She finished up her oatmeal fruit bowl. 

"This might be good. I haven't hung out with Xander outside of work."

Briefly, her mind reminded her of the kidnapping with her and Drake. She sighed and looked down at the phone beside her empty bowl on the table.

We don't have any psychos after us this time unless Xander has one he hasn't mentioned. She assured herself and verbally "shushed" her self-doubt.

She got off her stool to wash her dishes. Everything's been fine. The pizzeria's been quieter, I've been winning more often, and Wicks started training me.

Her muscles ached preemptively—and he's a much harder teacher than Garter.

She finished cleaning off her dishes and put them away. Would Wicks be mad if he knew Charletta wasn't going? He required a family member to be with her, but Charletta told her she was having severe mood swings during her pregnancy, so she said to go without her.  

Lynette walked toward her room, bunny slippers tapping against the hardwood.

Lynette slid to her walk-in closet to the left of her bed. She rummaged through her clothes, trying to pick her mood for the day. She'd go with comfort and the designs she found the most appealing at the moment.

Her eyes soon rested on two outfits in particular. I never wore those. One was a selected outfit from Zilla, ripped jeans and all. And then the other, recommended by Lev to fit "her best". 

She pursed her lips. She hadn't forgotten the skimpy bikini he gave her as a joke the same day. With a light shake of her head, she did a coin flip on her phone and grabbed the outfit Lev picked.

She got her favorite cotton candy pink backpack to go with it and checked her box of pins to place some on. She put a few cute aquatic animals on it and snuck on the green ranger pin because he reminded her of an axolotl.

"There." She said to herself as she went to sit back on her bed and check over the times for the new bullet train station.

...

Alexander

As expected, he got there first.

He waited, propped up against his car, for Drake or Lynette to show up. 

He glanced at the Ocean Treasures aquarium, which was recently remodeled to display animated fish swimming happily in visible tubes.

Why did I agree to this?

Public places were a special kind of bane for Alexander.

His lack of social skills was one reason, and the other glaringly obvious problem was that it was filled with those his body told him to eat.

He tolerated the pizzeria. People would come to the counter, order or get food, then leave. He wasn't always around them, and there was a barrier between him and them.

Drake knew this and still invited my ass. And to top it off, shrimp's gonna be here too.

He audibly groaned like his best friend could hear him. He shut his eyes and kept his arms crossed.

I don't hate her.

He expelled all the air in his lungs. She's just frustrating.

To him, her unbearably delicious presence and her actions were the problem.

He thought complaining in his head would soothe him. She's nosy and pushy too. It's like she doesn't get it. She knows what I am and what I'm about.

His lips tightened into a firm pout. And she- 

The lightheadedness hit him first. He hadn't taken a breath since his last exhale. He did, and his eyes sprung open, immediately darting to Lynette.

Recognizing her scent, his body turned to face her.

Stop. Alexander pulled his gaze away and looked toward the top of his car instead.

However, his irritation rose when he spotted the indent he had never fixed. A terrible reminder of how stupid he always felt.

"Hi." He said, steering himself to focus on something else. She's wearing a coherent outfit today. 

"Hey," She paused. Was she talking to me before? "Drake's not here yet, huh?" 

"No." He answered flatly. He dug into his shorts pocket and took out his phone to avoid falling into other thoughts. "I'll call him."

"Sounds good." She stood near his car trunk while he was at the driver's side.

Drake picked up after a few rings. 

He playfully scolded him, "Where the hell are you?"

"It's okay if he's late! Don't be mean." Alexander heard Lynette protest—he ignored her.

Drake groaned on the other end, "My aunt and uncle made a surprise visit, and as you can guess, my dad is freaking out." Alexander found the irritation relatable. "He doesn't want to be left alone with them."

"Annie and Seb?" 

"Yeaaaaah."

The only thing Alexander knew about Drake's family on Edgar's side was that they used to be mercenaries. They had to visit today. "Do you need me-"

"No, they've mellowed out. My dad's panicking over nothing. They love him."

The blonde's foot tapped anxiously. "So you're not coming?"

"If they leave sometime soon, yeah, but other than that, no. Tell Lynette I'm sorry," Drake said. Alexander heard a faint voice in the background yelling for Drake. "Gotta go!" 

He hung up the phone after.

Alexander lowered it and stared at the black screen.

"Is Drake okay?" Her sincerity swiftly asked.

"His family is visiting," Alexander replied. It wasn't his place to talk about Drake's business. "He said sorry that he won't make it." 

He pushed off his car and put his phone away. She's going home, right? I should walk her to her car or something.

When Alexander looked up, she wasn't near his trunk anymore. His senses quickly jumped, frantically clinging to her scent, and his grayish-blue eyes followed.

She had moved toward the building, turning back when she noticed he didn't.

"Oh, sorry, do you need a minute before we go in?" 

We?

There wasn't anyone else around them. Lynette was talking to him.

I should tell her I'm leaving. Alexander opened his mouth to say it and then stopped.

She always gets herself into danger when she's alone, doesn't she? He played with his tongue, pressing it against his inner cheek. He ate earlier because he knew he'd be around her, but his stomach's insatiable hunger whined like his "starving" cat at home, Sasha.

