blood and venom

of all the places in this beautiful little town to enjoy, marley had taken a particular fancy to a small bar tucked away between the houses of crema. it was dark, dingy, and health an safety rules seemed non-existent, as made obvious by the clouds of smoke that made it diifcult to see past the end of your nose. mars pulled out a cigarette, rested it between his lips and spoke to the person beside him without looking, “got a light?” he hummed, handed one almost instantly, mars hummed a thank you and slid it in that direction, “man, I love crema.”

His urges were growing at an alarming rate. Taking a person no one would miss every now and then before destroying the evidence weren’t satisfying the cravings, though, it didn’t help those instances only happened a few months apart. Archie didn’t just want to kill more often, he needed to. Which is how he always ended up in the most shady establishments scoping out the dirtiest scum the world offered. He would work his way up eventually only to grab the chance witnessing the grieving families from the sidelines, but for now, a bar full of lowlifes would just have to do. “Love a guy who gets what he asked for. So demanding.” Archie took another puff from his cigar, watching as the white smoke mingled with the rest.

the days were getting longer, and warmer, once again, and it was always matteo’s favourite time of year, even without his usual choices of intoxication that used to follow the start of his summers. he decided to head outside instead of remaining cooped up while levi was at work, and it seemed the best idea for him. after lying in the sun, swimming in the lake, and gorging on fruits picked from trees on an unplanned hike, matteo was now sitting on a bench in the park, legs sprawled out in front of him, guitar resting on his thighs as he lighlty strummed on the chords, watching each person as they passed by.

That was the best part of being a business owner, Archie could close the vineyard for a personal day and take a walk through the park if that’s what tickled his fancy. It was the loveliest day out, probably the nicest the town has had for a long while and like most people, something the man couldn’t say ever, he decided to take full advantage for once. As he sauntered down the path, Archie’s ears were filled with a light musical tune anyone would be half-tempted to hum along to had they been in one of those sickly jolly moods. How nauseating. “How long have you been playing?” He inquired toward the younger man.

“ you really think they’re who i’m talking about? “ kieran almost wanted to laugh at that. “ you’re not running me out of my home. do you really think i’m going to keep this from josh? we’re a team. we’re married. you really think i’m going to risk anything for some guy that can’t take his heart getting broken? are you a little boy or are you a grown ass man, archie? take it like a champ. “

“You meant Josh? Now that’s what I have to see.” Archibald folded his arms across his chest and lifted his shoulders in a nonchalant shrug. “I expect you to tell him all about how exes tend to come back to bite you straight in the ass in the worst way.” He looked the other up and down quickly, well-aware it was Archie’s life and his life alone that would be placed on the line. How far would he take this, exactly? Well...as far as it takes. “So fucking full of yourself Kieran. This isn’t about a broken heart anymore, in fact, I don’t think I ever had one. No, this is about revenge. Pure, cold-blooded revenge.”

“ a little outnumbered don’t you think, asshole? “ archie was one guy where the people that cared about gaia was more than that. if archie thought that doing anything was going to be easy with the people that watched out for their family then he had another thing coming. the guy between the two of them continued to move kieran back. “ if anything happens to her – one hair out of place – and i’ll come for you, archie. “

“I know when to pick my fights. This,” He waved a hand in the direction of the two people who were attempting to hold back Kieran, which he just thought was absolutely hilarious, with a dramatic flourish. “This isn’t the right timing.” Archie released a long sigh as his gaze swept the children running around on the playground and managed to spot Gaia easily. Did he even have the audacity to kill a child? Suppose he would just need to wait and see. “Then I guess you’ll have to come for me, Kieran.” He considered this a moment, “You can prove me right, by the way. Tell your hubby about this, maybe even fight a little on what to do, and then pack what you have just to run. Just know I’ll be right behind you.”

kieran wasn’t necessarily a violent person. under most circumstances, they could keep their cool but it was different when a guy that shouldn’t have mattered was threatening the safety of not only their family but their daughter. it was enough to make kieran snap, stepping forward as they shoved their hands against archie’s shoulders. “ you’re not going to fucking touch her. “ of course, that got the attention of other parents and some of which knew kieran by now. one of them attempted to step between them, hands on kieran’s shoulders to move kieran back.

Oh, that shove felt way too good. There was something satisfying about watching someone nearly snap for the ones they deeply cared for and it was a thought running through Archie’s mind at a mile a minute as he stumbled a few paces back. “Oh, I love this look on you, Kieran. True, fierce, protective, monstrous. It’s fun.” He barked another laugh that turned into a light hum, moving slightly closer while still keeping his distance. “You think I won’t just because you say so? Watch me.”

