To The Moon and Back

Your body was starting to deteriorate you could feel how the sun was starting to burn your skin more everyday and how it was harder to consentrate on the world around you. You needed to do something quick or you’d succumb to the same feral tendencies of when you first turned.

He hadn’t been watching you the same either since that night. The dark shape of his broad shoulders across the rooftop hadn’t appeared in what felt like forever even thought it had only been a meer seven days. You were getting worried that you had scared him away even thought he hadn’t seemed even a slightly bit scared.

You knew you had to find him tonight even if it was to just sink your teeth into his neck and drain him dry.

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Night had taken what felt like forever to come. Your mind registering the ticks of the hands in the clock slowly driving you even madder.

Nothing on the news said anything about Bullseye or if he had managed to take out anymore AVTF so you knew you’d have to hunt him down yourself.

You didn’t bothering changing out of your nightgown, the blue one he said he liked, hoping that if you found him he’d be fond of how you listened and remembered what he said.

Slipping out onto your fire escape you looked over the streets outside trying to get a feel for anything that could potentially lure him out into the open. Your ears picked up the sound of several sets of boots moving down a side street toward a well known bar, surely trying to stir up trouble.

You gracefully made your way across the buildings like a cat on the prowl. You tracked the five men, their tactical boots like hammers against the concrete. Then you heard it….well heard him.

Another set of feet these lighter and more precise.

And then came the smell of him, the gunpowder, sweat and sweet suple blood running through his veins. It was mouth watering and your fangs began to hurt.

You peaked over the edge of the building. His tall broad shoulder body clad in his normal compression shirt and his tactical pants that had knives adorned around his waist was gliding through the night air down the street. His mask was on, covering that smirk that seemed to stay on his lips and that vein in his neck that seemed to beg for your teeth.

You watched how he slinked behind the men not making a sound. His first blade flew through the air slicing through the neck of his first victim and somehow bouncing off the armor to land in the second one’s shoulder making him drop his gun. A gutural grunt leaving his body.

Hell broke out as the first body hit the asphalt.

“It’s bullseye!” Yelled the lead man. Raising his gun as he spun around.

Bullets sprayed as they aimed mindlessly at the end of street.

You could hear the slicing of the blades through the air. Sticking into unsuspecting flesh. But your nose picked up the smell of his blood too. He had been wounded or at least grazed by the gun fire.

You jumped down into the middle of chaos landing lightly on your feet and pulling the man closer to Bullseye away breaking his arm before launching him into the man next to his left. You could feel a couple of bullets making contact with your body sinking into your body fast and hot. Nothing in any area of importance but you knew they would take a while to heal.

“You came looking for me.” Bullseyes words dripped with arrogance as he threw three more daggers into the guard next to you. “And you listened to what I said”. You could see an outline of a smile under his mask.

You rolled your eyes at him dramatically. “Yeah I could tell you couldn’t handle yourself by the blood gushing down your side.” You shrugged as you grabbed the man closest to you pulling him down to your mouth to bite into his throat hoping to end him and have dinner at once but your movement was cut short.

Twack

Right between the eyes the knife inserted in more forcefully then others. The man’s body becoming slack in your arms.

“What the fuck.” You huffed out, dropping the body of the man on the ground turning to the figure behind you.

“Do not put your mouth on him.” Bullseyes words dripped mercilessly. His voice was rough and you could tell he was angry by how the thumping in his chest grew louder as he closed the distance between you both. The carnage that laid on the ground not deterring him as he pushing you back into the wall with such force that any other person would’ve been left gasping for air.

“Do. Not. Put. Your. Mouth. On. Him.” He said through clenched teeth putting one gloved finger in your face while his other hand grabbed your chin.

Sweat was running down his brow and you could see the anger had made his once hazel eyes go dark.

You leaned forward licking the tip of his finger that was so potently in your face. “Why not?” You snickered licking your fangs suggestively.

He slammed your head back against the wall hard moving his hand from your chin down to your neck squeezing tightly. His other hand ripped off his own mask so you could see the scowl on his face.

“I don’t want your mouth on another man. Or anyone for that matter. Especially not one of these nasty fuckers.” With every word he spit out he squeezed harder. You could feel the bruising as it was happening even if it wouldn’t leave permanent scars.

You snaked your hand out wrapping it around the one he had used to remove his mask bringing it up to your mouth giving it a little lick as you could hear his heartbeat slip a beat.

“Are you jealous?” You whispered behind a smile. “Is big ol mister bad guy bullseye jealous that my mouth might be on another man’s throat instead of his own?” You nipped at his hand not enough to draw blood but enough for him to feel your fangs graze his skin.

He shook his head a devilish grin on his face.

“No, look at what you’re wearing” He laughed hard as he said it moving his hand to pull on your night dress the one he had said he liked. “Wore it just for me, didn’t ya.” He smirked.

You scowled deeply before taking his arm and spinning him around into the position he had put you in originally. His back hard against the wall with your hand wrapped around his neck stopping the breath he took in from ever reaching his lungs.

“It’s just a dress, don’t let it get to your head.” You said taping him on cheek your hand not moving form his neck as you squeezed hard.

His eyes fluttered on the pressure but he didn’t try to push you away. You could tell he was slipping away slowly the vein under your palm pounding as his body fought for air. His heart an ever growing rapid thump in his chest and yet he didn’t pull at your hand to get you to let him breath. It simply was resting on top of yours his thumb rubbing at your wrist as if he was reassuring you of your grasp. His smile never fell from his lips.

Your eyes rolled at him as you eased up on his throat, hearing the deep breath he sucked in as you went to remove your hand completely but his kept yours in place his other hand pulling you closer to him by your hip.

Your eyes held his as he leaned in closer to your face. His hot breath a whisper across your lips.

“Feel the blood rushing in my veins? You can have a taste if you want.” The last sentence a simple whisper as he grazed your mouth with his. His tongue lightly licking over your bottom lip.

The moan you let out was louder then what you intended. The intoxicating smell of his blood and saliva mixing made your head spin. You pulled him forward and down sending you both to the ground with you on top straddling him as your mouth found the curve of his neck. You let your tongue trace over the pulsing vein before you opened your mouth wide sinking your fangs into his supple skin.

Bullseye groaned loudly his head falling to the side as to give you an even better angle. He snaked his hands through your hair holding you close as he could as you slurped the crimson liquid.

His blood was hot, sweet and metallic as it seeped into every part of you. You could feel it flow into every inch of your body, the very essence of his life spreading into yours. It was hard to control yourself as you drank deeply from him. Your head was filled with a disorienting dizziness as you sucked the very life out of him. Grinding your hips into him absentmindedly as you did so. His hips bucked up into yours, his mouth releasing a gutural growl.

You didn’t know how long it went on. Little gasps and moans the only sounds coming from you both. You knew you had to stop or you would lose control and end up killing him an then there wouldn’t be another chance to taste him.

You pulled back slightly checking to make sure it was a neat two holes in his neck and that they would heal nicely. You licked the wound hoping your saliva would help close it quicker. You could feel your senses coming back. The delicious red liquid was making its way into your very being mending your body.

He whined as he felt your lips leave his neck bucking up into you as to not lose some of the closeness he had.

“More…” he panted desperately his hands pulling your hair to try and move your mouth toward his throat. But you held back staring down at him intensely before leaning in.

“More what?” You asked as you began slowly grinding down onto him letting your tongue dance across his skin. The gasps he let out were like music to your ears.

“More…just more. Please I need it.” His hips bucked erratically upwards.

You hands moved quickly to undo his belt pulling out his rock hard cock. You could see the sheen of precum pooling on the head.

“Is this what you want?” Your voice smooth and sultry as your hand moved up and down his shaft.

“P…p…pleaseee” his words stumbled out.

You moved your hips upward lining him up with your soaked entrance barley letting the tip enter.

“Beg for it” you said slowly sinking down before moving up again.

“Please, please, pleaseeeeee I need to be inside you.”His pleas and whines making it hard to not sink down quickly onto him. You wanted this to last and by the look of things and sound of his heart you knew it was going to be quick.

You moaned lowly as you sunk down onto his cock. The stretch was maddening. Every inch making your eyes roll back harder and harder. You took a moment to rest once he was fully seated inside of you. Looking down at the beautiful man under you. His eyes blown wide from the euphoria of not only your pussy but the high of your bite.

“You feel so fucking good.” He whined moving his hands up and down your torso letting his fingers dance over your breast that were now out. “So fucking beautiful and just for me.” He sighed “I’ll let you drink from me every night if I can have my cock inside of you.”

You laughed at his enthusiasm. “Calm down pretty boy.” You bounced lightly on his dick watching him suck in a breath.

“Pleaseeee…….fuck. I feel like I’m going to fucking explode.” He bucked up inside of you at the end of his words.

You let him control the moment as he rocked himself in and out of you. Bracing your hands on his chest as you did so. He was still bleeding you could smell it but you would fix that later after he had filled you with his cum.

You let him fuck you for a little bit before you began to take over for him. Bouncing faster and faster. You could hear the sound of your slick mixing with his precum and the moans leaving both of your mouths. Feeling the heat pool deep in your stomach you moved quicker and quicker.

“Fuck fuck fuck fuck….” You were gasping in the words. You hadn’t felt this full in so long both from his blood and his cock. His hands raking over your body not concerned if he left marks or not. He reached up toward your throat his hand closing around it pulling you down so you could be eye level with him.

“I’m going to fill you up with my cum.” He said quickly squeezing your throat tightly.

You only shook your head at his words too caught up in the feeling of his cock and his blood running through your veins to answer with words.

He took over fucking into you so hard you swore his cock was in your stomach. His breathing was getting ragged every forceful thrust bringing you both closer and closer to climax his hands never leaving your neck.

You reached out to him grabbing his hair hard. Gasping as you felt your climax reach the breaking point. “ fuck me fuck me fuck me” you muttered rapidly like a montra only for yours and his ears. As he bottomed out hard in you forcing you to climax so hard your vision turned white.

“Fucccckkkkk!” His hands squeezed your throat hard as he came. His heartbeat skipping as he unloaded inside of you.

He pulled you down by your throat placing your head on his chest. He moved his hands to rest on your back rubbing up and down. You listened to the rhythm of his heart steady. The thump lulling you into a warm dazey haze.

“We should probably get up.” He said squeezing your ass. “At least before anybody shows up and sees.”

You snorted. “Are you afraid of someone catching you with your pants down?” Your words muffled by his shirt.

You could feel him suck in a deep breath. “No, more worried about the bodies around us and who they will attract. And I don’t want them seeing you. You’re mine now.” He said his voice held a ferocity in the last sentence.

You sat up looking down at yourself. Your night gown was pretty much gone. Shredded from the fight and the fucking.

Your rolled your tongue around in your mouth tasting the bits of blood still stuck to your gums. Thinking over his words. “Mine, mine, mine” replaying in your head. You kinda liked it.

His blood was delicious and his cock, god his cock was a gift from the heavens. But you still didn’t know if him laying claim to you was something you wanted.

“We will talk….” Your words cut short as he grabbed you by the hair pulling you down a mere centimeters from his face.

“You are mine. There’s nothing to talk about.” His words gruff spit flying from his mouth. He closed the distance fast kissing you hard. Your teeth clashing against each other, tongues intertwining.

When he finally let you go your head was dizzy again.

"did i do something to you?" the alcohol fueled your courage. dex was taken aback by the genuine hurt in your eyes "you obviously don't like me."

"when did i say that?"

"you didn't need to, dex. i'm not a fucking idiot." you took a swig of your drink and pointed a loaded finger at him. "i guess my real question is: if you hate me so much, why do you keep staring?"

dex thought it best to play dumb. "what?"

unfortunately for him, you were also in the fbi. you tracked his panicked eyes, frantically blinking as if they could speed up his thoughts, come up with a lie. you took a carefully-measured step into his personal space. dex inhaled sharply, looking around to see if any of your coworkers were seeing this.

"is that it, dex?" you teased, cocking your head to the side. your goading smile was infuriating. "you being all mean because you want me?"

the flash of fear in dex's eyes made your smile fall. he shifted under your gaze, cheeks burning.