His eyebrows pressed together in annoyed contemplation. 

Something might hurt her.

No, it's okay—she's been training with that weapon, right? He read the magic on it the first time she brought it into work. It's nothing to laugh at. It's powerful. She could handle it. 

No matter the reasons he conjured, his feet didn't listen. He couldn't leave.

His body held an internal tug-of-war match between his familiar sense of starvation and something he didn't want to admit. He'd betray his promise to preserve his fleeting sanity if he ever did.  

His frown soured.

"Xander?" Lynette questioned. 

She moved closer, and his heart rate spiked, recalling the day he ran from her. 

"Ah! You don't want to be here because Drake's not here. That's cool." The redhead apologized. "Have a good..."

He chose to push past her, walking toward the aquarium. He made sure she couldn't see his apprehensiveness. 

"Let's go." He stepped wide to keep a distance from her. 

She jogged to close it, "Xander, you can say you don't want to. There's no harm in it."

He replied sharply, "Shut it, I drove here to hang out."

I can't have her reading more into this shit. He didn't want to have her feel they were too friendly. I can't have Drake's sister-in-law getting hurt. That's it.

He wouldn't dare say that allowed. Being as she was, Lynette would try to pry into it.

Upon reaching the entrance, he allowed her to go in first. She thanked him, and with his first steps, the shimmering blue overhead lights brought back a memory. It had been over a decade since he had been to an aquarium.

It's mundane and childish. Alexander had seen so many things in his life, both terrifying and mystical, yet his chest compressed in sorrow. This was my last school trip as a kid, wasn't it?

When he could talk to people without obsessively salivating, chase and play without wanting to consume them, and when he...had friends.

The woman at the counter spoke up, "Sir?" 

He pulled his attention away from the jellyfish decorations hanging above them. "Oh, uh, yeah." He cleared his throat, brought up the digital ticket on his phone, and she scanned it to let him in. 

Lynette waited past the gate, "you're not afraid of fish or anything, are you?" She remarked, gesturing to his expression.

"I don't go out to these places often, that's all." He left it at that.

"Why not?"

His eyes slacked, and he spoke quietly, not to draw attention, "Besides the exhibits, what other animals are in here?"

"Uh...people?"

"Yeah."

It took her a few seconds, "well, let's get your mind on the fish instead."

She gestured for him to follow, ignoring the giant case of fish in the center for now. They were headed toward the ocean first. 

…

Alexander wasn't as enamored by the numerous displays as Lynette. She ooo'd and awed at them in a way that made him take time to see the ones she pointed at.

He liked those that were vibrant and prettier on the eyes, much like she did. He figured she noticed it, too, because she gestured to them more. She even started to read the fact plates when he did study them.

He did the same for her, and they made a game out of it; she'd point, and he'd try to find it on the plaques.

The game was fun, and he made it harder by asking her to describe the fish's features so that he could decipher it without looking.

The hunger he experienced while playing, though never satisfied, was more manageable.  

Eventually, they got through a majority of them and moved to the "hands-on exhibits."

An employee nearby introduced them to the cownose stingray, primed to touch.

Alexander skeptically watched Lynette lower her hand into the water to brush one of the "naturally gentle" rays.

She immediately squeaked.

His body flinched protectively as she yanked her hand out of the water. "I forgot how that feels. Sorry, I'm good," she laughed. "I should bring Claudia here next time. She'd love this." 

Alexander nodded. That little demon would probably try to take one home.

He could feel the weight of an imaginary headache settling in, a familiar discomfort often accompanying Claudia's presence.

Suddenly, goosebumps sprang across his arm like hives. Lynette's hand softly patted against his skin—her gentle brush of fingers against him felt like a soothing balm, a stark contrast to the isolation he had grown accustomed to.

It left him stunned. His eyes slowly drifted over Lynette when she took it back.

"Don't you see those cute little faces? You should pet one."

Cute faces? He assumed she mistook the markings on their backs. He calmly corrected her, "Their faces are underneath."

"For real?" She turned to look at the underside of the tank as he scanned the stingrays swimming gracefully through the water. Their flat bodies slide effortlessly, avoiding the natural plants growing insie the sandy strait.

Over the glass, his hand hovered above the water, waiting for one to get close. They all deliberately swam in the opposite direction. Animals generally avoided monsters.

It's useless.

One finally approached before he could remove his hand. He lightly traced his fingers over their smooth back, feeling an unease from the muscle spasms to his touch.

Lynette popped back up happily, "their faces are smaller than I thought."

Shaking off the excess water, he glanced at her and felt a pang of pain come over him.

I didn't say anything funny, why are you smiling at me?

This wasn't like at work. They weren't bickering, disgruntled at each other, calling the other names, none of that.

He refused to give her eye contact.

He stared down at the tank, mouth dry, and repeatedly tried to pet any stingray that passed, even though they wouldn't let him.

Alexander hoped she'd forget he looked at her. 

"Do you like them?"

He'd rather her think he was obsessed with the rays then realize the way this all made him feel. 

Not that he understood it.

His lips trembled, his honesty hid at the back of his throat, and anything else his brain fired to respond was blank.

