaning tomorrow." He pressed his lips together thoughtfully and shook his head to dismiss the next day's chore. Blood and guts were difficult to remove sometimes. "Is there anything else you wish of me before I retire for the night? Another midnight snack, a bath drawn, the company of my face, perhaps?"

[taintedbloom]

"Of course, we all know that women obviously run the world." If Natalie ever plucked the confidence and the opportunistic moment in which popping the question would fit in the grand scheme, she would happily drop down to one knee and propose. Though, however she may have planned on doing it required precise planning and absolutely nothing spontaneous while also offering Dominik no indication to her arrangement. He knew the blonde's tells as well as she knew his and no doubt any guessing Dom would provide ruined the surprise element.

"Is that so?" Natalie touched an index finger to her scarlet-tinted lips and glanced in the door's direction, pretending Kaia's comparison would summon Archibald himself. "You can't lure in the masses without being undeniably charming and quite sociable. Add on an extra dose of teasing and it's the perfect treat." No wonder she and Archie will mesh with no issues. "I'm one hundred percent taking that as an ultimate compliment." The man seemed ten times smoother and cooler than she could ever hope to reach, sharing common traits definitely wasn't an insult.

"I see. Well," Natalie slowly swung around the foot of the bed and rested her palm along one of the frame's bedposts, closing the space between her and Kaia at a comfortable length. "Just in case our boys do somehow become less possessive and more open to sharing, it could be our little secret between two special friends." Nat experimented in high school, surprised to discover that, yes, she awakened an attraction and new appreciation for women as a whole. The men up until Dominik only further fueled that fire. "Either way, Kaia, you will know where to find me."

kaia hummed, " well, I'm a feminist, I believe you should be able to pop the question if you want to. " she grinned, slipping her hand over the bed sheets as natalie took in the room. she seemed happy with the offer, and kaia was just glad not to have an empty home anymore. she glanced up as natalie spoke, her lips curving up into a slow smile, offering a playful roll of her eyes at the comment.

" you know, natalie, the more I get to know you, the more I think it's you who's like my archie, not dominik. " she wasn't criticizing, she fell in love with the man for a reason. natalie just had that playfulness about her that was undeniable, and not so different to how archie, himself, was.

the idea was charming, it wasn't as if kaia had ever considered herself straight. she'd dated both men and women frequently before meeting archie, and the idea of hooking up with natalie was rather intriguing, although she'd never exactly had the energy for anybody else, maybe they could be fun friends. " I don't know about that, " she hummed playfully, " as tempting as that is, I don't think either of our boys do very good with sharing. "

[taintedbloom]

Archie wasn't certain how she would play this, continue the unrelenting charade or watch as her every defensive action slipped through her fingers. He wasn't expecting her to immediately fall into bed with him, though he couldn't say he'd ever complain one way or another, but Kaia would carry her reasons of hatred as long as she understood they were partners now raising a child. "It must be lost on you then that I have, in fact, thought of everything." Including the risks in which Archibald became a willing participant taking those first couple steps into fatherhood.

Even if it was merely a flicker of Kaia's contempt disappearing for just that moment alone, Archie clung to his ability to sense a possible growing attraction the woman may not have realized was already summoning to the surface. Altogether brief, unfortunately, his Kaia resolvedly fortified her walls. "With pleasure. I can live with that." Archibald crossed the remainder of the kitchen and turned around on his heel as soon as he reached the doorframe, appreciating the brunette intensely for a pause. He really could stare at this irresistible woman all day. "Let's scurry along now, go get dressed. It's time for our first family outing."

______

The rest of the day went off mostly without a hitch, Cora managed to convince her father in dragging the three of them to the park despite the weather growing far too chilly spending more than a couple hours at the playground. They then stopped by the library for a few children's books and made their way to the grocery store where the trio spent too much time browsing the toy section before Cora found one to her satisfaction. Archie couldn't deny that allowing Kaia the private moments with her niece was as heartwarming as it was moderately difficult when the last three years had been just them two fortifying a strong bond, only his affection and praise showering the child. Minor jealousy and abruption to routine aside, he reminded himself this is something he initiated inviting Kaia on as a second parental figure.

Dinner advanced forward, which mainly consisted of Archie watching Kaia interact with the only person she could probably stand to be in the same room with at the mansion before the evening died down and brought about Cora's bedtime. He lowkey selfishly stole the lead on tucking her in partly because it became an activity he couldn't break even for Kaia's presence, but he at least permitted her to kiss the young girl good night. once his daughter was well and asleep, Archie slowly closed the door behind him and Kaia. "Out like a light in record time. Impressive." He hummed, eyes scanning the woman in short silent regard. "I know you probably cannot wait until the day I might get hit by a bus, baby, but you also can't tell me you didn't have fun today."

kaia knew that she had no leg to stand on here, had the roles been reversed, and they wouldn't, because she was not insane., but had they been, she probably would have never been able to let him out of her sight, much less trusted him to maintain a job. the woman deflated, chewing her lower lip as s he sconsidered what this all meant. she may not have been archie's hostage, but she did not have a choice here. it was cora, or her life.

she rocked back on her heels, releasing her defence had fallen apart at the seams. she opened her mouth to object regardless, but found herself falling short when the man stepped closer to her. she didn't back away, or demand space, she didn't even pull him for the pet name as she looked back at him. kaia did, however, narrow her eyes at his words, " maybe you should've thought about that before you decided you wanted to be a father. "

the woman glanced him up and down at close proximity, he smelled intoxicating, and she couldn't deny that he had striking good looks. he was giving her the illusion of power, and for now, that was enough to not make her feel like she was losing her mind. kaia let out a gentle sigh when he breathed in her ear, shaking her head when he finally moved away, " you'll need to grow accustomed to my foot up your ass then, archibald. "

