As promised, Freeman was delivered to the South Town police station and the news spread across the city or rather the country like wildfire. Full news coverage about the anonymous tip that led to the discovery of the factory, the continued efforts to identify the victims, and segments dedicated to their memory.

Rock was glad not to be mentioned in any of it.

His kidnapping had flown under the radar, and he liked it like that. As did his recovery but it was just assumed he had been hospitalized. The police patrolling the Kims' residence began to dissipate as soon as Freeman got dragged through court. It would be sometime before he'd be sentenced but until then, he'd be held in jail. It would seem that someone had heard Rock's cheeky comment about paraplegics other than Yamazaki as Freeman's limbs had been mutilated and twisted beyond repair.

That bit caused a shiver to run down Rock's spine. In fact, the whole incident in the basement or whatever was unpleasant. It had been so tempting to swing that crowbar onto Freeman's head, really smash it down there until there was nothing left but a sludge of teeth, brains, and blood. But that was the way Geese Howard dealt with his problems. Not Rock. He was not that man. His destiny was not to become someone like that. He was better. He had to be. He wanted to be. So, it filled him with immense satisfaction to make the right choice.

Therefore, Rock could feel like a king, sitting in the main house and watching the evening news. As the weather segment came on, revealing that the snow's days were numbered, Kim lowered the volume on the television and turned around to face the people who stood in his house. Aside from an exhausted Myeng Swuk, Rock, and Yamazaki, there also happened to be a few cops, Hon-Fu, May Lee, Choi, and Chang.

"Alright, everyone. I'd like to say thank you all for staying strong and sticking together in the face of evil. It's been tough and we have suffered a lot of lost sleep but as usual, justice has prevailed. So go out with pride and have fun for the evening," Kim said with a smile on his face. "I hear tell Richard is doing a special at Pao Pao's tonight to celebrate the end of Freeman since this guy terrorized a lot of people."

He came to his wife for her hand, and she placed hers over his. "You should go with them, dear. I'll take care of the kids."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course."

Kim reluctantly accepted this, kissing Myeng Swuk goodnight before he joined the group, and they ventured outside. There were busses that could take them to the heart of the city and a metro for that matter but if one was a brisk walker, they could just as well travel on foot. Especially now since the snow had been cleared off the roads and walkways with salt sprinkled on top to make it less slippery. Rock wished that there existed some type of salt to make the air a little less biting.

"Drinking Kim under the table, huh?" Yamazaki mused a bit with a devious grin on his face like he was thinking of something evil.

A little suspicious, Rock gently slapped him across the chest. "Yeah, don't. He's gonna kill himself tomorrow while trying to work through a hangover."

"Hm? Well, now I gotta get him plastered."

"Myeng Swuk is gonna kill you for that."

"Yikes. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned," Yamazaki whistled like it didn't face him and frankly it shouldn't. They hadn't interacted much, but Kim's wife treated everyone equally and he was more cordial to her than he was to May Lee.

Momentarily, Rock wondered what Mom would have said to Yamazaki being part of her son's life. If her kindness would extend to him as well. If she'd pry his heart open and heal the wounds like she did with everyone she met. If she could love a man like Geese Howard, even on her deathbed, she'd probably grown fond of a man like Ryuji Yamazaki too. Really pull those emotions out of him.

Maybe Rock had the right to happiness after all. Maybe it was just one of a few good that came from Kain but that was some musings for another day. For now, while the group stopped at a red light to cross the road, Rock kissed Yamazaki on the cheek, quickly and briefly while no one was looking. Happy to indulge, happy to fall into the embrace of self-worth's phantom. It was over. It would be okay.

In the bustling streets of South Town, the nightlife came alive though Rock didn't see any people he recognized. It made him feel a tad better, certainly while hidden in a clump of people, surrounded by other blurry faces trying to live their lives. Made him feel a little less exposed. It occurred to him that it had been a very long time since he had set foot in Pao Pao's and he never thought to go – until Kim suggested because everyone else was coming.

Didn't do much against the vague influx of old memories, drinks with Terry, and others. The uncomfortable feeling of familiarity was eased by the fact that Richard had changed the decor a bit. It still had the same vibe with the dragon pillars, the stage for live music, and the arena for fighting but the Buddha statues were new.

