Fighter 🔪

Genre: angst | obsession!au | xexo!zyx Pairing: Lay x f.Reader Length: 2.2k Warnings: language | mentions of blood & death

a/n: im too burnt out for a sequel sorry! I cannot believe this is the FIRST x-exo au ive ever written!!!! xing fits this concept so well ugh we're always being robbed 😔 and its extra long because my man deserrrrrves it!!!!!!! as always thank you for requesting and youve been so so sos o patient. I made sure that this was the next thing i posted 🙏 hope it finds you quickly 🥰

DRABBLE GAME | MASTERLIST

You awoke with a loud gasp, lurching upright.

Working on pure instinct, you reached for the discarded knife beside you, holding it out as you sensed danger. You blinked the blurriness in your vision away as you tried to catch your bearings.

“That’s not a good idea,” a gentle caress of a voice warned.

“Yixing.” You relaxed once realizing who accompanied you. You wiped the liquid dripping into your eyes, pulling back to see dark blood staining your gloves.

Vision fully cleared, you saw the man sitting against a wall across from you. One of his legs was stretched out before him, the other bent at the knee for him to rest an arm on. He appeared rather comfortable for someone amidst a battle he despised.

He clicked his tongue. “Not quite, Darling.”

Dread filled you as the reality of his words dawned on you and you sprang to your feet, ignoring the wave of dizziness and the scattering of black dots across your vision from getting up too quickly. You held the knife you carried more firmly, prepared to fight.

“Hey now,” he started as he slowly raised to his feet. “Is that any way to treat the man that just healed you?”

You hesitated as the memory of getting stabbed came back to you. It was a fatal blow, right in the side of your stomach. You’d reassured your team you were fine and to continue without you. It took some coaxing, but after promising to send Yixing back to help, they retreated. Once they left, you crawled into this abandoned room, knowing that Yixing would be too late to save anyone once he arrived.

Yet, you were alive.

With your free hand, you checked your side, being met with smooth skin. The knife in your hand clattered to the ground. You couldn’t hold it after realizing it was used to kill you.

“You saved me.” It wasn’t a question. The man that wore Yixing’s face tilted his head curiously. The action left you uneasy, feeling like helpless prey in the presence of an apex predator. “Why would you do that?”

A cruel grin stretched his lips. “Consider it me returning the favor.”

“You’re Lay,” you questioned. You already knew the answer, but needed him to confirm it.

That wicked smile of his grew. “They also call me Subject Ten.”

'They' being those who worked for the Red Force. A large group of scientists who were working on Operation Blood Orange, the illegal experimentation on innocent people. Those people became your friends, when you helped them escape years ago. They weren’t too thrilled when they found out the red force somehow held on to their DNA, allowing the creation of cloning them. Being an unfamiliar face, you were able to infiltrate their ranks, disguising as a nurse. For eight months, you spied on their illegal practicing in an attempt to discover what they were planning to do.

The clones were uncanny to their donors. Their features, voices, and powers were exactly the same, but that was where the similarities ended. Unlike the originals, these men lacked empathy, and only expressed a sick joy when causing harm to others, even each other.

Subject Ten, or Lay as most of the doctors addressed him as, was the most compliant of them all. The others liked to taunt and terrify, putting up fights whenever you had to check their vitals. Never Lay. He’d just silently watch you. You found that far more sinister than the outward hostility the other’s met you with. When Lay first spoke to you, it was startling. He sounded so much like Yixing, it was easy to forget that wasn’t actually him. Yixing was a kind and compassionate soul who only saw the good in people, even one’s who barely had any left in them. He was far from a fighter, it made him sick to cause pain. Healing was in his nature. Life was what he cherished.

Lay favored death.

You’d seen him do it. You had no clue Yixing’s ability of healing could be reversed. But, on the day the clones escaped, you saw Lay twist that gift to take a life. It was only a matter of time, you supposed. The doctors had fallen for Lay’s calm demeanor, and had started letting their guard down around him. On that day, a doctor had gotten too close, and Lay used it to his advantage. You didn’t realize what was happening. One moment the doctor was fine, then Lay placed a palm over his chest and he fell to the floor in a lifeless heap.

Then Lay’s attention turned to you. His dark eyes were hard and spiteful, but there was a flicker of something in his expression that held him from attacking you. He gave you an out and you were fleeing the scene before he could change his mind. You knew you weren’t strong enough to defeat him on your own, that only the ones like him could. So, you went to them and revealed everything you knew.

That led to this mission. You’d spent a month tracking the duplicates to an abandoned hospital they’d taken shelter, and ambushed them. When your fellow soldiers saw their counterparts for the first time, they all froze in shock before determination settled in. The goal was to destroy them, but even with all your knowledge, they hadn’t anticipated how much stronger their clones were.

Lay’s sudden approach jerked you from your reverie, and you cursed yourself from growing distracted at a time like this. His hand wrapped easily around your neck, but he didn’t add any pressure. Still, you gasped and scratched at it, to no avail. He didn’t even flinch as you tore at his skin.

“Do you want me to take it back?”

Gritting your teeth, you stared into those dark voids he called eyes. They shined with mirth, as though he enjoyed toying with you.

“Save me just to kill me,” you spit. “How typical.”

He barked a surprised laugh. “I knew I saved you for a reason.”

He let you go and retreated a couple steps, allowing you space.

A swell of anger overwhelmed you. “You’re an abomination! A monster!”

“Tell me something I don’t know.” He waved off your insults, but there was a tightening around his eyes and a strain in his voice you failed to notice.

