Murderous Lust - Chapter 1 : (Re-)Acquaintanced.

Murderous Lust - Chapter 1 : (Re-)Acquaintanced.

The stars are so pretty tonight. The air on this balcony is so fresh… And yet…

He still can’t help but feel as though something will go wrong at any moment. Or, more accurately, that something is missing from his life. Something that watches him, lurking in the dark, waiting for the chance to reveal itself and force him to acknowledge it. And only then will he begin to remember the tormentor provoking these feelings.

[Name] can’t find it in him to bring this situation up to his husband. How is he supposed to describe an invisible — potentially entirely unreal — danger? The nightmares he has of two creatures encompassed by shadow holding him prisoner. Two silhouettes that don’t stay in the shape of anything he can make out.

He would surely be treated as a madman.. There’s nobody he can say from his past that has given him this fear. Even with all of the things he’s done, everything that haunts him now…

That’s right. It’s more likely to be some sort of subconscious torment. He must be doing this to himself. But it’s not like he knows psychology well enough to put any words to what these nightmares might be coming from. That’s far beyond him.

It would make sense, though, given the other half of his nightmares. They’re all far more explicit in replaying the horrors of the life he left behind. The innocent faces he killed that blur in his memories, as though they’re still as inconsequential to him as he forced himself to believe while doling out their untimely demise. 

He can still feel the weight of a knife in his hand, the way the handle would start slipping once his victim was covered in blood. When he was more inexperienced, he would never know how to grasp it right. That left many a scar on his dominant hand, where the blade would cut him, allowing their blood to mix with his own.

If it wasn’t a knife, it was his hands around their neck. He’s glad he can’t remember any of their faces. Not how they looked when he was squeezing the life from them, cutting off their airflow. He’s grateful for the fact that he can’t remember the light leaving their eyes.

But he had to. He had to do it so that he could live to see another day. Even in that life, where he slept in the cold filth, body covered in bruises. He had to do what he could. Anything to survive. Death was not an option. Not a more favorable one, at least.

Lex was his way out. [Name] tried again and again to claw his way out of the pit he was unfortunate enough to be in. Every single attempt failed, sometimes sending him back further than where he had initially started.

[Name] can still remember meeting him when he was at his worst so many years ago. Lex was charming, well-dressed, and a rather influential man in Auroria. Still is. And he has given [Name] everything. A new chance at life, a huge house to live in, a comfortable bed to sleep in, strong arms to fall into. At some point, [Name] was able to see past his money and looks, falling for his husband’s compassion and tender behavior.

Those are traits he can’t remember seeing from many. Especially not the rich and elite.

Maybe they can change that, though.

If they can change others’ lives the same way Lex changed his…

It’s also because of that man, after all, that [Name] has managed to rise to the top of society. He’s met the city’s most influential people through his husband. What type of cretin would he be, with all of the damage he’s done, if he didn’t use this new chance for the benefit of his city? He has to fight the inequality and poverty he’s personally witnessed running rampant. He has to keep more young kids who would have otherwise had bright futures from falling into the same pits he did.

“[Name]? Are you up here?” Lex’s voice rings out from behind him, and [Name] turns, met with the sight of his lover’s concerned face.

“I am. Sorry. What’s wrong?” He stands, Lex’s small smile sending his heart fluttering. The relief in his eyes is flattering. He’s still not used to being fretted over. He’s not sure if he ever will be.

“Just looking for you. Wanted to see if you’re all set for the party?”

“Oh, I am. Don’t worry.” It was just going to be another stuffy party. One for celebration and schmoozing. [Name] shrugs, not really looking forward to rubbing elbows with the other rich folk, but he can make do if it’s for a better future.

Lex’s hand comes up to his cheek, and it seems as though he’s searching [Name]’s eyes for something. Trying to tell if he’s bluffing, perhaps? Whatever signs he’s seeking, however, he doesn’t find it, and sighs before kissing the other man on the forehead. “Good. Let’s go get dinner, yeah?” His voice is soft, soothing, and [Name] is quick to agree, eager to get any food in his stomach.

