♡Rae♡

“Of course it is, it’s an object.”

“An object that does my bidding,” he corrects. He wishes you were the same. He’ll get you there eventually. He can’t wait to memorise your expressions.

You feel the staff and the harsh wool slide up along your leg, just shy of your pelvis.

“Wait a second…”

You feel his hand shift. He holds onto the larger part of the distaff, keeping the thread tightly locked around the cage. The small handle taps once along the bone, harsh and hard.

You try to close your legs. You manage with some success before he pries them back open and slots his hips in the middle. The bed dips with the added weight.

He stares at you almost like he’s bored. His free hand creeps from beneath your thigh and loops upwards until his fingers find the skin along your hip below your panties.

To this, he looks displeased. “Why do you even have these on?” He tugs once at the fabric. His lips pull to the side. His fingers are skittish, wildly feeling the expanses of skin he’d otherwise never access. Your stomach pools beneath his touch. Your thighs lock around his waist, desperate to just close so you can get up and leave.

“You’re not serious, right?” you ask nervously.

“About?” His thumb presses to your clothed clit. He grinds down, careful not to let his nail snag on the fabric. It catches easily against malleable flesh he wants to ruin.

His thumb then dips around the hemming of your panties and slides curiously until he’s pulled the fabric to the side. He almost laughs at the glitter pooling around your hole. You visibly clench once exposed, and you grit your teeth.

Something cold slides along your navel. It’s solid, like wood.

You bark out a cry, “That’s enough!”

“I haven’t even started yet,” he says. “Just relax.” The rounded wooden tip of Tokushin’s handle presses gently to your clit. It circles the bundle once, twice, three times, then again and again, and you realise he’s not teasing you.

He pushes down harder, angling left and right slightly until your hips eventually twitch. You let out a sob when he hits you just right. His free hand holds you down by the stomach. You can’t help but try to squirm. The ache is awful; the nerves fire up into your belly and deep inside. It’s almost painful. It’s a slow crawl to finish, and Tamsy only lets up just before you can cross the edge.

“See? Isn’t it lovely?”

You’re not sure if he’s talking to you or the distaff in his hands. You clench again. He removes his jinki for a moment before his thumb returns to rub gently at your clit, almost like a reward. Almost in praise of laying there and letting him have his way with you.

He’s not really looking at your face though. His eyes are glued to the glitter between your legs. It glimmers tauntingly, and his thumb slides easily to encompass the wetness pooling over your cunt.

You’re so easy.

He shifts for a moment. He flips his hair back with a quick turn of his head before he shrinks down and tastes the pad of his thumb. He almost drools before he lowers himself enough for a gander with his tongue.

He ignores, with effort, your swollen clit. His nose nudges unintentionally against it and you gasp. He needs you wetter than this, and he decides his spit will do the trick. His tongue glides easily against your cunt, tracing the rim of your hole with a dizzy groan. You reel your hips back to pull away from him, but he simply chases.

His fingers lock your thighs in place. Your legs ache from being held so far apart, and the humiliation almost outweighs the feeling of him utterly devouring you. His tongue is hotter than you feel.

Your cunt oozes with slick that he happily drinks.

He wants nothing more than to press his tongue deep inside and stay there for hours. He thinks he deserves it. He thinks the only way to get close is to have every part of him inside of you until he’s in your skin, and you’re one of the same.

His cock strains in his pants.

His brows furrow.

He refrains.

You’re hot. Your skin is on fire. The ceiling only spins. Tamsy is the only thing you can focus on, and how he pulls back every so often and you get a glimpse of his tongue flattening against your clit.

He knows it’s working. He also gets lost eventually when his hand works between his thighs. You’re slowly forgetting his intentions. You barely even register the handle of Tokushin twisting gently and coating in slick. He slides it over the rim of your hole. Maybe you just think it’s his finger; it’s certainly thin enough, but not nearly as warm.

Tamsy’s nose flattens against your pelvis as his tongue works your clit. You heave, hole clenching around the handle before he angles the instrument just enough to push in just an inch.

You immediately seize. The dull ache of his tongue becomes a needed distraction. He sucks gently and your thighs twitch open instinctively.

The ache grows worse. His tongue slides over your clit over and over again.

“Fuck,” you manage.

And it feels so good that you begin laughing.

Tamsy pushes further. The handle sinks deeper inside of you and you sigh in relief.

Ooh. Tamsy grins into your cunt.

It’s when the entire handle is inside that you squirm. The handle is cold and stiff. He twists it gently and you jerk.

“That’s…”

Tamsy pulls back. Experimentally, he pulls the handle out slowly.

You hiss when he pushes the entire length back in. You reach downward and try to shove him off with gritted teeth, but Tamsy jerks his wrist backwards and wretches the handle out of you completely. You tense up as his tongue abandons your clit.

One of his hands splays out on your hip. You stiffen in retaliation, ready to bark out at the premise of him pushing down and pinning you to the bed. He crawls up to your hips, then your waist, then both of his hands push down eagerly on your shoulders.

You huff and his hair blows out of your face.

You can see his grin in the low orange dim of the lamp.

“You look disappointed,” he observes. “Am I not good enough?”

“No…” Your chest strains beneath your shirt. “No, you’re good.” You feel small beneath him. “You’re great.”

He breathes sporadically. His breath hits your face in waves. His pupils are blown out, and his eyes dart frantically across every lift of your eyebrow, or every twitch of your nose, or the slight tremble in your lip.

Then, his smile drops.

“Do you love me?”

You blink, completely stunned by his question. “What?”

Tamsy looks expectant. “I love you.” His eyes widen at his own confession. There’s a shaky grin on his lips, open mouthed and almost too large for his face. His teeth are covered in spit, and a glimmer of saliva escapes the corner of his mouth. “A lot.”

You shift beneath his weight on your shoulders. Sweat covers your neck and every delicate piece of cartilage that weaves into your collarbone. The flesh is littered in pink and purple.

“Really?” you ask.

Tamsy hums. He’s still staring. He leans downward slightly. One of his hands abandons your shoulder to tap the yarn strewn around Tokushin against your cheek.

“I love you,” he reaffirms.

“I…” The handle of his instrument is sparkling in the low lights of your bedroom. “I love you too…”

“Oh.” Tamsy freezes. It’s like the entire world stops for a moment, and he stares through you like he can see every interaction of your veins. Like he could reach beneath your flesh and twist until every line pulled free from its place.

You hear nothing but the creaking of the bed when you shift, and the unsteady breathing emitting from his mouth. It’s so shaky you worry he’s not getting enough air.

“You okay…?” you whisper to him.

You can barely see his face.

“Hey…” you utter.

“Hi,” he responds. He bites his lip so hard it bleeds. The pain is enough to snap him from his stupour. He wants your knuckles embedded onto his flesh. He wants to burn black and blue from all the love you can promise him. “I’m okay.”

“Show me what she can do,” you say quickly. You reach upwards and cup your hand around his instrument. “You said she’s good, right?”

Tamsy doesn’t respond.

You think you’re trembling.

Tamsy’s eye twitches. Jealousy surges hot in his veins.

You screwed up. You stiffen immediately. “What can you do, with her?” Your hand jerks from his instrument to clasp his hand. Your fingers slot between his, and your forearm pressed to his own. You feel his crinkled sleeve that you’d snipped at with your teeth to tease him, and the outline of one of your bracelets he wears. “What can you do to me?”

Tamsy swoons and his nose nuzzles into your cheek.

Tokushin trembles in your grasp, and her strings whirl first around your wrist and his, gathering tight until your fingers feel fused to his. He keeps your hand locked with his. He wraps his other arm around your waist beneath you on the bed.

It's very likely that Tamsy is an important figurehead on the Sphere, where we see him walking down a long pathway connecting to a massive, regal building intricately designed and full of grandeur. Upon zooming in, you can see Tamsy missing his labret piercing and holding a satchel in his left hand. He does not appear to be happy. While this apparent lack of emotion may simply be a design choice, it seems to hold more cadence to his disdain for the Sphere and all its rules. And we can assume he travels on the Ground for a number of reasons; to spy, to manipulate, but mostly -- to cause Rudo to break out of his shell, as directly stated to the audience in the manga. Perhaps Tamsy wants to see humanity transcend? Have Rudo be the catalyst that destroys Ground and Sphere? We don't know, but we do know he has a warped sense of duty and seems to (very obviously) mix up immoral acts as "love." Who is Rudo to Tamsy? An experiment? A relative? Both? Either way, it all paints a very interesting picture as to Tamsy's own psychology.

If he is indeed a human, I'm of the belief he was brainwashed young and severely abused for questioning the flow of things up in the Sphere. Now, let me preface, this does not excuse his actions, merely explains them. The scars on his body and missing half thumb lead me to believe he was a curious, rebellious kid who asked too many questions and got into things he wasn't supposed to. His vital instrument and dislikes section makes me curious if he doesn't have mommy issues but I digress.

Pre-Relationship

So, contrary to popular belief, I do think Tamsy is indeed capable of love. It’s kind of his whole thing, so even if it definitely wouldn’t fall in a healthy category, he’s a very emotional person who would be devoted and even obsessive.