At the bar, Kim, Hon, and Richard engaged in some casual conversation about the capturing of Freeman and the loved ones of his victims finally getting closure. It was mentioned in passing that another bartender had lost her father to the crazed serial killer a few months ago.

Rock closed his ears to it.

At a table further away, Joe sat with Billy on a dinner date. Tonight, of all times. Thankfully they didn't notice Rock, engrossed in conversations and their drinks. Still just to be sure, Rock shuffled further away so he wasn't within line of sight, sitting by the bar, and reached for the bar menu. New drinks had been added.

"No strong vodka," Yamazaki muttered, having taken a seat next to him. His coat was still draped over his shoulders. He'd regret that when they went back outside.

Rock nudged him in the side with an elbow. "What are you, a raging alcoholic?"

"Don't be a damn friar, wolfy. You don't know a good drink before it burns a hole through your fuckin' throat."

"Yeah, I'm just gonna stick with soda."

"Me too!" it came from May Lee who had taken a seat next to Rock and thoroughly ignored the sharp look she got from Yamazaki. A server came to take their orders and make the drinks. A quick affair since two of them were just soda with ice.

At some point, Kim came to the trio with an unfamiliar face. One that made May Lee's eyes light up like a neon sign. "Oh, Jhun!"

"It's been a while, Jinju," the man, Jhun, waved at her. Oh, Jhun Hoon. Rock had heard his name in passing here and there but never actually met the guy. "Came to town and decided to have a drink. Didn't expect to see you lot here."

"And he had this splendid idea," Kim explained with that shine in his eyes when his justice boner, as Yamazaki put it, would pop. "If the snow is gone by the weekend, we should go out of town for a boot camp!"

"Or just camping. Winter camping to be exact. Become one with nature…for justice," Jhun mildly corrected with a little shrewdness that flew over Kim's head as the man proceeded to speak zealously of discipline and training regiments.

The discussion caused a sour cloud to hover over Yamazaki as he sat and mulled into his drink. Just to comfort him, Rock put a hand on his knee, heat shooting to his cheeks at the warmth pressing against his fingertips. For a moment, it was as if the world had turned quiet as Rock couldn't hear anything over the sound of blood rushing to his ears.

"Then it's decided," Kim said, staring directly at Rock coincidentally. "It'll be a good trip. Don't worry, I'll teach you to build your own shelters. It'll strengthen your fighting spirit."

Jhun sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "You do realize they have public campsites with lodging, right?"

Ignoring that, Kim continued to tell stories of his training in the wilderness outside of South Town, and by the end of it, Rock was mildly horrified.

"But we're not cavemen…" May Lee interjected, a little dejected. Kim looked at her sternly but before he could say anything, Jhun put a hand on his shoulder and said; "Don't worry. Nothing is set in stone yet."

Rock had a feeling that he'd get dragged onto this trip as well. He didn't mind so much; going out of town for a bit would be nice. On top of everything, it would be his chance to fly away for a bit.

It was still dark when Rock woke up from a dream, he had already forgotten. It must have been a vivid one because, for a few seconds, he was completely disoriented and thoroughly dizzy, closing his eyes to go back to sleep – only to fail.

Taking a deep breath, he slipped out of bed as quietly as he could without disturbing Yamazaki and headed for the kitchen to boil some water. If he was going to run about at this hour, he might as well energize himself. From his peripheral, he spotted the shopping list and meal plan for this week as well as a calendar, he bought once. He looked forward to summertime.

Thinking of the future involuntarily led to thinking about the past.

From where Rock stood, he couldn't see the tower (thankfully) but his memory of its interior still stood fresh in his mind. How the taint of Geese infected everything including its people. Matilda was a nice woman, and she had some jabs at the man as well, but she held back because she worked for him.

And then there was Mai. In nothing but name and appearance.

It looked like her. Smelled like her. Sounded like her. Acted like her. It just didn't feel like her. She was unrecognizable. Like some skinwalker had stolen her identity. There was an assertiveness to her that wasn't there before. No doubt it came from being involved with Geese. And enduring whatever Matilda had inferred. It was almost a little frightening.

What exactly had happened to her?

Moreover, why was she still kind to Rock after everything he had said to her? She should have hated him. She did not. According to Matilda, she had asked about his well-being, watching over him when they took him away from Freeman's lair. But the person she had become…Rock didn't want to be like that. He didn't want that darkness in his heart. He was glad that one person was willing to keep it away from him.

