Corrupted Chapter 9, a far cry fanfic

Disclaimer: I do not own anything in my stories except for the fan fiction (including plots, OC's and so on). All the characters belong to the rightful owners. Any songs/poems/etc in my stories do not belong to me unless stated otherwise.

A/N: So this chapter is a big one in every aspect. In the contents and in word count (fucking 11,000ish words). There is a part of this chapter that I've had written ever since I put out the first chapter, so this is a big milestone.

Which also makes this rather terrifying.

This chapter is a rollercoaster to say the least.

But I'll let you get on with it.

(Quickly though, basically the same reminder that I had at the very beginning. This takes place years before FC3.)

Chapter 9

"Contrariwise,' continued Tweedledee, 'if it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic."

The first thing that put her off was the smell. Or rather, the lack of it. It smelled fresh around her, like grass and water. Fresh water, as if from a spring and not the sea. Not a hint of piss, alcohol or blood clung to anything else but to one thing, a person she guessed, infront of her. She concluded from that that she wasn't in the camp. Her hands were tied above her head, so tightly that her fingers weren't getting any blood. Her legs were tied also with her toes barely touching the ground.

Then someone roughly shoved a gag in her mouth and then tied it around the back of her head.

It tasted like oil.

Cirta. Scarlett thought as she faked that she was still unconscious. Her heart started drumming as she did indeed hear the crackling of a fire nearby. She tried not to panic, trying to keep her breathing as even as she could but it wasn't easy. Last time she had ran into Citra she had been poisoned.

This time around there wasn't the smell of moss surrounding her, nor could she feel the cold stone against her skin. Scar figured she was moved somewhere more remote, where no one would know to look.

Scarlett spent a couple of minutes contemplating her exit strategy. The downside to this was that she still hadn't opened her eyes so she couldn't see around her, meaning she didn't know if there was anything she could use as a weapon. Scar figured the only plan of action at this point would be to get herself untied and find her weapons. Easier said than done.

"I know you're awake." She heard Vaas say.

Vaas? She wondered as her eyes shot open.

They were in a small jungle clearing. The sound leaves rustling above her head gave away the fact that she was tied to a tree branch. In between Scarlett and the Pirate King was a small fire, which he was lazily poking with a stick. The could hear water, but it was far away. She had no idea on what part of Vaas' island she was on or even if she was on his island at all anymore.

And then Scarlett remembered. She remembered the beach, the sunset and Vaas shoving a chloroform soaked rag into her face. She remembered her her limbs went numb first, then her hearing dimmed and her vision blurred. All in a matter of seconds.

"Vaas." She said, but the gag muffled her speech.

Vaas smiled, lit up a cigarette and kept poking the fire. The flames danced off his eyes and gave them a glint, striking fear into Scarlett's heart. The only light around them was the fire, that currently illuminated Vaas, and the small amount of moonlight that shone through the jungle. It was in the middle of the night and she was alone with Vaas in the middle of the jungle. She swallowed thickly and closed her eyes, silently accepting the fact that she might actually die this time around. With Coin Man and with Citra there had been the hope is her that Gareth would come to get her if she failed to save herself... That Vaas would come to get her... This time Gareth was god knows where and Vaas was the one who held her captive.

She tried to get the gag out of her mouth but that didn't work. Then she attempted to free her hands, but Vaas seemed to tie excellent knots. Vaas who was still sitting by the fire took no notice of her escape attempts even though Scar was sure he was aware of it.

Scar suddenly remembered of the first time she went to Turkey Point, when there were the to young hostages tied up like pigs.

"They tried to run." Vaas pulled a gun from the holster on his hip and stroked the girls cheek with the shiny barrel. The girls eyes pooled with tears and they were soon running down her cheeks, she bit her lip to keep silent.

Scarlett swallowed and her stomach felt hollow, regretting ever bringing up the two hostages.

"They know, there is no fucking way out." Vaas was mere centimetres away from her face. "They know, that there is no fucking escape." The girl squeezed her eyes shut and let out a sob. "Shh shh," He shushed, wiping her tears away with his thumb. "It's going to be okay, shh. Don't cry."

There was no way out.

This was his island.

Of course he wouldn't be worried about you getting yourself free. Her inner voice told her. He knows the island better than anyone. You don't have a chance.

She made a snap decision, which would probably end up being a bad idea. Though, she reasoned with herself by saying that this situation is heading toward her death anyway so it wasn't like it could get much worse. "Vaas!" She shouted again.

This time Vaas lifted his head, then asked politely "I'm sorry what did you say?"

"Vaas!" She repeated. "What the hell?" The words were muffled.

"I'm sorry what?" He stood up and slowly walked over to her, like a predator stalking prey.

Scarlett realized that speaking, or attempting to speak had been a mistake. Or rather, an even bigger one that she thought it would be. "Please." She stared at him with wide eyes.

"Do you want me to slice you open, huh?" Vaas shouted, trailing the machete, the one that Gareth had given her, on her throat. "Shut the fuck up! Okay? I'm the one with the fucking dick!"

She could do nothing else but to avoid his gaze, she figured that perhaps making eye contact might infuriate him even more. She didn't even dare swallow. Scar remembered how Vaas had toyed with two young hostages at Turkey point, twisting their words. His eyes had been ablaze, much like they were when he looked at her now. She didn't even let herself wonder what had happened to the duo. She remembered how sorry she had felt for them and hoped that she would never be in the position they were in. Now she figured that it would be better is she was in their position. If she was she would be tied up in the middle of camp and someone would cut her down.

"Look at me. Look me in the fucking eye." Vaas commanded. "Hey! You fuck!" Vaas grabbed her chin and pulled her head up, so that it was impossible for her to avoid his eyes. "Look me in the eye." He motioned to his left eye with the machete. "You're my bitch. I rule this fucking kingdom. So shut the fuck up." A small smile found its way across his lips. "Or you die."

He held her gaze for a while before speaking again. Panic was flooding her, she couldn't hold it back anymore. Her chin started trembling slightly, but she bit the inside of her cheek to stop it.

Show no weakness. She reminded herself.