But first, they have to get his attention. And getting Tamsy Caines’ attention is the last thing you want to do.

As fun as it is in theory, a quiet and naive little mouse is fun to chase, sure, but Tamsy craves a bit more stimulation than someone who is oblivious to who he is. While he prides himself on his persona of a kind and thoughtful teammate to the Cleaners, he secretly snickers at just how dumb and clueless they all are.

He has a hunch that Corvus and Semiu know, but he shrugs it off— it makes the game more fun.

He’d hate for anyone to know who he is or what he’s done, but at the same time, the thrill and idea of it fills him with glee. He’s a very complex and conflicting person— I do think the duality his design represents with two colors also plays into this.

He has suppressed Inner Tamsy — his true self — for a long, long time. He’s used to putting on a kind, regal face (likely taught to him on the Sphere), while rolling his eyes inwardly and desiring nothing more than to give into his whims and rebellion. He’s anything if not patient.

When someone comes into his life and silently questions everything he’s known, he freezes. Whether or not you actually know or show your hand of cards, he’s immediately intrigued. He’s terrified and thrilled, elated and disgusted.

It’s even better if you leave breadcrumbs that you do know his secrets; in which, for anyone paying attention, it isn’t hard to feel Tamsy’s eerie gaze or the fact there’s just something off about him.

It’s funny because you have absolutely no idea how much you affect him. Or maybe, you do, either way— Tamsy all but spirals. He abhors it, he loves it. If you are kind and show genuine interest and care about him despite it all, he sneers at it inwardly, but there’s the faintest hint that hmm.. maybe you are also being genuine? How interesting.

As stated, he’s been misunderstood and claims he no longer needs pity or is above such emotion— but you drag that genuine desire to be understood out of him again that it’s impossible to ignore.

He’s going to be kept up at night, wondering when the right time it is to use his book on you. But he’s fighting you see; he absolutely loves the push and pull, so to erase your memories would undo all of that and end the game prematurely. Ultimately, he decides you’re a liability… but you’re his liability. His…. His, his, his. Hmm. The idea grows on him.

In his bed at night he grips his chest and lays awake when he has nowhere to be. You torment him, truly. And you have no idea. It’s gross how much you cause his emotions to be so turbulent, can’t you just stay go away like the rest? Why don’t you look at him with disdain love and reject accept him for who he is and what he’s done? He really, really doesn’t get you… and he does doesn’t want to. He slowly starts to realize just how much he hates loves you. And you’re none the wiser.

It’s not long before a flip switches in Tamsy and he nearly attaches him to your side. On missions, in groups, in town. You will be by his side. He’s already made sure of it. You don’t get a choice, so take responsibility for gaining his attention.

Relationship

A relationship means vulnerability, it means letting someone see all the shards you have holding you together and letting them decide whether they stay or go.

Tamsy never wants to let anyone that close. Only arms length. Forever, if he could.

It’s a contradiction, as usual, to how he behaves around you. Yes, he does see you as a liability he must keep a leash on, so of course he’s not letting you leave his sight. But at the same time, you’re a catalyst to intense feelings he quickly becomes addicted to. Sweets, thrills, rebellion… these all blend together with the stimulus you provide by simply existing in his life.

He’s weird and seems like he wouldn’t be jealous, but well… he is. Severely. He is not above killing those he views as a threat, particularly if they make you uncomfortable or threaten your safety. He doesn’t like sharing his things, so don’t even bother to test him unless you don’t want to walk straight for the next week. He will very quickly correct you and each time will be more severe than the last.

Tamsy is clingy and physical. He constantly asks how you are, where you’re going, why, etc. He has you at his side with an arm around you frequently. He loves to wrap his arms around you from behind and nose at your neck— endearing and vulnerable, your carotid artery is right there for him to sink his teeth into. He loves tracing every pattern on your skin, memorizing your scent, your likes and dislikes, what provides you with the most intense emotions and he’ll push your buttons to get reactions. It’s cute, and gross, and funny. But he hates you and he loves you and you’re his stupid little toy he needs the upper hand on. Even if you constantly battle for control, show you’re his intellectual equal, he’s laughing and cooing at you that the two of you are perfect matches; but he’ll never quite view you as equal. Not like other people.

You’re equal to his freak, sure, you’re equal in gender maybe, you’re equal physically, emotionally, intellectually, etc. but he will never view you as someone who is just like him. In fact, he greatly detests the idea. But not out of an insult for you — he does not want to be with someone like him. For as confident as he is, he does hold much contempt for himself and who he is, alongside the actions he’s taken to justify the means to an end.

He wants you to be your own person, not pragmatic and messed up like he is. However, I do not believe it would take long in a relationship with Tamsy, sticking by his side and earning the faintest bit of trust, before he puts you on a pedestal above even himself.

Now, it will not interfere with his plans to push Rudo’s limits. You’re simply a side variable he keeps separate from his scheming; even if you know all about it. He did not think a distraction like you could ever be beneficial, but you do give him the reason to continue with breakneck speed.

In fact, what could be better than remaking a new world, gaining revenge, and watching where the two of you rule it together? He’s kicking his feet and sighing wistfully at the thought. He hates loves you so much ❤️

If Tamsy is indeed a prince or ruler of some kind, he even factors in the possibility of bringing you with him up to the Sphere, placating those in charge and declaring you as his spouse. It would solidify his position while further bolting you to him.

Even if you don’t agree with his ideals or methods, he throws it back at you: you’re still with him, right? And if you leave… well you knew the risks. It’s a funny thought to him; because it definitely won’t happen.

He will pin you against a wall, a bed, furniture, anything, and kiss you like a starved man. He shameless and loud and oh-so giddy to have you consume his senses as he devours your own. If he could meld himself together with you he would. He giggles and tells you that you aren’t going anywhere, that he’s all you need and throws back any argument you have for him with a calm, placating counterpoint. He’ll bombard you with physical affection and distract you endlessly each night until his name is all that leaves your lips if that’s what it takes.

A selfish man fueled by his own ambitions had no room for love. The idea in and of itself was preposterous. If you weren’t useful, then you were merely tossed to the side, and if you got in the way of his success, then he broke you.

You don’t know why he kept you close for as long as he did. It was something you didn’t quite understand about him, and it’s not like he ever opened up to you. But you refused to keep pretending and letting your heart be toyed with.

You had to leave before it was too late, before he ultimately broke you too.

"I'm sorry, Miss Y/n, but I don't think there is much I can do."

You try not to let your disappointment show. You expected this outcome after all. Still, the familiar knot in your chest winds itself tighter, and you fight back the sting of tears burning your eyes. The gentleman sitting across from you frowns, his face falling into a somewhat guilty-looking expression.

"The details of the contract are iron-clad," Bro Santa sighs. "There aren't any loopholes, and if there are, the wording is intentionally vague enough that it doesn't leave much up for interpretation. I really wish I could help you with this, but--"

"No," you interrupt. Your fists ball up in your lap. "I figured that would be the case. Thank you for trying anyway."

He goes to say something, but the vibration of his phone cuts him off, lighting up with a call. From where you sat, you could make out Mi Amor as the contact. "Excuse me," Bro says bashfully. "This might be important."

Your chest feels tight, but you fake a smile. "Go ahead. I'll take my leave." Gathering your bag and your papers, you politely bow before making your way to the door. On your way out, you catch part of his conversation with someone you could only assume was his girlfriend or wife.

"Hi Mi Amor--yes, I'm still in the office--sure, we can go out for dinner tonight--no, Guita, we’re not doing McDonald’s again--yes, I'm aware that the happy meal comes with a Conan toy for a limited time.” Something makes him laugh, but you close the door before you can hear what.

Sighing, you run a hand through your hair to smooth it back to maintain some sense of composure as you exit the law firm onto the busy streets of Tokyo, where you're swept away with the crowd.

It was a risk reaching out to Bro Santa to ask if he could help you find a way to break your contract with Tamsy. While he was one of, if not the best, contract attorneys in all of Tokyo, you knew how Tamsy operated. He was meticulous in all he did, which included his contracts and any deal he made.

You knew that there likely weren’t any loopholes you could exploit to get out of working for him—or rather, owning you. The only sure-fire way to freedom would be to pay to break the contract, but that fee was so ridiculously absurd that you weren’t even sure if a single soul of all of Tokyo, let alone Japan, had that kind of money.

Well, maybe except Tamsy Caines himself.

It was also a risk going to Bro, knowing that he was the primary attorney for Arkha Corvus, who was a major competitor to Tamsy’s company. You don’t think that he would go and tell Corvus that you were there, but you were less concerned about that. You were more afraid of your boss finding out that you were trying to leave.

Speaking of the devil himself, your phone begins to ring. And you hate the way your heart rate briefly spikes at the sight of his name. You are starting to believe that this man can hear your thoughts from even kilometers away.

“Yes?” You answer, not even bothering to hide your annoyance.

“Where are you?” Came Tamsy’s sharp tone, just dripping with accusation as if you were guilty for a crime you didn’t commit.

“Hi y/n? Lovely day, isn’t it y/n? How are you enjoying your day off, y/n? Oh, I’m well, thank you for asking, boss!” Your voice drips with evident sarcasm, and you’re positive you can hear Tamsy’s eye roll from the other side of the line. Only you ever pushed his buttons, and you did so with pride.