[taintedbloom]

The way his gaze scanned her sent a coursing blast of a familiar emotion associated with Dominik in the past Natalie would do just about anything to tamper, hunger, instinctual hunger that was perfectly programmed within the blonde. Any discomfort still remained, but he carried a way of pulling her in every moment. And Nat? She hated it as much as she welcomed it. "I don't need anyone thinking they know me better than I would. I know who I am. I'm not like you. I'm..." There was a note of hesitancy, a sliver of doubt bubbling within. "A good person." No, Natalie, maybe you're not. Maybe you aren't as good of a girl as you believe and that's the point he's trying to make.

"Now look who's distrustful of who." Natalie resigned herself in playing her role and slid into the stool, wasting no time as Dominik found his spot beside her before she began tossing the questions, "Do you have any actual family? Any siblings? Anyone who knows the real you? Was anything you told me about you even true? When did you decide killing was a necessity? Why me?" She finally paused to breathe a short sigh, "Who is the true Dominik Darcy? The generous introvert with a charming smile? Or the survivalist?"

Nat allowed the inquisitive air linger as she nibbled at the sandwich and set the rest aside after polishing off a half of it. "How did you want this to go, Dom?" The sarcastic bite was returning to her tone, yet, she found the strength to turn it down a few notches, "If you know me better than I know myself, then you knew I wouldn't play submissive and can't resist picking until I found what I was searching for. See, I think what you did at the cabin was not quite an afterthought, but a forced hand." God, why could she speak of this with such nonchalance? "You did what you thought you had to do."

they had reached something of an impasse, nothing more could be said or done right now to ease the atmosphere, all they could do was agree to a truce until the sun rose and natalie had at least gotten some rest. dominik, after all, was of perfectly sound mind, he didn't really feel the desperation for rest, his mind would not change, not tonight and not tomorrow. it wasn't the best way to build a relationship, but there wasn't much he could do about this now.

he plated up her food, pausing at natalie's statement,. he tapped his finger against the counter top and then turned slowly, lifting her plate with his free hand and pausing to look her over. natalie looked uncomfortable, it was a sham., " you want to know me? " dom cocked his head to the side, amusement touched his features, " fine, although, I think I know you fairly well, natalie. maybe even better than you know yourself. "

the man placed her food on the breakfast bar and gestured for her to take a seat. " okay, what do you want to know? although, you know, the more I tell you, the less I trust you, nat. " dominik rounded the counter and sat down beside her, looking her over, " this is not how I wanted his to go, would you believe? "

[taintedbloom]

Kira stepped through the doorway as quickly as possible, feeling foolish with how she could possibly be this embarrassed when there is absolutely nothing that she needed to be embarrassed about. They were two consenting grown ups who found comfort in each other's company and here they were sneaking around like a couple of rebellious lovesick teenagers by a simple design that was her own making. She dreaded Archie's opinion on the matter, but to cause the worst blow was certainly Kaia's thoughts. What exactly would her sister think of the sibling she cherished, lying and playing pretend the man she fooled with is the same one Kira openly admitted her detested feelings for in the past?

If Teddy's reaction indicated anything, maybe Kaia wouldn't hold such harsh judgements, after all. Kira imagined herself in her nephew's shoes, only just discovering his father's brother and his mother's sister were lowkey dating must have sounded peculiar, it would sound immensely strange to her as well. The situation took this to an interesting level of keeping it in the family. "Okay, first, longer than you think. Secondly," Kira paused as she placed the box containing teddy's present in her hands on a side table before slowly turning around, "How about the undying gratitude of your favorite aunt and uncle? And maybe an extra hundred bucks of bribing for Christmas."

She sighed, "Look, Teddy, you're equal parts Devereaux and Morris. It's majorly about pride on my end." Kira glanced in Grayson's direction, shooting him a tight smile and returning her gaze to the younger male, "I'm not your father's biggest...fan either. It'd make me a hypocrite." She wasn't oblivious to that fact, at least. Showing a dislike for one brother and then shacking with the other was somewhat hypocritical. "Thank you. I wasn't looking forward to kicking you under the table at dinner if those lips weren't sealed."

teddy stepped aside, letting both of them inside the house without losing any ounce of his amusement. he knew that maybe it would have been funny to blow this up, to see his mother and father's reaction to finding out that their siblings had found just as much comfort in one another as they had. it was definitely gross, but it was funny at the same time.

grayson found this just as amusing as the youngest devereaux did, and he followed kira into the house as she did damage control. his own eyes swept the surrounding areas to make sure they were completely alone. he knew that he didn't exactly mind if his brother found out, but it as important to kira that this remained a secret until they figured out what it w as they were doing. he would admit to himself that he was enjoying the sneaking around too.

teddy hummed, tipping his head to the side, " a secret? for how long and also... more importantly, what's it worth? " he was teasing, and it showed. his lips remained pulled up into a wide grin as he leaned against the doorway to the living room, " what's the secret, you're both adults? " he questioned, " but yes, I guess I can keep it a secret. "

[taintedbloom]

Archibald maintained a stoic front at the first simmering spark from the woman invited forth by his implications, at least, he knew Kaia placed the two dots together. No bartending meant no distractions, no distractions meant ample opportunity sneaking past her defenses until she saw nothing resembling any other choice that allowed him to walk through those gates. Unfair, surely, especially since he could freely return to his career at any given moment, but life's unfair as they both understood. It is a balance from Archie's perspective, granting Kaia her freedom while showing who was really in control. And it definitely was not her.

