Kaneki woke up aching like hell. He felt weak, and his arm was painful in a way that told him h must have just been given a RC suppressing shot, but he had never felt more free in his life. Yamori had been this dead weight accumulating in his bones that he hadn't even noticed until it had been too late.

And yet, he had beaten it. He felt like he'd been through a war, but when he looked down at himself, all his limbs were as good as new. His belly even felt full, although he couldn't remember eating a thing.

'He's gone, Rize,' Kaneki muttered, as he pushed himself up off the bed in the cell. 'He's completely gone.'

'Who's gone?'

Kaneki jumped up. Looking around quickly, he saw Amon standing on the other side of the cell door, only part of his face visible through the small window.

Kaneki just stared at Amon until the latter looked down, looking for some reason embarrassed.

'Hi, Kaneki,' Amon muttered to the ground. 'I'm here to take you to the lab room.

'What?' Kaneki felt dread settle in his stomach. 'Lab room... Amon, they said they wouldn't dissect me. Amon...'

'Shh!' Amon hissed under his breath. He looked up and down the corridor. 'We can talk properly once we're in there, but not here.'

Kaneki's hands were shackled together again, but he could move easily enough. He stood up carefully as Amon unlocked the door.

'I'm sorry but... I have to put this on you, if I'm walking you around the place.' He held up a kind of muzzle that looked like it had to be locked into place.

'If I didn't already feel like something less than human,' Kaneki muttered.

Amon looked upset. 'I'm sorry, but it's the rules.'

Kaneki let Amon fasten it around his head, his large fingers fumbling with the clasp. Then he led Kaneki down the corridor, waving off two of the guards as they came forwards to help him. As they entered the lab, the harsh lighting seemed to grow even stronger, the gleaming white surfaces reflecting everywhere.

The door swung shut and the latch clicked, locking audibly. Kaneki saw Amon's shoulders relaxed somewhat.

'We can talk freely in here,' Amon said. 'No cameras, no microphones, nothing.'

A more cynical side of Kaneki's brain suspected that most of the ghouls who came in here were way past the point where they could form sentences.

'Nice idea,' Kaneki said instead, trying to sound casual. His voice was muffled by the mask.

'Here, let me...' Amon rushed forwards, unbuckling the mask again. He let it drop onto the counter but he didn't take a step backwards. He only looked down at Kaneki unwaveringly.

'Kaneki, are you alright?' he said softly. 'After everything that happened yesterday...'

Kaneki sighed. 'Amon...'

'I'm so sorry, Kankei. Seeing you like that...'

Kaneki shook his head. 'I feel better actually,' he interrupted.

Amon looked at him quizzically.

'I had some demons that I needed to fight off.' He smiled lightly. 'But he's gone now.'

Ever so slowly, Amon reached out and placed his hand on Kaneki's arm in a gesture of comfort. 'I'm still sorry you had to go through that.' Then he frowned. 'Who's gone now?'

Kaneki smiled sadly. 'Someone who did bad things to me.'

Amon's gaze dropped to the floor. 'So many people have watched you suffer and done nothing. I don't want you to suffer anymore.'

A moment passed between them, then Amon lifted his hand to place it on the skin of Kaneki's neck. Kaneki's breath caught in his throat. He couldn't move, his hands bound together like they were. He could only look up at Amon, at the line of his jaw and the slight stubble on his cheeks.

'I spoke to them, after you were taken away yesterday. They're definitely not going to do any dissection.'

They looked at each other intensely, as if their eyes were conversing in a language their minds couldn't comprehend. 'What about any more horrible choices?' Kaneki asked quietly.

Amon shook his head. 'They wouldn't have let you actually hurt the children, you know. It was just a test.'

Kaneki gave him a long look. 'I know they wouldn't have let me hurt the human child.'

Amon blinked at him, but then looked thoughtful. 'I did wonder what made you decide.'

Kaneki's thoughts shifted. 'What will happen to the other little boy? The ghoul.'

Amon shook his head. 'I don't know.'

'And now Aiko, the human boy... he will be terrified of ghouls for the rest of his life.' Kaneki felt something rise up in his throat. 'He'll always hate us. He'll grow up to be one of the people locking ghouls up and conducting experiments on them.'

'Maybe you should try to see it in a different light,' Amon mused. 'Being here... it's a safe place for you to be. They won't do anything but conduct tests on decision making, that sort of thing.'