"i--uh--no."

a laugh left you then; high and thoroughly amused. "you wanna try that again?"

dex swallowed thickly, looking like he wanted to crawl out of his own skin. but you had him under your paw and you weren't letting go quite yet. he'd never shown you any mercy. your eyes followed a bead of sweat traveling down his reddening temple. a lazy smirk slid onto your lips as you grasped the edges of his grey suit jacket to pull him close enough to feel his body heat. dex could smell the liquor on your lips when they brushed the shell of his ear. it took everything in him not to shudder.

"tell me what you want," you whispered, almost a plea. dex's hand fell to your waist, squeezing like a lifeline. your stomach flipped at the implication.

he leaned in to nuzzle your hair, nose and breath tickling your ear. he tried his best to not make it obvious that he was inhaling you. you knew he was. you knew he always did when you walked by. but you secretly found his desperation endearing, so why tell him you knew?

"want...you," he said quietly. darting eyes now still, focused on you like a scope on a rifle. he didn't dare move, didn't dare breathe now, lest he scare you away. you were so close. the object of his desires.

then you heard something you thought you'd never hear out of dex. not once in your life.

"please."

you jerked away as if he slapped you, staring at him in surprise. dex cringed away, seemingly bracing for a verbal lashing, to be called a fucking freak, to be told to be normal, to--

"oh, just kiss me, you fucking loser," you said with a blinding smile.

dex would've thought he was dreaming if you didn't grab both sides of his face to pull his lips to yours. at the feeling of your wet, hot tongue against his and your delicate fingers carding through his hair, he's whimpering into your mouth pathetically. he's criminally easy and he knows it, but no shame taints dex as he lets you take the lead, showing him exactly what you like. you pull away with a spinning head and shit-eating grin.

"do you wanna get out of here?"

oh god, please, dex thought, brows knitting together as he tried to think of an acceptable response.

you giggled, hand coming up to hide your smile.

you dragged yourself through the front door after a day that seemed determined to wring every last drop of energy out of you. your feet ached, your shoulders felt heavy, and all you wanted was the comfort of your familiar apartment and a few hours of peace.

for a moment, that was exactly what you expected to find. the distant sound of rain against the windows. the warm glow of the lamp in the corner of the living room. everything appeared normal until your eyes settled on the coffee table. immediately, your exhaustion vanished.

sitting there, perfectly centered as though it had been carefully arranged for you to notice, was a silver necklace. your pulse skipped. you hadn’t left a necklace there. you lived alone. nobody should have been inside your apartment. yet the evidence was right in front of you.

as you stepped closer, the small charm attached to the chain caught the light, and your stomach twisted when you recognized the symbol. a target. bullseye. for a long moment, you simply stood there staring. the room felt strangely still around you, as if even the air itself was waiting. outside, rain slid down the glass in slow trails, blurring the city lights into hazy streaks of gold and white.

somewhere in the distance, a siren wailed before fading into silence. your apartment suddenly felt different than it had only minutes ago because the necklace wasn’t just a gift. it was proof that he had been here. proof that while you had been working, someone else had stepped into your private space without permission.

someone who knew exactly where you lived. someone who always seemed to find a way inside no matter what you did. the realization should have terrified you. it did terrify you at least a little.

you sank onto the couch and leaned forward, elbows resting on your knees as you stared at the necklace. memories surfaced one after another, impossible to ignore. the bouquet of your favorite flowers that had appeared in your kitchen a few days ago. the chocolates left beside your coffee machine after a particularly awful day. the novels that somehow always matched the exact books you’d been planning to buy.

at first you’d convinced yourself they were coincidences. but eventually you’d been forced to accept the truth. someone was leaving them. someone was paying attention.

every gift had revealed another impossible detail about him. he listened. he remembered. he noticed things. tiny things. insignificant things. the kind of things nobody else seemed to pay attention to. every present felt like evidence that he knew you better than he should.

you knew what he was. you knew the stories. you knew the headlines and the rumors and all the reasons you should want absolutely nothing to do with him. yet every time you tried convincing yourself to hate him, your mind betrayed you.

the person who somehow knew your favorite author, your favorite chocolates, your favorite flowers. it was ridiculous. completely ridiculous. your mind knew that. your heart apparently hadn’t gotten the message. that realization settled heavily in your chest as you leaned back against the couch cushions.

you pressed a hand over your eyes and let out a frustrated laugh. what kind of person develops feelings for someone they’ve never properly known? what kind of person spends days worrying about an intruder and then catches themselves smiling whenever another gift appears? apparently, you.

the necklace continued to glimmer softly beneath the lamplight while the storm deepened outside. shadows stretched across the apartment walls, turning familiar corners into unfamiliar shapes. the rain grew heavier, tapping steadily against the windows.

you felt suspended between two worlds: the comfortable reality you’d always known and the strange one that seemed to revolve around him.

every answer you found only created more questions. why you? why the gifts? why did he keep coming back? and perhaps most troubling of all, why did part of you secretly hope he wouldn’t stop? the thought sent another wave of guilt through you. you knew you should be angry. you knew you should be frightened. maybe you should even call someone.

instead, you remained exactly where you were, staring at the necklace while your thoughts spiraled endlessly in circles. outside, the city carried on as if nothing had changed. inside, however, it felt as though something invisible had shifted, leaving you alone with a silver necklace, a stormy evening, and feelings you weren’t quite ready to face.

eventually, your thoughts became too exhausting to keep entertaining. the necklace remained on the coffee table, untouched, while you forced yourself through the motions of your evening routine. you changed into comfortable clothes, tied your hair back, and tried convincing yourself that tomorrow would somehow make more sense than today.

it didn't work. every room you entered felt haunted by unanswered questions. even as steam filled the bathroom from your shower, your mind kept drifting back to the silver necklace and the impossible feelings tangled around it. by the time you finally emerged and climbed into bed, the rain outside had intensified.

water streaked across the windows while distant thunder rolled across the city. you had just started settling beneath the blankets when a sudden knock echoed through your apartment. sharp, deliberate. coming from the window. every muscle in your body locked instantly.

another knock followed. your pulse began hammering as you slowly pushed yourself upright and stared toward the dark outline of the fire escape beyond the glass.

the moment you pulled back the curtain, your breath caught. there he was. standing on the fire escape as casually as if he belonged there. rain soaked through his clothes, dark hair plastered against his forehead while city lights reflected faintly off the metal railing behind him.

you simply stared at each other through the glass. he lifted a hand in what might have been an awkward greeting. after everything that had happened, after weeks of gifts and secrets and unanswered questions, he was standing outside your bedroom. you started shaking your head before he could even speak. absolutely not. no chance.

but then your eyes dropped lower. beneath the rainwater staining his clothes was something darker, blood. there was more of it than you initially realized, smeared across his sleeve and disappearing beneath his jacket. despite yourself, concern twisted sharply through your chest. he noticed where you were looking and gave a small, dismissive shrug. unfortunately, that did absolutely nothing to make you feel better.

against every instinct screaming at you not to, you eventually unlocked the window. dex climbed inside carefully, tracking rainwater onto your floor as he stepped into your apartment. suddenly the space felt much smaller than before.

he looked exhausted. pale beneath the dim lighting. there were bruises along his jaw and a cut near his temple. up close, the blood looked worse. "sit down," you said before you could stop yourself. the words came out sharper than intended. he obeyed surprisingly quickly, settling onto the edge of your couch while you disappeared to retrieve your first aid supplies. neither of you spoke much at first.

the apartment filled with silence and rain and the occasional rustle of medical supplies as you cleaned the wound on his side. every time he winced, your stomach tightened. every time you remembered who he actually was, you forced yourself to harden again.

"you're scared of me."

his voice cut through the silence so unexpectedly that you nearly dropped the bandages. you glanced up and found him watching you carefully. not smug. not amused. just observant. "I don't blame you," he continued quietly. "I know how this looks." a humorless laugh escaped your throat. how this looks? the understatement nearly made you angry on its own.

you continued wrapping the injury without answering. after a moment, he spoke again. softer this time. "I know you probably think I'm some monster that just showed up in your life one day." his gaze lowered briefly toward the floor. "but I've never wanted to hurt you. I never will."

your hands paused. the words lingered heavily between you. under different circumstances, maybe they would've sounded reassuring. maybe they would've meant something. but all you could think about was the fact that he'd spent days entering your apartment without permission.

probably months watching you closely enough to know your favorite flowers and books. months deciding what information you deserved to know about him. the more you thought about it, the less comforting his explanation became.

anger arrived slowly, it settled beneath your concern and your confusion until it became impossible to ignore. you finished securing the bandage and leaned back, staring at him in disbelief. "you don't get to say that like it fixes everything," you finally said. the frustration in your voice surprised you.

dex opened his mouth, but you weren't finished. days of uncertainty came spilling out all at once. "do you have any idea how insane this is? showing up in my apartment? finding out someone has been inside my home whenever they feel like it? finding out you've been lying to me this entire time?" your chest felt tight. your hands trembled slightly.

across from you, dex remained silent for once. outside, rain continued pounding against the windows while thunder echoed somewhere beyond the city skyline. neither of you looked away. the tension stretched painfully between you because for the first time since he'd entered your life, concern was no longer the strongest thing you felt, anger was. judging by the expression on his face, he knew it.

the silence that followed felt suffocating. rain continued tapping against the windows while the freshly opened first aid supplies remained scattered across the coffee table between you. dex sat motionless on the couch, one arm resting carefully at his side where you'd finished bandaging him.

for once, he didn't have a clever response ready. he simply watched you. you hated how difficult it was to read his expression. part of him looked exhausted. another part looked almost regretful. but none of that changed the knot of frustration sitting heavily in your chest. you crossed your arms tightly and turned away, needing distance even though there was barely any space between you.

after everything you'd learned tonight, after months of secrets and confusion, you didn't know what he expected from you. forgiveness? understanding? because he certainly wasn't getting either.

"one date." his voice broke through the silence so unexpectedly that you almost laughed.

you turned back toward him slowly. "what?"

"one date," he repeated. "that's all I'm asking."

for a second, you genuinely thought he was joking. the absurdity of it nearly left you speechless. here he was, bleeding on your couch after revealing himself as the criminal who'd been secretly inserting himself into your life for months, and somehow his solution was a date. the more you thought about it, the angrier you became.

"absolutely not." your answer came immediately, firm, final. dex nodded once as though he'd expected that response. but then he didn't leave. he didn't drop the subject. instead, he leaned forward slightly.

"just hear me out." you rolled your eyes so hard it almost hurt.

"no."

"one evening."

"no."

"one chance."

"still no." every answer became sharper than the last. every attempt he made only seemed to fuel your irritation further.

the conversation spiraled quickly after that. each time you refused, he found another argument. not aggressive. not demanding, because he sounded completely convinced that if he explained himself properly, you'd eventually understand.

"you don't get to decide that one nice evening magically erases months of lying."

"I'm not asking you to forget anything."

"then what are you asking?" your voice rose despite yourself. frustration had finally boiled over into genuine anger. "it sounds like you want a reward for finally telling the truth." the words hung heavily between you. dex visibly flinched. not dramatically. just enough for you to notice.

you stood abruptly and began pacing the room. your emotions felt tangled together into something impossible to separate. anger. confusion. disappointment. concern. all crashing into each other at once.

the apartment felt smaller than ever. the storm outside had intensified, casting occasional flashes of pale light across the room. finally, dex exhaled quietly and looked down at his hands. when he spoke again, his voice lacked the confidence it had carried before.

"I'm not asking you to trust me." that made you pause. "I know I haven't earned that." another silence followed. "I just." he hesitated.

"I wanted one chance where you could actually see me. not the headlines. not the rumors. not whatever version you've built in your head." his gaze lifted briefly to meet yours. "if you hate me afterward, fine. I'll leave you alone."

there was no argument attached this time. no clever remark. no attempt to push harder. for the first time, he sounded uncertain, almost nervous.

you closed your eyes briefly and rubbed your temples. this entire night felt unreal. every instinct told you this was a terrible idea. an objectively terrible idea. yet another part of you remembered the flowers. the books. the notes. the countless questions that still remained unanswered. maybe that was the problem. despite everything, you still wanted answers.

when you finally looked at him again, he was watching you carefully but saying nothing. waiting. giving you space to make the decision yourself. "one date," you muttered.

dex blinked. "what?"

you immediately regretted speaking. "one date," you repeated, louder this time. "that's it. one." a warning pointed finger followed immediately. "and if you do literally anything suspicious, anything at all, I'm leaving." for the first time all evening, something softened in his expression. not triumph. not smug satisfaction, genuine relief.

