Crimson pushed open the large ornate door to his bedroom giving an irritated sigh as he entered the dark room. Running a crime syndicate wasnât all it was chocked up to be, his work had gone long into the evening leaving Crim longing for a good nightâs rest, trudging to his closet the imp shrugged off his suit jacket which he promptly hung up when a subtle clicking noise caught his attention. Crim turned to stare into the darkness across the room behind him, squinting suspiciously before kneeling to pull a small pistol from his ankle holster. Cautiously Crimson proceeded into the blackness only to feel a hand wrap around his throat from behind followed by another wrapping around the wrist of the hand he had holding his pistol, violently twisting it till Crim was forced to drop the gun. Crimson gave a strangled yelp fading into a hiss as he clawed at the hand around his throat with his free one before being forced to his knees by a harsh kick to the backs of them. As both his arms were easily yanked behind his back by two powerful hands from the blackness emerged a stocky hellhound with a bulldog face and upon looking behind him, Crim could see another hellhound this one with a wolfish face.
âGet the fuck off me!â Crimson demanded struggling against the hounds grasp around his wrists.
âNah-uh, youâre coming with us,â The stocky bulldog stated, prompting the wolfish hound to shift to holding Crimâs arms with one hand while wrapping some kind of fabric around crimsonâs mouth and nose. Crimson could smell something sweet on the fabric as he struggled harder to get loose only to feel his mind getting foggy.
Suddenly the wolfish hound released a harsh yelp, both hands disappearing from Crim allowing him to move freely unfortunately whatever heâd been exposed too made him sluggish. Crawling off to the side a bit the imp could make out the familiar form of Alessio silhouetted in the light filtering in from the hallway. Alessio had heard crimsonâs conversation from the hallway thus heâd entered the room to investigate where he discovered Crim being held by a hound prompting him to attack, using his thick tail to shove the hell hound off Crimson.
âCrim!â Alessio exclaimed seeing crimson leaning against the wall by the hallway door barely conscious however that momentary distraction cost the shark greatly. The bulldog hound managed to come up behind Ale, surprising the shark with a pistol whip across the back of his head sending him to the ground.
âGrab the fucking imp and letâs get out of here,â The wolfish hound demanded of the bulldog.
âRight,â The bulldog agreed walking over to Crim, punching him once across the face promptly knocking him out before snatching him up.
âC-CrimâŚâ Alessio trailed off as his vision faded to black watching the two hounds make off with his boss.
 Crim started getting his vision back what he could only assume was hours later giving a soft groan in response to his aching head. Looking around briefly it appeared he was in a dark room with cement walls, a basement perhaps orâŚa warehouse? Either way it wasnât an ideal situation. Moments later a door creaked open opposite of where Crimson was allowing a sliver of light to illuminate the small square room along with the chair Crim was currently tied too. Casually wiggling a little Crimson determined his hands were tied behind the chair and his legs were tied to the chair legs, his tail was tied to itself in a loop. The two hounds from before entered the room leaving the door open behind them.
âWell, look whoâs finally awake,â The wolfish hound growled.
âUnfortunately, now I gotta stare at your stupid mug,â Crimson retorted.
âYou might think your funny now but just wait till we sell you off to the highest bidder,â The bulldog hound shot back.
âYeah, youâre one of the most wanted in all of Greed. The money weâre about to make off you is gonna be a fortune,â The wolfish hound added with a smirking grin.
âWhatever, Iâll have yer pelts on my floor before the end of the evening,â Crimson growled back.
âHa! As if!â The wolfish hound barked, delivering a hard punch to crimsonâs face making the imp groan in pain.
âYouâd do well to just shut your face,â The bulldog hound advised.
âNever been great at that,â Crimson chuckled, spiting out a bit of blood to the floor.
âOh, youâll learn,â The wolfish hound chimed in delivering another punch this time to crimsonâs side making the imp double over with a sharp inhale.
âMy late wife couldnâtâŚget me ta shut upâŚwhat makes you think you can?â Crimson shot back, trying to catch his breath.
âI think youâll find us far more persuasive than your late wife,â The bulldog hound growled lowly inches away from crimsonâs face, one hand yanking crimsonâs head backwards by his hair followed by raking his claws across one of the impâs thighs causing him to scream out in pain.
âYou mother fuckers!â Crim screamed out right before the wolfish hound slashed his claws across Crimâs chest.