'You don't know that.'

'I'll make sure nothing happens to you,' Amon continued, nodding along, as if by doing so he could get Kaneki to nod too. 'They know you're a human now. We can get you the help you need.'

'Amon, I...'

'Shhh,' Amon said, and to Kaneki's surprise, he pulled him into a tight hug. 'Please, just trust me. I would never let anyone hurt you.'

Kaneki was completely trapped between the work surface and Amon's vast body. He couldn't do anything but stand there and let Amon hug him tightly.

Finally, Amon pulled away, and Kaneki was surprised to feel relief flood through him.

'Can I…' Amon's voice was so quiet. It was unnervingly unlike him. 'Can I kiss you?'

Kaneki blinked. All the hairs on his arms were standing on end.

But Amon didn't look pushy, or overly lustful. If Kaneki hadn't known better he would have thought that Amon didn't want to be there at all. Perhaps it was just a testimony to Amon's generally awkward demeanour. He could trust Amon, couldn't he? He had to teach himself to feel safe with Amon.

Slowly, Kaneki nodded, and Amon's expression seemed to clear.

Amon bent down slowly and their lips met. It was so delicate, so soft. Their lips stuck together slightly, like their skin couldn't decide which body they belonged to.

Kaneki was waiting for people to rush in with cameras, yelling about how Kaneki had just been pranked on live television. The dynamic didn't feel right. He supposed that the fact that his hands were still bound together was a bit of a turn off.

Amon's head was bowed, his hand resting lightly on the side of Kaneki's jaw, as his mouth worked against Kaneki's.

When Kaneki focused on the kiss alone, he couldn't deny it felt great. A pleasant feeling was beginning to trickle through Kaneki's belly.

Amon pulled away for a moment to look Kaneki in the eyes.

'Amon, I don't know how I feel about...' Kaneki started, but Amon shushed him quickly, pressing a finger to his lips. Kaneki tried to pull away, but Amon's large hands held him in place.

He spoke softly. 'Please relax, Kaneki. Let me…'

Amon reached his hands downwards, around the back of Kaneki's legs, cupping the indent beneath his arse. Kaneki couldn't breathe for a moment, couldn't move. Gripping Amon tightly on both sides at the top of his thighs, Amon hoisted Kaneki up into the air, bringing him down to sit on the surface of the worktop.

'Amon.' Kaneki tried to play if off with a laugh. 'Stop, we can't…'

'Why not?'

'The guards…'

'They can't open the door unless I press the button by the latch.'

Amon pushed Kaneki's legs open, coming to stand between them with Kaneki all but straddling him. Their bodies were incredibly close now, both breathing deeply.

He leant in, kissing Kaneki again. Amon tasted as good as he always had, slightly salty on Kaneki's tongue, like he had been seasoned by an expert chef. They kissed until they were almost out of breath. Part of the pent-up stress he'd been holding seemed to pour out into the kiss, like Amon could suck it all up and take it away.

Amon pressed into him, forcing his mouth open wider so they could meet properly. Kaneki was trying really hard not to breath too quickly, but his heart-rate was rising.

'Amon,' Kaneki breathed, but Amon kissed him harder, running his fingers down Kaneki's torso. Kaneki would have done the same, if his own hands weren't jammed together in front of him.

Kaneki winced a little in pain as Amon pressed his arms against his chest at an awkward angle.

'Oh, sorry,' Amon said. Instead, he leant sideways to plant kisses down Kaneki's jaw. 'You're amazing.'

'You can't do anything about these, can you?' Kaneki asked, lifting his shackled hands and shaking them slightly.

Amon chuckled, but he looked a little regretful. 'I probably shouldn't.'

Kaneki felt very odd. He couldn't really move. He couldn't run his hands over Amon's chest or back or reciprocate Amon's movements at all. One of Amon's hands was running over his thigh, the other clutching his upper arm tightly.

It felt good, Kaneki couldn't deny it, as Amon's kisses travelled down the side of his neck. But he didn't feel like he was in control at all, and that made a heavy weight grow in his stomach.

Amon used his teeth to nip at the soft skin above Kaneki's collar bone.

'How do I taste?' Kaneki asked, trying to make light of it.

'Shhh.' Amon stood up straight, leaning over him. He caught Kaneki's mouth in a kiss once more, sliding his tongue in between Kaneki's teeth as their bodies pressed together. 'Stop talking now, there's a good boy.'