"one date," he agreed. you groaned and dropped onto the couch.

"I can't believe I'm agreeing to this." outside, thunder rolled across the city while dex tried, and failed to hide a small smile. despite every sensible decision you'd ever made in your life, you had the distinct feeling that you'd just agreed to something that was going to change everything.

the tension in the room lingered long after the argument had ended. neither of you seemed entirely sure what to do with it. the first aid supplies remained scattered across the coffee table, forgotten in the aftermath of everything that had been said. outside, rain continued to drum softly against the windows, casting rippling shadows across the apartment.

dex finally pushed himself off the couch, moving more carefully than he wanted you to notice. despite his attempts to hide it, you could tell the injuries were bothering him. your gaze followed him automatically as he adjusted his jacket and glanced toward the window.

then his eyes flickered toward the fresh bandages beneath his shirt and something softened in his expression. "thanks," he said quietly. the sincerity caught you off guard. "for patching me up." you opened your mouth, closed it again, and finally settled on a simple nod. after everything else that had happened tonight, those three words felt strangely intimate.

he turned toward the window, clearly intending to leave the same ridiculous way he'd arrived. you watched him in disbelief before finally breaking the silence. "you know I have a door, right?" the corner of his mouth lifted immediately. "normal people usually use those." his smile widened slightly as he rested one hand against the window frame.

"good thing I'm not normal." despite yourself, a short laugh escaped your throat before you could stop it. the sound surprised both of you. for a second, the heaviness in the room seemed to ease. then your eyes met again, and the atmosphere shifted completely. the amusement faded. the silence returned. except this time it felt different. heavier. warmer. charged with something neither of you seemed willing to acknowledge out loud.

the rain outside blurred the city lights into streaks of gold and white beyond the glass while thunder rumbled faintly somewhere in the distance. dex's gaze remained fixed on you, unusually steady, unusually quiet. you couldn't look away. maybe it was because tonight had changed everything.

maybe it was because after days of mystery and unanswered questions, he was finally standing here in front of you, real and human and impossible to ignore. whatever the reason, the distance between you suddenly felt much more noticeable than before.

your eyes drifted downward without permission. only for a second. only for a moment. but it was enough. when you looked back up, you immediately knew he'd noticed. the look in his eyes had changed. not dramatically, just enough to make your pulse stumble.

your stomach tightened. every rational thought in your head began screaming at once. this was ridiculous. dangerous. stupid. yet your body seemed determined to betray you anyway. without realizing it, you took a small step closer. dex didn't move immediately, but something unreadable flashed across his face. the apartment felt unbearably quiet now.

neither of you looked away. your attention flickered between his eyes and his mouth before you could stop yourself. the same thing happened to him. the realization hung heavily between you. slowly, almost cautiously, the space separating you seemed to disappear. not because either of you consciously decided to close it, but because neither of you was backing away.

the tension built until it became almost impossible to think through. your heart pounded so loudly you were convinced he could hear it. then reality finally crashed back into place. you pulled away first, taking a step backward so quickly it almost startled you. heat rushed to your face as you looked anywhere except directly at him.

"no," you said quietly. your voice sounded far less steady than you'd intended. "that's. not a good idea." for a moment, dex simply stared at you. then he lowered his gaze and gave a small nod.

"yeah." the agreement somehow made your chest tighten even more. "yeah," he repeated softly. neither of you seemed particularly convinced, but neither of you argued either. after another long silence, he stepped backward onto the fire escape and offered one final look before disappearing into the rain.

you shut the window and just stood there, staring at your own reflection in the glass like it might have answers. your heart was still racing embarrassingly fast, your face felt warm, and every time your mind replayed those last few seconds, your stomach twisted itself into knots. what had you been thinking?

one minute you were yelling at him for breaking into your apartment and lying to you for months, and the next you were standing there looking at him like you'd forgotten every reason you were supposed to be angry.

you dragged both hands down your face and let out a groan of pure frustration. nothing about this made sense. not him, not tonight, and definitely not the fact that some part of you had wanted to close that distance.

"oh my god," you muttered to the empty apartment. "what is wrong with me?"

the entire evening felt surreal from the moment you stepped outside your apartment building. the sky above the city was clear, the storm from a few nights ago long gone, leaving behind crisp autumn air that carried just enough of a chill to make you grateful for the jacket draped over your shoulders. golden streetlights illuminated the sidewalk, casting warm pools of light across the pavement while distant traffic hummed softly in the background.

you stood near the entrance of your building, smoothing your hands down your dress for what had to be the tenth time in the last five minutes. every few seconds you found yourself checking your reflection in the darkened windows beside you. then immediately feeling ridiculous for doing so.

your stomach had been tied in knots ever since you'd started getting ready. what exactly was supposed to happen tonight? were you going to spend the evening interrogating him? arguing with him? laughing with him? somehow all three felt equally possible.

you remembered yesterday evening and the kiss that almost happened. every time you thought about it, your pulse sped up all over again. the low purr of an approaching engine pulled you from your thoughts. you looked up just as a sleek black car rolled smoothly to the curb in front of the building.

for a second, you simply stared. then the driver's door opened and dex stepped out. your breath caught embarrassingly fast. he looked unfairly good, tonight he looked polished, composed, and completely at ease in a dark suit that somehow made him look even taller than usual.

when his eyes landed on you, however, something in his confident expression disappeared. he actually stopped walking for half a second. the realization sent warmth rushing into your face. "woah," he said.

"don't start," you warned immediately, though there wasn't nearly enough conviction behind the words. a grin tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"I wasn't gonna say anything."

you rolled your eyes, but the smile threatening to appear was becoming increasingly difficult to hide.

the drive to the restaurant was surprisingly easy. you'd spent the entire afternoon preparing for awkward silences and uncomfortable conversations, yet somehow neither happened. instead, the two of you slipped into conversation naturally. occasionally teasing each other. occasionally arguing over completely meaningless topics.

at one point dex claimed he had excellent taste in music, which immediately started an argument that lasted three traffic lights. by the time he pulled up in front of the restaurant, you found yourself laughing despite every intention you'd had of remaining guarded. the building itself was beautiful. elegant without being overly flashy.

warm golden light spilled through enormous windows while people drifted in and out of the entrance dressed for an evening out. suddenly your nerves returned full force. before you could overthink yourself into disaster, dex rounded the car and opened your door.

"ready?" he asked. you glanced up at the restaurant, then back at him.

"nope."

he laughed. "good. me neither."

the warmth inside wrapped around you immediately. soft music drifted through the restaurant while conversations blended together into a comfortable background murmur. candles flickered atop polished tables and crystal glasses reflected the light like tiny stars. for a moment, you felt slightly out of place.

then dex lightly rested a hand against the small of your back to guide you toward your table. the gesture was brief and respectful, gone almost immediately, but your heart still managed to stumble over itself. you hated how aware of him you were. every glance. every smile. every small thing seemed impossible to ignore.

when the hostess seated you, dex pulled out your chair before taking his own seat across from you. the soft glow of candlelight danced across the table between you, making everything feel strangely intimate.

the menus arrived, giving you something to focus on besides the fact that your date was technically a wanted criminal. you immediately buried your face in yours.

"I'm pretending this is normal," you announced.

dex replied. "I'll pretend with you."

you peeked over the edge of the menu to find him smiling. not the cocky smile you were used to. something softer. before you realized what was happening, the two of you were debating appetizers and making fun of each other's food choices like you'd been doing this for years. the tension that had haunted every previous interaction slowly began melting away. not disappearing completely.

as your food order disappeared toward the kitchen and the conversation continued flowing effortlessly across the table, you found yourself thinking something dangerous: maybe agreeing to this date hadn't been such a terrible idea after all.

the conversation came surprisingly easily once the food had been ordered. for a while, neither of you touched the more complicated subjects. you talked about small things instead. the music playing softly through the restaurant. the ridiculous prices on the menu. a couple seated nearby who had clearly been arguing before arriving and were now pretending everything was fine.

by the time the appetizers arrived, some of your nerves had finally started settling. eventually, you set your glass down and leaned back slightly. "okay."

dex immediately looked suspicious. "that tone means I'm about to be interrogated."

"correct."

"wonderful."

you pointed your fork at him. "you wanted this date. you wanted me to give you a chance. so start talking."

his eyebrows lifted. "about?"

"your life." the answer came instantly. "the actual version this time." for a moment, he looked thoughtful. not defensive. just careful.

"there's not really a glamorous story." he glanced down at the table before continuing. "I grew up moving around a lot. never stayed anywhere long enough to get attached. spent most of my life figuring things out on my own."

you listened quietly while he spoke. the confidence he normally carried seemed muted tonight. "I've made a lot of mistakes," he admitted. "more than I'd like." a humorless smile tugged at his mouth. "some of them I'm still paying for." you studied him carefully.

"that's a very vague answer."

"I know."

"are all your answers like this?"

"only the uncomfortable ones." despite yourself, you smiled. after a moment, his attention shifted back to you. "your turn."

immediately you groaned. "why do I suddenly feel like i walked into my own trap?"

"you did." he looked entirely too pleased about it. "tell me something about yourself." you thought for a second before shrugging.

"there's honestly not much to tell. I work too much. I buy too many books. I spend half my weekends convincing myself I'm going to be productive and then end up watching movies instead."

dex nodded seriously. "interesting."

"that's not interesting at all."

"it is to me." the response was so immediate and sincere that you nearly forgot what you were saying. he rested his chin against his hand while watching you. "favorite movie?"

"that's impossible."

"favorite book?"

"also impossible."

"favorite flower?"

the question made you narrow your eyes. "you already know that one."

"okay, fair." his smile returned. "favorite memory?" this time the question caught you off guard. you looked down at your plate for a moment while thinking.

"when I was younger, my family used to take road trips every summer." a small smile appeared before you could stop it. "nothing fancy. just long drives and terrible roadside diners." dex listened quietly. "don't know why I remember them so much. I just do."

he nodded thoughtfully. "sometimes the small things stick." something about the way he said it made you wonder what memories he was thinking about. before you could ask, he spoke again. "what's something you've always wanted to do?"

after a second of thinking, you admitted, "I've always wanted to travel more."

his expression brightened slightly. "where?"

"everywhere."

the conversation continued like that for the next hour. questions and answers passing back and forth across the table. some serious. some ridiculous. you learned that dex hated olives with an unreasonable amount of passion.

the more the evening continued, the easier it became to forget how strange all of this actually was. yet every so often, you'd catch yourself looking across the table and remembering who he was.

remembering everything that had happened before tonight. and every time, you found him watching you with the same patient expression, as though he knew exactly what was going through your head. as though he understood that trust wasn't something he could ask for. only something he would have to earn, one conversation at a time.

the dinner eventually started to wind down in that slow, reluctant way neither of you wanted to acknowledge. empty plates were cleared away, replaced with a small check placed neatly at the edge of the table like a quiet reminder that the night had a timeline.

for a moment, you just stared at it, pretending you hadn't noticed it arrive, while dex reached for it at the exact same time you did. his hand paused midair when he realized you were also moving. "I've got it," he said simply.

"no," you replied just as quickly, without even looking up. he raised an eyebrow.

"are we arguing about a bill right now?"

"we might be."

"on a first date?"

"especially on a first date." despite yourself, your lips twitched.

before you could even fully commit to the argument, dex had already slipped the check from the table. you watched him sign it with an ease that made you narrow your eyes.

"you did that way too fast."

"practice."