All he could do was nod his head. What does she want from me?

He felt her reading him, and her smile dropped out of the corner of his eye. She took out the pamphlet from the entrance and looked over it.

Her chipper attitude returned, "Do you want to see the seals perform next?"

He nodded again They touched a few more, or she did. The small sharks and starfish wouldn't get close.

They exited and he went with her lead.

Instinctually, he hated walking behind her. When he hunted, he followed people, catching them by surprise and swallowing them whole as efficiently as possible.

The lead in his chest only partially dulled that reflex. He physically restrained the rest of himself like the first time they met.

This is different. She isn't a stranger...

He shut himself down. Shut up, things are the same. I'm the same, and that will never change.

"Xander," she called. 

He looked at where he stopped in the middle of the tunnel. The shimmering shadows at his feet made him look at the fish swimming overhead. What do I say?

...

Lynette

She sloppily read the pamphlet ahead of him. She adjusted her steps often to avoid smacking the side of the hall or others walking past.

Will he like the sharks after the seals? Those are Padre's favorite.

She turned back to ask and saw he only made it halfway.

Shoot.

"Xander?"

Her approach and her voice snapped him out of it.

"I, was, distracted, looking, around," the lying breath he slipped out between each word did not convince her.

Drake told her Alexander got worse the closer it was to the day he lost his mom. I know I'm not the best company for you, but I'll try to be like Madre and them were for me.

Lynette moved to stand beside him and lifted her leg, "let's walk together." She kept it in the air, not stomping it down without him.

"In unison?"

"If we can, yeah." She wiggled her suspended foot in hopes he'd do it.

His empty stare almost broke the awkward hope she clung to. She was about to change her mind and propose another game, but he copied her.

THANK GOD.

They both lowered their feet at a matching pace and marched. It was stupid and she lost her balance a few times, getting Alexander's help those times she did.

"If I fall, don't try to catch me." He said to her.

She wanted to argue with him, though he weighed more than twice her weight.

They continued to the end of the tunnel.

...

Alexander

There wasn't an outside show of the seals, only an indoor performance inside their giant space.

Unfortunately for them, this area was very crowded. No one wanted to miss the show. Alexander could see fine—he rarely met humans his height or more.

"Can you describe it for me?" Lynette asked next to him.

The kids and other early birds were up front at the glass, and others, still taller than Lynette, blocked her. If you're not blind, you should watch it.

He dropped into a crouch, "No."

"You don't have to choose not to enjoy it because of me!" She ushered him to stand back up.

He rolled his eyes. He presumed his intentions were obvious. I guess not. He patted his shoulders, "Come on."

It had been a month or two since he had done this for her. I'm going to regret it. He held his breath.

Last time, she hesitated, and he had to force her cooperation. She didn't this time. Lynette neared him and carefully pulled herself onto his shoulders, making sure not to get his short hair.

He secured her legs with his hands and stood up slowly so he didn't jostle her. The high ceilings meant she wouldn't hit them, and the hands she pressed down to meet his temporarily stalled his hunger.

She stayed relatively balanced and barely moved.

Is she actually calm?

His lip lifted to scold her for her lack of fear, but he shamefully didn't want to make her leave.

He let it go and watched the show as simple as it was. He'd feel Lynette tap his hand to get his attention as if they weren't looking at the same seal and scuba diver performance.

When it concluded, he helped her down, ignoring the few eyes on them, and stood up. He craned his neck to look at her. The top of her redhead reached the middle of his chest.

She peered up, "ready to see the sharks?"

"Yeah."

The walkway leading up to the sharks was narrow and darker, like a ship's hull.

Coming out of the walkway, there were a few rocking boat rides where kids could go on and pretend they were a crew during a storm. A fake set of clouds and roaring thunder rattled above them.

A giant shark and tentacles would also sprout up from the "water" below.

"I'd say we should get on, but you get seasick, don't you?"

Alexander squinted slightly. When did I tell her that? "I did?"

Lynette lowered her voice, "Remember when I was small, and you gave me that bit of a motion sickness pill."

Oh yeah, I didn't want her to throw up in that phone holder. He bobbed and jokingly muttered back, "You're always small."

She shot him a look. "Not four inches tall!"

"You're tiny when I size-shift."

"That doesn't count, and besides, that's..." She stuck out her tongue and made a "bleh" noise.

His smile raised, annoyed, "Technically speaking, when I change my body like that, it's permanent until I change it again. So it does count, and two, what do you expect me to eat you like this?"

"Maybe you shouldn't-"

He slowed his pace, "Don't act like you're innocent."

"What have I done! I'm not devious."

Alexander laughed, "Ha, how many times have you tricked my sorry ass with your games?"

"Me, trick you?!"

"Yeah, the tiny thing you gave me less time, the arm wrestling you faked being hurt-"

"It's not my fault you didn't do the math! Second, you got me back for that using the siren voice for arm wrestling!"

"You also lied to me the second and fourth day you worked," he grumbled.

"Well, you made me feed myself to you the first day I made those bets!"

He huffed sardonically, "You didn't even really do it, you barely got your arm-"

"You try doing that to someone willingly!"

