Things In The Night

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

"Paranoia doesn't suit you." Vrak said as they wandered over the landing pad and into the building, immediately taking a left towards a large doorway at the end of the hall. On the opposite end was a turbo-lift, though other than that the hallway was unadorned.

"We arrived in a stealth ship." He reminded her. "No one is aware that you are with me."

His servants were completely loyal, and no one else had seen him take Sera back to the warehouse. If these people did know, that meant they were omniscient and he had a lot more to worry about his future endeavors than he'd thought.

"You are far too intelligent to let fear get the better of you." Vrak told her as his hand slipped onto the handles of the doors in front of them and pushed them open. The room beyond the doorway was a massively open living room. There was a window that stretched almost the entire length of the room, though blinds were now covering it. To the left was a kitchen and to the right a hall that likely lead to several bedrooms.

Ornate decorations hung from the wall, everything from blades to beautiful landscape portraits that seemed to fit the decor almost perfectly.

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

The Twi'lek remained quiet until they reached the turbolift. "Don't flatter and insult me in the same breath. I don't like it."

She wasn't afraid of them. She was simply cautious of their ability to somehow always be ahead of her. "Don't mistake caution with fear." She smirked, "Besides, you are still paranoid of me. I can see it in your eyes, the way you watch me. Waiting for me to strike at you. I promise, if it were to happen, you would not expect it. What fun would there be in giving you warning, after all?"

The building itself was rather nice, a penthouse style living space. Sera made her way to the couch, dropping down and extending her legs to cover the length of the cushions. There wasn't a whole lot to do, at least on her part, until the team Vrak sent across the way returned with either information or bodies to question. For a moment she toyed with the idea of which he would prefer to see.

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

He stayed at the entrance of the apartment for a moment as Sera wandered past him, his eyes slowly moving over everything to ensure that nothing had been moved. When he was satisfied that everything was perfect he slowly followed after her.

"Caution turns into fear like dawn turns into day." Vrak was of course saying that Caution inevitably turned to fear. He knew this because he had experienced it more than once. Of course he believed Sera that these people were good, but no one was that good. There was no way of telling that she was with him. Once they had met the Banker? Well that would change, but for now he was sure that they were secure. Especially given that they had checked her for tracking devices while sedated.

Slowly he followed after her, standing besides the couch.

He looked down at her, eyebrow raised as she stretched herself out. "You."

Vrak began to speak as he reached down, a single finger grazing against the pink skin of her leg.

"Are still a very real threat." His finger slowly slid up her skin, an act of provocation if there ever was one. "I simply watch you to prepare for the inevitable."

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

Seraphina watched as the man reached for her, trailing his finger along her leg. Her eyes followed the fingertips over her skin. For half a second she considered reacting, though perhaps thought that was what he was after. A lapse in restraint. Maybe it would bother him more than his uninvited contact went without complaint or harsh reaction. She simply eyed him until there was a pause in movement.

"Am I?" She asked, "Do you believe me so unstable that I would agree to cooperate with certain conditions, only to go back on that?"

She wasn't Sith. So long as he didn't demean or cause her pain, and kept his own word, she would agree to help him.

It was if he broke that trust. She would see his demise.

"I'm not unreasonable, I don't think."

Her legs partially retracted, knees bending so that space would be made for the crimson skinned man. "Would you like to sit?"

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

"I have no reason to trust you." As she slowly parted her legs slightly his finger slid down her thigh, though not of his own volition. He watched her for a moment more, considering the offer that she made. "When this all began I asked for your cooperation."

It was before they had come to their little understanding, but that wasn't relevant.

"Yet you attacked me anyway." Of course, if she hadn't done so he would have treated her little better than a dog, but that was neither here nor there. Vrak didn't particularly think that she was going to attack him again, not until they met the banker anyway, but by nature once you knew something was a threat it was difficult to see them as anything else. Of course the same argument could be said regarding her fear for her employers, but again Vrak didn't think about that.