"that’s not comforting."

he stood, offering you his hand out of habit more than necessity, and you hesitated only a second before taking it. the warmth of his fingers against yours lingered longer than it should have as he guided you out of the restaurant.

the night air hit you immediately outside, cooler than the warmth inside, brushing against your skin and pulling a soft breath from your lungs. city lights stretched down the street in glowing lines, and the world felt quieter out here, like the noise of the restaurant had been left behind in another life.

dex walked beside you with his hands loosely in his pockets, glancing over at you every few seconds like he was trying not to be obvious about it and failing completely. at one point, you caught him staring and immediately pointed it out.

"what?" you asked. he didn’t even pretend to deny it. instead, he just smiled.

"nothing."

"stop looking at me like that," you said, trying and failing to sound serious.

"like what?" he tilted his head slightly.

"you know exactly what I'm talking about." you rolled your eyes as you reached the sidewalk corner and slowed without realizing it, the end of the night suddenly feeling too close, too final. the thought hit you before you could filter it.

"I don’t want tonight to end," you admitted quietly, more to the air than to him. there was a beat of silence. then dex’s voice, lighter again.

"oh?" you glanced at him. he was already looking at you. "so you liked being on a date with me."

"don’t get ahead of yourself."

"that sounded like you liking it."

"it sounded like me being polite."

"you’re terrible at lying."

"you’re insufferable."

he laughed softly, shaking his head as he stepped closer to the curb. the tension from earlier in the evening had melted into something easier now, something almost comfortable. "good," he said finally. "because I know a place."

you narrowed your eyes immediately. "that might be the most suspicious thing you could’ve said, considering everything I know about you."

"fair." he opened the car door for you anyway. "but trust me." you hesitated only a moment longer before sliding into the passenger seat, still watching him carefully as he closed the door and walked around to the driver’s side. the engine started smoothly, and the city began to move past you in streaks of light as he pulled away from the curb. you turned slightly in your seat.

"so where are we going?" dex didn’t look over. instead, he just smiled faintly, hands steady on the wheel.

"you’ll see." and that, somehow, made your heart beat just a little faster.

the drive felt quieter than the rest of the night, but not in an uncomfortable way. more like a pause in the middle of something that had been moving too fast. city lights slipped past the windows in soft streaks, painting brief flashes across dex’s face as he focused on the road.

you kept glancing out your own window, trying to guess where he was taking you, but every street looked more or less the same in the dark. the uncertainty should’ve made you uneasy. instead, it just made you more aware of him sitting beside you.

the calm way he drove. the occasional glance he stole in your direction when he thought you weren’t looking. you crossed your arms lightly, leaning back into the seat. "you realize this is how people end up in horror stories, right?" you said eventually.

"I was wondering how long it would take you to say that."

"I’m serious."

"so am I." that earned him a skeptical look from you, which he clearly enjoyed.

when the car finally slowed and pulled to a stop, you immediately leaned forward, trying to see through the windshield. the building ahead wasn’t what you expected at all. warm light spilled from tall windows, and faint music drifted out whenever the door opened. it wasn’t a restaurant this time.

it was a bar, but not the loud, chaotic kind you’d imagined. inside, you could see soft lighting, wooden tables, and a row of billiard tables near the back where a few people were casually playing. for a second, you just stared. "a bar?" you asked, turning toward him.

dex unbuckled his seatbelt casually. "yeah."

"this is your mysterious plan?"

"you said you didn’t want the night to end." he stepped out of the car anyway, already walking around to open your door. "come on."

the moment you stepped inside, the atmosphere immediately wrapped around you. it was warm, dimly lit, and comfortable in a way that didn’t feel overwhelming. there was soft laughter somewhere near the billiard tables, the occasional clack of balls breaking apart, and music low enough that it didn’t drown out conversation.

dex led you toward a quieter table near the pool area and ordered drinks without hesitation, glancing at you only once as if confirming you’d agree. you raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue. a moment later, two glasses of wine were placed in front of you.

you wrapped your fingers around the glass instinctively, feeling the warmth of the room settle into your shoulders as the earlier tension from the night slowly loosened its grip.

you followed dex over to one of the empty billiard tables, watching as he casually picked up a cue like he’d done it a thousand times before. "I’ve never played this," you admitted, slightly unsure. that made him pause just long enough to look at you properly. then, almost immediately, he smiled.

"I’ll teach you." he stepped closer without touching you, adjusting the angle of your stance with simple instructions rather than actually grabbing you, his voice lower now, more focused. "relax your grip," he said. "like this."

you tried, failing immediately. "nope," you muttered.

"you’re doing fine."

"I am absolutely not."

he laughed softly under his breath, and the sound alone made your chest feel annoyingly lighter.

the next few minutes blurred into a mix of instruction, frustration, and laughter. every time you missed a shot, dex would give you a look that was half amusement, half encouragement, like he was trying very hard not to tease you too much.

every time you actually got close, he’d lean in slightly to point out what you did right, his voice brushing just close enough to feel distracting. at one point, you finally managed to sink a ball properly, and your immediate reaction was so dramatic that dex actually laughed out loud. "see?" he said. "you’re getting it."

"don’t sound so surprised."

"I’m not surprised," he replied, still smiling. "I’m impressed." that made you pause for half a second longer than necessary before you quickly looked away and took a sip of your wine.

somewhere between the easy conversation, the soft music, and the way he kept standing just a little too close while showing you how to aim, the night stopped feeling like something uncertain and started feeling almost comfortable.

familiar in a way that didn’t make sense yet didn’t feel wrong either. for the first time, you weren’t thinking about what he was. or what he had done. or what tomorrow might complicate. you were just here, laughing softly over missed shots, watching him lean against the edge of the table with that amused expression that never seemed to leave his face when he looked at you.

despite everything, you found yourself hoping this moment didn’t end anytime soon. the rest of the night at the billiards table faded into something soft and unhurried, like time had decided to stop rushing you for once. you found yourself watching dex more than the game, noticing the small things you hadn’t allowed yourself to register before.

the way he waited instead of interrupting when you were thinking. the way he adjusted his tone when you got frustrated, like he actually cared whether you were enjoying yourself. even the teasing felt gentle, never sharp, never mean. and somewhere between the laughter and the easy conversation, a dangerous thought slipped in without permission.

maybe he wasn’t just what you’d built him up to be in your head. maybe he wasn’t only the headlines or the warnings or the version of him that broke into your life months ago. maybe, in the strange quiet of this dim bar with soft music and warm light, he was just a person you were happy to be around.

you realized you were staring only when dex tilted his head slightly, catching your gaze. instead of calling you out immediately, he just smiled first, slow and knowing, like he had already caught you and was choosing to let you stay there a second longer.

"what?" he asked lightly.

"nothing," you said too fast. he hummed, unconvinced, but didn’t push in the way you expected him to. instead, he leaned back against the pool table, watching you with that same amused expression that had become far too familiar tonight. "you’ve been doing that a lot," he said.

"doing what?"

"looking at me like you’re trying to figure me out." you rolled your eyes, but there was no real bite behind it anymore.

"maybe you’re just confusing."

"or maybe you’re overthinking it." that made you huff a laugh despite yourself, turning your attention back to the table even though your mind was very much still on him.

when you eventually left the bar, the city had shifted into a quieter version of itself. the streets were calmer now, the air cooler, carrying the faint scent of night and distant rain that never quite arrived.

dex walked you back to the car without rushing, hands in his pockets, glancing over at you every so often like he still couldn’t quite believe you were actually there. the drive back felt different than the first one.

you leaned your head slightly against the window, watching reflections of streetlights slide across the glass while faint music played low from the radio, something old and smooth that felt like it belonged in another era entirely. when you asked him to change it, he only smirked and left it exactly where it was.

"it fits the mood," he said.

by the time he stopped in front of your building, the night had fully settled around you. you both sat there for a moment longer than necessary, neither of you immediately moving. the silence wasn’t awkward anymore. it was comfortable in a way that made you nervous if you thought about it too much.

eventually, you unbuckled your seatbelt but didn’t get out right away. "today was. actually fun," you admitted quietly, almost like you didn’t trust the words. dex turned slightly in his seat to look at you properly.

"actually fun?"

you narrowed your eyes. "don’t push it."

he smiled. "I’m taking it as a win." that made you shake your head as you finally got out of the car.

inside your apartment building, the elevator ride up felt slower than usual, like neither of you were in any rush to end the night properly. when you reached your floor, you unlocked your door but hesitated just long enough to glance back at him.

"you can come in," you said before you could overthink it. dex raised an eyebrow.

"inviting me in again?"

"don’t make it weird."

he followed you inside anyway, stepping into your apartment like it was no longer unfamiliar territory. the soft glow of your living room lights wrapped around both of you, and for a moment everything felt strangely intimate in its simplicity.

you slipped off your jacket and tossed it over the chair while he leaned against the wall, watching you with that same calm attention he always had when he was trying to read your thoughts without saying a word.

somewhere in the background, you turned on music without thinking about it too much, something soft and old and warm. dex tilted his head slightly as he listened, a faint smile forming. "this is your taste?" he asked.

"don’t judge me."

"I’m not judging," he said easily. "I like it." you paused at that, glancing at him again, and he only shrugged like it meant nothing. like everything about tonight meant nothing and everything at the same time.

"you know," he added after a beat, "for someone who thinks I’m dangerous, you’re getting really comfortable letting me into your apartment." you crossed your arms, trying to ignore how warm the room suddenly felt.

"don’t get used to it."

his smile widened just slightly. "too late."

the apartment felt warmer than it should have, or maybe it was just the way everything had softened after the long night. the low glow of the lamps cast gentle shadows across the room, and frank sinatra’s voice drifted through the speakers like it belonged there, like it had always been waiting for a moment like this.

you stood a few feet apart without really acknowledging the distance, as if neither of you wanted to be the first to break whatever strange quiet had settled between you. dex was still watching you, not in the sharp, analyzing way he used to, but something slower now, something that didn’t feel like he was trying to figure you out anymore so much as just staying there.

you reached for your glass of water out of habit, but forgot to actually drink it. your fingers tightened slightly around the glass instead. "this is. weird," you said quietly, almost to yourself.

"what is?" he asked. you looked up at him then, really looked, and immediately regretted how close he suddenly felt just by standing still.

"you," you said. "tonight. all of it." dex hummed softly, like he accepted that answer without argument. he took a small step closer, not enough to trap you, just enough that the space between you stopped feeling neutral.

"you could’ve told me to leave earlier," he said.

"I know."

"but you didn’t." your throat tightened slightly at that. you hated how calm he sounded when he said things like that, like he already knew what you were going to do before you did it.

you exhaled slowly, looking away for a second like it might help you think clearly. it didn’t. the music filled the silence instead, soft and slow, wrapping around the room like something old and familiar. when you looked back at him, he was still there, still waiting, still not pushing. that somehow made it worse. or better. you weren’t sure anymore.

"I don’t know what this is," you admitted, quieter this time. dex’s expression softened.

"we don’t have to figure it out tonight." that should have scared you, it didn’t. instead, it just made everything feel even more unreal, like the world had narrowed down to just the two of you standing in a living room that didn’t quite belong to reality anymore.

for a moment, neither of you moved. the air between you felt suspended, fragile in a way that made your heartbeat louder than the music. dex’s gaze dropped briefly, then returned to yours, and whatever restraint had been holding the night together finally felt like it was loosening.

you took a small step forward without thinking, then stopped as if you’d surprised yourself. he didn’t move away. if anything, he stepped closer in response, just enough that the distance disappeared without either of you fully deciding it should. the silence that followed wasn’t empty anymore. it was full of everything you hadn’t said since the moment he first appeared in your life.

and then, very quietly, the moment shifted into something neither of you could ignore anymore. the music kept playing. the lights stayed low. and whatever came next didn’t need to be spoken out loud.

his lips finally met yours, tentative at first, like he was afraid you'd pull away. but when you didn't, when your breath hitched and your hands instinctively rose to his chest, something in him melted.

the kiss deepened slowly, no longer frustrated or rushed but soft now. tender even. dex tilted his head slightly to fit better against you, the movement careful and deliberate.

his lips were warm and a little chapped from the cold outside earlier. they moved gently over yours. one hand lifted slowly into your hair, fingers threading through gently, just holding you close as if this moment mattered more than anything else right now.

you pull back first, not gently, not slowly, but like something inside you finally snapped back into place after being pulled too far. the air between you suddenly feels too sharp, too real.

your breath catches as you take a step back, fingers curling tightly at your sides like you’re trying to hold yourself together physically. the low music keeps playing, absurdly soft, absurdly normal, like it doesn’t understand what just changed in the room. dex doesn’t move at first, only watches you, confusion flickering across his face as if he’s trying to recalibrate the moment.

