DISCLAIMER/TRIGGER WARNING:

This story contains content of a highly disturbing nature that may be offensive to some readers: including (but definitely not limited to): domestic abuse, rape, blood & gore, general violence, suicide references, self-harm implications, and torture. Please DO NOT read if you are likely to be offended! Vega's life is not a pretty picture!

Vega & other Street Fighter characters owned by CAPCOM. Victoria de Cerna, Miguel de Cerna, & Marc Antoní Gauldera belong to me.

I called a cab and we went deeper into Barcelona, to Las Ramblas , one of the poorer districts in Barcelona where the strip clubs were and other places I dare not go. The very notion turned my stomach, especially the way I felt at that moment. And yet, I persisted.

Marc Antoní took me to the more refined clubs, the ones with more elegant private rooms in my tutelage under him. Although they were not to my taste, the one thing I could guarantee was that it would be the one place in all of Barcelona we could be discreet.

I found one such club that Marc Antoní had taken me to before and after a few words with Security, we were admitted.

Remy and I sat on an emerald green velvet sofa, sitting a cushion away from one another, quietly drinking our wine.

Occasionally, I watched Remy scan the dimly lit room, a lock of his turquoise hair covering an eye; I wondered what he was thinking.

'Are you alright?' I said, breaking the long silence.

' Oui… ' was his response, but he did not look at me.

'This is your first time in a place like this, isn't it?' I smirked, moving closer to him.

'Yes. I could never afford something like this.'

'You know, it's funny. Even though I can afford it, I would never come here.'

Remy turned to me, brushing a lock of hair from his face.

'Really? Why not?'

I snickered, sitting forward and rubbing my mouth.

'Me, in a den of iniquity like this? Really, Remy, could you imagine a man like me here?'

He shrugged quietly.

'Marc Antoní brought me here— once . He thought I might enjoy myself as he did, but I can tell you our tastes are hardly the same. How he stomachs the whores, I will never know. He is one of the most insufferable men I've ever met!'

'How did you meet him, anyway?'

I sighed heavily, swirling my wine in my glass.

'Five years ago, we went to the Spanish ambassador's ball, and he was there. At the time, I did not know who he was; he presented himself only as a fellow aristocrat, eager to train me. I naively accepted and he became my mentor. I should have known by the way he relentlessly flirted with my mother and the way she reacted to him that night that there was something more…'

My jaw tightened.

I took another sip of wine and we sat there in silence.

'They were lovers, my mother and he…until I was born and she married my biological father.'

Remy raised his eyebrows and sat forward.

'Are you sure he's not—he's not…'

'No, I'm not .' I murmured, barely able to stomach the thought. 'Doesn't matter anyway. She was the only one that did.'

'When I met your mother, she seemed so distant to him. I saw far more love in her eyes for you than him.'

I smiled.

'Yes, it's true; She loved me above all things.'

'I believe it. She was very…' Remy trailed off in thought. 'Very…intense.'

Remy wrinkled his nose and looked a little unsettled.

I laughed.

'You were attracted to her, weren't you?'

Remy choked on his wine, coughing and sputtering. I slapped his back.

His cheeks flushed and he looked away.

'It's okay. She liked you, too.'

'Vega, that's not—that's not right. She's your mother...'

'Why not? She was a beautiful woman. I would have happily shared her with you.'

Remy shifted in his seat, silencing any comment with another rather vigorous sip of wine.

I smirked at his discomfort.

'Would you like more wine?' I offered, passing the bottle to his glass.

'Y-yes, please.'

After a moment, he rose up from the couch.

'Vega, we should go…'

'Sit, enjoy your wine.' I implored him.

I pulled him down by the arm, and he flopped down beside me with a glare.

He wiped red wine from his leather jacket with his hand.

'Fucker!' he hissed. 'You spilled wine on my fucking jacket!'

I sighed and handed him a napkin.

'I'm sorry. Let's just stay.'

Remy wiped down his jacket and then tossed the napkin at me with a scowl.

'Asshole.'

He lit a cigarette and put his feet up against the table.

'So, are we gonna get some girls or what?' he drawled, exhaling the smoke from his mouth.

'I suppose…' I mused, taking another slow sip.

Remy snickered.

'That is why we're here, right?'

I sipped on my wine in silence and Remy sighed, puffing on his cigarette. I watched the ember glow brightly.

'Does it ever end?'

'I don't know, Vega. I wish I did.'

He took a long drink of his wine this time, but said nothing.

'What about Émilie? Were you ever so close?'