Instead he let his hand linger here was as he slowly sat himself down upon the sofa.

"For all I know." He told her as he sat. "You'll take this very opportunity to take the remote and slit my throat."

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

"You chased after, and attacked me first. You then planted an explosive in my back. Don't paint yourself the victim here. It's embarrassing."

The woman shifted slightly, adjusting her back and using her hands to shift one of the pillows beneath her neck for support to make it easier and more comfortable to speak to him. After Vrak sat she draped her legs back over his lap, regardless of whether or not he wished it. Her tongue clicked against the roof of her mouth a few times, considering his words.

Green orbs glanced from Vrak's hand back up to his eyes for a moment. "Perhaps I simply enjoy knowing you are afraid I might attack you, even if it never comes. There is real power in that. Maybe more than the act of actually harming or killing you."

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

For a moment he said nothing, her pink legs draping over his lap. That ball of rage seemed to flare into life like a blazing sun at that, burning bright the instant her feet crossed his lap. It should have been obvious that she would do it, but the idea had never really crossed his mind. No one had ever dared for such a thing with him before, mostly because it would either earn them a broken leg or outright death. Sera though...of course she would.

His fingers tightened on her leg for half a second.

"Fear?" Vrak repeated the word, letting it roll off his tongue. Was he afraid of her? Not really, the word weary was more applicable. He knew that she could kill him, he was well aware that in a fair fight she would win, but fear implied that he would try to stop her from striking. Fear implied that he wouldn't provoke or push her, wouldn't play the game, and that certainly wasn't true.

For a second he did nothing, and then suddenly he moved.

Quick as a viper Vrak wrapped his hand around her leg, digging into her thigh for half a second as he wrenched her from her place on the couch and pulled her down towards him. Her legs went over him, and Vrak half fell atop her, pinning her in place, hand hard on her thigh so she wouldn't kick him. "The wrong word I think."

Vrak said, his face just an inch or two away from hers.

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

The head tails behind her curled around her neck the moment she was wrenched from place. In an instant she found Vrak's hands on her, fingers digging forcefully into her thigh formed a teeth baring snarl from her as he fell on top of her. Reactionary muscles acted, her hands immediately raising to push against his chest, fingernails driving into his shoulders to try and push him off of her.

He was lucky he had pinned her leg, otherwise he would have received quite a delivery where she was certain he would not approve.

The distance their two faces were from one another was close enough that he could hear her breathing, she could smell the scent of him. "Are you so certain?" Sera growled, her head tilting back slightly. "You seem nervous." Her nails dug further against the fabric on his shirt, pressing harder against his skin. Even through the clothing he would feel the sharpness begin to dig in.

Her eyes glared up towards his. She again repeated the word. "Afraid of me."

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

His hand maintained a constant pressure on her thigh, making sure she couldn't move to break his grip.

Her nails dug into him, even through the thick cloth of the robes he wore he could feel them. A slight snarl touched his lips, his teeth showing for just half a second until his expression turned to a smile. As she pressed her hands further into him he did the same, mimicking the motion up her thigh as his other hand snaked up the side of her body.

"Certain?" He asked as his hand slid over her skin.

From the corner of his eye he could see her Lekku curl slightly.

"I am all but irrefutable." Vrak said, pressing against her nails as if he was seeking for her to dig even deeper into his skin. "There's nothing to fear."

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

The still aching muscles in her body tensed, the scowl on her face grew deeper the instant the Sith flashed a smile. The weight of his body on top of her made it difficult to force him off, and with her legs unable to move made it incredibly difficult to maneuver from beneath him. She could push him across the room with a shove of the Force, but his grip on her might take her with him. She growled again, knowing she couldn't likely get away from him, cursing herself for being trapped in such a humiliating way.

"You fear everything about me while I'm unrestrained." Her head raised, close enough that their noses touched as she nearly burned holes into his soul from the stare down. Her hands became even tighter, feeling them sink into him further as he seemingly pushed into the pain. Without warning she snapped her jaw up, sinking her teeth into his lower lip tightly.