Archie couldn't contain the same lustful glint in his eyes to shine brightly as the brunette closed their minimal distance, completely ignoring how the monster burrowed within him growled viciously to trail his fingers along her jawline or to take one step closer and taste her lips in which the woman's lashing words graced beautifully. Damn his desires. "I do so hope you're finished now, love." The man stated sarcastically after a brief pause once he was absolutely positive she spoke her piece in full. "Firstly, do you see yourself locked away in a room bound by chains under complete house arrest? Have I given you some impression you can't leave this home for walks or, say, a trip to the grocery store?" He didn't wait for the answer, "No. I haven't."

"Second, imagine yourself for a moment in my shoes. Hard as you may find it." His gaze flickered downwards, landing on Kaia's mouth again briefly and rising to her features, "I have been doing this job since I was seventeen, Kaia. You cannot begin to comprehend the risks I am taking inviting you into this house, into my life, around the girl I've spent the last three years keeping hidden from the authorities. As much as I would like to trust you'll continue the charade nothing's wrong, I'm afraid I don't quite yet." He sighed wistfully, a frigid coldness in his tone returning, "People will ask questions and bad things happen when they do. I'm not always this patient...or merciful for anyone else who gets in my way."

"And last but certainly not least," Archie shifted one step closer, sincerity and seductive manner ever present. "I don't mind as much flattering myself with utter honesty that I would crawl on my hands and knees to call you mine. I make no effort concealing what I want as you know, but your company here isn't merely reduced to just my carnal needs." However strong those feelings persevered sometimes, that is. "You belong to no one, love, yet here's the thing. You hone a power to make me belong to you if any desire seeing yours truly die somehow trickled away. I've yet to understand how." The thought caused his brow to furrow slightly with a hint of perplexment. "Oh, and for the record," Archie wiped the confusion away and dared to lean forward, breathing the last statement in her ear without touching Kaia, "That bit about being the nanny? It was a joke." The man breathed a chuckle with the shake of his head as he moved to walk around her casually, "You'll grow accustomed to the humor in time, darling."

she decided not to think about the lengths archie would be willing to go if anybody from kaia's life came sticking their nose in, luckily she had given very little to her current partner to let him know which path she had taken on her seemingly ( at the time ) never ending pursuit of finding kira's killer. she had hoped he wouldn't come looking, maybe even prayed for it, but kaia didn't believe for a second that leo was dumb enough to go digging where he was unwelcome.

she stared back at him with his words, soft like silk, and equally as seductive. archie was doing his best to knock down her walls but kaia wouldn't cave, not yet, not ever if she had her way , but she didn't envision her defence lasting a lifetime, eventually there would be some give and she'd hate every moment of it. kaia merely rolled her eyes at his offer, but it was his following statement that caused her to stiffen.

" necessary? " she repeated, realising that his words were not a suggestion. archie may have implied a choice in his words, but kaia understood now that there wasn't a choice there. " am I your prisoner now? " kaia questioned, cocking her head to the side, " you want to co-parent a child together, and your plan is to hold me hostage? " she stepped closer to him, unsure where the bravery came from, although she suspected it was years of angry feminism bubbling beneath the surface.

" I am here for cora, but I do not belong to you. if you want to ever reach a point of me not hoping you'll die, you're gonna have to stop acting like I'm an employee for you. " she narrowed her eyes, " she's my niece, I'm not her nanny, and I do not work for you. " kaia didn't actually mind the idea of not working, she would have happily given up her job for cora, but that didn't mean she was going to act like it was privilege to be threatened.

[taintedbloom]

"Seriously, every time he bends down, my mind immediately assumes he's seconds from proposing. Maybe I should be the one to pop the question first." Who cared about convention when she and Dominik were the furthest from a conventional couple anyway? If their dynamic are anything to base the opinion around, Kaia and her partner didn't remain on a path of status quo either considering how Archie created this little family of his by no average standard. That's what made the couples click well, their similarities and obsessions, due in no part to anything society considered healthy. Nat succumbed to her love story and the other woman all but relented as well.

It must have been quite difficult for Kaia, from where Natalie stood, wandering the halls while her significant other partook in a job that required killing as an income and perhaps worry whether he would return home. In contrast, Dominik murdered by choice and, yes, she might've also indulged doing so with pleasure as the male coddled her dark side. Maybe he could learn a thing or two from Archie, make a career out of his blood-soaked hands, but small baby steps. It was all part of the journey for the couples becoming acquainted and trusting of each other.

Natalie gently bit on her lower lip, pretending she was fearing the worst and anxiously awaiting the approval. "I totally wouldn't be shell shocked if every room in this mcmansion was covered in dust from disuse. All the grandeur and haughtiness imaginable, how very Devereaux." She rolled her eyes as they left the child's room and reentered another close by, a guest bedroom that clearly hasn't ever been occupied by guests. Why possess rooms for visitors when you don't host actual visitors? A show of wealth, that is the reason. "This'll do perfectly." Nat ventured over to the bed and ran a hand along the fabric of the duvet before turning around, "Just so you know, you and Archie are free to sneak into our room at night." She playfully winked at the woman, slightly joking when she pondered whether Dom was willing to share, but honestly? She wouldn't mind it.