And then there was Geese.

Rock didn't want to think about that man, swiping a hand over his face and pouring himself a cup of tea. He felt a little dour already as he sat down by the kitchen table, wishing Yamazaki was awake but introspection was hardly worth disturbing the man's sleep for. It must have been easier for him to rest too given how there were no longer law enforcement patrolling the area. The world felt so silent like this.

Not even a minute later, the quiet was disturbed anyway as Yamazaki sauntered out. He rarely slept bare-chested, but he did tonight and as he walked past, the massive scar on his chest stood out more. As did the tattoo on his back. A massive snake spanning across his skin with leaves and the whiskers of an oriental dragon. It was a fascinating image.

As if noticing the staring, Yamazaki stopped dead in his tracks, running a hand through his messy hair. The blonde part was considerably long when not slicked back and neatly styled.

"What the fuck? What are you doing awake before me?" he groaned, his voice hoarse with sleep.

Rock smiled just a bit. "Couldn't sleep. The water is still hot if you want something to drink."

For a brief pause, Yamazaki looked at him curiously, rubbed a hand over the back of his neck, and skulked to the cupboard for a second mug. Every muscle of his back moved under his skin in a hypnotic rhythm that made it difficult to ponder over how he wasn't freezing.

"Drinking tea in the morning like old ladies. Geez, this is so corny," he sighed while he filled himself a mug and came over to the table. But he didn't hate it for he moved with ease.

Rock nodded, cradling his mug tightly between his hands. "It's a sweet type of it. Like corn syrup."

Yamazaki exhaled, drank his white peach tea, and narrowed his eyes a bit. "Giving me diabetes and everything."

It was a strange cadence between them They made a strange pair, Rock would reckon. Completely and utterly random but fate had a tendency to work like that. Suppose he should be happy that Kain needed to hire a viper. Said viper turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

He sipped some tea and glanced up a bit. "Say, the tattoo on your back…"

The older man raised a brow at him as his expression changed fraction by fraction. "That, huh? It's a yakuza thing."

"I've seen pictures of those. Aren't they like all over the body?" Rock asked. "Not that I've seen many of them."

This gave way to a chuckle from Yamazaki. If one didn't know him, they'd be within their right to assume he intended to do gruesome things to them when he reacted like that. And those who understood would notice the gloom in his eyes now. "Nah, the old man was a liberal when it came to that. Said it'd make it harder to identify what group we belonged to so we could choose how much of it we wanted."

"But not what you wanted?"

"Nah," Yamazaki shook his head. "The designs were chosen by him to represent each guy under his wing. It was a long process because he needed to think about shit like values and personality and beliefs and how productive we were."

It occurred to Rock then that he knew very little about the inner workings of the Yakuza and he wasn't sure how much of this information, he could use practically but he just liked to hear about Yamazaki's life all things considered. And he could already infer who this one old man was. But by the look on the face directly across from him, it was a sore subject – even if it was quite obvious how adored Sorimachi had been.

"And yours?" Rock asked.

"…I forgot," Yamazaki shrugged. The hollowness in his eyes vanished for a moment so there was truth to that.

The younger man was quiet for a pause, then smiled a bit. "Should I look it up?"

Before Yamazaki could say no, Rock stood up and headed to the kitchen counter for his phone and looked up the meaning of yakuza tattoos, skipping the parts of painful procedures. Finding one suitable source, he began to read the first section. "The dragon symbolizes power and protection, representing the strength and ferocity associated with formidable Yakuza members who rise through the ranks. They are a representation of the strength and dominance that Yakuza members strive to achieve."

"It's a snake, not a dragon."

"It has dragon whiskers," Rock retorted, scrolled further down the page, and read the next relevant section. "The snake is a symbol of transformation and healing. It represents adaptability, the power to navigate the criminal underworld and conform to changing circumstances. Additionally, the snake's healing aspects signify the Yakuza's capacity to recover from setbacks and maintain a strong presence in their domain."

He looked up, noting Yamazaki staring at him with mild annoyance, and reached under the table to touch his knee. "I think it fits you perfectly."

By the way, Yamazaki's expression softened, he understood and appreciated it more than he ever wanted to admit.

"You're a little sadomasochist," he stared back pointedly. "Don't try to deny that."

