A/N - And I really did mean to work on my other VK fic this week.
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No kink or fetish was going to intimidate him. Zero mentally repeated before he could react in any way that would only please the fucking pureblood.
"Kinks are extra, Kuran, and if you break it you buy it. Six hundred, nothing permanent, and for the record," Zero added with a sneer, "I can't cry on demand."
He knew he'd made it a challenge. He also knew challenges would only entice Kaname – but damn if he wasn't going to bleed the bastard for all he could get. Pun intended.
"Four hundred, six if you cry for me."
Kaname was such a bastard. He'd turned the challenge around. Either Zero sacrificed even more pride for cash, or he took the lower offer. No matter the outcome, Kaname would win.
Well fuck it, Zero decided. Four hundred was plenty. Besides, Kaname would have to buy him for another night if he wanted to try again – and he'd been living this life too long to ignore the mercenary side of his mind that was always running the numbers.
Kaname had a longer game in mind than two nights. Whores just didn't rate this much of a pureblood's time and attention. Why shouldn't he profit from it for as long as he could?
Not that he wanted Kaname to come back – but money was money, and the bastard was way too fucking rich. There would be a third encounter at least, and that was another month's rent in the bag right there.
"Done," Zero scowled.
Kaname grinned, so fucking pleased with himself that Zero knew instantly he'd made a mistake somewhere, and turned to a sideboard where a crystal decanter was waiting.
"Strip naked for me then, pet. Drink?"
Zero casually unbuttoned his shirt. "Make it a double," he ordered as he pulled his arms out. "I'll need it to deal with you and stop calling me pet for fuck's sake. We both know you weren't the one who bit me."
Soft laughter grated on his ears as the shirt landed on the counter, shortly followed by belt, socks, jeans and underwear as Zero obediently stripped with motions as perfunctory as he could manage. Only when he was butt naked did the bastard hand over a glass that was too heavy to actually be glass, full of something expensive, strong, and vaguely purple in colour.
"What the fuck is this?" Zero asked giving it a whiff. "Are you fucking trying to drug me? I just said kinks were extra."
"I'm going to have so much fun teaching you the finer points of our way of life," Kaname mused, eyes sparking with pure sadism. "This is Dedalera."
Seeing his confusion, Kaname added dryly, "Vampiric alcohol."
"Huh," Zero replied, and knocked it back. Not bad; sweet, a vaguely floral taste.
Kaname looked at him, and Zero beamed. "Let me guess. That was really expensive, more than me, and blah blah blah."
"Quite," Kaname replied, his expression shifting noticeably as he went from banter to appreciation. His gaze fell like lashes of flame as he looked over his… entertainment for the evening. Zero became hyper aware of every hair on his body, that, thanks to Kaname's current perversion was fully on display.
Kaname sat down on a leather wing backed chair that had a view over the entire city, his own glass in hand, with a much more modest amount of violet liqueur still in it.
"Please tell me that window is some of that one-way only crap," Zero said, brushing past Kaname's to chair to sit, without being asked because he didn't give a fuck, on the other one. If Kuran wanted him parading about naked tonight, that was just fine with him. He didn't care if anyone who looked up could see them. It was Kuran's name on the lease.
"Have any other men had you tonight?"
"None of your fucking business." Zero replied instantly, pleased to be able to piss Kaname off so early in the evening.
Kaname smiled that creepy smile again; the one that Zero knew meant you are so adorable when you swear at me. Zero returned it with a smile that said Fuck. You.
"How many have tried to drug you?"
Zero's smile grew wider. Sideways.
Kaname pursed his lips, and changed tactics.
"Sit on my lap." He took a tiny sip and turned glittering eyes onto Zero, watching with a hawk's intensity.
Zero rolled his eyes, knowing damn well this was some power play or another – Kaname couldn't have said that before Zero had already sat down now could he? Nevertheless, he did as asked, hauling himself up and sauntering over to the pureblood, tossing his hair back, he slid into position, thighs spread over Kaname's, feet wedged down the sides for balance, and a teasing hand on Kaname's shoulder as he drew himself in.
"Happy now?" He murmured, taking Kaname's glass from him – ignoring the raised eyebrow his breach of etiquette got – and finishing the drink off. Hmm. He could grow to like the stuff, but he just wanted to get on with it.
Kaname rested both hands lightly on Zero's hips, tracing idle patterns as he stared up at him through lidded eyes.