" ah, the proposal, that's always an excitement, right? " it had never been on kaia's mind, she imagined they were much too preoccupied with the child they had to be concerned about their relationship milestones. maybe she was missing out, it was hard to focus on any one thing in particular, they'd already gone through so much in their time togethher that considering anything more serious than what they'd already endured seeemd crazy o kaia.

the woman watched as natalie thoughtfully rested her hand on her stomach, stifling a laugh at how quickly she'd become enamoured by the idea of starting a family with dominik they were sweet, that much was for sure, almost too sweet -- sickly sweet, enough to give the average person a toothache. maybe she and archie could be that way, or maybe kaia was just so out of touch with how normal, healthy relationships were that natalie seemed like a love struck teenager.

she envied the other's bubbly nature, hoping it would rub off on her, she found herself laughing once more at natalie's enthusiasm. " nah, he'll be fine, besides, what use is this house if we don't have people stay? " she lead natalie out of the baby's room and across the hall into a spare room with an ensuite. just as everything else in the house, it was decorated floor to ceiling in glamour; the same subtle but clearly expensive decor that followed the rest of the house, though a touch less personal than kaia's own bedroom here.

[taintedbloom]

With the speed in which technology advanced, a social media presence made the lives of those whose sole career is stalking that much easier when it was right at his fingertips. Kaia's accounts offered him a sense of who the woman was, her interests, her mannerisms, and particularly much to his undeniable chagrin, the dating life with that boyfriend of hers. When he wasn't obsessing over the woman's photos, Archie spent many shamelessly late evenings after tucking Cora into bed digging through any information he could ensnare on Leo. Every comment the lovesick little boy left on his girlfriend's posts was a dagger to Archibald's heart and a knife of betrayal to his back over and over again. How dare that idiot think he could love and support, cherish and worship Kaia the way she deserved, more than the assassin could?

Yet, Archie did not require metaphorically pointing the gun at Leo's temple for Kaia to behave herself. They both knew the real reason keeping her here can slip from her grasp quite easily and nothing the man will hesitate doing if he somehow loosened the reins for the briefest of moments. The friends Kaia abandoned will wonder why she severed the ties, but they will surely assume grief sent her on a depressive path. Love would drive Leo insane, though, and nothing stops him from sticking his nose where it didn't belong. Archibald already sorted a perfect plan for him, he'd take no pleasure in it ridding them both of the oblivious fool, or perhaps...he would. Kaia didn't need the details.

Her answer was incredibly unsatisfactory and Archie therefore couldn't waste the energy pretending the frustration did not touch his features. Here he is, providing an unlimited opportunity to possess the world on a string and she wanted nothing. "No, you want something I can't offer. Nothing I hold the power to change, but if you wish for nothing, then I cannot force you." It does not mean he couldn't urge the woman in entertaining her deep indulgences. Whispered desires Kaia couldn't allow to enter his knowledge. "Darling, I strongly advise against returning to work. Send in your resignation, tell them you found another higher paying job...like a live-in nanny." Archie's lips twitched with amusement. "I'm all for a working girl, but it's no longer necessary. Cora should be your main focus now unless I didn't make that perfectly clear."

kaia wasn't sure how much archie knew, though she knew it would be foolish to assume he didn't know everything that was possible to find out just from looking her up online. she and her boyfriend had been public, as had she and her friends with her social life. of course, since losing kira, kaia's life had been less that fruitful in the friends department. they had attempted to be there for her for a while, but when she lost sense of reason, they drifted apart. her boyfriend, however, had become incessantly supportive, and had always wanted to do what he could to be the person she could lean on. the only issue with that, however, was that kaia couldn't focus on him. she cared for him of course, but any belief she had in their relationship progressing had died with her sister.

being here now was the last nail in the coffin for her life outside of this home, kaia knew that. making the decision to stay here with cora meant cutting all ties with her previous life. she wondered if her friends would care much now, maybe the odd one or two would reach out, but eventually they'd give up. her concern rested with leo, who had never been anything short of a night in shining armour. one who wouldn't survive if archie considered him a threat in any way shape or form. she hoped that her dismissal of acknowledging him, her radio silence on the matter would be enough to convince leo to let it go, let her go without fuss.

kaia began to wash up, pausing at his offer and frowning at the way it was phrased. she understood that this must have been his only bridge between human emotion and an apology. he couldn't bring back kira, nor would he, but he could offer kaia material objects to soothe her woes, to encourage her to forget what brought them togehter in the first place. a frown touched her features as she shook her head, " I don't want anything. " she stepped around him, " I took the weekend off work, but I'm gonna have to go back eventually. just so you know. "

[taintedbloom]

Natalie ignored his mockery, she did not appreciate it in the least, but she did her best to ignore what the man supposedly found entertaining by her words. She still hadn't completely made up her mind on her relationship with Dean, if breaking off years' worth of dating was the only way to spare his life or if any decision she chose mattered little in the long run. Allowing the chips fall where they may land produced a temptation the blonde couldn't deny she would have succumbed for, heartless as it appeared, doing nothing as Dominik removed Dean from very existence technically solved her problems. No more screaming matches, no more abuse, no sickening thoughts about settling down with him.

The only real choice needing made Natalie realized mattered the most was the sacrifice of her freedom. Sure, Dom dangled an ultimatum under her very nose, become the wedge between the two men or suffer in the same way her friends had perished, breath slowly leaving their bodies and choking on their own blood. Yet, her guaranteed silence also weighed a heavy price for Dominik. If it was in his best interests for Dean to stay as far away as possible, Nat needed to borrow his phone and convince her boyfriend not to come looking. At least, he'd know she was still alive. That was a risk from his perspective, she knew, but perhaps it was the only option.