***

The evening of the party rolls around. The manor they’re hosting in has been decorated to the nines, all glammed up to celebrate the city’s 500th Anniversary.

Truthfully, [Name] can’t find it in himself to love this city. The bitterness of what he experienced living here weighs on him. Getting to this position didn’t cure him of the trauma wrought onto him, nor did it bring back the lives he took away just to survive.

But that’s what he’s trying to change. So even if he has to rub elbows with the prissy little aristocrats who are convinced there’s nothing that needs fixing…

Not ready to talk with the other influential members of society quite yet, [Name]’s eyes dart around the room, locking onto his husband. He is quick to make his way over to Lex, waiting until he finishes speaking before pulling him over to the side. Despite this, Lex is the first to speak, keeping his voice low. “Hey. How are you holding up?”

“I’m fine.” Debatable. [Name] has always hated these gatherings. He much prefers getting his hands dirty with busywork. All of this conversation is never good for him. It wears him out far too fast. “You?”

“You know I’m okay.” Very true. Lex was born into this. Accustomed to it. Way better at handling people than [Name] ever would be. “But why did you pull me over?” It was normal for [Name] to ask for Lex’s attention if he got overwhelmed (which he did quite frequently during these things). Or even to regroup and discuss something serious so that they knew how to tackle it — like convincing someone more influential than them to help push some plan or other. But given that the party has just started…

“Do you think they’ll come?”

“No. They never do.”

Right.

Still, though… [Name] can’t help the dark, wriggling sensation in his chest when he thinks about them. Perhaps it’s just the rumors, but he’s never been one to be this nervous about someone he’s not likely to ever meet. Even if they’re demons, the persistent anxiety is rather excessive and terribly draining on his psyche.

Lex is more sensible than he, however. He should probably trust his judgment on this.

“You’re right. I’ll go talk with some of the guests.”

Lex smiles at him, leaning over to brush a small kiss on his cheek before pulling back. “I’ll be upstairs, then. You cover down here.”

[Name] nods, watching his husband leave before turning to the crowd.

Steeling himself, he heads into the heart of the party, working his way through each group and their issues one by one.

The first is a huffy nobleman thoroughly upset by the rampant crime running through the city. A common take.

“We really need to do something about these criminals. They’re getting far too bold!”

[Name] purses his lips, mind flashing to a… specific group he really, really needs to get out of this city. He feels as though this guy just means the poor, though. “We do…” Test the limits. Vaguely agree. The typical way to get around these people without stepping on any toes and control his own temper. “What do you propose we do about them?”

Of course, this man uses that time to spout things [Name] knows is entirely unrealistic and can’t be proposed to anyone higher-up on a serious level. Not responsibly, at least. There’s so much that goes into these things… Funds, regulations, majority agreement. The idea of it all makes his head spin. Just taking it one step at a time feels overwhelming at times.

If it were that easy, this city would already be thriving. Lex and [Name] have their own ideas on how to get there, regardless of what these prissy little peacocks dressed as men say.

When he escapes that conversation, it’s right into the figurative arms of a noblewoman flooded with anxiety and fretting over the potential arrival of those esteemed guests.

“I heard they’re actually coming today. Is that true?”

[Name] has a good idea of who she’s talking about, yet he furrows his brow anyway and cocks his head, not wanting to assume. It’d be embarrassing to make a fool of himself around these people… And damage his reputation. Such are the flights of fancy of those higher up. “Who?”

“The founders.”

Ah. [Name] had thought there was a chance for them to arrive, too… This is the 500th year, after all. That’s a pretty big milestone… Truthfully, he thinks there can still be a chance, however small. “Perhaps. I guess we’ll see, huh?” He forces a smile he hopes feels cheeky and mysterious, his own mind wandering…

After listening to her vent out her fears, he’s met with something far less infuriating to deal with. Simple, boring, mundane chatter. But welcome simple, boring, mundane chatter.

“I’ve been thinking of expanding Mark’s Grove.”