If he was going to deny your freedom, you were going to make his life hell in the process.

“Don’t get smart with me,” Tamsy said coldly, prompting you to roll your eyes. You tap your Suica card on the terminal, entering the busy Shibuya station. “I need you to come in now.”

“No.”

“I wasn’t asking.”

“Well, you might want to try. Just cause you’re my boss doesn’t mean you can just demand things of me on a whim. I have a personal life outside of work.”

Was your personal life outside of work that extensive? No, not really.

You worked so damn much that you didn’t have many friends outside of a couple of coworkers. But with many of them recently getting into rather serious relationships, one even suddenly getting married, you’ve found yourself feeling a bit lonely. It’s like you were more married to your job.

Not that you would ever truly admit it out loud, because if you did, you’re positive Tamsy would use that to justify doing more work.

“You’re right,” Tamsy says, and it doesn’t even register right away that the Tamsy Caines agreed with you. The man never admits fault.

“Damn right I’m right and—wait.” You pull the phone away from you and look at the caller ID to make sure you’re still talking to the same person. “I’m right?”

“Yes. Don’t make me repeat it.” He heaves out a sigh, and it registers to you how tired he actually sounds. Given that the man is always so put together, it rather surprises you. Tamsy was just as married to his job as you were. You don’t think the man has ever taken a trip that wasn’t for work. And you hate that the barest hint of concern edged its way into your heart.

“Um, Tamsy, are you okay?”

“No, I’m not. I’m sorry, but a matter rather urgent came up. Can you please come to the Sphere as soon as you’re able?”

Part of you wants to tell him to piss off. It was your day off anyway, so you had no obligation to go to work. Plus…you knew that your younger niece was waiting for you to come home.

You have been the primary guardian of your niece, Amo, for around four years now. She wasn’t that much younger than you, so she honestly considered you more of an older sister than an aunt, and you were content with your relationship dynamic mimicking such.

Her parents passed away in what was ruled an accident. A car crash.

Accidents like this happened frequently, so the police hadn’t looked too deeply into the matter, and the case was closed. But you knew that your elder sister and her husband were in some serious debt. To this day, you still don’t quite know what group they owed money to, but you’re positive that the day of the crash, they were trying to skip town.

And your selfish sister didn’t care about leaving her minor daughter behind if it meant that she could escape.

Given that Amo was only twelve at the time and both of your parents were deceased by that point, the next option was either nineteen-year-old you or Amo would be sent to Hokkaido to live with an uncle so distant that neither of you knew him. You refused to let her be separated from you, so you dropped out of college, and she’s been in your care since.

Now, the sixteen-year-old was thriving in her high school and had a close-knit circle of friends. But she still was somewhat attached to you at the hip, and she always hated how much you worked. Amo has also made it pretty clear that she hates your boss, too.

If only she knew the true extent of your relationship with Tamsy Caines.

“Fine.” You head back up to the stairs, shoving through the crowd of people. “I’ll be there in fifteen, but you’re reimbursing me for the ticket I wasted.”

“Thank you, angel. See you soon.”

You arrive at the Sphere in record time.

None of the security bat an eye as you walk through the lavish building while still dressed in your casual yoga pants and corny onigiri t-shirt that you bought at Shibuya 109 years ago. Amo hated it. Said it was tacky, but it was comfortable, and perfect to wear when you thought you had the day off.

You take the elevator up to the top floor. Only a select few had access to Tamsy’s office. And by select few, you mean that outside of you and Tamsy, his personal housekeeper was the only one whose keycard worked.

You don’t think anyone on staff could go up to the top floor without being escorted by yours truly. Any time someone had a personal meeting with him, you would always have to meet them in the lobby and then bring them upstairs. Tamsy himself was weird about letting strangers into his personal workspace, but you suppose that never extended to you, who could come and go as you pleased.

The elevator’s ding signaled your arrival on the twenty-fifth floor. Stepping out into the penthouse-style floor was always jarring. As far as you knew, Tamsy had his own apartment in Yokohama. Given that he spent so much time at the Sphere and working, it wasn’t a surprise that he had a place to stay in the event work stretched longer than usual.

Tamsy is standing in the living room, staring out the massive windows that overlook Shibuya scramble below. His long hair has been styled messily in a half-up, half-down style, with his long blonde and blue locs cascading down his back. Setting your bag on the counter, you slowly approach, pausing a few feet away from him in hesitation.

“Tell me, angel,” Tamsy says, keeping his eyes trained on the people down below. “Don’t you think everyone looks like ants from way up here?”

You ignore the way your stomach flips at the nickname as you take up a spot next to him. “I guess,” you respond. You were on the twenty-fifth floor, so it was obvious that from the high vantage point, everyone would look considerably smaller.

“For the past four years, I’ve worked tirelessly to turn the meager bar my mother left behind into the empire that it is today. And I refuse to let all my hard work be trampled upon by the meager insects that walk those filthy streets.”

Tamsy turns to face you, and you stiffen under his scowl. Your fists clench at your side, trying to hide their tremble as he closes the distance between the two of you. His golden eyes bore into yours. They seemed to scrutinize you, and you’re almost convinced he can see past your facade of being just a loyal employee.

That he knows where you were just a half hour ago.

That if the opportunity presented itself, you’d run and never look back.

“I’ve recently been made aware that we’ve been hacked, more specifically, my personal computer was bugged.”

The relief you felt was temporary, immediately replaced with a cold dread and confusion. “What? H-how is that possible?”

Tamsy heaves out a sigh before walking off. You quickly trail after him, following the wordless command. “To be honest, I’m not sure, and that irritates the hell out of me more than my personal shit being hacked. Not to mention, the series of security breaches has been pissing me off as well.”

Lately, the impenetrable Sphere has faced several small but notable security concerns.

First, a former card dealer in the casino was attacked by her ex in the parking garage. Zodyl Typhon intervened and, to save face as well as to keep the peace, Tamsy terminated the remainder of her contract. Not that the casino was hurting for any workers, but for him, appearances were everything.

The ex wasn’t a member of the Sphere, so initially, you weren’t sure how he managed to get into the club without the proper parking permit. A later search revealed that while the parking attendant had gone to the bathroom, something suddenly fried his system, and the gates raised just long enough for unwanted guests to enter.

The second incident involved a well-known model.

A stalker infiltrated the club using a fake membership card and attacked her twice over the course of her week-long photoshoot. After the stalker was arrested, he admitted to buying a fake membership, but didn’t know the name of the anonymous provider. So he ended up being useless and provided no meaningful information.

However, given the high-profile nature of the model attacked, word spread rather quickly, no matter how much Tamsy tried to keep it under wraps. Rumors started to spread about the security of the Sphere and that maybe it wasn’t as impenetrable as it seemed.

You had spent several nights of overtime, poring over security footage to patch holes in security while trying to help smooth out the PR side of things and protect the Sphere’s reputation. Tamsy, to his credit, had been taking things all in stride, but it was evident that this new attack on him was starting to wear his patience thin.

And now you’re starting to witness the cracks in his perfectly curated facade.

You follow him into his office. Ironically, the place was the one room in the entire building that felt like it had some sort of personality. The shelves were lined with books, many of which Tamsy has let you borrow. And on display, there’s a handheld distaff and spindle that he absolutely refuses to let you touch. You think it belonged to his mother.

There’s a little radio on one shelf, surrounded by the CDs of various hard rock and metal bands he enjoys. The fact that he was a metalhead was still one of the most surprising things you’ve learned about him. He also had several photos. Many are of him and his late mother, a beautiful woman who looks like a literal angel. Then, there are a few pictures of you two. One in particular always makes your chest hurt: it’s of the two of you at a festival, seventeen years old, dressed in a yukata. Tamsy tries to feed you a candy apple while you laugh beside him.

Back then, his smile was genuine.

The poor radio, however, becomes the target of Tamsy’s frustration, and with an angry shout, he swipes the machine off its shelf. It goes flying, clambering against the thankfully carpeted floor. The compartment pops open, and the CD spits out. Carefully, you bend to pick it up while Tamsy wears a hole in the floor with his pacing.

“They’re all nothing but damn insects infesting my company,” Tamsy gritted through his teeth. “I have no proof, but I’m sure that asshole Typhon is behind it. After I did him a favor and let his little play toy end her contract early. I don’t know what he took, but I’m gonna find out.”

“Why do you think it was Zodyl, sir?” you squeak out the formality when he shoots you a glare.

“Because the bastard has always been jealous of me.” With an annoyed huff, he sinks into his chair. You set the radio back on its shelf. “I had my suspicions that he was up to something with him meeting Arkha Corvus the other evening. I’m sure it was business as much as it was performative. He came to my bar to do business with our rival.”

“As far as I know, though, the Corvus Capital has yet to make any announcements about a partnership with the Typhon Corporation.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Tamsy grunts. “The message is still perfectly clear.” Heaving out another sigh, he runs a hand through his hair to pull it out of its tie. Whenever he was stressed, he always had a habit of playing with his hair. “I’m sure the other incidents were his doing, and during my distraction amid the chaos, he’s been searching for something.”