“what’s wrong?” he asks quietly.

that question makes something in you fracture further.

you shake your head once, then again, like you’re trying to dislodge the entire situation from your mind. “no, no, this is. this is wrong,” you say, voice rising before you can stop it. your pacing starts without permission, a few steps away from him, then back again, like your body can’t decide whether it wants distance or answers. “I shouldn’t be doing this. I shouldn’t even be here right now with you, I shouldn’t,"

you cut yourself off with a sharp breath, hands dragging through your hair in frustration. everything feels too loud inside your own head. too tangled. too fast.

dex finally straightens, his expression shifting from confusion into something more serious. “hey, slow down. talk to me.”

“don’t tell me to slow down,” you snap immediately, turning back to him. the words come out harsher than you mean them to, but you don’t stop them. “you don’t get to stand there like this is normal. like you didn’t break into my life and rearrange everything and then just, just act like I’m supposed to be okay with it.”

his jaw tightens slightly. “that’s not what I’m doing.”

“then what are you doing?” your voice cracks on the edge of it, anger and panic mixing until you can’t tell them apart anymore. “because I don’t know anymore. I don’t know what you are, i don’t know what this is, and I don’t know why I keep letting you get closer when every part of me knows I shouldn’t.”

dex takes a step forward instinctively, but you flinch back without meaning to. that movement alone says more than anything else. the silence that follows is sharp.

his voice comes out lower now, strained at the edges. “what are you so afraid of?”

that hits something raw in you.

you laugh once, but there’s no humor in it at all. your chest rises sharply as you stare at him, eyes burning with everything you’ve been trying not to say out loud. “I’m afraid of you.”

the words land heavy in the space between you.

for a second, dex doesn’t respond but then his expression changes, not anger yet, but something hurt cutting through the confusion. “me?” he repeats, quieter now.

that only makes everything in you boil over more. “yes, you,” you say, stepping forward again now instead of away, like the fear has turned into something sharper. “you show up in my life out of nowhere, you lie, you sneak into my apartment, you leave gifts like you own parts of my life you don’t even ask for, and then you sit here and look at me like I’m the one who’s supposed to be calm about it.”

your breathing is uneven now, your hands shaking slightly as you gesture without thinking. “I don’t know what you want from me. I don’t know if you’re dangerous or just. broken or what, but I do know I can’t tell the difference anymore when I look at you.”

dex’s voice rises for the first time, sharp enough to match yours. “and you think I don’t see how you look at me?”

he exhales sharply, frustration bleeding through now. “you act like I’m the only one doing something wrong here, like you haven’t been standing right there every time I show up, like you haven’t let me stay every single time you could’ve shut the door.”

your breath catches again, anger and confusion colliding so hard it almost knocks the wind out of you.

“don’t you dare,” you say, voice shaking now for a different reason. “don’t you turn this on me.”

“I’m not turning anything on you,” he fires back immediately, stepping closer again despite everything. “I’m asking you to tell me what this actually is, because right now you’re acting like you hate me and like you-" he stops, jaw tightening as if he catches himself before saying something he shouldn’t.

the silence that follows is heavier than anything before it. you both stand there, breathing hard, too close and still somehow not close enough, the music still playing softly in the background like it doesn’t belong to this moment at all.

and neither of you has an answer anymore that feels safe. the argument doesn’t really end so much as it collapses into silence, leaving both of you standing in the middle of the room like you’ve forgotten what to do with your hands, your bodies, your breathing.

you stare at him for a second too long, then look away, then look back again like you’re trying to reset your thoughts and failing every time. your chest still feels tight, your mind moving too fast to settle on anything coherent. every thought splits into another thought before you can finish it.

did you go too far? did he? why did you let it get this close? why does part of you still want to stay in the room instead of leaving it?

dex isn’t moving either. he’s watching you, but not in the confident way he usually does. it’s different now, slower, uncertain, like he’s replaying everything you said and trying to figure out where it shifted. his jaw is slightly tense, his hands loosely at his sides, like he’s resisting the urge to reach out or say something that might make it worse.

he looks confused in a way you haven’t really seen before, not about you exactly, but about the situation between you, like he’s lost the thread of something he thought he understood. that alone makes your stomach twist again, because it means he’s not as steady as he pretends to be either.

the silence stretches, and neither of you breaks it. it’s not comfortable silence, not even close. it’s the kind that makes you hyperaware of every small sound, the faint hum of the city outside, the soft crackle of the speakers, the almost,too ,loud rhythm of your own heartbeat.

you can feel yourself overthinking in real time, spiraling through every word you said, every expression you made, every step you took closer and then away. you don’t know what the right version of you in this moment is supposed to be anymore, and that uncertainty sits heavy in your throat.

dex shifts slightly, like he might speak, then stops himself. you notice it immediately, and that makes everything worse in a way you can’t explain. because now you’re both holding back at the same time, both unsure if the next sentence fixes something or breaks it further.

you glance at him again, and he’s already looking at you. neither of you says anything. neither of you looks away fast enough. and in that suspended, awkward quiet, it becomes painfully obvious that whatever this is, neither of you knows how to step back from it cleanly anymore.

a minute after, dex walked up to you fast, shoes thudding against the floor, shoulders tense under his suit. your chest was still rising sharply from yelling, eyes blazing with hurt and anger. you didn’t get a chance to react.

in one fluid motion, he closed the distance between you, his hands shot out like lightning and gripped your arms hard enough that it almost stung and his mouth crashed into yours.

lips collided violently at first: messy teeth clashing briefly before dex adjusted just enough to deepen it. he kissed you like he wanted control.

his breath came hot and uneven through flared nostrils as his mouth opened wider. tongue pressing forward aggressively while one hand left your arm only to fist tightly in your hair near the base of your neck

you kissed him back just as fiercely, no surrender, no softness. you were angry too. your hands flew up instantly: one gripping the front of his suit, the other tangling into his hair. you pulled him closer, refusing to let him dominate this kiss completely.

lips moved desperately against each other now. saliva mixed between open mouths as breathing turned shallow and uneven, the kiss was deep, messy, hungry. not romantic or sweet but raw like two people fighting through it instead of talking.

dex made a low noise in his throat, something between a growl and groan and suddenly he bit down gently on your lower lip before reclaiming your mouth even harder than before. the kiss finally broke, both of you breathing hard, lips swollen, chests rising fast. dex’s hands were still tangled in your hair and on your dress.

“I need you.” his voice shook slightly from how much he meant it despite everything you'd just fought about minutes ago.

your breath hitched as his words sank in. i want you. before you could even fully process it, the reply tore out of your chest.

"I need you too, dex."

you barely got the words out between panting breaths, nodding fast, eyes locked on his like a promise. dex didn’t smile. didn’t say anything sweet or romantic. he just moved.

in one fluid motion, he swept you up into his arms and carried you across the room, your feet barely touching the floor before he was gently lowering you onto your bed. the mattress dipped under his weight when he followed right after.

he hovered over you for half a second, dark eyes searching yours in that quiet way where everything unspoken passed between them and then his lips crashed down on yours again: hard, hungry, desperate like kissing was breathing now and there wasn’t enough air without it.

his mouth covered yours completely; warm and demanding at once, the kiss deepening immediately with wet heat as your tongues met eagerly. no finesse this time, just pure need pouring out through touch alone

his large hand slid up slowly along your jawline careful at first before gently curling around your throat. a firm press of his palm against your skin; possessive but controlled.

It sent a shiver through you. the sensation made him groan into your mouth, a low sound vibrating between connected lips as if holding you sent sparks straight to his core.

his lips moved against yours in slow, hot sweeps: biting your lower lip lightly then soothing it with his tongue; tilting his head to change the angle for better access. each shift made the kiss feel different, new angles sparking new sensations. still resting at your throat, thumb now brushing softly over your pulse point where it thudded rapidly beneath warm skin. dex could feel how fast your heart was racing.

his hands moved first to your dress, fingers gently tugging at the hem before sliding it up slowly. dex helped lift it off completely without breaking contact for too long, just a brief separation while fabric came away and then immediately returned to kiss you again: deep and slow, mouth warm against yours. your torso was bare beneath him.

dex didn’t waste time, he trailed kisses downward from jawline to neck, then collarbone, each one softer than last until reaching chest where he paused briefly.

then both palms came down lightly at first testing pressure as they covered each breast through thin bra fabric still clinging on skin. thumbs brushed over nipples. as soft little moans escaped your lips, dex exhaled sharply through nose like those sounds physically affected him somewhere low in stomach.

dex’s hands lingered on your chest, thumbs moving in slow circles over the fabric covering you, feeling the shape beneath, testing how responsive you were to every touch. when those soft moans slipped out again, his breath hitched almost imperceptibly through his nose.

without breaking contact dex shifted lower, his mouth leaving yours and trailing down instead along your throat. warm lips pressed lightly at first, a kiss just below jaw, then another right where pulse beat steady under skin.

he kissed slowly downward: collarbone, sternum, each press of lips gentle but deliberate like he was mapping every inch with purpose.

while kissing neck and shoulders dex’s hands wandered, palms sliding off breasts to explore further, one hand gliding down side of waist where it fit perfectly against curve of body; other hand followed similar path lower reaching hip bone.

dex’s mouth stayed focused on your throat, right beneath the shell of your ear where skin was sensitive and warm. his lips pressed there again and again: soft kisses.

his hands grew bolder now, no longer just exploring but claiming and both palms squeezed firmly at your waist first, thumbs digging slightly into soft curves where body met hipbone.

then down he went, one hand sliding over each thigh in slow strokes before gripping them fully; fingers pressing into plush muscle through fabric as dex rolled his hips upward instinctively, grinding against you.

dex’s mouth moved with quiet hunger against your skin, lingering beneath your ear where the warmth of his breath mixed with each soft kiss. he pressed his lips there again, this time adding a gentle nip before dragging them slowly downward along the side of your neck.

his hands never stopped moving either: both palms smoothed over every curve they could reach, squeezing lightly at first as if memorizing shape and texture through touch alone. when dex reached waist again he gripped tighter and thumbs rubbed slow circles into soft flesh there.

simultaneously dex shifted more weight onto you now, grinding upward gradually. steady pressure that created friction between bodies already aligned so perfectly on bed

dex’s lips stayed on your skin, but now between kisses came quiet words, mumbled right against your neck, low and rough with need. "god. I need you so bad," he whispered without pulling away fully.

each breathy confession slipped out between presses of his mouth: another kiss to collarbone, then a soft bite near shoulder followed by another murmur "fuck. been thinking about this all day."

you responded instantly, moaning softly as hands tangled in his hair and when you breathed out "I need you too dex. please," it unraveled something in him.

his eyes flicked open for half a second, dark pupils blown wide with want and then he was kissing you properly again: deep and messy this time; tongues meeting hungrily like they couldn’t get enough.

dex sat up slightly to start undressing, his movements quick but not frantic, just eager. he tugged his t-shirt off first, revealing the smooth expanse of chest and stomach underneath. warm skin met cool air briefly before your hands immediately reached out.

your palms glided over him. fingers tracing collarbone, then pecs, thumbs brushing his lower abs as dex breathed in deeper.

while you explored every inch of exposed chest with gentle curiosity dex focused on removing the rest: kicking off shoes first without standing up; then unbuttoning his pants. then his attention was back on you.

he took a quiet second just looking, drinking in how beautiful you looked beneath him right now, hair slightly messy, cheeks flushed, lips kiss, swollen.