"You know what, hermana. I'm gonna chill, okay?" Vaas chuckled. "Isn't it lovely how just a few hours ago you thought you had a fucking chance. But now," He ran a finger across her cheek. "you've hit the ground. There is no fucking way out."

They were a mere 10 centimetres apart. So Scarlett did the only thing that she could. She headbutted him as hard as she physically could. It was a reflex and went against her better judgement, but this was a matter of survival. And if she was going down, she was going down fighting. Of course this would have been much more effective, if she would have had the chance to run.

Vaas let out a small groan and then a laugh. "You've got fire. I've always liked that." He laughed some more. "I did honestly think that if I had you tied up," He went closer again and grabbed a fistful of her hair and roughly tugged it back, so it caused shooting pains in her scalp. Their faces were closer then before, but he made sure she was unable to headbutt him again. "If I had you fucking tied up, it would be under different circumstances." His mouth stretched into a smirk. "None the less, this. This will be just as much fun." He winked at her. "At least for me."

"Why?" She tried to say.

Vaas seemed to understand her. "Why? Fucking why?" His eyes roamed her face, smirk still on his lips. "I had taken quite a liking to you, hermana. Believe it or not."

Scarlett shook her head, he hadn't understood what she meant. "Why?" She repeated.

"Why what? Huh?" He raised his eyebrows.

"Why am I tied up?" She tried to say, but it came out completely incoherent.

Vaas sighed and ripped the gag away from her mouth. Scar let out a pained groan as the rag tugged on her skin. "You need to stop fucking mumbling."

"Why am I tied up?" She repeated, her voice hoarse. The gag fell around her neck.

Vaas released her hair and went to the spot where he was sitting before. He lit up another cigarette and drowned some pills, washing them down with some rum. "Let me tell you a little story. Okay? Aesop once wrote of two men who were travelling together: one was a liar and the other always told the fucking truth. Their journey led them to the land of the monkeys. There was a whole crowd of monkeys there and one of them noticed the travellers." He raised his index finger at the word 'one', and then continued the tale. "The monkey who was clearly their leader ordered that the men be detained. Since he wanted to know what the men thought of him, he commanded all rest of the fucking monkeys to stand before him in a long line to his right and to his left, while a seat was prepared for him to sit on." Vaas chuckled.

"You see this motherfucker, this monkey, had once seen the emperor, a human emperor, so he was ordering his fucking monkeys to line up for him in the same way. The men were then told to come forward into the midst of the monkeys. The chief monkey said, 'Who am I?' So the chickenfuck liar said, 'You are the emperor!' Then the monkey asked, 'And those whom you see standing before me: who are they?' The man answered, 'They are your noble fucking companions, your chancellors, your officials and the commanders of your goddamn armies!' Because these fucking lies flattered the monkey and his troops, he ordered that the man be showered with bloody presents." Vaas took a deep drag from his cigarette.

"All the monkeys were fooled by his fucking flattery." The smoke was seeping out of his mouth as he spoke. "Meanwhile, the man who always told the truth thought to himself, 'If that motherfucking liar received such rewards for telling lies, then surely I will receive an even greater reward for telling the truth.' The chief monkey said to the second man, 'Now you tell me who I am, and who are these whom you see standing before me?' And the man who always loved the truth and never fucking lied said to the monkey, 'You are simply a monkey, and all of these similar simians are fucking monkeys as well!' The chief monkey, that fucking pussy, immediately ordered the monkeys to attack the man with their teeth and claws because he had spoken the truth.'" Vaas threw the butt of his cigarette into the fire infront of him and then rubbing his mouth with his hands.

"Why are you telling me this?" Scarlett asked, after Vaas hadn't spoken for a while.

Vaas stood up heavily and sighed, eyeing Scarlett. He walked closer, toying with the machete in his hand. His head tilted to the side once they were a metre apart. "Because flattery will not keep you alive with me."

Her hands were trembling and her heart was racing. She guessed the truth wouldn't keep her alive either.

"So listen to me, hermana. I need you to listen real fucking careful. Okay?" He sounded so sincere, but there was a fire in his eyes that made her doubt that sincerity. "I need you to tell me the truth."

Scarlett swallowed. "About what?"

Vaas laughed, that sort of a sick laugh that he laughed every time right before he killed someone. "Oh c'mon, hermana. I know you're smarter than this."

Scarlett stayed silent. The only noise there was was her heavy breathing and the crackling of the fire.

"No? Okay." Vaas laughed and the machete was at her throat again. "Listen here you motherfucker. When I was on the island, doing my rounds, being the good King I am." He smirked. "I heard some fucking men speak of a woman with brown eyes that can burn a bloody hole through a mans heart." He pointed to his heart with his index finger. "Someone so skilled at wrapping people around her fucking finger, that no one would think she's a threat. At first I passed it off, thinking they spoke of a fucking whore. But no," he chuckled. "The woman is a spy. Here on a mission to assassinate." Vaas smiled, pushing the sharp edge of the machete more into her throat. "You wouldn't happen to know her, would you?"

Scarlett closed her eyes and let out a breath through her nose.

Vaas snarled. "Why are you here?"

This was it. She was going to die.

"If you're going to kill me, do it now." She said.

"So you admit it." Vaas laughed. "You motherfucker, you come into my fucking camp, fuck with me and expect to get away with it. Oh no. No, no, no, no. You're going to fucking suffer." The blade was removed from her throat and she opened her eyes. "You're a traitor so I'm going to skin you alive." The scarred man was facing away from her. He looked over his shoulder and gave her a smile, one that on anyone else could be considered truly genuine. "You know what I keep fucking thinking. I keep thinking how you managed to rope Hoyt into all of this. Huh? How the fuck did you bypass him? He doesn't like outsiders, especially the ones who aren't for sale." Vaas paused and lit up another cigarette. "No one gets onto this island."

"You fucked him, didn't you?" He laughed in realization. "I should have fucking figured." He slowly walked back toward Scarlett, shaking his head with a smile. "I wonder, how many times did you have those pretty little lips," he trailed the edge of the machete on her lips. "wrapped around his fucking cock in order for him to let you get to this island."

"I didn't fuck him." Scarlett exclaimed disgusted, her mind conjuring up the leering eyes of Hoyt.

