Crime and Punishment [Gladis & Joyabe]

[Gladis]

 

 

 

Full Name:

Dmitry Ivanovich Volkov

”The Russian Wolf”

 

Age:

45

 

Height:

186 cm

 

Sexuality:

Bisexual – with a strong preference for men

 

Likes:

Alyona

Drinking

Smoking

Reading

Classical Music

Cooking

Dogs

Late night walks

Challenges

 

Dislikes:

Being lied to

Unnecessary Violence

Golf

Card Games

Messy Situations

Hypocrites

 

Personality:

Despite the impressions his rather intimidating and ’rough’ appearance might give, Dmitry is not even half as brutish as he looks. In normal, everyday situations he tends to come off as friendly and easy going – if perhaps with a touch of roguish charm. He is a good negotiator and has a charismatic personality that draws people in, which has made him particularly popular amongst his men. This is not to say that he isn’t at all dangerous. Far from it. When push comes to shove, Dmitry can become every bit the ruthless gangster he appears to be. He will not hesitate to take out any potential threat to himself, his family and organization – or to punish insubordination where it is due. Strict but fair, he holds the Berkuty Bratva in an iron grip. It is often said that Dmitry inspires loyalty and respect amongst his men, and fear in the hearts of his enemies.

 

Bio:

Although these days Dmitry is one of the most influential gangsters of New York, he was not always involved with the criminal underworld. Born in the year of 1974, he was fortunate enough to be born into a rather well to do family, that due to his father’s connections was far removed from the poverty many Soviet households faced at the time.

 

Dmitry was by all accounts a good kid, with splendid grades and a promising future. That was, until in 1989, when he at age 15 was arrested for assault – as well as for being in violation of article 121; the law that until 1993 explicitly prohibited male homosexuality. As a result, he was sentenced to 6 years of hard labour in prison.

 

Although Dmitry never served his term to completion, the years he did live under the unforgiving conditions of Soviet prisons had a significant impact on who he would later become as an adult. It was clear to anyone who had known him before that the unyielding young man who was put on parole in the spring of 1993, was not the same person as mild mannered boy who had been convicted 3 years prior. To his family this became particularly apparent, and their response to his return was lukewarm at best.

 

It was after a fierce argument with his older brother Alexander that he finally made the decision to forsake his old life and fully embrace the person he had become. He got in touch with Boris Nikonov – an acquaintance he had made during his time of incarceration, and who was more than happy to offer him a job. It was the beginning of a beautiful partnership, which in 1995 culminated in their joint transfer to North America, where their group was hoping to expand business.

 

Unfortunately their partnership came to an end when in 2003, Nikonov was assassinated – throwing the entire Berkuty Bratva into temporary chaos. His death resulted in a violent internal power struggle that would not be resolved until 7 months later, when a man named Yegor Zhakov took control of the organization.

 

That same year Dmitry married a woman named Francesca, and 11 months later his daughter Alyona was born. As far as he was concerned, it was a union of convenience rather than love. Yet as time went on he became genuinely fond of his family, and eventually he did grow to love them. For a time he was happy. That was, until eleven years ago, Francesca and their newborn son Luca were killed in an ’unfortunate car accident’. Overcome by anger and grief, he swore to Francesca’s family and himself that he would personally make sure every person involved in their murder payed for their crimes.

 

It was a promise he made good on, and in 2010 he replaced Zhakov as the head, or ’Pakhan’ of Berkuty Bratva – a position he has now held for almost a decade.

 

“Your worst sin is that you have destroyed and betrayed yourself for nothing.”

― Fyodor Dostoevsky, Crime and Punishment

 

”How many times do I need to tell you? It’s nothing like that – at all. So stop asking questions, okay?”

 

”Oh please, Ally – don’t try this with me. You two were practically staring at each other like, all night.”

 

”Well, that’s not really-”

 

”When are you going to ask him out?”

 

”I’m not planning to – Ange, wait.” Alyona paused, raising her hand to silence her friend. ”Did you hear that too?”

 

A confused frown creased Angelica’s forehead. ”Hear what?”

 

Alyona did not answer her immediately. Instead she moved slightly closer to her friend and took her hand, listening carefully to her surroundings. A dog barked in the distance, and a car horn honked a couple of streets away. The light in a nearby window was turned on, the sound of a crying baby slipping through the crack between the curtains. Other than the homeless man huddled up by a container, the street seemed to be entirely deserted. And yet...

 

”Ally, what did you hear?” This time there was a tiny hint of fear in Angelica’s voice.

 

”Are you certain we’re going the right way?”

 

Angelica gave a swift nod of her head. ”Absolutely. The bus stop should be just around the corner. But Ally-”

 

”Shh!” She hissed as they passed the homeless man and the container. He seemed fast asleep, the newspaper he had covered himself heaving and falling steadily in pace with his thunderous snores. She added quietly. ”Okay, so don’t freak out, but… I think we’re being followed.”

 

”What?!”

 

Angelica looked like she wanted to turn around and look, but was held back by Alyona giving her hand a hard squeeze.

 

”Don’t. Pretend you haven’t noticed. Just keep walking, and when I tell you to run – you run.”

 

Angelica swallowed hard, nodding her head as she clasped onto her friends hand like her life depended on it, but she nodded her head. Alyona could hardly blame her. Her heart was beating so hard that she could almost hear it, and it took everything she was walking ever faster. By then she could hear it clearly. The sound of someone – no, not one, but at least two people walking behind them. Angelica’s hand quivered in her sweaty palm, and quiet sobs pushed past her full lips. She could hear them now as well.

 

They were almost at the street corner now. If they ran, they could probably make it to the bus stop before their pursuers caught up with them. Alyona could only pray to god that it wasn’t as empty as this cursed side backstreet. She knew that if there were people – they would be safe.

 

Please let there be people… was the desperate plea passing through her head as she yelled; ”NOW!” Tugging Angelica along, she broke into a run, her high heels audibly clicking against the pavement. One of their pursuers – a man, by the sound of it, yelled something in a foreign language. A moment later the narrow street was filled with a blinding bright light as a car came from around the corner, coming to a screeching halt right in front of the girls.

 

Startled, Alyona lost her grip on Angelica and stumbled backwards – straight into one of their pursuers. A strong arm wrapped wrapped around her waist, effectively trapping her against the man’s body. Yet if he thought she was going to give up that easily, however, he couldn’t have been more wrong.

 

”Let go of me you fucking per-mghff!”

 

Alyona’s deliberately loud protest was cut off by a hand covering her mouth. She responded by slamming her heel, as hard as she could, straight into his heel. This must have caught him off guard, because he let out a pained howl and momentarily loosened his grip on her. That was all the time Alyona needed to wriggle her way to freedom. Yet her relief was short lived, because a moment later Angelica’s high pitched screech cut through the night. With a pounding heart, Alyona swirled around to see what was up.

 

Only a small distance away, her friend had been brought to her knees. She was sobbing profusely, her tear streaked cheeks glistening in the glow of the headlights. One of the men loomed over her – his left hand clutching her shoulder, holding her down, while his right hand held a gun to her head.

 

Alyona’s mouth went dry, and she was sure that if she tried to speak, her voice would most definitely crack.

 

The man raised his head to meet her gaze, his obsidian eyes glittering with malice. Perhaps it was Alyona’s expression that had given her away, or perhaps he could simply sense her fear. Regardless of what the answer to that was, he seemed amused by her reaction – his lips curling into a callous smile that did little to stifle her mortification.

 

”You want your friend to live?” He asked, wrapping his hand around Angelica’s throat. She whimpered meekly. ”Then I would suggest you play nice.”

 

”Y-you wouldn’t…”

 

”Oh, but I would.”

 

Alyona shook her head. ”I don’t believe you. You won’t kill her because she’s-”

 

”And that’s where you are mistaken, sugartop. I have no qualms taking her life. That should teach her grandpa not to conduct business on territory that isn’t his, don’t you think?” He smiled, revealing a golden tooth. ”So, what will it be?”

[Joyabe]

 

 

 

Name: Will (William) Blakesley

 

Age: 29

 

Height: 5'11

 

Sexual Orientation: Gay

 

Likes: Late nights, Running, Going to the shooting range (Will's form of therapy), All and every form of food, but especially junkfood.

 

Dislikes: Drinking (he likes staying in control), When other people drive, People trying to push themselves into his life or getting too nosy, Being looked down at.

 

Personality: Will is the type of guy that tends to get a little obsessive. Some people say he's assertive, he just calls it stubborn. Once Will has his eye set on something, he will get it no matter what. That specific personality trait makes him more prone to being a workaholic, something he was accused of more than once, as well as a pain in the ass for those who disagree with him. Although he's usually a calculated person, Will do tend to lose sight of his surroundings when he has a goal in mind, which in turn allows his short temper to get out of hand and his cool to slip. He tends to get along with most people, but there are only a few he truly appreciates.

 

Bio: Will comes from a run of the mil, all American family. He grew up in a colonial house in a suburb with his two parents and little sister. It was all good and well, until Will started straying from the acceptable and expected path. He never had a big fallout or anything like that with his family, and they're still in touch- their relationship just turned cold overtime, is all. It started with Will coming out when he was in high school, and pretty much sealed when he decided not to go to college- he really didn't see a point in spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on a piece of paper he was never going to use, but his parents disagreed.

 

Still, they couldn't do much to stop him, and soon Will found himself going down a career path that fit him perfectly- working as a body guard. The job fit his character, allowed him a comfortable life style, and he was able to earn good money- a lot of which he used to help his little sister Eva pay for college. Although she's the good child in the family and exactly what their parents wanted her to be, and despite the 10 year age gap between them, Eva is the person closest to Will in his family and one of the closest people to him in general.

 

For about a decade, Will's life were pretty much the same- weekly cold phone calls with his family, his warming relationship with his sister, an occasional partner (none of which he ever brought home), and mostly a steady yet satisfying growth in his career.

 

That is, until all hell broke lose.

 

About a year ago, a man from the deepest part of the underworld managed to infiltrate the company where Will was working. He was stationed together with Will and a few others to guard a client, and for months worked, ate and hung out with them. Will never suspected a thing- nobody suspected a thing, which made it impossibly easy for that guy to gravely injure the person they had to protect.

 

Being the only other guard on duty that day, Will felt it was his own responsibility and resigned shortly after the incident. The fact the guy who did it somehow managed to get away only made things wore. Ever since, he's been focused on finding him and getting what he feels like is not only revenge, but also much deserved justice.

 

 

Will Blakesley was a man of testing limits. Right now, he was testing the limits of the human body.

 

Instinctively wrapping his coat around him in face of the night's chill, Will continued on his brave journey to retrieve food. It appeared thirty-six hours of no food, almost the same amount of sleep, and roughly his body weight in coffee were about as far as he could go. He needed some nutrients in solid form, and the fudgsicle and one slice of cheese he had in his fridge were not the answer.