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

The pain did not make him shy away.

Her teeth sunk into his lip, her nails pushed through the fabric, pressing into his skin, but Vrak didn't move an inch. If anything he pushed himself closer, the slight tear of fabric ringing out as his hand sailed over her skin and up her chest. His fingers wrapped around her throat.

A splash of blood fell into his mouth as he pushed her down, her teeth sliding over him as he pressed her into the sofa.

"Then I'll just restrain you." The hand at her throat tightened, holding her down as he leaned forward and returned the favor she had shown him.

His lips pressed against hers an instant later.

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

Immediately she retracted one of her hands the moment his fingers glided up her chest and wrapped around her neck. Both lek curled back and out of the way, seemingly out of fear of assault themselves. That hand grabbed hold of his wrist in an attempt to pull it free of her airway. She tasted the blood as it drew from her harsh bite. The liquid, as dark as his skin, polished her lips as she continued to bite down right up to the moment where he tightened his hold on her throat and forced her free of himself.

His words echoed in her ear as he severed her ability breathe comfortably. The bit of air still inside escaped in the form of a cry, feeling the pain of him biting into her with the same level of force she had shown him. The whole of it had been a mere game to him. He played along, gave and gave each step of the way since her outburst. This was how Vrak decided he would win. Rather than punish, rather than whip or torture her, beat or break her. He simply dominated her. A show of force that, in the moment, she was unable to free herself from. A form of expression not depicting love of any kind, just sheer dominance. All of it.

The hand digging into his chest fell away, her lip trembled beneath his bite, another cry escaped her before reciprocating his still forceful, yet more gentle gesture.

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

He could feel her press up against him slightly, the tightening of her muscles, the whimpering cry that came from her lips. He felt her hand around his wrist, trying to fight, to push back, but he didn't let up.

Vrak could heard the thundering of her heart, could see the curl of her lekku, could see the slight tinge of fear mixed with something else in her eye. He didn't let up. The Pureblood kept on with his push, prodding her, pushing her ever along the way that he wanted her to go. The hand on her thigh slowly pressed and slid up, the fingers around her throat relaxed just slightly, but still kept her held down. The fingers against his chest went slack, her hand falling away.

He could feel her fall away beneath him.

Control shifted to him, power, dominance, whatever you wanted to call it. He held her in the palm of his hand, and they both knew it.

A curl formed at the corner of his lips as the bite slowly turned into a kiss.

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

Sera could see it in his eyes, he was enjoying exerting control over her.

Simple genetics fought against her in that moment. Vrak was larger, heavier, in every way her raw, physical superior. Where he could not overpower her with the Force he did so here. Her hands trembled slightly, both now wrapped one atop the other on his forearm, but rather than push him away, she had reduced her attempts to simply preventing him from strangling her.

With the bit of freedom the Twi'lek drew in a frantic breath. She felt his hand move further along her body, wherever he so desired. This was part of those cryptic words he had used earlier. She cursed herself for not having caught him before he moved on her. A pink leg shifted beneath him, running along the inside of his thigh and down his calf.

She would later scold herself for giving in to him. For allowing him his desire, his need for power and control. She was foolish.

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

He gave her no respite, not a second to rest. As soon as she caught her breath his lips were upon hers again. The hand at her throat remained, a thin veil of pressure atop the bruises that were already there. He felt her palms upon his wrist, a simple pressed that begged nor for an end, but simple mercy. Her breaths grew longer, deeper as he allowed her a bit of life, the rest of him pressing against her even as her foot slowly slid down his calf.

There were no more words.

There were no taunts, no small quips, nothing. They both knew that he had won, they both knew that for now at least, she was his. Fingers spread over pink skin as she gave into him, her Lekku curling as he shifted ever so slightly. His eyes locked with hers. There was no hint of smugness in his gaze, not yet, that would come later.

For now his look said only one thing. Mine.

The word was punctuated by the sound of tearing cloth.