Vaas chuckled and shook his head. "You know what, I don't think I believe that."

Scarlett sighed, figuring the only way out was to tell the truth and hopefully manage to cut a deal with Vaas in the progress. He might kill her despite her confession, but it was her best chance. "He's the one who hired me."

Vaas paused. The tip of the blade trailing halfway down her neck. His eyes flickered from the tip of the blade to her eyes. His eyebrow rose and his mouth was hanging slightly open. "I'm not sure I fucking believe that either."

"You wanted the truth, didn't you?"

"Why the hell would Hoyt hire you?" He pushed the machete into her throat once more. "You see that doesn't make sense." He shook his head. "If Hoyt wanted me dead, which in itself is pretty fucking unlikely, he'd hire someone..." His eyes trailed her up and down. "Up for the task."

"No one ever said that you were my target." Then Scarlett smiled, she figured she was going to die, deal or no deal, by Vaas' hand sooner or later so the tone of her voice wouldn't make much of a difference. "And darling, trust me. If I was here to kill you, you would have been dead a long time ago."

"And that makes your pretty little fucking story that much more unlikely. If Hoyt wanted someone else dead he would tell me." Vaas said, "Like always."

"Unless." Scarlett's eyes bore into his. "Unless Hoyt didn't know who needed to be killed."

This piqued the scarred mans interest. He liked his lips and tilted his head. "Tell me the truth."

"Cut me down." Scarlett negotiated, to which Vaas laughed.

"You are in no fucking position to make demands, hermana." Vaas spoke. "If you tell me the truth, I will let you live."

"Oh hell no. If you will let me live, then you will still leave me hanging here until I starve to death or some animal kills me." Scarlett said, she had seen him do that to many rejects before. Promising them their life and coming through on that promise, but by leaving them where they were for a couple of weeks. He killed them one way or another. "I know this game, I have seen you play it with so many hostages. Do not take me for a fool. You cut me down and let me live, then I tell you the truth."

"You first, hermana." The fire was beginning to die down behind Vaas. "If I like the truth, then I might conciser it."

"You cut me down first." Scar insisted.

"Listen here, you are in no fucking place to make goddamn demands. Okay?" Vaas' eyes flashed. "You tell me the fucking truth and I will maybe cut you down."

"Not good enough." Scarlett sighed, she was going to make a colossal mistake but it was the only way to get out, depending on how it went. "Fine. I will tell you the truth first, but you will cut me down. No maybes. Do we have a deal?" Scarlett asked, raising an eyebrow.

After a moment of silence, Vaas nodded. "Sí."

"There is a rat in your camp, someone is feeding information to Hoyt's rivals. Hoyt didn't know who it was, so he got into contact with Shaun. He's my manager or sorts I suppose. All of my contracts go through him and he sends them on to me. Hoyt wasn't aware he was hiring a woman, I usually go by my surname, and he wasn't exactly happy when he found out. Anyway. I'm here to find and kill the rat." Scarlett explained.

When Vaas speak or didn't give any indication that he had even been listening to her, she shouted. "I'm here to kill a rat, not you."

Vaas smiled. "Yet, I still don't fucking get why the hell Hoyt didn't just ask me."

If Scarlett could have shrugged she would have. "I'm not him, I don't know. Though logically it would raise quite a few red flags amongst your men if you started poking around, asking questions. It would give too many chances to destroy evidence or alert the people who the rat is working for. Hell, it would have given enough time for the rat to disappear completely. Meaning another rat would have come along soon enough. You knowing would complicate things."

Vaas pulled the blade away from her throat and then swung at her. Scarlett closed her eyes and tensed her muscles, trying to keep herself from screaming. Instead of the blade hitting her it cut the rope from which she was hanging from. She fell to the ground with a thud, groaning at impact. Her muscles and joints were sore and burning. Vaas left her there as he went to sit next to the fire, throwing in a few pieces of wood.

By the time Scarlett managed to scramble closer to the fire the flames were burning high again. She held her arms toward him, motioning to the roped which still held her wrists together. Scarlett noticed for the first time how exhausted Vaas looked. His eyes were surrounded by dark, bruised looking skin. His shoulders were a bit more sunken than usual, the three bullet wounds in his shoulder probably had to do with that as well. Scarlett briefly wondered how long it had been since he last slept. Vaas' eyes were trained on her, the deal had been to cut her down, not to free her completely. However, after a moment of deliberation Vaas grabbed her arms and pulled them toward him, with a quick and skilled movement he cut open the rope tied around them.

"Legs." Vaas said, and put a new cigarette between his lips.

Scarlett shifted herself so that he could cut the rope off of her ankles. Her hands then rubbed the raw skin on her wrists. When she got her legs free she immediately fell onto her back, letting all of her muscles relax.

A groan escaped her lips. "Fuck."

"The rat. Have you found him?" Vaas asked.

Scarlett shook her head. "I wouldn't be here if I had. So no, not yet." She sighed. "You do realize that my mission has been compromised now. You know why I am here, I should kill you too." It was true, her contract did state that no one was to know of her mission except for Hoyt. If anyone else was to find out, Scarlett would have to kill them. She had a feeling that if Hoyt found out that the point in the contract had been broken, he would have her head.

Vaas laughed. "You're not going to kill me. If anyone is killing fucking anyone, I will kill you. You did fucking lie to me."

Scarlett smiled. "You're not a man who wastes his time, we both know that. If you were to kill me I'd be dead. The same goes for you. And I lied to everyone, not just you." The cool earth felt like heaven against her burning skin.

Vaas looked at her, cocking his head to the side. "Even Gareth?"

Scarlett nodded. "Yes. Even Gareth."

"You and I." Vaas started, licking his lips. "We are more alike than you think."

"We're both killers."

"Sí. In more fucking ways than that though." Vaas offered her a drink. She gladly took the bottle from his hands, popped herself up on her elbows and took a long swig.

"How will this work from now on?" Scarlett wondered. "You know my mission. It is in my contract that I have to kill you. I haven't made up my mind on that yet, by the way. If Hoyt found out that the contract was broken he'd probably, or most definitely, kill me. Although, seeing as we both would like to keep out lives, how about we keep this between you and I huh? "

Vaas smiled. "Nobody has to fucking know, eh? It can be," he licked his lips. "Our little secret."