"Hell no." He argued, lowering his voice when a few people passed them, "You also got me back bringing in those unfair games and letting the time run out on them like in oligarchy!" 

"I brought unfair games! You all are BUILT on unfairness! I do what I can to win."

"So cheating."

"Strategic winning." She corrected him, her back against one of the shark's displays. "You've cheated plenty of times too."

I don't cheat. "Name one time."

She puffed up her cheeks, "The times you just null and voided my wins!"

"That's-" He groaned. "The deal wasn't on-" Fuck me, I was more than willing to do that bet. I can't say it was her fault.

"You know what," Lynette put up an open hand to him. "let's both agree from here on out, no more cheating or underhanded tricks."

That's mostly your department. I've only given you unfair games.

He shook his head and shrugged, "Given that everyone is against my ass, why does it matter?"

She firmly moved her hand in the air, "Xander,"

He stared down at her and growled, "Shrimp."

"Alexander."

He stiffened up. She's serious. "Fine." He didn't shake her hand.

"Fine?"

Fuck. Alexander threw his hand up and clasped hers, nearly encompassing it. He shook it. "Fine, Lynette." 

"You…you said my name." She whimpered.

He let her hand go and turned on his heels, "zip it."

Lynette didn't. Alexander felt like she purposefully acted giddy out of spite. Praising him for "remembering it" and everything.

It'd spark up a few more altercations, which eased his nerves. He preferred knowing, unlike him, she didn't let those things go. He complained about them but cared little about it all.

He took a handful of pictures of the sharks for her.

She positioned herself in front of them, making several different ridiculous faces and poses. A few made Alexander smile and surprisingly chuckle. He declined to join her in them.

After that, they explored every inch left and went toward the exit after several hours. They'd have no choice but to enter the giant gift shop containing everything from the smaller ones scattered about.

"We should get Drake something since he couldn't come along."

They were on the same page, "he'd probably like the most emo-looking fish we can find."

Lynette giggled, nudging him, "Don't say that when he isn't here to defend himself."

Together, they searched for him and Wenna in case she felt left out. The two agreed upon a black axolotl with a grumpy face for Drake, a Jellyfish lamp for Wenna, and Alexander helped Lynette get a mug down for her brother's coffee addiction. She also got him the aquarium's special seal lion "fangs" coffee grounds.

And then they searched opposite ends for other smaller gifts.

At the register, Lynette and him fought over who would pay for the gifts. Alexander got Wenna's from her, but she still held Drake's, her brothers, and, as far as he could see, a few t-shirts with terrible puns such as "you've got a porpoise in life" and "let's not get tide down in details."

She paid first, and he checked over his items, paying for Wenna's gift, the otter costume, and the crab cat toy for Sasha.

Walking out, Lynette stopped them at the curb. "Hey, Xander, can you please shut your eyes and bend toward me?"

He reran what she said in his head a few times. He succumbs to his confusion, "Huh?" She wants my face near hers?

"Please." She requested with her hands pressed together. 

That's a terrible idea. He hesitantly listened.

He shut his eyes, her scent being the only thing he caught. It grew harder to ignore the closer he leaned in. He halted when he was assumably at her height.

His stomach roared and acted like a pair of bare hands squeezed out his organ like a wet rag.

He heard her bag rustle and tightened his abdomen muscles, fighting himself off.

Her breath brushed his face, and he peeked through his eyelids. She was so close he pulled back and straightened up. Whatever she had over his head, he helped push it on. The sides of the hat hung over his face.

She had jumped. "Hey! I said, eyes closed."

"You were closer than I thought you'd be…" he trailed off, seeing her pink squid hat with giant googly eyes. He tugged at the tentacle placement on his head that matched hers.

He went to take it off and check.

"No, wait, let's take a picture first."

He pointed at the top of his head. "With this on?"

She got out her ifrog and put it on selfie mode. "Move in closer and duck down, please."

He took a breath and dropped, staring at himself. The hat was the least of his concerns. It had been years since he took any pictures willingly.

I'm disgusting.

Lynette looped her arm with his, startling him. He wanted to unloop.

"Don't look at your hat like that; these are serious business." She directed him to the camera once more. Her head moved around as she spoke, making the googly eyes bounce.

These aren't serious.

It brought a minimal curl to his lips, enough for her to capture.

She laughed in triumphant, "Got ya." Lynette looked it over, and he kept himself from reaching for her phone. "I'll send it over," she tapped on her hat, "you can take yours off if you want now."

He had been free from her hold, able to stand up, and he lifted his hands to take the hat off. She's keeping hers on?

There were a few kids leaving the aquarium wearing them, too, calling them out.

Since she wasn't taking hers off, his remained on. "I'll take it off when I get you to your car. That way, you look less ridiculous."

They safely crossed the street together, avoiding the few leaving. "I didn't drive. I took the new bullet train. It's so cool. It covers most of the city."

That's why I didn't see her car earlier. Alexander walked toward his car. "Then I'll drop the presents here and go with you."

"You don't have to do that."

He didn't respond. He did as he said, securing the gifts in his passenger seat and going with her to the station across the parking lot.

