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Chapter Summary: Yao and Ivan reveal the truth about their involvement with the Beilschmidt/Karpusi murders.
Ch. 42: Two to Tango
It has been a long night for Ivan. He's been tracking shipments and sales, considering colleges for Eduard, and setting aside lessons for Raivis. He needs to learn what the boy can handle and give him a chance to earn some respect. He can tell his employees to listen to Raivis, and they will obey. But without respect (and a touch of fear), there will always be doubt. There can be no doubt now, no mistakes. He is only a few moves away from putting his enemies in check, and they will never see it coming.
He's setting aside a minor issue for Raivis to work through when there's a knock at the door. He expects it to be one of his employees with fresh news, or perhaps Raivis seeking more information. Instead it is Yao, leaning in the doorway with his ankles crossed, unannounced and all the more lovely for it.
Yao smiles a little. He likes the way Ivan looks when he's vaguely surprised. He came dressed to impress in tight, rust-colored jeans and a loose black muscle shirt that shows off his tattoos and the track-marks from his harder days. His hair hangs loose in a ponytail, and he reaches up to pull it free, shaking it past his shoulders. "Busy?"
Busy? Well, he was, but now Ivan's mind is stuttering to a halt. It is incredibly unusual for the mere sight of a man to have such an effect on him. It's hardly fair play. "No. Did you want something?"
Smirking wolfishly, Yao leans in the doorway and waits for an invitation. Never enter a man's office without permission, or he has every right to shoot you. That was what his father always taught him, anyway.
"I want several things," says Yao. "One, in particular..." He lets his eyes travel low and pause at the desk, as though he's visualizing what Ivan has beneath it. Each time they've seen one another they've gotten closer, made their touches a little more intimate. Perhaps that's why Ivan hasn't visited again.
Ivan leans back in his chair and takes a long, slow look at Yao. The man certainly knows how to play up a seduction. "Well then, come in and ask. I am in a good mood tonight."
Yao strides into the room, all confidence as that smirk twists the corner of his lips. He wants this man under his thumb and in his bed. He'll take one or the other before he lets himself really feel things for him, but he'd prefer both. He stands above Ivan and drags a hand down his cheek. He left the blade ring off tonight; no need to cut up Ivan's handsome face. "Down to business so fast?"
"Did you have something else in mind?" Ivan asks. He reaches up to tug on Yao's hair, winding the length of it around his hand until he has a good grip. An experimental pull brings Yao much closer. He chuckles. "You have a leash. I like it."
Yao's breath hitches and he lets out a choked noise. Ivan likes it when his lovers are vulnerable – at least, that is what Yao has been told. Best to give Ivan the illusion of control, at least for now. He holds the back of the chair and straddles Ivan's knees, leaning into his face. "Oh yes." He takes the initiative then, stealing his lips in a kiss that makes their nerves shudder with heat.
Ivan uses Yao's hair to keep him there, making the kiss deeper. He pushes his tongue against Yao's lips until they open for him, then shoves it in his mouth. If Yao's going to play games, then he is too. And he's going to win.
The kiss turns dark, and the way Ivan yanks his hair nearly drives Yao out of his mind. He opens up for Ivan with a groan, sucking his tongue hard and nipping his lower lip before he finally manages to pull away. "I missed that."
Ivan hums in agreement. "You see? This is why I say business first. Otherwise..." He leans in and bites Yao's neck. "…nothing ever gets done."
Yao lets him bite and slides further into his arms, a low noise rising from his throat. "That is a very good point." Sadly, it is, and now Yao forces himself to lean out of Ivan's reach. He captures Ivan's face in his hands and pulls it up to meet his eyes. Yao is here for reasons besides his libido. "I need your help, and I'm willing to offer you something in return."
Ivan's smirk widens. Yao Wang, the drug lord, wants his help. This must be something interesting. "If you want someone dead, my dragon, I will be asking why you do not take care of them yourself. I find it hard to believe there is anyone you are afraid of. If there is, I would like very much to meet them."
"That is the sweetest thing you have ever said to me," Yao replies. His lips slide in again to meet Ivan's, but he pulls away again before they can lose focus. However, he does allow their bodies to remain close and brushes his fingers down Ivan's neck. "There is no one I want dead at the moment, just a mystery that needs solving. Someone has killed my brother's lover. I would like to know who."
Ivan does not bother to hide his surprise. Kiku's lover...that was Heracles Karpusi, wasn't it? The man who died the same night as Gilbert and Hans. It was a successful night for Ivan, not so much for those three. And he is not the only one who benefited. He answers carefully, sliding Yao off of his lap. "You did not like your brother having a lover."
Yao shrugs a little. This is common knowledge - as common as the fact that Ivan profited from the Beilschmidts' deaths. "I did not like him having a lover who wished to marry him. Things were fine the way they were. He believed he was free of me, but he was very much mine. I would prefer that harmony remained."
Ivan wonders if Yao realizes what he is asking. After all, there are good reasons Ivan never set his mind and manpower to solving this murder. The first is that he profited from it. The second... "You did not kill them?"
Ah, there it is. The question that no one seems willing to ask. Yao's lips curl a little. "No," he answers truthfully. "If I had, I would have done a better job of it - as would you. They would have disappeared, not left bloody messes in the street."
That is a fair point. When Ivan leaves a scene messy, it is a message. If those deaths were a message than he was not the one who was meant to read it. Still, he must be sure of Yao's trust. "How are you certain I did not kill them? The old man was in my way. Gilbert was an annoyance. Heracles...a casualty."
Yao moves closer to him again, leaning in and ruffling Ivan's hair. "If you had killed them, you would have left their bodies at Bielschmidts' door. Besides, I trust that if you had murdered Heracles, you would have told me, if only to gain my favor."