“What exactly gave it away that your computer was bugged?” You ask. “Are you sure it wasn’t something faulty with the system?”

At that, Tamsy laughs. “I have to admit, his hackers in his Raiders are good. I couldn’t even trace it back to them if I tried. I had my computer swept after my initial suspicions, and they found an unknown IP address in San Diego. But it was buried so deeply that it took two sweeps to find.”

You frown. It wasn’t making sense to you either. If they hadn’t taken anything directly, then why go out of their way to bug Tamsy’s personal computer to begin with? If the goal was just to ruin the Sphere’s reputation, then the series of security breaches that happened would definitely have raised some serious concerns. But it wasn’t anything major enough to burn the Sphere completely to the ground.

And while Tamsy was no saint, he honestly didn’t have any major scandals he was hiding. No fraud. No tax evasion. Other than being an asshole from time to time, and the fact that some of his contracts had one-sided terms. But that wasn’t illegal by any means. Especially if you’re stupid enough to sign on the dotted line.

Tamsy seemed to mirror your confusion. “That’s just how they operate,” he sighs. “They create blind spots, such as inconsistencies and time lapses. When everyone’s attention is elsewhere, they then strike.”

“So, what do we do?”

“Watch and wait, for now.” He motions you forward. Shyly, you make your way around his desk. Your body feels heavier with each step, settling like stone in the pit of your stomach. When you’re in front of him, Tamsy hugs you.

“T-Tamsy?”

“Just stay like this a moment.” His arms wrap tighter around your waist, burying his face in your chest. You hear him exhale. “You’re the only one I can trust, angel,” he murmurs. “This city is full of vermin, and you’re the only one who has my back.”

You try not to stiffen, forcing yourself to smile as he looks up at you. His soft features and the way he regards you make your heart flutter. For a fraction of a second, you see the man you once loved.

The boy from your class who used to tell you that one day he’d earn your respect and if you just gave him a chance, he’d one day make you the happiest girl on the planet.

The ambitious businessman who talked your ear off about his goals and dreams over cheap ramen and melon soda, cause neither of you was old enough to actually drink.

The love of your life, who, on the day your sister died, and you were struggling to figure out how you’d care for your niece, held you and promised that he’d help you figure it out. And that everything would be okay.

Raising a hand, you gently run your fingers through his hair. “O-of course,” you reassure. “You know I’m always here for you.”

Tamsy smiles. “As am I.” He then stands suddenly, gripping your jaw with a firmness that makes you whimper. “Don’t you forget that, angel. Try to leave me again, and there will be consequences.”

Your blood runs cold. “Y-you knew?”

“I know everything that goes on in Shibuya, love. I have eyes and ears everywhere.”

“Yet you don’t know what Zodyl has planned.”

He barks out a laugh. “You think I care to scrutinize his every move? No, darling. My only priority is you. You’re always going to be mine, and nothing will change that. Throw your little tantrums. Visit as many attorneys as you want. I don’t give a shit. You’ll always find your way back to me in the end.”

You wrench away from him. The stupid smirk on his face doesn’t waver even as you back away. “I hate you,” you whisper.

“No, you don’t.”

No, you didn’t. No matter how many times you lied to yourself you did, you never could convince your heart.

But you wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of winning, so you turn on your heel and flee his office in a hurry.

“You look terrible.”

Groggily, you look up from your computer, eyes somewhat bleary from having stared at the screen far too long. Amo hands you a cup of coffee, which you gratefully take after trying to stretch the aches out of your back.

“Gee, thanks.” You yawn. “What are you doing up so early? You’re never up on the weekends at a reasonable hour?”

Amo scoffs, seemingly insulted. “I get up early.”

“Yeah, right. And I’m the emperor of Japan.”

She cuts her eye at you but doesn’t make another sarcastic remark. “Remember, my friends, and I are going to Kobe for Golden Week. We’re staying at Zanka’s family home.”

Oh right. You forgot that she told you about that trip.

Her small friend group consisted of four other students from her school. Riyo, who was a first-year like Amo, Zanka, and Eishia, who were in the year ahead, and recently joining their group was Rudo, a first-year who recently transferred to their school from Akita. They’d been over several times, and all seemed like good kids.

They all had the week off due to the Golden Week holiday. Zanka’s family was pretty wealthy. Not like Sphere-level, but they were comfortable. He invited them to spend the week at one of his family’s homes for the duration of their break from school.

You didn’t have a problem with it. After all, you thought it was important for Amo to have normal high school experiences, like doing trips with her friends, going shopping, and being a teenager. She got good grades and didn’t give you any trouble, so you never had a problem with her going out.

“Totally spaced that that was today,” you say, taking a sip of your coffee. “What time are you guys catching the train?”

“Not until noon. But Zanka made it very clear that if we’re not there early, we’re late,” Amo sighed. “I got up early because I hadn’t finished packing yet.”

“Why am I not surprised that you waited until the last minute to pack?”

“I couldn’t decide what outfits I should’ve packed. Eishia’s older brother had given us a bunch of things he designed recently, and they were all too cute not to pack.”

Shaking your head, you bite back a laugh as you close your laptop and head to the kitchen. “As if you won’t be buying things when you’re there.” You pull a skillet from the cabinet and set it on the stove. “I’m going to make some tamagoyaki. Want any?”

“Yes, please.” Amo settles on the counter bar stool as you get to work, pulling the carton of eggs from the fridge. “What were you working on anyway? I thought today was your day off?” Her eyes narrow in disdain. “Is that mean boss of yours overworking you again?”

“No, it’s none of that,” you sigh.

In fact, you were doing a mix of looking for apartments outside of Tokyo and job hunting. You didn’t want to move from the prefecture, because you didn’t want Amo to transfer schools. You just wanted to put some distance between you and the Sphere, and a bonus if you were able to find a lawyer who could actually help you break your contract with Tamsy.

You didn’t care what he said. You weren’t his property.

But to be honest, you lost confidence that you would find someone who could after Bro Santa couldn’t help you. If the best of the best couldn’t find a way to break it, then who could?

It had been a week since the confrontation in Tamsy’s office. And neither of you had brought that day up since. You merely continued to show up to work like a dutiful secretary. The past week, you’ve been working yourself ragged to figure out how to patch up the security holes and who could’ve bugged Tamsy’s computer, only to continue to come up short.

While the latter has yet to be resolved, you had to do a complete overhaul on the security system, which included resetting passwords, issuing new identifications, and vetting a select few to have special clearances.

Tamsy’s patience has continued to run thin, and he has been short and curt with you. Strictly business. No love anywhere.

“I was looking at maybe moving so that we’re closer to your school,” you settle for half of a lie. “I hate that you have such a long commute each day.”

“Oh,” Amo says. A smile reaches her face. “I really don’t mind it. You don’t have to stress yourself out over it. Plus, I like our apartment here.”

“I know. Just keeping our options open.”

She doesn’t question it further, thankfully. You two finish breakfast with her chattering excitedly about their plans for Kobe. Once you’re done, Amo offers to clean the kitchen for you to quickly shower and walk her to the train station. Of course, she has more bags than she truly needed: a suitcase and a duffel bag along with her purse.

Riyo is the last person of the group to arrive, getting an earful from Zanka, who complains that they had to now rush to their seats.

“You guys be safe and send lots of pictures!” You call to the group as they run off for the platform.

“Bye, big sis! Don’t work too hard this week!” Amo yells back.

You give her a weak smile and a small wave. Only once the train departs from the station do you turn to leave. You had work to do, so unfortunately, you didn’t have the luxury of resting this holiday.

As you turn to leave, the call of your name gives you pause.

“I thought I recognized you. I apologize for startling you.”

A tall gentleman approaches you, dressed impeccably in a button-down that stretches across his broad shoulders and a pair of dress slacks. You immediately straighten, bowing politely to him.

“Mr. Corvus, a pleasure as always.”

Arkha Corvus smiles, charming yet sincere. “Are you busy by chance? If so, how about a cup of coffee?”

So you find yourself at a small cafe with the businessman. It’s a quaint little shop playing lo-fi when you enter, but the aesthetic of the decor reminds you of the little French patisseries you see on the internet. Despite your protests, the man buys your drink and insists you get a dessert to complement it.

You don’t think you can really complain. Not when the cake you ordered looks too pretty to cut into. It’s soft on your tongue, the fluffy texture seeming to melt instantly. And paired with your drink, it’s even sweeter. Without meaning to, you let out a happy moan.

“Is it to your liking?” Corvus chuckles.

“It tastes like literal heaven,” you groan in delight. “How’d you find this place?”

Corvus brings his own drink to his lips, just a black coffee. “My girlfriend recommended it. Figured I’d come by on my lunch break.”

“I see…” You had wondered what a busy man such as him was doing out in the middle of the day, but you supposed even someone like him would take breaks. Not everyone was a workaholic like Tamsy.

You’ve tried many times to get the stubborn man to relax from time to time, only to be brushed off each time. Tamsy actually had quite the sweet tooth himself. But the last time you suggested visiting a cafe such as this, he told you to go waste time somewhere else. Though your feelings had been hurt, you were still kind enough (or perhaps stupid) to bring him back his favorite cake. You don’t think he ever ate it.

