And I Will Consume You

48

Vegas was surprised to see that, when Porsche and Kinn did come over to visit, Porschay had joined them after all; the sight of which brought a mischievous grin to Macau's face, putting his arm around the boy and pulling him aside the second he entered. "You're getting better?" Porsche asked, standing at the side of Vegas' hospital bed, looking down at hin while Pete sat on the other side, watching. "What's there to improve in perfection?" Vegas grinned cockily, making Kinn roll his eyes. Noticing this, Porsche pinched his lovers side, making hin exhale a deep sigh. "I'm glad you're alright" Kinn said almost sarcastically, and while it wasn't quite, it certainly wasn't sincere. Vegas expected nothing less. Or nothing more. Being seen in the hospital wasn't something he was exactly proud of either. If he'd been a little more on guard, he could have shot the bastard that did this to him before it even happened. "And the Yakuza? They're dealt with?" Kinn asked, finally showing some form of interest in the conversation, even if it wasn't for Vegas' benefit. "The head? Yes. Got a good hundred of their men too, but clearly not enough to send them scattering like rats." Kinn scowled, looking over at Porsche, who didn't quite seem to follow. "So it's not over."

"It won't ever be" Pete's eyes darted up to meet with Vegas', a confused and concerned look on his face. "Now that Pa is gone- thanks to your father by the way- I'm in deep shit. If my dad had passed his business on to me, there wouldn't have been nearly as much a problem. I've got lose ends, unfinished businesses and deals that I can't sign off on, and a literal bounty on my head among several clans. That won't stop either. Not until someone else is officially appointed to replace him. I'm just a placeholder." Vegas growled, fierce eyes staring Kinn down. "Im going to have a target in my back the rest of my life with nothing to show for it all thanks to you and uncle Korn" noticing the growing tension, Pete hastily grabbed his boyfriend's hand, gripping it tightly before attempting to dismantle the situation. "But we'll deal with all that once you're better and out of the Hospital, Vegas. Well figure something out. I mean whose to say Porsche won't take over and we can try and live a normal life with Venice until he's grown" Pete suggested, throwing Porsche under the buss, but entirely for their own good. If this were to have derailed any further, Porsche would have been in trouble too.

"Even if Kinn were to let that happen..." Vegas sike up again, his voice more firm that last time which caught Pete off guard. He never used a firm voice with him unless it was... Well... You get the idea. "We wouldn't be off the hook. Like I said. I have a target on my back, so there are three ways of solving this. Either we get rid of them all, I try to rebuild relations with every last one, or they kill me before either of the former can take place. We could go into hiding, Pete, but that will only prolong the inevitable. If they find you..." As Vegas voice trailed off, it had turned soft again, though his eyes were as determined as ever. "He's right." Kinn nodded finally, though it was clear it pained him to agree with someone like Vegas. "We should grab this by the root and make sure it ends before it grows into something worse.

Pete was well aware of it. He wasn't stupid. He'd worked under the main family long enough to know the ins and outs of how things went down, and they never happened in favour of every party involved. Even still, he wanted to be naïve. He wanted to believe they could escape all of this and never have to face it again. Venice had already gone through enough for a person in their whole lifetime, and he wasn't even a fifth of the way there. Gritting his teeth, Pete sighed, giving in. "I know, I know. I know all of that. But if that's how things really will be... Then I'll be by your side at all times. I'm a trained bodyguard Vegas. I used to be the head of the main families guard. Let me help you."
Vegas laughed, pinching Pete's cheek gently. "I know that dear, but I love you too much to allow for even the possibility of you getting hurt." Hearing this, Porsche turned to Kinn with a sharp, steely glare, jabbing him in the side as to scold him for not doing the same. "Well too bad, Vegas, because you're out there and it makes me nervous. I'm coming with you, regardless of what you say." Vegas sighed, leaning back to rest his head on a pillow, closing his eyes. "Let's talk about this another time, Pete."

"Our brothers seem to get along well, no?" Macau asked, still smirking to himself as he watched Porchay closely, arms folded over his chest. "Yes, I think so too, Phi." Chay chuckled nervously, itching the nape of his neck out of habit. "What school do you go to? I've got friends pretty much everywhere, I might know it." Having many  friends was somewhat of an understatement. Macau was well known for being not only handsome and charming, but also easily capable of getting into illegal street races without much effort, though people weren't quite sure why. All he ever said was that he had 'connections'. "Panyarat Secondary?" Chay asked, though to answer his question. Macau nodded, thinking for a moment. "I think I know it. Public school, right? My older friend used to go there, he still visits sometimes to tutor seniors for cash. I should join him sometime and pay you a visit."

Porchay giggled nervously, nodding when the door burst open and Tankhun came in, joined by Arm, Pol, and surprisingly enough, Kim. Tankhun and his guards were only there for Pete, attempting to carry him out of the door to go back to the main house, kicking and screaming, while Kim had frozen dead in his tracks seeing Chay and Macau together. "Ow- P'Kim" Macau smiled, waving him over, though Chay seemed hesitant about that call, doing his best to avoid eye contact. The boy was still, and very understandably upset about what had happened. The guy he liked had only spent so time with him to use him, and for nothing else. He wasn't special to Kim in any way. And that hurt. "Oh, I meant to ask, how often do you dye your hair to keep it that colour? It's quite pretty" Macau questioned again, reaching out to touch the boys silky soft navy blue hair, using this as an opportunity to fix the placement of a handful of stray strands that stuck out of his head.