"so pretty." no teasing tone or sarcasm just pure sincerity dripping from voice the air between them felt thick with warmth, both from the quiet intimacy and the rising heat of desire.

dex’s gaze lingered on you for a few more heartbeats, completely mesmerized by how beautiful you looked beneath him: skin glowing faintly in dim light, breath coming soft and even.

then slowly, almost reverently, he leaned back down. his mouth found yours first: a slow kiss this time, deep but gentle. lips moving together like they had all night to explore each other. no rush now that clothes were gone; just two bodies close without barriers anymore.

as kissing continued one hand slid up your side again, palm warm against ribcage and then higher until fingertips brushed gently over your breast.

while other hand traveled downward along stomach, pausing briefly at navel before continuing lower still toward hip bone.

dex’s touch was feather, light at first, just a whisper of fingertips tracing the soft inner skin of your thigh, moving upward with agonizing slowness. every nerve there tingled in anticipation, and when his breath hitched slightly against your lips mid, kiss, a tiny sound you felt more than heard, it sent a shiver through both of you.

each new spot kissed made dex exhale softly through nose again like he couldn’t believe how good this felt.

dex’s mouth lingered on your breast for a few breathless seconds, lips warm, tongue flicking gently over sensitive skin, before the quiet moment shifted into something deeper.

there was no sudden roughness, but desire had built to a peak where waiting wasn’t an option anymore. dex lifted himself slightly above you again, eyes dark with need as they met yours, searching once more without words: this okay?

when you nodded or kissed him back, or maybe just arched up toward him in silent answer, that was all he needed.

slowly at first, carefully. dex aligned himself between your legs and pressed closer. there was brief hesitation only because this mattered so much. not rushing anything despite how badly both of them wanted it.

the moment dex pushed inside, you felt a deep stretch, slow and full, filling every space inside you in the most overwhelming way. it wasn’t painful or uncomfortable at all. just intense, like being completely claimed by warmth and presence.

your breath caught softly in your throat as you adjusted to the feeling: so much sensation all at once. not just physical but emotional too, this closeness, this intimacy after everything leading up to now.

pure, steady waves of good flooding through your core with each slight movement dex made instinctively, tiny shifts of hips adjusting deeper into you both finding rhythm together naturally.

you exhaled shakily, a quiet sigh laced with contentment and without thinking you wrapped your arms around his back tightly, pulling him closer still.

his hips rocked gently forward, then back, creating a soft, steady rhythm that filled the quiet room with nothing but shared breath and rustling sheets. each outward glide was smooth almost lazy in its calmness but when he pushed inward again, warmth spread deeper through your body like sunlight breaking through clouds.

each time dex sank into you fully his stomach brushed against hers lightly; skin-to-skin contact adding another layer of intimacy that made everything feel even more real.

and slowly gradually, the pace increased just slightly: still controlled but gaining subtle momentum now as bodies adjusted naturally together.

the soft moans spilling from your lips, quiet, breathy sounds full of pleasure, seemed to unravel something in dex. each one made his chest tighten and his movements grow slightly bolder.

between thrusts that were now deeper and more confident, dex leaned down just enough to whisper against your ear, voice low, rough with emotion and arousal:

"you like how I fuck you baby?" then without waiting too long, another quiet murmur came: "fuck. you feel so good. so tight."

each word came out ragged between breaths; not spoken smoothly but stammered almost like thoughts tumbling directly into speech because they wouldn’t stay inside anymore.

the gentle rhythm dex started with quickly gave way to something more urgent, more aggressive in the best way.

his hips began moving faster, deeper, each thrust gaining strength and purpose as pleasure built inside him. there was no harshness or roughness about it. but a raw, primal energy took over: his body responding instinctively to how good this felt.

grunts slipped from his lips now, short exhales through clenched teeth every time he pushed forward, low sounds of effort and enjoyment tangled together. each one came out rougher than before like they were being pulled straight from his chest.

"dex!" every moan that escaped you seemed to fuel him further, making dex bolder without realizing it. he leaned over slightly again, bracing one arm beside you head while other hand gripped hip tightly, not hard enough to hurt but firm enough for stability during these stronger movements.

he kissed down your jawline suddenly between grunts, biting gently at collarbone. the gentle rhythm dex started with quickly gave way to something more urgent, more aggressive in the best way.

his hips began moving faster, deeper, each thrust gaining strength and purpose as pleasure built inside him. there was no harshness or roughness about it. but a raw, primal energy took over: his body responding instinctively to how good this felt.

you felt the shift when dex’s hand slid down, warm palm gliding over stomach, then lower, until his fingers found you.

the second his thumb brushed against your clit in slow circles, a spark shot through you. it was gentle at first, testing, but so electric that your breath hitched instantly.

then he kept going, firm pressure building with each rotation, and the pleasure started rising fast. every nerve there lit up; body tensing slightly not from discomfort but anticipation.

your moans came louder now, unfiltered and honest, as hips lifted toward his touch without thinking. you wanted more friction, more of that perfect circle. and dex gave it to you: thumb moving faster now while thrusts continued deep inside.

each stroke of dex’s thumb on your clit grew more intense, faster, firmer, and the coil inside you tightened with every second. it wasn’t a slow build anymore; it was rapid, overwhelming.

your body tensed in waves, muscles along stomach and thighs coiling like springs about to snap. breath came in short gasps now. moans spilling out one after another: loud, desperate little sounds you couldn’t control.

without realizing it at first, your fingers curled into his back, nails digging lightly through skin as pleasure surged higher and higher. not enough to hurt but strong pressure from instinctive need for something solid to hold onto.

"dex, fuck-"

you scratched down slightly, just once or twice, as if trying to anchor yourself while everything else blurred around edges. the knot low in belly pulled tighter. the knot finally snapped.

a sudden, amazing wave of pleasure crashed through you, intense and all, consuming. your entire body locked up for a split second: back arching off the bed, thighs squeezing around dex’s hips on instinct.

warmth flooded every nerve; pulse throbbed between legs as climax hit hard, wave after wave rolling through you in quick succession. moans turned into breathless cries now, unfiltered, loud without meaning to be, but pure ecstasy pouring out from deep inside.

through it all dex stayed right there with you. his hand never stopped moving at first, thumb still gently circling even as orgasm crashed over you, but his voice came low and encouraging against you ear.

"that's it baby. so good, let go."

he whispered soft praises while he watched you come undone beneath him.

as the last pulses of your orgasm faded, body still humming with aftershocks, you melted completely into the mattress, breathing heavily, skin flushed and sensitive everywhere. dex slowed his thumb, easing up from your clit as he felt you come down. he pressed soft kisses along your jawline now: tender. affectionate.

you could feel dex’s rhythm shift, more urgent now, more needy, as he kept going without pause. your body was still buzzing from your own orgasm, oversensitive. just intensely aware of every movement.

his hips drove forward with steady force: deeper each time, faster, chasing that peak only he could reach now. you stayed beneath him, soft and pliant after coming so hard, letting him take what he needed while warmth spread between you both.

each thrust made his stomach press into yours slightly; skin on skin slick with shared heat.

dex’s breath came out in short bursts through nose, sharp little exhales that told you how close he was getting. one arm braced beside your head while other hand gripped sheet tightly. the final push hit dex like a wave, unavoidable and overwhelming.

his body tensed completely: shoulders locking, stomach going rigid, thighs tightening around yours where he knelt over you. for one suspended second everything stopped, breathing froze.

"fuck"

"dex, too much, too much-"

a low groan tore from his chest, deep and guttural, almost pained in its intensity, but pure pleasure underneath. hips jerked forward instinctively as orgasm ripped through him. heat flooded inside you instantly; warmth spreading deep within as dex came hard, pulse after pulse, completely lost in sensation with no control left.

he didn’t make loud noises. just that single long groan vibrating against your neck while his forehead dropped onto shoulder weakly. entire weight slumped slightly over you now, crushing you heavy with release.

the room was completely dark, lit only by the faint orange glow slipping through the curtains from the street outside. the fight felt far away now, though the tension still lingered in the quiet spaces between breaths. you were lying on your side, facing dex, your head resting against the pillow as you watched him.

his face was softer than it had been few minutes ago, stripped of all the sharp edges he'd carried during the argument. outside, the night was cold enough to make the window glass fog slightly, and every now and then the wind brushed against the building with a low whistle.

beneath the blankets, his hand found yours without looking, his fingers weaving through yours as naturally as breathing. the silence wasn't uncomfortable anymore. it was the kind that came after everything important had already been said. dex's thumb moved slowly over your knuckles, absentminded and warm.

when you looked into his eyes, you found him already staring at you. there was something vulnerable there, something he rarely let anyone see. "what?" you whispered, a small smile tugging at your lips.

he shook his head and moved closer, his forehead bumping lightly against yours. "nothing," he murmured. "just looking at you." after everything, those simple words settled deeper in your chest.

you shifted closer until there was barely any space left between you. the blankets tangled around your legs, trapping the warmth you shared. dex wrapped an arm around your waist and pulled you against him with quiet insistence, like he needed the reassurance that you were really there.

his chin rested on top of your head for a moment before he tilted it down to press a lingering kiss against your hair. the fight had been loud, messy, and exhausting, full of things neither of you had meant the way they sounded. but now, with his heartbeat steady beneath your ear, it felt impossible to remember why either of you had been angry in the first place.

"I hate fighting with you," he said eventually, his voice rough from disuse. you let out a quiet laugh. he groaned immediately, burying his face into your neck.

the sound that escaped you this time was warmer, softer. when he looked back up, there was a reluctant grin on his face, and you reached out to brush a loose strand of hair from his forehead. the gesture made him pause. for a second he simply leaned into your touch, eyes half-lidded, looking more peaceful than you'd seen him in days.

the room grew quieter as the hours slipped by. outside, the cold night stretched endlessly beneath a dark sky, but under the blankets everything felt sheltered and distant from the rest of the world. dex's arm tightened around you as sleep slowly pulled at both of you.

you glanced up one last time and found him watching you again, stubbornly refusing to close his eyes first. "go to sleep," you whispered.

"you first," he whispered back. neither of you moved. eventually you felt his laugh rumble softly through his chest, and when you settled closer against him, he pressed another kiss to your forehead and held you there, as if letting go wasn't even an option anymore.

You unlocked the door with the spare key he’d given you two weeks ago and stepped inside quietly, the apartment was dim except for the glow of the television.

Dex glanced up from the couch the second you entered, and your heart fluttered. It was something that happened every single time he looked at you now.

“You’re late,” he said quietly, though there was no irritation in it.

“You say that like I wasn’t wrist-deep in someone’s abdominal wound an hour ago.” You said closing the door.

Dex stood immediately, taking the takeout bag from your hands before you could protest.

“You should be resting.” He said, kissing your forehead.

“And yet here I am.”

His eyes swept over your face carefully. “You’re exhausted.”

“Eh, I can sleep when I’m dead.”

“That’s not funny.” He said sternly. 

Your chest warmed slightly, it still affected you how protective he was.

You kicked off your shoes near the door before making your way toward the sofa. The oversized hoodie slid further down one shoulder as you collapsed dramatically against the cushions.

Dex’s eyes immediately flicked toward the exposed skin, and your stomach tingled faintly beneath his attention.

“You stole another hoodie,” he observed.

“You gave me the key. That means what’s yours is now mine.” You teased.

A quiet huff of amusement escaped him as he sat beside you, close enough that his thigh pressed warmly against yours, and you melted into his side automatically as Dex handed you your drink before reaching for the remote.

“You already started the movie without me?” You playfully whined after taking a sip of your drink.

“You were forty-three minutes late.” He said, wrapping his arm around your shoulder.

“You timed it?”

“Yes.”

You laughed softly as you placed your drink on the table.

A month ago you couldn’t imagine laughing this easily around him, now you two barely spend an evening without talking.

Whether it was quick lunches between your jobs, or movie nights that led to one of you staying over, or long phone calls where you fell asleep listening to his breathing over the phone because neither of you wanted to hang up first.

And somewhere along the way, being around Dex had stopped feeling impossible and started feeling like something you never wanted to end.

Dex reached into the takeout bag and immediately handed you the container of battered chicken balls.

You paused. “I didn’t tell you what I ordered.”

“You always get chicken balls.”

“That’s not true.”

“It is.”

“It isn’t.”

Dex looked at you. “…It is.”

“Ugh, fine.” You rolled your eyes before eating one.

A quiet smile tugged at Dex’s mouth as he adjusted the blanket over your legs.

The movement made you pause. “You do that every time.”