The walkways were still under construction, but they reached the platform with the temporary wooden steps. The layout reminded him of the bullet train he rode when Drake's family took him to Japan.

Drake wanted to go again this summer, too.

Alexander checked the train car as they got on. It was quiet and empty. No one wanted to go to a closed aquarium and other attractions.

She patted the seat next to her when he went to sit a seat away.

He huffed and sat at the one she recommended. Their attention were both locked on the almost set sun outside.

The train jolted, and the friendly intercom woman informed them of the next stop before taking off. Everything outside blurred together, making the few lights that were on bleed.

There wasn't a time his body left him alone. There were just very, very rare moments when it was quieter, and this was one of them.

Lynette's hand rested on his shoulder innocently. He figured she mistook it for the back of the seat.

That bit of contact, subtle and without anything behind it, granted him a second of peace. Like he was normal again.

It ended as soon as it started.

They reached their stop and got off the train.

Her aroma persistently flooded his senses. His body idiotically acted deprived when his senses resumed to take in her persistent aroma. He did his best to snuff it out. It was almost over. She told him her car was close, so he didn't have to walk her to it.

Yet, his mind was too cluttered to concentrate.

That's why he accidentally said more than a goodbye. "Why did you stay there with me?"

What did he expect her to say? Whatever she could wasn't something he wanted to hear. Fear? To use and manipulate him? Tease him?

"What?"

Alexander grit his teeth, nervously. "I scare you, don't I?" 

Her lack of response twisted his insides more than they already were. He couldn't understand why she had to think about it.

Her eyes looked from the stone floor, the stairs leading to the parking lot, then back to him. They shined like emeralds under the fluorescent yellow lights above.

"I trust you."

His eyes narrowed at that word, trust. That's wrong. 

"I know you wouldn't hurt me. If you wanted to, you could have many times over." There wasn't anything else entering his ears. Only her voice.

You're insane. "You shouldn't trust me."

Lynette held her backpack straps and smiled, "Probably not, but I'm still going to." 

She doesn't know what I've done. What I can do. What I will do.

He had these ideas in his head, but he'd never consciously do a single one of them to her.

The contents of their bets mattered less and less to her. He lost the distance he fought to keep. She was relentless, and he was afraid of that.

"Do you want me to drive you back to your car?" She quietly asked.

"No." He said. He faced the train and waved her off. "You're the one that needs protection. I'll see you at work tomorrow."

"Okay...have a good night then, and thank you for hanging out with me."

"Yeah, yeah, hope you enjoyed your break, shrimp."

Lynette grumbled under her breath, stomping down the steps.

The asshole-ish smirk fell, and he stayed motionless on the platform. Unmoving, or so he thought. The next time he blinked, he was on the train, the blue squid hat in his lap. He played with its fabric.

He trailed the seams and cursed under his breath, too tired to be angry.

I can't enjoy this.

He shook his head repeatedly, and his hands trembled as he gripped the hat. I don't deserve it. I can't keep doing this. I've taken enough joy from everyone I care about.

Alexander hunched over, protecting himself, and clenched his jaw.

Isn't that right...mom.

…

He preferred being the pursuer, no matter what other roles he tried. Lev found it thrilling to terrorize those who were alone or separated from their groups. He'd even dedicate himself to stalking one target at a time, ensuring they wouldn't leave without a scream.

He jittered thinking about it. Memorizing every square inch of a place, finding breaches, small nooks, and crannies for himself to hide or where a potential victim would go, believing they were unassailable.

On exceedingly rare occasions, using his meager limited magic, he'd leave them an indelible experience that they couldn't prove happened.

He kept pace with his date, stepping through the fog and dim lights.

This was the only acceptable month for him to let loose and enjoy a fraction of his hunting instincts.

He missed the real thing. That's why when he pretended to be a psycho killer, he'd play with the idea of them being an actual meal. Humans are red meat, after all, aren't they?

Admittedly, Lev had scant experience hunting sentient beings. There was such an abundance of energy-filled beasts on Yexodele that he didn't consider anything else.

Adding consequences to an attraction like this is so alluring.~

He smirked at his next thought. I should be able to indulge. Just once.

His hand hid his lips to hold in his giddy giggle.

Despite his pleasure in imagining himself biting a particular morning crew diva in half, humans, on the other hand, weren't a challenge as actual prey.

When a redheaded coworker came to mind, his sigh lost its savor. They're simply persistent.

Lev swallowed dozens of humans, yet couldn't say he devoured any since he released them later.

Not that they know that.

He induced fear of the unknown that way.

Claiming, to his coworker once upon a time, it made his prey all the more delectable. 

He'd be lying if he said a part of him didn't enjoy it.

Lev was acutely aware of his twisted need for control, which permeated almost all his habits. He planned nearly everything meticulously and very obsessively.

Like today. His date picked this 'asylum' last night, so he researched everything he could, even treaded during the day using magic so the cameras couldn't catch him.

He would have gone through it alone if his date hadn't insisted on getting there early.

As always, Lev still anticipated their conversations and events. He scanned everything, detailing the doors along the halls, those that looked inviting and others blocked off with "horrific" scenes of manufactured blood and guts splayed along as decorum.

