Bound By Shadows

Chapter 7: A Shadowed Love (TW: Light gore)

A week had passed since the explosive fight between Blue and Red, and although the tension within the S60 headquarters had simmered down, it was far from gone. Kazuyaki could still feel it in the air, the way people spoke in hushed tones, the way Blue had become even more ruthless toward him, especially after their night together. Every bruise, every broken bone felt like it had Blue's name etched into his skin. But today, it wasn't her he was dealing with.

It was Red.

Kazuyaki sat in one of the quieter rooms of the hideout, his back straight as Red circled him like a predator stalking its prey. The room was dimly lit, casting long shadows on the walls, and the air was thick with an unspoken tension. Red's crimson eyes gleamed in the low light, a lazy smirk curling at the corners of his lips as he finally came to a stop in front of Kazuyaki.

"So..." Red drawled, leaning in close, his voice low and dripping with something darker than usual. "Tell me about your old captors. The Syndicate."

Kazuyaki's eyes flicked up to meet Red's, trying to remain composed, but the intensity in Red's gaze was unnerving.

"What do you want to know?"

Red's smirk widened, and he casually placed a hand on Kazuyaki's shoulder, his fingers tightening ever so slightly.

"Everything, gorgeous. Every dirty little secret. How they operated, what made them tick, how they kept you in line."

Kazuyaki swallowed, trying to ignore the heat from Red's touch.

"They... weren't organised like you. They were cruel, reckless. Their leader... he didn't care about loyalty. Just power."

Red hummed in approval, his grip tightening.

"Cruelty is a tool, you know. But reckless? That's just bad business. Tell me, little demon, how did they keep someone like you in line? You're a fighter. Must've been hard to tame."

Kazuyaki felt a cold shiver run down his spine, the way Red spoke made him feel more exposed than ever.

"They used pain," he admitted, his voice quieter. "Fear. But it didn't always work."

"Of course it didn't," Red murmured, his voice a purr as he stroked a hand through Kazuyaki's messy purple hair, tugging gently at the strands. "You're too strong for that. Too beautiful." His voice was almost a whisper now, dripping with praise that felt more like a dangerous caress.

Kazuyaki's breath hitched, his pulse quickening as Red's fingers moved to trail down his jawline, the casual intimacy sending a surge of discomfort through him. But there was something else, too—something he couldn't ignore. Red's presence was suffocating, but in a way that kept Kazuyaki's attention on a knife's edge.

"Did they ever appreciate what they had?" Red continued, his hand resting on the side of Kazuyaki's neck, thumb pressing lightly against his pulse. "A gorgeous little demon like you... they didn't deserve you, did they?"

Kazuyaki's throat tightened, his golden eyes flicking away as he fought to keep his composure. Red was playing a dangerous game, toying with him in a way that felt both humiliating and... something else he didn't want to admit.

"They didn't care about anything but power," Kazuyaki muttered, his voice laced with defiance.

Red chuckled darkly, leaning in so close that Kazuyaki could feel his breath against his ear.

"Well, I care. I care very much. You're quite the prize, Kazuyaki. And here, under our care, we know how to appreciate something as special as you."

Kazuyaki's jaw clenched, his body tense. Red's praise was laced with an undertone that made his skin crawl, but there was no denying the power Red held. In this place, Kazuyaki had no control. And Red knew it.