"Try again tomorrow." The statement hung in the air, an uncertainty flooding the blonde the meaning behind it. Natalie didn't question the words as she followed him back into the living room and waited while Dominik prepared her late night dinner. The area was cozy now that she freely took the opportunity to appreciate the decor, despite the simplicity of the design. This place wasn't meant as a vacation home, but it would unfortunately be hers for the time being. "Well, you did know your way around the kitchen." She replied, making her way through the doorframe separating the sitting area and the aforementioned kitchen. "I'll get that myself, thank you very much."

Nat began yanking open a few of the cabinets until she found the glasses. Filling it with water from the sink, she turned around and uneasily leaned against it while her gaze followed Dom. She was silent for a moment, sipping her water and releasing a content relieved sigh. She didn't realize how dry her throat had been. "What happens now?" The blonde inquired. "I stay here with you for days, weeks, until I have this epiphany you think I'm bound to have. I understand that, but there's this other layer to you I don't know." An index finger tapped her glass thoughtfully, "So, if we want this to work, Dominik, then we need to know each other better than I thought I did."

he rolled his eyes, amusement touched his features but it wasn't the mellowed, warm kind of amusement natalie had experienced in the past. it wasn't his wrathful, sadistic laughter that was offered in response to begs for her friends lives. no, this was much less amused. this was cold. a shell of his usual honey-eyed gaze and pearly white teeth. he had no amusement, after all, and his instinctive chuckle had been an automatic reply to her words. " considering, " he repeated in an exaggerated voice, mimicking may have been the lesser form of wit, but it seemed ridiculous to him that she would merely consider ending a relationship that brought her nothing but pain.

dom did his best to distance them now, to understand in his head that although he knew, deep in her core, that natalie understood how perfectly matched they were, he was willing to let this go, just like he'd let all the others go. he'd hate to do it, but he'd put himself back together again, he always could. natalie could undo him, but he had the tools and the knowledge, and the capability of rebuilding his life again. that was what was beneficial him about living a life under the radar, natalie saw lies, he saw survival.

the close proximity had allowed him to witness the dilation of her pupils, the subtle but present flush of her cheeks and chest. she couldn't stop her body's physical reaction to him even if her tongue was sharp. natalie wanted him, and dominik hadn't needed that clarification to see that, he could see it always, but his love was hell bent on playing the martyr, and he'd allow that, for tonight at least. any further argument he gave here would only push her further away.

it left an intense question hanging between them, either natalie understood, accepted and kept her boyfriend away from dominik, or he killed her and him, burned their bodies and moved on with his life. that wasn't a choice at all now, was it? his implicated terms for natalie's stay were sure to unravel at some point, natalie would pick and pick until she found herself accepting the truth, but the journey would not be a fun one, that was for sure.

" enough for the night, now. neither of us see the other side, it's better to eat, rest, and try again tomorrow. " he lead natalie back out into the main sitting area, and disappeared into the kitchen. " you never complained about my cooking before, " he pointed out, starting to reheat her meal. dominik thought about bringing up the inevitable, her boyfriend would come looking for her eventually, but he wouldn't find this place without natalie's say so, natalie hadn't even known it existed before, but that was the whole point. he thought better of it, " drink? "

[taintedbloom]

It seemed to happen in slow motion, really, Kira stumbled upon a reckless aspect of her personality and made an assumption that quite literally made an ass of herself. She could almost see the thought process coating her nephew's features, most likely the confusion would be the first emotion, anger that his aunt and uncle harbored a secret relationship for this long, followed by this need to spill everything to the parents. That wasn't Teddy, though. Whatever reaction Kira anticipated from her nephew was not what was presented to her and Grayson.

Kira froze for a moment, her eyes briefly shifted to the older man she was sucking face with as Theo described and then rested on the younger Devereaux man with an eyebrow cocked in surprise. What kind of excuse could she even use to explain away this predicament? That there was something on Grayson's lips and she was helping by removing it? Teddy wasn't stupid and neither were the two lovebirds. "Okay, so, it might be exactly what it looks like. Laugh it up while you can." Kira mumbled, clutching the box in her hands closer as if it were her only distracting life line. "I know you have questions, but we shouldn't do it out here."

The woman peered inside the house behind him, catching no sight of either Archie or her sister, thank god to all that is holy. "Listen, Teddy," Kira paused with embarrassment coloring her cheeks. Was the temperature outside rising or was it merely the fact all pretenses were ruined by one little mistake and from her own doing? "Can we keep this between the three of us? Your parents would fucking freak out if they knew what we did behind their backs."

teddy never really felt as though he could fit in with this family, even as a child he suffered to match his father's expectations. archie liked to pretend he placed no pressure on his son, but that wasn't the case, even in silence, teddy knew he was disappointing him. his mother, however, was the opposite, she appreciated everything he did to a near suffocating level. they were alike, of course, or so he heard, not that he ever really saw that side of his mother.

he didn't understand the dynamics in his family, it seemed as in love as his parents were, there was one underlying issue neither of them were willing to face. even his aunt and uncle, as more bearable as they were in comparison to his parents, were always at one another's throats. there was something fundamentally wrong about morris women and devereaux men. he'd have that same issue, he imagined, when it came to him meeting someone, considering he had both wars living inside of him.

teddy was hoping cora would be in attendance that evening, the family dinners never really turned out well. kira would argue with his father, or his uncle. or his father and uncle would argue. or his mom and aunt would have silent conversations and kick each other under the table. it was irritating beyond belief, but this was his family, his crazy, nonsensical family.

when the door finally rang, teddy looked up from his spot by in front of the tv, his computer sitting in his lap and his headphones concealing his ears from his mother and fathers childlike laughter in the kitchen. he realised nobody else was coming to answer the door, and got up with a sigh, pulling it open and pausing when he was greeted with the most unusual sight.