Remy smiled and I could see his cheeks also flushing red.

'She was so sweet and kind...and beautiful.'

'But, you wanted her, didn't you?' I pressed.

'My Émilie was so young, sweet, and innocent. I could never…'

Remy stared away from me and continued,

'Vega, not everyone…loves in the way you do.' His expression was so wistful, my heart ached for him. I knew that feeling better than anyone.

'She had the most beautiful long blonde hair, and her eyes were so blue and bright...I can remember holding her close at night when she had nightmares—and she did often—curling up in my arms. I remember stroking her hair, and smelling it. Its scent was…' he trailed off, taking another sip.

'Anyway, I would tell her it was alright and she would say my name as she wrapped her arms around me and fell back asleep as if nothing happened. Those were the moments I treasured, the ones that made me feel safe and strong, strong enough to protect her.'

The pain on his face grew the more he spoke of her.

'We only had each other growing up, no one else. I was older than her, so I always watched over her. We could not find comfort in anyone else, so we found it in each other.'

I smiled, warmth growing in my chest.

'I understand that feeling…ever since I was a child, my mother and I shared the same bed. I can sometimes remember the times before we slept together, but most of the time, she would crawl into whatever bed I was in with me. She was always so afraid at night, just like a child, and there were so many times I did not know what to do—I was also just a child, but then, I learned that we could hold each other and everything would be alright. We shared the same bed up until now, neither of us knew any differently.'

'Your mother did kind of seem like a child, I think.'

I chuckled at the ineloquent way he spoke about her.

'You mean childlike ? Yes, I think so. She had her moments, that is for sure, but then the roaring, passionate woman came out and I could hardly resist her.

The night I left for Japan a few years ago to train, she was in the depths of her despair. She was haunted by her past, the memory of my dead father threw her into grief I had not known…yet. The fact that I was leaving only made it worse, and she used all her seduction to keep me there, but somehow, that night, I resisted her. For what feels like the first time in my life, I resisted her. But, oh Remy, how I wanted her! Leaving her for the first time in my life felt like I was tearing out a part of my soul! We had never been apart. Never! '

'The day I lost Émilie, that is how it felt.' said Remy, his voice so soft I could barely hear it. He stared at the floor.

'How did she die, Remy…if you don't mind?' I implored, looking at him in earnest and he nodded solemnly.

'It was a sickness. We had no money for the doctor and I lost her before I could save her…'

'So you entombed her in ice so that she would always stay as beautiful as she was.'

'Oui. Day after day I spent in that cave, languishing at her side and begging for forgiveness...begging her to return to me.'

'One day, you will return to her and I will go with you.'

'You would do that?'

'Of course. You came with me to my mother's grave. I would like very much to see your beloved sister.'

'I guess...I guess that would be ok only...you can't.'

'Why not?'

Remy took another sip, staring at the wall.

'Marc Antoní took her away from me, enculé !'

'What?' I exclaimed and he sighed.

'He moved her coffin, telling me that either I would join Shadowlaw or he would destroy her. He changed his plans when you showed up, saying that I was to try and recruit you to Shadowlaw or else…'

I shook my head.

'I'm sorry, Remy. I won't let him do this to you, I swear! We will get her back.'

''We?''

I nodded solemnly.

'My sweet Émilie…' he muttered.

After that, I watched him drink more and more wine until he fell asleep, his pale skin flushed pink from the wine.

His head fell to one side, his blue hair covering his face again. I wanted to touch it, to feel its silkiness in my fingers. I wished I could have stroked his hair like his sister, at least in some measure of comfort, but I knew he would deny me.

'I'm sorry for your pain.' I sighed.

I looked down to see his hand with his slender fingers adorned in silver rings resting against the sofa and I reached out to touch it. I brushed my fingertips against it and drew back.

'I wish I could drink the wine from your lips.' I muttered, watching him sleep.

My own body burned with the heat of inebriation, but I knew it was more than that. I longed desperately to end the ache inside of me, to feel some sort of comfort, even though I knew I would never feel true comfort again. I hungered just for his touch, a touch of his hand, anything. Something...but again, he would only rebuke me.

That denial stung me more than my grief. We had an understanding of one another. The kind that only those who have suffered as we have would understand and in that moment, I felt close to him but, it was not enough.

I brushed the hair from his face and drew back again, watching him.

He moaned but said nothing and I sighed. I knew I should try to wake him or at least call a cab and take him back, but there was a part of me that did not want to disturb him.