They dashed away from the "killers" and hid until it was safe. Occasionally, he'd laugh to extinguish their fright. 

Adrenaline brought people closer. To him, it was an acceptable way to nurture their trust. How will you be when it's broken?

He heaved in perfect mimicry to their own.

His date pressed closer, like a cub without a mom. They rarely were this close unless he built them up to be.

I'll be holding you suffocatingly tight real soon. Lev said in his head. Then, he noticed the unintentional hand he placed on their head. He couldn't move it without exposing his mess up.

So, Lev played it off, running it down their hair. He leaned over as he did and whispered gently, "You're not trying to use me as a shield from danger, are you?~" He hummed, teasing them because his back was to the door.

His date replied, like many, saying he made them feel safe.

That was his goal.

A few loud cries nearby startled his date so much that they fully pressed into his exposed chest. His vest did little to cover him. You don't even know me.

Their hands squeezed the fabric against his back. His eyelids lowered, further hiding his yellow hue.

They mistook him for a protector. You're holding something far more dangerous than anything here.

He internally warned, like his date would hear him.

Their body trembled. You're scared of this? It's fake. They can't actually hurt you.

It unsettled him, so he lifted his hands to push them off. He couldn't bring his arms down. Why am I hesitating?

He knew why.

Lev lifted his head, his mind obfuscated in unforgivingly vivid memories. The sounds around them distorted into thundering skies. Periodically flashing with blue light. It illuminated the cavern's rocky interior, revealing himself and his much smaller and younger kin.

She held onto his midnight colored tail as he stood between her and the raging storm outside. He put out an arm, letting his clawed and scaled fingers get wet.

"You'll get hurt!" She begged, weakly tugging at him.

"Worry not," he waved the hand outside about, "even if we get struck by lightning, we're Drakin's. It'll feel like-a-little-." He poked her with his dry hand to jokingly demonstrate how it'd feel. "Tingle."

After, he brought his hand back inside, he patted it's wet palm between her tiny horns, "It'll be safe for us, I promise...Lucia."

His date's voice pulled him out and back to the "horror".

Their sound was forlorn for response, "are you scared too?"

The question made him want to laugh aloud. What would he be scared of here? Humans. Never.

You're all beneath me.

Upon examining their face, he remained unsettled. There's a reason they look that way though. He checked around the room—Lev knew he saw a few broken mirrors upon entering. He swung his head around, not pulling from them.

He used the first he found.

How. His confidence was stripped from his face. Lev wasn't smiling.

The expression he carried scared him. I can't walk around like this. He quickly recovered and chuckled like he hadn't changed.

This was unlike him.

He hugged them harder.

"Not with you here, love~," He said to uphold his charm.

However, by the time they reached the end, he had lost his motivation to continue. Not for their sake. No, his date wasn't working like they usually did.

His fingers started to fidget with his strands.

He removed his phone from his pocket and slipped into his car.

He flashed himself with his screen. Besides the light, it was hard to read the time. His eyes wouldn't focus.

He pulled at his hair. What does it say?

Lev finally read it. I have time.

He sank into the leather seat.

His arms fell limply, and his phone slipped in the space between his chair and cupholders. He didn't attempt to get it. I'll go to Drake's party.

Lev remained there, thinking, what would they say? Who's going to be there to have fun with? Could I get kicked out? He felt his control coming back.

He turned on his car, and his Bluetooth synced to his phone.

"Those fools make for a perfect distraction, don't they?" He muttered as Frankie Sanada's song mockingly played, 'The place I once knew.'

...

After successfully devouring Wicks, he would be able to pose as him completely, without fail. Andras would then get himself to the basement, call Garter in, and head to the explosive he's planted down there. They didn't go off or anything in the story because they weren't messed with and were buried with the partial building collapse. Andras would change himself to be Wicks before Garter gets there, and then kill him.

Specifically because Garter is Wicks's close friend at the C.P.P.A., Wicks would never hurt him. AND two, Garter is an oni. Oni's third eyes, if trained well enough, are one of the only things that could see mimics, besides what Elliot is, a seer wolf. So he'd put an end to him, cloak up, and then blow up the basement.

Posing as Wicks, he'd go under the guise of saving a few of the "collection" pieces down there, so that's the other "reason" Wicks couldn't go after Andras when he "teleported away" as well as what happened to Garter.

Giant explosions, erosion over time, and etc, can dispel a magic signature. A magic signature is what lingers in areas after magic is used, it can be used to find the user. That's why Andras loaded the cars to explode once it was unlocked to see the scene at the mall. Alexander luckily realized it would make the cars explode after, so he had to decode the magic signature to find who made it. In this case Andras. (IF Alexander wasn't keen enough to catch it, they would not have been able to find Andras). Because the only other place he used magic was in the limo he had Osiris drive into the water. (So even if it's brought up by humans, no one is going to suspect magic was used in it if it's registered to a normal human).

Anyway, then as Wicks he'd claim Andras escaped and in front of everyone, not only make himself cry drowning in emotions while hugging into Lynette about Garter, but also shouting that he WILL be the one to end Andras.

