Up in Smoke (Soulmate AU)

Then let's be that.

 "Can you take the muzzle off for this visit? I'd like to speak with him."

    "Are you sure?"
 

 "Very, thank you."
 

(Y/N) held her hands firmly crossed against the semi-table bottoming the bay glass. Watching as they unhinged the bear trap firmly clasped around his jaw. The sound of slapping metal was almost jarring - piercing as it sliced through the quiet of the empty room with a loud clack! Bouncing off the concrete walls that concealed it. But, everything about this room was jarring to be honest. From the stark white walls to the floor that mocked it. You'd go mad if you were here any longer than a few hours. She almost felt a little disappointed that this wasn't his actual homing cell.

The guard took a brisk step back as the muzzle fell into his hands. Moving to stand near the door behind him while he watched from a safe distance. He was a biter she'd heard. Nearly bit the throat out of one of the prison guards while on a routine review of his cell. The poor guy ~ walking around with a plug in his neck all because of this rabid hound of a man and his lack of utter restraint. She'd hoped he got the flowers she sent him.

She couldn't help but grimace at the sight of him. Her expression souring as she traced the sunken indent that surrounded the bridge of his nose down to the low of his jaw. Welt like scars lining indiscriminate parts of his face like war fixtures. Some looked new. Good. And a discoloration on his skin that was sickeningly obvious from the lack of light. It gave him an almost spongy look at the bottom side of his face. He looked rightfully disgusting.

She leaned into her chair as she kept her eyes locked with his, crossing her arms against her chest. "You've been misbehaving I've heard. Bad behavior won't take any less time off of your two life sentences. But I'm sure you know that."

The introduction was teasing but the delivery didn't come off that way. Her voice driving out on flat tires, coming off lifeless and almost disinterested. But that was better than fear. Better than letting him know how fast her heart was racing right now. Maybe he'd read the absence of color in her hair as purely anger. No, he wasn't allowed to see her face. That'd only egg him on. The guards couldn't afford that. Not the same mistake twice.

"Mom wants me to continue these annual visits with you. Even if after..." She swallowed. Hopefully not too audibly. "Out of respect for her, I've chosen only to abide by that request. ~ Worst regards from her by the way. She hopes you're doing horribly."

His jaw clenched at that, his scowl noticeably deepening. That had struck a chord with him and it nearly had her holding back a smile. She hoped it hurt his feelings.

"But that's not the only reason I came." She sat up a bit as she crossed her legs under her dress. The long and flowy kind. He hated them. "I come barring news. - I'm moving. You can stop sending your goons to my high school now. ~ Since I won't be there to receive them."

She sighed. "Hopefully that means these visits will eventually spread and become a bit more scarce. You get to have your solitude. I get to have a fresh start. We all get to be hap-"

"Quiet."

(Y/N) couldn't help but jump at the sound of his voice. It felt like ages since the last time she'd heard it and it was just as gravely and as terrifying as it had always been. She hated the way her lips instinctively clamped down on themselves. How her first reaction was to obey like a dog. She could even feel the noticeable straighten in her spine. Her eyes wavered from his for a split second.