Fishie

That genuine feeling of his is now tainted. Vox either tries to justify it or by the end erase it altogether. Yet his desire for a close partner he can trust remains. He is still building his team, more determined to be in command.

To be the main one - He depicts his figure as the largest in the drawings. His V on the tower is also larger than the others.

And I just noticed that Valentino is showing 👍 here. My God, Vox

Vox tries to replace that partnership with godlike obedience. It is a form of sacrificial devotion. He would likely be content with such a dynamic. I wouldn’t say emotional closeness is impossible there.

But does that really suit Vox when it comes to those close to him? Time and again, Vox chooses strong, independent personalities - the kind who can be brats. Alastor would always act on his own, after all. Vox couldn’t have been unaware of that in the past. Plans with such personalities nearby would always be discussed.

Such a dynamic of devotion with him could have worked if Vox understood himself well enough not to harm those close to him. Even though the Vees were his team and partners, they trusted him enough to be vulnerable. His leadership didn’t hurt them.

However, Vox has and always will have a tendency to assert his superiority, seek to be the only guiding star. Literally brighter. It is a fundamental trait of his character. He could have tried to do the same with Alastor, even if the latter had agreed to an alliance: testing his boundaries. Still, there's a difference between being brighter and being so bright that it blinds and burns.

Then the deer appeared, tugging at exactly those threads of his personality that made him start destroying everything around him. Val and Vel, more independent than the devoted, saved themselves and his TV head.

Vees hoped he would chill out again. He was important to them, no matter what. Vees is just as dear to Vox, but he couldn't keep the deer-influence & sharpest sides of him in check. Vox understands he got carried away and that this stuff happens to him. This time a bit more yeah.

You guys know me - there were moments when their personalities clashed, but they reached a compromise and stayed together.

Gradually, his thoughts became clearer. You had just broken up with that idiot. And you weren’t the type to act without a plan. Or to enjoy changes. That's why it was so convenient for Vincent to keep an eye on you, even relaxing.

You had three favorite dresses for walking. One - the most favorite you wore more often in the evenings. Everything was the same: hairstyle, shoes, walking time, walking route differed slightly. Dress up in a new way at parties when he saw you must have been torture.

By all signs, Vincent considered you deeply attached to what was old and familiar - to what you loved. Unfortunately, he finally followed that obvious thought to its end: you loved Tommy, and you still loved him now.

At first, Vincent thought you had been sick - that’s why you stayed in bed for three days. Women’s days, maybe. No. It was all because of Tommy. What would happen if he killed Tommy?

The answer was obvious too. But you wouldn’t kill yourself, right? Vincent replayed your behavior in his mind and realized he couldn’t say for sure. Well, one thing was certain: you would be depressed for a long, long time. No - it would change you forever.

“Fuck.”

Vincent truly wanted to kill Tommy. He thought about destroying his life step by step. But you would simply go back to him once he lost his career, his position - once he became vulnerable and your heart was bleeding. You would return to him the moment he asked. It was a miracle you had broken up at all.

Vincent tried to think if there was a faster way to kill Tommy, a cleaner way to do it all… But who was he kidding Even if Tom died from a drug overdose behind the wheel. You would change after that. You wouldn’t let anyone close to you for at least a year. And if you and Vincent were already together, you would push him away too.

There was nothing to think about. Tommy was going to live. At least as long as he still meant something to you. And that was what - five years? Vincent caught himself thinking that he wasn’t willing to want Tommy dead for that long. Not that big of a fish.

Good. That was settled.

Now what?

Because Vince finally had a free evening. That evening was free for… He turned toward the door - he needed to remove the ropes and his spare clothes from the trunk.

Looking at the prepared supplies meant for your murder, Vincent understood that he wanted anything except to kill you. He had been running different scenarios through his head again and again for weeks.

At first, he killed you in his thoughts while thinking about Tom - about how the bastard would suffer. More and more, his thoughts shifted their focus onto you. Almost immediately, you escaped him in his own thoughts. No one had ever escaped him - not in his thoughts, not in his dreams, not in reality. Only you were allowed that. Again and again: you managed to open the door, trunk and fall onto the road, or you had a gun you were able to use, or a simple hairpin. There were even scenarios where he himself untied you, giving you a fake chance to escape for his own amusement - only for it to turn real. You escaped.

Looking back, he understood that it wasn’t some kind of mental experiment. It wasn’t even a desire to see how vivid your emotions could be. It was a feeling uncharacteristic of Vincent toward little fish like you - the need for you to live.