“What?”

“The blanket thing.”

“You get cold.” He stated.

“You sound ninety.” You teased him.

“Says the girl who wore three layers in September.” He teased back.

“It was windy.” You defended yourself.

“It was sixty-eight degrees.”

You gasped dramatically. “I can’t believe you’re attacking me in my own relationship.”

A loud laugh escaped him.

You immediately pointed at him. “Ha! I win!”

Dex blinked. “What?”

“You laughed.”

His expression flattened instantly. "I didn't."

“Oh my God.” You grinned and immediately reached for your phone.

Dex narrowed his eyes. “What are you doing?”

“Making a note.” You smiled.

“No.” Dex said, trying to hide his smile. 

“Dear Diary.” You spoke aloud whilst typing.

“No.”

“Today Dex laughed at my joke.”

“No.” He said despite smiling wide.

“Witnessed by me and eleven and a half battered chicken balls.”

Before you could continue, Dex leaned over and stole your phone from your hand as you laughed so hard you nearly spilled your food.

“Stop, thief.”

“You started it.”

“I was documenting a rare event.”

“It’s not rare with you, baby.”

You froze before your smile widened slowly. “You laugh around me now?”

A flicker of something warm crossed his face before he looked back at the television, and your chest tightened pleasantly.

God, you loved the simplicity of this, the normalcy of just sitting together without worrying about anything else.

At some point you ended up half-sprawled across him. Not intentionally at first, one minute you were sitting beside him, and the next your legs were draped across his lap while Dex absentmindedly traced circles against your calves.

The movie continued playing, but you weren’t paying much attention anymore and were mostly watching Dex pretend he wasn’t invested in the plot.

“He’s the killer.” He stated, pointing at a character you’ve already forgotten the name of.

“He isn’t.” You replied despite having no idea what’s happening.

“He absolutely is.”

“He isn’t.”

“You sound very confident.” He smirks at you while gently squeezing your calf.

“Because I’m right.” You said while tapping his stomach with your foot.

Twenty minutes later, the character was revealed to not be the killer as you looked at him triumphantly, and Dex stared at the television.

“I hate this movie.” He sighed.

A laugh burst out of you. “No, you don’t.”

“I do.”

“You’ve been paying attention the whole time.”

Silence.

“That’s not the point.”

Your grin widened until Dex shifted beneath you for the third time and you noticed something was wrong.

Your eyes narrowed slightly. “Are you in pain?”

“I’m fine.” He shrugged before subtly wincing.

“You just moved like an eighty-year-old man.” You said pulling your legs from his lap and ignoring his hands that were trying to pull you back.

Dex gave you a flat look as you leaned closer immediately, your hand sliding instinctively across his back.

“You’re hurting,” you murmured softly.

“It’s nothing.”

“You’re terrible at lying to me.” You said, kissing his cheek.

His jaw tightened slightly despite leaning into your kiss but as your fingers brushed his spine, Dex tensed sharply.

Your eyebrows lifted. “Dex.”

“It’ll pass.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

He exhaled slowly through his nose before finally muttering, “My back hurts.”

You stared at him gently while running your other hand through his hair. “Alright, baby. Take your shirt off.”

Dex blinked once. “…What?”

“You heard me.”

His eyes darkened instantly as warmth crawled into your face.

“Not like that,” you mumbled. “I’m offering to help.”

“You worked all day.”

“I know.”

“You’re drained.”

“And your back still hurts.”

Dex watched you quietly for a moment as something soft flickered behind his eyes.

“You always do this.”

You frowned slightly. “Do what?”

“Take care of me.” His voice was quieter now.

You paused.

“You’re my soulmate.” You say kissing him. “It’s my job.”

“No.” His hand found yours, fingers intertwining. “It’s just who you are.”

You fell quiet as you looked down at your intertwined fingers, and for a moment, neither of you spoke.

“You do it too.” You whisper as your thumb stroked his knuckles.

Dex’s gaze lifted. “What?”

“You take care of me.”

His eyebrows immediately rose. “Oh, do I?”

“You do.” You smile at his teasing.

“I don’t think so.”

“You bought me food because I forgot to eat.” You say, pulling your hands away and wrapping your arms around his neck.

“You forgot three meals.” He states kissing your arm.

“You reorganised my medicine cabinet.”

“It was chaos in there.”

“You walked across Manhattan because I said I had a bad day.”

Dex paused before looking away, which immediately told you everything. "You needed me."

Your chest warmed. “See?”

His thumb brushed softly across your hand. “Fine, you win.”

You smiled as he sighed jokingly.

The teasing in his voice only made the warmth spread further through your chest.

Because despite how obsessive and possessive Dex could get over you, he loved taking care of you. His gaze lingered on you another second before he finally reached for the hem of his shirt.

Your heartbeat immediately betrayed you, which was annoying because you’d seen him shirtless before several times, and yet it still affected you every single time.

Dex pulled the fabric over his head before tossing it aside as your eyes dropped instinctively to the muscles of his back before focusing on the visible tension running through his shoulders.

“You look tense,” you said honestly, running your fingers over his spinal scar.

“That’s an accurate sentence.”

A quiet snort escaped him before he shifted forward slightly on the couch as you moved behind him carefully, your knees pressing into the cushions as your hands settled gently against his shoulders.

The second your palms touched his skin, Dex’s entire body went still beneath your hands as you swallowed softly before letting your healing powers slowly warm your palms.

A quiet breath escaped Dex immediately.

“There you go,” you murmured softly. “That’s the reaction I was wanting.”

His head dipped slightly forward as your fingers worked carefully against the tight muscles near his shoulders. The room slowly relaxed as the noise of the TV hummed quietly in the background, and Dex’s breathing gradually slowed beneath your hands.

You could feel the tension melting out of him little by little, and a soft smile grew on your face because Dex relaxed so rarely.

But the more comfortable he became beneath your touch, the more his shoulders loosened, his jaw unclenching, his breathing deepening, and the softer he got.

Until eventually he looked peaceful.

Your chest tightened pleasantly at his relaxed expression.

“You’re falling asleep,” you whispered softly.

“No, I’m not.” He mumbled back.

“You literally sound half dead.”

“I’m relaxed.”

The quiet honesty in his voice made warmth spread through you. Your fingers moved carefully lower across his back, easing the lingering pain there as the healing warmth spread beneath your palms.

Dex let out another low breath.

“You feel good.” He whispered.

Heat rushed instantly into your face. “You’re impossible.”

“I’m honest.”

“That’s arguably worse.”

A faint smile tugged at his mouth, and you stared at it for a second too long.

God, you really liked him.

The realisation no longer felt sharp anymore, now it felt warm, steady, and safe. Your hands slowed slightly against his skin, and Dex noticed immediately.

Of course he did.

His hand reached back carefully, fingers wrapping gently around your wrist. The touch sent warmth spiraling up your arm instantly.

Your breath caught softly as Dex slowly turned enough to look back at you, and the air changed into something heavy and wanting. His eyes moved slowly over your face before settling on your mouth, and your heartbeat stumbled hard enough to hurt.

“Tell me to stop,” he said quietly.

The vulnerability in those words shattered something inside your chest as your fingers slowly slid to his jaw.

Then you leaned forward and kissed him softly at first, his warm lips against yours. Almost hesitant before Dex made a quiet sound against your mouth that made you tingle with want.

His hand tightened gently around your wrist before sliding carefully up your arm like he was afraid to hold you too tightly, and you kissed him again before he could overthink it. Deeper this time, more certain with what you wanted.

Dex turned fully toward you after that, one hand cupping your face carefully as though he’d been wanting to do this for weeks.

Maybe he had, and maybe you had to.

The soulmate bond burned warmly beneath your skin as your fingers slid into his hair, and Dex’s kiss turned more intense, as if he was overwhelmed by you.

When you finally pulled back slightly for air, his forehead dropped against yours, his breathing hard and his eyes shut.

“You’re shaking,” you whispered softly.

Dex let out a weak laugh. “You kissed me first.”

“And? I have done it before.”

“Baby, you have no idea what that does to me.”

Warmth spread low in your stomach.

Your fingers brushed gently across his cheek before you kissed his cheek softly. The second your lips touched his skin, Dex inhaled sharply, like the tenderness itself affected him more than anything else.

His hands slid carefully to your waist, gripping possessively but still giving you room to move away if you wanted. Instead you kissed him again before he could speak, and this time Dex responded immediately.

Needier now and less restrained, like he was finally allowing himself to want you more openly than before.

Your hands slid down his chest slowly as he pulled you into his lap with startling gentleness for someone capable of so much violence. The contrast made your heartbeat stutter because with you he was always gentle. Always.

The kiss deepened slowly until your entire body felt warm with it.

His hands traced carefully along your waist beneath the oversized hoodie, almost reverent in the way he touched you as if he still couldn’t fully believe you were real and were his.

You could feel how hard he was trying not to rush, how carefully controlled every movement of his remained.

“You okay?” he murmured softly against your mouth.

The concern and neediness in his voice made your chest warm.

You nodded immediately. “Yes.”

Dex searched your face for another second before kissing you again, like your answer meant everything to him.

Clothes disappeared slowly after that, with the moment not being rushed or feeling frantic.

Just shared breaths, wandering hands, and soft kisses that blurred together until you barely remembered where one touch ended and another began.

And through all of it, Dex never stopped looking at you like you were everything that he ever wanted, touching you like you were something sacred, kissing you like you would vanish, and loving you like it was the last thing he would do.

Whether it was kissing your scar, touching your skin, feeling your heartbeat. All of it felt intentional and worshipful. And when your fingers brushed the soulmate mark on his skin, Dex shuddered beneath your hands.

“Careful,” he whispered hoarsely into the kiss, his thrusts faltering for a moment.

You smiled softly against his mouth. “Sensitive?”

“For you? Always.” He replies, kissing you deeper.

And the honesty in his voice was what made you finish for the second time that night.

The apartment settled into a soft quiet as the New York rain tapped gently against the windows. The television had long since become background noise with neither of you paying it attention.

You lay curled against Dex’s chest beneath the blankets, comfortable at his side, while his fingers traced lazy patterns against your bare arm.

Neither of you had spoken for several minutes, but the silence wasn’t awkward or regretful, it was just peaceful. The kind that only existed when you felt completely comfortable with someone.

Your eyes drifted half shut as his hand moved from you arm and slowly through your hair.

“Tired?” he murmured quietly.

“Mhm.”

“You overworked yourself again.” He said, kissing the side of your head.

“And you got blood on my sofa again last week.”

“I said I was sorry.”

“You bled on the expensive cushion.”

A quiet laugh rumbled beneath your cheek, and you smiled sleepily against his chest before tilting your head up slightly.

Dex looked down at you immediately.

Your fingers brushed lightly against his jaw before you leaned up enough to press another soft kiss against his lips, and his eyes fluttered shut. And there it was again, that softness, that peace you had been wanting for years.

You settled back against him slowly as warmth spread through your chest because somewhere in the past month this had become real.

Not a fantasy, not a twist of your already intertwined fate, but real. 

And lying there tangled together in the quiet warmth of his apartment, you realised you trusted him enough to give him every vulnerable piece of yourself, and he trusted you in the same way. 

Now something that scared you instead felt a little like home.

Leather stuck to his fingers as they gripped the wheel. The pattern, now smudged away from excessive use, is a reminder of yesteryear’s body; the chassis squealed as he drove over another small bump, the suspension calling for Dex to tend to her neglected joints. For a fifty year-old vehicle, she bode well to most forgotten city roads, but they were nothing compared to how she performed in her hay day, tires kicking up the finely ground dirt in the country roads as he fled from his past;

Now it caught up to him, waiting for his transmission to falter at any second, as he couldn’t outrun anymore. The exhaust pipe tremored, the result of a cold humid night awaking her with a jolt, and Dex ignored it as he impatiently waited for the streetlight to turn green.

In his glovebox were his gloves. They collected dust, a relic of his past life and the role to which he committed, a man that no longer exists within him. How could he decide to remove the gloves, blood still staining the cloth fabric of them? How was it, after all of these years, that none of Dex’s blond strands of hair fell onto the gloves?