 

This scene became almost a habit for Will, especially in the last year. Sleepless nights, continuous investigations that often resulted in dead-ends, and a very unbalanced diet that included countless trips to Jose's taco truck were the norm in the young man's life ever since he left his job.

 

Okay, Jose might have been a norm even before he quit.

 

With another light shudder, Will quickened his pace, pouring all of his frustration into the brisk steps he took. He was, once again, stuck. When he first started looking for Mike Peters (Real name Mikhail Petrovich), he never imagined it would take so long. Will didn't do failures, and he never in his life had such a hard time completing a mission. True, this mission was the first one he ever gave himself. But dammit he was still not making enough progress. Even a year after he started his investigation, all he knew was that Mikhail was an only child, son to two immigrant parents with a dubious past and currently a part of the Berkuty Bratva. Every lead he thought he found seemed to be misleading, and every time he thought he made a breakthrough, he seemed to hit a brick wall. Tonight seemed to be yet another encounter of that kind.

 

The thought made a deep frown cross Will's features, and the way he turned a corner at that moment must have seemed a bit aggressive, until he suddenly stopped in his trucks. From somewhere down the road, he could hear a scream and then a car screeching.

 

An accident? Will started to make his way towards the source of the noise when more screaming was heard.

 

No, definitely not an accident.

 

Will's advance became more cautious the closer he got. Gradually, he was able to make out the different voices and the words they were saying. Yes, this thing was far from an accident.

 

When he finally peaked from around the corner and into the alleyway, the scene in front of him confirmed his suspicions. This looked bad. Very bad. In fact, he should probably just call 911- he was unarmed at the moment except for the Swiss knife that was always on him, a result of years in the profession. There wasn't a whole lot he could do against guns. He should just call the police, he thought as he analyzed the situation, and then maybe try and buy some time until...

 

Will's brain seemed to go silent when his eyes landed on the girl trying to save her friend. She seemed obviously scared, and very young- a highschooler at most, but most importantly- she reminded him of Eva. It only took a split second for Will to change his mind, and before he knew what he was doing, he was in action.

 

Pulling out his knife, he crouched behind the car that blocked most of the exit of the street. The guys who were obviously much more interested in one of the girls were still busy threatening her, which gave Will the opportunity to sneak behind the vehicle and slash both its back tires, well hidden behind the car and its blinding lights. What he was about to do was dangerous to say the least, and he needed to give them the best chances he could.

 

"What do we have here?" Will forcefully and abruptly erupted the gangsters who surrounded the girls, grabbing Alyona and pressing the knife to her neck. He could only pray she wouldn't struggle too much until he could tell her to cooperate. The men in front of him seemed confused as one would be when another kidnapper interfered with their kidnapping.

 

"What the hell man?" One of the man took a threatening step forward "You better fuck off before-"

 

"Uh-uh. I wouldn't do that" Will pulled Aylona a step back, angling them so she was right between him and both the men standing outside and those in the car. "Just play along" he whispered in her ear, assuming this would be as much distant as he would be able to create from those goons "And when I tell you to, run."

 

"What? You think we won't shoot because you have her?" The one who spoke to Will gave him an intimidating look. Clearly, he was used to people keeling before him and his tough guy act.

 

"That's exactly what I think" Will sent a very unpleasant smile in the man's direction, the dark bags under his eyes and overall look of sleep deprivation giving him a much more menacing and much less pleasant aura than usually. "You see, if you wanted her dead you would have shot her already. But you need her alive, don't you?"

 

The scowls that graced the faces in front of him only made Will's unpleasant smile widen. "Now, I don't want to ruin your fun so I'll make you a deal. You give me that one" he nodded in Angelica's direction "And I'll return this to you."

 

This was probably one of the biggest risks Will ever took. There were no guarantees these men would decide to go along with his request and not just shoot them all on the spot. But Will had experience, as well as a gut feeling- and both told him those people did not want Alyona dead- for whatever reason. The signs of hesitation they showed clearly reinforced that notion.

 

"What the hell are you going to do with her?" The doubt he could hear in the voice of the man pointing the gun to the other girl's head was all the verification he needed.

 

"I'm just looking to have a little fun."

 

"You're sick man." Oh if only they knew. Will had a hunch those guys would have a bigger issue with him if they knew his real type. Still, after a moment of silent deliberation, golden tooth, who seemed to be the one in charge, have appeared to reach a decision.

 

"Alright" he made eye contact with Will, pulling Angelica to her feet "But try anything funny and you're done."

 

Will didn't even bother responding to that threat. He just waited patiently, mentally locating and positioning the men around him. If he would play this right, they should be able to get a head start. As golden tooth slowly made his way towards Will with a very hysterical Angelica, Will never tore his eyes away from him. He could only hope the girl he was holding could somehow signal her friend about what was going on so that she wouldn't be too uncooperative.

 

"Okay," finally, after what seemed like forever, the two reached Will and Alyona "Now Slowly-"

 

But golden tooth didn't have a chance to finish giving out his orders. "Go!" With a swift movement, Will pushed Alyona behind him and reached directly for the man holding Angelica. A few precise movements were all it took to break her from his grip, push her behind him as well, snatch the man's gun away from him and turn him into a hostage. Not that he planned on keeping him as one for long.

 

After a moment of holding the stolen gun to his head, Will pushed the man directly at his now shouting and gun pointing friends. He only fired one shot into a post lamp overhead, the fucking oldest trick in the book, before turning on his heel and running away under the cover of the bursting light and momentarily confusion.

 

It wasn't all that hard to catch up to two teenagers in heels, and when he did Will quickly pulled them into a random building and straight into the shadows of the stairs. "Are you okay?" he asked quietly, glancing once behind his shoulder to make sure they were not followed. "We'll wait here a few moments and then I'll take you home. And don't even try this whole 'We're fine on our own' shit with me." Now that he got himself involved, Will was feeling responsible, and there was no way he would let those two walk around alone with those kinds of people after them. Plus, he might have been a little cranky after just losing his dear Swiss knife.

[Gladis]

He knows. He knows who we are. He knows about our families...

 

Alyona didn’t know what he found more terrifying – the fact that he knew their identities, or the fact that he knew, but still thought he could get away with murdering one of them. Either he had to be bluffing, or he just so happened to be a lunatic on a powertrip. The former seemed more likely, yet there was no way she could know for sure. Did she really want to risk losing her best friend to find out? As much as she hated it, for now it was perhaps better to play along. Yet just as she was about to submit, another man appeared, and before she knew what to make of it he grabbed her, pulling her against his tall frame. Metal flashed, soon followed by the feeling of something cold pressing up against her throat. A knife.

 

Her eyes widened and she gasped as fear gripped her anew. She knew she wasn’t supposed to struggle, yet every fibre in her body screamed at her to do so. To shout, to kick, to bite – to claw his eyes out if she had to. Adrenaline pumped through every vein in her body and her heart was pounding like never before. Like a cat she dug her nails into his arm. But then she felt his hot breath against her ear. A whisper. A promise that he wouldn’t hurt her. And just as quickly as she had begun to panic, she calmed down, becoming limp in his arms. She felt weak, almost dizzy, but she nodded her head – if only ever so slightly, to show that she had understood.

 

From where she was being held, Alyona could see how the golden toothed man was slowly ushering the whimpering Angelica towards them. She looked so terrified, so fragile and Alyona wanted nothing more than to pull her into her arms and assure her that everything would be alright. Yet no matter how much it hurt to see her like this, she knew she could not. This was not the time. She had to wait for–

 

”Go!

 

That was her cue!

 

Without thinking she lunged for Angelica and grabbed her hand, and then she ran. She didn’t know where she was going, or for how long they would have to run – only that they could not afford to stop. That they had to keep going no matter what happened.

 

Seemingly out of nowhere their savior appeared, pulling them both into one of the nearby buildings. Angelica once again broke down crying – this time more out of shock than fear, but Alyona nodded her head in response to the man’s inquiry. ”It’s alright now, Ange…” She said softly, gently putting her arms around her sobbing friend. ”We’re safe. Honey, don’t cry, we’re safe now…” Yet just when she thought she had managed to calm Angelica down slightly, William just had to mention bringing them home.

 

”Oh God, Alyona!” She sobbed hysterically, ”Oh God! Our fathers, they’ll be so mad when they find out. They’ll be so angry with us…”

 

”Angelica, calm down. Please…” Alyona gently rubbed her back. ”Papa’s away, remember? Neither of them will find out, so please don’t worry…”

 

---

”What, did you two really think I wouldn’t find out? That I wouldn’t come rushing home the moment I learned that you and Angelica had snuck out?”

 

Dmitry swiftly paced back and forth across the living room. He was fuming, his arms folded across his broad chest his eyebrows knitting into an angry frown. Then he came to a halt, turning his yellow, wolf-like gaze towards the two girls huddled up together on the sofa. They each had a blanket draped around their shoulders. Angelica was dejectedly staring down into the cup of hot cocoa in her hands, whereas Alyona’s stood untouched on the living room table. She met her father’s stormy glare with unyielding defiance. He snorted in annoyance.

 

”What am I do to with you, daughter? I put my trust in you and you lie to me. How am I ever to believe a word you say?”

 

”Well, maybe if you didn’t insist on always treating me like a child-”

 

”Do you think I enjoy doing this? That I want to take away your freedom?”

 

”You sure as hell act like it!” She snapped. ”You never let me do anything. Maybe if you weren’t always so fucking paranoid I could actually be allowed to feel normal for once! All Angelica and I wanted to do was go to that part-”

 

”Didn’t I already tell you that you could go?”

 

There was a brief moment of silence. ”Yes…” Alyona admitted reluctantly, ”but…”

 

Dmitry raised an eyebrow. ”But what?”

 

”But you said we couldn’t go alone.”

 

”And surely now you understand why.” Although Dmitry clearly had a point, his words only seemed to aggravate her further.

 

”You don’t get it, do you?!” She screamed, dark brown eyes flashing with anger and exasperation. ”You don’t ever fucking get it! What do you think it’s like for me, to hang out with my friends while your stupid fucking goons loom about?! What do you think it’s like for my friends?! Do you have any idea how-”

 

”ALYONA DMITRIEVNA!” Dmitry’s booming voice seemed to fill the entire living room, and for a moment Alyona could have sworn she could see the windows quiver. Angelica’s hands sure as hell were, although she was too preoccupied with staring at Dmitry, to notice that she was dangerously close to spilling her cocoa. Alyona too seemed startled, and whatever she had meant to say was left hanging in the air.

 

There was a moment of silence.

 

Letting out a heavy sigh, Dmitry shut his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. ”What is it I need to say to make you understand that if not for this man–” he made a sweeping gesture towards William, ”–you would either have been dead or kidnapped by now? I don’t do this to punish you. I do it because I want to keep you safe.”