Vince might not want to kill some people - but all of them were almost like himself. Career-driven, quick, sharp. But for him to want them to live? Not a chance. He didn’t care.

Vincent understood it himself, remembering the scenarios he had written in his mind. My God, in reality, you wouldn’t have had any chance, would you? Not one. Never. With a trace of bitter irony, he gave a faint smile.

Suddenly, he remembered the way you looked at him as he closed the door, leaving you in his car. A shiver ran through his body. So the feeling was still there. At that moment, did he confuse it with the desire to kill? Did he even understand it at all? That feeling was simply the understanding that you were in his hands. He remembered your cheerful look. In his hands - happy and carefree, trusting him, listening to him.

Vincent said your name out loud once more. He needed to say it again, because now that name meant something different to him.

So what now? What was realistic?

You had his number. You were unlikely to call while going through a breakup. He needed to run into you, remind you of himself.

Go into that shop, say he was buying groceries for his aunt. He trusted your judgment that the shop was decent. But he would admit that he had hoped to see you, at least part of the truth had to be told. Then he would suggest taking a walk, but the car would be nearby, the ride would be too short. He needed more time.

I’ll puncture my own tires and say it was some little brats.

When? A month? He wouldn’t last that long. Two weeks. After washing his face, Vincent put himself back together. Reaching for a second piece of cake, Vincent heard the phone ring.

It couldn’t be. It wasn’t you. No. Vince furrowed his brows with a defeated smile - yes, and now he would spend the next two weeks wondering who was calling…

He was at the phone in a second, but he couldn’t pick up that fast.

“Vincent speaking.”

“Vincent.”

He closed his eyes. Damn it. It was you. Calm down. Don’t push. Let her speak.

“___, I’m glad you called.”

“Me too,” - my God, you were timid. - “You know, I’m going to the shop sometime on Saturday. Are you free?”

“Yes. More than ever.”

“Alright, Vincent. Perhaps you know a good shop - one people go to in dresses and suits?”

“I know the best one of all.”

Vince noticed the pause. He didn’t know what kind of pause it was, but you were nervous. Anyone would have noticed.

“___.”

“I’m here. Vince, everything feels a little fast…” - No, damn it, no, not fast. No, everything was perfect. - “It’s just that the last few days have been hard for me after the breakup. With you, it’s nice, interesting and I feel better. I want to see you. Just know that I… might retreat into my shell. Please forgive me if that happens?”

“You know, ___, I’m quite good at revealing shells… oysters” Electricity filled the air. Fucking phones. He wished he could see your face live, right now…And… I pushed, didn’t I? “But I will forgive you”

“Mr. Whittman…” — you drew it out in a slightly teacherly tone, as if he had misbehaved just a little - in a way everyone liked. “See you.”

“See you, ___.”

You hung up. Vincent ran his fingers through his slightly tousled hair. And wasn't that the second time you messed up his planning? He is usually not satisfied with such a thing. Immediately, he dialed a number.

“Jess, don’t plan anything for Saturday. Move everything you already have.” Jess knew that tone - jubilant, satisfied. Her boss was practically purring.

“Yes, sir.” ══════════════════

You were dressed casually, street clothes, keys in your hand. As soon as the call ended, you drank some water and stepped outside.

“That’s it. I called.”

Your friend was waiting outside, breathing in the air. She wanted details.

“We decided to meet.”

“Oh my God, that’s Vincent Whittman. I’m so glad you told me about him - otherwise you wouldn’t have called, aren't you? You must have been born under a very lucky star.”

“Oh, stop it, Lois. I always think I wouldn’t be able to handle a man like that.”

“It’s worth trying. And…”, noticing the sadness in your eyes, she took your arm as you headed toward the park, “Even if Vincent slips away, you need to have some fun and remember there are other men. Men who will take better care of you than Tommy did.”

“Lois…”

“Yes, yes, Tommy is a good, I know. Just don’t talk about him in front of Vince. Men get jealous.”

“Alright, I’ll keep that in mind,” - you knew talking about exes was bad manners. But Vincent asked himself and it didn’t last long. Well, Lois would feel calmer if she gave you instructions - “Does anyone really start getting jealous on a first date?”

Lois stared at you.

“Of course. Men like that invite you when they’re already very interested - and willing to move all their important meetings”, she sang it with theatrical importance, “For you”

“That sounds threatening”, you said it in an affected way.

Lois laughed brightly.

“Well, remember - you’re a brilliant smart girl who deserves the very best. I’ve never met anyone with a mind like yours.”

You smiled. “Lois…”

“No, no, ___, you’re a genius. Don’t even argue.”

“That’s all your influence.”