 Ale regained consciousness with only one thing on his mind, finding Crimson. Staggering to his feet the shark immediately left the mansion in pursuit of the hounds that had made off with his boss. Ale was always good at tracking thatâs one of the many reasons Crim made him the right hand. Morning was just starting to break over the Greed horizon when he arrived at an abandoned business building on the cusp of the city. Clambering out of the vehicle he'd taken Ale armed himself with a revolver before heading into the building, surprised that not only was the door wide open but there was no one in sight. Opting for caution Ale slowly made his way through the abandoned business when he heard the familiar cackling of the two hounds coming from what the shark assumed used to be a main office. Hiding around the corner Alessio listened in on the conversation being had between the two hell hounds.
 "Glad we finally got that ass to shut the fuck up," The bulldog hound snarked.
 "Yeah, I was getting tired of his mouth," The wolfish one agreed.
 "We'll let him stew in the basement for a while then go back," The bulldog continued.
 "Doesn't matter he'll be sold off in less then 48 hours," The wolf snickered.
 "True," The bulldog agreed.Â
 Ale snarled although now he had his answer there was no need to be gentle with these two. Taking one final glance Ale determined where the hounds were sitting and flung himself around the corner, firing four shots in total. Two hit the wolfish hound while two more hit the bulldog before either knew what happened, with the hounds taken care of Ale proceeded to the basement where a massive safe took up the one wall. The safe door was slightly ajar allowing Ale easy access however upon slipping inside the dim yellow light from outside illuminated what lay within forcing Alessio to take a moment to compose himself. Crim was still tied to the chair except he was slumped forwards now, black blood soaking his clothes or what was left of them before dripping onto the floor where it pooled around the chair. Claw marks had torn his clothes leaving glaring deep gashes in his flesh.Â
 "Crim!" Ale exclaimed once his brain managed to refocus. Running over to his boss Ale knelt in front of the imp, quickly untying the ropes holding him allowing Crimson's body to fall against his own. Gently Alessio lifted Crim, holding him against his chest.Â
 "Ugh...took Ya long enough...Ya fucking gal lute," Crimson weakly groused out barely coming back to consciousness.Â
 "Sorry sir, I'll get you home," Ale stated trying desperately to hide the concern in his voice although he didn't need to as Crimson passed out again almost instantly.Â
 ...Later that evening...
 If he was being honest Crimson was getting tired of opening his eyes to darkness however at least things were familiar this time. Vaguely the imp could make out the familiar shapes of his own bedroom as well as the familiar feeling of his bed underneath him. Shifting Crim made a move to sit up only to be met by sharp throbbing agony in his chest area and sides eliciting an unintentional yelp from the imp.
 "Crim? Please lay back down!" Ale's voice came from a lit corner of the room where an armchair was. The shark hurried to Crimson's side where he gently eased him back into a laying position. Crimson got a glance of his torso revealing bloody bandages wrapped around most of it and what little skin was visible had deep purple bruising.
 âQuit your fussing Ale, Iâm not some fragile dame,â Crimson growled with a wince.
 âForgive me sir, that is not what I meant to imply. You were injured badly by those two hounds I simply didnât want you to reopen the wounds,â Alessio explained, placing another pillow behind Crimson to help him slightly sit up.
 âWell next time think a little more carefully before opening your mouth,â Crimson retorted irritably.
 âOf course, can I get you anything?â Alessio wondered with a small head nod.
 âBlack coffee and my black book, Iâve got some calls to make,â Crimson stated simply.
 âRight away,â Alessio confirmed, heading out of the room to do as asked.
 Crimson had far worse in his day, this wasnât anything too get excited over at least in his mind although Ale apparently saw it differently as he continued to fuss over the imp. Crim couldnât understand it but as long as Ale didnât annoy him too much it didnât really make any difference although he was curious. Ale was gingerly changing the bandages on Crimâs torso as the imp sat on the edge of the bed, a few days had passed meaning the claw marks were already starting to heal although they were still deep.
 âYouâve been quite dutiful these last few days, if youâre lookinâ for a pay raise it ainât gonna happen,â Crimson joked.
 âThatâs not why,â Ale retorted in his usual stoic way.
 âThen why?â Crimson pushed out of curiosity.
 âSimple, itâs my job,â Ale continued.
 âHumph, shoulda guessed, youâre a workaholic,â Crimson smirked with a small chuckle.
 Alessio finished his task then headed off to complete his usual list of tasks around the mansion knowing full well heâd just semi lied straight to Crimâs face. Â