 

Alyona blinked furiously, as if desperately trying to keep herself from crying, but by then it was already too late. Her red lips quivered, and then large tears began to roll down her rosy cheeks, creating a black trail of mascara. When she spoke again, her voice was little more than a strained whisper. ”All I ever wanted was to be a normal girl, from a normal family...”

 

Dmitry gazed at her in sadness and understanding. ”I know, solnyshko…” he said tenderly, spreading his arms in invitation. She hesitated, but only briefly before closing the distance between them, allowing herself to be pulled into a tight embrace. ”I know…” he murmured, gently stroking his hand over her silky black hair as he held her close. She was sobbing, staining his shirt with her tears.

 

”I’m sorry,” she wailed into his chest, ”I’m so sorry, papochka.”

 

”It’s alright, Lenochka.” He leaned down to gently nuzzle her hair, breathing in the fragrance of her rose scented shampoo.

 

”I was so scared. I really thought they were– o bozhe, I really thought they might kill us.”

 

This time he remained silent, but he continued to hold her, gently rubbing her back until at last she had calmed down. Then he pulled back slightly, gently stroking her cheek with his thumb as he offered her a small, yet comforting smile. She returned it, and though they had not exchanged a single word, it was clear that they had reached some kind of understanding.

 

”Will you take your cousin to your room?” Dmitry threw a glance at Angelica, who was already getting up from the sofa. ”There is still something this gentleman and I need to discuss.”

 

Alyona nodded her head and wiped her tears with the back of her hand, leaning up to place a loving kiss on her father's cheek. "Sladkykh snov, papa." Before she left the room, however, she turned one last time to William. ”Thank you, sir. For everything.” She smiled at him, and then the two of them were off.

 

Dmitry sighed in exhaustion, combing a tattooed hand through his graying hair. The smile that tugged at the corners of his lips was genuinely apologetic.

 

”I am sorry you had to bear witness to that, but what can you do? Children, I suppose...” He chuckled softly, extending his hand to the other man. ”William, was it? William Blakesley? I am Dmitry Ivanovich Volkov, but my friends call me Dima.”

[Joyabe]

When Will left his apartment earlier that evening, this was not how he thought things would go. One moment he was walking the girls to the door, and the next he was pulled in by a flock of security guards, most of which did not speak a word of English with the others. Mind you, he had enough of inside experience to quickly realize he was not treated as a threat, but he really did not plan on staying long. Yes, he walked Alyona and Angelica home because he couldn't possibly let them do so unguarded after what they just went through, but he didn't mean to do much more than that. He was already much too involved as is, and he was never one to look for praise or rewards. He did what he felt was right, and now he wanted to go back to his life.

 

He never imagined he would find himself the audience to a very serious scolding. It couldn't get much more awkward than that.

 

Only, well, there was one more small detail.

 

Alyona wasn't just some nameless stranger that happened to remind him of Eva and was now scolded by her parents. She was Alyona Volkov. Her father was Dmitry Volkov.

 

Karma or God or the universe or someone was surely smiling down upon him. He was standing in the living room of Dmitry Volkov. He was literally in the heart of the Berkuty Bratva. He couldn't come up with such a golden opportunity even if he tried to. Suddenly, losing his precious knife didn't seem like such a big price to pay.

 

So while in any other similar scenario he would be shifting uncomfortably from one foot to the other, this time Will was perfectly still. Leaning back against the living room wall with his hands in his pockets, his calm face didn't give away the speed in which his brain was running. Although his dark bags didn't go anywhere, the eyes above them were now completely alert, holding a strange glimmer in their depths. He didn't know how, but he had to grab this chance with both hands and not let go.

 

Finally, after a year of countless nothings, he had something. A huge something. Taking down Petrovich was his initial goal, but now he could do so much more. Dmitry was his one way ticket to not only finally hunt down Petrovich, but also take down as much of the Berkuty Bratva he could. Sure, he would have to play it smart, but he had confidence in himself. And this man, standing only a few feet away of him completely unsuspicious, was responsible for this whole mess. He was the one who took Petrovich in. He was the one who sent him on the mission that turned Will's life upside down. There was no way a man like Volkov didn't know what was going on in his organization- and Will was going to make him pay for everything.

 

He did feel just a tad bad for Alyona- both for the harsh scolding and what he was about to do. After all, it wasn't her fault her father was who he was. And surprisingly enough, he actually seemed like a decent father. But that did not mean it exonerated him from the other things he did. People could be good parents but shitty people, and vice versa. Will knew it better than anyone.

 

Still, he couldn't help sending a small reassuring smile in Alyona's direction when she thanked him. This one was nothing like the smile he presented to the kidnappers. Now, Will was back to his much softer spoken self, and his aura was one of stability rather than insanity.

 

And then, it was just the two of them.

 

Turning two gray eyes to Dmitry when he spoke, Will returned his smile with one of his own, although this one was a little more cryptic. His last sentence made the corners of his mouth twitch just a little. Clearly, someone searched the pockets of his coat and found him wallet.

 

"Only my parents call me William. Call me Will" he returned the handshake "It's nice to meet you Dmitry." He was actually just a tiny bit surprise by how friendly the other seemed. With his line of work and reputation, Will was expecting something a little more... Menacing. "And please don't worry about it. They clearly went through a lot... But they seem tough." he added with a small scuff "Although I would appreciate it if you could apologize to them for me. I might have been a little rough back there." Will assumed most people wouldn't dare asking Dmirty for a favor like that, but neither he nor the circumstances were like others. Right now, what he needed was Dmitry's trust. He needed to be patient, something that wasn't always his strongest suit, in order to get what he wanted. He can not mess this up.

 

"I don't want to impose on you for long when it's this late, I'm sure you have a lot more to take care of" Will's expression turned more serious as he reached his hand to the back of his waistband "But I figured you would like this." Pulling out the stolen gun, Will offered it to Dmitry, grip first. "I got this from one of those guys. I don't know if you want to get rid of it or try to track it, but I'm guessing you'll find a good use to this. They should also have a car that's... A little hard to drive around." There was no point in Will pretending he didn't know what he was doing- clearly he had experience, and he wasn't stupid enough as to underestimate Dmitry. Might as well be as candid as he could- paradoxically enough, this would be the best way for him to hide his true intentions.

[Gladis]

Now that they were alone, Dmitry finally had the opportunity to study his daughter’s savior more closely. He was quite the handsome fellow. Young – late twenties, early thirties at most, but tall and sturdily built, with well cut facial features, a tousle of messy black hair and beautiful gray eyes. Admittedly he did look tired, as his eyes were noticeably dark rimmed, and he appeared to be a little on the thin side – making Dmitry wonder if the man was taking care of himself properly. Not that it was any of his business, of course.

 

”I will make sure to pass on the message.” He assured him. ”And please, you are not imposing on us at all-”

 

Although he did not show it, Dmitry was genuinely surprised when William extended the gun towards him. A gun he had stolen from one of the kidnappers. This alone revealed to him that William most likely was not just an ordinary, and the words that followed indicated that he at least had an idea of who Dmitry was. If he had not been on his guard before, he certainly was now. Still, he accepted the gun all the same.

 

”I appreciate it, Will, and I hope you understand that what you did for the girls... you cannot even begin to imagine how eternally grateful I am to you. Naturally, I would not wish for such heroics to go unrewarded…” he nodded towards the sofa, inviting William to take a seat. Well, ’inviting’ was perhaps the wrong word. It was more like ’strongly suggesting’ for him to do so. Even if Dmitry’s demeanor remained friendly and relaxed, he didn’t really intend to give William a choice. All of this was just as much a bribe as it was a reward. An attempt at buying his silence, if you will.

 

”Money, women, a holiday abroad or any other kind of favor – name your prize and you shall have it.” Dmitry allowed for a moment of silence to pass between them, letting the true implications of his offer sink in. Then his lips curled into a friendly, albeit not entirely harmless smile. ”Would you like something to drink? Coffee? Tea? Or perhaps something stronger?”

 

One thing was for sure – Dmitry was by no means ready to let him go just yet.

[Joyabe]

While when the girls were with them in the room Dmitry barely paid any attention to Will, once they were left alone the atmosphere between them seemed to change. Oh, now they were getting to the heart of things, Will thought when Dmitry started thanking him for what he did. This was not merely a parent thanking a stranger for saving their child- this was a very powerful parent thanking a stranger for saving their child, while also making sure said stranger wouldn't do anything... unnecessary.

 

Nonetheless, Will obediently made his way to the sofa and sat down. He had no plan whatsoever to defy Dmitry- that wouldn't give him anything. Will did nothing but silently smile at the other when he made him the offer, although he did let out a small chuckle once he was done. Finally, Dmitry was showing his true colors- and to be honest it didn't take him long to do so. That was the kind of man he was- the kind who believed money was the solution to every problem, who knew the world would do his bidding, who would send a man to assassinate someone who had hold of even the tiniest particle of his world. This was who Dmitry really was.

 

"I think I'll stick with coffee tonight. Something stronger might just make me spend the night passed out on your couch" Will offered the other a half smile. After a moment of silence, he continued with a small sigh "As for your offer, I'm not looking for a reward. I was never interested in money or women" the latter sure was more true than the other could ever know... At least until he would run the background check on Will he just knew he would. "I would much rather be in your favor than you doing me one" Will crossed his legs and leaned back, giving the overall impression of a person who is very much comfortable. In reality he knew this was his chance to start weaving the web he's been dreaming of for the past year.

 

"For example," Will sent a knowing smile in Dmitry's direction "Now that we're... acquaintances," he filled in the most appropriate word "I would appreciate it if you could, let's say, pass on my name if you hear of a job opening. Not because of what I did, but because you know what I can do. Of course" Will's tone and expression changed, both becoming much lighter as an almost amused smile adorned his lips "I wouldn't mind going out for that something stronger another day. If you have the time, that is." On any other occasion Will would probably never invite an almost complete stranger out to drink- certainly not a Russian- but in this case the target most definitely justified the means.

[Gladis]

This man is not stupid.

 

Needless to say, Dmitry was impressed with William’s answer. It took a certain kind of person to look a mob boss in the eyes and turn down a generous offer such as his, as though it were nothing. Normally this might have been have been perceived as an insult, but William seemed to have a way with words. Not only did he make himself seem like a better person for it, but the way he said it also gave the impression that he was doing so out of respect for Dmitry, rather than rejecting him for self preservation.

 

Dmitry smiled at him, giving a slight nod of his head.

 

”A cup of coffee it is. Nekhii–” for the first time since William’s arrival he addressed the third man in the room, who up until that point had silently been leaning against the wall, arms folded across his chest while keen, dark brown eyes kept careful watch on the scene as it unfolded. He was considerably shorter than William and Dmitry both, with a slender build and a pretty, mild looking face, and he exuded a certain aura of elegance and grace – not at all the appearance you’d expect of a man who hangs around a moboss. His shoulder length silky black hair had been tied back into a ponytail, and he was wearing a pair of glasses, which he adjusted as he turned his attentive gaze towards Dmitry. ”Would you mind fetching our guest some refreshments?”