I studied him, wishing there was more I could do; the pink flush of his face and the rosiness of his lips only made me want him more. I longed to feel the same heat that radiated through his body radiate through mine. Perhaps then, we might feel alive again. Perhaps then we could take comfort in one another as we did our loved ones.

Carefully, I straddled him, bracing my hands on his shoulders, leaning forward and kissing him gently. The heat of his lips, the barest trace of his body against mine warmed me from inside.

This time, I did not care what he did. He could have punched me all he liked and I still would not care. Besides, the alcohol would have slowed his responses.

'Forgive me.' I whispered in his ear.

I could taste the remnants of wine on his lips and smell it in his breath, along with his scent.

This was more intoxicating than anything to me.

'Get off me!' he spat, pushing me away.

I grabbed his wrists and we wrestled on the couch. He pushed me off with his foot and I crashed into the table, breaking a wine glass.

I was startled out of my reverie but I was not surprised. I caught my breath, standing slowly.

Remy straightened up, glaring at me.

'What the hell are you doing?' he hissed, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, looking down.

'I...I didn't do anything.' I mumbled.

He grabbed the bottle of wine, taking a swig of what was left.

'You did! I felt it!'

I blinked, unsure of what to say.

'I'm drunk, not stupid!' he drawled, giggling.

'I...I just wanted to feel something.' I bowed my head.

He wagged a shaky finger at me.

'You're numb!' Remy slurred, overstating the obvious.

'And you're drunk!' I smirked.

He looked confused at me for a moment.

'Wha-what? Yeah, I know.' he rolled his eyes.

'Tell me what to do!' I exclaimed, leaning close to his face.

He sighed and laid back against the sofa.

'You can't...I mean, I can't...because...I don't know.' he was staring at the wall.

'Funny, eh? How can you hurt so bad and be numb?' I heard the wistfulness in his voice again. 'The numbness will go away, Vega but all that will be left is pain. I've been in pain every day since...'

'Do you feel it now?'

' Non ...I'm drunk,' he chuckled but I could still hear the pain in his voice. 'But I will in the morning. I always do.'

Remy continued to slouch against the couch, staring at the wall, his arms hanging limply at his sides, one hand clutching the wine bottle.

'Give me that!'

I grabbed the bottle from his hand, startling him, and he looked at me.

I desperately sought the last drops of wine from the bottle.

Remy giggled at me.

'I drank it all, enculé !'

I put it down.

'I don't want to feel this way anymore.'

'I know, mon ami . I know.'

I was nowhere near the level of intoxication that he was, a state that normally, I would not envy but now, I wished more than anything to find a way to dampen my pain.

'So enculé, did you feel better when you kissed me? Hmm?'

We were both staring away from one another.

'I…' I blushed deeply. 'For a moment, maybe.'

'You need a woman!'

'I had one! She's gone now!' I snapped.

'Not her , idiot! A woman! You need to get laid, Vega.'

'I don't want a woman! Just her …and you… '

He chuckled at me.

'I don't care! Fuck off! You can't have me.'

'I know that. 'Who else, then?' I mumbled bitterly.

He draped an arm around my shoulder.

'Look, mon ami, you just need a nice warm pussy!' he drawled, the warmth of his breath tickling my ear. 'You'll feel much better.'

I sighed heavily, rolling my eyes. I did not share his drunk optimism for his solution and I was fairly certain we both knew it was a lie—even if he was drunk.

But I felt some comfort with his arm around me, even though he had seemed so reluctant to touch me before.

'I don't want one.' I mumbled.

'Hm? Then, why are we here, eh?' he looked over at me, giving me a playful squeeze.

'I've no fucking idea. This is the only place I could think of…'

Remy chuckled.

'I don't believe you, mon ami .' he slurred.

'What?' I exclaimed.

'Hey! How do you get the girls in here?' he exclaimed, abruptly switching topics.

I sighed.

'There's a button you press, I think.'

'Do you think they speak French?'

'Probably not. Do you know any English?'

'No, not really...I guess we won't be talking much anyway.' he grinned.

I rolled my eyes, summoning a waitress.

' Sí, señor? ' said the waitress as she appeared.

'Two bottles of red wine, por favor ...and bring us a girl.'

She nodded, disappearing.

After a few moments, the lights in the room changed to a revolving rainbow of spotlights. Remy looked up at the ceiling in awe.

Sultry music began to play as a woman in black lace bra and panties with platform high heels sauntered in.

In her hands she carried the 2 requested bottles of wine. She bent down, placing the bottles on the table, giving us a deliberate view of her buxom breasts.