"And can you keep secrets?"

"Oh, mina. I am excellent with secrets." He smiled, but his smile was half hearted. He grabbed the bottle of rum and pulled the cork off. Putting the bottle to his lips, he took six deep glugs from it.

Scarlett frowned. "When was the last time you slept?" She had noticed he didn't sleep often nor for long periods of time. "Properly." She added. There was a time when she wasn't able to sleep either. It was during the first year that she had thought that Gareth was dead. Every night she battled night terrors and at some point it was easier not to sleep at all.

Vaas laughed bitterly and shook his head. He offered no further answer.

She sat up fully and moved toward Vaas a little. "Vaas we are in this together now. I need you to be in your best shape because we can't offer any slip ups." She caught Vaas' eyes and she saw a storm brewing behind them. He was exhausted and for all intents and purposes, he was broken. Much like she had been, how she still was to a certain extent. "You need to sleep."

The words that Vaas said not long before rang in her ears.

You and I. We are more alike than you think.

Perhaps that was true, they were more alike than Scarlett would have liked to admit. However they were so different, but not as different as she had hoped. Now with both of their lives on the line, it felt like the wall that was between them was starting to crumble down. The wall that was built on anger, lies, denial and all things left unsaid was coming down. She didn't even know that there was a wall until it broke. It scared the shit out of Scarlett.

"I can't." He confessed and took another gulp of rum. "I physically can't."

Scarlett pursed her lips, deciding to let the subject pass without pressing any further. Instead she grabbed the bottle of rum and took a sip.

With a grunt Vaas rose to his feet and extended an arm, the good arm, toward Scarlett. "We should get back to camp. It's almost sunrise."

_x_

The men were all around the fire, even Ash had been dragged out of bed. He was grinning with a beer in his hand while he spoke to Kip and Scarlett. Gareth had returned to the camp before dinner, and Scarlett couldn't help but think that it wasn't an accident that he was gone precisely when Vaas captured her. Big speakers had been dragged out and music was blasting out of them, it was however very quickly that it turned into a karaoke competition.

"Seriously? You guys do karaoke?" Scarlett laughed.

"Do you have something against it?" Kip laughed. "It's a good way for the men to relax. Plus when they're done with that Monroe will probably end up playing for the rest of the night."

Gareth pulled up a chair and sat into their group.

"Are you kidding me? I love karaoke!" She said, opening a new bottle of beer. "I actually used to work at a karaoke bar. The best thing is that it was in South London, so it was one of those rough gangster bars."

Gareth groaned. "I'm not sure I want to hear this story."

"I was a waitress there, but on three nights. I think it was... Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Anyway, those nights were 'my' nights. They even called it 'Karaoke with Scarlett'. So it became-" She burst into giggles at the memory.

Kip pretended to hold on to a microphone, deepened his voice quite a bit and spoke in a tv presenter voice. "Please welcome to the stage! Scarlett!" He dragged out her name as he spoke.

"But it was a bit dodgy and sometimes it would get quite fraught in there. Occasionally I'd get threatened or something like that. There was this one time this guy came to me, and by this point he had done this like ten fucking times. He came to me and asked me to sing some song over and over again, I think it was Frank Sinatra's 'My Way' or something like that anyway. And I was like for God's sake, no. So I sang something else and this guy pulled out a crowbar from his trousers and he came for me." Scarlett hunched over in giggles again.

"So I just shouted 'John'! Because the owner was called Little John, despite being almost two metres tall. So he got everybody out and saved me, but he said that 'In the future, Scar. If that happens again, what will work is singing 'My Heart Will Go On' by Celine Dion cause that really chills everyone down.'"

"Did that actually work?" Kip wondered in amazement.

"Yes!" Scarlett giggled. "It used to be like a soothing balm to all of the drunken gangsters. And since then every single time it got fraught he'd just come to me like 'Oi, Scar. Do Titanic, do Titanic."

The three men around her toppled over in laughter.

"The best thing about that though, is that I absolutely despise the song." Scarlett admitted.

Karaoke was more fun than Scarlett had had in a while. There were terrible 80's power ballads sung by people who were absolutely pissed while simultaneously dancing. Scarlett even ended up singing for a song. She picked 'Total Eclipse Of The Heart', despite it's cheesy nature. Then men seemed to have no complaints over it.

Scarlett took a seat next to Ash and offered him a new beer.

"Thanks." Asher smiled at her. "Do you know what's up with Vaas?"

Scarlett's eyebrows pulled together. "What do you mean?"

"He's acting weird. It's not like him not to completely drunk by this point. He doesn't usually sit out parties, much less when they're thrown for his return."

Scarlett scanned the crowd and found Vaas sitting in a chair a bit further away from the men. "He did just get three bullets in his shoulder. I wouldn't be in much of a party mood either."

Ash shook his head. "That's the thing. The asshole is always in a party mood. If he can get fucked up, he will. Something is wrong."

"Why are you concerned about what's up with him?" Scarlett wondered.

"Jesus." Ash sighed. "Because his mood could have a big effect on you."

"What?"

"Have you seriously not noticed?" When Scarlett offered no answer, he kept talking. "Even when you could cut the sexual tension between the two of you with a knife, you haven't noticed. The man likes you. Hell, he's head over heels for you."

"No he's not." Scarlett denied. "Sure, there is attraction. He doesn't fancy me though."

Ash scoffed. "You don't have to believe me... Do you 'fancy' him?" He asked, making air quotes around the word 'fancy'.

Scarlett licked her lips. The whole day, since Vaas found out why she was in his camp it felt like they were pulled toward each other. Everything she had tried to deny was surfacing. She had always been attracted to the man. But now the wall was gone from between them. And with the breaking of the wall came the truth that Scarlett had been trying to avoid for a while.

She fancied him.

The alcohol played a crucial part in actually admitting that to herself.

"No." Scarlett said. She wasn't stupid enough to go parading around with her feelings, so she wasn't going to advertise them to Asher either, who she knew had a little crush on her.