“Are you all right?” Corvus asks, pulling you out of your thoughts. “You seem conflicted.”

“Oh, yes…” You mentally kick yourself for letting him plague your mind and bring down your mood. You needed to stop letting him take up so much space in your head. “Just a little stressed with work, I guess.”

“Anything I can help with?” When you regard him with a look more of surprise than skepticism, he adds, “Listen, I may be your boss’s rival, but I have a heart. Not only can I tell that something is clearly bothering you, but you visited Bro the other day.”

“So he did tell you.” A sigh leaves your lips. You weren’t surprised.

“It was more so he mentioned it offhandedly. Forgive me, I don’t mean to pry.”

You let out a weak laugh. “There isn’t much to say, truly. You know how Tamsy operates. In exchange for working for him, he’ll clear your debts. He portrays himself as benevolent like that.”

“But that’s not the nature of your contract, is it?” Corvus pushes.

There’s hardly anyone else in the cafe, but you and Corvus are seated relatively in the back. Still, you glance around the shop and keep your voice low enough for only him to hear.

“My sister and her husband were killed by the yakuza four years ago. They were going to come for my niece and me next to collect the remainder of her debts. Tamsy and I…” you hesitate, not sure if you want to admit the extent of your relationship, or rather, if you even knew what your relationship was. But Corvus merely waits patiently to find your words. “…were acquainted. He offered us safety in exchange for my employment. However, I didn’t read the fine print close enough. Essentially, I serve him until either he gets rid of me or I buy out the contract.”

“I see,” Corvus mumbles. He crosses his arms across his chest, leaning back into his chair. “He basically tricked you into a lifelong contract.”

You nod.

You were so desperate to protect Amo that you jumped at the first chance to do so, foolishly signing your life away in the process. Or rather, you completely trusted that the man who claimed to love you wouldn’t do anything so underhanded.

How wrong you were.

“Is there a particular reason you want to leave now?” Corvus asks. “If he’s offered you protection, I would think that would be a strong incentive to stay.”

The frown on your face deepens while you absentmindedly trace your thumb across the side of your cup.

“You love him.”

Your head snaps up in surprise. “I’m sorry?”

“You love him, don’t you? That’s why you’re trying to leave.”

“I—“ you look away. “He’s not the same man I loved. After his mother died years ago…it’s like a switch went off. I tried to give him grace, figuring he was grieving but…”

At fifteen years old, you met Tamsy for the first time. You were both first years, attending a prestigious private high school, but you had only been able to enroll due to a scholarship. Otherwise, you’d never have been able to even dream about going. Back then, as cliché as it sounded, Tamsy had been kind, though a little arrogant.

As the son of a wealthy CEO, everyone in the school knew him, and everyone tried to suck up to him. Even the teachers. You initially tried to keep your distance, but the two of you inevitably became close after being forced to endure a year with him as your seatmate and subsequent school projects.

The two of you eventually started dating in secret during your second year of high school, but his mother never approved of your relationship. You had only ever met the woman twice, and despite her false niceties, you could tell you were never welcome.

On the outside, she was a kind woman who always appeared put together. One would mistake her for an angel. But beneath the facade was a cruel woman who forced her ambitions on Tamsy as her only son. While Tamsy swore up and down he’d never end up like her once he took over the company, inevitably, all he did was follow right in her footsteps.

Eventually, the pressure from his mother led you two to break up after graduation. You tried distancing yourself from Tamsy once you went to college, but then his mother passed away suddenly. And regardless of your personal feelings towards her, you hadn’t wanted him to be alone during his grief.

Then, not even a year after you broke up, your sister died, and he was the only one you knew who could help. He shared your grief, so you relied on him.

“Maybe I can help you if you can help me,” Corvus proposes.

You chuckle. “And the real reason why you approached me shows its true colors. Look, I’m not an idiot, nor do I want to make an enemy out of Tamsy. I’m not going to give you any information that will potentially sabotage him or his company.”

“Nonsense. Believe it or not, Miss L/n, but I despise power games and have no desire to meddle with Caines or Typhon, for that matter. However, I do have to play nice. It’s proper business etiquette after all.”

Your brow raises skeptically. “Then what is it that you want?”

Corvus merely smiles. For some reason, it sends a shiver down your spine and a coil of dread twinges in your stomach. This man was dangerous. And you’re realizing it too late.

“You.”

You nearly jump out of your skin, whirling around to see the last person you wanted to see with Corvus.

“T-Tamsy,” you stammer.

Tamsy looks anything but pleased—rather, he looks beyond pissed. He wears a deep scowl, brows furrowed, and you can see his hands are clenched at his side. However, it’s directed toward Corvus instead of you. Surprisingly, the man was dressed casually for once in a plain button-down, making you wonder if he had taken the day off.

“Caines, it’s quite rude to intrude on another person’s conversation,” Corvus says smoothly.

At that, Tamsy scoffs. “And just what do you have to talk to my secretary about? Was fucking one of my managers not enough for you?”

To his credit, Corvus laughs. He rests one of his elbows on the table, casually leaning against his palm. That eerily calm smile of his doesn’t waver.

“You know, I don’t like how accusatory you’re coming across. I haven’t done anything besides offer her a cup of coffee.”

“Bullshit.”

“Tamsy,” you plead softly, tugging on one of his long sleeves. “Please don’t cause a scene.”

He shoots a glare at you, but seeing your pleading look, his expression softens ever so slightly. The tension released in his shoulders just a little. “What is it that you want?” Tamsy asks Corvus. “Clearly, you were trying to get my attention when a simple phone call would’ve sufficed.”

“Yet you’re so difficult to reach by phone these days.”

“I’m busy.”

Corvus was clearly goading him, and it was evident that it was working, wearing Tamsy’s patience. The perfectly curated facade was starting to break, his irritation showing through the cracks.

“Then I shan’t take up too much of your time. First, I want you to terminate the remainder of my girlfriend’s contract.”

“Whatever. Done.”

“Put it in writing.”

“Fine.” Tamsy rolls his eyes. “What else?”

“Zodyl wants to see the Sphere fall.”

Your boss scoffs. “Tell me something I don’t know. If you’re done wasting my time.” You gasp when he grabs you by your arm and hauls you out of the chair.

“It’s not just a matter of dethroning you in terms of profit,” Corvus adds. “Zodyl wants to put you out of business altogether.”

Tamsy’s unamused expression doesn’t falter. In fact, the tiniest hint of a smirk tugs at his lips. “I’d like to see him try. I’m aware he’s been snooping around, but he hasn’t found anything, and he’s not going to.”

“You sound confident. And here I was about to propose a partnership of sorts between our two companies.”

His golden eyes narrow slightly. “I have no idea what game you’re playing, Corvus, but you’re not as slick as you think you are. You’re just a nosy bastard who doesn’t stay out of other people’s business. And I’m not letting anyone, neither you nor Typhon, treat me like a fool.”

“Whatever you say.” Corvus brings his cup up to drink from once more. “My offer still stands. You have my email.”

“I’ll keep it in mind,” Tamsy grits through his teeth. “Let’s go.” With a firm grip on your wrist, he drags you roughly out of the cafe. You glance back at Corvus, who merely waves, the polite smile not once leaving his face.

“Tamsy, please,” you whimper in pain from the way his fingers dig into your forearm. “You’re hurting me.”

You’re sure he’s ignoring you. The hard line of his brow seems to be set with a permanent frown as he continued to drag you through the streets. Any time you tried to dig in your heels, he’d pull you along with more force, set on whatever destination he had in mind.

“Look, can we please just talk about it? I get that you’re mad—“

“Mad?” Tamsy scoffs, then he laughs. “Mad is not the word I would use, angel.”

“It was just coffee. I ran into him after dropping Amo off at the station, and he offered.”

“Uh huh. You truly expect me to believe that neither of you had any ulterior motives in doing so?”

You bite your tongue as now your own anger was starting to simmer to a boil. The audacity of him to treat you like you were the bad guy when you’ve been nothing but loyal to him for years.

Eventually, you arrive at your apartment building. You say nothing of Tamsy following you up to your unit, as he’s been over before. And once upon a time, it used to be a normal thing for him to hang out at your place. Plus, you don’t think he’d go away even if you demanded. You were only glad that Amo was gone, because she’d flip.

“Contrary to what you may think, Tamsy, but not everyone is out to get you.”

Tamsy whirls you around, pressing you against the door the moment it closes. You gasp more so in surprise than pain.

“That’s so cute that you think that. But as you can see, everyone is quite literally praying for my downfall! This entire city is trying to eat me alive. Typhon is doing what he can to exploit any weakness of mine, and only an idiot would think that Corvus doesn’t have any plans of his own, no matter how much of a saint he tries to portray himself as. And you know what’s the worst fucking part of it all?”

His hold on you loosens. Slowly, he takes a step back, and the distance lets you see the final breaks in his perfectly put-together mask. It begins to fall apart bit by bit before your eyes.

His straining smile. The fading charismatic glint in his eyes. A rather disheveled look to his usually beautifully styled hair. It all clouds over with a rare emotion you hadn’t seen Tamsy show since the death of his mother.

“The one person in this entire city I thought had my back keeps trying to leave me like everyone else.”

“Tamsy…” You reach for him but hesitate.

Tamsy exhales, trying to compose himself. He wipes the glistening tears out of his eyes.

“You want to be freed from your contract so bad, fine,” he says so softly, you almost don’t catch it. “Leave. I don’t even care anymore. Clearly, my love for you was one-sided.”

“No, you’re not gonna guilt trip me and make me feel like I’m in the wrong here,” you snap, your anger returning. “You expect me to believe that you loved me? Ever since you inherited the Sphere and its success blew up, you’ve pushed me to the side and treated me like every other business affiliate of yours.”

“I had no choice,” Tamsy replied harshly. “I couldn’t let my mother’s legacy die. She worked too damn hard to let it all fade away with her.”

“And look what it’s done!” You don’t realize it, but the two of you are shouting now. “All her ambitions and demands that you use to complain about have all but consumed you. It’s like you’re chasing the ghost of your mother’s success, and you’ve lost sight of yourself in the process, Tamsy. That’s why I want to leave. I can stand watching the person I love self-destruct and become a shell of his former self.”

A tick in his jaw sets as he clenches his teeth. Tamsy runs a hand through his hair frantically, a nervous habit of his. “You wouldn’t understand! You’re just—“ He catches himself, holding back whatever he was about to say.

“I’m just what, Tamsy?” You ask, voice cracking slightly. “The poor classmate you took pity on when her sister was killed? Some toy that you could play with until you inevitably got bored with once you expended its use to further your own goals?”

When you say this, Tamsy actually looks hurt. “That’s not true, and you know it.”

“No, I don’t. You know why? Cause you constantly lie to me. I’m expected to be truthful and share my feelings, while you get to guard your secrets like everything else. You ice me out when you’re stressed, and you’re hot and cold to me daily.”

Your eyes burn with tears, and your chest constricts so tightly that you can’t help but get choked up. “How else am I supposed to interpret that other than that you don’t trust me and that you view me as disposable like everyone else—“

Tamsy crushes his mouth against yours.

You flinch in surprise. Tamsy fists your hair with one hand, cupping your jaw with the other to kiss you harder. It steals your breath, and your knees buckle. But no matter how much you try to deny it, your heart doesn’t listen, and you succumb to the taste of him. You’re only disappointed in how soon it ends with Tamsy pulling away for air.

“You want the truth?” Tamsy asks, panting slightly. “Fine. The truth is, you drive me fucking crazy, and I’m so hopelessly in love with you that it fucking scares me.”

Scares him? You almost want to laugh at the absurdity of it. Tamsy Caines wasn’t afraid of anything. He’s always taken every challenge head-on. He won every accolade and award in high school. He transitioned into the role of CEO smoothly after his mother’s death. He has built up arguably the most popular and profitable business in all of Japan.

But when you look at him and see that for once, his guard is down. The constant barriers he’s put up in fake smiles and niceties have fallen, exposing a sense of vulnerability, and you realize that he’s telling the truth.

“You’re the only person who has seen me for me. Not the son of a CEO. Not the heir to a multibillion-dollar company. Not the owner of the Sphere. I’m just me. And I’m terrified of losing the one person who has loved me back so authentically that I want to do everything in my power to protect that, even if I have to keep you to myself.”

His voice drops. He traces his knuckles down your cheek, brushing a stray strand of hair away from your glossy eyes. “You’re all I have left, and the thought of living life without you makes me miserable.”

You swallow thickly. “Tamsy…”

A bitter, pitiful laugh escapes him. “But of course I don’t know how to show that or give you what you deserve, because I learned love from a woman who loved her career more than her own son. I’m selfish, and it’s reflected in the way I love. I want you to be entirely mine and mine alone, yet at the same time, I’m scared that I’ll only end up hurting you.”

“You’re such an asshole.” You sniffle as he wipes one of your tears away. “You’ve played with my heart all these years. Why didn’t you just tell me that from the start?”

“I’m sorry,” Tamsy apologizes, and it sounds so genuine that you can hardly believe it. “You deserve someone better than me, but this is who I am.” He leans in. You think he’s going to kiss you again, but he only rests his forehead against yours. “Do you want me to leave?”

Did you want him to leave?

The finality of his question weighs heavily. You could be free from him. Move on and start anew. Make a better life for yourself and Amo. But as enticing as that sounded, the idea of him being gone left a hollow feeling in your chest.

“No,” you whisper. “I want you to stay. And I want you to love me properly.”

“And if I just end up hurting you again?”

“I’ll just beat the shit out of you then.”

He chuckles. Gently cupping your cheek, he leans in until he’s just a breath away. His hazy gaze flickers from your eyes to your lips. “Can I kiss you again?” Tamsy asks.

Your heart rate is erratic in your ears.

“Please,” you reply.

You’re not sure who moved first. The remaining distance between you two closes with Tamsy capturing your mouth in another hungry kiss. His hands are frantic, grappling anywhere they can on your body for purchase before they grip your hips as he presses you against the door. You fist his hair, tugging his long, silky strands out of their ponytail.

Teasingly, you bite his bottom lip, and you hear him groan. Slowly, you trail your hands across his stomach, bunching up his shirt. He actually shivers from the feeling of your warm palms, his abdomen tensing as you toy with the fine hairs leading down the waistband of his pants.

“Careful, angel,” Tamsy murmurs, his voice thick, lidded with desire.

“I don’t think I will,” you retort. You run your hand over his crotch, where his arousal begins to press against his thigh. “I, for once, am going to be selfish and take what I want until my needs are fulfilled. You’re not in control this time, and if you don’t like it, you can leave. I have plenty of toys that will suffice instead.”

Tamsy lets out a breathy chuckle. “Such a brat, aren’t you? Have you been hiding this side of you from me all these years?”

You give him a coy smile. “Maybe. So what will it be?”

“I can’t say I don’t dislike it. Very well.” Tamsy shudders as you grope him through the fabric. “Use me as you wish.”

Sinking to your knees, you begin to unfasten his pants. Tamsy stumbles back slightly until his back hits the wall. His knees buckle as you free his cock from his boxers, running your pretty hand over the length of him.

His cock is as pretty as the rest of him, flushed the same red as his cheeks. Tamsy shudders out a moan as your fist him, jerking him off slowly. You grin, watching how his cock hardens at your touch, and you feel just the slightest bit of pride for how you’re able to affect him so.

You tease your thumb across his slit as beads of pre leak out, and Tamsy swears, his thighs trembling. “You’re having fun, aren’t you?” He pants.

“Very much so.” You pull your hand back to admire your work. His twitching length stands at attention, the sensitive blushing tip smearing pre cum against his abdomen. You look up at him through your lashes, admiring his flustered expression and rumpled hair from your pulling at it earlier.

Oh, how you liked the sight of him like this. The mask of perfection is gone, and him on the verge of coming undone. How he nearly melts into putty in your hand.

You bring the head of his cock to your lips, tasting the salty pre on your tongue. You slowly take him down your throat, jaw straining due to his size, the masculine smell of his cologne filling your nose. Tears prickle against your eyelashes as your hands rest on his thighs to take him deeper down your throat. Tamsy lets out a shaky exhale, groaning at the feeling of your tongue swirling around him.

“Fuck—that feels good,” he groans. His hips jerk slightly, forcing more of his cock down your throat, making you whimper. The lack of air made you lightheaded as you struggled to breathe. His fingers tangle into your hair, tugging at your scalp.

His moans encourage you to go faster, sucking him harder and taking more of him, or as much as you could cause he was just so damn big, thick, and heavy, as it weighed against your tongue. What you couldn’t fit in your mouth, your hand worked up and down in tandem, nearly making Tamsy blow his load then and there.

Your tongue swirls around his shaft, collecting the salty seed that leaks from the head. Tears trickle down your cheeks, and it takes all Tamsy’s willpower to not fuck into your mouth.

“Angel,” his moans are so pretty. “Fuck, I’m close.”

His mind felt hazy, intensifying his sensitivity. He could feel your throat constrict around his cock as you struggled to swallow a breath. At the same time, one of your hands skimmed across his legs. Your nails drag teasingly across them before returning to his length, squeezing his heavy balls tightly.

Tamsy scrunches his eyes shut, head lolling back against the wall. With a low groan, he’s cumming down your throat. Tamsy ensures that you can’t pull away. His hand is firm on your head as he quietly moans your name. You’re left dizzy and breathless, slumping against him. There's a beat of silence as the two of you try to catch your breath.

“Look at you,” you coo. Despite his orgasm, his cock is still stiff with arousal. Tamsy grits his teeth as you trace your finger down the side of his length, which twitches at your touch from how sensitive he still is.

“You’re a brat.”

“I thought we already established that.”

Tamsy glares. He grabs your arm, pulling you to your feet and into his chest. His mouth is on yours again, this time with a needy urgency. He kisses to control, his tongue bullying its way into your mouth, tasting himself on you. It steals your breath, and you’re left equally lightheaded and wanting more when he hoists you up.