" what the fuck? " he breathed, his hand resting on the open door as his brows knit together. it took him a moment, but eventually a smile spread across theo's face, " no way. no fucking way. " he laughed as he took a step back, " I think it's exactly what it looks like, you two were sucking face, and right outside the door? come on. "

[taintedbloom]

Venom // Archie & Kira

Archie adjusted the strap of his weapons bag over his shoulder as he entered the house, sighing with immense exhaustion from the evening's busy activities and in desperate need of a hot shower after an hours long surveillance run. The same old routine when Kaia picked up a late night shift at work which left their four year old son Theodore in the hands of his aunt. He personally never held a qualm with Kira who treated his son as if he were her own child, but she was rather foolish to think she was slick in concealing a distaste for the man her sister married. Unfortunate, really, Archie put forth so much effort maintaining a polite front only for all attempts to be a shameful waste.

He caught sight of Kira seated on the living room couch with the television switched on, unmistakable brunette locks wrapped in a messy bun that reminded Archie of the similar hairstyle Kaia sported when exercising or the particularly stressful days with Teddy. Her head slightly turned hearing his footsteps, but she didn't bother sparing him a single glance or even a proper greeting. He understood her frustration, one hundred percent her reasons were valid, yet his relationship with Kaia wasn't new. The marriage may have settled in its infancy and despite that, Kira didn't behave this frigid towards him during the dating period. He couldn't exactly prove and point an accusatory finger, but his gut told him the newfound passive aggressiveness began with Teddy's birth. "Kira." The man acknowledged her presence.

"Archibald." Kira finally reverted her gaze from the screen long enough to watch her brother-in-law make a full beeline for the stairs, barely placing his foot on the first step when it appeared the less than enthusiastic response spilled from her lips gave him a moment of hesitation. Her gaze flickered to the bag he carried, knowing precisely what was contained within it and far from appreciating the fact he stored it in the house where a toddler could stumble upon it. Paranoid the assassin could be so careless? Maybe. Overprotective when the situation concerned family? Absolutely.

The contemplation Archie grappled with soon passed and he slowly turned around, placing down the bag beside his feet. "If I may be blunt, which I always am, you've displayed a rather foul attitude towards me as of late and I cannot for the life I hold figure out the reason why." He pushed off from the banister and folded his arms across his chest, taking a few steps forward, "Pray tell, love, have I done something to offend you? I do possess a knack for pissing off the wrong people, but with you, it's as if I've done nothing right."

Kira expected him to vanish upstairs without a trace, hole himself in his office or whatever he did after returning home from what he deemed a career, but no, he decided the best route was addressing the painfully obvious elephant in the room. "Weird, I thought you'd be familiar with an older sibling's cold shoulder." She hated bringing Grayson into this, but it was no less true. "We really don't have to discuss this, Archie, you're just seeing something that isn't there."

"Do not gaslight me, Kira." Archie ignored the mention of his brother, shockingly holding the clever quip the woman would know Grayson better than him these days, that was a can of worms he'd rather keep concealed for another time. "I am not the one who barely shares a glance when we're in the same room together or rebukes any opportunity I present at conversation. I mean," He breathed a sardonic scoff, "You act as if you would rather pass a hernia than share the same air as me."

"You really want honesty? Since, you know, I've displayed what you've coined a rather foul attitude." Kira leaned her elbow along the couch's armrest as the male hummed his confirmation for the truth. "I consider myself a pretty patient person. Kind, generous, all traits easily taken advantage of and I'm aware of the fact. I tend to look for the good in others even when they don't really deserve the second chance. Take you, for example," She gestured towards him, "I was hesitant about you, but I trusted my sister more and I've always...respected her decision. Even turned the other cheek when I found out what you do as a job for her." Kira sighed. "I'm happy for Kaia, I am, but I'm fully realizing that you still don't understand the damage you've caused in your wake since meeting us."

Archie awaited her response and like every Morris, Kira did not disappoint. Her assessment of herself was rather accurate especially when kindness and a bleeding heart were indeed weaknesses he has exploited more than he would ever admit to in his lifetime. Kira played the well-mannered older sister supportive of her sibling's choice of a life partner rather well, but the scales tipped unfavorably once the dark truth unraveled.

Meeting Kaia was no mistake, her brother-in-law's death wasn't a burglary gone wrong as the authorities suspected, soon after did he notice Kira's behavior warp. If she tolerated him before, she was barely managing it now. "You underestimate how much I can comprehend what I did. I understand how wrong it was, I'm just incapable of shame over it. I've even told Kaia the same thing." He spoke candidly as his head canted to the side, slight amusement sparking, "This isn't really about your husband, is it? No." Archibald's tone lowered an octave before he stepped in front of the television screen, eliminating one of Kira's excuses to avoid his gaze or the topic. "It's about Teddy."