“You’re a sick bastard!” You continued, not even sure why you were antagonizing him when he could easily kill you. “A poor excuse of the original.”

“Is that how you really feel?” He asked with a chuckle. “I don’t believe you do.”

And that was the reason behind your tantrum.

Truth was, all the time you spent with Lay in that cold hostile hospital had made you grow attached. After the first conversation you held, it flowed effortlessly between you. He’d learned to banter and would watch you as though he were undressing you in his head. Yixing never looked at you like that, and you never wanted him to. You’d never grown romantic feelings for Yixing, but Lay? He was different. He was nothing like the man whose DNA he shared, and that drew you to him.

There was one day, when you were drawing his blood, he’d grabbed your arm when you pulled away. Your heart began racing with the fear he was finally going to murder you, but that fear turned into something different when the hand not restraining you started curiously venturing over your arm. His fingers searched across your collarbone, down the swell of your breasts, to the rim of your pants. You’d studied the way his eyebrows furrowed at his exploration, as he experienced new feelings and sensations he didn’t understand. When he met your gaze, he took notice to the pounding of your heart, the trepidation in your eyes, and the shallow intake of your breath. He hummed, ‘that’s not fear, is it?’

You contemplated lying, but relented under his naïve gaze. “No.’

He had nodded before finally letting you go, sinking back into the chair he laid upon. “Interesting.’

The effect he had on you did interest him, as did your effect on him. It was what made him spare you that day he escaped, but he had left you with a warning, a promise that he wasn’t done with you yet.

“Shut up!” You yelled at both him and your twisted thoughts. You pounded your fists against his chest in frustration.

“Touch me again,” he threatened calmly, not showing an ounce of pain under your violence. His lack of reaction only pissed you off further, and you lifted your fist, aiming at his nose this time. He snatched your wrist before you could touch him and yanked you forward so that he could crush his lips against yours. You fought him at first, disgusted by his touch. But that denial only lasted a few seconds before you were pulling him closer, fervently kissing him back.

He growled in approval, devouring you with surprisingly soft lips. Blindly, he walked you back until you hit a table. Unbreaking your connection, he helped you hop onto the surface, and you spread your legs for him to slot between. He pulled at your waist, enjoying the heat of your body against his, especially the haggard rise and fall of your chest.

“Still think I’m a sick bastard?” He cockily whispered against your swollen lips

“Shut up,” you groaned, smacking his shoulder harmlessly. He chuckled huskily and the sound made your thighs squeeze his narrow hips, drawing him impossibly closer.

“Who knew you had such a fighter’s spirit,” he purred. His nose rubbed against the side of your neck, his breath was warm as he whispered against your flesh. “I want to kill it.”

“Of course, you do.” You couldn’t help but roll your eyes, although half the reason came from the pleasure of his inquisitive tongue. “Kiss me again.”

He did as you commanded, and time fell away as you lost yourselves in each other. You were starting to undress the other when he said your name.

At least, you’d thought it was him, except for the fact his tongue was preoccupied exploring your mouth.

Realizing Lay wasn’t the one who spoke, your eyes sprang open and locked with Yixing’s, who stood in the doorway in utter shock.

“That’s not me,” he warned. He was visibly confused, and that you understood. In no world could Yixing picture the two of you like how you were. You’d never shown him any affection that wasn’t friendly. Guilt overcame you when realization widened his eyes. “But you know that, don’t you?”

Betrayal. A sick look of betrayal contorted his soft features and your stomach dropped.

Lay’s mocking laugh echoed throughout the empty room as he straightened, gaining your attention. He met your gaze with a lifted eyebrow, as if telling you to ‘watch this’ before turning to face his doppelganger.

“No, please.” You grabbed his arm, understanding how swiftly he could destroy Yixing, who lacked your shared fighting spirit.

Lay paused under your touch, calculating his next move. The two scrutinized the other, and for the first time, Yixing truly appeared identical to his clone. There was a hatred radiating off of him that you had no idea he was capable of emitting. He said your name again, and it sounded too much like a threat. The brewing anger in his tone had a chill run down your spine. “Let’s go.”

“I….” Your eyes bounced between the two men. They’re both so still and wound up, looking more like statues forever marbleized in a battle of wits.

“Lets. Go.” There’s no room for argument in Yixing’s repeated demand. He was testing you, testing your allegiance. It hurt that he doubted your loyalty, made worse from the fact you were questioning it yourself.

Lay finally moved, turning back to you. Wordlessly, he straightened the leather jacket you wore that dangled from your shoulders. He fixed your hair, making sure you were presentable. His hands had a calming effect that lead you to believe he was using his healing abilities to make sure any cuts or pain you felt vanished.

When you dared a look at him, his face was stoic except his eyes. What you once saw as voids were now filled with life, and within their depths you saw a secret message. A promise that he’d be back for you.

Self-hatred grew within you from the relief you felt seeing his promise.

“Okay, Yixing. I’m coming.” You gently shoved Lay back, pushing at his abdomen. He rested a palm over your hands as he retreated, giving you the room to slide off the table. You stumbled when your feet touched the floor, and he steadied you by the waist, holding you close. Yixing scoffed behind him, muttering something angry under his breath.

You really didn’t want to leave Lay, much to your disgust.

He sensed as much and gave you a reassuring nod that encouraged you enough to finally pull away from him, to head towards Yixing, your dear friend. He held his hand out for you, but you ignored it. You also ignored the hurt that caused him, exiting the room without looking back.

“Next time I see you,” you heard him threaten his evil twin. “You’re dead.”

You shivered again at his lethal calm. Yixing was unrecognizable at that moment.