What did he want to do here? It was a good question to ask. They didn't know how long they'd be here and the fact was that it could be awhile. Pete thought about it a bit as he watched the steam move around them. Tilting his head, he leaned it against Vegas' then let out a breath.
"I want to live. I want to show you there's good in the world while holding your hand. We've both walked through hell and come out with scars from it." Gently, he nuzzled his husband's head.
"I want us to live and see what it's like to not walk though the worst of it for awhile. Together."
That caused Vegas' heart to miss a beat. Not because he believed in some kind of inherent goodness in the world or even either of them, but because Pete wanted to share something less awful with him. Was it even possible? Vegas had his doubts. He was the worst of it, as far as he was concerned. There was no changing that.
But, at least for now, the idea of choosing differently, choosing to just be together without the trappings of the world they're used to... it was a nice idea.
"Okay," he agreed quietly. He'd give it a try. How horrible could it be as long as Pete was with him? "We'll do that."
Sore though he was, he found the strength and energy to get turned around. Straddling his husband, he cupped his face so that way he could press a kiss to his lips. He smiled at him, a lazy happiness all over his features. Because Vegas wanted to try and that was all he'd ever ask for with this.
"Now that you're better we can keep exploring. Maybe we'll find the perfect place for the bar along the way. Somewhere with a bar and a private space above it just for us. A place to getaway when we want to be alone together."
Vegas let him turn without hindrance, then lifts his hands to caress Pete's cheeks. He pressed their foreheads together and let his eyes fall closed. Was it so bad how they were living now? Vegas didn't like being cooped up, but now that he's better and has the freedom to move around and explore... Searching for the perfect place alongside Pete sounded like a great way to spend his time.
"You do. So we better find the perfect spot for that, right?"
Because he knew they'd go to live with Kinn. They both cared about Kinn too much not to. He knew that even with the history those two shared it was still the truth of the matter. So he smiled as he pressed a kiss to his lips again as he thought about what they could do with a place of their own at the same time. Right at the top of the bar they would run together.
Oof. That sounded cheesy, even to him. And yet, it was absolutely true.
Vegas grinned and tilted his head to steal yet another kiss. The idea of having their own little getaway wasn't a bad one. It would give them a break. It would give Kinn a break. they could even stay there if they were just too tired after working the bar to head anywhere else.
Pete laughed at that cheesy line. "If anyone knew how corny you actually are your reputation would be ruined."
But he wasn't about to tell anyone. This was all for him. Every cheesy line, every truly soft moment. All his. Vegas wasn't going to be sharing this with anyone else and Pete knew that for a fact. He loved it too because it made all of this that much more special.
That was true, too. All the soft parts of Vegas, good and bad, were for Pete and only Pete. He didn't have to hide any of that from Pete. He probably should, but he wouldn't. He knew Pete would accept all of him regardless.
But that was entirely a joke. He'd never reveal this part of the man to anyone. Maybe it was a little greedy but he loved having this all to himself. Just like Vegas got to know the worst of Pete when he hid that from everyone else.
He started off immediately by giving names and detailed descriptions of everyone who had been at that meeting. Everyone. A sign that Pete felt they all deserved to suffer. Once that was done he told the story.
"At first the meeting seemed to go well. I played the fool to let Tay run things, taking one punch to the chest so I could give Tay some information. When it came time for the payment though, the leader grabbed Tay and I realized they planned to assault him. All of them. So the only way to get us out was to fight. I grabbed the guns in the process and had to fire my shotgun one handed at one point to defend Tay."
He leaned forward and rested his forehead against his husband's. "I've been gathering names ever since. Now you have them all and know their crimes."
Attempting to cheat a deal, attempting to group assault one of their own, attempting to kill them, and, of course, causing him to have to be injured.
Vegas listened attentively, taking note of each detail. It just wouldn't do to kill and maim the wrong people. There's some method to his madness and hurting people who weren't involved in hurting Pete and Tay wasn't part of it. Indiscriminate violence is not the message Vegas wants to send. No, he's definitely discriminating. Maybe he'll just kill their leader and let the underlings survive another day... Well, they won't be unharmed, but they'll live. If he kills them all, what sort of vacuum will it leave? But it would send a solid message to anyone who tries to fuck with them again.
Vegas took one of Pete's hands, idly tracing his fingers before twining them together. "I'll take care of it."
That was why he'd gathered all this information and told Vegas in detail. Because he knew he'd take care of it. He knew he'd handle it. And he'd be right there to watch him do so for every single one of them. Leading Vegas right to where he needed to be. Even after the fight the group was still underestimating him, focusing on Tay.
"Tay will probably want to keep them around for the idea that they might be useful. I think they've proven that they're not."
And maybe, just maybe, he wanted them to pay for what they'd tried to do to Tay right in front of him. They'd already hurt him once, had tried to hurt him again, and would hurt him in the future. He didn't want them to have that option.
"I'll take the blame for telling you. It's fine. As long as we can keep him safe."
"We don't know the territory here. I think it's best if we don't leave a gap in whatever clandestine things are happening at the port." Which was to say, he doesn't plan on killing all of them.
A truly maniacal grin spread over his lips. "But, when I'm done, they'll know not to mess with ours again."
"There's other groups. I'm in contact with one of them and I've been building a relationship with them. Slower to ensure fewer incidents like this but they seem easier to work with."
Pete brought one of his hands up so his fingers could trace that smile. This look always sent shivers through him. Now in the best ways possible. He found himself smiling too as he watched his fingers move around those lips.
"So I think we can afford to lose ties with this other one..."
"We have to let one of them survive to tell what happened." Vegas didn't much care about killing them all, but if they were going to prevent misunderstandings like this in the future, someone had to be the living proof of what Theerapanyakul vengeance looked like.
"As long as a lesson is learned then I trust your methods." Because he knew better than anyone else here what those methods were. Just what Vegas could do to someone given the chance. And how he could do so to kill or to keep someone very much alive.
He leaned forward to press his lips to Vegas'. "I trust you."
He leaned in, stealing another slow kiss after Pete spoke. A hand lifted to rest alongside Pete's throat and the other settled in the small of his back to keep him close. In the back of his mind, he knew Pete could settle this matter himself. But he didn't. He held onto it for Vegas.
It would have been so easy to take care of this himself. He knew the names. He knew the faces. He knew everything they needed in order to finish this off quickly and efficiently. But, he didn't want it to be like that. Pete wanted it to hurt and even though he knew there was a monster that lived inside of him he valued the monster his husband was.
And he knew what it meant to bring this to Vegas to have him take care of it. He was trusting him to take care of him. More than that he was letting Vegas take care of him rather than take that from him.
Their relationship had been rocky to put things extremely mildly. But it mattered so much to Pete to find that balance for things now. And part of that was trusting someone else to take care of him. Because that person loved him more than anything else in this world or any world.
Pete gave him so much. So much so willingly. And Vegas is keenly aware of it. Companionship, love, trust, power. All given without reservation. Even a monster like Vegas can be moved by that. Not because Pete was some kind of paragon of goodness, in fact, because he was monstrous, too. The like in them called to each other.
Well, and Pete was very aware of Vegas' many insecurities. He knew power, or the appearance thereof, was important to him. He knew and willingly, happily gave Vegas power: power over him in their bedroom, power to avenge this wrong done to him and their friend. Pete truly understood him. And Vegas met that understanding with his own.
And honestly he appreciated that so much. It wasn't like he'd never had anyone on his side before. Porsche himself had tried to find out who hurt him so that way he could avenge him. He hadn't let him but it had meant a lot to him that the man wanted to at all. Yet there was something so special about Vegas being the one to defend him instead. To have his back.
Maybe because Vegas' moral compass was completely and utterly broken? Unlike others, there's not a single line he wouldn't cross for Pete. And Vegas knew the same is true of Pete. He's a carefully concealed monster, but he's Vegas' monster now.
"We can settle this matter whenever you're ready."
"When I can walk again without shaking, fucker," he teased with a smile then pressed a soft kiss to his husband's lips. He adored this man so much. He was his entire world now and he loved every bit of that.
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"I want to live. I want to show you there's good in the world while holding your hand. We've both walked through hell and come out with scars from it." Gently, he nuzzled his husband's head.
"I want us to live and see what it's like to not walk though the worst of it for awhile. Together."
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But, at least for now, the idea of choosing differently, choosing to just be together without the trappings of the world they're used to... it was a nice idea.
"Okay," he agreed quietly. He'd give it a try. How horrible could it be as long as Pete was with him? "We'll do that."
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"Now that you're better we can keep exploring. Maybe we'll find the perfect place for the bar along the way. Somewhere with a bar and a private space above it just for us. A place to getaway when we want to be alone together."
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"Don't I always wanna be alone with you?"
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Because he knew they'd go to live with Kinn. They both cared about Kinn too much not to. He knew that even with the history those two shared it was still the truth of the matter. So he smiled as he pressed a kiss to his lips again as he thought about what they could do with a place of their own at the same time. Right at the top of the bar they would run together.
"Then we'll make it perfect for just us."
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Oof. That sounded cheesy, even to him. And yet, it was absolutely true.
Vegas grinned and tilted his head to steal yet another kiss. The idea of having their own little getaway wasn't a bad one. It would give them a break. It would give Kinn a break. they could even stay there if they were just too tired after working the bar to head anywhere else.
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But he wasn't about to tell anyone. This was all for him. Every cheesy line, every truly soft moment. All his. Vegas wasn't going to be sharing this with anyone else and Pete knew that for a fact. He loved it too because it made all of this that much more special.
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"If you tell anyone, I'll have to kill them."
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But that was entirely a joke. He'd never reveal this part of the man to anyone. Maybe it was a little greedy but he loved having this all to himself. Just like Vegas got to know the worst of Pete when he hid that from everyone else.
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“Tell me about the people you met with Tay.” In other words, how strong of a lesson do they need?
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"At first the meeting seemed to go well. I played the fool to let Tay run things, taking one punch to the chest so I could give Tay some information. When it came time for the payment though, the leader grabbed Tay and I realized they planned to assault him. All of them. So the only way to get us out was to fight. I grabbed the guns in the process and had to fire my shotgun one handed at one point to defend Tay."
He leaned forward and rested his forehead against his husband's. "I've been gathering names ever since. Now you have them all and know their crimes."
Attempting to cheat a deal, attempting to group assault one of their own, attempting to kill them, and, of course, causing him to have to be injured.
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Vegas took one of Pete's hands, idly tracing his fingers before twining them together. "I'll take care of it."
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That was why he'd gathered all this information and told Vegas in detail. Because he knew he'd take care of it. He knew he'd handle it. And he'd be right there to watch him do so for every single one of them. Leading Vegas right to where he needed to be. Even after the fight the group was still underestimating him, focusing on Tay.
It would be their biggest mistake.
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He kept his fingers entwined with Pete's staring at them as if he'd never see them together again.
"We should probably ask Tay if he wants in on this, too."
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And maybe, just maybe, he wanted them to pay for what they'd tried to do to Tay right in front of him. They'd already hurt him once, had tried to hurt him again, and would hurt him in the future. He didn't want them to have that option.
"I'll take the blame for telling you. It's fine. As long as we can keep him safe."
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"We don't know the territory here. I think it's best if we don't leave a gap in whatever clandestine things are happening at the port." Which was to say, he doesn't plan on killing all of them.
A truly maniacal grin spread over his lips. "But, when I'm done, they'll know not to mess with ours again."
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Pete brought one of his hands up so his fingers could trace that smile. This look always sent shivers through him. Now in the best ways possible. He found himself smiling too as he watched his fingers move around those lips.
"So I think we can afford to lose ties with this other one..."
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He leaned forward to press his lips to Vegas'. "I trust you."
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"I'll always take care of you, Pete."
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And he knew what it meant to bring this to Vegas to have him take care of it. He was trusting him to take care of him. More than that he was letting Vegas take care of him rather than take that from him.
Their relationship had been rocky to put things extremely mildly. But it mattered so much to Pete to find that balance for things now. And part of that was trusting someone else to take care of him. Because that person loved him more than anything else in this world or any world.
"I know. I believe in you."
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Well, and Pete was very aware of Vegas' many insecurities. He knew power, or the appearance thereof, was important to him. He knew and willingly, happily gave Vegas power: power over him in their bedroom, power to avenge this wrong done to him and their friend. Pete truly understood him. And Vegas met that understanding with his own.
"I won't forgive anyone who hurts you again."
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And honestly he appreciated that so much. It wasn't like he'd never had anyone on his side before. Porsche himself had tried to find out who hurt him so that way he could avenge him. He hadn't let him but it had meant a lot to him that the man wanted to at all. Yet there was something so special about Vegas being the one to defend him instead. To have his back.
Pete smiled at him. "You take great care of me."
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"We can settle this matter whenever you're ready."
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"You fucked me up real good."
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