Kira made her peace about her husband years prior, accepting that his death was a result of the choice he made and her daughter lost her father because of these decisions. Their marriage was crumbling, she was unhappy, but nothing excused Archie's brutal attack and overwhelming obsessions. When he blocked the screen, it provided the woman a perfect view of a specific glint in his eye that toed the line between mischievous and dangerous. Even for a moment, Kira's sound rationale faltered even though she knew he wouldn't dare harm her. "Partly." She pushed herself to a standing position and placed her hands on her hips, "You're so quick to articulate how he is going to be just like you someday. Know what that's code for, Archie? You want your son to desperately follow in your footsteps, continue your legacy, no matter how coated in blood it is."

"Correct me if I'm wrong, love, but it sounds as if you're telling me how to raise my son." Archie lifted his eyes upward towards the ceiling, almost boring a hole through where Teddy was sleeping soundly in his room. His gaze finally settled on the dark-haired woman. "Do I tell you how to raise Cora? Or does this concern stem from an abundance of jealousy over the fact your daughter would rather spend her time with her uncle than her own mother? Trust me, Kira, she has quite the curiosity." He was no longer presenting a cordial approach, with genuine Devereaux flair, the arrogance seeped from the man's pores. Oh, but Archibald would hear an earful about this when Kaia arrived home. "Scares you, doesn't it? How more and more like me she's becoming?"

"And there's the manipulation you pretend to hide so well." The Morris women were feisty, strong-willed, stubborn, and she wasn't an exception. She mostly played the mediating voice of reason holding her sister back from doing something reckless, but hell hath no fury like a scorned Kira when someone attempted to crawl under her skin utilizing her daughter as a weapon. "I know you have difficulty connecting very common humanity dots, so allow me to spell it out for you as civilly as I can in the likely off-chance you have this whole thing twisted." Kira placed her palms together and touched her fingers to her lips with a brief pause. "If you take away Teddy's choice on how he dictates his life, he will hate you forever. He may have your hair and your looks, but that temper I'm already seeing is all Morris. As for my daughter," She closed the distance, head held high with confidence her mother would've almost been proud of. "I'm not the violent sister, but I would rather smother you in your sleep than watch Cora become a killer who possesses the emotional range of a damn teaspoon."

If there is one lesson in his years spent wrapped around Kaia's finger and engrossed by a family he has chosen to insert himself into, you never interrupt when Kaia or her sister steamrolled through a ranting tirade lest you guarantee suffering the temperamental consequences. Archibald distinctly hit a nerve with Kira, striking where he knew her weaknesses lie, because it was a talent he was extraordinary at. It wasn't intentional when he walked through the door and purposefully picked a fight with his sister-in-law, but like his wife, she found the proper channel summoning a rise out of him. "Your words hold truth, Kira, however it's best if you practice what you preach. Plainly isn't my prerogative to vanquish my son's choice nor is it yours to take Cora's away. And yet..." Archie sarcastically waved a hand between them. If his niece garnered interest and asked for lessons in the future, he couldn't deny her wishes. "At least I'm not hypocritical."

Kira's gaze searched his expression for a flicker of the silent pause, sensing the fight and exhaustion overtaking her. He can't be reasoned with and nothing changed his mind or perspective, no matter how hard she pushed. "Archie sees only what he wants to see. I guess we're right back where we started." She nodded once and took a step back in resignation. This really wasn't worth the calories she spent arguing with him. "You know what? Can't say I didn't make the effort." Kira began fiddling with the blanket she was using and adjusting the couch's cushions before locating her purse. "I should head home, Arch, it's getting late. I'd hate to impose more than I already have."

"Kira, you really don't-" Archie interrupted his own statement before throwing up an arm of defeat, turning around himself and approaching the stairs for the second time that evening. They forever stood at an impasse neither could agreeably cross. Differing views about their children, about the course of their lives, about who was in the moral right and wrong. "As you've said, I'm accustomed to a sibling throwing me the cold shoulder."

"Archie," The man turned to glance over his shoulder, peering at the elder Morris with tiredness overcoming his normally stoic features as she continued, "I hope you found what you were looking for." The reason behind her behavior, perfectly plain in black and white for Archie's consumption. True, yes, her problem originated from losing her husband and watching her sister marry the person responsible before having his child. It could involve what Archie deeply desired Teddy to grow up as or finding the bonding with his niece fulfilled the dream regardless, but the real stone cold fact? All roads led to him. His darkness, his selfish intentions, despite caring about his family. Becoming a husband and father changed nothing.

Kira left him with the tough pill to swallow as she exited the living room, her own justifiable intentions clear. Force the mirror in front of Archie's face until he saw the gospel truth. There was poison in his blood and it's spreading, slowly spreading, infecting nearly everyone living near his merciless orbit. And nothing made him or Kira feel more powerless.

[taintedbloom]

Kira always prided herself as the model eldest daughter in her family. She was beloved by her teachers, envied by some of her classmates even though she shared kindness towards everyone she came into contact with, and still managed to tolerate the excruciating strict household her parents shrouded above the entire family. An attempt at a rivalry between sisters as if they were pawns for entertainment was unsuccessful which allowed her relationship with Kaia to thrive the most. The close bond spanned through their adulthood when Kira married and gave birth to her daughter Cora. All was still well for the woman from those few years moving forward until tragedy struck the family she was building. While her and Cora spent the entire day shopping for the upcoming holidays, someone broke into the house and murdered her husband in cold blood. She didn't know it at the time, but an assassin had targeted the man and kickstarted a saga that involved her sister in ways she couldn't fathom.

