#luis x reader

“Long day?” he asks without looking up from the sample notes.

“You say that like there are short ones here,” you reply.

That earns a quiet huff of amusement from him. Not quite a laugh. Something smaller. Still real, though. That’s the problem.

You move around the lab slowly, more tired than you’ve been letting on lately. He notices it in the way you don’t immediately start organizing your tools. The way your fingers hesitate over the sterile tray before setting down your gloves. Eventually, you take your place beside him.

For a while, neither of you speaks.

The parasite under the microscope twitches intermittently, as if reacting to the rhythm of the room. Luis watches it longer than he means to. Watches the way it responds to subtle shifts in light, in sound, in presence.

You break the silence first. “I keep thinking about them.”

He doesn’t ask who. That would be pointless. Instead, he exhales slowly. “The villagers.”

A pause. You nod once. “They don’t feel like ‘subjects’ anymore,” you admit quietly. “Not when you’re actually there.”

Luis leans back slightly in his chair, rolling a pen between his fingers. “That’s the trick,” he says. “If they stayed ‘subjects,’ this would be easy.”

You glance at him then. “Is it easy for you?”

He almost answers immediately. A joke. A deflection. Something sharp enough to keep the question from landing too deep. But it doesn’t come. His mouth opens, but no sound comes out.

Instead, he just shrugs. That makes the room feel colder somehow. You shift your weight beside him, arms crossing loosely.

“... We’re not the good guys in this situation, are we?”

The question makes a dry laugh fall from his lips. Luis drags a hand down his face, exhaustion scraping against the edges of him harder than usual tonight. The fluorescent lights overhead continue to buzz faintly, cold against the metal tables and glass slides scattered across the workstation. 

“Those cultists upstairs really didn’t tell you anything, did they, hermosa?”

The words come out too harsh, almost like an insult. He mentally scolds himself when his tone makes you flinch.

You look away from him, body turning inwards and eyes downcast to the floor. “Just that they’d pay well and that our research would help people.”

The parasite beneath the microscope twitches sharply against the glass slide, tiny limbs flexing in blind instinct. Luis stares at it too long before reaching forward and shutting off the microscope light entirely. Darkness swallows the specimen.

“That’s what they told me too,” Even in the dim light, he feels far too exposed, “I’m not sure I ever believed them, though.”

Your voice is low, “Then why did you stay?”

There it is. The question that he’s been dodging since childhood, it seems. Part of him wants to lie, just like always. To dress up an excuse. Make it all pretty and flirty until you stop asking.

But you’ve been persistent enough that he knows you’ll probably never stop asking.

“At first?” His laugh is faint and humorless. “Because I was curious.”

The confession settles ugly in the air. He watches your expression carefully, expecting disgust. Judgment. Fear. Instead, you just look sad. That somehow feels worse.

“We spent our whole lives being told certain things were impossible,” he says quietly. “Then suddenly someone places proof in front of you. A parasite capable of rewriting biology itself.” His eyes drift toward the darkened microscope. “Do you know how difficult it is for a scientist to walk away from something like that?”

You nod, “I do.” Then, softer, you mutter, “But that doesn’t make this okay.”

“No.” His jaw tightens slightly. “It doesn’t.”

The refrigeration units hum steadily around you both. Luis rubs tiredly at the back of his neck before continuing, voice lower now. “By the time I realized what they actually wanted these things for...” He trails off briefly. “Leaving became complicated.”

Your brows furrow faintly. “Complicated how?”

He glances toward you, crooked smile returning out of pure instinct. Defensive. Automatic. It’s his default face at this point.  “Ah, ah. That sounds dangerously close to personal questions again.”

Normally, that would earn at least a small smile from you. Tonight, it doesn’t. You lean closer to the counter instead, arms folding tightly across yourself. “Luis.”

Something about the way you say his name quietly strips the humor right out of him. His gaze drops briefly to the floor.

“I helped build parts of this,” he admits softly.

The words barely make it out. But once they do, they don’t stop.

“The implantation procedures. Neural synchronization trials. Early behavioral conditioning.” His throat feels dry suddenly. “I kept telling myself I could steer the research somewhere safer. More humane.” Another bitter laugh. “Turns out fanatics don’t care much about humane.”

Silence follows. Not shocked silence. Just heavy. Then, after a long moment, you speak.

“I don’t think this is your fault alone.”

Luis looks up sharply at that.

“You still participated,” you continue carefully. “But so did everyone else in this facility.” Your eyes drift briefly toward the dark hallways beyond the lab doors. “The people upstairs created this environment on purpose. They wanted scientists desperate enough to compromise.”

His chest tightens unexpectedly. You are being far kinder than he deserves. Why aren’t you disgusted?

“You’re very bad at hating people,” he says quietly.

A faint smile tugs at your mouth. Tired. Sad. “Occupational hazard.”

His eyes track the way your arms hold yourself, body shivering slightly in the chill around you both. The chill he doesn’t think he’ll ever be able to get rid of.

“Why have you stayed? Something tells me that this isn’t the first time you’ve thought about all this.”

Your gaze drops briefly toward the darkened microscope. “No,” you admit softly. “It’s not.”

The answer comes easier than he expected. Maybe because you’re tired. Maybe because the lab at midnight has a way of stripping people down to the truth, whether they want it to or not.

You rub absentmindedly at your wrist before continuing. “I kept telling myself I was overreacting at first.” Your laugh is quiet and strained. “That, maybe I just wasn’t used to this kind of research environment.” You gesture vaguely toward the surrounding lab equipment. “Unethical experiments aren’t exactly rare in our field.”

Luis lets out a soft hum of agreement.

“But then we went to the village.” Your expression tightens faintly. “And suddenly it stopped feeling theoretical.”

The words settle heavily between you both. Because he understands exactly what you mean. There’s a difference between data on paper and watching a man’s hands shake while something alive moves beneath his skin.

“You could still leave,” Luis says quietly after a moment.

Your eyes flick toward him immediately. The words that leave you are hollow and empty. “I really can’t.”

Luis stills. He suddenly understands the darkness in your eyes. There's a difference between someone not wanting to leave and someone believing they can’t.

Slowly, he turns toward you fully. “That,” he says carefully, “sounds less like dedication to science and more like blackmail.”

Your mouth twitches faintly at that. Not quite a smile. “I wouldn’t say that,” You murmur lowly, “But I don’t have much of a choice, no.”

He doesn’t miss the way your hands begin to tremble.

He chooses his words carefully, “... What does that cult have on you? Whatever it is-”

You cut him off, “They don’t have anything on me, really. But…” Your exhale is shaky and unsure, “If I leave, then things will go bad for me. I can’t let that happen.”

Even in this light, he can see the way wetness is welling up in your eyes. Without thinking, his arm loops around your shoulders, his body a warm weight against yours.

You stiffen, but he doesn’t let go. “What are you…?”

His other arm slowly comes around you as well, pulling you into his chest, “... One day,” He starts, “One day I’ll get us both out of here, okay?”

Your head shakes, “Luis, I don’t think you understand.”

His hand comes up and pets your hair before he can stop himself, “I don’t, no. I have no idea what’s going on with you, genia. But you’re my friend, and I’m going to help you get out of here.”

For a moment, he almost swears that he feels wetness drop onto his shoulder, and a sniffle falls from your lips to accompany it. 

The sound is so small that he almost pretends not to hear it.  Almost. Luis has seen people cry before. From pain and fear and grief. Usually loudly. Usually ugly. But this?

This feels different. You’re trying so hard not to let him notice. Something about that hurts worse.

For a long moment, neither of you moves. The laboratory hums around you endlessly, lights flickering overhead while refrigeration units breathe cold air into the silence. Somewhere deeper in the facility, machinery rattles behind the walls like distant thunder.

And still, you stay folded against him. Luis realizes, distantly, that this is probably the first genuinely human thing either of you have experienced in weeks. Maybe longer.

Carefully, he rests his chin against the top of your head. “Hey,” he murmurs softly, voice stripped of most of its usual teasing warmth now. “No llores, hermosa.”

You let out a shaky breath that almost sounds like a laugh. “I’m not crying.”

“Mm.” His hand smooths absentmindedly over your hair again. “Of course not. And I’m the pope.”

That finally earns a weak snort against his shoulder. There you are. The relief that flickers through him at hearing it again is embarrassingly genuine.

After another quiet moment, your voice comes muffled against his chest. “You shouldn’t make promises like that.”

Luis’s brows furrow faintly. “Like what?”

“Getting us out.” Your fingers tighten briefly against the fabric of his coat. “People don’t leave places like this.”

The certainty in your tone unsettles him more than the words themselves. For the first time since meeting you, he realizes your fear may run deeper than the laboratory. Deeper than Saddler. Like this place didn’t just trap you physically. Like something else already convinced you escape was impossible long before you arrived here.

Luis exhales slowly through his nose. “Well,” he says quietly, “good thing I’ve always had terrible judgment.”

You huff another faint laugh, though it trembles at the edges.

He pulls back just enough to look down at you properly. Your eyes are glassy with exhaustion, your expression worn thin beneath the harsh laboratory lighting. God. When was the last time either of you actually slept?

“You know,” he says softly, thumb brushing beneath one of your eyes before he can think better of it, “for someone claiming they aren’t crying, this isn’t very convincing acting.”

Your brows pinch together immediately. “Luis.”

“There she is,” he murmurs, smiling faintly. “I was worried the personality had died.”

You roll your eyes weakly, but you don’t pull away from him entirely. Progress. For a while, the two of you simply stand there beside the darkened microscope and scattered research notes, suspended in the strange quiet that only exists very late at night. The kind where honesty slips out easier because both people are too tired to keep carrying it properly. The warmth between you is comforting and safe, even as you continue trying not to sniffle in his arms.

Eventually, you glance toward the workstation again. Toward the stacks of notes detailing synchronization rates and behavioral degradation and parasite adaptation. All the terrible things both of you helped measure. Your expression dims.