Karaoke went on for about an hour more. The entertainment for the rest of the night Monroe playing guitar and mandolin. For some songs, other men came in to play bagpipes, tin whistle, banjo, accordion and one of the men took big steel pots from the kitchen to drum on. By the fourth song there was a whole band together. The songs they played were well known amongst the men, some more than others. But they were all having a good time, singing and dancing along.

The pictures tell the story
This life has many shades
I'd wake up every morning and before I'd start each day
I'd take a drag from last nights cigarette
That smouldered in it's tray
Down a little something and then be on my way

Ever since the conversation with Asher, Vaas invaded her mind. She remembered that he had rescued her from his crazy sister single-handedly. She remembered what she had said to him in the old army shelter, knowing that every single word have been the truth.

She grabbed a new beer bottle from the table and popped it open, chugging it down.

The memory of their kiss resurfaced and caused her to shiver. The way his hand was twisted in her hair. The way he kissed her like he was a starving man. She remembered how it felt like her soul was on fire, her senses heightened and pure, raw lust was coursing through her veins. He tasted like cigarettes and rum, and she could still taste him on her lips. She remembered how her knees were weak by the end of it. And that it had been just a kiss, which made her wonder what else he could do with his mouth.

I travelled far and wide
And laid this head in many ports
I was guided by a compass
I saw beauty to the north
I drew the tales of many lives
And wore the faces of my own
I had these memories all around me
So I wouldn't be alone

And she remembered the dream she had where everything had felt so real.

She remembered his promise to make her scream.

She wanted him.

Some may be from showing up
Others are from growing up
Sometimes I was so messed up and didn't have a clue
I ain't winning no one over
I wear it just for you
I've got your name written here
In a rose tattoo

All of the men shouted out the next lyrics, this song seemed to be one of the more popular ones. Monroe strummed away on the guitar with a wide smile on his lips, the fire illuminating the scars on his cheeks.

In a rose tattoo
In a rose tattoo
I've got your name written here
In a rose tattoo

This ones for the mighty sea
Mischief, gold and piracy
This ones for the man that raised me
Taught me sacrifice and bravery
This ones for our favourite game
Black and gold, we wave the flag
This ones for my family name
With pride I wear it to the grave

Monroes voice was something Scarlett didn't know how to describe. He wasn't a trained singer, but there was something about his voice that made him sound amazing. Perhaps it was the way he sounded that suited this hell-on-earth so well. He sounded earthy and sincere, his accent ringing in every word.

She had been listening to the men play for what felt like hours, but it was very entertaining. She even danced a very bad waltz with Kip, both of them toppling over in laughter every third second. Scarlett grinned while picking at the label of the beer bottle. Despite the great music and the distractions, Vaas still invaded her mind.

In a rose tattoo
In a rose tattoo
I've got your name written here,
In a rose tattoo
In a rose tattoo
In a rose tattoo
I've got your name written here
In a rose tattoo

She turned her eyes toward Turkey Point and saw Vaas leaning of the railing, a bottle between his fingers and a cigarette on his lips. His eyes were scanning the men, his brows pulled together.

Scarlett downed the last of her drink and got to her feet, trying to make her way toward Vaas but she ended up stumbling. Now that she was on her feet, she could feel all of the effects of the alcohol and she was drunker than she thought. A drunk Scarlett was rarely good news. Although that would depend on one's definition of good news. After finding her balance Scarlett made her way, very slowly, to Turkey Point. It took everything she had not to accidentally stumble on the sleepy Maccie on the stairs.

This one means the most to me
Stays here for eternity
A ship that always stays the course
An anchor for my every choice
A rose that shines down from above
I signed and sealed these words in blood
I heard them once, sung in a song
It played again and we sang along

"You shouldn't be moping about." Scarlett noted and leaned against the railing, facing the opposite way from Vaas. "You should be there, shaking your ass like a king."

That made Vaas smile. "Really."

"Yes really. If you can shake your ass, you should fucking shake it. I can't fucking shake my ass." Scarlett confessed with a giggle. "Oh wow, I'm drunk."

"Indeed."

You'll always be there with me
Even if you're gone
You'll always have my love
Our memory will live on

"You know..." She swallowed and leaned toward Vaas, so that their arms was mere centimetres apart. "You know how you said you have 'taken quite a liking to me'... Was that how you said it?"

"Yes..." Vaas said, lifting an eyebrow. He popped a few white pills into his mouth.

"I was reminded. I remembered a promise you made me a long time ago. I was wondering if you were going to keep that promise." Scarlett wondered licking her lips.

Vaas smiled and turned to look at her, he knew exactly what she was talking about, the time they were stuck in the storm and he had promised to make her scream. "And you want that?"

The alcohol had loosened her tongue more than she would have cared to admit, though it was obvious from the things that left her mouth. "I know that I have been spent too much time denying myself. When during all of that time I could have been having...fun. And now you and I, are in this together." Vaas chucked and Scarlett continued to talk. "Do you know what you want?"

Vaas nodded and took a drag from his cigarette. "Sí."

"And what is that?" She wondered.

"You."

"You should go and be a good king. You aren't the one to sit out celebrations and you don't want to arouse any suspicion... Do you?" Scarlett licked her lips, her brain failing to function properly. "You know... Mina." She said, mocking the nickname he had for her. As the next sentence left her mouth she was reminded of and event, when Vaas had said the exact same words to her, in the exact same spot. Except now that felt like a lifetime ago. "When you get bored, you know where to find me," She pointed to the general direction of her quarters. "and make good on your promise."

In a rose tattoo
In a rose tattoo
I've got your name written here,
In a rose tattoo
In a rose tattoo
In a rose tattoo
With pride I'll wear it to the grave for you
In a rose tattoo
In a rose tattoo
I've got your name written here,
In a rose tattoo
In a rose tattoo
In a rose tattoo
Signed and sealed in blood I would die for you.