His boss, Olivia, would put Wicks on a cool down as he would want to 'fight with her to find him'. A mourning period and vacation. They won't thoroughly investigate him because they'd feel and see his distress. And he'd play perfectly as Wicks, all his memories and such. The biggest win Andras has is that his secret stays safe. Even with their explanations of the events, odds are, the C.P.P.A. wouldn't consider a mimic as they are usually discovered quickly and after all these years, there has never been a report of such from Andras.

He wouldn't allow anyone to know his true identity, as not even his closest subordinates, Victoria and Terrance knew.

At some points he'd leave by himself, giving whatever excuses needed to Lynette and rebuild what he can. Though, Andras is fairly heartless. A literal psychopath. I'd imagine he'd have some kind of respect for losing two of his best, Terrance and Victoria.

His main goal from here, as he can only be Wicks for a month or so, would be to get Padre. Fun fact, Padre is easily the strongest in Widfali for one, and two it gives Andras plenty of possibilities with magic.

He'd use Wicks to get Padre when his guard is down or if he didn't feel confident doing so as Wicks. He'd end up consuming a terrified, unassuming Lynette and pretending like Wicks "didn't come home" one day after a mission. The C.P.P.A. would be looking for him not knowing he's been gone for a while.

He'd then use Lynette to get to Padre if he can. It'd be easier as Padre and Madre would be worried about their family. Especially Lynette being alone. They'd bring her in with them as she'd be upset about Wicks's loss.

He'd get Padre because of that, or get people to help him weaken Padre enough. those he'd hire would probably die in the process, and then Andras could take him down.

His hardest part of the whole plan would be, being Wicks. Involvement in a place where if they look hard enough they might find you is risky. Which is why he'd take as much leave as possible.

Overall, Andras probably won't stop what he did before. He'd keep going until the day he dies.

He'd find it annoying to start again from the bottom, and yet he'd hold no ill will toward Lynette, Drake, or Alexander.

I want to write a small thing about this as some point, after he gets detained and his answers to some questions.

Andras would still want Drake and to get him for his disobedience, but in Andras's head they just played the "game" better.

He always does things by a risk and reward basis. IF he has a high reward and low to medium risk, he'd take it. Occasionally he'd do things with high reward and high risks. For example, eating Wicks out in the "open" like that is a higher risk. Not too high as he would have won in the end getting Wicks with Osiris's mind manipulation, a tough one regardless.

So, if Alexander didn't go back: Wicks would have been devoured, Zetsu would have for sure died as he was still partially impaled, Lynette would probably have die too knowing at that point the brother she had been with for the past month wasn't even him, and then Padre.

Eventually he'd hunt Drake like before, continuing a never ending cycle.

...

I HOPE THIS ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION WELL ENOUGH! Thank you for it! I AM GLAD YOU ARE LIKING THE STORY SO FAR AND THAT YOU LIKED ONE OF MY FAVORITE ARCS TO WRITE UP TO DATE. One of my all time favorites though is going to be Arc 5, after this current one.

He threw his back into it once. One fabric lined side came up, allowing a bit of light to peer in before they were shut again in darkness.

In order to keep it down, they put something heavy on top of it. Most likely one of themselves no longer in their human case.

"Let us out!" He growled. He shifted his vocals lower to attempt to give an order using his animosity. It failed and his sensitive ears whined at the agonizing screech of grating metal across the top.

ZLINK SCREEK ZLINK. He repeatedly flinched in rhythm with the scratching.

He hunched in, squeezed out a hiss between his clenched teeth, and clutched her tighter.

"Drake, I'm not a pin cushion." The barely conscious Lynette whimpered.

He eased his clawed tips from her upper arms.

"Sorry," he uttered, still curling from the acrid sounds. For this reason, to minimize the noise, he'd usually wear encrypted hats and hoodies. And they took his work hat when they shoved him in with her to ship.

The chains going around it stopped, but just when Drake thought he was fine—her heartbeat filled the gap. It pumped fast and loud, so much so that he felt it's vibration against his chest through hers.

"Fuck," he cussed quietly, and proceeded to bang his back into the cushioned fiber glass lid.

Despite his best efforts, he couldn't get the momentum to do anything. Damn this stupid coffin and damn...

He moved his head so they weren't awkwardly in each others faces. "I know it's hard given the circumstances but can you please, try to calm your heart down."

Her muscles tensed when he asked, which made his fangs protrude further in anticipation.

"I-I'll try."

He mimicked her rigid breaths. Though, unlike hers, his were bad because of the what currents swirled in his mind.

She's stuck with me in here.

"Take big, deep breathes..." He said it aloud mostly for himself.

Drake wrestled to gag his intrusive thoughts. In constant interruptions, they made him think of tearing into her, and devouring her piece by piece. It reminded him how much he craved human blood. I'm sick.

Her heart thumped harder. "Lynette."

She huffed, shifting underneath him slightly, "you're getting closer, you weren't responding, and your eyes are glowing." She said apologetically. "It's hard to stay calm."

He didn't notice any of what she said. In the dark, his eyes gave off a hungry red glow, revealing his intentions like his curtain of bangs were nonexistent.

"I won't do anything," he lied.

He shouldn't have. These were the perfect conditions for him to do what he wanted and bite her.