“What happens if we keep going?” you ask quietly.

Luis follows your gaze. He knows what you’re really asking.

What happens to the villagers? 

What happens to the research? 

What happens to them?

His jaw tightens faintly. “I think,” he says slowly, “eventually there won’t be enough left of these people to save.”

The words hang in the air like smoke. You swallow hard beside him.

Then, quietly, “And us?”

That question hits harder. Luis looks at you for a long moment before answering. “I don’t know.”

It’s the most honest thing he’s said all night. Your eyes drift shut briefly, exhaustion pulling at every line of your face. Without thinking much about it, Luis guides you toward the chair beside the workstation and nudges it lightly with his foot.

“Sit,” he says gently.

You blink up at him. “Are you giving me orders now?”

“Absolutely.” A faint grin tugs at his mouth. “I’m a terrifying authority figure.”

“You flirt during emotional breakdowns. That’s deeply concerning behavior.”

He clicks his tongue, “Ah, but it’s charming concerning behavior.”

That finally earns a real laugh from you. Quiet and tired, but real. God help him, there it is again. That warmth in his chest. Dangerous thing.

You sink reluctantly into the chair while he reaches automatically for the abandoned paperwork scattered across the counter. Sample reports. Implantation observations. Behavioral notes. For the first time in a long time, Luis looks at them and feels tired all the way down to his bones.

Beside him, your voice softens again. “Luis?”

“Hm?”

“If you ever do figure out how to leave…” You hesitate briefly. “Don’t stay because of me.”

He stills. Then he snorts quietly, shaking his head as he gathers the papers into a messy stack. “Too late, princesa,” he smiles.

But the joke lands too softly to hide the truth underneath it anymore.

Sitting up properly in bed, you let out a shaky sigh. Deep breaths, holding the air in before exhaling slowly. It was just a dream, no matter how real it felt. You find little comfort in the mantra. The heat of the room is enveloping, contrasting poorly against your cold and clammy skin. The neckline of your chemise is an inch and a half below the collarbone, and even that feels like it’s choking you. You almost want to rip the thing off.

Pushing your hair back to smooth it over, you look for any sign of disturbance. Looming shadows dance on the wall, taunting you in some way, you’re sure. The bedroom is modest for a castle; a bed large enough for two people (maybe three, if everyone squeezed in), ornate oak wood furniture, paintings of people you didn’t know or care for. A fireplace with no wood and a square carpet in the hearth. Where there used to be a cross above the bed, there’s now the sigil of Los Illuminados.

Your book and the scraps of food remain untouched on the nightstand. The small goblet is still turned on its side in the far corner with the contents spilled onto the floor. Most drinking liquids dry up or soak into the flooring, whatever drink was in the cup has turned into a firm sludge. You think the chair to the vanity is out of place. You don’t go to sit and stare at yourself in the mirror often, but when you do the stool is always tucked under the desk. It’s been pulled out some, though. 

You don’t want to think about it. It makes you feel all-overish. You think that maybe it hasn’t changed position at all; maybe you’re so rattled that you’re seeing signs where there are none. 

…

You’re being stupid, you decide. 

When the fears that you tell yourself are unfounded are assuaged, you bring your attention back to yourself. To another problem of sorts. Chewing on your bottom lip, you stare down at your lap, covered by the cotton blanket. Before you can work yourself up over it, you push back the blanket and lift the chemise skirt to the hinge of your hips so you can look between your legs.

You reach a hand down past the waistband of your underwear to check. Warm, but not blood. You don’t feel as relieved as you think you should. It’s coming up on the second month that you’ve been without menstruation. It’s just as likely to be stress related as it is anything else. You fix your dress and pull the blanket back over your legs, sticking your tongue in your cheek, mulling things over.

As if on cue, there’s the sound of a key being put into place and a lock being turned. Your heart rate spikes and your eyes widen again, trained on the door. Should you get up? You’re not sure if it’s worth hiding, the window certainly isn’t an option. People come and go from time to time, but in the dead of night?  The fork is still on your plate, you could reach over and use it. Maybe it’s better to just pretend you’re asleep, you shouldn’t even be up—

There’s a few clicks from the other side, and the door opens.

It’s that guy. Louis—Luis. 

He looks surprised to see that you’re not only awake, but staring dead at him as if you’ve seen an apparition. It doesn’t stop him from coming in and letting the door close behind him, but it does give him pause. “Woah, easy there. It’s just me.” He smiles, hands up disarmingly. It does put you at ease, for what it’s worth. Out of the rotation of men that could have walked through that door, Luis is most preferred.

He’s nice.

“I didn’t know the lady of this castle was a night owl,” He steps further into the room. “I hope I didn’t wake you up.” Your shoulders relax slightly though you aren’t able to make yourself seem any less distressed. Even if it is just him, generally everytime someone has come in here, your day has gotten worse. “Did something happen?” You cringe at the sound of your voice, hoarse and weak. You have to cough to clear your throat.

“No, no,” Luis looks around, then steps towards the vanity to grab something off of the table. “Ah! This,” He shows it to you, a lighter, embossed with a design that you can’t make out. “it’s my favorite, forgot where I put it, and I thought that I miiight have left it in your room.” With the flick of his wrist, he pops off the swinging top of the lighter to light the flame, checking if it works, then looking back at you. You’re still staring at him blankly. He shifts his weight from one foot to the other, trying to smile. Someone’s got to keep the mood up.

Ah. Right. He had swung by recently, let himself in to check on you. He must have left it then. That was yesterday, or maybe it was two days ago? Why hadn’t you noticed? It’s not like you could have rang the guy up and told him yourself, but still. You frown, hardly able to recount the exact time. The days all blend together, it seems.  “You had to get it now?” You ask, blinking. Luis puts his hands up in a “well, what can you do?” motion. “I was trying to use a different one till I found it, but it ran out of fluid.” He shrugs, tapping the top of the lighter with his finger before sticking it in one of his jacket pockets. “This one is just special.”

There’s a beat of silence, and he takes a glance around the room, making a mental note to bring another book for you the next time he gets a chance to visit. “Well, I’m very sorry to have disturbed you,” He goes away from the vanity, heading for the exit. “I’ll be leaving, if you–” “Wait,” Luis pauses, perking up at your request, waiting for more like you said.

Swallowing thickly, your fingers grasp at the sheets. The sense of claustrophobia seems so much more acute now, heightened by Luis’s imminent departure. “Where are you going?” You watch him glance to the door, then back at you, one hand scratching the nape of his neck awkwardly. “Me? Uh, just going to walk around. Look for something to do, until I get tired.” You’re sure he’s lying, but you try not to hold it against him. If he was going to do something important, he probably wouldn’t be allowed to tell you anyway.

“Can I come with you?’ 

“Come with me?” He echoes stupidly.

You’re already slipping out from under the blanket before Luis can deny you, feet touching the cold floor. If you weren’t so determined, you might have drawn back in favor of the warm bed. You take three steps forward and he takes one back. “I need some air.” You say. It's both a plea and a demand at the same time. “I can't stay in here.” Luis looks at you, and you almost want to grab him by the shoulders and shake him. Why isn’t he saying yes already? Whose side is he on here? “Please?”

Luis looks at you with a nervous smile, his gaze flickering around as if looking for a way out of this. “Aha, well… Maybe you should ask the big guy himself when he comes back, I’m sure he’ll–” “He won’t.” You cut him off, taking another step closer. “I’ve asked before.” A white lie. You have enough sense not to ask Krauser stupid things, afterall. Despite this, he still looks conflicted, consternation faltering.

“Just for a little while, I won’t make any trouble for you.” He finally looks at you as if seriously considering your request, if only somewhat. You look up at him, as nicely as you can, throwing in an extra “please?” for good measure. It takes little more wheedling before he cracks. “Alright, fine,” Before you can get too giddy, Luis puts a hand up, finger pointed as if to tell you to hold your enthusiasm. 

“But he cannot find out about this, seriously.” 

“I know.” 

“If he asks–” 

“He’s not going to ask because he won’t find out.”

Despite his acquiescence, you can tell Luis isn’t completely on board with this. You’ll think of ways to make it up to him, surely. As much as you want to take this opportunity to your advantage, it might not be a good idea to push it. You’re already asking Luis for quite the favor. You occupy yourself with putting on your one (1) pair of shoes while Luis gathers his nerves. Hand-made leather that comes to a blunt point, the heel of the shoe continually scrapes against your own in a way that socks won’t help with. At least it’s a pretty mauve color.

The first time you asked for any sort of footwear, Krauser made a face and cocked his brow. Said “Why? You’re not going anywhere.” You wished you could have punched him and have it affect him in a meaningful way. For what it’s worth, he did bring a pair of worn slippers the next time around. Not exactly your style or good for anything other than shuffling around your cage of a room, but they fit decently, and you weren’t going to risk having him take them back. 

You glance back at the room, chewing on your lower lip in thought. It’s not like you have anything else to put on or better shoes to wear. You haphazardly grab a shawl from the armoire. Woven and soft, but it smells like a cobweb. It was thrown in there along with some other clothes that Krauser generously dumped onto you upon your complaints. He’d told you to make it work. They weren’t torn up or excessively dirty, so you’d make do.

Asshole. He doesn’t subject himself to wearing old rags. 

You step out of the room with Luis, and he seems more nervous than you are. He looks down both ends of the halls, then ushers you out behind him. “Does the lady want to go anywhere in particular?” He looks back at you, and you look behind you to make sure there isn’t anyone there. “I don’t think I can take you to the garden, lot’s of creepy-crawlies in there.” He laughs lowly, voice hushed and steps deliberate and careful. Even if Krauser isn’t around, there’s still the problem of sneaking past chanting cloaked figures with shuffling gaits.

Not exactly a herculean task, of course. 

“Anywhere is fine.” You murmur back, clinging to the shawl over your arms and shoulders. Despite the candlelight lining the castle halls, the lighting isn’t any less eerie than it was in the room. “I’m just sick of being in there.” Luis nods in understanding, trying to be careful with his wording. “Right, of course.”