"That's not a way to say 'thank you for looking this shit up for me'," Rock said playfully and basked in the victory as Yamazaki just gave up on arguing, heaved a sigh, and drank his tea.

Outside, the end of the snow had already begun. The thick blankets of white were beginning to melt, and bits of grass poked through, bringing some color to the woods. The naked trees weren't at the point where they would block out the tower but springtime was coming soon - hopefully.

"Are you ever bored? I mean, since there haven't been any calls and living a normal life is…not you?" Rock asked once they had made a sizable trek on the downtrodden forest trail. It was the first thing either of them had said since leaving the abode.

"I'm used to going long periods without work. It comes with the job and that's why the pay is nice and juicy. Now the normal life part…?" Yamazaki shrugged.

"Either way, I'm glad you're here. I'm glad we can talk about these things."

"I'm shocked you've asked so much."

"If you had been anyone else, I wouldn't have bothered," Rock spotted a clearing a few tens of feet ahead and felt anxious for a moment. "And since you got so much free time, I guess it's all peace and love in South Town?"

"Nope. White's 'retirement' just caused a giant vacuum and unrest because no one can decide if they should fill the void and risk an outright gang war or split the power and make peace, then risk fighting with Geese if he decides to gobble it up. He's the king shit sitting on top of them all."

"It gotta be weird being with me when you're also…so-so with him."

Yamazaki shook his head. "I do actually, really and truly tolerate you. Just because you swam from one pair of arrogant balls and was raised by another set of irritating nuts, doesn't mean you're annoying."

Ah, he really and truly had a way with words, telling it how it was, didn't he?

"That's very, uhm, gross but thoughtful. Thanks," Rock laughed just a bit and felt a notch better when they stood in the clearing. He pulled in a breath then released it as calmly as he could and concluded that indeed, there would be no serial killers here. He felt almost safe. For the first time, he was free of the numbness that dulled his ability to do anything and the despair that made him feel like garbage from the shit he couldn't do anything about.

Flying at last.

"Son of a bitch. I hate to interrupt your nature spirit child moment, but we got company," Yamazaki nudged him in the back, causing him to whirl around and look at…Geese Howard.

That man, standing there by the edge of the row of trees that surrounded the clearing. He looked at the pair with this guarded expression, the same look he had in the basement. The same look he bore when Rock had asked him for help to save Mom – sans the long hair. For once, he was alone but didn't mind this as much as he simply lifted his head an inch.

His mere presence, that look in his eye, it froze Rock's every nerve with a slew of emotions – all negative.

"Huh, the fuck are you doing here, Grandpa?" Yamazaki asked with a touch of disdain.

Rock couldn't say anything lest he'd let a storm of profanities fall out of his mouth. He could just slightly close the gap and start a fight, beat the old bastard back and blue for the suffering he put Mom through. The urge curled something barbed and stinging around Rock's heart and he realized how tightly he was clenching his fists, nails digging into his palms. Appalled to be even in the same presence as Geese, something was close to ripping inside, causing his breath to come out in unsteady huffs.

Geese released a silent sigh, closing his eyes for a moment. He didn't fold his arms over his chest for once. "I'm here for a walk. This is a public area."

Bullshit. Every cell in Rock's brain screamed 'bullshit' in unison, screamed at him to go on the attack now when they were on equal ground and not in a murder basement for the purpose of mob justice. He had to do everything within his power to not fall apart completely, willing himself not to move, pushing himself so goddamn hard not to give in. But his resolve was so brittle, it was about to crack.

"What did you do to Mai?" he growled instead.

Geese watched him so closely, it was like a proposed challenge or open mockery. Felt like a lecture with his brisk response. "I did nothing to her, Rock. I simply gave her the power to realize her own worth and make whatever choice she wished to make for herself."

Rock could not take that fucking non-answer seriously. "Matilda said she was hurt. She got wounded badly."

Just briefly, Geese's composure ebbed. Bingo. He breathed sharply through his nostrils and glared at Rock with thinly veiled fury. "Suggesting I beat Mai to a pulp is quite the poor look on you when you can't even come up with a motive for such a conclusion other than your hatred of me. You don't know what happened. You don't know what she had to endure. You don't know the lengths I've gone to for her protection."

"Like what? Turning her into a female you?"