“That little park off by the river?”

The noble [Name] speaks to nods emphatically, almost bursting at the seams to talk about this little passion project of theirs. “Yes! It’s so cute, isn’t it? But the kids around there complain about how little room there is to play. It’d definitely be perfect if it was larger. We could even add a playground and a sports field!”

That’s true… Right now, it just felt like the typical random park people went to for picnics. A nice spot to go to if you had some downtime for relaxing. Maybe even for a midnight stroll. But nothing quite that exciting. Especially not for kids.

“That sounds amazing. We really do need more places for kids to have fun. Keeps them out of trouble.”

The noble practically glows, grinning when [Name] agrees with them. “Right! My house is going to host a fundraising event for it next month. Will we see you there?”

“I’ll have to talk with my husband, but it’s very likely. It’s a wonderful venture. I’ll make sure to spread the word, at the very least, even if we can’t make it ourselves.”

“Oh, you’re so gracious!”

That noble lavishes him with praises that he quite enjoys, and then [Name] is off to the next. And the next. And the next… One after another…

After much verbal dancing around, [Name] manages to find the time to sit down. Close to being overwhelmed, he takes a glass of wine and sips from it, eyes roaming the crowd. And as he drinks, he thinks about those invited guests who aren’t likely to arrive despite being much anticipated.

Demons who stayed on everyone’s mind. Warlords who defeated another powerful demon that destroyed the village on which Auroria was built. Their beloved had been sacrificed in the process. Everyone knew the tragedy of their story.

It was worth the admiration. However, there were rumors that the demon had murdered the couples’ lover. And that the aforementioned lover had initially been abducted by the two, held captive. There was a chance that the demon monkeys had destroyed the town themselves in revenge for the fall of their lover.

Who knows? Only the ones who were alive 500 years ago. They were the ones who wrote this city’s history.

[Name] takes another sip of his wine just as something catches his eye…

It would seem as though Lex was wrong this time. They had come. Two silhouettes that feel… far more familiar than they should have, move through the party.

Liu’er Mihou, the Six-Eared Macaque. A tall simian with black fur and dark purple eyes. One would look at him and assume he was of the more stoic sort, and yet there was a furrow in his brow, a hand on his hip, and his tail curled around one of his legs. It would be wrong to say his attention was truthfully on the floor; it was more so that he appeared off in his own little world, pondering something [Name] figured he would never be able to fathom, seemingly completely disinterested in the party he had arrived at.

Alongside him stood his brother in arms, Sun Wukong, the more powerful of the two. This simian had orange fur that matched his eyes. This demon was far more standoffish and aware of his surroundings than his companion. His gaze cuts through the crowd, a small sneer on his face. For someone who founded and protected this city, he was awfully hostile to the partygoers at this celebration. That alone is enough to scare the majority of the crowd off from even attempting to speak with him.

Both of them are stunningly well-dressed. They wear corsets matching their colorful irises, the stylish pants covering their bottom halves helping bring attention to the way the tops accentuate their figures. With a bit of unease, [Name] notes the war paint they have not bothered to wash off their faces before arriving.

However, there’s a high chance he’s just overthinking it. The demons were sure to have customs separate from the ones humans upheld. He can’t fathom what their society must be like. The world they live in.

Unfortunately, the aristocrats also had to extend an invitation to the monkeys’ descendants. A common formality, regardless of the distress they caused and their ill reputations. It doesn’t help that in numbers, they make up a whole tribe.

Unlike their parents, they’re seen way too often for anyone’s liking. They bring with them nothing but chaos, tormenting and murdering citizens with lack of care for the lives of the weak mortals. [Name] has been doing his best to find a way to banish them from the city, but given their sheer numbers, power, and who they’re descended from…

It’s easier said than done.

Feeling a headache coming on just thinking about dealing with the rowdy crowd mixing with the prissy little aristocrats, [Name] watches the duo cross the room. Something about them sends a chill through him. The sensation is like ice entering his veins, filling him up with the distinct sense of dread and danger. The urge to flee.