“ you don’t know anything about my relationship or my past. “ kieran and josh didn’t break up for the lack of trying. “ you sound a little jealous there, archie, but yeah, i did. josh may be an asshole but i love him. “ and that was all that really mattered. the two have come a long way over the years. they definitely weren’t the same people years ago when they first got together. kieran’s eyes narrowed as they stepped towards archie, “ you even breathe in her direction, archie, it will be the last fucking thing you do. “ it wasn’t a threat, it was a promise. “ now if you don’t mind, i have to get home. to my husband.”

“I know you better than you think I do.” Archie oftentimes would watch someone and absorb whatever information he could based on body language and a more intimate closer stare. No one realized how much they gave away by the simple little tells ready for him to use as a potential weakness. “I don’t get jealous, Kieran, I get even and then I’ll, how you put it...let go. Or maybe that should come first.” The tip of Archie’s mouth raised in a smirk before he playfully gasped in surprise, “Oh, big scary monster coming to get me. You brought this on her yourself, babe, just trying to show her what it means when her daddy is a giant fucking bastard to someone who has the power to destroy the happy little lie of a life you’ve given her.” The man snorted out a laugh, “Enjoy that while you can, Kieran. I won’t hesitate taking everything from you, starting with sweet darling Gaia.”

kiern held a hand out so gaia didn’t come any closer. she didn’t need to be a part of his or overhear anything and they were almost relived when she took hat at a sign that she could continue playing with the other kids. “ did you expect that to work out? that i would somehow rech some unknown expectation you had set out for me? “ kieran didn’t get archie. “ i’m not a project, archie. and it never would have worked. what did you think was going to happen? that i’d retire and i’d what? come run he vineyard with you? i mean it must suck knowing i’d pay my husband’s way versus be with you. “ kieran was just being petty now but a part of them couldn’t exactly help it. “ you don’t know me. you never did. “

“Yes, I did expect it to work out, but just as with everything you have ever done in your entire life Kieran, you were the biggest disappointment.” He scoffed, “And you going to hitch with the same asshole you’ve broken up with more times than anyone in this world is the biggest disappointment of all.” Archie couldn’t say who he hated more in that moment, Kieran or Josh. Kieran left a god awful sour taste in his mouth and Josh just took away everything. It wasn’t fair and he was about to show Kieran just how much. “Life’s a bitch, isn’t it, Kie? You never understood me, you never knew me, not in that way I’m now knowing about myself.” Archibald nudged a head in Gaia’s direction, “It’s admirable how you pretend to be the good parent, dove, but I’m going to guarantee she’s dragged right in the middle of this. You don’t give a shit about my heart, I won’t give a shit about yours. And I know exactly where to hit.”

“ did it ever occur to you that you fell in love with some version of me that you made up in your own head? “ kieran looked back at archie. “ you’re right. i never gave a shit about you. you and every other guy i’ve fucked around with have always been place holders. “ kieran wasn’t afraid to admit that. “ i’m sorry that i hurt you but let it go. move on. find someone better suited for you because it isn’t me. “ kieran moved to stand up, wiping the grass and dirt from his pants. “ come on, gaia, “ they called out to their daughter. “ papà’s   waiting for us at home. “

“I had certain expectations that I was hoping you’d reach at some point in our relationship, but you clearly failed spectacularly and I was the idiot assuming you had a snowball’s chance of doing it.” True, he had the fantasy all worked out. The house, the white picket fence, running the business with Kieran at his side and a ring on both of their fingers. That would never pan in the way he wanted. Kieran had deviated too much from the plan and Archie hated it. “Nice to hear you admit a truth for once in your fucking life, prick.” He spat out, “So you got what you always wanted, fucking good for you.” Eyes flicked to the girl again as he pondered just how devastated Kieran would be if something were to happen to their daughter. And at his hand too? Tempting. “Bull fucking shit you’re not sorry, but maybe it’s high time I made you for once.”

“ you’re not the first person to broken up with, archie. hell, i have a good six break ups with the same person. “ they knew that wasn’t exactly the same but kieran couldn’t bring themselves to feel bad about any of it. “ look, i get it, i was a dick but that was a while ago. it’s time to let it go. “ they looked away from archie to instead put their sight back at gaia. 

