Opposites attract

Chapter XVI

Nikolai

Akuma's breathing was erratic. He wouldn't look at me.

"Akuma. Answer the fucking question," I growled, my hand sliding from his chin to his neck, my grip wasn't tight but it was enough to make his breath hitch. He held onto to my wrist but made no move to push me away.

"Since childhood," he muttered. "My father owns it,"

I wasn't surprised, although I probably should be. Micheal had mentioned Akuma was a co-founder, although to be fair, he sounded more like an heir. And besides, I'd assumed Akuma had been in the Mafia for a while, the way he reeacted to somethings wasnt normal. Not in the slightest, but that's what I liked about him. Although I felt like maybe something had changed, I noticed it when he came back looking like a mess. I already know it was Andre, that much was obvious.

"Have you ever wanted to leave?" I pressed, letting go him.

"Never thought about it. Didn't think I really had a choice," Akuma said, putting his head on my shoulder. "I don't I would leave even if I was allowed to. Being in the Mafia was most of my childhood. Even before Mika came along,"

"Came along?"

"She lived with our mother. Before she died in an accident," Akuma explained. "Mika was seven, I was thirteen,"

"I lost mine too. Suicide. I was nine when it happened," I said mechanically. I'd repeated the story to so many people so many times it felt like muscle memory.

Akuma didn't react, which to be honest, I kinda appreciated. Most people would tell you "Sorry for your loss" without really meaning it, they'd say it to make themselves feel good or look good.

"Anyway, enough trauma bonding. So you've been in the Mafia since childhood, Mika joined when you were thirteen, what about the others?" I probed. 

"Felix joined when I was fourteen, the twins joined when I was sixteen, I think Van might've joined before Mika," Akuma answered,

"Wow, you've known them for ages," I said, surprise evident in my voice. "What do you guys do all the time?" I asked, hoping to pry more info from him.

Akuma seemed hesitant to give more information though. "Please," I begged, wrapping my hands around his arm.

"Maybe another time babe," Akuma said, ruffling my hair.

"Babe?" I teased, Akuma froze for a second before getting off the couch.

"Simple slip of the tongue," Akuma scoffed going to the kitchen. 

"Right because you don't think of me that way,"

"We're just friends,"

"Right because friends make out with each other,"

"Friends with benefits do,"

"You said, friends. not friends with benefits,"

Akuma groaned in frustration at my stubbornness, as he grabbed a beer from the fridge. I wrapped my arms around his waist, he spun round, nearly spilling his drink.

"Let go," He demanded.

"Why? Scared you won't be able to  resist me?" I teased, leaning in closer. Akuma put his free hand on my  chest.

"Stop, please," He whispered, his gaze straying from my eyes to my lips. I smirked, moving his hand away from my chest, I watch as blush creeped up his neck and he swallowed, trying to look anywhere but my direction.

"You don't want me to stop, do you," I said it as a fact, not a question. Because I knew the answer. I just wanted him to admit it. Akuma looked up at me, put his beer down and pushed me away from him.  My back hit the dining table as Akuma looked away from me. His hands clenched into fists, his shoulders tight, his chest was rising and falling way too quickly. I thought he was just angry, but when his fists unclenched, his fingers  twitched, his eyes darting around as if searching for an escape, like he was trapped.

"Akuma?" I called out, "Are you okay?"

He didn't answer. His lips parted but the only sound I heard was the sound of his uneven gasps that sounded too shallow, too sharp. His hand went to his throat like he couldn't breath.

"Fuck—hey, it's okay," I felt panic flare in my own chest, but I forced myself to remain calm. For Akuma. He needed me.

Akuma stumbled backwards, his back hitting the counter, he grabbed at the edge, held onto it like it was the only thing holding him up. He wasn't here anymore. Not really. His eyes were distant, unfocused. Like the world around him didn't exist.

When he dropped to the ground I dropped with him, cupping his face, "Hey, Kaze, look at me," I said, voice gentle, hoping maybe the use of his nickname might get his attention. It didn't. "Hey, listen to me, you're safe, I'm not going to hurt to you,"

No answer. His breaths came quicker. Hyperventilating.

"Akuma please, breathe with me," I pleaded. I took a breath in, loud enough for him to hear, "In...hold...out."

For a moment he didn't move. Then, he tried, twice. His chest hitched before he managed to follow my pace, his hands trembling on the floor.

"There you go, keep going," I encouraged, "I've got you, everything's okay,"

His breaths stuttered, but they slowed, thankfully. The turmoil in his eyes faded, his eyes coming into focus as he looked up at me. His body sagged against the cupboard, like all the energy had been sucked out of him. 

"I'm sorry," His voice was hoarse, barely a whisper.

"Don't be," I said, forcing a small smile, "What matters is you're okay,"

"I don't know what came over me...One moment you were in front of me, and the next, it wasn't you, it was...him" Akuma mumbled, his hands were clutching onto my arms like if I would disappear if he let go. He held so tight it hurt, but I didn't care, I knew who Akuma was talking about and something dark inside me rose. 

A need, an urge to kill. 

To kill him. 

Andre. 

Andre had touched Akuma, hurt him. Traumatised him to the point of a panic attack. I don't care what suspicions rose at Andre's death, I was going to kill him with my bare fucking hands.

I refuse to let him get away with it. I'll kill him. Even if it means putting my own life at risk.

Word Count: 1014 words