A pang of shock shot through Kaneki, but he didn't have time to think before Amon answered his question.

'You taste like you're mine.' Amon pulled away and looked down at Kaneki with a grin that reached his eyes and made his whole face light up. 'You're here, and you're safe, and you're all mine.'

Kaneki couldn't even pretend to smile back.

'Since you've been captured, you've been so strong,' Amon leant in, breathing the words against his neck, 'so confident.'

Kaneki took in a silent, shaking breath.

'You're captivating… the SS ghoul that everyone's so mesmerised by. And you're mine.'

That phrase again. Kaneki didn't like it.

Amon pulled away to look at him, his arms resting on Kaneki's shoulders.

'I know that this, that none of this is right. You shouldn't be here. You don't deserve to be here, but I promise that whilst you are locked in Cochlea, no one here will hurt you. They won't ki…' Amon didn't finish the sentence. He only gripped Kaneki's arms a little tighter.

It sounded almost like a declaration of love. It certainly sounded devoted, and yet it still didn't feel right.

A cool and clear female voice echoed in a laugh around the room. The waves of sound seemed to be bouncing off the inside of Kaneki's head, the peals of laughter like they were bubbling up from a stream of consciousness in his mind.

From the perspective of any outsider, in this very moment, Kaneki was locked up in this building, had been forced into this room with his hands locked together, and a great big hulk of a man was claiming that Kaneki belonged to him.

It was nice, the kissing. It was nice. Kaneki felt like his mind and body reacted to Amon in a way that he'd never felt towards anyone before, but it didn't change the fact that he was completely at Amon's mercy.

'Amon…'

Amon's hand came forward again and tapped him lightly on the cheek. 'What did I say?' His voice was very serious. 'You don't need to talk. You don't need to worry.' Amon kissed him again, just a little peck on his lips.

Kaneki looked downwards, off to the side. He felt heat in his face, and his whole body wanted to curl up into itself.

Amon caressed Kaneki's face, then he took Kaneki's face lightly by the chin and lifted it, examining it like Kaneki was an organism under a microscope. 'You're so beautiful… so fascinating… and in a way, you kind of fit into my life this way.' Amon sighed gently. 'Things feel like they're in place now. We can get you food… you don't have to feel guilty for killing people. And I know that you feel guilty. I understand now. It's what makes you so special. And I can get you books to read and come and visit you whenever you like. Kaneki, I promise. I'll make sure you're safe.'

Kaneki was feeling a lot of conflicting emotions at that very moment, but he was certain beyond a doubt that none of those feelings amounted to feeling safe.

The cogs were turning in Kaneki's head, and it was like someone had pulled back the curtain and shown him the true workings of Amon's mind. This felt safe for Amon, didn't it? Everything worked now. Everything had its place.

Kaneki had thought he was strong now, that he'd grown, that he wasn't going to let other people walk all over him. He now realised that lessons in life weren't like changing a setting on a video game, and from that point onwards you'd always behave in a certain way. Instead, you had to keep fighting, keep reminding yourself that you deserved more, or that you were important, or as much of a valid person as they were. There were always mistakes to be made, steps you had to take backwards before you could progress.

What was Amon really saying to Kaneki? I've got you here, you can't leave. You can be mine. You can do what I say, be quiet and obedient, and in return I'll make sure they don't kill you.

Amon was never really going to change, was he?

Kaneki smiled, and leant forwards to drop a kiss on Amon's mouth.

'Can you please do something about these?' Kaneki said, holding up the restraints on his wrists. 'Even if it's just for a little bit?' Then he added, 'It's amazing, how safe we make each other feel.'

Amon clenched his teeth for a second, but then he nodded. He took the key out of his pocket and unlocked the cuffs. Kaneki let out a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding as Amon took them off and placed them beside the mussel on the surface.

'Now that they know you're half human…' Amon started, jolting Kaneki away from the mind games they were playing with each other.

'I'm not "half-human".'

Amon shrugged. 'You know what I mean.' He had shifted off to the side, so he was leaning with his hip against the counter, one hand resting on the surface, the other playing with the fabric of Kaneki's sleeve.

'I think they'll treat you better than the other ghouls,' Amon said definitively.

Kaneki sighed. Amon was never going to get it, was he?

'They're all stressed, planning for the raid tonight. Things will calm down after that, they'll be able to think clearly, figure out what to do with you.'