Zero smirked and bent his neck, brushing their lips together in the slightest possible caress – and grinned when Kaname leapt for his lips, pulling Zero into a proper snog.
He broke off with a gasp as a cold finger found his entrance and pushed inside to the last knuckle.
"Fuck! Give a guy some warning." Zero cried, shifting uncomfortably on his perch. Kaname's hands were cold.
"Nice and tight, Zero, no men tonight?"
"Vampires, humans," Zero shrugged. "Male, female, old, young-"
Kaname hissed lowly, and Zero felt the first stirrings of unease. He'd seen what happened when a pureblood got jealous – before the Hunters had kicked him out – and it wasn't pretty.
"I'm here now, aren't I?" Heading him off without admitting anything was the most of a concession Zero would ever make.
Kaname removed his finger, hands returning to their grip on his hips – far more possessive now, and said, "Speaking of kinks, how much would exclusivity cost me?"
They were back to this shit already? Fuck it all.
"Not a chance." Zero made as if to get up and Kaname's hands turned into iron shackles for all the give in them. Stay put. Zero reluctantly settled back down, grumbling loudly and earned Kaname's shark smile for his efforts; cold, full of fangs, and all predator.
"The terms have changed," Kaname soothed.
"I still don't care."
"I wouldn't require you to move out of your… home, nor would I cut you off from your… friends," Kaname began, delicately, "I would, however, cover all of your expenses and provide a monthly allowance. In return, all I ask for is your fidelity, and, naturally, your carnal services."
Despite his best intentions, Zero found his traitorous brain considering it.
He'd had an entire month to fume over the first offer – and that added up to a lot of hours just thinking what if?
And well, he was tired.
Tired of his crappy apartment, tired of being treated like shit, and so, so tired of the stress, of worrying over every coin, of having to deny himself comfort again and again in favour of survival.
Tired of not being able to look at himself in the mirror.
Kaname was a bastard, there was no denying that, but he wasn't cruel, not really. Zero had never doubted that the first offer was genuine; if he said yes, Kaname would sweep in and fix everything and Zero would be able to relax – but for how long?
What about when Zero was no longer young and pretty?
Kuran would live forever, and Zero… wouldn't.
He'd age, weaken and sicken. There'd be all sorts of embarrassing and disgusting problems as his body failed bit by bit and that was natural – for a human. For a vampire, imperfection was more like leprosy and all the stigma that implied.
Kaname wasn't shallow, as such, but well, would he really put up with that? Would Zero be retired out to pasture somewhere far away with a nurse for company? Or would he be kicked out the door with the first wrinkle?
And then what? No job, no work experience, no work history, no permanent address, no documentation, heck not even his looks by that point. He'd be in a worse position than he started with.
And if Zero gave in, if he stopped being a challenge, whose to say that Kuran wouldn't get bored long before then? When the thrill of fucking that upstart 'D ran out? When he ran out of old fantasies to fulfil? What would be left then? Zero had no illusions that there was any affection on Kaname's part that would keep Zero in room and board.
But on the other hand, Zero knew his time was limited. He was an unstable D. He'd held off the madness pretty well so far, at least, he thought he had, but he'd been a Hunter long enough to know the statistics. D's never died of old age.
Why shouldn't he accept what luxury he could, whilst he could? For god's sake, he didn't have much time left.
Except, if his life really was going to be that short – shouldn't he make it mean as much as he could?
He'd be a kept man. There were worse things to be, certainly, a lot of women were in similar situations even if they called it something else, but Zero wanted more than that. He'd have to give up so much - his faint chances of a real relationship and love not to mention his self-respect and independence.
He'd be utterly reliant on Kaname – and what would Zero have left of himself?
Nothing worth having.
"No," Zero said resolutely. Kaname frowned.
"How about-"
Zero put a finger over Kaname's lips, gently. "No, Kaname," he said, serious. "It could never work. You'd make me give up smoking for one," he added to lighten the mood.
Kaname's mouth twisted, "Another time then."
Yep. There would definitely be a third encounter. Knew it. Zero's thoughts derailed entirely when Kaname drew the finger over his lips into his mouth and sucked, hard.
Heat, pressure, slick and pulsing – Zero shuddered at the sheer level of insinuation Kaname could pack into a few wet swipes of his tongue.
A really very talented tongue, if he just – yes – and -
He felt it when Kaname's mouth drew up into a smile as he let him go, pressing a kiss to the inside of his wrist instead.
Then he gave Zero's rear a pointed smack.
"Up. Face the window, hands on the glass, feet apart."