 

Nekhii’s lips curled into a smile. ”Naturally, sir.” He said softly, and as silently as he had entered, he was gone. Once more Dmitry’s gaze settled on William, and there was a clear look of amusement on his face.

 

”So you would like a job?” He arched an eyebrow, and though the prospect did indeed amuse him, there was just a hint of skepticism in his eyes. ”I think we’ll have to see about that for now.” It wasn’t so much that he doubted the usefulness of William’s skill sets, as that he simply didn’t know the man well enough to make any such promises. In his line of work, trust was every bit as important as the services his associates could provide. Without trust, everything could easily begin to fall apart. ”Nevertheless, I would be more than happy to take you up on your other offer. After all the trouble my daughter has caused you, buying you a drink is the least I can do. And who knows? If everything goes smoothly, perhaps it could spell the beginning of a beautiful partnership.”

 

Of course, this was far from Dmitry’s only motivation for accepting the invitation. Perhaps more so than anything, he wanted a chance to get to know this attractive young fellow. Partially because he wanted to find out what he was up to – because it was clearly something; but also because William had piqued his interest for entirely different, less business oriented reasons. If William was in it for a potential entrypoint to the underworld, Dmitry was much more interested in the prospect of sharing his bed. It wasn’t even that farfetched of an idea. William had already stated his disinterest in women, so it was not entirely unthinkable that their proclivities aligned.

 

Barely ten minutes had passed when Nekhii returned carrying a tray. It held two cups of coffee, a bowl with sugar and a can of milk, as well as what remained of the chocolate chip cookies Dmitry had made the other day. It had been his attempt to do something nice with Alyona, although the entire thing had ended with him finishing the batch on his own, while she was busy messing around with her phone. At times like these he found himself missing the old days, when Alyona was younger and still enthusiastic about spending time with her father. He knew he had to accept that she was getting older and that the way she had begun to distance herself from him was completely natural, but sometimes he still found it difficult to deal with. Well, now was hardly the time to dwell on that.

 

”Thank you, Nekhii.” Dmitry gave him a smile and a slight nod of his head as he set down the tray on the living room table, who returned it before moving to retake his position by the wall. Yet before he could finish doing so, he was stopped in his tracks by Dmitry’s raised hand. ”No, come sit with us.” He said, patting the spot next to him on the sofa. The man glanced at first William and then Dmitry, before taking a seat as told.

 

”Will, this is Tuya Nekhii. The two of us have been working together for many years.”

 

Nekhii offered William a reserved but friendly smile. ”I am very pleased to make your acquaintance, William Blakesley.”

 

”Before you leave,” said Dmitry, ”I would like you to recount everything that happened to Nekhii here – as you saw it. Don’t leave anything out. What they looked like, what kind of car they were driving, the registration number, if they said something that stood out to you – anything you remember that could help us identify them.”

 

---

Tuya Nekhii:

 

 

 

[Joyabe]

The more time he spent with the other, the better Will understood what made Dmitry so good at his job. Despite the friendly and light facade he maintained, there was so much more underneath the surface; clearly, he was undoubtedly charismatic, but he also had an air of authority to him. It wasn't the loud, pushing kind of authority, but rather a quiet, calm and deep one that he seemed to effortlessly exude. This man was in charge, and this simple fact was crystal clear to whoever walked in the room.

 

With a small chuckle of appreciation, Will closed his eyes for only a moment before opening them up again, lifting his gaze to look ad Dmitry. Clearly this was a formidable foe. "I admit I am in the market for a job, but I wouldn't dream of you recommending me without knowing me better" he turned his body a little more sideways so that he was fully facing Dmitry- rule number one in pretending you're innocent was acting comfortable, and the best way of doing so was actually being comfortable, while still staying on your toes. Good thing Will came with a lot of experience. "But I'm happy to hear we might be able to do just that."

 

There was no doubt in Will's mind that Dmitry was still wary about him- he would have to be a fool not to be wary, and Dmitry certainly was no fool. However, as cautious about him as Will believed he was, he also seemed interested. As long as he would manage to keep the key parts of his past hidden (something he was perfecting for the past year given the task he had taken upon himself), he should be able to establish some kind of a connection with Dmitry. After all, Volkov wasn't the only one with charm.

 

When Nekhii returned with the coffee, Will didn't hesitate before adding a borderline disturbing amount of sugar to his cup which he proceeded to press to his lips. He seemed to have miscalculated his caffeine tolerance level- he still had more cup in him. He might have been a little excessive with the sugar, even for himself, but he found it forgivable given the amount of sleep, or rather lack of, he had in the past two days.

 

Watching over the rim of his cup, Will kept an interesting gaze locked on Nekhii. He might not have looked like the type you would expect to see around a man like Dmitry, but he knew better than judging a book by its cover. Something in the other's eyes made it clear he was smart, cunning even, and the fact Dmitry kept him so close to him did nothing but reinforce Will's impression of the man as someone he should take notice of.

 

It was no surprise then, that Will returned the friendly smile when he was officially introduced. "Same here" he replied, taking note of the man's interesting pattern of speech. He might have to look into this guy as well if he plans on making friends with Dmitry.

 

Turning his gaze to Dmitry only for a second to recognize he heard him, Will turned it back to Nekhii. This was yet another chance to showcase his abilities and Will wasn't planning on disappointing. "There were five of them as far as I could tell," he opened, returning yet again to his more serious self "Two were sitting in the car so I couldn't see their faces clearly. The other three were Asian... I think Chinese. If I'm not mistaken they spoke Mandarin among themselves" Will was speaking calmly and quietly, not at all surprised to see that Nekhii wasn't writing down any of the things he said. By that point Will was positive that the man who was sitting and listening quietly was not less deadly, if not even more, than most people in the Berkuty Bratva. "I would search for either second or third generation immigrants though" Will continued, this time giving his own input "Their English was good and there wasn't a heavy accent."

 

Efficiently yet thoroughly, Will continued to describe the night's events. He provided the men with all the information he could think of, including the location they were at, the kidnappers' car model, it's license number as well as the fact it was probably changed by now, and the most accurate description he could give of those men's faces. He didn't bother to keep anything away from Dmitry- he could go ahead and take out the entire Chinese mafia for all he cared. If this would buy him some of the other's trust, he had no problem whatsoever to provide Dmitry with whatever details he needed.

 

When he was done recounting everything that happened, Will was not surprised to see Nekhii give him nothing more than a nod. He didn't seem like a man of many words. He also took it as his cue to say goodbye- he might have been generously invited, but it was getting seriously late. Not to mention, he was so exhausted he was afraid he might just fall asleep right there in Dmitry's lap, and that wasn't the kind of connection he was trying to establish.

 

"If that's all, I think it's best I leave you gentlemen to deal with this information while it's still fresh" Will said as he rose to his feet "Good luck with everything" he sent a polite smile in Nekhii's direction "And..." Will'ss eyes turned to Dmitry, his face wearing a warmer expression than the one his subordinate received "I guess your men will call me. I'm sure they know how by now. Good night Dmitry." And with that, Will left.

 

Sure enough, a couple days later he indeed received a call from Dmitey's men. By that point he was thankful they didn't show up at his door- he was certain they could have if only they wanted. And so, on a certain night in the middle of the week, Will found himself led by a black dress clad hostess through a very shady yet expensive looking bar. All in all, the place had a warm, intimate feeling courtesy of the dark wood used in the design on the bar, walls and tables, as well as the dim, dark red almost maroon-ish lighting.

 

The place seemed perfect for conducting any immoral or illegal action- from having an affair to hiring a hitman, and yet it also screamed money and finesse. Passing through the many tables and booths, Will followed the hostess up the stairs and straight to the door of a private room. With a light knock, Will opened it and stepped right in.

 

Tonight he was much more on top of his game- freshly shaved and showered, and dressed in a respectable dark button-down, Will looked and felt much more alert than he did on his first meeting with Dmitry. And now that he knew what he was walking into, he was also much more excited.

 

"I should have expected nothing less from you" he almost hummed as he slid right into the sit across from Dmitry "Thank you for seeing me again" he sent him a smile over the table once he was settled "I would imagine your schedule got a little hectic after... Well, everything." The air he was giving was more akin to that of a friend than to an underling or fan. Something bordering that of a business partner perhaps, but he would leave that open for interpretations. Any opening Dmitry would give him he would gladly accept. "I would ask you what we're drinking, but I have to admit I'm a little afraid" he laughed "I don't have the confidence I could go up against you."

[Gladis]

Nekhii listened carefully to William’s recounting of the events, paying attention to every detail that could possibly help him and his men track down the perpetrators. He did not interrupt William even once. If there were any questions to be asked or clarifications needed, Dmitry was the one to handle it. When at last the time came to wrap things up, Nekhii did not escort William to the door – leaving that up to his boss while he took the opportunity to clear the tray with the empty coffee cups from the living room table. It was only when the two of them were seated alone in Dmitry’s office that he finally spoke – this time in russian.

 

”The men that tried to kidnap Alyona, you don’t think it was…?”

 

”It’s not impossible.” Dmitry admitted, folding his arms across his chest as he leaned back in his chair. ”Some of them never really got over what I did to Gong Hai.”

 

A frown flitted across Nekhii’s delicate features as his gaze dropped onto his lap, where his hands lay neatly folded. Silence passed between them, until at last he dared break it. ”I’m sorry, Dima. I-”

 

”Nekhii!” Dmitry sternly cut him off before he could even finish that sentence, and judging by the look on his face it was clear that he would have none of it. ”You were but a child at the time. You do not carry any responsibility for my sins. None of what happened was your fault, do you hear? Not back then and not now.”

 

”But if not for me you would never have-”

 

”How many times must I explain this to you, Nekhii? Gong Hai was a thorn in Zhakov’s side and he wanted him gone. I was given the order to deal with him. His death had nothing to do with you.”

 

”Zhakov was setting you up and you knew it. Dima, I have known you for more than 15 years now. Normally you would never have done something so rash.”

 

Dmitry’s lips curled into a wry smile. ”I suppose I did lose my temper.

 

”You lost your temper because of me.”

 

”No, Nekhii – I lost my temper because of Gong Hai.”

 

Another moment of silence passed between them. Then Dmitry breathed a deep sigh, placing the gun he had received from William onto the desk, right in front of his subordinate. ”I trust you know what to do with this.”

 

Nekhii glanced up to meet Dmitry’s wolf-like gaze, nodding his head as he reached for the gun. He rose to his feet, but just as it seemed like he was about to leave he stopped in his tracks, resting his slender fingers on the door handle.

 

”Dima…”

 

”Yes?”

 

”That man – William Blakesley; tread carefully around him. He’s clearly up to something.”

 

Dmitry, who had already figured as much, couldn’t help but chuckle at his subordinates observation. ”Why are you telling me this now?”