You trail after him, looking up and around the halls. The gothic windows are almost opaque with the frosted glass and there are more paintings decorating the walls. Carefully made statuettes sit on carved pedestals as if they were collectors items. There’s an icy draft in the corridors, and you’re surprised to think that your room is warmer. Luis offers commentary on the decor choices, on some of the portraits in passing, and on how the majority of the rooms are sparsely used for their original purpose.

The sprawling passageways seem never ending; arched doorways etched with animal faces, high vaulted ceilings and plates of armor standing at attention with no knight inside of them. There was even an indoor fountain, and Luis made brief mention of a cable car system somewhere around. You store that information in the back of your mind for now. The current room has more paintings on the wall, dining chairs with no table and shelves of books with peeling spines.

You stop in front of one portrait in particular, and Luis doesn’t notice that you’ve stopped following until he’s several paces ahead. He turns back, then makes his way to stand by your side. It’s the castellan of the castle, though he’s hardly recognizable if not for the hair and getup. He’s painted with a tepid face and pink complexion, rosy cheeks and delicate lines of a graceful age. His eyes and smile are soft like a girl’s. 

It doesn’t match his overweening nature in the slightest.

 “He looks much better in the painting, doesn’t he?” Luis asks chaffingly, and nudges you with his elbow, and you smile. It shouldn’t be too surprising, you doubt the man would want to be painted in his true image. Guess he did have some level of self awareness. 

You continue your impromptu tour of the castle, Luis careful not to lead you too far from your room, lest you both need to rush back. Your shoes are beginning to dig into your heels, but you try to ignore the sensation. If you pause to look at where the skin has been rubbed raw, you won’t be able to stop thinking about it, you’re sure. It isn’t until you two turn the corner into a gallery hall that you stop dead in your tracks.

There’s someone there. One of the followers of Los Illuminados, tall and robed with a ghastly white face peeking out from under his hood. In his left hand, a flail loosely held. The spikes on the ball dig into the red carpet, the metal chain tarnished a dark color. If you got any closer, you’d be able to see your own reflection in it.

Unmoving and silent, he stands like a false statue, waiting for any reason to act. You shift behind Luis, peeking around him to the cloaked figure. You’re both just as still and quiet as he, waiting for him to make the first move. Seconds pass, then a minute, and you both stare at each other in consternation.

Luis shrugs. “Maybe he’s asleep?” He whispers. “Asleep?” You furrow your brows, the notion ridiculous to you. You’re not sure if those guys even can sleep. You two watch, and the shrouded man doesn’t move. He doesn’t call out to you or call anyone else. The shadow of his hood obscures the upper half of his face, you can’t guess where exactly he’s looking. For all you know, he doesn’t see you at all.

Slowly, Luis begins to tiptoe around him. Without much choice,  you follow closely behind, holding your breath. Eyeing for any sign of rousing, the cloaked man continues to stand there even as you pass. Now that you’re closer, you can see that he’s swaying slightly. As you two slink off behind him, the man makes a noise like a boar’s snort, startling himself awake. You freeze, and Luis takes your wrist to pick up the pace and get out of there, hopefully to a part of the castle without robed figures.

-

Call it intuition or whatnot, but something had been gnawing at Krauser for the past few hours. Something always is, it seems. He’d ignored it until he couldn’t. Even a good roll of tobacco couldn’t get whatever it was off his mind. And so, he finds himself back in that castle, standing on the other side of the door where he’s left you.

He usually wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to do something, especially now when all Saddler seemed to want to do was wait. Maybe he could tolerate it if his patience wasn’t constantly being whittled down. For all the work that Krauser has done to appeal himself to Saddler, he wasn’t even given a seat at the table, much less allowed in the room. 

He’ll have to ruminate over it later, something more pressing is at attention.

Krauser stares at the padlock, fingers twisting the shackle from the body. It’s not actually locked, go figure. Scarred lips press into a thin line, and he tries to reign in his irritation. Great, just fucking great. He enters, a tiny part of him hopes that someone just forgot to lock the door after themselves. The room is empty, of course. The flame in the oil lamp flickers like it’s trying to hold in a laugh. The bedsheets are tossed back, food is still left on the dresser top, and there’s a cup that you apparently threw at the wall, scattered onto the ground now. 

So you really were gone. Couldn’t even be bothered to clean up after yourself. 

Had he missed something? You’d been more servile and withdrawn in the past week, but nothing he chalked up to being flighty. Every sign of you is still here, there’s even a stray hair of yours left on the pillowcase. He thinks it’s mocking him. Your shoes are missing, though. The pair you pestered him about until he decided to be nice and give in. The pair that, up till now, you were letting collect dust in the corner of the room.

God fucking damn it.

-

The cold wind nips at your face and legs, and you wrap the shawl tighter around yourself. It hits your airway and chills your lungs. There’s a hum of crepuscular insects; buzzing that vibrates too deeply in your chest to be from a small mosquito. Luis must feel it too, and must be familiar with it, because he hurries you along the loggia and back inside the castle. He’d said he knew a shortcut, and you would have complained if not for the bouts of fresh air along the route.

You walk through the interior, then back out of a door that leads to a rooftop area. Not the top of the castle, not even close. But it’s open and spacious. There are wooden crates stacked against some walls and a large catapult that isn’t in use. Luis seems a little antsy now, and you suppose it has been a while. The wind blows through his hair and it whistles an odd tune. 

“That’s the garden?” You peel away from your guide, looking over the parapet. Luis comes up behind you, standing close as if afraid you’ll tip over the railing and fall into the garden. It’s a crawling hedge maze with a large fountain in the middle, water flowing from a marble woman’s pot. You can’t see any of the “creepy-crawlies” Luis had mentioned earlier, even in the full moon.

“It used to be a lot nicer, lot’s of flowers,” Luis gestures with his hand. “Now it’s just an eyesore.” “It’s not that bad.” You say, though you can’t see all of the details from up here anyway. Luis only shrugs, gazing out into the night with you.

He’s been lucky enough to not have run into anyone else with you, it makes him wonder if his lucky streak will break by dawn. No good deed goes unpunished, or something like that. This was the least he could do, if nothing else. He doesn’t know where Krauser is, and hasn’t cared to know until now. Maybe he’s in his own encampment away from the castle, maybe he’s fast asleep, or maybe he’s staring you both down through the scope of a rifle, perched somewhere high and out of sight.

He’ll deal with that when the time comes—if the time comes. What the big guy doesn’t know won’t hurt him.

Luis glances at you through the corner of his eye, and you seem to be in better spirits. You’re not smiling, he doesn’t think he’s ever seen you do that in the time you’ve been here. But neutrality is better than despair, right? 

You’re both quiet for a long time before a sudden buzzing sound startles you two. It’s so loud that you think it’ll shake the castle’s foundation. It sounds like a heavy drill, it’s hard to tell if it’s one giant bug or many medium-sized ones. You both flinch at the noise, Luis pulling you back from the parapet and towards one of the doors that leads back inside the castle.

“What was that?” “Don’t worry about it, let’s go!” 

-

You were back in bed. Asleep, too.

Krauser stares down at your sleeping form, hair tousled and your shoes kicked off in the corner of the room. The blanket is still strewn haphazardly on the side of the bed, not covering you at all. He looks you over from head to toe, not missing the red mark on your heels where the skin has been irritated and scraped. 

When did you get back? He’d done an exploratory round of the whole goddamn castle, and for all he knows, you could have slipped back into bed like you were never gone just minutes after he left. 

Not that he would even bother with the lower members of the cult (nor would they have an intelligible answer), but the one he did pass in the corridors was sleeping standing up, drooling over himself. And God forbid that old geezer Saddler or the garden gnome that constantly flanks him got wind of your midnight rendezvous. 

Maybe you hadn’t left the room at all, maybe he’s so paranoid that he was seeing things.

…No, no, that’s just stupid. That’s really fucking stupid.

He could wake you up now. He certainly wants to—shake you until you give him some answers. Knock some sense into you while he’s at it. A few ideas run through his mind. It’d be better to do it now rather than wait till tomorrow when you could have come up with a stupid lie. His face settles in contemplation before he decides against it. 

He pulls out the chair from the vanity, taking a seat and running his hands over his face. Rubbing under his eyes in frustration, he looks over you again. He leans over to pull the blanket over you, almost mechanically. At least you’re back, less trouble for him, as much as he might have liked the hunt. You're getting some sleep tonight, that’s more than he can say for himself.

Your nerves were shaky, hands trembling with the excitement of the night. The entire ensemble for the show is invited to a masquerade, hosted by the opera house. And you, although practically furniture in comparison to the leading dancers, were still invited.

And truth be told, you had your own reasons to be excited to go.

Your phantom promised he'd be there.

You weren't sure that you hadn't been dreaming during every visit of his, during every lesson. If so, you have a very vivid imagination...

When you saw a letter attached to a rose on your nightstand, you immediately knew who it was from.

Princessa,

Don't be late. I'll be waiting for you, and we will dance. For once you will see me under the light, so you will know I am no dream, but your reality.

Wear this rose as a token, mi vida.

Your Phantom

Your heart hadn't beat regularly since you read it. He called you mi vida. His life. You wondered why he wore his mask, or why he lived under the opera house. Why he chose you to take under his wing.

But in the dead of night when he summoned you to his lair, there was no room for questions. When he beckoned, there was only action. When he called, you answered.

You thought, perhaps, you could get some answers out of him tonight.

"Isn't it exciting? A real masquerade. Can you even tell who I am?" Meg, your closest friend said.

You laughed, "I saw you put the mask on, silly. But yes... I'm shaking I'm so exited!"

"Mama says I'm to be the next lead... or at the very least the one after that. Do... you think so too?"

You softly touch her arm, "How can I know these things? All I know is that you deserve it."

She smiles and links arms with you as you stride through the large double doors. You lag behind the group with Meg, not feeling quite like you have a place. They were so above you, secret aside.

It was exhilarating to know that even if you didn't hold their titles, you had a secret none could match. A secret teacher of song. A man or a myth you weren't sure. You were only sure that you belonged to him.

Under glittering lights you walked to a table of refreshments, dishing yourself some punch. Your eyes flitted around the room. When is he coming? Will he come?

You tapped the glass with your nail, nervous. What if he'd didn't come? What if... he wasn't real?

Just as you nearly convinced yourself that you were crazy, a cloud of smoke appeared. When it dissipated, it was clear to see what was left in its wake. The Phantom.

Some screamed, some whispered, and most froze.

And for a moment, you were in shock. But not long. You understood. He smirked and held out his hand, gloved but inviting nonetheless.

You always wondered what his hands looked like... you imagined them tan, like his face.

You walked forward, forgetting that others were in the room. Right now, it felt like it was just you and him. Your gown bounced as it walked, trailing behind you gracefully. White lace, almost like a wedding gown. The rose in your hair made him smile wider.

He was clad in black and red, maybe a touch of gold now and again. A black cape wrapped around his shoulders. His usual white mask traded for a black one, covering both eyes instead of one.

When you reached him, you took his hand in yours. His other one wrapped around your waist and squeezed softly, bringing you into the moment, not just the clouds.

He leaned down, "Cariño, you steal the whole show. How can they choose another woman when you are right here?"

You shivered, leaning in closer, propriety be damned. His voice was magic.

"How can we dance, if they won't play music for us?" You whispered, knowing that all eyes were on you.

He rubbed his stumbled cheek against yours. You felt the corner of his smile, "Well, we must go somewhere private, then. Yes?"

You look in his eyes, frightened but interested all the same, "Y-Yes. Please."

He smiles and chuckles lightly, taking your chin in his hand, "Then let's go, down to my prison. Down to our heaven."

You nodded dumbly, letting him lead you as though you had no control over your own body. You handed your autonomy over to him, happily. He hummed in pleasure at your obedience, only reinforcing it.

People were horrified to see him "drag" you away, down into the depths. But you knew they'd never understand. Never understand him like you do. And no one would ever see you like he did. He believed in you.

He took your hand and led you down the dark, desolate staircase. He would look back now and again, mirth in his eyes, ensuring that you were still happy to be with him.

You knew that hidden behind his facade of jovial remarks and suave movements was a deeply hurt man. An insecure man.

"You look nice, my phantom." You said, testing the waters.

He turned around, still taller than you despite being a step lower. He took your hands in his, "Mi amor, call me Luis. I beg of you."

"Luis," You breathed out, "Luis." You squeezed his hand.

He sighed, like hearing you finally say his name was a weight lifted. the idea warmed your heart. Did you really mean as much to him as he said?

"Kiss me, Luis." You leaned forward, hands on his shoulders. But you felt them tense.

"I... cannot." He looked to the side, the tips of his shaggy hair brushing your knuckles.

"Oh." You leaned back, "I-I'm sorry I suppose I misunderstood you..."

"No!" He cleared his throat, "No. It is only..."

You waited a beat, "It's what? You can tell me."

"I do not wear a mask without reason, princessa. I am... I am a hideous beast."

"I've seen at least half of your face, I can't say with pride that is not true."

You felt him deflate, a bitter tone in his voice, "Whatever fleeting beauty half of me may have is completely overtaken by my horrid other half."

Your hands drifted slowly to his neck. You felt his fluttery heartbeat, "Then kiss me in the dark, then."

You felt him tremble under your hands, "You will... feel my deformity."

"I don't care. It's to your soul I am bound, nothing else." You bared your most vulnerable self to him, taking a leap that couldn't be taken back.

He said nothing but let you continue, breathing heavily as you removed his mask. Your fingers danced over his cheeks, feeling scars on your right hand. Then wetness. A tear?

You felt your heart tug, obligated to rectify. Leaning in, with the dark to aid in your surprise, you kissed him. His lips were soft. Although a short kiss, you felt your whole body tingle.

"May my next kiss be in the light?" You brush your hand lovingly over his scars, "Where I can see your beautiful face?"

He shuddered and looked down in both disbelief and sadness, "But I cannot bear to lose you, mi vida..."

This time, you took his hand, leading him down the stairs at a much quicker pace. At last your slipper touched water. "Luis, fetch the boat."

"Ay... so demanding this princessa. Aren't pretty roses like you meant to be soft?"

You smiled and leaned against the cool stone wall, watching him prepare your "ride", "Don't you know the prettiest roses have thorns?"

He laughs loudly, able to speak freely under the opera house. The lower he descends, the safer he feels. And though you love the sun, you'd give it up to be with him.

When you step off the boat, he turns around and reaches for his mask. But you aren't having it, "Luis!"

He freezes in place.

"No. No mask. Not with me." You almost let out a sob, "Do you doubt me? Do you doubt my love? I love you more than your form."

He holds his breath for a second before turning to you. He's dejected, head hanging. Though he tries to hide his sorrow, you hear him sniffle.

You lift his head, "So handsome, my phantom."

"Don't lie to me," He grits out.

You pout, "I would never lie to you."

He shakes his head, almost frustrated with you at your insistence. He leads you to his bed, sitting on the edge. He fiddles with the edge of your sleeve. Not worthy to touch your skin.

You reach for his hand, peeling his glove off. "Touch me."

He brushes his fingers against your arm, grazing upward. He finds his resting place on your shoulder, thumb rubbing back and forth over your collar bone.

You close your eyes and inhale deeply, leaning further in his direction. Your next kisses aren't to prove anything, not anymore. They're because you can't help them. You throw your arms around his neck with abandon.

He's stiff, as you expected, knowing he'd never done anything like this before. But soon he thaws, melting and pliant in your hold. You feel powerful. You feel loved.

"I love you, I love you." He repeated like a prayer, into your lips, against your neck. He laved kisses over your shoulder, where he would occasionally pull your sleeve back up, ever the gentleman.

"Dance with me, my rose." He stood, lifting you with his unexpectedly strong arms. You let him lead you, of course, as you always did.

His deep baritone lulled you with its captivating song. You swayed side to side, wrapped in his arms. The simplest dance a girl like you had ever done, but the most meaningful.

He stepped back, taking you in, "Stay with me."

"Hm?" You leaned in for another addicting kiss. You almost derailed his thought.

"Stay here with me. I'll make you shine like the star you are. And be mine." He whispered these words against your warm cheek, every word landing like a kiss.

You nodded, words failing you.

You closed your eyes, feeling the music of the night move you. And you knew you were home.

“You always get a fruity drink, cariño?” I nod as I look at Luis from the corner of my eye. He looks like he’s never realized that, “But you drink beer when we’re with everyone else? Why?” He asks; I want to shrug my shoulders and say I don’t know. Before I can even get the chance to lie to Luis. Leon is answering my question for me. “Because let’s be honest here, Luis if she didn’t drink with the guys like she were a guy, they’d out her.” Leon, always the knight in shining armor, saves me even when I don’t need his help. 

Luis’s face contorted, and then I couldn’t read his emotions. The moment is completely taken away from me when the server returns to serving Leon and Luis, her whole chest now on view. “Would you you’ll like anything else? Food, god, do we have the best home fries.” I sigh heavily, and Leon orders something for the table—fries and something else that the server wiggles into the check. 

The night goes on nicely after that. The sky dims by the minute, and night falls in through the door when a set of people come in through the door cracks. It isn’t until the second or fourth fruity drink that my bones have relaxed, and everything around me is cloudy but in the best way. Leon and Luis are arguing about the best way to get a girl. “Leon, can I get out? I need to go to the bathroom?” I ask. He hums and moves out of the way. I sway between drunken men and women to get to the bathroom. 

My cheeks are hotter than ever before, and when I press my hands into the cold porcelain, it sends a shiver down my spine. My eyes are blown out from the liquor, but I could take another drink to forget the week before. I take only a few seconds to reset myself in the bathroom before heading back out. When I finally managed to get through the waves of people on the floor and at the bar. Leon and Luis are still arguing. “Leon, you don’t know how to get a girl, do you?” Leon scoffs at Luis’s rather hurtful question. “It’s not a matter of if I can. It’s about the fact that you aren’t a gentleman about it, Luis.” Leon counters. Whatever I walk into feels like a heated battle. It’s nice to watch the banter between the two men. “I am a gentleman!” The octave of Luis’s voice hits high as he tries to argue with Leon about who’s more gentlemanly than the other. 

“Can I get back into my seat?” I ask, interrupting their conversation, but I am ignored. “Who do you think is more the gentleman?” Luis asks, “Don’t ask her that it’s unfair.” Leon looks over at Luis before looking at me. I shrug my shoulders, “I don’t wanna be a part of this, Luis.” I try but am quickly told that if I want my seat, I’ve got to answer the question. I sigh heavily before looking between the two men. “Okay, fine, Leon is sweet, and that’s attractive all on its own, but you, Luis, are attractive differently. cockiness put aside, you’re brave, and so is Leon…” My words are not enough to convince either one of them. 

I groan. “Fine, you are both great men; hell, you’re both my type. But you must let go of the cockiness, and Leon, you’ve got to let some sort of girl in that’s not Ada. She doesn’t need you to save her because she can save her ass.” I say, hoping that my ticket will be back in the booth. 

Instead, the both of them are staring at me. Mouth left open, and eye blown out. “Hello?” Luis licks his lips and gets up from his seat. He is letting me in, finally. Even with the littering amount of conversation all around us, the silence that takes over the booth is growing too uncomfortable to stand. There’s this silent conversation happening between Luis and Leon that I just can’t read. The two of them eyeing each other and then looking at me. “Would you like to go dance?” Leon asks. The smile is naughty, sending a shiver down my spine that I’ve never felt before.

If you were to work with these two men, you’d be just as suck in your feelings as I. The type of feelings that wrap around your heart and mind and make everything clouded. “And I’ll get you another drink,” Luis says. I nod, and Luis gets up from the booth. Leon quickly takes my hand, pulling me from the sticky booth and dragging me towards the dancing floor. 

At first, it’s a slow swaying motion with Leon dancing to the side of me, and the music changes, the tempo changes, and so does everything else. Leon’s large hand is cupping my hips, pulling me into his front. Everything feels so fucking dizzy but in the best of ways. “Did you mean what you said at the table?” Leon whispers into my ear. “About the two of us being your type?” He clarifies. I take a huge breath before nodding, waiting for the rejection of the fall of the crescendo. “Good because we, Luis and I, enjoy having you around,” Leon whispers. Before I know it, Luis is pressed into my chest. 

I am sandwiched between the two prominent men. The two men that just a few hours ago had blood smeared across those perfect bones and skin. The same men that would bicker like an old married couple. “You should have told us sooner that you like us,” Luis says. He presses the cold, fruity drink into my hand. I swallow hard as my senses are on the fritz. “I didn’t…I was worried…” “Shh, don’t worry about it now, love.” Leon shushes, and I fall against his chest. “We’ve liked you for some time now. Haven’t we, Luis?” Even though we’re in a bar, with the music and people bumping around us, I can’t help but feel that we are utterly alone in this moment. Luis nods, agreeing with Leon. “For so fucking long, cariño.” 

I can’t tell if the heat of their bodies pressed against me or the liquor in my system makes me fall apart off the edges of my core. “Will you show me?” I ask. Luis’s brow perks up, and then he looks over my shoulder at Leon. “Of course, baby. Let’s settle our bill, and then we can show you how much we want to play with you.” Leon’s words make my legs shake and my thighs clench. “Luis, go settle the tab, and you can drive us home while we get settled in the back seat,” Leon says to Luis. I can’t help but feel that there’s a unique dynamic there. Luis leaves the two of us quickly and takes my drink with him. 

Leon’s hands leave my hips, and one takes my hand while the other settles on my side, walking me out of the bar. All of us are just a little drunk and a little sober. “Can we wait for Luis?” I ask Leon, and there is a hesitance in my voice, like I’m not ready to walk out of the doors just yet. Leon can sense it before the tone even manages to hit his ears. He hums, and the two of you stand there swaying together. 

I rest your head on Leon’s chest and let his hands fall lower on your hips. The music should be loud and head-banging, but the things that happen in front of you cause the music to be silenced, and the fighting voices start to soar through the bar. “Where’s Luis?” I ask Leon, eyes still closed. I can feel the rumble of his words against my back, but I don’t need his answer when I hear his distinct accent, Luis—defending something or someone. “Leon,” I warn him, he’s already on the target. “I’ll be right back,” Leon whispers before kissing my forehead and letting me go. 

In a matter of a few seconds, I lost Leon in the crowd of people surrounding Luis and the other customer. “I told you, you fucker, to stop talkin’ about her like that.” His voice carries around the entire bar, gathering unwanted attention from all. “Like you’d even know how to fuck her.” The other man is drunk and clearly off his rails. “You keep her out of your dirty mouth,” Luis yells back to the other man, pushing him away when he gets too close. 

“Luis, come on, let’s go. You’re starting a scene.” Leon calls over to Luis. Yet when Luis looks over at Leon, there’s a look that he very rarely sees. Anger is written all over his face—blood, red, hot, pumping anger. Leon gives Luis a look he’s given a time before. “Luis, it’s time to go. She’s waiting for us.” Leon mumbles to Luis. The anger has Luis shaking at his hands. Leon reaches his hand out for Luis to grab. Luis takes a moment to think before looking at the drunken man and then back to Leon. Luis gives up eventually, holding onto the outreached hand, and has the two of them walk over to me. Luis’s fits of anger fade out quickly. Being replaced with a warm, inviting smile. 

The walk out to the car is silent in a good way; Leon’s hand tangled with mine, and his other wrapped around Luis’s neck to pull him close to his side. “What happened, Luis?” I ask, “Nothin’ for you to worry about amor.” Luis says, shutting down my questioning. I hum and get into the opened door of the back seat. The slam of the door makes me realize that, for a brief moment, I’m alone in the car. 

– 

“What was that all about Luis?” Leon asks the older man. Luis still has a hard time being open with anyone other than himself. “Are you trying to be Don Quixote?” Leon asks him—two questions Luis has to answer. “I’m not trying to be the knight and shin’ armor, Leon. Just don’t like dicks like that is all.” Luis says, trying to get out of answering Leon’s other question. “Luis, look at me,” Leon says, returning his attention to his face. A rough hand forced Luis’s head with his chin. A thumb pressing into Luis’s lower lip. “Did the guy say something about her?” Leon asks Luis. They two stare intensely at each other. Blue and brown staring at each other.

While waiting in the car, I can see the two of them through the front window. Everything about their interaction is softer than I’m used to seeing in the field. A few moments later, the back door reveals a dirty blonde smiling sweetly at me. “Are you sure you are okay with this?” Leon asks before even getting into the back seat with me. Another car door opening causes me to get out of my thoughts for only a moment. It’s Luis on the other side of me. Both men stare at me as if I’m the only treasure in the world.

 Awaiting my approval. 

“Yes, I’m sure. I’m fucking sure now can we go!” I say, biting down on my bottom lip. “So impatient. As always.” Leon mutters before sliding into the back seat with me and shutting the door behind him. Luis is quick to get into the driver’s seat. “Don’t start being a brat now, cariño.” I hear Luis say as the engine starts to life. 

The touches start slow and soft. Gentle but rough fingers glide down my arms, sending shivers and goosebumps. “You are so beautiful; you know that sweetheart.” Leon’s stats are a matter of fact. I swallow hard. I’m already so out of touch and so desperately touched-deprived from working in the line I work in with Leon and Luis that the simple words make my thighs clench, and my chest burn with burning tears. 

The rest of the car ride is a blur between sweet nothings whispered into my ear and Leon’s hands touching any part of me exposed to him. I catch Luis’s eyes at least during the drive, and the heat bubbles in my belly along with my cheeks. He winks and returns his attention to the road. Leon is like a broken record next to me, telling me how beautiful I am, what they’re doing to me, how much they care about me. It had my head dizzy in a fuzzy way. In a good way. “You’ll be good for us, right, love?” Leon asks as the car comes to another slow for a stop light. I whine and shake my head, not yet trusting my voice. “Words, love, words,” Leon says, calming as his hand racks over the tops of my thigh. 

I squeeze my thighs together, hating and loving that Leon’s light and slight touch has over me. I see the quick smirk that falls over Leon’s handsome face before uttering a soft and quiet ‘yes.’ Leon graciously accepts and smiles at me before leaning down and kissing the tip of my nose. 

Moving from the car to the front door of Leon and Luis’s apartment is a tangle of limbs and hands on my body. Luis fumbles with the key to get in through the apartment door. The second the door is unlocked and open for the three of us to enter, Leon’s lips are mine. A little chap and bitten at but all the welcoming. He’s warm and so close to me, but still, I want to be closer to him. I graze my tongue against his bottom lip, and he grants me entrance. Our tongues don’t fight; instead, they explore each other’s mouths. Leon groaned into the deep kiss. 

Leon’s hands hold me close to his large and fit frame. A broad chest with an easy beating heart pressed into my own chasing heart. “Sharing is caring, you know.” I hear a frustrated Luis mutter from off in the distance of the apartment. Leon groans, his lips leaving mine. For a moment, I get accustomed to the new surroundings. The apartment isn’t tiny by any means, but that’s what happens when you save the former president’s daughter. Leon hasn’t left my side. “Well, come over here then, Lui.” The nickname makes me giggle. The unprofessionality of it all makes me smile even wider. 

Luis takes a giant step over to the two of us. Standing in the living room, it almost feels awkward for a second, and then Luis’s hands are cupping my cheek. He winked at me before he dips down to grab at my lips. He’s rougher than Leon like there’s an aching burning in him that’s forcing him to take all that he wants. I moan as he bites down my bottom lip, dragging as he releases from the kiss. His eyes are blown out, and so are Leons as they both stare at me. “Take a seat for us, cariño.” Luis points down to the couch at the back of my knees. 

I plop down with no grace, but neither seem to care as they both get a chuckle out of it. Leon takes a seat on my left, and Luis is on my right. I fidget with my hands for a moment as the silence fills the apartment. My mind drifts off, thoughts of Luis and Leon. How they interact, being in their apartment is the way Leon speaks to Luis in such a calm but dominant manner. I’m pulled out of my thought by Leon, “What’s going on in that pretty head of yours?” He asks. I look at him and then towards Luis. Then back once more. “Just… it’s nothing, just was thinking, is all.” I manage to mutter out. Leon has a great read on people, so nothing I say will work unless it’s true. “Come on, you can tell us.” He says softly, placing a hot hand on my left knee, “Yeah, we won’t judge, mi amor.” Luis says as he puts his hand on my right knee.

 It grounds me for an unknown reason, and I give in. “I was just wondering… you and Leon. The two of you have, you guys live together, but I sense there’s something else there. Like are you…” The words die in my throat as I look over from Luis to Leon, who is having a whole conversation with their eyes. No words pass between us for a long moment. “Yes, sweetheart, Luis and I are together. We have been for a while now.” Leon says proudly. “But that isn’t what this is about.” Luis adds, looking back at Leon, “It’s about you and us showing you how much we wanna get to know your body in all the right ways.” Leon adds. 

– 

“Okay,” I say timidly as I watch Leon looking over at Luis before grabbing the back of his neck with a large, strong hand and pulling him in for a deep kiss. I stare, my gaze unwilling to move from the mashing of teeth and the sweet, wet noises from their kiss. Luis looks like he’s in heaven, and when they pull apart, Leon couldn’t be more proud. The following words come from me: rapid fire and shock me. “You are so fucking hot!” Luis chuckles, and licks his lips. “You know it, honey.” He mutters mostly to himself. 