“I at least expected some heartfelt letter goodbye, but we both know you never had a romantic bone in your body. You never gave a shit about me.” So much for pretending his way down the normal path. Archie could just feel himself cracking at the seams and he had to wonder what could potentially happen if he gave into it. Hurting others, not giving a shit for their safety, how it called to him. “Letting go. You think it’s that easy, don’t you?” Archie’s gaze drifted to the child happily playing without a care in the world and back at her father with that harsh glint in his eye. “I don’t let go. Ever.”

kieran hadn’t really spoken to archie since they had broken things off. what was there to really say? sorry i’m not that into you, excuse me while i go marry the love of my life?  somehow, they didn’t think that was going to go over well. “ nothing is stopping you, “ kieran responded easily, “ go for it. “ 

Archibald placed his hands behind his back, finding that he was digging his nails in the flesh of his palms and attempting to hide this face with the same casual air he surrounded himself with when attempting to contain his temper. Why did the thought of reaching over and harming Kieran cross his mind again? “Therein lies the problem, honey.” He cocked a brow, “I needed the right partner and, oh, look at that, I thought I found one.”

“ i mean…you said it so is it that bad if i agree? “ owen didn’t really know archie. he was sure he met him at least once when he ran into kieran during one of josh’s off periods with them but other than that, he didn’t really know any of the details. 

Archie released a small chuckle that went on far too long than he intended, noticing the little note of madness just tipping the edge as he took off the glasses. “Okay, okay, fair enough, I don’t even need glasses. They’re not even real.” An argument could be made this personality wasn’t that real either. “Owen, right? Joshua’s brother?” The name came out with a hint of nasty mocking.

“ i don’t know. i think i kinda want another one. “ kieran was finally home which meant that he got to spend more time with gaia although she seemed more interested in playing with the other kids than she was being stuck by kieran’s side. “ to think at one point i didn’t even want kids. “ 

“I had siblings. I don’t recommend them.” Of course, being the youngest foster brother his home had made him a relatively easy target for the older kids to pick on Archie. It was something he was bitter and enraged about one day, calm and collected the next. Well, as close to collected as he could get by his standards. “She is deliciously adorable, Kieran. Might want one of my own.” He playfully mocked, slinking over to the other’s side.

He’d been settled for the first time since being brought into the hospital, maybe it was the naive nature of believing that the psych wouldn’t be stupid enough to come back and finish the job or it was more that having Ramona & Boo was comforting until they were gone and the madness ensued once more. Dyson had fallen asleep next to the witch, his dreams had even changed until the moment his subconscious recognised the lack of contact and it turned back into the typical nightmare the one where he was helplessly watching Archie slaughter the two people that meant something to him. So when he found his eyes connecting with the other succubus’, was it any surprise that for a brief moment he just assumed this was apart of the nightmare or some illusion his mind had created only for the mention of the food the nurse had brought snapping him out of such a theory.Ignoring most of what the man had said, he simply rolled his eyes and considered pressing the buzzer that would bring in a staff member though given the likelihood that the other man would murder them…well he couldn’t let that happen. “Here to finish the job?”

Despite what he said about the jello only a moment ago, Archie leaned forward and plucked the plastic cup from the tray, peeling open the lid and sticking his finger in the green gelatin before placing the digit in his mouth. “Were you seriously that out of it back at your place, Dys? I told you that I didn’t want to kill you, duh. I just never told you why.” To be fair, Archie did become easily distracted especially when he was given the opportunity to spurt a monologue no matter how cliche the trope is. He was over-dramatic, theatrical, and loved making a good entrance. “You see, Big D,” The man smirked at the nickname and spooned more jello from the cup. Surprisingly, it wasn’t truly atrocious as he once claimed. “I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting since our first meeting and I have to believe we got off on the wrong foot. You said there was a chance you could’ve landed in my shoes with the whole murder nonsense parental neglect self-hatred and trust me, I can understand that completely.” Finishing the cup and lazily tossing it to the ground as he leaned forward, a slow smile crossed the man’s lips, “You have great potential, Dyson, and in spite of what I did, we’re not so different. So, what if I told you there was a way to escape what you’re experiencing inside yourself? What if I told you you no longer had to feel? No more suffering, no more hesitation or taking little just to snack. You won’t be surviving, you’ll be living.”

his touch didn’t possess the usual fire that it did, his touch didn’t fill her with desire, but instead comfort. his fingertips were usually harsh enough to imprint into her flesh and now they grazed gently, encouraging her to look at him, to listen to words that almost seemed like a plead. suri glanced away from him for a moment, somehow still managing to keep it together as she kicked the box aside and moved to sit on the edge of her bed, her eyes finding his own after a moment, “this was supposed to be sex, just sex, right? for both of us and now I’m — I’m pregnant and this baby is probably going to literally kill me… I’m not so sure I’m willing to give up my life for this…” she spoke gently, as if in attempts to keep him calm, or maybe it was herself she was trying to maintain a level head with. having archie here, however, quietened the buzz of panic in her mind, though she doubted she’d have his support if she chose the opposite to what he wanted. “I don’t care what you are, I just — I don’t want to die, arch… I’m —“ her head shook, unable to find the right words, and so she gave up. “who are you then? who is archibald?”