 

”The way you were looking at him… it’s not how you would gaze upon a potential business partner.”

 

Dmitry raised an eyebrow. ”Nehkii, do you take me for a fool?”

 

”No, not a fool.” He turned around so that he was facing Dmitry properly, his dark brown – almost black eyes glimmering in the light of the chandelier that hung from the ceiling. ”But you ARE a man, and even wise men have fallen victim to their own desires. I more than anyone should know.”

 

In the days that followed, Dmitry often found himself thinking back to that conversation with Nekhii. Perhaps in part because he was unable to get William out of his mind. By all accounts, he was well aware that it was inappropriate to think of the man in such a way – especially since he suspected William to have some kind of hidden agenda. An agenda that was no longer quite as hidden by the time their second meeting rolled around.

 

So far Nekhii had been able to divulge that William Blakesley was a 29 year old bachelor, who up until about a year ago had been working as a bodyguard for a certain security firm. The same firm, no less, that one of Vladislav Michailovich’s men had infiltrated around the same time. Once this had been established and the man who at the time had executed the order – Mikhail Petrovich, had been brought in for questioning, it was not difficult to figure out how William had known so much about Dmitry and the Berkuty Bratva. They had essentially ruined his career as a bodyguard. So that William would be holding grudge towards Dmitry’s organization was hardly surprising. However, knowing that only made William’s actions even more confusing. If he hated them, why did me make it seem like he wanted to work for them? If it was Mikhail Petrovich he wanted, he could just have asked Dmitry for him directly. He had already made it clear that no price was too high when it came to the life of his daughter. The idea that this man would attempt to bring down the entire organization on his own was so far fetched that it didn’t even cross Dmitry’s mind. So what was he playing at?

 

These were the thoughts that plagued Dmitry’s mind, when suddenly the door swung open and William stepped into the room. Whatever concerns he might have had just moments ago seemed to dissipate in mere seconds as all he could think about was how absolutely dashing William looked in that dark button-down. Then reason kicked in, and Nekhii’s warning from the other night echoed in his mind.

 

Pushing those thoughts aside, Dmitry’s expression split into a grin.

 

”Naturally,” he mused, ”I may not look like it, Will, but I am a man of my word. From me you will never get an empty promise.” That was true enough. Yet depending on how one looked at it, his words could just as much be perceived as a threat as they were an assurance. ”I am happy that you are here with me tonight.”

 

Upon hearing Will’s confession that he wouldn’t dare go up against him in a drinking contest, Dmitry couldn’t help but chuckle. ”A wise man knows how to choose his battles.” He agreed, rising to his feet to walk behind the counter of the bar. ”As for what we drink, I will leave that up to you. Ask, and you shall have it. Tonight, it is I who serves you.” He winked at him, convinced he did not have to point out that William was one of the lucky few to ever hear those words come out of Dmitry’s mouth. ”So, what will it be, William Blakesley?”

[Joyabe]

Will was more than pleased to see that Dmitry's friendly attitude haven't changed during the few days since their first meeting. Considering the fact he didn't have any experience as a detective nor did he have the amount and kind of resources an organization like the Berkuty Bratva had. Gathering information on others from afar took him time and a lot of effort. Gathering information from a one on one interaction however, was what he did. Spending some "quality time" with Dmitry could give him so much more than what the last few days did- which wasn't much.

 

It was no surprise then, that Will acted like someone in his element. Shrugging off his jacket as soon as he felt the chill of the night air thaw away, he placed it on the sit next to him, his eyes watching Dmitry intently, yet his lips curved up in a comfortable smile. "It's very kind of you to assume I'm wise" he joked back, letting his eyes drop down to the table for only a moment before lifting back up to Dmitry.

 

Hearing the other's offer, the corner of his mouth twitched a note and his eyebrow raised if only in the slightest. Dmitry was not a man who served others. But Will was certainly not the one to refuse a handsome man offering to serve him.

 

Slowly standing up, Will slinked his way to the bar, leaning down against him as he watched Dmitry on the other side of the wooden surface. He looked at him for another moment before his gaze turned to examine the impressive line of bottles behind him. "Hmm..." he mused "I wonder if I'm allowed to ask for anything that isn't vodka" he pressed his lips, holding back a small smile "But then again, I wouldn't want to be the man who finishes your vodka. I think I'll have a scotch, neat." Will returned a now clearly amused gaze to Dmitry's, his gray eyes almost silver thanks to the small gleam that appeared in them "Thanks."

 

While he waited for Dmitry to finish making their drinks, Will remained in the same position- forearms placed on the bar, supporting his weight as he leaned forward, and his fingers entwined. "How's Alyona doing?" he asked, genuinely interested. As much as he wanted to distance himself from the girl, and as much as he despised her father and the organization he was representing, something about her still seemed to stick with him. "I'm guessing those were not the easiest of days... How's she managing?" he asked "How are you managing?" he added a slightly more risky question, and not as genuine. He couldn't say he cared for Dmitry all that much, but it wouldn't hurt- for good measure and all that.

 

Of course, Will assumed Alyona was physically safe- Dmitry surely had the means to make sure she was. But as tough as she seemed, being held hostage was not an easy experience. Will knew he would kill anyone who would dare try to lay a hand on his sister- but, well, unlike Dmitry he would never be the cause to make someone want to kidnap Eva. As much as he seemed to truly love his daughter, and even though Will could (very reluctantly) see how he did his best to guard her and how this latest incident was kind of her fault, well... He still blamed Dmitry, just a little, for what happened. After all, pushing the blame onto someone you found guilty of so many other things wasn't a hard thing to do.

[Gladis]

Dmitry’s amber eyes lit up with amusement.

 

”If you intend to last the night, I would not recommend vodka. American’s do not know how to drink it. They always get drunk after a couple of shots. It can turn business meetings into quite the challenge.” Chuckling, he placed two glasses on the wooden counter. ”Scotch is a fine choice.” He added, pouring first William and then himself a glass. Setting the bottle aside, he raised his glass and said: ”Vstrechu, my friend.” Before downing it all in one go.

 

Dmitry had to admit – Will was doing a good enough job of at least making it seem like he was comfortable. Most men were not as good at hiding how they truly felt, and he was sure that the feelings William harboured towards him were anything but positive. Yet even if he had not known William’s past, Dmitry would have been surprised by how relaxed and comfortable he seemed. Most who found themselves in William’s shoes would not have been able to stay that calm. They would try, of course, but often their act would be so thinly veiled that even a child could see right through them. Dmitry was used to being treated with fear and respect – not like an equal. Especially not by strangers. So even if it was all a farce, Dmitry found that it was a pleasant change of pace. It would certainly be interesting to see for how long it could be maintained.

 

”Alyona is doing just fine. She’s still a bit shaken of course, but that is to be expected. The same goes for Angelica. I let them stay home from school the following day, but by now everything has more or less returned to normal. Although…” he smiled somewhat wryly, ”I expect there won’t be any more unauthorized late night outings for a while. As for me… well… I suppose I have been too busy to really let it affect me all that much. In fact, you’re probably the first to even ask...” His smile faded, and for a very brief moment there was a rare expression of vulnerability on his face. He looked tired, exhausted even, and it was clear that he had at least lost some sleep over the incident. That didn’t mean that he was lying. Ask anyone in his vicinity – even those he worked with closely on a daily basis, and they would have told you that Dmitry was the same as always. He could not afford to think about his own feelings at length, or to let it impact his daily life. There was no room for that in his world.

 

Clearing his throat, Dmitry poured first himself and then William another glass, a slight smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

 

”But enough about me. Why don’t you tell me a bit about yourself, Will? You do not strike me as an ordinary man. I am sure that you have many interesting stories to share.”

[Joyabe]

"Cheers" Will raised his glass before downing the golden liquid in it. Placing it back down on the bar, now empty, he could feel the burn of the whisky in his mouth, making its way down the back of his throat and his chest. He was certainly no longer cold.

 

Dmitry's earlier comment about lasting the night, made Will wonder somewhere in the back of his mind how long he was in fact expected to last. While he could hold a few drinks, he was never one to drink much, and therefore couldn't do it on the rare occasion he did drink. Will never liked going over his own limit, and certainly not when he was faced with the important task of dealing with Dmitry. The other being more than likely an excellent drinker sure wasn't making things easier, but not drinking was absolutely not an option. Will had to buy the other's trust and affection, and refusing to drink would seal his own fate. Being a big believer in mind over body, Will reached the unavoidable conclusion he would have to drink as much as necessary and just not get drunk. Failing a mission was not an option in his eyes.

 

It appeared though, that some of the stubborn alcohol was already affecting him.

 

This was the only reasonable explanation Will could find to his own reaction to the sudden change in Dmitry. He was probably just caught off guard, his feeling of relief over hearing Alyona and Angelica were fine (he still felt a little guilty over threatening to rape and/or kill them) sticking with him a moment longer and softening him. Because otherwise there was no reason for that small pinch he felt in his chest and the desire to reach out and comfort him when he saw the distress that appeared on his face seemingly out of nowhere.

 

But then, just as quickly as it appeared, it was gone. Thank god for Dmitry clearing his throat- Will needed that as well. Holding his glass in place as if to signal he was gratefully accepting the drink offered, Will took the moment to keep his eyes on the glass rather than on Dmitry. He needed to snap the fuck out of this. The other's question gave him a blissful distraction that also helped him to regroup.

 

"Well..." he opened, spinning the glass on the bar so it was making a quiet continuous scraping noise "I guess that depends on what you call 'ordinary' and 'interesting." While he was still looking down, it was clear a new, almost cunning smile appeared on Will's face. With a loud inhale, Will straightened up, taking his glass with him as he turned away from the bar. Even walking slowly, it only took him a few steps to reach back to the table.

 

"Why don't you tell me what you want to know?" Will asked as he sat down, lifting his gaze so it would meet Dmitry's "I would hate boring you with things you already heard from Tuya Nekhii"

[Gladis]

Dmitry could tell that his question had made William uncomfortable. It was subtle – anyone less observant may not even have noticed, but it was certainly there in the way William deflected his question, and attempted to put some distance between them by moving back to the table. Dmitry did not try to stop him or follow, instead remaining where he was behind the counter, his amber gaze keeping careful watch of every move William made. Almost like a wolf watching its prey. Perhaps in a sense he was. He did after all consider William a prize to be won. Finding out what he was plotting was only a bonus, as far as Dmitry was concerned. And he was sure that sooner or later he would find out.