You don’t realize that he’s carried you to your room until your back hits the mattress. “You’ve had your fun,” Tamsy pants. He slowly undresses you, dragging your bottoms down your hips before discarding them somewhere in the room.

“Hmm, I beg to differ,” you reply, tugging him to you by his collar. “I’m not quite satisfied yet, so you’re going to have to indulge me a little longer, Tams.”

“Then, let me be sure to take care of my angel properly.”

You flinch in surprise, feeling his hand slip past the barrier of your panties. His touch is light and fluttering against your folds, which makes you squirm more. One of his fingers barely prods at your entrance. Intense heat coils in your stomach, begging for more.

Tamsy nearly groans at how wet he finds you, your arousal bleeding through your underwear and soaking them. He tugs up your shirt with his other hand, unclasping the strap of your bra to reveal your perfect tits. While he works you up with his fingers, he takes one of your breasts into his mouth.

Gasping, you keen against him, but Tamsy doesn’t budge. “T-Tamsy…” you whimper.

He traces your clit with slow, deliberate strokes before pressing one finger in. Then two. You groan at the stretch, toes curling. At the same time, he toys with your sensitive nipple between his teeth.

Tamsy is teasingly slow. He feels the way your walls quiver as he drags his fingers against them, seeking out the spot you’re most sensitive. Your moans grow louder as your arousal begins to drip down his wrist, a filthy mess he thoroughly enjoys seeing.

“P-please—“ you beg, tears brimming in your eyelashes. The ache between your legs was intense. You wanted—no, needed more. But Tamsy seemed content with his teasing touches that only brought you to the brink of release. His control kept you from teetering over the edge. A mere game on his part.

“Please?” Tamsy taunts. “So the brat can ask nicely.

You’re nearly there—just a bit more would push you over the edge. But at the last second, the asshole pulls away.

“No!” You whine, trying to chase the fading high. Tamsy laughs.

“Patience is a good virtue to have, angel.” The man stands. After discarding his pants and boxers, he pulls his shirt over his head, revealing all the scars on his chest and abdomen. Part of your heart twinges at the sight. Catching your expression, he cups your cheek and makes you look at him. “It’s okay.”

“Do they still hurt?” You ask softly.

“Not anymore.” Tamsy takes your hand and places it on the largest one across his chest. The scarred skin is slightly raised and pinkish in color.

“And your pinky?”

His right hand’s calloused and rough, but gentle all the same. Part of his pinky is missing. Half of it cut off with faint scars where his fingernail used to be.

Tamsy shakes his head. “Doesn’t hurt either. Don’t focus on that. The one who did it isn’t even alive anymore.”

Your frown deepens. “It still bothers me that she could do such a thing. To her own child nonetheless.”

His expression doesn’t change. “Monsters only breed monsters. They’re incapable of love and only know how to cause suffering.”

“You’re not a monster,” you insist. Tamsy crawls over you, caging you against the bed.

“Doesn’t mean I’m not capable of becoming one.”

“I know that’s not true, because if you were truly the monster you believed yourself to be, that means you wouldn’t love me.”

You wrap your arms around his neck as he presses his forehead against yours. You hear him sigh. “You’re right,” Tamsy says. “I love you so much. Don’t ever let me forget it.”

Kissing you once more, Tamsy grips your hips and bottoms out in a single thrust, making you gasp. He wastes no time pounding into you, ensuring that each mean snap of his hips presses flush against your ass to fill you to the brim.

His breathy groans fill your ear as he traps you under his body weight. Your needy cunt continues to suck him in each time Tamsy ruts into you, letting out an obscene squelch whenever his hips connect. You could feel the throbbing veins on his cock dragging against your gummy walls, pressing where you’re most sensitive. You gasp at the feeling, the uncomfortable stretch of him made your toes curl, and stars dot your eyes.

“I love you, angel,” Tamsy pants breathlessly. “Please don’t leave me. I need you—fuck—can’t stand the idea of being without you.”

“Tamsy—m’gonna—“You dig your nails into his back, making him hiss. Your eyes roll back as your orgasm hits you with an intensity that leaves you gasping.

“S-shit.” Tamsy groans. His pace stutters. He shudders and his body lurches, pinning you to the bed. And he’s spilling himself into your womb with a low curse. He cums hard, ropes of white painting your insides.

“Tamsy, you’re heavy,” you groan. The ache in your hips intensifies as Tamsy moves to pull out.

“A-ah, fuck. Sorry. I didn’t mean to cum inside.” Tamsy raises slowly, gathering you into his arms. He carries you to your bathroom and sets you on the ledge of the bathtub. He runs the water, the room quickly filling with steam and the scent of lavender.

“If I ask you a question, will you promise to be honest with me?” You ask. Once the tub is full, Tamsy lifts you up again and sets you in the water.

“Of course, angel. Anything.”

“What about loving me scares you so much?”

Tamsy frowns, hesitating as he tries to find the right words.

“My mother was not a good woman," he starts after thinking for a moment. "She saw people as pawns to further her own goals. To her, things like love were a distraction that caused nothing but heartache and misery in the end. I think part of her belief stemmed from the fact that my father left her when I was a kid, and she was devastated. And, I at one point thought the same thing, but…”

“But…?”

“Then I met you,” Tamsy says softly. “You were the first person to treat me with a genuine kindness that I couldn’t help but fall for you. However, I know how my mother raised me, and it wasn’t to be a loving partner. I’m scared that if I fall for you, I’m only going to cause you nothing but heartbreak when you deserve so much more.”

You reach out, cupping his face with your hands. You squeeze his cheeks, laughing when he gives you an annoyed glare. “You should know by now that you’re not your mother. Stop letting the ghost of her prevent you from moving forward.”

"It's hard to forget when she constantly haunts my memory, reminding me of all that I lack by her standards." Tamsy takes your hands into his, gently caressing your knuckles with his thumb. “I don’t know the first thing about relationships. I'm gonna fuck things up again.”

“Then fuck up. We’ll learn from our mistakes.”

“You have a lot of faith.”

“Because,” you say. He sighs against your lips when you kiss him. “I know the boy I loved before is still there. I’ll just be patient and wait until he realizes that himself.”

You don’t know how you managed to do it, but you convinced Tamsy to take off work for the remainder of the Golden Week Holiday. The club itself would run fine on its own under the various managers. Any personal business affairs, though, such as meeting with Corvus or handling the situation with Typhon, were a problem to deal with at a later date.

“Will you tell me where we’re going and why you had to drag me out of bed at the ass crack of dawn?” You yawn tiredly.

“You know it’s almost noon?” Tamsy muses.

“As if a certain insatiable someone didn’t keep me up half the night.”

“Hmm. I wonder who that could’ve been.”

You roll your eyes and try, but fail, to suppress your smile. Tamsy had insisted that the two of you go out to a particular destination he wouldn’t share with you. He all but dragged you out of bed when you tried to curl back up and go to sleep.

“We’re almost there,” Tamsy assures. “I promise you’ll like it.”

The two of you were out in Harajuku, the city bustling with vibrant energy as per usual. It was a little more crowded given the weekend, so Tamsy kept a tight hold of your hand so that you two wouldn’t be separated as he navigated down the busy street.

Eventually, you arrive at what seems to be a cafe. Tamsy politely holds the door open, ushering you inside. Your eyes widen in awe. The little shop is quaint but cozy. A catchy pop song plays in the background. A group of students in their uniforms sits in the background, giggling over milkshakes. A pair of foreigners is taking turns taking pictures of each other with their latte art drinks.

“Get whatever you want,” Tamsy says as the two of you slide into a booth.

You open up the menu, immediately becoming overwhelmed with all the drink and dessert options. Not to mention, things were a bit pricey. But you think better of commenting on it, because you know Tamsy will just brush you off and insist that it didn’t matter.

“Have you been here before?”

“No.” Tamsy flips the page of the menu. “I had done an internet search for recommended places, and this came up as highly rated.”

“You did some research?” You don’t mean to sound surprised, but you hadn’t expected him to put so much thought into taking you out. Especially considering this past week, you had been content lounging around your apartment with him.

Tamsy’s cheeks twinge a shade of pink. “Um…it’s our first date…so I wanted to put some effort into where we went. I figured you’d want to do something lowkey. We can leave if it’s not to your liking.”

“No!” You interrupt. A smile softens across your face. “I’m excited to try it. Help me decide.”

You end up getting a caramel latte while Tamsy settles for a matcha latte. Since you were indecisive about what cake you wanted, Tamsy just ordered all four flavors you had been eyeing.

“I think if I have to rate them, the strawberry is the best, followed by the red velvet,” you determine. “The chocolate wasn’t bad either.”

“How does that make sense?” Tamsy scoffs. “Red velvet is literally just chocolate cake dyed red. They taste the same.”

“No they do not.”

“Yes they do.”

“No, they don’t. And I will not be accepting any criticism from someone who comes to a coffee shop and orders matcha.”

“Tea is a very acceptable drink of choice.”

“But with cake? Absolutely not.”

Shaking his head, Tamsy chuckles under his breath. While you happily indulge in your cake, he regards you fondly. It’s almost surreal to him in a sense.