_x_

She was his, he knew she was his. She had to be fucking his. Vaas thought as he stalked through the camp, his steps were swayed by whisky and a good fucking hit of cocaine. It had been a while since he had done a proper hit of it, he'd had different shit, mainly home-made red, berry looking things, from Dr. Earnhardt to keep his cravings at bay. He had a cigarette dangling between his lips. His vision was delayed and he felt like he was underwater, things were blurry and slow, and fast. Vaas took a drag of the cigarette as he stumbled slightly and felt his stomach churn, ready to turn itself inside out at any given time. It would never do so however, he was very aware of the quantities of poisons he put inside himself.

He wasn't supposed to be doing this, he knew that, but he couldn't fucking care. He was losing the war he'd been fighting with himself. He had been doing pretty well. This woman had been driving him wild since the first day she walked in and he was holding it together for the most part. He had all but given up any hope he had on Scarlett. She wasn't a woman for casual flings, or at least she didn't seem to be and he knew that he couldn't give her more.

The cigarette fell from between his fingers as he paused outside her building. The outside door was always open and judging from the light that was coming from the inside, the door to her room was open too.

He stepped into the building, swallowing the part of him that was screaming him not to do it, not to go in. Because that part of him knew she didn't want him, despite their banter and her glances. How would she? His fingers trailed his head, where the jagged scar represented everything that he was. If he was just a tad bit more sober, he might have turned back. No, he definitely would have turned back. But the poisons in his veins made him not care. Plus he knew that the sting of rejection would be milder now. He remembered when she was under the influence of the antidote, blabbering away about sex among other things. He knew she spoke the truth, but back then she wasn't in control of her mouth.

His eye quickly caught a half empty bottle of most likely rum on the small table in the middle of the room. With trembling fingers he went to retrieve the bottle and downed almost all of the contents. With a heavy breath out he put the bottle back down and enjoying the warmth it created in his stomach. He stepped into Scarlett's room, closing the door and then leaned all of his weight against it. Scarlett was sitting behind her laptop, before she turned to face him she slammed the top of it down.

She had haunted him for too long. Putting questions and thoughts into his head that made him want to kill her or rip his own heart out. He wanted to know if her hair was as really soft as it looked. He wanted to know if the bottom of her foot was ticklish. He wanted to know if her lips felt like the heaven that they resembled. To some of these questions he had found the answer the night he kissed her, making it even more harder for him to stay away. He wanted to explore and investigate all of the secret little places that would make her come undone. He wanted to hear and see her face when she came. He wanted to feel the firmness of her hips underneath his fingertips as he fucked her from behind. He wanted to touch her everywhere.

Jesus fucking christ, Vaas thought as he looked at her. She was wearing his shirt, the one she borrowed from him weeks ago. In his eyes she looked like the devil.

A small smirk played on Scarletts lips, indicating that she had been expecting him. "Vaas." Her voice was slightly raspy from all of the cigarettes she had been smoking and God it drove him crazy.

His panting breath was the only sound in the small, dingy room. Though he was sure the drumming of his heart was loud enough to be heard as well. Blood was pumping sluggishly through his body in direct contrast to the air being forced to and from his lungs at a rapid, almost frantic pace.

Scarletts fragile fingers were twirling the fine ends of her hair around and around until there was a small snarling mess. She knew that there was only one reason why Vaas would be in her room. To make good on his promise.

The insuperable feeling of being completely out of control was clawing up his throat. He shouldn't be there. He finally lifted his eyes up to hers. He had stayed away for so fucking long, but he couldn't anymore. The war was lost. His body was craving the rush that he knew would finally bring that numbing warmth that was so, so fucking good. He felt weak but he felt powerful and he knew she saw that and he hated it.

She stood from the chair, Vaas' shirt didn't even reach the middle of her thigh and exposed all of her creamy, long, muscular legs. Vaas cursed himself and let his head fall against the door with a thump. She walked over to him, brown eyes full of mischief, and Vaas couldn't tear his eyes away. As soon as Vaas' musky smell registered in Scars brain her body relaxed. Her muscles unclenched and the tension was sliding away bit by bit.

He lifted up his hand, heavy like led, and ran his finger across her jaw. She was watching him, eyes wary but she didn't move away. Suddenly, Vaas grabbed her by the shoulders and slammed her against the door that he was leaning against a second before, leaning some of his weight onto her body. The sudden twirl made him want to throw up even more.

"I fucking hate you." He hissed into her ear, making it loud and sickeningly hot so she would cringe. She made him feel weak and he fucking hated it. His fingers were itching to reach for his gun, point it at her pretty little head and pop the whole clip into it.

She laughed at him. She fucking laughed at him. He punched the wall next to her head, but she didn't flinch. Instead she kept her eyes on his, daring him.

Challenging.

Devil woman.

"I came here to kill you, mina."

She laughed again, this time louder. " I thought we already went over this. Besides, I am still alive and you are not a man who wastes his time." She chuckled as her eyes bore into his, gently she placed her hands onto his biceps. "You won't kill me."

He hated how sure of herself she was. He hated how she didn't fear him. He was disgusted with himself because he could kill dozens of Rakyats without batting an eye and leaving her alone in the camp made him feel guilty. He grabbed her neck and pushed her against the door. She gripped his wrist tight, in an attempt to stop him from choking her, and Vaas loosened his hold. His hand almost limp, slid down from her neck toward her chest.

I hate you. I fucking hate you. Vaas screamed in his head.

Even he himself didn't believe it.

She smiled, eyes full of something he dared not name.

And Vaas was lost.

Scar placed her hands on either side of his face. Her blood was picking up speed, pumping faster and faster through her veins until she thought she may actually burst. The anticipation was swiftly climbing up her spine like a vine of bubbles, tickling every nerve in her body as it spread and stretched. He looked like the best kind of bad idea. Her breathing quickened as she allowed her mind to fully absorb all the sensations she knew were only seconds away.

Vaas' head swayed ever so slightly, his eyelids felt heavy and he felt so fucking hot as if he was bathing in fire. His breathing was ragged and heavier than he wanted her to see, but he felt so goddamn weak. And her soft lips were on his chapped ones. She was tender and soft, but Vaas didn't know how to be, so he wrapped his arms around her and pressed her between the wall and his muscular chest. He bit her lip, nearly drawing blood, and she gasped, but it only caused her to try and pull him closer, an action that made Vaas' insides twist in happiness and all the mad thoughts go away.