She swayed to the music, standing in front of us; Remy grinned, clearly enjoying it.

Now that I had a better view of her, even in the dim colored light I could see blonde hair piled atop her head in loose curls.

'Eh, Vega! She's blonde!' Remy jabbed me in the ribs.

I glared and folded my arms.

'I can see that.'

'¡Hola, chicos! ' said the girl. 'Who's ready for a lap dance?'

'He is!' I interjected, pointing towards Remy, whether or not he could say anything. I could not bear the thought of her touching me in any way.

'All right.' she smiled, straddling Remy's lap and beginning to grind against him.

Remy ran his hands down her waist and hips.

'Do you like it?' Remy nodded vigorously, grinning like an idiot. I knew he did not understand a single word.

I heard the zipper of his jacket and looked to see she had opened it, baring his toned chest. I shifted in my seat, watching them while she slid her down his chest and abdomen, wishing that I could touch him.

She leaned forward, kissing him passionately; I could see their tongues mingling together and hear his muffled moans.

I sighed, laying my head back and staring at the multicolored ceiling.

The girl turned towards me, twisting so that I got a good view of her cleavage and tried to kiss me but I turned my head.

'Your friend is very quiet.' she whispered in my ear, undaunted by my rejection.

I rolled my eyes at her.

'He's French.'

'Ohhh…' she replied knowingly, turning back to him.

The lights flashed green, red, and purple, moving like her body against his.

A glint caught my eye as I saw the pieces of the broken glass from earlier in the evening. I picked up a large shard, running my thumb across the edges.

By now, Remy was lost in the thrall of drunken ecstasy, head leaning back against the sofa, his eyes closed.

She chuckled, looking back over at me.

'You don't look like you're having much fun... oye, guapo, are you two... together ? I don't mind sharing.' she winked at me.

I cleared my throat, pressing my thumb harder against the edge of the glass.

'What do you mean?' I demanded.

'I saw how you were sitting together when I came in. It's all right, you know. I don't mind.'

I scowled at her seemingly innocent banter.

'Besides, I take it back. Maybe you're enjoying yourself after all…' she gestured down at my crotch.

It was true I was very aroused at the sight, but then, what was I to do?

As she continued to grind against him, she looked at me with a smirk.

'Do you want to kiss him? I think you do.'

I sat forward. I did not need a common whore insinuating what I wanted; Remy and I both knew.

'Really? And what makes you think that, querida ?' I sneered, though it seemed to be lost on her.

She giggled again as if she were some school girl plotting a game.

'The way you look at him, I think you want to be up here instead of me.'

My jaw set and it took every muscle in my body to restrain myself. Still, it was true that I wanted him.

'Hey, Remy.' I called and he lifted his head to give me a sideways glance.

'Hm?'

'Are you having fun? You better not pass out on her!'

He scowled.

'I'm not!'

'Good.'

They continued to kiss, moaning passionately as they did. I am sure on her part it was for my benefit, but I did not care.

'Remy,' I whispered in his ear. 'Does it feel good?'

'Oui ,' came his raspy response, throwing his head back and baring his pale throat once again. She began to kiss on his neck and I knew easily where it was heading.

I smiled to myself. This was more than a perfect situation.

My heart raced, watching their passionate motions increase.

I chewed my lip, watching as she undid his belt and unzipped his pants.

There could be no question as to what she was doing when I saw her hand disappear beneath them and set to work on him. Remy moaned louder, swearing randomly in French; I could not help but to be amused by it.

She leaned forward again, grabbing his jaw and giving him a hungry, devouring kiss while she continued her motions on him.

My breath quickened, my heart threatening to burst through my chest.

'Remy…' I purred. 'Do you want her?'

I knew he would scarcely be able to answer now but the look of pleasure on his face with his brows furrowed and his eyes closed told me what I needed to know.

I heard him moan a faint 'oui' .

She moved back down to his neck, kissing and sucking on it while his hips frantically bucked against her, edging him ever closer to the end.
'Then, want me…'

I moved in to kiss him, devouring his lips in mine, as desperate and more hungry than she could have ever been. I kissed away all traces of that foul woman, my tongue sliding into his mouth and mingling with his, desperate to taste all that he was.

The louder he moaned, the deeper our kiss became and I was determined to give him every ounce of passion, anguish, and hunger I had. I laid my hand on the back of his head, pressing his mouth deeper against mine.

I did not care if he realized that it was me that he kissed. My lust, my longing was the only thing that mattered and I was far too aroused to stop.