Geese's shield cracked further. It felt like a victory. Almost. He folded his arms over his chest like usual, shaking his head in disappointment. "…I wish you could have inherited at least some of Terry's civility. As much as I hate that meddling Bogard boy, his humanity is insipid as it is commendable. He had the balls to congratulate Mai for her engagement – even to me. I suppose he didn't talk to you when he was here recently. Maybe if he did, you'd be more understanding. You wouldn't be running around with vipers for one."

It felt like a slap across the face, those words. They took Rock's bravado, ripped it up into pieces, and threw it in the trash. He took a deep breath, looked down, and squeezed his eyes shut in an effort not to break down at the revelation, only to realize his entire body was trembling. Terry was here? He had been here. He talked to Geese and Mai first but not to Rock.

Not to the person who needed him the most.

An awful silence filled the clearing, stretching until it became choking, squeezing some words of mercy out of Yamazaki. Tone even and biting to hide the anger and worry. "Low blow, your merciless bastard. What was that for, huh?"

"…Where have you been, Rock?" Geese ignored him completely, his tone not apathetic for once.

Still trying to pull himself together, Rock stood too emotional even to tell the old cocksucker to shut up and fuck off, releasing nothing but a sharp breath, lame and embarrassing, pressing his hands against his face.

"You have the paternal skills of a wet turd in a toilet," Yamazaki deadpanned grimly, chuckling at the disapproving sound that came from Geese. "I don't know what your plan is but you're fuckin' it up."

Whatever Geese's plan actually was, Rock hated it all so vividly that it burned like acid. He hated all the many feelings that came flooding him now, like a tidal wave of terrible fucking things, everywhere all at once, so much that he didn't even know what to do with himself. Swallowing hard, he moved his hands from his face out of frustration and accepted the bait.

"I echo that; what the fuck do you want?"

Geese had a weird look on his face. Too human to be fitting of a man like him. Exhausted, a tad glum, and maybe sympathetic? If so, fuck him. What did he know about sympathy? Enough to unfold his arms apparently – whatever the hell that meant. "What I don't want is a waste of energy on continued hostility."

That answer was so ridiculous Rock couldn't stop himself from laughing sarcastically. "Oh yeah? Well, that ship sailed long ago. You had your chance. Be happy I'm not beating your face in right now. Fuck you."

Somehow, each jab at Geese didn't face him as much as jabs at Mai did. It was tempting to keep stabbing him with them. It was tempting to peel off that grim look on his face.

"I am aware," he said briskly.

"Then go back to your tower before you get hurt," Rock bit back, mentally overwhelmed from dealing with this prick. Said prick did in fact not leave and the next seconds became so overly charged with tension that it could kill an elephant.

"I don't have any intentions of fighting you," Geese said as he lifted his head just slightly.

Well too bad for him, Rock thought, his patience wearing thin. His composure ebbed away into something awful and angry, fueled by a thirst for blood. He dashed forward, closing the gap between him and Geese, raising his fist for a punch straight to the stupid motherfucker's face. He likened himself to being speedy, ignoring the slight dread that washed over him when Geese sighed and put his arms up for a block. He didn't look particularly happy but fuck him, no one cared about his mood.

Rock rushed to the side to try and aim for one of Geese's blind spots. Aiming low with a sweep kick. Hands on the ground. Flipping onto his arms. Spinning upward, one leg tucked to his middle and the other rigid as a piece of stone. He could feel the bottom of his heel impact something in the heartbeats that passed before a hand clasped around his ankle, heaved his entire body further upwards and slammed it to the ground with such force that it nearly knocked the lungs through his chest.

His eyes shot open, and he tasted blood, realizing he had bit his tongue somewhere along the way. He looked up at the dull sky, then at Geese a few feet away before jumping to his feet.

"Are you done?" the selfish cunt asked without his usual smugness. He shifted his gaze to the side, just for a moment.

Evidently to a stunned Yamazaki who had watched the scene unfold before he could do anything but say; "Kid, I don't think you sh-"

Rock didn't listen to him, rushing forward again with a flurry of attacks that were all blocked but fuck it, he thought. He didn't care about going about this strategically. He just wanted to punch Geese in the face so badly, eventually landing a kick to that man's hip. The impact stunned him in the seconds before Rock unleashed the crescendo, his body burning with energy that surged within him.