Body alive. Blood rushing and nerves tingling in the most delicious way as she unwrapped her arms from around him and his fingers tugged on the bottom of her shirt. Coarse hands pulled softened cotton up, down, away. Delicate lace was unhooked, stretched and gone. The air against her naked flesh was disarming and she instinctively shifted, feeling like she should cover up but she didn't. Her fingers quickly found the bottom of Vaas' signature red shirt. The shirt was discarded without care and his dirty, over-worn jeans and boots joined the pile. Vaas wrapped his hands under her ass and lifted her as if she was as light as a feather, an action that made his bandaged shoulder protest in pain. Her legs quickly wrapped around his waist and a moment later she was on the bed and lying on her back.

Kneading hands worked quickly up her shins, over smooth knees and sticky-hot thighs. And then they stopped, right at that lovely crease that separated her legs from aching wet flesh. Scar growled in frustration when she felt him stop, to which Vaas let out a chuckle. He was glad to know that she was weaker around him than she let on. His large callused thumbs skimmed her lightly and she squirmed, eliciting a low, devious laugh from Vaas. Hazely-green eyes peeked out from under thick lashes and she knew he was taunting her. Torturing her for his own fun.

He wrapped his so-large hands around her hips, pulling her weight down towards him. Anchoring his lean, muscular body over her with one hand pressed to the mattress beside her hip, his other hand skimmed over her hip, ass, thigh until he reached her knee to wrap it around him. Vaas' mouth pulled into a grin as he placed kisses on her stomach, slowly inching lower and lower. Heat rushed to Scarletts face and she squeezed her eyes shut. Her sex was mere centimetres from his mouth and she could feel it. She grasped at his shoulders tightly as he let out hot air against her.

Pulling her close enough for his lips to be against her, he took a long slow lick right up her sex, spreading the moisture with his tongue. He revelled in Scars gasp and started to flick his tongue against her clit, rubbing the tiny nub of nerves with the flat side of his tongue to alternate between the tip of his tongue.

A string of curses escaped her lips, which made him hum in approval and send vibrations up her body. She was starting to lose it, and he could tell. As his tongue worked her, his hands rubbed up and down her thighs, moving from her inner to outer with every few strokes of his tongue. It wasn't long before her hips started to rise off the bed. Vaas grinned against her as her hands made their way to his mohawk. She gripped the locks tightly as she started to violently shove her hips against his mouth. Moments later she was seeing stars behind her eyes as the first orgasm of the night passed through her.

Her eyes wide and chest heaving, she eyed Vaas. She hadn't expected him to be such a generous partner. Vaas grinned at her, eyes full of promise for more. He was taking his time with her, knowing this may be the only time he might be able to be with her. He wanted to claim her. He wanted to ruin her for any other men she would come across. That every time she would fuck someone, she would think of him.

His hand moved to moist, pink lips. "You're wet, mina. You're making a mess on my hand," and one finger entered her roughly. "Cojeme, that pussy is so tight, hot. Think you can take my cock yet?" His tone was borderline mocking, but his voice raspy and deep. "I bet you can't. You're tight little pussy needs to be dripping. Doesn't it? What do you want? You want me to fuck you with my fingers?" She moaned in response, past the point of articulation.

Scar's fingernails dug into his shoulders, eyes rolling back and squeezing shut at the pleasure. A second finger joined the first and without preamble he was fucking her hard and strong, without restraint. His other hand pressed down on her pelvis, making her hips stay completely still. Her nails were digging deeper into his shoulders, his lips placing lazy kisses onto any bit of skin he could reach and his stubble scratching her skin, leaving behind soft pink marks.

Her body was on fire, blazing, and Vaas could feel it. He could feel how hot her body was by the way the sweat was starting to pool under his hand. He could feel her body starting to react, starting to prepare itself for climax. She was starting to tighten around him, and her whimpers and pleas for more were starting to get louder. As he kept pushing his fingers, she started to scream loudly, just moans and groans, no words.

"Don't you hold back! Come on my hand!" he commanded, the hint of a smirk playing on the corners of his lips. The combination of his ministrations and his warm breath on her sweaty skin make her convulse and without the strength to hold on any longer she came. Again. Hard. Her legs quivered and shook while warm sticky liquid gushed out of her, coating his hand. Scarletts fingers loosened on his shoulders and lazily pulled them to rest on her stomach. His lips pulled into a cocky smirk and he pulled out his fingers.

"Jesus fucking Christ, Vaas!" She had no strength left in her to speak. She'd thought that she'd had good sex in her life, great even. However, this was on a new level.

Vaas chuckled at her words. Instead of cleaning his hand off he brought it to his cock as he rose up and headed for his pants, quickly grabbing a small packet out of the pocket. He stroked himself with her arousal and she couldn't take anymore. With a cocky smirk he put the foil packet between his lips, tearing it open and then rolling the condom down his length. He sat back down, so that he was kneeling between her legs.

His rough, calloused hand stroked her cheek softly as the sweet words, in a language she couldn't understand, were breathed into her ear. Without warning the pretty words were replaced with a deep rumble in his chest as his dirty hands thread tightly through her hair, pulling at the roots, as he buried himself inside her. She bit her lip when she felt a small, biting pain right at first because of his size but a second later the warmth spread until her skin felt kindled and her mind went blissfully blank with pleasure.

And then she was lost in the primal way he used her body, making her feel full of fire. She was light, she was energy in his arms, surrounded by his body. Her legs locked themselves around his waist, her fingers reaching to hold on to something, anything. His hands gripped every inch of her flesh; pinching her pink nipples, nails digging, lips pressing heavily on her throat.

Panting heavily, his eyes squeezing shut in ecstasy, Scar could tell that Vaas was trying his best to regain control. She couldn't help but smirk slightly, knowing that she was responsible for his bliss – that she could make him feel alive, burning from the inside out, the way he made her feel every time he pushed his length inside of her. She took pride in knowing that he felt exactly like her, out of control.

It was so much, too much, stimulation and as every inch of him slammed into her, her lips parted and eyes widened but were unseeing. To stop herself from screaming, she sunk her teeth into his shoulder while her nails were pulling at the skin on his back.

