Vessel X OC/reader

Chapter 12

Eric looks concerned. Quite understandably. This is just not going to end well.

"You've got bruises on your wrist. And a black eye." Eric says, and gently takes my hand.

"I know. I keep getting into fights, somehow."

Eric glares at Vessel, who still looks uneasy thanks to my dad and his big mouth.

Eric swings to punch Vessel, but Vessel catches his fist, and squeezes tightly.
"Keep your hands off of me." Vessel hisses at him, and I glance at Jessa.

"Go find a maid, see if she'll play hide and seek with you." I say, and she runs off.

Vessel shoves Eric away, and folds his arms.
"You need to learn to keep those hands to yourself. Try it again, and I won't let you off like last time."

"Both of you, cut it out." I yell at them.

Eric takes my hand.
"We're going home. You aren't marrying him. Have you lost your damn mind?"

Vessel says nothing for a second, but keeps his arms folded and leans against the kitchen counter.
"Eric, Gaia has made up her mind. I don't think trying to convince her otherwise is helpful, at the moment."

Eric glares at Vessel, and steps closer to try and intimidate him. They're about the same height, same build, so I really don't know what to expect.

"Manipulating my sister into marrying you? What the fuck is wrong with you?"

Vessel laughs.
"You think she can be manipulated? Please. She wants the marriage. Accept it."

"You want the fucking marriage. Can't you marry someone else?"

"Gaia was naturally first choice."

"She fucking hates you. We all do. You've always been obsessed with her."

Vessel smiles, and tips his head back to think. He looks back at Eric, and stops leaning on the counter, standing up straight, presumably also trying to intimidate Eric.

"I've always had a soft spot for Gaia. And I wouldn't cry about that if I were you. Me being fond of her is the only reason you aren't laying dead in a ditch somewhere, you entitled little brat. Now get out of my house before I change my mind about keeping you, and the rest of your family alive."

I turn and glare at Vessel, but he clearly cares very little about how I feel at the moment.

Eric rips off Vessel's mask, and before he can react, smashes a glass into his face, shattering it completely. My mom screams, and my dad quickly takes her out of the room to calm down.

Vessel calmly picks out the bigger chunks of glass from his face, and places them on the kitchen counter. He suddenly violently swings at Eric, knocking him to the floor in one blow.

I'm frozen stiff for a moment. Vessel kneels on the floor, over Eric, and punches him in the face again, and again, until my instincts kick in.

I grab Vessel, wrapping my arms around his neck, and drag him away from Eric.

Eric sits up, and catches his breath, as blood pours from his nose.
"Get out of here." I hiss at him, and Vessel gets free from my grasp, but doesn't attack Eric again.

Eric storms out, and me and Vessel stay in silence.

I get a cloth, soak it in warm water, and pick out any pieces of glass left, before gently cleaning his face. He doesn't resist, but he doesn't look thrilled either.

I throw the cloth in the sink, and fold my arms, glaring at him.

He raises his eyebrow at me.
"What?"

"You beat the shit out of my brother."

"And it was a long time coming. You should both consider yourselves lucky I didn't tear his throat out." He says, as he pushes me against the wall, and holds me there, completely restraining me.

"You going to tell me what your little 'plan' was?" He asks me, and I freeze up, hoping he had somehow forgotten about that.

"I don't know what he was talking about." I reply, flatly, and he frowns, staring at me intently.

"I can tell when you're lying. And we're not moving until you tell me."

"Don't get caught up in it. There's no plan. Other than, of course, to marry you."

"I'm telling you. I'm not moving."

I breathe a heavy sigh.
"Originally, the idea was I marry you, and then slit your throat. Back when we were sure you killed Eric. But obviously, all of that's changed."

He thinks, for a moment.
"Is there not a part of you that still wants me dead?" He asks, tilting his head.

"Huh? Don't be stupid. Of course there is."

From the oddly contented look on his face, I can see that was the right answer.
He leans in to kiss me, but I push him away.

"You need to apologise to Eric."

Vessel clears his throat, and looks down at the floor for a second, clearly thinking.

"Did you miss the part where he shattered a glass on my face? Did I imagine that? Maybe I'm just crazy." He says, and wipes a few drops of blood from his face, and licks his fingers. "No, that's definitely real."

"He looks worse than you."

"He deserved it. Let him learn a lesson. You smother him so much, I'm not surprised he's turned out to be a-"

I slap him across the face, absolutely furious. I can imagine, thanks to already having glass shattered into it, that it hurt. He takes a step back, and groans quietly. He clenches his jaw, and looks at me for a moment.

He takes a few deep breaths.
"If Eric crosses me again, I'm going to kill him. I've given him plenty of leeway. I'm tired of him trying to make a fool of me. I've let him off easy with a broken cheekbone. Next time it will be his neck."

I take a deep breath.
"Obviously, if that happens, I won't marry you."

He thinks for a moment.

"Then so be it." He says, and leaves the room.

Ouch.