It was like an inferno searing through his flesh, boiling his blood, scorching his bones. The gales that began to form around him grew from purple to sky blue to pure white before they exploded into a blast of raw energy, cutting and slashing everything within its vicinity.

Rock didn't get to see whether or not he had managed to hit Geese before he collapsed onto the ground like a poleaxed mule, every nerve in his body screaming and pinching in agony. Against the pain that raked through his body, he forced himself to stand and fight with his balance. Something awful filled his mind when he lifted his head and stared at a mostly unharmed Geese looking back at him with parts detachment, parts shock.

And he snapped in a way, he wished he didn't have. Despite exhaustion pooling through his body, he marched in Geese's direction, pulling his fist back for a punch but found himself too weak for anything other than a worthless attempt at a slap that was swiftly countered. And another one. And another one. And one more. Over and over.

"Don't act like you can just come into my life and pretend you're some fucking hero. You're not, fuck you! Fuck all the way the fuck off! Why did Mother have to die? Why her? Why couldn't it be you? It should have been you!" he ranted and raved with each attempt at a punch.

"Kid, just fuckin' calm down for a second," Yamazaki called out, but Rock was too deep in this battle, too furious to back down, too stubborn to admit defeat to the one person who shouldn't beat him at all. So, he kept fighting, then struggling when Geese grabbed his wrists and held them in place.

"I hate to agree with someone like him but he's right. This won't do anything for either of us," Geese said completely serious, transparently solemn and something within Rock snapped at the fucking mockery of it. He yanked his arms back, taking the hands around them with him then leaned down to bite Geese's wrist as hard as he humanly could. Biting through fabric and flesh until he tasted the faint flavor of blood.

Geese's entire body jerked, and it was the sweetest briefest victory before he retaliated in swift scathe, slapping Rock across the face with such force that it sent the young man careening to the ground. When he gathered his bearings, he glared up at the old prick, rocked with a wave of absolute, pure loathing and sadistic pleasure at the blood that soaked his sleeve. Slightly horrified at the shock on Geese's face like it didn't occur to him until now what he had just done. His heartlessness slipped in again and his expression hardened once more.

"A quick question, Rock. You're in pain when you use the powers from me, right? Why is that?" he asked, taking a step back and letting the blood soak his sleeve.

Yamazaki stood over Rock in seconds with a hand around his arm to keep him standing as he helped him up. His support was greatly appreciated as Rock found himself a little dizzy upon regaining his footing.

"Because it's your fucking cursed genes," he answered sharply.

Geese ignored the hostility and pressed on. "And why is that so significant?"

Rock went rigid, breathing out in confusion over what the hell any of this meant, and asked with at least six flavors of terrible emotions inter-spliced; "Are you trying to make a fool out of me?"

"Quite candidly, you've already done that yourself based on your inability to keep your emotions in check but I'm just trying to give you a word of advice here," the old bastard answered pointedly. "Now, answer my question."

"…Evil blood," Rock bit out like he was in an agonizing amount of pain, dizzy with trying to wrack his brain for answers.

Geese shook his head. "It hurts because the powers remind you of me. It's called psychogenic pain. There is no such thing as evil blood. There is no such thing as pure good and evil or black and white. It's all various shades of grey and a spectrum of moral ambiguity. But you already knew this, or you wouldn't be hanging out with Yamazaki."

He turned to the older man then. "Don't turn him into a mini you. God knows we already got enough in the one we have."

"Suck my nuts, Geese. Maybe next time, don't beat the piss out of him also. Fuckin' walk away when he says walk," Yamazaki snarled and the old bastard scoffed, finally leaving. Little by little, footsteps crunched against the snow, growing quieter and quieter until Rock could look up and no longer see the stupid face of that man. But there came a long pause before anyone felt able to speak and process this encounter.

Next to Rock, he heard; "Wolfy-"

"I know," his voice went dead. What did he know exactly? The things Geese had implied? Sounded too idealistic to be true. He didn't want that to be the answer anyway. He wanted the answer to be that Geese Howard was an evil cunt beyond redemption who abused women. Just so Rock could continue feeling like he hadn't failed his mother.

Everything could stay as it was, and the worst stuff would get better but that was just wishful thinking. Of course, it was. So was the slight, tiny voice daring to suggest that there had been something to gain from this encounter, that Geese was somehow just a little bit right about the blood that coursed in Rock's veins.