Vaas spoke again, panting each unfamiliar word out like they might be his last. She didn't know how she didn't break in two. Pride swelled inside Vaas to see her writhing beneath him, her head thrashing from side to side on the pillow, fingers desperately gripping him as he ruined her. Her teeth released his shoulder and she muttered out a string of curses. Her eyes squeezing shut and her toes curling. At the sounds of her voice he picked up the pace, quickly capturing her lips with his.

This was like nothing she's ever felt before. Her body was on fire, blazing, and Vaas could feel it. Sweat was starting to pool where their skin made contact. He could feel her body starting to prepare itself for another climax. Vaas' breathing became more frantic, his thrusts sloppier and quicker, and Scar knew that he was getting close as well. The coil inside of her own body growing more taut and she bit down on her bottom lip to keep from crying out.

She called out his name, over and over, as her body kept shaking. Every part of her was reacting to the impulses. Her arms shook, her legs shook, even her fingers twitched. With his own release just on the horizon, Vaas' actions only got more frantic. In one swift movement, he had flipped them over again – his back against the bed and her now above him, his straining cock still buried deep inside of her constricting walls.

Vaas' hands reached up to pull at her hair, tugging on the locks so that she was looking down at him. The ends of his mouth tilted up into grin, full of promise and want and something very dark.

"Ride me, mina," he snarled, thrusting up into her, the new angle sending different sensations across their skin.

"I can't-" she insisted, a sound between a cry and a moan slipping through her lips, all the while her hips swivelling on their own against his.

"Yes, you fucking can." He slammed into her once, twice, pushing her towards that final release once again. "I know you have one more in you."

She nodded frantically in reply, and Scar didn't even know that it was possible to be this close to an orgasm once again. Her hips moved against his until they both fell, desperately clutching to each other, riding out the intense waves together. Slowly, they both came down from their high, Scar moving off of Vaas to lie down beside him, the room silent except for their heavy breathing. He rolled off the condom, tied a knot at the end of it and tossed it in the general direction of the floor, deciding he'd throw it out later.

Lying side by side, Vaas was trembling and sweaty. It was pathetic and weak and he knew she could feel it, but he couldn't stop. He didn't fucking want to stop. He was so fucking high, both off of drugs and her. The high made Scars body feel like heaven and her curves, now covered in bruises and bite marks, were his only sanctuary. He felt like he could finally sleep, here next to his woman, properly and truly sleep. With no nightmares. No dreams. Just her.

In that moment he didn't remember that everything he has, that everything that kept him breathing hung in the balance every single fucking day of his miserable existence. He was in so fucking deep and this was his only escape. This woman who was leaving when her job was done, but she was his.

He wanted to kill her, so she couldn't leave. He wanted to kill himself for being so fucking weak because of her.

He heard her laugh. "Shit, you're bleeding." She giggled again, with her rosy cheeks and tired eyes and her messy hair and swollen lips she was fucking gorgeous. Vaas couldn't take his eyes off of her. Her finger lazily traced a bite mark on his shoulder. "Whoops."

Vaas chuckled, a true and honest chuckle. "I hate to brake it to you, mina, but-" Vaas' finger trailed her shoulder. "Fucking so are you." He caught her lips with his. His hands tugged at the skin on her waist, pulling her closer.

This is what he lived for, even if he knew he shouldn't. She was his drug, and now that he had had a fix he would always be craving for more. This fix, that made his flesh feel burnt from the inside out, consumed him…and he let it swallow him whole.

He wanted to ruin her for other men, so she'd never be satisfied with anyone else. He didn't count on ruining himself in the process.

He pulled his lips off of hers. A small smile covered her lips and her eyes were closed, she was close to drifting off.

He was hers. But she could never be his.

With a frown Vaas sat up of the bed. She's not yours. He reminded himself and the darkness that he had fought so long to keep out was slowly crawling back in. The worst thing, however was that the thing to keep the darkness out was lying on the bed, tired and almost asleep. His hands were trembling as he stood up and reached for his jeans.

"What are you doing?" Scarlett mumbled, her voice understandably confused.

Vaas let out a deep breath and looked over his shoulder, with his jaw clenched and his brow furrowed. Her mouth was pulled down in a frown and her eyes were half open, fighting off sleep. It took every bit of his willpower to not crawl back next to her.

"Vaas?" She questioned again, a little more alert this time. When he didn't answer she stood up, making her way toward him. She wrapped her arms around his torso and placed a soft kiss onto his back, muscles clenching at the contact. Scarlett gasped as she realized, "I wasn't- You- It wasn't good for you... Was it?" Her hands loosened their grip on his torso. "That's why you're going. Fuck. I'm an idiot-"

Vaas squeezed his eyes shut and turned around, shutting her up with his lips. "It's not fucking that."

Scarlett was confused. "Then what...?"

It's that you're not mine. It's that you'll go back to your fucking life soon enough and you'll forget all about me. It's that I can't give you what you deserve, because you deserve something real and I can't be that. Because you are heaven and I'm a monster and a coward. He wanted to say, but he said nothing. He didn't trust himself enough to.

Scarlett's eyes bore into his and she saw the storm and the agony rooted deep in them. She grabbed his hand, lacing their fingers. "Come back to bed."

Vaas was lost.

Vaas was ruined.

A/N: Take a moment.

So Vaas' affection for Scar runs quite a bit deeper than any of us thought. Then again he's not the one who has been repressing their feelings.

And who's the rat? Any ideas?

The story of Scar singing Celine Dion in a karaoke bar is inspired by a story of Gemma Artertons (Who is my faceclaim for Scarlett. At least in my head.)

The song that Monroe sang is "Rose Tattoo", by Dropkick Murphys and it's so so so good. I feel like the whole vibe of the song goes well with the story.

A reminder that I have a Vaaslett (Yes, they have a ship name.) playlist, which I have a link to on my profile.

Also my tumblr is listed there.

As per usual, review, alert... post it to tumblr? Twitter? Whatever floats your boat.

Reviews are better...I was going to write "better than Vaas eating you out" but that wouldn't be exactly true.

Adiós amigos.

-Max