And yet, when he hears the orange siminian’s voice… He can’t make out the words being muttered to the darker companion, and yet his heart still clenches with that heart-wrenching familiarity he can’t understand, no matter how much he thinks about it.

Reaching his breaking point for what he can handle without becoming overwhelmed, [Name] looks around, only to find Lex busy with a small group. Not wanting to distract his husband from something important with his petty little woes, he worries his lip before standing, leaving his unfinished wine on the table before disappearing upstairs, seeking out solace only some alone time in an unoccupied bathroom can give him before he returns to tending to the guests.

When he gets there, he locks the door behind him and sits on the closed toilet seat, burying his face in his hands. Now that he’s up here without any prying eyes, he can allow himself to fall apart.

The shaking in his hands. The racing of his heart. His whole body is trembling and it’s rather difficult to breathe. He squeezes his eyes shut, doing his best to feel it out. Let it happen. It’s always better than allowing it to become pent up. The breakdowns he has when he does so aren’t worth it. He’s hurt Lex during them. He can’t bear to do it again.

He has no idea how much time passes up here. But he stays there, unmoving, until the tremors fade. Still feeling shaky and disoriented, he rises, turning on the faucet and splashing some cold water into his face until he feels entirely cooled down.

Once he’s back to his senses, he pats his face dry, breathes in, and releases a heavy sigh. Count to 10.

You’ll be okay.

[Name] returns downstairs, making his way through the crowd, calming down some of the nobles who are more finicky and anxious about the arrival of the demons.

“I never knew they’d actually come…”

[Name] nods along, his agreement idle and kept purposefully vague, not wanting to cause any ire or stir up any drama that’d have long-lasting, potentially devastating consequences. “It is certainly a surprise. It looks as though they have dressed up for it, no? They may see our efforts and respect it.”

“They don’t look happy…”

“We know not their customs. Perhaps they are here on a formality.” The same reason their descendants were invited… “We asked them to come. It is important. We should not be so judgmental to the ones protecting us.” Of course, [Name] can’t help but feel rather apprehensive about them as well, but it’s his responsibility to make sure this doesn’t spiral into something terrible, right?

They shouldn’t anger them. That could undo so much progress — it could set them back and leave them worse off.

A noblewoman chimes in. “But the others…”

Ah. Yeah. It’s far more fair to be anxious about the arrival of the criminals. [Name] has to think on his response before speaking.

“We have to be courteous to those related to our founders, even if they aren’t of the best character themselves. It is important to carry yourself with-”

Before he can finish what he was saying, there’s a crash off to the right. The small group he’s in whips their heads around to see what’s going on.

There’s a human laying in the mess of a toppled table — likely thrown right into it. The offender is immediately clear. A monkey girl with a wine stain on her dress is glaring right at him. [Name] recognizes her as Da Xia; she’s one of the many constant troublemakers they deal with.

“Pardon me.” [Name] dips his head and departs from his group, quick to move between the two when he sees the girl heading over to the fallen human, likely about to beat him down even more (if not straight up kill him). He turns his attention to the simian, his hands raised palms-up to about the height of his chest. “I’m sorry for any offenses this man has done unto you.” He’s so happy he learned this fancy ass rich person speak from Lex. Helps him feel more confident about these things. “If there’s anything I can do to make it up to-”

“Get out of my way!”

[Name] swallows. Alright. Potentially saving someone’s life is a tad more difficult than he thought it would be. “I’m sure there’s something I can do to-”

Evidently, this only makes Da Xia far more annoyed, if the way she looks at him like a pathetic soon-to-be smear is any indicator. Or the way she curls her hand into a fist and raises it, her fury aimed at [Name] instead. “Get out of my way, or you’re gonna end up just like him!”

[Name] fumbles over his words, but is soon saved from having to talk his way out of this situation (which he was becoming increasingly sure would have failed) when he sees a larger, black-furred hand grab the raised arm by the wrist.