Somehow, it made it all worse.

The thought hurt so much that it made Rock sick to his stomach with anger and hopelessness. The air, still electric with tension lingered and it made his heart race all the same. Yamazaki swinging an arm around his waist was effective in slipping past his overly abused defenses. That he stayed close was a comfort sorely needed.

"What I meant to say was that was fuckin' weird. Don't let the old coot rattle you," Yamazaki said, and Rock couldn't stand it anymore, burying his face in his shoulder within seconds. Breathing in, pouring anger, uncertainty, and lingering feelings of uselessness out. Standing like this, everything felt like fading away as if it floated into the background. No Geese Howard. No Terry Bogard. No Mai Shiranui. No sudden, growing feeling of something dreadful looming on the horizon.

Just a desperate wish to stay tethered to the way things were for now.

For the rest of the day, Rock had the general disposition of a thundercloud and a worse mood to boot. His mind kept circling Geese and bloodlines and Raging Storms and psychiatry. He was overall dour across the afternoon and eventual evening until Yamazaki enticed him enough to sneak into the dojang at night for 'an experience', whatever that entailed. Rock was a little concerned, feeling like a criminal as he entered the building, trying to remember where the light switch was.

"Shouldn't we turn on the light?" he asked once the door had been locked and Yamazaki brushed past him.

"Nah, it's just a little secret outing between you and me," he snickered as he dropped a duffel bag on the floor. Somehow, he managed to navigate in the dark with nothing but the generous moon casting its light through the windows. It wasn't much of a shock, was it? Not with the possibility that Yamazaki had probably beaten someone's face to pudding in the dead of night at some point in his life.

Crazy how normal those things became when you accepted to live with them.

Anyway, Rock used the flashlight of his phone to help out with visibility – just in case. That way, he could get a good look at what was in the bag; bottled, a candy bar, a piece of cloth, a pair of scissors, and…and rope. He said nothing at the discovery but exhilaration, curiosity, anticipation and a little bit of fear began bubbling inside. He looked up to Yamazaki now standing in front of him, bathed in moonlight.

"What I think you need is a distraction. Stop thinking about all the shit that goes on in your head, right? So, why not fuckin' play around a bit?" he shrugged, then reached over to take the younger man by the hand.

Rock still wasn't entirely sure what was happening but his body tensed with excitement and he drew in a breath so deep his chest quaked, nodding as he was led around in the dojang for a bit, then made to stand in a spill of moonlight.

"So what constitutes as 'playing around'?" he asked, looking out the window for a moment because the moon was full tonight. Bright and beaming. It added a lovely glow to the dojang.

Yamazaki hadn't let go of his hand. "If you want to, I'll tie you up. Let you sink into Nirvana for a bit."

The offer came as a complete surprise to Rock and he couldn't help but ponder at how he would reach Nirvana by being tied up. Was it some kind of reverse therapy or something? He balked a little, confused and slightly concerned but too stubborn and curious to refuse so he nodded. Only to feel slightly untethered when his hand was released, and Yamazaki disappeared into the darkness for a moment.

Sounds of clicking and objects swinging about in the void came from the wall and the ceiling until it became apparent that Kim's gym equipment was being rolled out. It ended with Yamazaki standing in the light again with a hank of rope in his hands.

"Take your shirt off," he said gently and Rock moved to obey, stripping down to his bare chest in the cold moonlight.

Even standing here, something triggered in his brain. He wasn't quite sure what it was. It had the hallmarks of fear, which only spiked when the rope was brushed against his skin while his arms were maneuvered around gently but somewhere in it all, there was a sense of security of giving up and letting someone trustworthy guide him through life for a change.

He was about to be tied up though. He agreed to this. What was actually wrong with him?

Rock forced his gaze down, not sure if he should be concerned or accepting of the pleasure that came over him from the rope. The texture was soft, the fibers were gentle. Not like the stuff used in movies that looked like it could give you a bad rug burn. He closed his eyes at the sensation of the rope pressing against his skin now, restraining his elbows and subsequently keeping his hands behind his back. Another rope was added around his chest, keeping his arms positioned alongside his torso.

A third attached him to one of the low-hanging gym rings. It was loose enough to wriggle out of it if he really tried but for now, despite the ghost of traumas screaming at him from the ether, there was no cause for alarm. His mind sank into it regardless. He couldn't quite tell what was happening to him; he couldn't quite describe this soft meditative wave that seemed to roll over him as he stood here; vulnerable and exposed.