"I do not need your favor. That is an unexpected little gift," Ivan chuckles. He takes Yao's hand, bringing him back onto his lap. "You are right, I did not kill them. But why do you wish to know who the killer really is? What makes you want your brother's favor so badly?"
"Why? Jealous?" Yao raises his eyebrows at the question, smirking slightly as he reaches between them to part the buttons on Ivan's shirt. He has never seen him completely undressed, and he is starting to get impatient. He leans in to press his lips to Ivan's throat, nuzzling his neck and breathing in his scent. "It's not something you need to worry about. I simply wish to make it clear that those who harm my family in any way will not be tolerated."
Ivan grunts. That feels...very nice. "I was very close when it happened. I meant to talk to Hans - only talk. Very obvious if I hurt him then, after so many saw me at the bar. But I was delayed. I happened to spot my Raivis getting into your nephew's car, so I did not see or hear more than anyone else. Do you have any ideas?"
Yao sighs and shakes his head slowly. "I am afraid not. I was at home, going over the books with Sebastian. The most I have been able to gather comes from Kiku: Heracles was en-route to meet him at the Rainbow, and Gilbert was going to meet Francis. One of my men says that he heard Heracles and Sadik Adnan fighting again. I spoke with Adnan, and he swears that he was not involved."
Ivan snorts. "Of course he does. The guilty swear very much. That is why I say nothing, and let the rest of the world decide what I have done. It keeps them guessing." He tilts his head. "Yet, I am thinking it was not Mr. Adnan. If Heracles alone was killed...perhaps. But he is not so important, not compared to Gilbert. Of one thing I am certain: this was Gilbert's murder."
"Clever man." Yao grins, leaning into him and wrapping his arms around Ivan's neck. "Now, the question is, will you find me an answer? And what will you expect in return?"
Oh, there are a few things Ivan would like in return. He takes hold of Yao's hair again. He can't get over how smooth it feels against his fingers, how much fun it is to pull. He'd like to hold it while Yao's mouth was wrapped around his cock, direct his every move. However, the best kind of check is one where the numbers are blank. "I will find your answer. And when I do..." He leans in close to Yao's ear, sucking briefly on the edge. Yao leans into him, making a pretty sound. Ivan laughs and sits back again. "Well. We shall see what I need when the time comes."
Ivan is shrewder than Yao had ever thought. He purrs, leaning after Ivan's mouth and kissing him hard, heavy, taking control as he unbuttons the rest of Ivan's shirt. He slides his hands down the shadows of Ivan's chest, tracing scars and burns and marks that he cannot see. Then he slides them back up to toy with Ivan's nipples while he nips his way down Ivan's neck, sliding past the scarf to go lower, sucking at his collarbone. "I like a man who makes deals with his clothes on. But now the deal is done, and I'd like to take them off."
Ivan sits back and gives Yao room to do as he pleases. It is probably a bad idea, considering the number of weapons that are hidden on both of them, but he's survived worse. "You are a relentless tease. Lots of kissing, little else," he says.
Yao pouts, leaning in to nip at Ivan's throat. He doesn't care that he's being a tease. That will make Ivan far more likely to do as he's told.
Ivan pulls him up to kiss the pout off his lips. "I tease too. I like kissing very much." After a long, pleasant kiss, Ivan releases Yao again. He ponders how best to approach this newest assignment. It's a very important one, since Yao seems to be treating it like it is part of their courtship. "You know, the old man was on the phone with Ludwig that night. Very upsetting conversation, it seemed."
"I know," Yao sighs. "I heard. They questioned Ludwig for a long time."
Ivan shakes his head. "Killing his own brother. Tsk; family is more important than anything." If that is really what happened, it would be difficult to prove it. It is very, very difficult to get anything out of Ludwig, especially if the crazy little Italian is with him. Not to mention the fact that Ivan's relationship with Ludwig has been even more strained than usual in recent days. What a fine solution it would be for the cops to take care of Ludwig for him! That is what happened with Gaul and Roma in the old days, after all. But how to find the evidence? He needs someone sly, stubborn, loyal...ah. "Perhaps I shall send Natalia over."
Yao wrenches back and frowns. "Your sister?" Slowly, he slides from Ivan's lap and takes the hairband from his wrist to pull his hair back again. "Why? You have other spies."
The sudden lack of warmth makes Ivan almost reach out, but he restrains himself. It would be better to find out what made Yao pull away. Natalia is not well liked, but he thinks there must be more to it. "I have none that are so loyal, and few so clever. She is also very pretty, and pretty girls are less likely to be kicked out on sight. That will give her time to look for clues; my sister has ears and eyes as sharp as her tongue!" He laughs, but it is clear that Yao remains dissatisfied. He tries again. "She is a snake, I admit, but it is better to send her to bite someone else. Besides, this will keep her occupied. More time for you and me, da?"
It takes Yao a moment to come around to the idea. Ivan does have a point. Natalia is very good at what she does, and more time together would be nice - but it's not going to happen until they both find their answers. Besides, Yao is beginning to enjoy the way they chase one other. He smiles a little, then leans down to take hold of Ivan's chin and press a kiss to his cheek. "Da."
Yao kisses the other cheek as well and slides away, turning his back on the man. It's normally his policy to never turn his back on someone this powerful, but Ivan won't shoot him until he puts out. Another good thing about this arrangement.
Ivan does, however, takes the opportunity to swat that pretty ass. "Good."
Yao gasps, whipping around and giving him a lecherous look. "If you were anyone else..."
Grinning happily, Ivan leans back in his chair. "A good thing I am not. Goodnight, Mister Wang. I will see about your killer in the morning, and dream of your dragon tonight."