To say the fates of the Devereaux siblings and that of the Morris sisters were seemingly written into the fabric of reality was a vast understatement. Kira loved her sister more than anything, more than life itself, so much so that any man she brought home was never enough. Those boyfriends weren't the cleanest in terms of reputation, earning their parents' disapproval at every turn, and she knew Kaia accomplished this dramatic feat on purpose. The rebellious side never ceased after the teenager years and nothing proved the case better than when her younger sister began dating Archie Devereaux. He was polite, certainly a true gentleman, but his arrogance left a rotten taste in her mouth she couldn't move past. Despite this, that didn't prevent Kaia from marrying and having a son with him.

Then there was the subject of Grayson. Just as arrogant as his brother, handsome, and a man Kira desperately denied falling for. It began innocently enough, showing manners and a flirtatious back-and-forth she thought she was too stubborn to be seduced by over the long years. Tumultuous, thrilling, but one single problem it hosted? An admittance of defeat on Kira's end, something she would rather take to her grave than confess her feelings for a Devereaux. She finally relented one day, though their relationship remained a secret even from Kaia who knew every part of her sister like her own hand. Kira wasn't ashamed necessarily, but the pride all Morris women possessed was the source of blame. So, it had been decided that she and Grayson needed to pretend as if they hated the other to make what the oldest siblings from two respective families were doing behind closed doors easier. The solution? Fool the world.

The only other person besides Kaia it hurt Kira more keeping the secret hidden from was Theodore. Her and Teddy always carried this level of understanding, particularly when the conversation matter concerned their shared frustrations with Archie's career choices. She knew about where his fortune came from, she knew Kaia loved him regardless, and she certainly knew the truth about the blood on his hands that brought Archie and her sister together. Yet, she was sworn to secrecy, just as her nephew had been. A family affair, one massive secret, at least it brought a little satisfaction for Kira that Theodore did not idolize the man the way her daughter had.

Teddy's birthday dinner brought her and Grayson to the Devereaux family's doorstep that evening. It might have been a mistake arriving together as every occasion previous saw the couple agree on showing up to parties at different times to prevent suspicion from arising, but Kira had grown so comfortable with obtaining the ruse, that her inhibitions slipped. It usually took a longer moment after ringing the doorbell before someone answered, so she couldn't resist leaning forward and pressing a kiss to Grayson's lips. What Kira hadn't counted on, however, was the quicker response from an occupant than usual. As she was breaking apart from the kiss, the door slowly opened, granting the person a perfect view of what just transpired. A sight one shouldn't witness from two people who supposedly despised each other. "Teddy!" Kira exclaimed, creating space between her and Grayson the minute her gaze landed on her nephew. The action almost caused the woman to drop his present. "I swear, it's not what it looks like."

@findmeinashes

[taintedbloom]

Natalie imagined placing herself in Kaia's position, losing her own sister would be heartbreaking and the unimaginable disappearance of a niece even more adding to the tragedy. And then not only discovering the latter was alive and adopted by someone Kaia eventually fell for was a baffling tale most flagged as psychotic, but it was an understanding outcome from the blonde's side of own craziness. Archie and Dominik did monstrous things, yes, that didn't mean they were complete monsters. With that thought in mind, Natalie veered from the subject of Kira for Kaia's sake, contesting her happiness as the main priority. Both women were familiar with death, there was no reason to offer a reminder.

Nat politely nodded in acknowledgement of the expressed gratitude, giving the bathroom one last passing glance before closely following the other woman's heels across the hallway and into a bedroom that instantly screamed the notion this one belonged to a young child. From the canopy hanging over the bed to the expensive-looking dollhouse Nat would have spent months begging her parents to buy, Cora had to realize how fortunate she was living with two loving caretakers who fulfilled every whim her heart desired. "I suppose there could be the argument about nature versus nurture. Children are sponges when it involves the people around them."

Natalie's eye caught the sight of a small music box on Cora's night stand, her hand immediately drifting to her stomach and imagination running rampant. "You're so sweet. I know Dominik has every capability to be an amazing father if he follows Archie's example. In all honesty, though, children might be in the near future. I've been getting this gut feeling Dom's going to propose soon." She accompanied the dark-haired woman back out of the room and wasted no time lighting up with delight at Kaia's suggestion. "Seriously?" Natalie glanced around with excitement at the prospect of using any high tech luxury she wasn't accustomed to. "I will happily occupy space you wish to fill with company and so will Dominik once I bribe him to stay. Are you sure Archie won't mind us crashing a night?"

kaia wanted to reflect on that moment with natalie, she wanted to point out that she was positively glowing at the idea of carrying dominik's child. prior to her life with archie, finding out that one of her friends was considering children was a cause for celebration, and she wanted to be happy for natalie now, but her heart was aching still over the mention of her sister. the woman forced a small smile, she definitely was amused by that idea, she had the same fear for any biological children she could have with archie, which was completely off the table for now.

she frowned slightly at natalie's comparison, but she imagined it couldn't have been all that fun to witness the brutal murder first hand. kaia bit her own lower lip and nodded slowly, " thank you, " she murmured, " I appreciate it. " the woman shifted to move out of the bathroom, leading natalie right across into cora's room. kaia knew she was well looked after, but it was never nice entering her empty room, it reminded her too much of her life before they were reunited, " surprisingly, though, cora is so much more like archie than she is like me or my sister. "

kaia looked around the room, it was every little girls dram to have a room like this a nd she knew it. " you should talk about kids, " she offered, " you'd be a really good mom, and dominik could surprise you. archie was made to be a dad, it just came naturally to him. " kaia lead natalie away from her daughter's room, " you and dom could spend the night if you didn't want to drive home, we have too much space. "