"They chained it all didn't they? Can you not use your magic or your other form?"

He remained silent, and his mind was hazed.

To him, her aroma demanded his fangs sink into her flesh.

I can barely move, and if I push too hard I might crush you. His eyelids slacked in that thought. A lot of the lining would soak that up, so I'd get less.

He shook his head. Cut that out.

The more he denied the urge, the more perturbed his inner thoughts became. But, as always, he'd keep them only in his head.

"Not like this. I can't use my vampire beast form without crushing you and they sealed my magic." He admitted taking a shot to his pride.

He grip retightened when she flinched. "Don't jump like that."

"You're breathing on my neck. It tickles."

Neck? He was close enough to taste it. For the heavens sake. His stressed body told him to offer her a solution, and he shamefully took it with little resistance.

He whispered, "I'll take a bit of blood to ease my nerves, okay?"

He was too parched otherwise.

"I don't think that's a good-" She cut off as he ran his tongue up her neck. His secondary saliva slowly numbed the area.

His body shuttered. Skin rarely tasted good to him without blood, yet hers was different. Not that he didn't know that already.

He lacked hesitation and bit into her. Her Ichor flooded his mouth in an instant. His body buzzed with a euphoric high of energy, and his grip twisted at her shoulders like she could get away from him.

Her blood's so potent. It didn't keep him from taking another swallow.

He then heaved and released his mouth. The back of his head knocked against the coffin lid, unharmed.

He cleaned what he could from his teeth with his tongue and watched her wound close.

It had been a while since he had the pleasure of drinking from her. Not that he was ever desperate enough to ask.

She weakly muttered, barely able to speak because of the paralysis his venom caused. "B-better?"

All the responses that came to his head either had him lie or tell her something he wouldn't say to a friend.

He pushed his honesty to leave his lips in a single word. "Worse."

I should have listened.

He usually indulged as much as he wanted from prey, thus his body told him to do the same here too. She's so helpless. She doesn't have any weapons, so she can't fight me.

She tried to speak, and because the paralysis was in full effect it was in vain.

What's the plan here? I'm blood crazy, she's defenseless, and... A sudden epiphany interrupted him. We're both breathing so heavily and this case is sealed tight.

Drake moved to her ear. "I don't know how much oxygen we have left. If I knock you out, we'll both rest easy and breathe slower."

He said it like it was a suggestion when he planned on doing it either way, for her own good and his benefit.

She still couldn't respond. He sighed and dipped to her once more.

He brushed back what little orange curls got in the way, and ran his tongue over another perfect spot near her throat.

He securely pressed against her in a protective and possessive manner, savoring the moment with a breath before he indulged.

It never took much of her blood to refill his energy, while also casting his mind in lightheadedness.

That's enough, he told himself.

He didn't let go. The weight of her blood brought his senses too much complacency.

He flexed his abdomen muscles to release her, it did nothing as a part of him wanted to claim all he could. This might be the last I have of it.

Drake refused to acknowledge that idea.

She's a friend, not prey!

His need to have some semblance of control won.

He removed his lips and collapsed on her, gasping for air.

His stomach was overly full, and if he had drunk anymore, he would have thrown up.

His eyebrows pressed together briefly. They didn't stay, he was too overwhelmed to keep his embarrassing frustration.

I can't be as bad as Alexander with this, damnit. This is the only thing I had over him. His humor did little to help his pride especially at her expense whether she was awake or not.

His arms struggled to lift himself up and he didn't know whether the coffin was rocking and finally being moved, or his mind spun with his blood drunk greed.

I'll move my head at least.

He didn't want to keep huffing at the side of her face.

Thus, in a poorly judged swift jerk, his head went up, and his eyes rolled back.

It instantly fell back down, face first into her honey scented hair and the coffin bedding.

Drake had passed out.

______________

I hope this answered you question!

Also, I haven't really had a chance to explain this in the story. So here's an extra tidbits. xD

Blood 'Drunk' (In my world)

What blood vampires 'prefer', (other blood of sentient beings taste gross besides their 'preferred'), to drink is reliant on the blood they partake during their first officially 'frenzy' period. Usually between their mental and physical age of 18-20. The first blood they have at that point is what they will crave for the rest of their lives. Vampires being a mix between a ghoul (nearly undead in my world) that crave living flesh and blood, and a magus, where vampires get their more human appearance, as well as taking energy by "touch". Though vampires have adapted to taking energy via blood drinking, to satisfy both cravings as it's seen as more humane and has become a norm amongst them. In the story, Drake has been seen as getting 'drunk' off Lynette's blood. It isn't something that happens to most vampires outside of the beginning of their frenzy period. It's a warning sign, similar to what Magus's have when they get full known as being Overcharged. To cause that effect they have to drink from someone with a higher potency (energy) than they're used to and or "drink" too much energy. For example, most humans energy levels are low so it'd be the equivalent of a beer with low alcohol content per 'gulp'. While Lynette given her energy, is considered a shot or two of whiskey. So Drake has to drink less or slower from her to avoid the 'drunk' effect. (Drake's used to drinking from humans and in theory can get used to Lynette if he drinks from her consistently but that's another can of worms).