I Am (Not) Your Hero

27

Misael undid his tie in front of the mirror, watching her dedress in the dim light of the closet. He mused to himself that she was not even hiding herself. Was she not afraid anymore.

First thing she took off was her shoes, lifting one foot and taking them off gently and then the other. His hands idled on his tie as he watched her.

"You enjoy the meal?" He grunted. Her next shoe came off gently, one hand on her ears as she took of her earrings. Such balance.

"It was good. Heavy. But good." She said slightly louder from inside the closet.

"Hm," he grunted. "You need more clothes."

"Do I?" She mused, looking through her night clothes.

"We have interviews," he said, cursing the lack of light in the part of the closet she was in. He'd change that. "Paperwork too."

She paused. "Paperwork?"

"Marriage license. Change of residence. Things like that," he mused, his fingers moving once more.

She said nothing for a moment. He loathed he couldn't see her face.

"Yes...I thought something like that may be coming."

His heart wavered. "Thoughts," he murmured.

"I just wonder how I'm supposed to your wife when you never proposed," she said softly coming into the room, laying down her earrings on the nightstand. "I deserve that much, don't I?"

He shook. "Of course—"

She took her hair down, setting the clip onto id the cluttered jewelry on the nightstand.

"Can you get it undone?" She asked, putting her hand on his back. He jumped. She was doing things he wasn't prepared for. Things he wasn't expecting. "Turn around. Let me see."

She spun him around, and he let her, her lithe fingers wrapping around his tie.

"I can do it," he murmured. "I just—"

"You really want to marry me?" She asked softly. "Like really?"

Misael's eyes widened. Her head was down, eyes fixed on the button of the tie, fingers rubbing the material idly. She was beautiful. So beautiful. His hands twitched.

"Yes," he answered hoarsely, "I really do."

"You want my name tied to yours?"
"Yes."
"You want to this to be my permanent address?" She pulled at his tie playfully.

His throat went dry. Why was she doing this. He didn't know she could do this.

"Yes," he swore. "Or another I'll build you another—"

"You want to be my family?"

He paused. Oh shit. Is that what this was? He'd wanted her for a wife, wanted to bind her to him in the most ancient way he could, he'd have done a blood ritual if it were legally binding.

But it was true wasn't? Husband and wife. It was family. She'd be his family forever.

He nodded numbly.

"Hm...even though you did all those things to me? My knee still hurts. I probably won't walk tomorrow."

He winced. "Yes. Yes still."

She smiled. She'd found her way in. For a few weeks she'd plotted and planned, and scratched her head. And watched him. Studied him. She had him now, she thought to a science.

She pulled his tie tight, until it choked him, and in the shock, his eyes widened, his hands going to his throat as he fell to his knees. He looked up at her, too stunned for even his lasers.

"Then get on your knees and beg. Propose to me properly. Do this one thing right, and you can be mine forever. I promise. Just like you want."

"Just...how I want?" He echoed. She held his tie like a leash and smiled softly.

"Yes..." she hummed. "As long as you listen to me. You'll listen to your wife won't you? Smite?"

She was tricking him. He knew she was tricking him. She wasn't even trying to hide it. But fuck, she really was the greatest. He felt weak. Damn near powerless. On his knees in front of a human.

A woman he was so certain he lorded over. Her dark eyes radiated superiority down at him, as if she were blessing him with her mere presence.

"I will. You'll be mine," he grunted.

She smiled, and patted his cheek. "And you'll be mine. Plan something very nice for me. Something that will make me want to say yes. Will you do that for me?"

Smite nodded softly before realizing he was still on his knees. He stood, pausing when he was yanked back by the iron grip on his tie. He touched his throat.

Starlette smiled gently. "Oh...my bad," She let the tie go, undoing it deftly.

Starlette slid into bed. "Well...good night, Smite."

Misael blinked softly, swiftly undressing and slipping in next to her.

"Yes...good night."