At the nearby park were a pair of lovers, the tarot card giving him a reading he dreaded; it reminded him of his loneliness, one he convinced himself was a choice rather than pre-determined fate; Dex couldn’t comprehend a higher being, someone who could have more power over his life more than him.

Even after cutting the strings controlling his arms and shooting the man pulling the strings, Dex felt the familiar yet unknown weight of something governing him. As his foot pressed the brake pedal with little resistance (an issue for later, he discerned), Dex contemplated the grievances of burying the needle once more as he cut ties with life and drove the tons of metal into a brick wall or concrete bridge pillar. Would it hurt?

The image of Dex’s body hurled over quickly snapped him back into the present, avoiding confrontation of the question about whether or not the world would notice him gone. Driven, Dex nudged the vehicle with the gas pedal, steady as she allowed it, or else she would shift too early, and slip back into uselessness that would force Dex to push the vehicle along Fifth Ave..

Pulling into a vacant lot near an abandoned warehouse, Dex flicked the switch along the driver’s side control panel to shut off the lights of his vehicle. He maneuvered into a parking space, turning the key and removing it from the ignition.

Knocking came from the window. You appeared, crouching into the window and into Dex’s view. He couldn’t capture all of your figure at once, of course, but he was in awe of what he could already catch: a low-cut wrap top that hugged your curves and teased the bare skin that Dex could potentially access later.

He had seen it already, all quarters of your body, exposed as a secret meant only for Dex, but each time he catches a glimpse of your presence, a peek between the lined blinds at your inner world, his breath hitches.

So when he unlocks your door with the pop of the fasten, and you enter the vehicle, overtaking the stale aroma with notes of clove, allspice, and cinnamon, Dex promised to himself that he couldn’t possibly be happier than he was in that moment, eyes glued to you; he was a lay man, and you the connector to the afterworld, one he never thought to explore in his life until he met you.

Dex didn’t even notice that your wrap top complimented the verde paintcoat of the vehicle, your warm orange against her sparkly leafy metal breathtaking, even for someone as distant as Dex. He drove you two into a getaway point, a familiar place only to heathens like the pair of you, and parked his car. Shut off the ignition. Switched off the lights.

Grasslands were seen from afar, but the uneven, untidied concrete remained underneath your feet when you stepped out from the car and sat on the trunk. Dex would have minded - any careless action could scratch the polished car, add hours of work to his hobby - but when he watched your plush ass flatten against the metal, your thighs doubling in size, he thanked the gods for the dark blue jean shorts you wore, and omitted your actions just this once.

“What?” was the first word you had spoken since you two met in the night. You caught him staring - you were used to this, accustomed to the audience you had when you were around him - but this look was different, one that hadn’t been mentally noted for future reference.

Dex’s response was nigh: rosey vines crept up his neck, poking out at his jawline; his vasto pupils hid behind his eyelashes, which were batting at you, and; Dex’s tongue slithered out to humect his chapped sahara of a bottom lip.

You were accustomed to him being this way, allowing himself to be read for his actions while his larynx rested from a day’s work; however, you yearned for his voice to crackle against the night sky, for him to struggle to form a sentence while you rocked your hips against his length, his self-control wavering.

“You like this?” You crossed your legs nonchalantly, and leaned back to rest your upper body on your forearms against the trunk of the car. “I found it while I was cleaning the other day. I know you don’t usually like orange, but I thought it would look good on me.”

And it did: you practically cackled when you tried on the outfit a day earlier, snapping lewd photos for you to tease Dex with after tonight - a simple reminder of his woman, of course. You were thankful for the pumpkin color, and how it enhanced your cocoa skin, a feature of yourself you grew to be proud of. How could you deny him the simple pleasure of seeing you confident in yourself, after all, when he adored you too? What would a man be if he neglected her so much that she wither away into an empty shell, a dusting of yesterday’s lust conquered and then forgotten?

Not that Poindexter would do this - one week after you left him in a rage from an argument, he was standing outside your rented villa, his body drenched in the hurricane rain, as his eyes stormed for you to open the door and forgive him, and he was just so, so sorry; when you hadn’t accepted the apology until he proved his devotion to you, crawling on the old hardwood floor, and leaving a trail of rainwater from his clothes and hair, he knew then that he couldn’t cross the boundary, and that you were a flame burning as chaotically as his; and when he buried his face in your pussy, your back pressed against the Spanish styled interior and your leg hooked on his shoulder to brace yourself, he breathed a sigh of relief that he found someone to love him, and to love in return.

Ever since then, he learned to express himself in the way he loved best: bodily communication. Nonverbal, no words spoken, except the occasional gruff in frustration, or whimper in heightened emotion. Even tonight, when you dangled yourself before his starved eyes, Dex didn’t bite the hook with a witty comment; instead, he attached his lips to your neck, hands exploring each inch of you that you allowed him to find.

It was you who spoke, with a whine, as Dex’s canines dug into the crook of your neck without breaking skin. He chuckled against you as he continued to work noises out of you, each one more broken than the last. At one point, you pouted at him when his fingers pulled away from your underwear, only to draw your bottom lip between your teeth when Dex sucked on the same fingers that contained your juices.

He loved tasting you in any way he could. When he dragged you by your ankles and lifted your hips so your pussy would be near his mouth, calves and feet dangling in the air behind his back as you used his shoulders to support your lower body, you were breathless, astonished that a man could commit to devouring you in such a quick motion.

Dex loved the way you reacted, so innocently; nobody has taken you like he has, his large palms scouting to find his next favorite place on your body, another excuse for him to taste and touch you. He made a promise after your first encounter with him that he would spoil you, ruin every other person for you to potentially consider, as your body would call for Dex, and Dex alone.

His first sound was a groan against your pussy as he felt your hips rock into him. His cock strained in his pants, and he lowered one hand to rub himself while his tongue flattened against your sensitive button. You fell silent to capture his every sound, swallow and store it in your hidden chest with all of his idiosyncrasies, but Dex sternly slapped your bare ass, causing you to snap back into your trance as your coil tightened.

You came with a silent cry, your crown falling back onto the trunk, hips jerking into Dex’s face, and thighs trembling. He relished in this - your soft body dimly lit by the moon, barely identifying the way your jaw fell open and eyebrows furrowed, and your poor attempt at respecting the wildlife’s silence to prevent your internal fire from spreading too quickly for either of you to extinguish.

Tonight, he was forgiving; Dex guided you gently, wrapping your legs around his waist as he unbuckled his belt and unzipped his jeans. On some nights after separated from you for too long, he studied each way you fell apart, any way he could, which would mean hours of fucking you with his tongue and hand until you sobbed uncontrollably for him to stop (and mean it); the anguish on your face bullied Dex into feeling remorse, and he apologized profusely and asked for forgiveness all while you were barely conscious in exhaustion.

But he learned. He adapted. During times when he called to you and you refused, rolling your eyes and playing hard to get, he trapped you between the nearest wall in his apartment and his body while he fucked you senselessly; when you endured pain - either from menstruation or ailment - Dex was a wound-up ballerina in a music box, dancing for you until you turned his knob, no matter how many times you wanted it.

“I love you.” You confessed, delivered with velvety ribbons to match the walls that trapped his thick cock like a finger trap. He panted when he felt himself fully seated in you, staring at you with eyes drunk with fervor and shame.

There was always shame in his eyes when he looked at you, especially when he was inside you: how else could such a mistake catch your attention, or steal your heart? He washed his hands of the blood that he spilled, desperate to restore his hands to the fleshy color acceptable enough to caress you, yet they were still ruby, shaking as he stared at them.

This was the first time he touched you with his fingers, his palm, his skin on yours. Before, he was too impure, and vocalized how he was afraid of poisoning you; his gloves remained in the glovebox as he thrusted into you, watching his dick disappear inch by inch before pulling it out until only the tip was inside of you.

“I love you too.” Dex moaned as he screwed his eyes shut, careful to spill his seed into you too soon. At this point, you squeezed his waist with your thighs, a sensation too delicious for him to ignore as his breath hitched, and curled into a high-pitched moan.

You enjoyed bringing him close, even if it meant seconds inside of you. Atop his car, he fucked you like this, his pace achingly fast, before slowing down to almost a complete halt, afraid of coming too soon. His voice was broken as if he had spoken too much, terrified of being too much, but you encouraged him in ways you knew he enjoyed.

“You’re doing so well. Fucking me so good.” You breathed, sentence interrupted with a sudden thrust of his hips.

“Oh, fill me with your cum.” You sensed he was close by his erratic thrusts, and the way he choked on his own spit. He waited for your permission always, worried about disappointing you. You knew how much he adored hearing your every thought about him, how you loved him despite his flaws.

It was his turn to speak, the words falling from his lips before he could think twice about them. “Fuck, I love you.” Dex cursed into the humid night air as he released into you, his cum spurting into you with strangled moans.

You watched in admiration as he realized what he allowed himself to do. He blushed, the pink tint suiting him beautifully; it wasn’t the first time he had done this, and you learned to accept it as a normal response at this rate, sitting up on the trunk to cup his cheek to draw him back to Earth.

It started all from a silly argument — something about a comment you made in passing after a long and exhausting day.

That kick-started a screaming match between you two, where you were both too deafened by your own pride to actually hear what the other was trying to say.

Now the apartment is quiet again, but the tension is so thick, it almost feels suffocating.

You can see Dex trying to get back in your orbit, standing just a bit too close for comfort while you get ready to go to sleep.

After applying the last product of your routine, you walk out of your shared bathroom, purposely avoiding looking in his general direction.

He follows you like a lost puppy, but he doesn't talk yet, too lost in his own internal dialogue, just now catching up on the fact that this fight affected you way more than usual. 

He keeps waiting for you to do something: yell at him, hit him, draw blood, both physically and emotionally.

But you do none of those things.

Instead, you pick up your pillow from the meticulously-made bed and start walking to the living room, all of this without saying a word.

The action makes every thought disappear from Dex's head, except for one. 

She's leaving.

Like a moth to a flame, he's right behind you, desperately grasping at the fabric of the t-shirt you're wearing with his trembling hand.

"Wait, where are you going?" 

His voice is shaky, and his eyes are already glassy.

But you're a blank wall, not gracing him with a response while your face remains unmoving, looking like one of those Greek statues. With much more force than necessary, you let your pillow drop on the couch.

"Babe, please, I- Don't leave me," he begs, tears now spilling from his pretty eyes, staining his cheeks. 

You've been here times and times before, and you expected him to react this way, so you don't falter.

When Dex sees that his desperate plead does nothing to make you stop, he drops on his knees and wraps his arms around your legs.

"Please, baby, I'll do better, I swear," he says, burying his face in your lap. "Just don't leave me." 

Your arms remain planted at your sides, not making a move to touch or console him. Instead, you try to take a step back, but it's no use. His grip just tightens, and more sobs spill out of his trembling lips.

"I can't sleep alone, you know that." 

You roll your eyes, and when you do finally touch him, it's only to free yourself from his grip.

When you finally manage to do so, you drop on the couch, carefully angling your back to avoid looking at him.

You don't know exactly what you expected him to do — maybe to keep crying and begging all night — but not to lay his massive body on top of yours.

Dex's frame weights uncomfortably on you, but not painfully. You can feel him all around you: his form, his warmth, his scent.

His lips immediately find your face, pampering it with damp kisses, his tears soaking your cheek as well.

"I can't live without you. I need you so bad," he hiccups. "Please, tell me I'm still yours." 

It takes you so much strength to resist giving in, but it's all in vain as he keeps mumbling pathetic sweet nothings against your skin, making you feel guilty for choosing to punish him this way.

A tired sigh escapes your lips, and you cave.

"I'm not going to leave you, Dex." 

Your words should have been enough to calm him down, but when you try to move from his grip, and finally go to sleep — in your own bed, and not this uncomfortable couch — he doesn't let you, only snuggling his face deeper in the crook of your neck.

"Stay. Please." 

And you do, because despite everything, you seem unable to do otherwise.

A/N: This was the fic! Reblogs and comments are always appreciated, even if it's criticism (as long as it's constructive). I love talking with you angels, so my dms and inbox are always open!

All the love, Anna ♡