'Raid?' Kaneki asked hesitantly.

Amon nodded. 'After you got away the first time, in the basement, they've really been cracking down. The big 'coffee-shop raid' as they're calling it. It's going to be commencing this evening. In a matter of hours, in fact.'

Kaneki had grown very still. 'Coffee-shop raid?'

Amon nodded distractedly. 'You should be glad they caught you when they did. It's going to be a nasty one. Massive infestation to cleanse. I don't think they'll be taking any prisoners this time.'

'But they might be my friends,' Kaneki said urgently. 'They're not insects or parasites...'

Amon wasn't really listening. He was just looking at Kaneki, drinking in every feature on his face. 'Before, you were alone, Kaneki, with only ghouls for company, so you got used to them. Now you're back with humans here, we can sort everything out.'

Kaneki felt spaced out and kind of numb.

Part off him had been reluctant to cause trouble, but Anteiku? That decided it. Kaneki's mind had finally caught up with itself. The steps were starting to slot into place. The laughter had stopped too, which probably meant something. Rize had stood up from behind the table in the centre of the room and was nodding at him in agreement.

Amon had leant away a little more, but Kaneki twisted around on the worktop. He reached out and pulled at the front of Amon's shirt.

'Kiss me again,' he said quickly.

Amon looked like he'd just woken up on his birthday to a room full of presents. Kaneki kissed him, running his free hands over his firm chest and around the sides of his stomach.

'Got to make the last one count, huh?' Rize said, suddenly standing close enough to speak softly into Kaneki's ear.

Amon's tongues danced with his own, and Amon sighed with happiness. Kaneki pulled Amon between his legs again, whilst practically lapping up the taste of him with his tongue. He curled his legs around Amon's hips, holding him tightly.

'Kaneki,' Amon breathed. He was running his hands up underneath Kaneki's shirt, the one the CCG had made him wear. Kaneki opened his eyes and looked over Amon's shoulder.

'Now… now! Do it now!' Rize had pulled herself up onto the table and was kicking her legs with glee. 'He is such an idiot.'

Kaneki pulled away, catching Rize's eye. 'He really is, isn't he?

'A possessive, misguided fool.'

'Huh?' Amon huffed lightly. He pulled away a little to look at Kaneki, who was still watching Rize, her eyes wide and expectant.

Kankei's eyes slid to Amon's, and the investigator seemed to realise who Kaneki had been talking to.

Kaneki didn't give him a moment. He grasped at Amon with all his might and tore savagely into his shoulder.

'Ahhh!' Rize screamed. 'It's almost poetic. And isn't that the opposite shoulder from last time? The symmetry!'

Kaneki ripped away at the cloth that covered the beautiful smooth skin, and then when he bit down, oh God, it was like someone was pouring nectar down his throat. Hot and alive, the blood still beating through the veins.

Amon was screaming, and clawing at Kaneki's body, but he held on like a limpet. The energy was flooding through his muscles. His grip was becoming more and more like solid steel.

Amon sounded awful, his voice cracking with pain. Kaneki did feel sorry for him, he really did, but there was no other way.

Amon was writhing as he stood. Kaneki gulped down the flesh, then another little bit more for good measure. So smooth against his tongue. So much better than just kissing. Better than sex. It consumed him. In that moment there was nothing more divine than the food that was Amon.

Kaneki finally, with the greatest effort he had ever exerted, pulled away, and with a great force, pushed Amon down towards the ground. The investigator hit his head against the side of the table and slumped to the floor.

Rize knelt down beside Amon's head, breathing rapidly, her fingers skirting over the bite mark and her eyes drinking in the scene. Kaneki, who had fallen down onto the floor with Amon, rolled off him quickly and stood up. His own breath was loud, and thankfully he could see Amon's chest also rising and falling, as a small puddle of blood started to form at the base of his neck.

Who thinks we're both safe here now?

Kaneki didn't know for how Amon would stay unconscious, and he didn't want him to die. Kaneki looked around quickly, going over to a cabinet of draws and pulling out bandages and syringes.

'Kaneki, there's no time for this.'

Kaneki ignored her. He ripped a bandage out of a packet and pressed it quickly to Amon's wound. He really had no idea what he was doing, but he tried to put as much pressure on it as possible as he wrapped a bandage around it. It was shoddy and most likely pointless, but no doubt better than nothing.