There was no way I could deny what I had done and I never would.

In my other hand, I clutched the shard of glass that I picked up off the floor earlier; the glass bit into my palm, the pain and ecstasy flooding my senses.

Remy and I were the only ones who existed at that moment.

Then suddenly, he jerked away from me with a cry, throwing his head back against the sofa. I watched his chest heaving as he caught his breath; he lifted his head just a little, a turquoise eye meeting mine for just a moment and then he laid back again.

She had a proud smirk on her face as she stroked his chest.

'Was it good, baby?' she cooed to him.

I sat back, catching my breath, my lips flushed, her voice jarring me from the erotic spell I was under.

That wretched woman's voice was the last thing I wanted to hear! My blood burned even seeing her.

'He can't fucking understand you!' I growled.

She turned and began to crawl out of his lap towards mine with a smirk. Her eyes glinted in the colored light. The room illuminated red as I saw the devouring look in her eyes. She was nothing less than a succubus; she may have devoured Remy, but I would not let the same fate befall me.

'That's ok. He doesn't need to...but you can, guapo… '

I could see the fine muscles of her neck, her throat bared towards me like a demon to slaughter.

The woman straddled me and I felt my stomach churn. She began to take off her bra, and I watched her cautiously, her hands sliding up and down her body.

I reached forward and grabbed her by the throat. She gasped in surprise and chuckled.

'So, that's how you like it?'

I gave her a wry smile. I rubbed my thumb down her lip, smearing her red lipstick, pulling her face close to mine.
'Whore!' I growled, yanking her head back.
I drew the shard of glass across her throat with a guttural cry.

I watched as she clutched her neck with both hands, falling to the floor with a gasping, gurgling sound.

Remy flew up and jumped back, hurriedly doing up his belt.

'What the fuck, Vega?' he cried, his eyes wide. 'What the fuck did you do?'

I licked the blood from my lips and wiped my face with a clean sleeve.

With a shrug, I stood, grinning as hard as I could.

'Why?' he cried, his chest heaving. 'She didn't hurt you! She didn't-oh no no!'

He began to back away from me.

'I feel so good, Remy!'

Electricity coursed through my body.

'So fucking good!'

Remy regarded me with a look of terror on his beautiful face.

He ran his hand through his hair, staring at the floor. I saw him shaking, unsteady on his feet.

'For the first time in...a long time.' I smirked. 'All of my desire died with her ...but now, I am alive!'

Remy ran his hand down his mouth with a trembling hand as his gaze fell upon the dead woman, and he abruptly turned away.

'Fuck!' he cried.

I laughed.

'Calm down, Remy! Calm down. It's all right.'

He zipped his pants up and turned back to me.

'Fuck off!' he hissed, his eyes darkened.

I walked towards him, careful to avoid the body and the large pool of blood settled around her and he stepped back.

'D-don't touch me! Don't even come near me!'

I chuckled.

'I won't hurt you! I swear! I love you, Remy.'

He balked at my statement.

'No, you don't love anyone! You don't love anyone but yourself !' I stepped towards him again, grinning and he stepped back.

'You're wrong , you know. I do love more than myself—I love her more than myself—and you , Remy, do I need to tell you how beautiful you looked when you came? Surprised, yes, but beautiful.'

'You shut your mouth!' he spat, pointing a shaky finger at me. 'Just shut the fuck up!'

Remy darted out the door into the alley and I followed after him.

'You wanted her!' I exclaimed. I folded my arms with a proud smirk. 'That whore.'

He whirled around and punched me in the face. I staggered back, my eyes watering from the sting, blood pouring from my nose.

'Mother fucker! You mother fucker!' he roared.

He raised his fist and I held my bleeding nose.

I laughed giddily, licking the blood from my lips and struggling to stop the bleeding.

'Delicious!'

'Hyah !' he kicked at the wall behind me, next to my head.

'I'm going to fucking kill you!'

I laughed, amused by the mixture of anger and disgust plainly on his face.

He kicked me in the stomach, knocking the air from my lungs and temporarily stunning me.

I wheezed, dodging him before his long legs could connect with my head.

'Remy!' I exclaimed.

'Why'd you do it, asshole?' he hissed, kicking at my face again, which I easily blocked.

This seemed to infuriate him more and he barreled forward with a quick succession of punches and kicks.

'Huh? Why?'

I began to regain my footing and I laughed.

'Why does it matter? She's just a whore! She is of no consequence to me.'

'No consequence?' he cried.

Remy's face flushed red with fury, whirling another kick towards my face.