His mother had always told him that love was a weakness. That it distracted people and made them reckless, and if Tamsy were to one day take over her company, he needed to harden his heart or else the world would eat him alive.

“The world preys on the weak,” she had told him. “It takes advantage of those with weak hearts and crushes them. So you must rid yourself of unnecessary emotions and focus on accomplishing your goals.”

Tamsy gritted his teeth. The burns on his chest began to blister and bleed, leaving a numb ache that wouldn’t go away. Each little movement only worsened their chaffing, and the only reprieve he got was if he held his breath. But he wouldn’t cry. He couldn’t. It would only be viewed as another weakness. And his mother targeted weakness over and over until she was satisfied that they were destroyed, lest they destroy you first.

“Remember, Tamsy,” his mother said, motioning for him to place his right hand on the table. “This is the truest form of love. And mother is the only one who truly loves you.”

His mother died a few months after that day.

Tamsy was told it was a heart attack, likely due to the immense amount of stress and pressure she had been under. It was almost ironic that the job she cared about the most was what ultimately led to her death.

Subsequently, he had been thrown into the CEO role and had no choice but to fill her shoes. It was the right thing to do. It was his duty to do so. At least, that was what he told himself his mother would want. So Tamsy hardened his heart and picked up where she left off.

Except that you had been in the equation.

You were there throughout what was supposed to be a process to grieve the loss of a parent. Tamsy never understood what there was to grieve, given that his mother was hardly a parental figure nor did she ever like you, yet you constantly stayed by his side through it all. And honestly, he had enjoyed your presence as you somewhat kept him grounded.

Then, you came to him, begging for help after your sister died. His mother would've used that as an opportunity to garner a loyal employee, so that's what Tamsy told himself he had to do.

But Tamsy could never shake off the lingering attraction to you, and with time, it was less about having you work for him and more about him wanting you by his side constantly. Work was just the excuse to do so.

"Tamsy," you call, bringing him out of his thoughts. "You okay? You spaced out a little."

Tamsy could hear his mother's berating in his mind now, chiding him for exposing his heart bare.

"Emotions are a weakness," she reminded. "Don't put yourself in a position to owe anyone. Everyone is just a pawn in your game," his mother chided.

He pushed the ghost of her out of his mind.

All his mother's teachings, her so-called love, were nothing but a lie.

"Nothing is wrong," Tamsy says with a smile. "Are you still hungry? Would you like to order something else?"

"Well, if you're kindly offering~" You giggle as you pick up the menu. "But, I don't want to be the only one eating, so you'd better order something else as well."

"Very well," he laughs.

His mother had been right about one thing, though: Love did cause pain.

It made people irrational, made them ache with a longing that drove them to madness and act impulsively. Love was reckless in that way despite its beauty.

And yet, Tamsy would endure every ounce of it for you. Every self-doubt driven by anxiety, every fear, every wound that came with loving you so deeply and authentically. Because if loving you meant he could stay by your side, hear your laughter, see your smile, and be the reason for your happiness, then the pain was worth it all.

That's where his mother had been wrong.

To him, loving you was never a tragedy, never a weakness. But losing you would be.

Return to The Sphere Lobby → Enter Here

“What do you have there sweetheart?” Tamsy’s silky voice cuts into the silence of the room. You and Enjin both flinch hard, clearly not expecting him. You turn to him with a weak smile hopelessly trying to pass a convincing expression.

“Nothing!” You shoot out far too quickly while failing to pass Enjin something small behind your back as you turn to face your other partner. Enjin mirrors your turning quickly while clasping whatever it is behind his own back. “Yep! Just gettin’ something to drink!” He tries motioning his head to the kitchen door, a good lie, if Tamsy was a fool.

Before he can blatantly point out both of your obvious behaviors a small but loud ‘mew’ cuts the tension. You and Enjin immediately deflate, caught in the act of sneaking in another stray. At least this time it’s just a kitten and not another kid…

“No!” Tamsy crosses his arms squinting with knitted brows at the both of you. Enjin pulls out the little black puff ball from behind his back and presents it to him like a guilty kid.

“Oh come on baby, it’s raining out and it was all alone.” Enjin’s tone overly pleading as he puts on his puppy eyes just for good measure. The kitten is awfully pathetic looking, damp from the rain and scrawny like it hasn’t eaten in a while. Another small meow from the kitten, slightly quieter and scratchy makes you anxiously shift your footing.

“It can just be for tonight! We can feed him a little and warm him up.” You offer, if you manage this you can try to work on your more stubborn partner over the next few hours. Picking up the small baby from Enjin’s tattooed hands, you hold it close to your chest. It clings to you and starts purring at the feeling of warmth coming off you. “Please Tamsy.” You crease your brows, lower lip jutting out just a little in a bit in a pout.

He sighs frustratedly and pinches the bridge of his nose. “One. Night.” He makes sure to punctuate his point by holding up a stern finger. He usually isn’t swayed by your antics but lucky you guys he’s just too tired to put up an argument. You and Enjin are all smiles after that, happily skipping away with your new little flea bitten friend.

After a quick bath in warm water and a little leftover meat that was too small for a proper meal the kitten was much more active. You sit cross legged on your bed watching Enjin play with it on the floor. “You think it’s a boy or a girl?” You ask tilting your head a little. Enjin hums in thought for a moment.

“I hope it’s a girl.” He says with a smile, wiggling his finger at the kitten who bites it with small sharp teeth.

“It doesn’t matter because we aren’t keeping it.” Tamsy reminds strictly from his spot next to you. He’s laying across the bed on his side watching Enjin with a clear look of disinterest.

“Do you not like cats?” You ask, turning to look at him.

“It’s not that I don’t like them, we just don’t have the time to look after one.” He replies with a sigh. Thinking on for a moment you realize he’s right. None of you are around often to entertain it or feed it regularly. You feel a bit dejected by the realization and your face shows as much. Tamsy makes a point to take your hand in his and rub his thumb across the back to provide a bit of comfort. “It can stay tonight but I think it would be best to find it a different home.” He reasons, placing a kiss to the back of your hand.

Enjin picks the kitten up gently before bringing it over to the bed and placing it right next to Tamsy. “Well you better get in some kitten time too then. Since it's limited time only.” Enjin smirks at the smaller man. Tamsy rolls his eyes but uncurls his fingers from yours to pet the small cat anyway. It purrs loudly at the new attention. Enjin crawls onto the bed and slots himself behind Tamsy to cuddle up in a spooning position.

Tamsy picks up the kitten with one hand, its small body dangling in his hold. “It’s a girl.” He confirms after looking it over closer. Enjin makes a joyous sound like he won some kind of bet. When Tamsy places the cat back down he pulls his arm back to rest it on Enjin’s who was casually resting it on his hip. The kitten immediately starts stepping closer to the longer haired blond, meowing frequently to get his attention. When it closes the gap it rubs up against him and meows more persistently when he doesn’t begin petting her again. Long drawn out meows like it’s whining at him.

You snicker coming to lay across him and trapping the small feline between you both. “She likes you.” You insist, reaching over to pet the kitten but it merely moves from your hand and continues to pester the one person least interested in it. Enjin chuckled at your offended look. After a bit you all decide to settle in for the night, it was already late when you snuck the baby in.

The three of you were all curled up together under the blankets warm and comfortable, your new small addition curling up against Tamsy’s neck. You smile at Tamsy’s content features as they sleep together. When sleep finally finds you the night passes fast. Before you know it your eyes are fluttering open at the sunlight peaking past the curtains. Groaning you turn over in the warm strong arms encircling you. You notice after a second there is an odd amount of room in the bed. Opening your eyes and glancing behind you notice Enjin curling closer in his sleep and Tamsy is no longer in the bed. Sitting up, despite Enjin’s whiney tired protesting, you look around the room. No, he’s not here.

You slip out of Enjin’s arms with a kiss and a promise to return before leaving the room. When you step into the kitchen you find who you’re looking for. Tamsy is stilling at the island, a lock of his hair pinched between his fingers, twirling it and teasing the kitten in play. He finished a cup of tea and sitting next to it is a small saucer of water that’s clearly for your new little friend. He has a very content smile playing on his face, chin resting in his other hand. With a smug smile your step closer and make your presence known.

“Not keepin her huh?” You snark brow arched. He blinks up at you and lets out a small half laugh.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself.” He says standing up. Picking the kitten up he makes a point of placing it in your hands instead. When you continue eyeing him with your cheeky smug expression he rolls his eyes and leans in to kiss you. When you part again he mutters a quick ‘quit it’. You hum into his lips as you continue stealing kisses. The kitten takes advantage of the distraction to take more swipes at Tamsy’s loose strands.

~~~

After a couple years it was pretty safe to say you never ended up getting rid of your small furry friend. She’s more the cleaner’s cat than just the three of yours. She makes her rounds visiting everyone and often is a bit overfed if you don’t keep track. Absolutely spoiled. Tamsy remains her favorite, trailing after him everywhere he goes around HQ and constantly vocal if he doesn’t give her proper attention.

“Do you think we could get away with a dog?” Enjin whispers in your ear, arm slug over your shoulder, as you sit together on the couch watching Tamsy read while petting his ‘daughter’ who rests comfortably in his lap.