 

”William,” he said calmly, picking up his glass to swirl around its auburn contents, ”I did not bring you here to confirm what I already know – or what you think I know. I brought you here to get to know you, to build the foundations for a future friendship. You tell me only what you feel comfortable sharing – like you would with any other person.” Downing the contents of his glass, he set it down on the wooden counter. ”Your hobbies, your interests…” Slowly Dmitry began to make his way towards the table. Yet instead of taking a seat he continued towards where William was sitting, resting one hand on the table surface, while gently sliding his index finger under his chin, tilting his head up so that he had no choice but to directly meet his gaze. ”The colour of your curtains, if that is what you want to talk about. I’m not picky.” Dmitry suggested, and although it was a joke, he delivered it in a most intimate manner – almost as though he were speaking to a lover. Then he straightened up, withdrawing his hand as his lips curled into a smooth smile. ”You have the most mesmerizing eyes, has anyone ever told you? In this kind of light, they almost appear to be silver.” He paused, before adding with a grin. ”Like my hair!”

 

Chuckling, Dmitry reached out to pull over a chair, dropping himself down onto it – though he never once took his gaze off William.

 

”Come now, no need to be so stiff. Entertain this old man for a bit, will you? Nowadays is so rare that I get to enjoy these kinds of casual conversations.”

[Joyabe]

If there was even a shred of empathy for Dmitry left in Will, it was completely wiped when he began talking. Just who the hell did he think he was to talk to him like that?

 

Okay, fine, maybe he was a mob boss with over thirty years of experience under his belt, power and money others could only dream of, and an army of men probably ready to give their lives for him. That still did not give him the right to patronize him!

 

Eyes intently watching Dmitry, Will followed his figure as he made his way towards him. He didn't feel threatened when he stopped right in front of him- it took a little more than that to threaten Will. He was, however, a little confused when Dmitry tilted his head up, and even more so as he talked to him. If Will didn't know better, he would say this was borderline... flirtatious?

 

No, no, that couldn't be, Will blinked rapidly when Dmitry let go of him. It's not that he was exactly secretive about his sexuality, but it didn't seem to make sense Dmitry would be so open about his- even if he was in fact interested. Somehow Will didn't think the people in the underworld would take too kindly to a fag not only hanging among them, but leading one of the most powerful groups in the city. This had to be simply Dmitry's way of treating people, or maybe even a way to test Will... Right?

 

Well, on the off chance it wasn't, Will was more than prepared to do whatever it took to get closer to Dmitry. And if it was the lover route he had to take- he would not hesitate doing so. He didn't even take this scenario as a possibility up until now, but suddenly he became hyper alert to it. He would just have to carefully keep testing the water, allowing Dmitry to lead. And if this is where he would lead them... Well, let's just say Will had to do much harder things than sharing the bed of a good looking man to get a job done. He was pretty sure he could handle it if things came down to this.

 

"At least it's not thinning" Will sent a snarky remark over the rim of his glass before taking it's entire content into his mouth. Placing the empty glass down, he ran his other hand absentmindedly through his own dark brown locks. He just hoped he didn't just jinx himself and was about to wake up to a very receding hairline.

 

"So I'm here for entertainment purposes?" Will cocked his head, looking ad Dmitry for a moment before getting up to his feet and making his way towards the bar "I'm pretty sure there are much better places for that. And the strippers would talk to you about whatever you'd like as long as you'll pay them enough." As venom filled as this remark might have sounded, Will made sure to keep his tone light, almost teasing, and the fact he grabbed Dmitry's empty glass and the scotch bottle before returning to the table only reinforced that notion.

 

Placing down Dmitry's glass in front of him, Will refilled it before he did the same with his own. "My interests... Well let's see" he hummed as he poured the liquor "Big Yankees fan. Next time we should go to a game together... Or to a good restaurant" Will placed the bottle on the table. "I know a great Italian place, and I heard about a new Moroccan restaurant with very promising reviews. The only thing I haven't found yet is a desert that beats a pint of Haagen Dazs."

 

As he talked, he ran a long finger in circles over the rim of his glass, keeping a steady, potentially hypnotizing rhythm. He only stopped when he added one last sentence, lifting his gaze up to capture that of Dmitry's. "I'm also interested in you. I think it's not fair you know so much about me and I know nothing about you... Why don't you tell me about your curtains?" he asked with a challenging smile.

[Gladis]

Dmitry could practically feel the burn of William’s scorching remark, and yet it did not seem to bother him in the least. His lips curled into a smile, and his amber eyes sparked with amusement.

 

”I don’t deny that there is some truth to that,” He agreed, ”But Will? It just so happens to be that I much prefer the company of handsome young men such as yourself, to that of skimpily clad women who will entertain me for a quick buck.” Couldn’t have been more overt than that, could he? Needless to say, frequently visiting male strip bars was not really an option for a man like him. ”In case my terrible attempt at flirting with you didn’t tip you off already. I must admit, I am a bit rusty on that front.” Between running the organization and raising Alyona, the time he’d had to himself – nevermind the pursuit of romantic partners, was close to nonexistent. Clearly, Dmitry was not a man who was afraid of calling things as he saw them.

 

He watched William retrieve his glass and the bottle, listening with keen interest as he began to share his interests. So he liked baseball and food. Seemed like they at least had one thing in common.

 

”There’s nothing saying we couldn’t do both.” He winked. ”Italian would be nice. It’s been a while. You know, my wife – Alyona’s mother; she was from an Italian family. Her lasagna was absolutely heavenly – the best in the world, I swear. Since then I’ve tried to recreate it many times but…” he shook his head slightly, chuckling softly as his gaze dropped down to his distorted reflection in the glass. ”It’s just not the same.” Smiling sadly, he downed that glass too, making sure to follow it up with a couple of the snacks that until then had stood untouched on the table. ”Then again, I believe I have yet to try Moroccan cuisine, so perhaps we should give that a shot. I may even learn something useful. You see, in my freetime I like to cook. I bake and make desserts too. Can’t promise it’ll beat that Haagen Daz of yours, but if you would care to come by and visit someday, I’ll make sure to whip something up for you. I’m certain Alyona would be ecstatic.” He chuckled softly, rubbing the back of his head. ”To be honest, you’re all she’s been talking about the last couple of days.”

 

Upon being challenged about the curtains, Dmitry was unable to contain the laughter that rumbled in his chest.

 

”A greedy one, aren’t you? Have I not told you plenty already?” He mused, as he poured the two of them yet another glass. ”Well then, Will – what about me would you care to know?”

[Joyabe]

Well then, things sure were taking an interesting turn. While it didn't show on his face, Will was now very much interested in the new path that opened before him. Now that Dmitry bluntly verified it, the option of playing off a romantic interest became even more appealing. Sure there was still this small chance this whole thing was a ruse Dmitry was using to make Will incriminate himself- but there wasn't really what to incriminate. This was a very low risk possibility, even if Dmitry wasn't truly interested in him. After all, he would look so much worse than himself if it was discovered he was romantically involved with another man- even if it was in the name of a goal.

 

However, he still needed a moment to adjust his attitude. It was true this route could get him closer to Dmitry much further and faster than if he were to act as his friend or a business associate, but he still needed a moment to change his mentality. It was a good thing Dmitry kept on talking, which allowed Will to listen quietly and down his third drink of the night. Damn this guy was drinking like a fish. He could feel his body getting hotter, but he was nowhere near ready to give up. Especially now, he wasn't about to fail keeping up with Dmitry.

 

Though, he wasn't in a hurry to down the next drink Dmitry quickly poured him.

 

"You know, I really hope your cooking is better than your flirting" Will didn't answer Dmitry's question immediately as he sent a mischievous smirk his way. "Maybe I should take you out to practice. You know, get you back into the groove. Most people are flattered when the person they flirt with wants to know about them you know."

 

Lifting his glass, Will looked at it for a moment before he seemed to change his mind. Instead of drinking from it, he simply kept it in his hand as he rose to his feet and slowly made his way around the table. "I want to know more about you. Not what, but who you are" Will leaned against the table in front of Dmitry, his eyes not leaving him for a moment "Your interests, your thoughts... Your dreams" as Will continued talking, placing his still full glass back on the table, his voice was low and rich, not much louder than a whisper, yet fully audible given the now decreased distance between the two. "As I said, I'm interested in you"

[Gladis]

Dmitry may not have visibly been showing it, but even he was beginning to feel the effects of the alcohol. The room seemed to be growing hotter by the minute, and a light buzz was beginning to make its presence known in the back of his head.

 

”Whoever said I wasn’t flattered?” Dmitry’s lips formed a slight smirk, his amber eyes peering over the rim of his glasses to keep careful watch of every move William made. The way his hips swayed when he walked, the mischievous glimmer in his eyes, the smirk on his lips. It seemed that it had payed off to be blunt with his intentions.

 

Even so, Dmitry could not shake the tenacious feeling that William was up to something. Perhaps if anything, his willingness to play along only served to reinforce it. Sure, Dmitry was a fairly good looking man, and wealthy to boot. Had he not known William’s past history with the Berkuty Bratva, and the fact that the man was well aware of who he was dealing with… he might have bought that his advances were genuine. That was a big MIGHT, because William did not exactly strike Dmitry as the sort of person who’d easily be swayed by just money and good looks. As it was, Dmitry was more than certain that William’s intentions were anything but pure, and although he was pleased with his response, he had not yet let down his guard – even if the way he acted could probably have fooled anyone.

 

”However, I suppose it would not hurt to take you up on your offer.” he mused, thoughtfully swirling his index finger around the edge of the glass before setting it aside on the table. ”You wish to know me, huh? That’s awfully bold of you. Most men I know would prefer to keep their distance, much less know my thoughts or dreams…” By then, Dmitry’s voice was hardly more than a sultry murmur. ”So tell me, Will… what is it that sets you apart from them?”

[Joyabe]

Will never thought getting close to Dmitry would be easy, but now, the way things turned out, it was almost fun. Will loved a good challenge- going against someone who was noticeably weaker, slower and dumber was just... unsatisfying. Fortunately, Dmitry was none of those things. In fact, he was powerful and confidant enough to admit he was interested in him while simultaneously continuing to test him. And Will was more than eager to take this test.

 

"Oh, I don't know..." Will's smile widened as he leaned further back against the table. He also very casually lifted one foot off the floor, placing the tip of his shoe on the edge of Dmitry's chair. "Maybe I am bold. Maybe I'm stupid. Maybe I know how to reach out and grab what I want" Slowly bringing his glass to his lips, Will took a small sip of his scotch, trying to pace himself "Maybe I just know the difference between fear and respect" he send another smile to Dmitry as he placed his glass back on the table. It was hard to miss the fact the other completely avoided his question, but that was expected. A man like Dmitry had a lot of secrets, and he remained alive because he knew how to keep them. Besides, this was maybe an even better way to get to know him than getting direct answers.

 

"Of course, I could ask you the same question" Will continued with a small laugh, although the seriousness in his eyes made it clear beyond a doubt he was not joking. "I'm sure you're not short on propositions. And even if you feel indebted to me... Well, this has nothing to do with this kind of interest." Remaining in the same spot- planted on the table in front of Dmitry, one foot on the ground and the other on his chair, Will continued talking, his voice low and slow, making sure every word he was saying had time to sink in with Dmitry. "Right now, you could be sitting here with some pretty young thing pouring you drinks and giggling at your jokes. He could be hanging on every word out of your mouth... 'Accidentally' brushing against your arm or your leg... Sitting in your lap... Maybe even down on his knees" Will gently gestured with his head towards the space between them, his eyes following before they lifted again to capture those of Dmitry. Yet, this was the only movement from his direction. Aside from it, he remained in the same place, without changing position or touching the other.

 

"So tell me Dmitry," Will's gaze was challenging and inviting at the same time as he repeated Dmitry's question right back to him "What is it that sets me apart from them?"

[Gladis]

Oh, this was starting to get good. Really good. The very moment Dmitry laid eyes on him, he had suspected that this was a man he could grow fond of. Conversing with him had only served to reinforce that notion. Yet even then, he could never have imagined how much he would enjoy this second meeting between them.

 

William was, by all accounts, being very difficult. He never answered Dmitry’s questions, instead deflecting them right back at him – always keeping him on his toes by sending challenge after challenge his way. Some may have been frustrated by this kind of behavior – he knew many men who would have preferred the qualities William had just described in their sexual partners. Not Dmitry. After all, what was the point of a pretty face when the head was empty? Dmitry couldn’t have cared less for such an arrangement. What he did care for was a good challenge, and William was nothing if not that.

 

If he had felt attracted to him before, Dmitry was burning with desire for him now, fighting the urge to grab him, to pull him onto his lap or to push him down onto the floor – to kiss him and to ravage him right then and there. He wanted to. Oh, he wanted it badly, but Dmitry was a patient man, with many years of practiced self-restraint. Whatever game they were playing, Dmitry did not intend to give up so easily. And so, only all too aware of the shoe on the seat between his thighs, he leaned back, making himself comfortable as he tilted his head to meet William’s gaze.

 

”Will… if it was docile and sweet I wanted, then perhaps you would be right.” A soft chuckle rumbled in Dmitry’s chest, his eyes glittering with a combination amusement and desire. ”But tell me, where’s the fun in that?” Unsurprisingly, Dmitry was no stranger to prostitutes, or… ’cute twinks with expensive tastes’, for that matter. Even if he hadn’t had the time for proper romantic pursuits, it wasn’t as though his sex life was completely dead. It just hadn’t been particularly satisfying. William, it seemed, was promising to change that.

 

”Although I will admit – I wouldn’t mind seeing you on your knees.” Preferably between his legs, with those perfect pink lips firmly wrapped around his cock. The thought alone was enough to send a hot shiver down Dmitry’s spine. His lips curled into a mischievous smirk and he reached up to gently grasp William’s chin, stroking his thumb over the younger man’s bottom lip. ”What do you say? Think you could find a better use for that smart mouth of yours, besides talking?”

[Joyabe]

When Will first saw Dmitry, heck even when he met him just earlier that night, he could have never imagine things going this well. The universe really must have been rewarding him for a year of really bad luck.

 

Feeling excitement build in his chest, almost like a loud purr, Will's eyes lightened as his lips stretched in a smile of anticipation. He was actually looking forward for what was about to come- this would be the first major step in getting what he wanted. He had to bite on the inside of his lower lip to hold himself back from letting out a low, satisfied moan, one that the right time for wasn't just yet now.

 

"And you said I'm the blunt one" Will let out a small chuckle, although the slight tilt of his head into Dmitry's hand made it clear he was by no means rejecting him. However, Will chose not to embrace Dmitry's direct offer. Not quite yet anyway. After all, even though he just told him he wanted him on his knees he also told him this was the last thing he wanted. Will had a feeling a man playing completely by Dmitry's rules wouldn't stay by his side for very long- at least not in this position. The last thing he needed was to bore the other, or have him look down on him. Will needed not only Dmitry's affection, but also his trust and respect, and in this case being docile wasn't the answer.

 

Dmitry was almost where he wanted him. Will could see the hunger in his eyes, and this look, as well as knowing it was his own doing, only intensified his own excitement. But he still needed one more little push.

 

Moving in one swift, flowing motion, Will's foot was off Dmitry's chair, replaced by his knee, which fit the space a little more snugly. Putting his weight forward, his arms were now around the other's neck, and while he was towering over him he made sure to keep most of his weight to himself. "I could think of a few things" he murmured an answer to the last question he was asked "But are you sure this is the right place? What if someone walked in and found us in a... compromising position?"

 

Keeping his lips slightly parted when he finished his sentence, Will allowed Dmitry's thumb to slide just pass his bottom lip and into his mouth. He was more than ready to go, the alcohol in his system making his actions more natural and effortless, but he didn't want to be careless. Although this might have been the quickest way to Dmitry, he had to make sure he wasn't about to turn into just another forgettable fuck in a bar.

[Gladis]

”I said you were bold, not blunt.” Dmitry corrected him, ”And I still stand by that. You are bold, William Blakesley. Bolder and cheekier than most. Perhaps that is what sets you apart from them…” he mused, and although he mostly seemed to have it together, in actuality his body was boiling with raw and untamed desire.

 

Because truth of the matter was that William drove him utterly and completely crazy. Fuck, Dmitry couldn’t even remember the last time he had wanted someone this badly. They were practically strangers, they hadn’t even kissed and yet Dmitry wanted nothing more than to fuck this man to oblivion. He wanted to make him scream with pleasure, to see him flush with arousal and to take his breath away. To at least momentarily make him forget whatever he was planning, and to rock his world so hard that he became the only one William could think of. Dmitry was greedy, and he knew already that he wanted to make this man his own. And yet to do so he knew he had to be patient.

 

With William’s knee wedged between Dmitry’s thighs and his arms wrapped around his neck, he was now so close that Dmitry could easily have pulled him into a kiss. He didn’t, instead watching with delight as his thumb to slid inside William’s hot mouth, chuckling in response to the younger man’s question.

 

”Will, where do you think we are? Who do you think I am? I promise you that no one will walk in on us. And on the off chance that someone does… well, I trust they would be wise enough to understand that what happens here, stays here. However… if it makes you feel more comfortable…” smirking, he slid his thumb, now slick with saliva out from between William’s lips, using it to produce what looked like a key card from his pocket. ”I don’t know if you noticed, but we are in a hotel. Our room is on the 29th floor.” Say what you will about the man himself, but Dmitry certainly wasn’t one to leave anything unaccounted for. ”Unless you’re really into the idea of getting fucked on the table here, I’d say that’s probably the way to go.”

 

Dropping the key next to his glass on the wooden surface, he slid his hands down William’s sides until they were resting on his hips, grabbing on to them firmly so that he could pull him onto his lap, proper.

 

”It’s your choice…” he murmured, trailing a couple of gentle bites and kisses down his neck, unbuttoning the first three buttons of his shirt so that he could continue along his collarbone. ”But you better be quick about it, or I will make the decision for you.” Chuckling, he pulled back only so much that he could meet William’s gaze, yet remaining close that they were practically breathing the same air. He smiled. ”After all, there’s only so much teasing a man can stand...” And if the increasingly prominent bulge in his trousers was anything to go by, Dmitry was most certainly nearing his breaking point.

[Joyabe]

This was it, the thing Will was waiting for. While Dmitry seemed to stay in control, going as far as making it seem like every final choice was left to him, the boundaries he set made it clear he was nearing the end of his rope. Having just received from him a conformation of interest that could hold on beyond that same night, he was finally ready to give in and give Dmitry what he wanted. After all, his entire plan didn't revolve around being detached and unattainable. He just had to make sure to sink his hook in deep enough when going in to have a firm enough grip on the other.

 

The touch of the other's hands and lips on his body made a soft, content hum to vibrate in the back of his throat and his eyes to close. Although, they opened fast enough at Dmitry's next comment, looking at him with a soft smile. Placing both hands on the sides of his face, Will let his thumbs run across Dmitry's jaw line and lips. "That's not good" he said quietly, his voice nothing more than a seductive murmur "I wouldn't like to test your limits." Will's actions contradicted his words perfectly as he leaned down, slowly and gently kissing Dmitry. Now that he was properly sitting in his lap, he could not only see but also feel his arousal, a fact he was quick to use as he lightly rolled his hips against Dmitry.

 

That small form of potential torture didn't last long however, as soon after Will broke the kiss, looking down at Dmitry again. He was pretty sure he had this handsome, confidant, interesting, sexy man right where he wanted him. Hell, if he wasn't so intent on hating him, he might have actually liked Dmirty.

 

"As tempting as it sounds" Will smiled mischievously "I'm pretty sure they have a table in the room as well." Raising to his feet (oh yeah, he could definitely feel the alcohol in his system) Will picked up the key card from the table and slid it into his back pocket. "Come" he almost commanded, taking Dmitry's hand, pulling him out of his chair and leading him out of the room.

 

Walking down the corridor leading to the elevator, he was quick to locate two people already standing in front of it. Damn, there went his chance to make the ride up a little more interesting. Letting go of Dmitry's hand, Will continued walking a few steps in front of him, giving him a chance to examine the two waiting for the elevator and Dmitry a chance to check his ass. A man and a woman, both seemed in their thirties although the woman seemed way too pretty for the man, and also full of silicone. He found it to be a safe assumption she wasn't exactly there for free, but he was a little more interested in the man. As his eyes landed on the two of them, an expression of mixed awe and fear clearly appeared on his face. It was probably a good thing he let go of Dmitry given that reaction. Well, it wasn't like Will didn't have his own intimidating aura, but standing next to Dmitry he was pretty sure this expression wasn't directed at him. Plus, this man looked like someone who might just know who Dmitry was.

 

The fact he stepped aside and allowed Will and Dmitry to enter the elevator before he and his woman did was further proof of that, as was the stiffness that seemed to attack him from the moment he entered and until he got off the elevator. While they had company, Will made sure to act like a good boy, standing in the back of the elevator without laying a hand on Dmitry or uttering a word. The moment they were left alone though, he took the one step he needed in the small space to stand not only in front of Dmitry, but practically flashed against him. Intertwining his fingers with those of both of Dmitry's hands, Will stood on his toes, something he almost never had to do, so that his lips were right at Dmitry's ear. "Next time we should try riding it alone" he chuckled before grazing his earlobe with his teeth.

 

The small 'ding' letting them know they arrived on their floor a second later made Will step away, a smile saying nothing but trouble now clearly written on his face. Letting go of one of Dmitry's hands, he kept the other in his, using in to once again pull him after him into the hallway and down to the door of their room. The quick glance he got of the room number written on the card back down at the bar allowed him to make his way quickly and efficiently, only pulling the key card when they were in front of the room's door.

 

Well, room as not exactly the right word, Will discovered once he opened it. This definitely seemed more like a suite- a large main hall that had both a sleeping area predominantly ruled by a king size bed as well as a separated sitting area with two more doors Will assumed led to another room and a bathroom. The cherry on top though was the large windows that seemed almost like an entire wall, and allowed them to gaze right at the city's night view, the many lights twinkling against the dark sky, acting as starts instead of the real ones that couldn't be seen.

 

The view though, was the last thing on Will's mind.

 

Leading Dmitry straight to the bed, he pushed him onto it before climbing on, positioning himself between the other's legs once again. This time when Will kissed Dmitry it was no longer soft or gentle. His lips moved with clear hunger, and as he allowed his tongue to wander into the other's mouth he could clearly taste the traces of whisky that somehow seemed to only contribute to his own high. When he pulled away, his breath was already a little heavy and lust was evidently the dominating feature of both his gaze and voice. "Do you still want to see me on my knees?" he asked, not before adding a tug to Dmitry's bottom lip with his teeth.

[Gladis]

If ever there was a time for Dmitry to practice restraint, it was now. For there was no denying his newest conquest was truly putting his patience to the test. Heat coursed through him like wildfire, and a beastly hunger burned in his gaze. Yet no matter how sweet that kiss tasted, or how crazy William’s teasing was driving him, Dmitry was still a man of his word. If he’d said he would give William the choice, William would get the choice. After all, the last thing Dmitry wanted to do was making William uncomfortable. That didn’t mean he couldn’t jokingly express his impatience.

 

”Don’t be impertinent.” He husked against William’s lips, sliding his hands from his hips to his ass to giving each cheek a tight squeeze through the fabric of his trousers. Dmitry didn’t realize it then, but as they were waiting for the elevator just a moment later, he came to appreciate how nicely they fit against the shape of William’s body.

 

Dmitry was so preoccupied with checking out Will’s butt that he barely noticed the man and the woman waiting alongside them. Once he did notice them upon entering, he absentmindedly registered the man as one of Vladislav’s guys, acknowledging his gesture of respect with a slight nod but little else. It was a good thing then that his presence made the man nervous, as this meant he was too preoccupied with not looking at Dmitry directly to notice his raging boner. Needless to say, he was glad when they left, and he once again had William all to himself.

 

Feeling the younger man’s fingers intertwined with his own, his lips curled into a grin as the other pressed up against him. A soft chuckle vibrated in his throat. ”You would like that, huh?” He mused, leaning down to playfully nuzzle the curve of William’s neck.

 

Dmitry was just about ready to seize his lips in another kiss when a ’ding’ sounded through the elevator, instead prompting Will to once again pull him along, out into the corridor. Dmitry let him. It was unusual for his partners – especially in recent years, to be this forward and demanding. Oftentimes it felt like he was expected to always be in control, and given his position and reputation, most probably assumed that was the way he preferred it. People were afraid of him. Sometimes it would lead to a subservience that, more often than not, ended up frustrating him. Perhaps this, above all, was what had drawn him to Will in the first place. This complete lack of fear, despite the fact that William seemed to know exactly whom he was dealing with. It was a nice change of pace, that Dmitry had to admit, only made him feel even more excited for what was to come.

 

Unlike the dimly lit bar with its carpeted red floors and dark, wooden furniture, the suite Dmitry had booked for them was wide and brightly lit, with a fresh, modern feel to the interior design. Not that Dmitry was in a clear enough state of mind to appreciate it. Clouded with the alcohol and arousal, the only thing that occupied his mind right at that moment was Will, and the way his hips swayed as he led him over to the bed, pushing him down onto the bed before catching his lips in another, this time considerably more heated kiss.

 

Dmitry let out a deep, almost guttural growl, cupping the back of William’s head in his large hand, burying his fingers in that soft dark hair of his, as he returned the kiss with equal if not more force. Meanwhile his free hand worked to continue unbuttoning William’s shirt, eager to discover what could be found underneath. However, since he was using only one hand it took quite a bit of fumbling around, and by the time William broke the kiss he was only half finished and very much out of breath.

 

Upon hearing William’s question, he arched an eyebrow, his lips curling into a smirk as and he withdrew his hand, instead using it to open his trousers. ”Need you even ask?” Chuckling softly, he shifted to his knees, rising up to tower over William as pulled down his trousers and underwear to finally free his cock from its uncomfortable fabric prison. Gently grasping his chin, Dmitry tilted William’s head up and leaned down to claim his lips in another kiss – this one considerably shorter, but every bit as intense.

 

”If you think you can manage.”

 

Even for a man his size, Dmitry was well endowed, and taking him whole would certainly not be an easy feat – even for someone with a lot of experience. Honestly, he did not even expect William to do so, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t tease him. After everything he had put him through, it was only fair.

[Joyabe]

Will didn't know whether it was the drinks, the thrill of having his target so vulnerable in front of him or just the general high from the chase, but he found it surprisingly easy to lean in into whatever Dmitry was throwing his way, and then crave some more. The fingers intertwining in his hair, the touch of his hands on his body and the heat from his lips against his skin all made electricity shoot directly from where he was touched and through all his body.

 

"Well shit" Will smirked when Dmitry set his erection free. He assumed there were men in a similar position to his who were trying to compensate for something. Clearly, this wasn't the case with Dmitry. He clearly had the goods to back up his cockiness.

 

Not that Will had too much time to appreciate it. Soon he found himself pulled into another kiss, his hands automatically traced and trailed Dmitry's sides as he instinctively followed up in his direction, trying to taste more of that dangerous and very potentially addictive drug that was the other. Needless to say, he was a little disappointed when it was taken away from him.

 

Will's bad mood though, passed in an instant when Dmitry presented him with a challenge. This was the thing he responded the best to, and instead of irritation a mischievous expression appeared on his face. "Only one way to find out" he replied playfully, before placing another small peck on the other's lips. He had no intention of staying there for long though.

 

Letting his hands lead, Will opened the buttons on Dmitry's shirt, making way for his mouth to soon follow, kissing, nibbling and licking all the way down from his neck, down his collar bone through his chest and stomach. When he was finally back down on all fours he added a slightly stronger bite to Dmitry's hip bone before he turned his attention to the main attraction.

 

Grabbing the other's erection, he gave it a few slow strokes before his tongue joined his hands, licking the side of Dmitry's cock from base to tip. When he reached it, he let the tip into his mouth, gently sucking on it while his hand slowly worked the rest of the shaft. Slowly but surely, Will took more and more of Dmitry's length into his mouth, bobbing his head up down and letting the other slide a little deeper every time. Taking him in his mouth, Will couldn't help but wonder how it would feel having Dmitry fill him completely, and in an almost unconscious response his hips swayed, almost as if trying to implement the same idea in the other's mind. Quickly it proved to be not the easiest of tasks, given the other's size, but Will was never one to back from a challenge. When he felt the other hit the back of his throat he kept him there for a moment, moaning and letting the sound vibrate around Dmitry's cock.

 

Still, this wasn't enough for him. Relaxing his jaw as best as he could and focusing on breathing out of his nose, Will took the rest of Dmitry's cock, feeling him slide down his throat. The feeling of accomplishment that filled him only lasted a very short while, as a few bobs up and down seemed to be all he was capable of before he had to come up for air. This time, he was visibly upset, something between a scowl and a pout on his face. Will did not like failing. "Dammit" he mumbled as he lifted back up, wrapping his arms around the other's neck "I think I'm going to have to get back in shape." Despite the so-called quitting nature of this statement, Will's body language made it clear he was far from being done with Dmitry. The kisses he peppered on his neck and the way he pushed himself and grinded against the other showed just how much more interested Will became. He only got a taste, but now he wanted more. Much more.

[Gladis]

Call it vanity, but Dmitry had always found it incredibly entertaining to see how his lovers reacted the first time they laid eyes on his cock. In that regard, Will certainly did not disappoint. Feeling his chest rise with the amused chuckle that rumbled within it, he couldn’t help but to slip a small remark.

 

”Like what you see, huh?” He mused, evidently pleased. Even more so when Will decided to take him up on the challenge, his cheeky response sending Dmitry into even more of a blaze than he already was. God, this man was really testing his patience; driving him up the walls with all of this endless teasing. However, he also had to admit that it made the experience of finally getting what he had asked for all the more rewarding.

 

Watching in delight as William got back down on his hands and knees, he licked his lips, letting out a hungry grunt of approval when he felt the younger man’s hand wrapped around his cock. Every stroke sent a shiver of pleasure into Dmitry’s abdomen, enjoying the feeling of his saliva coated tongue rubbing against his sensitive skin. Yet all of that paled in comparison to the sensation of being engulfed by the wet, hot heat of Willam’s mouth. It felt so good that all of Will’s teasing could almost be forgiven. Almost.

 

”Now that’s a good boy…” he purred, allowing his fingers to slide through the tresses of William’s dark hair, grabbing on to it lightly, but never in a way that impeded on his ability to pull back. As much as he felt the urge to just start thrusting his cock in there, the last thing he wanted to do was cause William any kind of discomfort. And honestly? He would have been perfectly fine if William had just kept up what he was doing right then – Using his tongue and mouth to work its magic on the parts he could easily fit into his mouth, while tending to the rest with his hands. However, as it turned out, it seemed Will was looking to impress. And impress he did.

 

Dmitry watched through lidded eyes as William worked more and more of him into his mouth, and until at last he had slid so far down his throat that the tip of the younger man’s nose brushed against his pubes.

 

”Fuck!” He gasped, his grip on William’s hair tightening as he very much resisted the urge to buck his hips. ”Damn it, Will – I didn’t think you’d actually do it…” he groaned in pure ecstasy, tilting his head back as he reveled in the feeling of William’s throat vibrating around his cock. His pleasure however was short-lived, as a moment later he could feel Will pulling back, prompting him to immediately let go of his hair. Of course, this was to be expected, but he still couldn’t help but wish that it could have lasted just a little bit longer. Not that he would ever express that.

 

”Don’t worry about it.” Dmitry murmured in a surprisingly tender tone of voice, pushing Will down onto the bed, his hands working swiftly to finally finish what they had started with his shirt. ”You did good.” Allowing it to fall open, he leaned down to kiss William – first on the lips, then his jaw, his neck and his collarbone, sucking on his skin, making sure to leave several marks Will could remember him by. ”Besides,” he mused, stopping only briefly to catch William’s gaze. ”You’ll have plenty of time to practice in the future.” Like William, Dmitry was making it clear that he wanted this to be more than a one-time thing.

 

Allowing a small smirk to tug at the corners he his lips, Dmitry unbuckled his belt, wasting no time ridding William of his trousers and underwear, tossing them aside along with his own. He took only a brief moment to appreciate the sight of having an almost naked William straddled between his legs, before pulling him into another whisky tasting kiss. Grinding up against William, he grabbed both of their cocks, rubbing them together as he assaulted Will’s mouth with ravenous appetite, his tongue eager to explore every nook and cranny of what his lover had to offer. It was hungry, it was passionate and above all it was intoxicating – leaving him hot, breathless and yearning for more.