'She was a person ! She wa-s-she—' his voice broke and he staggered back on his heels a moment.

Remy slumped forward, panting and bracing his hands on his thighs.

'You know, you fight well for being drunk!'

'Fuck you! I'm not drunk, enculé !' He kicked at me again and I raised my arms to block. 'No thanks to you !'

I mused that indeed the shock I gave him earlier must have been enough to sober him after all.

'Fine. Have it your way. If you want to fight me, do it.' I grinned, and took my fighting stance.

'You have a death wish, don't you?' he leered at me.

I threw my head back with a dry chuckle.

'I have nothing …nothing but pain and blood, the only thing I've ever known. So, to die by your hand would be… ecstasy .' I flashed him another giddy grin.

'You're sick!'

I could see him darken, like the clouds over the full moon and even in such darkness, I could see fury in his eyes like nothing I had ever seen before.

This intrigued me; so much anger over such a meaningless life.

He continued with his assault, and I continued to block.

'C'mon now, asshole! You want to be punished, so let me!'

I giggled.

'If you want me so badly, then show me!'

Remy growled in frustration and I knew I had infuriated him more with my insinuation.

Such pleasure swept through me at the thought.

Licking the remnants of blood from my lips, I beckoned him forward.

'Show me, Remy! Punish me, mi amor .' I beckoned him again with a grin.

Remy roared and charged forth, like a man possessed. I had to admire his ferocity, nearly matched to my own.

Flashes of blue obscured my vision as I pushed him back, a glint of silver catching my eye as his silver rings narrowly missed my face.

Trading blows and whirling kicks at his handsome face, I swam in the ecstasy of the blood pouring from his lips, the ones I had stolen kisses from with such passion before, his pale mouth now fat with the kiss of my shoe.

Though I hit with my usual grace and precision, most of my strikes were dampened by his leather jacket, much to my disappointment.

More than anything, I longed for him to remove that forsaken jacket so that I could make his beautiful body bleed for me again; to see the sweat glistening on his toned but lithe body, to see his muscles flex with every movement—but alas, I did not have my claw to easily cut through the layers of leather and flesh.

'You disappoint me, Remy.' I smirked at him still. 'I'm certain you could barely feel my attacks!'

I dodged his fist as it tried to come at my face once again.

'I hate you!' Remy growled.

I knew that the opposite of love was not hate, but indeed the lack of love.

This I came to understand from my beloved mother through the many fights we often had and the many times she had screeched those words to me.

If he was so impassioned by what I had done, I knew in my heart that one day he would love me again.

I removed my bloody, sweat-stained shirt, wiping the remnants of blood from my face and body with it, and then tossing it to the ground.

The coolness of the night air against my heated skin refreshed me.

Remy's face seemed to glow with the sheen of sweat across it, his shoulder length turquoise hair clung together, sticking to his face.

He swayed, waiting for me to strike. I could see a gleam in his eyes even in the darkness, a light that seemed almost magical to me.

Remy twisted his mouth into a hateful grimace, licking his lips.

I expected to counter his next strike, but instead I was rewarded with the sight of his bare chest as he unzipped his jacket.

He beckoned me with his hand.

'Come on, asshole! You're just dragging it out!' He flexed his hands and kicked me in the chest. I grunted. 'Just like always! You spoiled motherfucker! Always get your way!'

Before I could parry, he whirled around, sweeping his leg beneath. I fell back on the ground, gasping for breath. He pressed his boot against my chest, the full weight of his body crushed me. He stared down at me with a grimace.

'Not this time, enculé.' he dug the heel of boot harder into my chest. I began to struggle to breathe, pain radiated through me.

I frantically tried to pull his boot off before I suffocated.

Remy clenched his jaw.

Looking away, he stepped off of me and spat at the ground.

'Gah! You're not worth it!' He removed his foot from my throat and sharply turned away from me.

Remy pulled at his hair and paced a moment, muttering to himself.

I rolled onto my side, clutching my throat and coughing as the air entered my lungs.

I stared at his back, hearing the familiar sound of the lighter and the scent of cigarette smoke as it drifted up above him.

He exhaled a smooth cloud of smoke.

Without another word and without even looking back at me, he started to walk away. I sat up, finally catching my breath.

'You'll be back! You always are!' I called after him, smirking to myself.

'Fuck off!' came his familiar refrain.

'You're mine. You always will be.' I said, more to myself than him.

I knew it to be a truth that was unspoken between us and that night, I knew he finally realized it—whether he admitted it or not.