The longer I look at them standing together, the hotter I get. The clothes wrapped tightly around my skin burn on my skin as I ache to pull them off and be bare infront of these handsome men. “Will one of you touch me so I can stop aching so much!” I whine. Luis drops to his knees almost immediately. “I’ll go first, baby, makin’ you cum real good.” Luis’s accent is somehow thicker now that he’s lower. Leon disappears from my whole world as Luis’s hands run. From my outer to inner thigh, Luis ran his large hands up and down in the most mind-blowing, teasing manner. His hands come up to my hips and grab at the meat of my hips, pulling me slightly forward. “Let’s just get these fucking jeans off you.” I nod along with him. His fingers are nimble as they undo each jean button and then tediously pull the zipper down. 

I pick up my hips and let him drag the rough and hot-inducing fabric down my legs until they’re flung over his shoulder and land in a pile on the floor. There you are, sitting half-naked in front of Luis. Your work partner, the guy that has both equally saved your ass as many as you have saved his. “Aww, look at these panties. Naughty little thing.” He whispers as his hands come back to touch me. His hands are rough, just like Leon’s, but so fucking grounding that I don’t even notice that he’s right back to my covered pussy until he flicks the little black bow on my lace panties. He slides them down with grace as my ass comes into contact with the cold leather of the couch underneath me. 

“Spread your legs, baby,” Luis demands as he nudges my knees apart. I feel no embarrassment when Luis practically coos at the source of my aching. I think the couch dip, and when I look over, it’s Leon, boxers, and that’s it. His hair is pulled back and wet from a recent shower. “Hello, pretty girl.” I smile, and like whiplash, I’m back to Luis between my legs. Cold fingertips playing with my sensitive clit. Nudging it before blowing cold air onto my wet pussy. I moan on the spot and buck forward ever so slightly. “Look at our girl so sensitive,” Luis mutters, looking up at Leon. “I wonder if anything else is just as touchy?” Leon asks as if I’m not even there. I can feel that tingle that makes my nipples happen under my layers of clothes. I desperately want to pull off my shirt and lay there for them. “I think I’ll have to find out,” Leon says, looking back at me. “You okay with me taking off your shirt, birdie?” He asks. I inch up just enough to give him enough room to grab at the free edge of my shirt and rip it over my head. 

That piece of clothing tripped over his head and landed on the ground in a heap. My panties match my bra that covers my tits. Both of them groan at the sight. The blush creeps on my cheeks. Luis continues to tease at my clit, before passing two fingers over my slick aching hole. Collecting slick on his fingers. “Fuck she’s so wet, Leon!” he exclaims as he presses his fingers and shows them to Leon. “Such a dirty girl, fuck, we haven’t done shit to you yet,” Leon mutters as he rubs at the aching bludge in his boxers. I don’t care about anything anymore except getting his hands on me, getting both of their hands on me. Luis goes back to playing with my sensitive pussy, all while making it harder for me to unlatch my bra from behind. 

“Leon, if you don’t pull down your boxers right now and let me suck that cock of yours, I think I might just die,” I yell as I throw the bra off into the distance. He chuckles, “Anything for you, birdie.” He pulls his boxers down with ease, his cock hitting his lower belly. Red, angry, and aching to be in my mouth. The gasps that leave my mouth catch his attention, “What? Scared it won’t fit?” I looked up at him with an open mouth, “Don’t worry, Luis thought the same thing.” I reach out and grab my hand around it. Leon is girthy, my thumb and pointer finger parley touching. 

I use his pre-cum as lube at first, getting a feel for his cock in my hand. Heavy on my hand. The second I get his cock on my tongue, Luis’s mouth is on my pussy. Tonguing my wet hole. His bread scratching at my inner thighs caused me to moan around Leon’s cock. He groans at the feeling and leans to place a hand on the back of the couch’s edge. I’m not able to take all of his, so I bring another hand to the base of his cock, using it to jerk the rest of his cock as I suck on his cock like a lollipop. 

Luis attacks my pussy, sucking as his life depends on it. Nimlbing at my clit with the edge of his teeth. I clench around nothing and moan around Leon again. Causing him to jerk forward even further into my mouth. The stretch that his cock causes burns but isn’t unwelcomed. One finger presses into my hole, making me stop breathing for a second, and then Luis is pumping it in and out with ease. Lewd noises fill the room; Leon moans, the slick sound of my hole getting fucked, my gagging on Leon’s cock. It nearly burns my ears right off. 

But then the pace is set, and Leon is fucking my drooling mouth. The grip on his couch moves to the back of my head to keep me in palace. 

But my eyes never leave his, blue iris staring deep into my soul, coarse hairs tickly at my nose. The bumps and ridges of his cock are welcomed against my tongue, and just when I think, everything is feeling normal. Luis sticks another more extended finger in. He is stretching me out. I moan around Leon’s cock, bucking forward on Luis’s fingers. “Oh fuck Birdie, gonna make me’…” Leon’s thrust goes erratic, and his hands only grip my hair even harder—blunt fingernails leaving half-moon crescent shapes on my scalp. 

“OH- Fuck!” Leon screams out, his cum filling my throat and mouth as he rides his high out before releasing my head from his death grip. Luis is still eating my pussy like a starving man. Sucking at my clit, and giving me kitten licks. With one curl of his fingers and one hard suck on my clit I clench around his fingers and have no time to warn him that I’m going to cum. My eyes roll back, and my chest feels on fire. When I do come back, my thighs are wet, everything is fucking wet. The leather couch soaked under my ass. 

“Oh fuck, you squirted all over me, carnio. Did you know you could do that?” Luis asks as he looks up at me from between my thighs. Face soaked, beard wet. Still in a daze, I barely get a shake out. “Well, there’s always a first.” Luis chuckles, leaning back on his knees. I try to move, “What about you?” My voice is a little hoarse. “Oh, don’t worry, beauty, I came in my pants just from listenin’ to the two of you. I lean forward. The wet patch on Luis’s pants is visible; a prideful bubble grows in my chest. “Of course he did. He such a subby little boy.” Leon mutters, coming back with three glasses of much-needed water, which we all down in a matter of seconds. 

“But we aren’t done with you, Birdie, are we baby boy?” Leon asks, looking down at Luis as he sits next to me. Luis shakes his head. “Well, what are we waitin’ for? Get your asses up and get to showin’ your girl just how good you are at fucking me.” Brows rise, and a chase begins. 

Completed on: 10/30/23

Posted on: 11/08/23

"Mmm... hnngh, Luis..."

The room thrummed with high-energy latin music from the club across the street, your head buzzing from all the shots you'd thrown back earlier.

It was difficult to catch even a single sound that tumbled from your lips with that kind of effect...

Which is why you didn't, letting every pant and moan paint the air with a sensual feel. You didn't quite know where the both of your clothes had gone, but you could faintly remember the feeling of wooden buttons under your struggling fingers.

"You're enjoying yourself, amorcito?" The stranger had a sharp rasp to his voice, his breath hitting your skin and sending a delighted shudder down your spine. "I'm glad."

If you weren't already drunk on all those lime drops, you would no doubt have still been hammered on the fragrance emanating from his skin — the intoxicating scent of tobacco, leather, and patchouli.

"Oye," he spoke softly, bringing a hand up to brush your cheek with a quiet laugh. "Eyes on me. I haven't even done anything yet."

You let your eyes flick up, tracing the angular, sloping features of his face, watching the way his dark irises drowned in the void of his pupils, pink tongue peeking between his lips to wet them.

"See something you like?" He breathed, taunting you with that damn smile.

And you fell for it — who wouldn't?

"I do," you began, tracing a finger down his chest, swallowing thickly. "I see somethin' I like a lot..."

And his lips were on yours again. His hands found your waist to lift you onto the bed, robust muscle flexing under the bronzed skin.

The plush sheets and pillows tangled and scrunched under your fingers as he moved lower with his ministrations, soft stubble grating at wet skin — it was a heavenly combination, no doubt.

Even as he sucked vivid reds and purples into your neck and chest, a smoky aroma of tobacco and brandy lingered insistently on your panting lips, air sultry with water vapour.

"May I?"

Before you knew it, he had made his way all the way down between your thighs, kneading the skin in either palm with a lazy smile; just the sight made your brain short-circuit immediately.

"Mmm... mhm." You swallowed, choking on your words.

A low chuckle reverberated through your skin as he peeled away the fabric of your underwear, dark eyes trained on the spout of sticky fluid. He greeted it with a kiss, the contact sending an electricity surging through each and every nerve ending in the sensitive tissue.

He didn't give you a chance to recover, licking flatly over the impossibly tender skin, pushing every minuscule bump on his tongue into your flesh with pressure that had your eyes rolling back into your skull with pleasure. If he went any faster, you might've lost your mind already.

Your cries mingled with the bass of music and perhaps a faint vibration in the distance, drowning out the wet sound of sex in the air.

No matter how much you squeezed your thighs around him, no matter how many times your hips thrashed and bucked into his wet lips, it never disturbed his sensual rhythm, tongue licking long, sloppy stripes and vigorous spirals into the hyperresponsive tissue.

Before you could finish, he pulled away, wiping his lips with a grin — asshole.

"What are you— nnh!"

You felt the tug of muscle in your lower belly as you tensed from a sudden intrusion, hand flying up to cover your mouth instinctively. One, then, two fingers entered, slick with saliva.

"You alright there, pichurri?" He asked, gently curling his fingers into the soft membrane, earning a loud keen from you as they dug into a particular spot that had your eyes watering.

In fact, you thought you may have blacked out for a moment because when you came to, you were wrapped snugly around him, the sound of wet slapping swimming in your ears.

You could barely process the pleasure, gasping for air as you held onto him for dear life, nails scratching angry red trails down his back, drenched with sweat.

Fresh tears flowed freely every time he kissed them away, but you didn't care. All you cared about in that moment was the heat that was rapidly spreading through your abdomen, threatening to overflow.

"Y—you feel incredible... ah, mierda..." His voice was strained with effort, breath coming in heaving puffs as you squirmed under him, muscles contorting and flexing in blind, white hot pleasure.

He didn't stop, though, fucking you through the waves of heat that crashed into you, leaving you absolutely quivering. His movements gained an edge as he got closer, jaggedly pressing further into the newly extra-sensitive spot inside you.

When he finally finished, the only sound left hanging in the air was heavy breathing... and a faint buzz?

You could barely perch yourself on the edge of the bed, blearily looking up at him as he picked up the jeans discarded on the floor, picking up a little flip phone to read the contact.

"So sorry, cariño, I'll only be a moment, I promise. It seems like my friend's a little lost." He pecked your lips, parting with a wink.

You watched him as he talked to his friend, animated and charming as he leaned on the wall comfortably. So what if you were checking him out a bit?

"¡Oye, yanqui! Where are you? What? I can't hear you!"

You and Leon had been assigned this mission to find and protect the president’s daughter, Ashley Graham.

“We should split up from here. You stay here and see what you can find here and I’ll go on ahead.” Leon said as he looked to you.

In your mind you made a million protests as to why you shouldn’t split up but… “Yeah okay.” You shrugged as you stayed in the center of the small village. What was left of the village anyway, all that was left in its wake was carnage.

As you walked around you couldn’t shake the feeling you had before. Everyone had told you not to take the mission with him. This mission wasn’t a choice by him, so obviously he’d act like this. Before you could ponder some more, your radio beeped. You picked it up and listened.

“I need you to provide some back up. Up ahead where I was up from.” He muttered into his radio. You answered back a confirmation and quickly made your way towards him.

A quick pass through the farm could tell you he wasn’t here. After crossing the bridge and through the tunnel you stumbled upon the lakeside with a couple houses. “There’s no sign of any life…what reinforcement could I provide?” You grumbled to yourself as you kept moving forward.

Before you started to search the houses you heard one of the doors bust open. A tall man in a black coat was holding two men in his arms. You quickly ducked and hid in the grass. He placed them on a boat with another villager who paled in comparison in terms of size. The villager rowed the boat further down into the village before landing at a dock and with some help, dragged them somewhere.

You quickly stand and make sure to not get yourself caught as you re-enter the village and make your way to where you’d seen them. In your way was a door that wouldn’t budge. Off to the side were some rocks that didn’t look difficult to climb. After climbing the rocks and jumping over the blocked door you ran down into an ironworks. The exit of the ironworks had been barred, after unlocking it you run deep into the ironworks.

Before you could head further you saw a man sprinting past you. He completely bumped into you, almost knocking you over. “Excuse you, asshole!” You shouted.

He turned around with a grin and finger gunned at you. “Perdon, amigo!” He winked before running away towards where you came from.

As you turned around you saw Leon walking up towards you. He was currently talking to Hunnigan, he quickly noticed you and ended the transmission.

“What happened to your jacket?” You questioned while pointing at him.

He puts his hands on his hips and shrugged. “Aw I dunno…it was getting kinda hot and I needed to cool down.” He says this while being completely stoic.

“Okay, gonna ignore your sarcasm and move on. Who was that guy that just ran off?”

Leon stares past you for a second before focusing back to you. “Said his name was Luis Serra. He’s got intel on where Ashley is being held. C’mon, follow me.”

You reach his side and notice he’s empty handed. “Here.” You extend your gun to him and smile. His eyes flick from yours down to the gun, a small smile settles on his lips before he pushes the gun back into your chest. Before you can protest he grabs the knife from your holster.

“I do much better with this instead but…thank you.” His gaze lingers before he turns and walks forward. You watch him for a second before blinking back into focus and following him. “I need you to to turn this valve, it’s connected to that door.” He says while pointing to an iron door.

You nod and hold the valve for him as he sprints back around and quickly gears back up. “You can let go now. I can unlock this door from the inside.” He states as he unlatches the door and walks back to you.

The two of you walk outside and look around. Leon stretches while looking to you. “You look like you’ve got something on your mind…” He mutters.

You blink a couple times and look away. “It’s really nothing.” Leon tries to pry but you change the topic. “Anyway, what was that intel Luis had on Ashley?”

His mouth was slightly agape but he shut it and cleared his throat. “She was moved to the church. I’m assuming the same one from where the bell was rung earlier.”

“We’d better not wait then.” You turn and move ahead. Leon watches you for a second before running by your side.

“You gonna tell me what’s on your mind? I know something is bothering you…Is it Ashley?” You turn and shake your head.

“I know you’re trying to help but I’d rather you just focus on the mission.” You mumbled as you held your gun close.

A dry chuckle escapes him as he shakes his head. “I can focus on the mission and my partner’s wellbeing.” He nudges you with his shoulder. “You don’t have to tell me now. But whatever it is, don’t let it eat away at you.” His eyes watch you carefully as his lips curve down into a soft frown.

Your shoulders relax and you nod. “Yeah…okay.” His gaze lingers on you briefly before he jogs ahead.

As the afternoon slipped into dusk you found yourselves at the lake. But to cross it, the ragged boat needed…“It needs gasoline…” Leon mutters as he stands.

“I think I saw an opening on the way down here. Let’s go check there.” You point behind you and approach a ladder before looking back at him.

“Good eye.” He smiles before climbing after you.

As you enter the entrance and onto the dock you notice how it creaks under barely any pressure. “This doesn’t feel secure…” You say as you turn to face Leon. But before he can say anything the wood crumbles and collapses under you both. You both fall into the water below, tangled in each other. Leon quickly stands and shakes the water from his hair, in a similar fashion to how a dog would it’s fur coat when wet…

You slowly stand and look down. “There’s snakes here too…” Leon shook his head and pointed ahead.

“Snakes are the least of our worries.” He pulls out his pistol and reloads it before waving you over. You follow behind him and reach the house that has the gasoline.

“Here, let’s hurry back…” Leon mumbles as he hands you the gas. You grab it and follow behind and fuel the boat.

As you both cross the giant lake, a large shadowy figure swam beneath the boat.

“What was that?” You question while looking around. The boat rocks and knocks you both down as you scramble to control the boat again. Something on the boat gets snagged and you fall back as the boat begins being dragged by force.

Leon begins grabbing and launching harpoons at the lake monster. You follow suit and after several dozen harpoons, finally defeat the monster. But before you can start the boat again Leon begins coughing.

“Leon are you okay?” You ask as you grab his shoulder. When you peer over you see a splotch of blood over his gloved palm. “What the fuck?” You muttered. Suddenly his eyes roll to the back of his head and he collapses in your arms. “Wake up! Leon!” You shake him but he’s not responding.

You check his pulse and breathing. His pulse is a bit abnormal but nothing bad and he’s still breathing. He’s just passed out…you quickly start the boat and reach the other side of the lake as the dusk slips into midnight. You drag him out from the boat and into a cabin, in the cabin you lie him down on the table and call Hunnigan.

“Something’s wrong with him…I think he might’ve been infected with the same parasite as the villagers.” You say as you pace around the room. “But I’m sure that researcher…Luis I think his name was? He might be able to help.” You muttered before ending the transmission.

Your eyes flick back to your partner, his chest rises and falls as he takes deep, heavy, and labored breaths. Suddenly he jolts awake while clutching his chest and frantically looking around. His gaze softens once he sees your face.

“Sorry…how long was I out for?” He looks to you with a frown.

“Just a couple hours. I’m glad your okay though! But um…we’re you having a nightmare?” You muttered while watching him carefully.

He shifts uncomfortably before sitting up and shaking his head. “It wasn’t anything…I’m glad you were here..” He whispers as his eyes flick to meet your gaze and he smiles softly.

You smile back and shift your gaze. “I don’t wanna rush you…if you need more time to rest then I don’t mind waiting for you.”

He shakes his head and rests his hand on your shoulder and gets down. “I’ll be fine. We should hurry and find Ashley.” His eyes linger on yours before his hand falls to his side and he walks ahead.

“You’re…infected right?” You muttered. Leon turns to face you as his expression strains. “Why didn’t you tell me? Your eyes…and your black veins…it was obvious yet you didn’t tell me…” You mumbled while approaching him.

He sighs and places a hand on his forehead. “I didn’t want you to worry about me. I’m fine. I know I should be taking my own advice…”

“I have an idea on how to help. Luis is a researcher right? He has to know about this parasite and how to suppress it or even kill it. I was thinking…” You slowly lose your voice and trail off. Leon seems to understand what you’re implying.

“Go. I’ll be okay.” He waves his radio. “Stay in touch, alright? We’ll catch up later.” He says before walking off.

You walk back to the dock and head back to the village on boat. Thoughts swim throughout your mind as to what could happen. But you sank them deep into the back of your head and pushed forward. After tracing back to the farm you noticed the house past the bridge. There was a large gate but you climbed past the cobble wall and landed on your feet.

The first thing you noticed was the lights were lit. When you entered there weren’t any villagers inhabiting. The house was cluttered but aside from that it was empty. Climbing to the second floor showed that there really was no one here…then why was it lit? Staying here seemed like a waste of time but before you left, the front door opened.

You quickly hid behind the staircase and watched carefully. It was Luis…he was huffing when he began backing away from the door. He pulls out a radio and begins talking to someone on the other end.

“Ada. You’re okay! I’ve been waiting and, uh, you’re still coming, right?” He mumbles.

Ada? That’s someone I don’t know…This Ada person replies seemingly annoyed. Before he replies. “Got it. See you soon, ciao.”

You approach him from behind and press your gun into his back.

“Luis, is it?” You question as you gently nudged the barrel into his back.

He chuckles to himself while raising his hands in the air. “It is…and you are?”

“Fed up and need answers. Now, you’re gonna tell me something…” Your brows slowly knit together in a scowl as you stare at him. “I know you’re a researcher for Umbrella.”

He quickly cuts in. “Was. I’m actually retired from that life—

“The specifics don’t matter. What matters is that you know how to remove those parasites. Correct?”

Luis turns his head. “Eyes forward. Answer my question.” You muttered while pressing your gun further.

He sighs. “Yes I know how to remove them and I’ll do you one better. I even know where to.”

You smile slowly and retract your gun and put it in your holster. “Perfect. Thank you for your cooperation, Luis.”

He grumbles. “You mean coercion?”

“Same difference. Anyway—

Luis stops you and grabs your arm. “You hear that?”

Through the rain and thunder you can hear chanting. You both step outside and push the gate open and see Leon and Ashley sprinting across the bridge. Luis runs forward and begins shouting.

“Hey! Over here!” He waves then over before running back to the house entrance and peering out from the frame.

Leon and Ashley sprint over the bridge and run past the gate when you help Leon shut the gate. “Come on!” Luis says.

Afterwards you both enter inside when Leon begins to approach Luis. “You!” He corners him against a wall and pushes him back with the side of his balled up fist. You walk over to Leon’s side and grab his shoulder.

“Ease up.” You mutter while locking your eyes with his. He sighs and let’s his arm fall back to his side. Luis’s eyes wander to your face as his lips slowly curve into a smile. He then looks past you.

“Hey I see you found your “missing señorita..””

Ashley walks over. “The “señorita” has a name, and it’s Ashley…And you are?”

Luis brings his brows down to his eyes before wiggling them back up. “Name’s Luis. Encatado.” He does so in a way one could only describe as an attempt at looking suave. And it wasn’t a bad attempt.

Leon huffs. “Great. We all have names. Now then—Who are you? And what are you doing here?”

Luis dryly chuckles. “Very good questions, unfortunately…” He then turns his head to the side, looking out the window. Everyone then turns their attention to the window before Leon turns to Ashley. “Hide. Now!”

Luis walks over to a fallen closet. “In that case, here, help me.” He waves Leon over.

They lift the closet up. “Ashley quick! Over here!” Leon shouts as he motions his head towards the small opening. “Go!” He huffs out.

Ashley looks at him concerned but crawls down into the space anyway. Once she’s in they let go of the closet and walk towards the window. Leon and Luis pull out their respective guns as they exchange looks.

Luis eyes flick between you and Leon as his lips curve into a smirk. “Okay. It’s game time.”

Leon rushes over to push a closet to create a barricade. You run over to another window and place the boards up. Leon then comes from behind you and taps your shoulder.

“It’s good to see you again…I was worried.” He smiles shyly. You shake your head while smiling back.

“I should be the one who’s worried. But don’t worry, Luis is gonna help us.” You say while looking back at Luis.

Luis puts up more boards against the windows. “Hordes of them against the three of us. Oh and let’s not forget—this mob is made up of monsters.” He says while looking at you both.

Leon then pulls something out from his pockets and holds his hand out. “Here’s some ammo and herb mixtures.”

You hesitantly take them from him. “Thanks…I promise I’ll pay back the favor.”

The sound of the windows breaking open stops you both as you ready your weapons. You walk over to one of the tables and kick it to the floor and kneel down while aiming. “I’ve got your backs, just make sure they can’t push us back!” You shout as they nod at you.

Eventually some of the boards came down and they started pouring in slowly. Leon pushes back with his shotgun while Luis has trouble with his handgun. You turn your attention and help Luis push back.

“They keep coming!” Leon grunts as he fired another shot.

Luis slowly backs away next to you as they close in. You both shoot away trying to thin out the crowd. It’s enough to create an opening as you rush over and board the windows. Then Leon begins grunting as one of the villagers grappled him. Luis is quick to save him as he plants a bullet into his kneecap.

“Pay attention!” He shouts as fires another shot into the villager beside him.

You run back over to the table and kneel down again. When you ready your shot a pair of hands chokes you from behind. You gasp for air as you attempt to break free when Leon and Luis turn to you quickly. Leon shoots behind Luis while Luis shoots the villager choking you.

“Bingo! Haha!” Luis laughs as he blows the smoke off his gun.

Because everyone’s attention had been scattered they were able to push you back. Luis runs upstairs and calls for you both “Let’s go upstairs! Come on!”

You both follow behind him and Leon kicks a ladder down before grabbing more ammo.

“I’ve got something for you two, catch!” Luis yells as he tosses ammo boxes to you and Leon.

You both nod in acknowledgement and keep shooting before a loud noise bellows from below. The wooden steps creak as loud footsteps thud, they sound closer and closer until a cow head peers around. One of the more brutal villagers wore a decapitated and hollowed out cow head as a mask. It held a giant sledgehammer as he stomped closer.

Leon slowly backs away. “Give me a break already…” He mutters.

“What is that?” You mumbled as you stood next to Leon. He turns to you and frowns.

“That thing is gonna swing it’s hammer until it hits something or gets tired…be careful.” He murmured before aiming his shotgun straight at it.

You aim your gun as well. “Luis! Let’s focus the big one down!” You call to him as you tilt your head.

He laughs and joins next to you while aiming with one hand. “Good idea, señor!”

Together you all unload your guns into the brute. Once it staggers, both Leon and you rush to it and kick it in the abdomen. It sends it against a wall where it’s stunned once again. Leon pulls out his knife and stabs it through the bottom of its head before yanking it back out. A stream of blood spills out before it collapses harshly.

Ashley then comes from a door behind the three of you. “Leon! This way, hurry!”

Everyone turns around and darts out the back door, following Ashley out as more villagers pile into the house. After running under a gate Leon turns to see a villager behind everyone. He shoots the chain that holds the gate and rushes further. The gate crushes the villager and Leon walks by Ashley’s side. Everyone is panting and catching their breath before Ashley begins coughing up blood.

“Ashley!?” Leon looks down at her hand and then at Luis.

Luis grabs her hand and looks up. “Is this the first time you’ve coughed up blood like this?”

She nods and Leon steps forward. “You wanna start explaining?”

Luis takes a step back and looks between them. “The cough, the blood—it’s caused by something called a…“plaga.”” He mutters.

You turn to Leon and Ashley. “A parasite. Whatever those villagers have…you guys probably have as well.” You mumble.

Luis nods. “Yes, but these symptoms are only the beginning.”

“I don’t wanna become like them.” Ashley whines as she looks at Leon.

Luis walks slightly ahead with his back facing everyone. “You are, well, lucky. You see, at this early stage, the parasite—the plaga. It is possible to remove it…”

Leon whispers in your ear. “You knew this already?” You nod in reply as you continue listening to Luis.

“…with a surgical procedure. And all you need is some know-how.” He then turns and opens up his shirt to reveal a chest scar. “And, oh yeah—the right equipment.”

Leon’s brows furrow and he steps forward and points at him. “Wait. You too?”

Luis waves his hands around. “No worries. See, I have a plan.” He taps the side of his head and winks. He then points both his hands toward you both. “But you’re going to have to trust me.”

Leon and Ashley lock eyes before Leon turns his head back to Luis and nods. Luis turns on his heel and fist pumps the air. “Great! We’re partners then!”

As he walks forward you turn to Leon and give him a soft smile. “I’ll join him.”

Leon looks past you and reaches out to Luis. “Hey, why are you—

Luis quickly cuts and waves him off. “No time for any questions. The clock is ticking!”

“Why are you helping us?” Leon asks. Luis suddenly stops.

“Because it makes me feel better. And your partner might’ve coerced me…Let’s leave it at that.” He continues walking forward and waves his radio. “I will contact you later.”

You scoff and begin following him. “Catch up with you both later.” You say to Leon and Ashley before running ahead.

You walk by his side as he plays around with his lighter before he turns his head to you. “You got a smoke?”

“Nope.” You say as you look down at his lighter. He sighs and continues playing with the lighter before stopping.

“You never told me your name?” He questions while meeting your eyes.

“It’s, [Name]. Sorry about earlier…” You murmur as your gaze falters from him to the ground.

A low chuckle slips past his lips as he looks to you. “No te preocupes. I know you were just trying to do the right thing…But just so you know, I was going to help them regardless.”

“Well that makes me feel even worse.” You groan as you cup the bridge of your nose.

He simply laughs as he pats your back. “Consider your aid as reparations for earlier.” Slowly his laugh dies out and he clears his throat. “I…have to warn you. I’m meeting with someone and she’s not really the type who loves surprises. I need you to stand behind me and let me do all the talking.”

You stare at him and blink. “Seriously?” He nods slowly in response as you cross your arms. “Fine. I really hope you know what your doing…”

He grins and walks ahead, still playing with his lighter. “¡Claro, por aquí!”

You walk behind him and in the distance you see a woman dressed in red, standing atop a rocky slope with her arms crossed. Her eyes sharpen as she narrows her gaze at Luis.

“Luis, I asked for the Amber, not Leon’s partner.” Her brows knit together in a scowl as she taps her foot. “Where’s the Amber?”

Luis sighs. “Unfortunately, it’s not on me at the moment.” He then begins climbing the slope, gripping each rock as he then peers up. “And you really should be telling me what a good job I did. Busted my ass and managed to hide it right before I got caught. Which is why I’m still alive!” His grip loosened as he almost falls but holds his hand out to the woman.

She huffs out before kneeling down and gazing down at him. “The deal was we get you out of here when you deliver the Amber. No Amber? No protection, Luis.”

He laughs lowly as he shakes his head slightly. “Such a stickler for details, huh Ada?” He takes a brief inhale, then looking back down at you before looking back up at Ada. “Okay, then…We’ll go get it now. How about that?” He reaches his hand out once again.

Ada stares at him briefly, rolls her eyes and sighs softly as she takes his hand and lifts him up. Luis groans as he climbs the rest of the way. They both dust themselves off before Luis turns around and holds his hand out while winking at you. You quickly climb and take his hand.

He turns to look off in the distance. “And I do have something else I need to get too…”

End of Part One of: •tornado warnings•