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

Her neck was going to be a dark shade of purple for some time. That was for sure. Would need to cover that up probably, though perhaps for the meeting it would look appropriate for her to bear visible markings of what one would consider abuse. Well, it was abuse, though the latest in that series was more mutually allowed abuse.

The Twi'lek's breathing had returned to normal, chest rising and falling with Vrak atop her. Silence hung over the room. She decided it was best not to speak, though she did peer over the side to see the once more torn clothing that certainly would require yet another replacement. A frown appeared for half a moment, before she shifted her head and laid back. Her hand ran through his hair, lightly brushing it back.

Sleep would have been possible, but she worried that if she allowed herself that luxury, he would immediately force her to get up. Her body was sore, but also notably relaxed.

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

He allowed her to run her fingers through his hair, black strands stained with the slightest amount of sweat folding upon themselves as pink digits slowly pressed them back. For a time Vrak didn't say a single word, he simply watched her. The hand around her throat had gone slack, fingers only resting there. His other palm sat upon her hip, resting gently.

A small smile touched his lips as she tipped her head back.

They both knew that had just happened, the redirect of balance that had slipped between them. She could still kill him, overpower him with the force or catch him by surprise, but that didn't matter so much anymore. She would know it, he knew it already. "There is a sanistream in the bedroom."

Vrak finally spoke, his tone tinged not exactly with kindness, but not exactly disdain either.

"Even a bath if you wish it." Clearly it was more of a suggestion than a command.

While the balance had shifted once more it was obvious that Vrak would not be returning to treating her like a pet. Perhaps he would eventually, but for now he would go on as before. His manipulations would continue, and once again Vrak would have everything he wanted.

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

Normally this would be that awkward moment where two people who knew nothing of each other, name included, would roll away from one another, hang in awkward silence for a period of time, and then go their separate ways for all eternity. Unlike those people though, she still had a lethal device implanted inside her body, the man with the switch on top of her, having bed her, while at the same time mutually requiring one another on some level to accomplish their own individual, selfish needs.

That, and they were in the common room. So there was no privacy, save for the servants' desire to witness nothing of their master in that state. The Twi'lek pulled herself slowly from beneath Vrak, allowing her feet to press against the floor. "I need new clothes." She said, looking down at the mess. "Bath." She said with a nod, before padding over towards the room. The Twi'lek didn't look back, without seeing she could feel his eyes on her. She had lost in a way, but she could still kill him if she needed to.

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

Vrak watched her for a moment, that smug smile finally allowed to cross his face.

She didn't look back, but she would very likely know exactly what he was doing. There was no doubt in his mind that she could still kill him if she found it necessary, this had hardly been an act of love, it was a show of dominance. They had enjoyed themselves, both of them, but that didn't really change thing as far as the end of all this. Not for Vrak at least, and doubtlessly not for her either. After a few moments Vrak stood from the Sofa.

He followed after her towards the room. "The bath is on your left."

His voice rang out as she crossed through the doorway of the bedroom. The Servants had long ago disappeared at the start of things, all of them knowing their duty's well enough to not stick around and watch. He had no doubt that they would be returning soon.

"I'll ensure you have new clothes by the time you're done." Vrak told her as he stepped into the room.

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

The bath filled surprisingly quickly the moment she turned the knob. She checked for the temperature and adjusted until it was comfortably hot. Turning to see him just inside the room she gave a quick nod. "Thank you." Unsure exactly of what had just happened she stood in front of the bath, her hands resting along the lip for a moment, studying the Sith. She knew why he did it. She knew it had nothing to do with affection, nor was her complacency intended to display a return of affection. For her, and possibly Vrak, it was an exchange. He gave the woman something she wanted earlier, and in return she returned the favor.

For now they were square, even.

She smiled partially, almost intentionally sheepishly for him before settling into the water. Her muscles immediately thanked her as she felt her body relax. An exhaustive sigh escaped Sera's lips as her head submerged beneath the surface for a few moments.

She could lay in this forever.

[member="Vrak Nashar"]