With the same level of disinterest on his face as when he arrived, Macaque keeps his daughter’s arm in place, not even looking at the scene taking place. He just sighs. “Leave them alone. You should know better than to indulge in these childish antics by now.”

“But he-!”

“You let your temper get the best of you. If you stay here, I’ll make you apologize.”

Da Xia looks absolutely appalled by the mere concept of apologizing to some lower life-form. When Macaque lets go of her wrist, she just scowls and storms off, cursing on her way out of the party. [Name] is sure if she wasn’t so furry, she’d be absolutely red in the face, though he’s not sure whether it’d be from embarrassment or rage.

Probably both.

[Name] takes that opportunity to check on the victim, helping him up. “Are you alright?”

“I believe I am… Terribly sore, so I’ll be heading on home.” That, and he’s currently drenched in food and drink. “Thank you for that. I won’t forget it. I’m indebted to you.”

The excessive praise makes [Name] flush. “Oh, no, really, anyone would have-”

“No, no. You saved my life. Thank you.”

… Well. [Name] believes that. The man struggles to even stand on his own right now, his legs weak and shaky. It takes him a few more moments before [Name] can let go of him, watching him meet up with his fretting wife before they leave the party together.

Reassured by the nobleman not being seriously injured, [Name] prepares to head back into the party, but is stopped by Macaque approaching him. The human tenses, eyes darting everywhere but the monkey in his uncertainty. Does he owe him? Is he indebted?

Before he can get anything out, the simian speaks first. “I apologize for Da Xia’s behavior tonight. She is still quite young. You know how kids are. Impulsive little things.”

That brings [Name]’s eyes up to his face. Relief floods his body when he realizes it’s just an apology. “Ah, yeah, haha…” In his struggle to remain cool under the circumstances, he slips up from his more formal speech, and this causes a whole new wave of dread to run through him when the simian meets his gaze.

Oh fuck, he totally knows I’m a fraud. He’s going to take back the formalities. What if he kills me for even deining to speak to him when I’m clearly not of anywhere near close to the same social standing?

However, Macaque’s eyes widen with… recognition? [Name] is only somewhat certain it’s that emotion when the monkey gasps, but he can’t be sure why. He’s never met him before, even if his own heart rings with that persistent, nagging feeling that tells him otherwise. Maybe it’s something else. He could be projecting his own feelings onto the demon.

Seeing as how Macaque doesn’t respond, [Name] clears his throat, giving a polite incline of his head before prodding the man. “Your Lordship, Liu’er Mihou?”

The dark-furred monkey blinks, then… smiles? It’s such a tender expression that it catches [Name] off-guard. He even thinks he sees wetness in those purple eyes of his, but Macaque dips his head too quickly for [Name] to confirm this. And without another word, he rejoins Wukong. They’re too far away for [Name] to hear the conversation.

Somewhat baffled by the encounter, [Name] decides it’s just amazing for him to get away with all of his extremities intact. He’s breathing and in no pain, so that’s a total win, as far as he’s concerned. And Sun Wukong even appears delighted by whatever the Six-Eared Macaque is telling him, given the wide grin on his face and the arch in his tail, so that’s a sign of no ill will coming their way (hopefully).

All was resolved peacefully. Maybe their relationship with the magnanimous protectors of the city has even gotten better? This could lead to so much development in the future. It might make many things easier.

Just as [Name] starts to think about how to use this potential boon to their advantage, Lex appears, wrapping [Name] in his arms and pressing a deep kiss to his lips. When the blonde pulls back, his eyes are full of concern. He cups [Name]’s cheek in a broad hand, his gaze searching. “You’re okay, love?”

The worry makes [Name]’s heart melt. He smiles, leaning into his husband’s touch. “I am. It went well.” He glances over to where he last saw the simians, thinking of all the good news to tell his husband about what he witnessed. However, the sight he’s greeted with sends a jolt of pure fear straight into his heart.

Wukong had started heading over to them, but his earlier grin was gone from his face, replaced by a scowl directed straight at [Name] and his husband. Those orange eyes were full of absolute bloodlust.