unleashedpet | IC Inbox

Slipping a hand out, he rubbed his face then let Vegas help him to sit up. His hips and back protested the fact but he ignored them. He wasn't asking for their opinion anyway. His wrists were still a lovely red from the night before but that didn't bother him as he brought his fingers up to the collar around his neck and smiled a bit.

Last night was definitely so real. "What'd you make?"

He propped up some pillows for Pete to rest against and then took his elbow to help him move. Vegas could tell Pete was still feeling last night and he preened a little in satisfaction. The self-satisfaction softened into something less sharp and warmer as Pete's fingers brushed against the diamonds around his throat.

He turned to grab a bowl off the tray and held it out to Pete, the matching diamond cuff still around his wrist. Last night was very real.

"Jok," he answered, offering a smile. "I didn't wanna wake you to ask what you wanted."

His smile grew when he saw the cuff on Vegas' wrist. Neither of them were ever taking these off except maybe to clean them. He was sure of that. Just like the rings on their hands.

Married. Fuck. They were really married.

Taking the bowl, he carefully held it on his lap since his arms still felt pretty weak at the moment. "It smells good," he murmured as he breathed in the delicious smell.

Hmm. Suspicious.

Vegas frowned slightly and picked up the bowl from Pete's lap. He held it in one hand and spooned out a bite, holding it up to Pete's lips. If his arms were feeling weak, Vegas would just have to feed him himself.

Pete blinked as the bowl was taken from him. His arms had been that shaky had they. But Vegas seemed ready to feed him anyway and he ended up laughing softly before parting his lips so that way he could accept the bite. He'd hate this for anyone else doing it but for Vegas it was nice and it showed how much he really wanted to be better for him.

"It tastes good too."

Well, it's a step up from trying to drown Pete in soup. Maybe he's just taking responsibility for putting Pete in this state. It's the least he could do, right? Besides, Pete's his now in every way. It's his duty to take care of him.

But he still can't help the feeling of pride welling up at the compliment. Vegas flashes him a soft smile and offers another spoonful.

"Glad you like it."

Eating obediently, he let his arms rest in his lap. The food really was good. Filling but easy on the stomach after a very busy night. Though partway through, he had to pause and burst out laughing for a second. To Vegas he gave the biggest smile.

"You're my husband."

Pete just couldn't stop being happy about that.

That smile was infectious. Vegas abandoned the spoon in the bowl in favor of taking Pete's left hand in his own. The hands that bore the rings that led to their whole married state. His thumb stroked across Pete's hand and Vegas' smile went soft.

"Damn right I am. That means you have to love and cherish me."

"I'm going to. For the rest of our lives."

He laughed again, smile so wide as he gave Vegas' hand a squeeze. Right now he felt happier than he ever had been. Even happier than when they'd left the temple last night. Knowing that all of this was real. That they'd decided this all on their own. Everything felt so right and perfect.

"Now you have to take care of me for the rest of our lives too."

Really, Pete? Oh, what a look that earned. "Isn't that what I'm fucking doing?"

Still, he couldn't think of a better fate than taking care of Pete for the rest of their lives. Everything was so spur-of-the-moment, but he's truly happier than he can remember being... Well, maybe it ranks right up there with waking up after being shot and finding Pete there. It's close.

The glare melted into a smile and Vegas leaned in for a light kiss.

"I'm yours, Pete Theerapanyakul."

He laughed even as he accepted the kiss. Because this was exactly what Vegas was doing and he loved every fucking second of it. Just as much as he loved the man himself. He didn't know how their lives had ended up here but it didn't matter anymore. He would just accept it and look ahead of them.

"I like how my name sounds like that."

Vegas liked how it sounded, too. It was yet another choice Pete made that left him breathless. He didn't have to change his name. Just like he didn't have to open to Vegas in the safehouse. He didn't need to sleep with him then, didn't need to hand him to rope. Didn't need to chase him after the attempted coups. So many times Pete chose him and it made his chest ache to think about it. Pete, who'd seen him at his worst, who'd seen how quickly he is to anger, and how very pathetic he could be, still chose him. It was all too easy to forget how much he hated himself with Pete at his side.

"Kinn tell you about his plans?" he's sure they've discussed it, but Vegas wanted to hear Pete's thoughts on the whole 'what next' question.

"I told him it was a terrible idea to have the two of us living with him."

Pete was very frank about that fact, looking down at his wrists as he thought about how loud they had been last night. Oh boy. He had to wonder who had heard all the screams. Because they seriously hadn't been holding back. That was for damn sure. Still, he had no regrets as he looked back to Vegas with a smile.