His breath hitched weakly inside his chest bone as he was maneuvered down onto his knees, staring up at Yamazaki and nuzzling the palm that cupped his cheek, trying to ground himself against the past trying to encroach on the present. Ugh, there was something magical yet strangely shameful with this, with the rushes of various emotions washing over him in the haze.

Yamazaki allowed him to adjust to it, stroking his head and brushing hair off his forehead while the tremors of…something passed through him. He had felt something similar at the tower but nothing as intense as this.

"Easy now, wolfy. It's just the two of us. Let it go," Yamazaki said, uncharacteristically calm. "You're safe."

Rock knew that. He understood. He just needed to let his body accept it, let it settle into this unfamiliar sensation. It became a little easier when he felt two arms tug him into a sort of hug with his face crushed against Yamazaki's thigh, shuddering through whatever he was feeling, grateful for the patience he was being shown until the unfamiliarity of this experience steadily passed.

Eventually, he began to sag in his restraints, panting raggedly as he was let go – and kept somewhat sitting by the gym ring, body trembling with shame rather than past fear.

"Good boy," Yamazaki said above him, tracing a finger across his jawline to his chin and tipping it up. "You ain't got nothing to be ashamed of. You okay?"

"I-I think so…?" Rock smiled a bit. He felt Yamazaki leave him for a moment and drifted into the rope, drifted into this odd, new experience. He couldn't quite describe it properly over the drunk feeling that almost made him dizzy with sensations. His head was lifted gently, and a cloth was placed over his eyes. A blindfold, he realized, and the reality just caused him to tremble more, feeling somehow even more helpless.

Fingers began ghosting across Rock's bare skin with feather-light touches and a hand grabbed him by the chin to kiss him firmly, biting his lip and trailing kisses to his cheek, where Geese slapped him, then his neck. Warm breath lingered on his flesh, a tongue flicked against his collarbone, and his body tensed and relaxed in waves.

"I might bite. You cool with that?" Yamazaki asked and Rock nodded absently. He squirmed a bit, letting out a shuddering moan at the hand now nestled in his hair, yanking his head back and the sensation of teeth sinking into the flesh between his neck and shoulder. So deep and sharp that normally, Rock would be howling in pain, flailing and fighting to get free from it, then retaliate by beating the ever-loving piss out of whoever had decided to chew on him

Normally.

Endorphins hit him as they normally would, and it hurt. But at the same time, it didn't. It felt as if was barely happening at all and all Rock could do was to mouth soundlessly at the pain, rolling into how unreal and foggy it felt – still hurting. But it felt…good?

Good in the sense that Rock absorbed it intently, his brain triggered into satisfaction. He had a feeling he'd quite hate this if it was with anyone but Yamazaki. Right now, he just leaned his head against the older man for a chance to nuzzle closer, trembling into his shoulders with the aftershock of the bite.

As Rock was left on his own again, sagging against the rope, he wondered how good this would feel in combination with sex. Was he weird for being enticed by the idea? For liking something that looked objectively horrific to an outsider? For enjoying himself in light of his past? He didn't know. He also didn't realize for a few minutes that he was being released from the restraints. He didn't notice it until his arms dropped down beside him and he could see the moonlight again while Yamazaki helped him to a more relaxed position to sit in.

He watched absent-mindedly at the hank being rolled back up. Momentarily, Rock let his eyes fall to a close, being pulled out of the haze ever so slowly, faintly hearing the gym rings being pulled back against the wall, faintly noticing Yamazaki now sitting next to him. He shifted and winced as it occurred to him that the bite hurt quite a fucking lot.

Yamazaki chuckled, not malicious for once, and held up a sip of water for Rock to drink and put some ointment on the bite mark. "You took it like a champ, wolfy. Well done."

Rock drank the water, ate the candy bar, and shifted closer, tucking his head against Yamazaki's shoulder and closing his eyes. The room had gone quite cold now so the older man's warm palms down his spine were so unbelievably welcome.

"You liked that? Will you stop fuckin' pouting now?" Yamazaki murmured.

Nodding softly, Rock shuddered in pleasure and hitched himself closer. It was okay. It had been okay.

He could have this.