Today must have been a rough day. Jack paced in his office. The way he walked, how he talked to people over the communicator. He was absolutely pissed. Just watching made Rhys scared. He'd seen Jack angry... but never like this.
He watched as Jack made a phone call, calling someone into the room. As his jaw tensed, muscles on the edge twitching with visible frustration. Today was just not Jack's day.
Rhys followed him in the tank, almost like a shadow. Swimming so he could always be as close to him as possible. Jack's shoulders seemed so tense, as if ready to spring to life at any moment. Like a predator ready to take down prey that's been avoiding them for days. As if the prey had finally been cornered.
Suddenly Jack was talking, and Rhys wasn't even sure if he was being addressed. "Some people are so STUPID! It's as if they don't know how to work up here! All they do is make horrid business deals and ruin all my hard work. Do you know how frustrating that is?" He stopped his pacing, looking at Rhys with a wild look in his eyes. "It's as if they're all fucking with me!"
A long creak seemed to break Jack away from Rhys as the front door to the office swung open. Jack was still blocking Rhys' view, but he could hear very slow, timid footsteps heading towards them. The mermaid watched as Jack's hand reached down, the large fingers curling around the pocket watch that draped from his body. dragging the chain from his body before he let it curl around his hand. A smirk crossing his face. A wide split of lips as his teeth underneath glistening in the light of the office. The sight causing Rhys to even take a few paces back.
"It's about time you got here!" Jack's voice was low, like a growl as the man took long strides towards the other human. "For a moment, I was afraid you'd try to skip out on our little… Meeting."
Finally Rhys could see the other man. Male, he cowered, looking pathetic compared to Jack. His eyes darting from the pocket watch, back to the twisted look on Jack's face. "P-please sir, I didn't mea-"
Jack moved so fast, in one sweep he wrapped it around the other man's neck. Chain digging into the skin around it. The last breath exited his throat, those desperate hands reaching for support. For something to set him free. But all his hands grabbed was air. And he watched as soon his body went limp. As it slumped over, collapsing onto the ground. Jack pulling the watch from around his neck.
Rhys looked up at Jack, tearing his eyes away from the limp man on the floor. There was some look in his eye. A glint that sent shivers spreading through Rhys' body. Jack's breathing was off, his chest giving with each movement. A soft, relaxed sigh escaped his lips as his shoulders finally slouched. And suddenly he seemed so... relaxed.
"Now what should we do Kitten?" He asked, eyeing Rhys through the glass.
Rhys stiffened up, watching him carefully through the glass. What could he possibly want to do at this point? Would he want to do the same to Rhys? Even if he did, Rhys could still breath through his gills. The sensation would hurt. .. but it wouldn't kill him.
Rhys paused as Jack stood up, stretching his arms before heading over to the tanks door. Rhys' eyes followed him. Waiting for what was to come. He saw as the water shifted around the edges. Watched as Jack sank into the water. Even after what he'd just seen, Rhys didn't hesitate to swim towards him, just like he always did. Sinking onto the older man's lap with a low sigh.
Jack's hand immediately came down on him, the large, rough palm of his hand stroking down his stomach like usual. Sending waves of enjoyment through the mermaid.
"Have you ever killed anyone Kitten?" Jack asked, moving to run his fingers back through Rhys wet, yet soft hair. The fingers dragging across his scalp caused his tail to tremble. "You don't really have to answer that. I know you have. That's how we found you, after all. Drowning all those Hyperion soldiers does draw attention. "
Rhys pressed against Jack's hand, enjoying the affection he was getting from the older man. "You like killing them as much as I do, don't you?"
Rhys only shrugged. Remembering the many times he'd dragged people under, watching them drown and die under the water. It had been something he'd always felt he needed to do. Humans had always been seen as a threat. They couldn't be trusted, and it always seemed to be back and forth with them. Drowning or fucking them had always been the only response to them. So it was only natural that when those soldiers got close to the water, Rhys dragged them under.
"Maybe I should watch you kill someone here. You can be my little death trap, can't you?" Jack worked rubbing a fairly sensitive spot on his chest. Causing Rhys to purr with enjoyment. Leaning into the touch. Soaking all of it in. "You're the best thing those idiots have ever lugged in here! And to think, they thought I'd want to kill you."
Rhys pauses, looking up at him with big eyes. This only caused Jack to laugh. "Aw Kitten, don't worry. You're too good to me. I'd never kill you."
Jack's hand slid up, moving to tighten slightly around Rhys throat. The pressure a bit unsettling. "-well, as long as you never betray me, sweetie."
Rhys stared up at him, chuckling before pressing his face against him. "Why would I ever do that?" And that seemed to please Jack, because he immediately went back to stroking his stomach.
Someone else was in the tank.
Rhys could taste it in the water. The tang of a human washed over him. But it wasn't Jack. The aura wasn't alluring like before.
Another thing that caught Rhys' attention right away was a metallic taste to it… but sweet and easily drew Rhys in. It was easy to identify what it was.
The vibrations of the water made it easy to find. There was a man in the water, thrashing around as he tried to get back up to the air at the top. He had a whole in him, burned around the edges, the source of all the blood in the water.
When the man saw him, he began thrashing harder. Begging pleads for help being swallowed by the water inside the tank. His legs kicked at Rhys in the water as he swam up higher. The fear came off the man in waves.
Rhys couldn't figure out why he was here. The tank was locked with a mechanism only Jack knew. So how did this man get here?
A surge of rage filled him. This was an intruder, in his new home! Was he trying to take it from him? Who did he think he was.
Rhys reached out, wrapping his clawed hands around his throat. The man panicking as Rhys would start dragging him down to the bottom.
When the man's back hit the bottom, that's when pure panic sunk in. His lips clawing to get Rhys free, one hand scrambling at his jacket. Grabbing something that shimmered from one of the inner pockets… what could it-?
He stabbed it into Rhys arm. Rhys yowled in pain. But he didn't let go, he decided to make this quick.
He watched as blood poured from the man's neck. Blood trickling out in thick streams, surrounding Rhys' face, and surrounding him. The man's body twitched, empty of life and losing blood quickly.
Rhys' whole body jerked when the slot to the pool opened. He didn't hesitate heading in there.
Jack was already half in the pool, waiting for Rhys to move closer. His large hands scooping him into the older man's arms. They were warm and welcoming. Blood rushing through the mermaid's veins in a feral state.
"That asshole hurt you." Jack murmured, moving to work at the cut from the blade. The knife itself still lodged into Rhys' arm. "don't worry Kitten, I'll get it all fixed up for you."
Jack reached to grab the knife. Sharp pains flooding through Rhys as be began to try and tug it free. The mermaid yelping a warning before digging his teeth straight into Jack's shoulder.
Jack yelled out a curse, but got the knife put before working to bandage it up. Cursing slightly.
Rhys felt regret well up in his gut as he watched the blood start to seep from the bite. Whimpering as he moved to slowly start licking it up. Trying to help the bleeding wound he'd created on his partner.
Jack would chuckle, pulling Rhys close to start kissing his throat. "You're really lucky I like that sort of thing, Kitten." he'd mutter into his neck. His whole body Shuddering as Rhys continued to lick at the wound.
"Sorry Jack." Rhys whined, moving to cuddle into him.
Jack only shrugged. "don't worry about it Kitten. It was worth it to watch you in action."