"But yeah. He said he wants to find a house for all of us to live in together. He wanted to know if I thought the East or West would be better and I told him East would suit us better."

"He's pretty adamant about us all sticking together." Vegas thought he was just lonely without Porsche. He couldn't really fault Kinn for that. He'd be a mess without Pete here to keep him sane. It's hard to exist without purpose. Now, without all the Family's politics to worry about, Pete was Vegas' purpose.

He gives Pete a curious look since he hadn't seen much of either East or West at this point. "Why do you think that?"

"It's more urban. Not like we're used to but more so than the West. It's also closer to some seedier areas which would be an advantage for us. And a chance for you to have some fun now that you're better."

Pete gave him a knowing smile. After all, he had a good memory and he knew his husband well. "I remember the face of every person at that meeting I went to with Tay. And I gathered names for the faces."

A brow arched. Was he really offering them up for Vegas' vengeance? If anyone knew what that could entail, it was Pete. A smile spread over his face. Yes, Vegas would like to get to know those people specifically. Even if he didn't kill them, he'd teach them a lesson they wouldn't soon forget.

"I guess we'll have to pay a visit when you're feeling better."

"It's a good thing I'm in very good hands then."

And he leaned forward to open his mouth to ask for more food. But there was a darkness in his eyes that spoke to the psychopath only one man had ever seen and acknowledged. Everyone else thought he was a puppy but never Vegas. So he was happy to get his energy back so he could show Vegas to where all those people were.

Vegas grinned in an unhinged sort of way, truly gleeful at the thought of harming others together with Pete. Well, these particular people deserved it for trying to harm Pete first. So it was just karma, really.

He lifted the bowl and scooped up a spoonful to feed his husband. Now it was Vegas' turn to marvel at their newly married state. Was there a more perfect person for him than Pete? Pete could be himself with Vegas. All of himself, not just the palatable parts.

Once Pete took the bite, Vegas changed the subject just slightly.

"I'm thinking about opening a bar."

Chewing on a chunk in the porridge, he tilted his head a bit. A bar would a good place for them to work. And it wasn't that hard to learn to mix drinks. He'd learned a bit about from watching Porsche and from working for the main family. But it was always an easy way to make money as well as gather information.

Perfect for them really.

Swallowing, Pete nodded his approval. "Have you thought of a name or theme for it?"

"Mm, I was thinking of trying some of the aesthetics of that place Porsche used to work at. It seems to have a little meaning for all of us." Nothing too fancy, but a place where they could relax or work. His expression sobered a little and he looked at the bowl instead of Pete.

"Do you still wanna be a part of all that?" All that. They'd be starting from scratch with no power, no influence, few contacts, less money.

Pete smiled at him and then reached out to rest his hands over Vegas'. Leaning down a little, he tried to have their eyes meet. Not easy but he sure tried anyway.

"I want to be part of your world. I'm your husband now so I go with you. Even if that means helping you run a bar in some weird fantasy Japan."

"I dunno if I wanna be a part of it," he admitted quietly. It's a weird feeling, too. But with Gun dead and a situation that finds him as something other than a rival to Kinn... How was he supposed to define himself without all that? But he could also be free without all that. Way, way in the back of his mind, he knew better than to think he could escape it all. He loved the thrill of danger too much and, in truth, craved power and recognition. At least without their previous dynamics, he and Kinn could carve out some sort of equal partnership...

He gave those hands a squeeze. "We have a choice here. We have a choice to find out who we want to be just like I had a choice when I picked you over the main family. What if we figure all that out together? You and I? Tay and Kinn can do their own thing and can still be friends and family but we can figure out what works for us."

Pete winced a little as he moved but he ignored the pain to sit up more and move to cup his husband's face instead and kiss his lips lightly. "Let's start with this bar. We'll make it something with like the place Porsche used to work but we can make it ours. Something special for us."

Once Pete's lips left his Vegas looked up. He didn't lift his head at all, just his eyes giving a sort of pathetic effect. But he nodded. He liked the idea of figuring things out with Pete, of forging a path ahead with his husband. That still felt so strange and thrilling. Husband.

"You took my name. Lemme name the bar after you."

That wasn't at all what he was expecting. Name the bar after him? Him of all people? He was the one always in the background. The one people forgot about. Well, unless they were Vegas or Tankhun for some reason. Would the bar even get recognition if they used his name?

...No. He needed to not think like that. Because that wasn't the way Vegas looked at him at all. He never had.

"You want to name it after me?"

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject