Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

https://docs.google.com/document/d/13FeghV6D03-vJmyhbnwLmRXDmkh8SldW6mDaWFg8gok/edit

Chapter 2

MPL Fanfic AU: Neighborly: “Planties”  (2)

-KB Writes

This fanfic is based off of Lilydusk’s Midnight Poppyland Season 1, Asura’s Bride and various Secret Garden Series. This is not a recreation, however elements from MPL and AB are used for authentic purposes. NSFW content. Trigger Content. Please follow Lilydusk on WEBTOON and Patreon and read the real Midnight Poppyland and Asura’s Bride. Enjoy! 

Song Inspiration for Chapter (not in order)

Lovely Billie Eilish ft Khalid

Wish You Wouldn’t NF

Fallin’ Alicia Keys

Stranger in My House Tamia

My Heart is So Broken Bjork 

Landslide Fleetwood Mac

Fool of Me Meshelle Ndegeocello

Falling Harry Styles

Awful Dreams Lightnin’ Hopkins

Open Hands Ingrid Michaelson ft. Trent Dabbs 

Train Wreck James Arthur

********************

“Don’t you have somewhere to be?” 

Tora watched her start sliding herself back into her clothes, a mix of longing and frustration tugging him in two different directions. Her rich iridescent brown hair spilled down her back, thick with natural waves and curls. Currently, there were tiny matted patches here and there from when she had thrashed her head back and forth from the way he had sucked her into a screaming puddle. He glanced down at his cock, rock hard and untouched by her. Still. 

“Depends, sunshine.” He wanted to add something more suave but he stopped thinking once she stood up and wiggled all that -ss back into her jeans. He was still laying on the bed in the motel, shirtless, her fluids dried to white streaks on his chest. He was warring between joining her in getting dressed, and pulling her back on the bed. He decided to try the latter. He shifted and moved across the bed so he was sitting behind her, his legs on either side of her. He reached out and gently slid his hand down her arm, reaching for her hand. 

She t-ched and jerked away from him, striding to the dresser to start gathering her belongings and brush her hair. Tora tamped down his angered disappointment at her rejection of him. It was a chance and he knew it. And also expected it to end exactly how it’s about to end. He huffed and started searching for his shirt. 

“Ya know, sunshine,” he began, shoving himself back into his long sleeves, “fer such a role model as yerself, it’s pretty d-mn interesting how ya like to spend yer ‘girl’s night’.” 

She whipped around at him, her large copper brown eyes throwing dagger after dagger at him. Tora was dressed and on his feet, advancing towards her.

“Go ahead and take yer shot,” Tora smirked when he stopped in front of her. He braced as her delicate hand raised to smack him, her eyes fiery. But then she stopped herself, calming herself down. To his surprise she didn’t take the bait and just turned around to finish gathering her things. She grabbed the envelope containing her monthly expenses Tora gives her last, shoving it into her bag. 

“S’nice, isn’t it?” He began again as he leaned against the dresser, “ya get ta go and rub shoulders with all those snobs. And ya get a good f-ck outta it. I’d say you’ve done pretty well for yerself.” 

He was stoking the fires and he knew it, but he’d rather sit here and argue with her than watch her car pull off, something that nearly rips him to shreds each time. She huffed. 

“I’m not doing this with you tonight. And I don’t need your f-cking money,” she bit out. 

“Then leave it,” he challenged, something he’s never done before, making him wonder where all this was coming from. Tora had a suspicion it had something to do with the cute little brunette that moved in next door he can’t seem to stop thinking about . Ever since that first day meeting her he’s been feeling… different. Making him do sh-t he’s never done before, like drinking out of a pink mug. And talk to sunshine like he lost his f-cking mind.

She turned and gasped at him, her face a reflection of his own d-mn surprise with himself. But he refused to let her see it in his eyes and kept a hard gaze on her, relying on years of slipping into mafia mode. He quirked an eyebrow, deciding to take advantage of temporarily throwing her off her game. 

“But, if ya do,” he continued, “I’m bettin’ sh-t’s gonna get real embarrassing for ya. You’ve always been sh-t at saving money.” 

Another reason among the many why things never went smoothly between them. Tora has always been incredibly frugal and a hardcore saver, only splurging or investing in the things that matter. Like shoe wear. Or a vehicle. Or nice food. Not that he needs to live like that anymore, his salary is pretty hefty, and the commissions for the contract jobs for Big Boss are incredibly generous. 

Yeah I just pissed her all the way off… he could tell by the way she’s standing. He knew this stance very well and got ready to dodge whatever was about to be thrown at him. 

It was the remote. But it was small enough for him to catch it before it hit his nose. He should take the hint and try and salvage what he could with some serious damage control, but he just couldn’t stop himself tonight, nor did he want to. He smirked again. 

“I’m sure Scott will float ya. Or is it Gavin now?” He ducked as the motel Bible flew towards his face, whizzing above him to crash into the door. 

“Not Gavin? Maybe it’s Joshua, no Joshua was the last one.” This time he laughed as she ripped the phone from the wall and threw it as hard as she could. He sidestepped it, the crash of it against the wall indicating she broke it, and positioned himself an arms length away from her. 

“But… I guess you could always talk to Tyler.” He watched her face scrunch up so adorably with rage. He deliberately stepped on this nerve, mentioning her CEO live-in boyfriend who she refuses to settle down with. If she does, Tora would no longer be obligated to support her lavish lifestyle, ending the farce of the school teacher who came from money her dead parents left her.

This time she dropped her bag and flew at him, fists swinging. He caught them and braced as she started kicking him. He spun her around, encasing her in his arms against his chest and lowering them both to their knees, making sure to keep her legs on the outside. Sh-t . Her -ss was pressing against his hips and his cock sprang back up, digging into her. She gasped and struggled against him in earnest. 

“That’s only making it harder, sunshine,” he teased, “haven’t felt yer -ss on me like this in awhile. I might finally get ta blow my load after all.” He bent to smell her neck. 

“F-ck you,” she snapped, but stilled against him, out of breath. 

“Could you?” He retorted, “kinda gettin’ tired of leaving here with blue balls.”

“You’re such a piece of sh-t.” She hissed. Tora swallowed the sting. But he saw her lips curl in a smirk. The tables have turned back in her favor, she knew him enough to know how to wound him. 

But he wasn’t going to go down quietly into the night this time. Another first for him. 

“I’m the piece of sh-t that makes ya come hard enough to put up with that lame -ss sex ya boyfriend gives ya. He still got that problem with it?” 

“Go to hell,” she growled. Tora lowered one hand to grab the space between her legs, hard. She cried out. 

“You think my tongue was enough for ya tonight?” He kept his grip on her on top of the jeans, but pressed the inseam right on her clit, and began teasing it. She bit her lip, groaning. Sh-t, she’s so f-cking beautiful. He pushed his hips against her, nudging her to start rocking against his hand. She dropped her head against him and complied. “I won’t be coming by next month, schedule’s too busy. I already added it in.” He loosened his hold across her arms so she could snake a hand to grab a handful of his hair. 

He moaned softly from the touch and began nipping and kissing up her neck to her ear, his mouth watering from the taste of her skin. He nibbled her lobe, she groaned and pressed her -ss against him. He hissed loudly from the sensation of her -ss molding around him. He couldn’t help it, he started grinding against her. He released her core and tugged at the button of her jeans. Once he got the zipper down he dove his hand in, sliding under her panties straight to her slickness and heat. 

“Sh-t,” he murmured in her ear, “look how wet I get ya.” He pulled his hand from her pants, his fingers splaying as they both watched her wetness stretch between his fingers. He rocked himself harder against her. Then he licked up some of her fluids before he trailed his hand back between her legs. 

He let his fingers play in her folds, enjoying how her eagerness was making his fingers feel slippery. He dragged some of it up to her clit where he began stroking and gently coaxing it from its hood. 

“Lemme make ya feel how I do, sunshine,” he purred in her ear as he began licking and softly sucking on her neck, his tongue dancing across her skin in mimicry of how he used it on her pussy earlier. He teased her opening with his fingers, sliding them back up to stroke her clit in a rhythmic, circular pattern. When he dipped back down again, she cried out and pushed herself hard into his fingers, her other hand fisting the denim at his thigh.

He released her at once and jumped to his feet, moving quickly to drop to a crouch in front of her. He soaked up the intoxication of her arousal, their breathing equally ragged. She had huffed in frustration, and was now looking at him angrily, and yet her eyes were pleading for him to finish what he just started. This was another first for him. He’s never been able to stop himself once she lets him get access to her. He’s always taken every opportunity to draw her in as close as he can get her, hoping that in the end she won’t go back to Tyler, back to her new life. 

But, something about watching Poppy argue with her boyfriend has made him take a good long look at his own f-cked up… whatever this is… with sunshine. And something about listening to Poppy vent about how confused she’s been and how proud she was of taking charge and demanding better sparked something in him. He has no right to do this, he should just be grateful for whatever she gives him as usual but like Poppy, he was also getting tired of being strung along. 

“Feels good yeah?” He goaded, his tone drenched in sarcasm. She looked at him, horrified, then had the audacity to stare at him as if she had been scorned. Her eyes narrowed to slits. 

“Still like those brown eyes,” he continued, hoping to soften her. He knew she’s getting ready to retaliate and he had a grave feeling she was going to go for as many cheap shots as possible. 

“ Monster,” she seethed, venom dripping in the sharpness of her tone. He recoiled, standing tall and backing away from her. He flushed and stuffed his hands in his pockets, turning his face away. His ears were ringing and his heart was pounding in his chest, trying to keep him alive in spite of the metaphorical knife in it. He swallowed hard, but his eyes watered all the same. He kept blinking. 

Now she stood up, fastening her jeans, triumphant at how she just broke him down so easily. She crossed her arms and notched her chin. 

“Why do you make me do this to you?” She began, as if she was scolding a child, “maybe you like it?” 

He couldn’t speak anymore, he knew if he opened up his mouth his raw hurt and angst would spill out, and she would never want to see him again. When he dropped his head to stare at the floor she continued. 

“But I don’t think you do, since you’re shaking. You know what I hate more than you? You, acting as if I owe you something. I owe you nothing . So if you want to play this little game again, next month I promise you will regret it.” 

‘Thank you Tora, I needed that kick…’  

Why the hell does he keep thinking about Poppy right now? Especially since he’s with sunshine… he’s never thought of another woman while he’s with her. But he smirked at the memory, desperate to cling to the feeling it gave him. She was so sincere when she had said it, so warm in her gratitude. And so comfortable sitting down and opening up to him. So natural… so right. And she genuinely wanted to do it again, to talk to him again. 

“What’s so funny?” She demanded. 

“You,” he said, meeting her eyes in a hard challenge. “You, thinking that because I’m a man of my word you can keep f-cking with me like this.” 

She breathed in sharply. He’s never taken it this far with her, or been this defiant, this unyielding. He imagined this is how Poppy had felt when she hung up on that -sshole. Now what?  

Just let it out maybe? Like how she did?  

“If I really wanted to I could drop off enough ta set ya for life. And it wouldn’t even hurt. Wouldn’t even notice it was gone. But then what would be in it for me? I do this sh-t with ya every month cause I wanna. ” 

He was on a roll now. He started advancing back in her space slowly, backing her against the wall. When he got inches from her he slammed his fists into the wall above her head. She jumped and squeaked, her eyes now revealing her fear of him. He’s never physically hurt a woman before, ever. Especially her. In fact, it’s always been the opposite between them: when she set all of his shoes on fire that one time, and took a hammer to him another time, spitting in his face the night before she left. So it pissed him off seeing this in her eyes. No matter what he does, or how she tries to hide it, she always looks at him like this now. It’s always lurking in her depths.

“ I hate how you look at me,” he growled, his eyes burning into hers, “but I keep coming back. Cause it’s all yer ever gonna give me.” He stepped back from her. “Look at me how ya wanna, but don’t you ever f-cking call me that again.” And with that he grabbed his jacket and slammed the door behind him on his way out. 

———-

“This… is tremendous progress!” Quincey beamed. 

“What?” Tora wasn’t one to shout over music, so he guided Quincey through the sea of clansmen and gang bangers to an alley. Gyu came following shortly after. 

“People think you two came back here to f-ck,” Gyu laughed, “now it’s a threesome!” 

Tora rolled his eyes as Quincey and Gyu laughed and high fived. They were drunk and he’s now on babysitting duty. He tch-ed and lit a cigarette while he found a spot to piss. 

“The f-ck?” He scowled as Gyu and Quincey unzipped and let their streams fly on either side of him. “There’s a whole f-cking alley,” he huffed but couldn’t do sh-t about it as they were all mid stream. He wanted to have an actual conversation about what happened at the motel earlier, but by the time he cleaned up and finally got to Ares St. Quincey and Gyu were already red faced and annoying him with their antics. Wish I could just pass through… The idea of boasting about his own personal victory to his cute little neighbor appealed to him more than it should’ve, and was dangerously tempting him now that he has to deal with these two. 

Big Boss was celebrating his 60th Birthday with a bang. He invited all the clans and now the entire neutral strip in Ares St was crawling with mafia and low tier gangs. An attempt to show and solidify camaraderie amongst the clans, tensions have risen between Narin City and Ares St. as Ares St. has amassed more territory and power due to the efforts of the Balthuman clan, specifically Tora and his Shadow Division’s efforts. He originally didn’t want the position, but he was able to choose his own crew and he could finally stop supplementing his core crew’s wages out of his own earnings. He doesn’t have to do as much contract work now, but Boss is quickly finding more sh-t for him to do now that he finally has some more free time. 

He shook and zipped, drawing on his cigarette as he held it between his lips, stalking off while Quincey and Gyu finished up. He decided to leave his recent argument with sunshine alone and focus on making sure these two don’t overdo it tonight. 

“What were you saying, Tor?” Gyu asked while he shook and zipped, “something about f-cking sunshine?”

“No, he told her to f-ck off, finally,” Quincey chimed in. 

Tora rolled his eyes and roughly rubbed his face. 

“She called me a monster and I told her to never f-cking call me that again. Then I left.” He leaned against one of the buildings to wait for Gyu and Quincey to finish up and join him. 

“Progress!” Quincey exclaimed again, “let’s go celebrate!” 

————-

Tora found himself leaning back, lost in his own thoughts as this pink haired stripper named Candy gave him the lap dance of her lifetime. She’s gonna mess up my f-cking pants , he thought. She was deliberately rubbing herself against him, no longer really dancing. 

“I’d waive the fee if you wanna use a red room,” She panted in his ear. She wasn’t his type, she was pretty in the face, but too slender for him. 

“Nah, s’fine,” he said as he tucked in a hundred in her thong and lit a cigarette. His mind kept replaying what happened at the motel despite himself. What was I thinking ? The only person in the world who would be able to handle his lifestyle and he just… f-cking… blew it. All because of one conversation with his neighbor? 

But that was one of the best mornings you ever had… and it just felt so… right. With her.

He misses her, surprisingly. And whenever she pops in his head everything else fades away, including sunshine. Which he is now asking himself more and more if that’s such a bad thing, to forget about sunshine. Maybe Poppy would be willing to listen to some of his issues, see what she thinks about it? He hasn’t been able to catch up with her again since that day they talked because of his schedule. He wondered if she would even still be interested in talking to him again now that enough time has gone by, even though she said she still wanted to talk to him. He also found himself wondering if she still kept that -sshat around. 

But look who you still keep coming around. ..

She’s never called him that before. She’s called him everything else, but that. So there it is, out in the open… that’s how she really sees him. He had a suspicion, she hasn’t looked at him the same since that day, but she’s always denied it. And fed him lie after lie for years after. It’s only been recent she’s been openly showing her disdain for him.

Is that why you put up with her bullsh-t, cause you know no one else will put up with yours? He asked himself. Poppy was a sweet girl, but she doesn’t really know him. Doesn’t know who he really is or what he does. She will probably bail on him like the rest of them and just stay polite because they’re neighbors. Monster… that’s right. Eventually those intoxicating brown eyes of hers is gonna see it in him. F-ck . Visualizing the inevitable with Poppy was enough to completely destroy the little bit of lightness he had from his earlier triumph with sunshine. He glanced up, Candy was getting ready to have an embarrassing orgasm on top of him, and he’s not even hard. He gently nudged her off and onto the couch next to him. 

“Finish that sh-t on yer own,” he said as he stood up and dropped some more money down for her, “ya already made a big enough mess on me.” She gaped and blushed as he strode around the couch to yank Quincey and Gyu up from where they were. 

“Hey!” Quincey began.

“We’re leaving,” Tora dropped money down for the two girls he extracted them from and pushed them towards the door. 

Outside he started leading them to his car. Tora kept on high alert, and kept Quincey close to him. They might be at a party and on neutral turf, but there’s too many people, too many variables and opportunities for someone to try something dumb. 

Luckily for him it was easy to wrangle Gyu and Quincey. He turned the corner to cut through an alley when the voice he had been dreading to hear sounded out behind him. 

“Tora my boy!” His boss, Big Boss, Master Vincent Balthuman called out. 

F-ck . He had almost made it, and from the sounds of it his boss was also pretty hammered. He turned around, hiding his irritation behind his usual mask of indifference. 

“Happy Birthday Master Balthuman,” Tora began. “Good evening Master Cain, Master Valentine.” Tora finished, addressing the two other clan masters accompanying his boss. 

Vincent laughed and pushed aside Quincey and Gyu to clamp a hand on Tora’s shoulder, bracing some of his weight against Tora to steady himself.  Sh-t . As if this night wasn’t already a total f-ck up now he has to deal with this bullsh-t. He already knew where this was heading. This drunk bastard wants to show off some of his dogs’ tricks, and it looks like Tora is the unlucky dog tonight. 

“Now this one, gentlemen, I have personally worked very hard to train. But, as you can see, I have been able to get him to reach… hic … his full potential,” Vincent boasted, jostling Tora before slinging an arm around him, gripping his shoulder to lean more of his weight onto. Tora instinctively knew to not budge, make it look like this heavy bastard weighed nothing at all. Tora maintained a hard look on the other two clan masters, as if waiting on the order to strike. 

“We’ve heard about this one,” Master Cain said, openly appraising Tora, “ Tora , right? Heard he can launch himself over 20 feet in the air with the right boost.” 

“I heard he can snap a man’s jawbone just by squeezing it,” Master Valentine added. 

“Did you also hear he can take a hit from a car at 35 miles an hour and not break a single bone?” Vincent bragged. 

D-mn it all ta f-cking hell you piece ‘a rat sh-t cock sucking bastard-

“Ahahaha!” Quincey jumped in, “I think I’ve had a little too much. Tora was actually taking me home.” He managed to wiggle himself between Tora and Vincent, but Vincent only hooked Quincey in a headlock and gave him a noogie. 

“Wish this one did more than just preen with his muscles. But he’s always taken after his mother’s side,” Vincent laughed, drawing the laughter from the other two men. Quincey flushed. Tora could only watch helplessly from the side lines. Gyu had slipped into the shadows as a nervous spectator.

“Dad, I think it’s time I leave,” Quincey began, trying to untangle himself from his father. But Vincent only tightened his grip. 

“Goodness, Quinceton, it was only a joke,” he chided, “see how sensitive he is? Maybe I should’ve trained you as well, instead of letting you do, well, whatever it is that you do for a living.” 

“I’m a writer , Dad.” Quincey had tried, but he sounded like a giant pansy -ss in front of these two other mob bosses. 

Vincent and the two others laughed even harder. Tora could tell Vincent won’t think anything about humiliating and emasculating his only son in front of two clan bosses he was supposed to rule over one day. Vincent had a knack for making everyone else’s life difficult. Tora watched Quincey trying to fight his tears out of his peripheral. 

“37,” Tora said flatly.

“Pardon?” Master Cain said. 

“I had planned on surprising Master Balthuman. I am now able to withstand impact from a car at 37 mph. However, it is his birthday.” Technically he was sure he could handle it at 40 mph but why make things worse for him?

Vincent released Quincey, no longer interested in harassing him. He clasped his hand on Tora’s shoulder again. “Well now that is a wonderful birthday present, Tora my boy. See how well I’ve done with him? He’s now pushing himself to be better for me !” 

“And you taught him to speak informal genteel?” Master Valentine whistled. 

“Formal and informal. And he has had the best etiquette training,” Vincent bragged, “with a high enough shirt collar, I can send him anywhere, he is effective and efficient everywhere.” 

Tora was hoping like hell Gyu had whisked Quincey off. He chanced a glance, relieved the little prick did something right tonight. He decided to try to figure out how to get himself out of this mess without having to-

“But, I have to see this car thing. I’m finding it hard to believe someone is capable of that .” Master Cain challenged. 

“Let’s wager,” Vincent grinned. Tora should’ve known this was more than just the alcohol talking. “If he can do it, you give me Lightbridge Airstrip and all its operations.” 

“And if he can’t?” Master Cain challenged. 

“Then I give you half of my resorts.” Vincent waved as if it was no big deal. 

Sh-t . Just… sh-t. This night has officially taken a massive dump right on Tora’s face. If Vincent loses half of his resorts, Tora’s going to lose his f-cking head. This was not how Tora had planned on ending the night.

Master Cain and Vincent slipped their family crest rings into their palms and firmly shook, sealing Tora’s fate. Vincent now moved with absolute sobriety. 

“Let’s set it up,” he smirked as he patted his leg for Tora to follow him. He managed to see Quincey in the crowd of spectators who had gathered around the exchange. 

“I’m so sorry!” Quincey mouthed. Tora knew Quincey was guilty as hell for creating a bigger mess trying to jump in and save him, but no one makes Quincey feel like sh-t except for him. 

——

“Remember,” Vincent told the driver, “37 miles. I don’t want to risk my investment. And the deal’s off with anything higher.”

The driver was some -sshole from the Rockmorton clan, Master Cain’s clan. Tora has ran into him a few times before. Toby was his name, and he was always such an arrogant little prick, always trying to one up. Always bragging about sh-t he did or has done, most of it an exaggeration or lie. He was an opportunist, but too foolish to not understand his place. He would rather have sunshine behind the wheel than this dick head. 

“Ready?” Vincent called from the sidelines once he got to where Tora was standing. Tora tossed his zip up hoodie off to the side and drew one more deep pull from his cigarette before flicking it away, knowing full well this could be his last. He breathed deeply, calming his mind, instantly lulling himself into a meditative state, harnessing his Chi and guiding his energy where it needs to go. 

He positioned himself feet shoulder length apart. Kept his eyes on the ground, his mind tuning into only the necessities. He glanced his eyes at the car. Vincent knew him well enough to know he was ready. 

It was simple. One hit at the right time, sending his Chi and energy out at exactly the right time will be enough counter force to withstand the car hit. He lowered to a crouch as the car sped toward him. Too fast. He had just enough time to harness all the Chi he could. 

“ Ha! ” He huffed as he lunged from his crouched position, shoulder first into the bumper, sending everything out of him with perfectly timed precision. He slid backwards in his crouch several feet from the impact. His shoes were now scuffed beyond saving, but once the adrenaline wore off he was in a sh-t ton of pain. He stood up slowly, rolled his shoulders and shook out his muscles and limbs, showing everyone nothing was broken. The crowd erupted in cheers and applause, but Tora was seeing red. That little cock sucker actually went faster.

Toby had the nerve to poke his head out of the driver’s side. “Sorry Master Balthuman,” he began, lacking any sincerity, “but I been drinking and I accidentally rounded up to 40 mph. Is the deal still off since it was higher? Isn’t that what you said?” He laughed.

“Let me deal with him,” Master Cain said quickly, “I did not tell him to-“ 

But all conversations and commotion stopped when Tora walked up and grabbed Toby’s head and slammed it into the door where the window would’ve been, rendering Toby unconscious, his body going limp. He grabbed Toby’s hair at the back of his head and did it again, Toby’s head smashed against the door so loudly it sounded like a gun went off, but Tora raised his head back up and did it again. And again. 

He could hear the crowd freaking out all around him as he kept bashing Toby’s head against the door, blood flying and gushing out of his head, his face caving in, the yells from the spectators and the shrieks from those running away in terror and disgust competing with the rage coursing throughout his body.

“He’s gonna f-cking kill him!”

“Holy sh-t he’s f-cking crazy!!”

“F-ck him up, Big Bro!” 

“He’s f-cking dead already, Big Bro!!”

But Tora kept going until Toby’s brains and blood flowed down the outside of the now dented up door, his eyes dangling by their nerves from what was left of his face. He released his hold on Toby’s head, his hand was dripping blood and skull fragments and hairs were sticking to his palm and fingers. The gathering screamed, from either excitement or fear, a loud “ewwww” rising up when he gave a strong shake of his arm to get the pieces of Toby’s head off his hand, sending the bits into the ducking and dodging crowd.

He ignored the chaotic yelling from the onlookers and stepped back, whipping out his pistol and emptying his entire clip into the driver’s side, sending people running off in every direction, putting two in the chest and one right between where Toby’s eyes would have been for good measure. 

Tora loaded another clip, glaring at Toby’s shaking and gawking clansmen, but no one dared to challenge him. Once he was satisfied his men were in position and no one was going to try anything stupid he holstered his pistol, wiped the splattered blood off of his face with his sleeve and turned his attention to the row of pale clan bosses gaping in shock. The only one chuckling was Vincent.

“You were saying?” Vincent prompted, staring Master Cain down. 

“He just… he just -“ Master Cain stammered.

“I believe he just saved your -ss,” Master Valentine butted in, “Toby was ordered to only go 37 by two clan bosses, including the one he serves. But he did 40, blatantly admitting it and then trying to collapse the deal between you and Master Balthuman. He had to go, otherwise you would look like a clan boss who has no control over his men, and a weasel trying to back out of his deal with Master Balthuman. But, judging by those eyes he probably would’ve still ended Toby no matter the speed.”

“I couldn’t have explained it more eloquently myself, Master Valentine,” Vincent smiled. “Now, show me you truly had no intention to sabotage our little wager and clean this mess up. And torch the car with him in it.” 

Master Cain quickly spouted orders and within 5 minutes Tora was walking behind Vincent with the car, and Toby, engulfed in flames and the party resuming in their backdrop. They ducked into Miracle Bar and upon inspection Tora was declared to have not broken a single bone after withstanding the impact from a car going 40 mph. 

“Why don’t you take Quinceton home now, Tora,” Vincent said as he sat down to negotiate his acquisition of his new airstrip, “I’ll treat you to dinner sometime.” 

——-

If I just jump… then at least I’ll be out. But what about Quincey? And Gyu? 

And then he will know he truly had owned me… and I also made a promise.  

Tora tched and laid back on the hood of his car, strumming his guitar. He was at Regina’s Peak. He used to come up here often and let out all his demons, but now he just drops in every so often to play his guitar… and sing. No one’s around but him. He enjoys the freedom this space provides him. 

His shoulder hurt, his arm hurt. His ribs hurt. His heart hurt. Everything hurt. After he dropped off Quincey, who cried and puked the entire way to his condo, he took off for Regina’s Peak. He felt like his life was crashing down around him. He destroyed all chances with sunshine, was forced into taking a hit from a car, and willingly took another man’s life. This was probably the third worst day of his life. And for whatever reason, he just… didn’t f-cking care. He was lost, and he wanted to stay like this, completely disconnected, an empty shell of himself. Wanted to break his promise. 

“Can you help me tonight, Yuwa?” He said to his guitar. “I think I’m having… a bad night.” 

He filled the mountain air with his voice the next hour singing whatever depressing or angry song popped into his head, desperate to snap himself back to reality and out of this hollowed out state, but quickly realizing that it may not be possible this time. By the time he finished he felt functional and decided that was probably the best he was gonna get for a while. 

—— 

He couldn’t explain why he chose to come back to his place outside the city, but by the time he got back his body was screaming at him. He ended up plopping down on the top step of the fifth floor. He ignored the no smoking sign in the hallway and dug around for a smoke. He thought about texting sunshine, but he briefly flashed back to the lightness his neighbor exuded. If she was able to find peace in her decision why can’t he? 

Peace… he almost scoffed, what the hell does that even look like? 

*****************

Poppy woke up to the sounds of a heavy person dragging themselves up the steps. Her bed shook softly from said person plopping down on the top landing. Then she heard a lighter, the smell of cigarette smoke shortly after. 

Tora??  

They haven’t been able to meet up with each other in two weeks. And it hadn’t sat well with her for whatever reason. She shouldn’t be feeling this way, but things just… didn’t feel right when he wasn’t here. And it made her uneasy. 

Before she had time to convince herself to go back to bed she was shoving herself into a nighttime bra under her shirt and some pajama pants. She remembers very well how he had looked at her in her shorts. And what he had said about her… she slipped into her cardigan and slippers and stepped out into the hall. 

He plays guitar? She noticed the hard case he had placed against the wall across from their apartments. He was hunched over, his head in his hand, the other holding his cigarette between his legs, the smoke hazing and dancing around him on its ascent into invisible vapors and chemicals. He had on a multiple gray toned hooded jacket with the Japanese characters for f-ck you on the back of it. He had on black slim fit jeans that hugged him in all the right places. His white and black high top sneakers looked like they had seen better days. 

But she still sighed inwardly at his wild half pony of hair and the way his muscles filled out his clothes. And his gorgeous profile, noticing for the first time he had gauged his earlobes. It looked nice on him, they were noticeable when his hair wasn’t in the way but not too excessively big, and she wanted to bite on them. She shook herself, appalled at her inner thoughts, she still had a boyfriend.

“Tora? Are you okay?” She asked softly as she closed her door over. Seeing him again gave her so much relief, and joy. A joy she couldn’t explain, almost as if a piece missing in her had gotten dropped back in place. Did I… miss him that much? He tensed slightly from her voice but didn’t turn around, kept his hand in his head. 

“I wake ya up?” He asked, the deep huskiness of his voice making it hard for him to have a low volume. He sounded exhausted.

“I-It’s okay,” she replied, heart fluttering from the sound of his voice, “I’m right in front of the steps. I’m still getting used to being on my own.” 

“Must be nice,” he drawled as he took a drag from his cigarette, never lifting his head, “having a choice, if ya wanna be alone or not.” He exhaled deeply, smoke pluming and billowing out, briefly engulfing his face in a cloud before dissipating. 

“D-Doesn’t everyone? Get that choice?” His energy was way off. She decided to sit down in front of her apartment instead of joining him on the steps. Although she was sure he wasn’t dangerous, she doesn’t know him well enough to navigate this shade of him. But she was drawn to what he was showing her. Almost as if the pain she saw in his eyes has leached into his entire being. 

He scoffed, “maybe in your world.” 

“My world?”

“Yer a civilian,” he clipped, “don’t expect ya to understand.” 

“ Civilian? Are you a soldier?”

“No,” he said, sitting up and taking a final draw of his cigarette and pinching off the cherry. He flicked it away out of habit, but didn’t go and pick it up. “I’m a monster,” he said on his exhale as he stared at his hands. 

What does that mean? She couldn’t see his face well enough to pinpoint what the brief flash was in his eyes. But whatever it was sat so heavily on her heart she almost crawled over to him to hug him.

Poppy felt her heart beat faster. She should go inside, wait until he was in a better mood, if that was possible. 

He’s not a monster, he’s hurt . 

“You’re hurt.” She didn’t mean to say that out loud. She quickly drew her knees up to her chest and clamped her hands over her mouth, face beet red. He finally twisted around enough to stare at her, completely shocked.

“I-I’m sorry!” She stammered, “t-that was supposed to stay in my head. I-I didn’t mean-“

“Ya got some big -ss balls thinkin’ you’re able ta read me. ” His shock gave way to a blank face, his eyes narrowing. 

He’s shut me out. It stung more than it should. This was the third encounter with him and she’s getting upset because he’s not interested in sharing with her the way she shared with him? She held his gaze, searching for something, anything, in his eyes, but there was nothing there. It gave her a chill… and a deep sadness that seemed to saturate the entire hallway. Whatever it was that was going on inside of him was starting to draw her in, and it was getting hard to breathe, as if she was back in that glass box from her dream. But, she still couldn’t tear her gaze away, his eyes were just so beautiful, even in this state. 

“You have very lovely eyes.” She squeaked, burying her face in her hands and dropping her head into her knees before she even saw his reaction, “I-I’m sorry! T-That was supposed to stay in my head too!” 

She heard him chuckle softly. It sounded like a tiny car trying to start up, and although it was controlled it was still kind of cute. 

“What else is in ya head?” He teased, some warmth creeping back into his voice. 

“N-Nothing!” But she didn’t look up. Just then a door aggressively flew open.

“Do you two mind ?!” Angeline, her neighbor on the other side of her snapped. “And I’m telling the landlady you’ve been smoking out here again, Trevor.” 

Trevor?  

“Dunno how ya can even smell it,” Tora shot back, “ya got 50 f-cking cats in there, and now the whole hallway smells like cat piss and a woman who ain’t bathed since she moved in.” 

Angeline gasped dramatically loud, eyes widening and bulging, utterly offended someone bad-mouthed her cats, but scooped two up that were trying to escape, “well, I never !” And she slammed her door. 

Poppy raised her head and giggled softly along with Tora’s chuckling as she covered her nose. Tora wasn’t lying, the hallway always smells for hours whenever Angeline leaves her door open too long. But they were in the hallway, and it was very early. And she wanted to spend more time with him. Something about him, even now, calms her down, quiets her mind and just allows her to enjoy the moment without worrying about how she was going to manage to screw everything up with her awkwardness. It was comforting, and freeing. And yes… she had missed him, a lot. More than what she probably should, but now that he’s here she didn’t care about that.

“Umm…” she began, “maybe we can watch the sun come up?”

She chewed her lip nervously. This time his eyebrows arched in surprise, but then his face fell as he turned away from her. She still could see a bit of his profile as he stared off somewhere, the former pain returning in his eyes. 

He’s not hurt, he’s in agony. 

“I ain’t good company right now, Bobby,” he said quietly, “I’ll never be good company. Especially for you.” 

She should listen to him. She should go back to bed. She should do anything else but what she couldn’t stop herself from doing. 

“Well, I’m going to drink some tea and watch the sunrise on my balcony. I think you need to do the same. You shouldn’t be alone with yourself right now.” 

And before he could turn around to say anything else she dashed into her apartment, pressing herself back against the door, completely out of breath.

—-

What are you doing?! She asked herself as she made two mugs. This was insane, this was not wise, this was…. incredibly thrilling. And so bold for her. Her hands were shaking as she added two generous sticky pieces of honeycomb into her oversized mugs and poured in the lavender tea. She added some whole milk and stirred. She took a deep breath, she doesn’t really know him, and she sure as heck doesn’t know what to expect when even he admits he’s not in a good mood. But for whatever reason she had been compelled to keep pressing, compelled to not let him go. She stared at her mug, that’s right, she told herself as she read the gold lettering, I am a bad b-tch, and backed herself out onto her balcony before she called the whole thing off. 

Tora had come out earlier to join her when she was placing her stool outside and laying a small blanket on top of it. She was relieved he was still there. She smiled and held out the two mugs. 

“Do you mind holding these while I get settled?” 

“S’fine.” He gruffed as she transferred the cups to him. 

“Still in your funk I see,” she teased. Why am I teasing him?!  

“I warned ya,” he replied as he passed her a mug. He didn’t even glance at her chest or check which mug he had.

“Was your night really that bad?” She asked. She was concerned, she didn’t like seeing him like this. She would prefer seeing the anger in his eyes again over this. “Y-You d-don’t have to talk about it, we can just sit quietly and enjoy our tea. It’s um, still hot.” She blew in her own mug before she took a sip. 

“Tastes good,” Tora said. He was sitting facing the river, his back leaning against his apartment. He changed shoes to black and white low tops, but hadn’t bothered changing anything else. 

“Thank you, it’s lavender tea.”

“Just thought it was only for that stress candle sh-t.” 

She laughed. “I also cook with it sometimes. Well, bake actually. But it’s not my forte.” 

“Mmph.” He brought the mug up to his lips. 

Poppy didn’t like this silence between them. It wasn’t companionable, it was because he has closed himself off to everyone, including himself. 

“I’m… going to be leaving tomorrow to visit home for a week.” She began, hoping to get some sort of reaction from him.

“You gonna go see that boyfriend of yours?”

“.... yes. We haven’t spoken since that day.” She braced, waiting for the same lecture everyone else has been giving her. But he said nothing, kept staring at the river. 

“You’re probably being polite right now. You also probably think I’m some dumb girl for trying to make things work with him.” 

“No, I don’t.” He said quietly, he glanced down into his mug, lost briefly in his own inner turmoil. 

“Thank you,” she said, “for not… judging me.”

“I have no right ta judge anyone.” He rested his head back against his apartment and sighed deeply.

He looks so defeated.  

“Ya wanna know why yer neighbor called me Trevor?” He asked. 

“O-Okay...” his energy has shifted into something unfamiliar again. She turned to face him fully, an equal mix of curiosity and wariness. 

“It’s an alias.” He turned his head against the wall to look at her now, his weariness fully revealed on his face, as if he’s had this upcoming conversation a thousand times before and is ready for the same outcome to happen a thousand times again. 

“Why do you need an alias?” She asked. 

“Cause I’m in the mafia.” 

Poppy laughed, he arched an eyebrow. “What a coincidence!” She giggled, “so am I!” She was glad to see him joking again. But then… her giggles subsided as he continued to give her an even stare, staying braced for an inevitable he must know very well. 

“Y-You’re… serious, aren’t you?” She asked cautiously. Her heart was starting to hammer in her throat. He kept his gaze steady on her as he slid out a well formed arm from his jacket and lifted up his black shirt sleeve to reveal a fully tattooed forearm, filled with Japanese style peony flowers and a solid black lined back drop. She gaped at it, she’s only seen him covered up. 

“You’re… a thug?” She asked incredulously, finally noticing the large black family crest like tattoo on his neck, as he covered himself back up and slipped back into his jacket. He grunted. 

“Don’t insult me,” he chided, “I’m mafia. There’s a big f-cking difference.” He changed his posture on his stool. 

He thinks I don’t want to talk to him anymore, he thinks I’m afraid of him. And she probably shouldn’t. She’s heard awful things about mobsters. Just like you’ve heard awful things about yourself Pops… she felt instant guilt. She was raised better than this. She was raised not to judge people at first glance, to see beyond what’s in front of her. She looked at him again, searching for what she’s supposed to see in him, but right now the only thing she sees is pain, and resolve. 

He smirked, a bitter knowingness tinged with guilt, and sadness, unfolding in his expression, “told ya I’ll never be good company. Told ya I was a monster.” 

“I thought… it paid well?” 

“What?” 

She just threw him off and she knew it. But she had to press, had to see what was in him. And she just… wasn’t ready for him to go. 

“Well… I mean, I love it here, but… it’s not the nicest…?” 

“.... it’s as far away as I can get.” He admitted.

 He turned back to look at the river now, attempting to bring his mask back up, but she had left a crack in it, and saw a glimpse of what she needed to see, and was happy to see it was still there. Keep going. 

What? Where did that come from? But without thinking she obeyed. 

“Did something bad happen to you… at work?” She gasped slightly as he turned to face her, shocked. Was it because she guessed right? Or because she separated him from how he had anticipated her to identify him? Maybe both? 

“Yeah, I had a real sh-tty day at work , wanna hear about it?” He almost sneered it at her, his voice hard and his flaxen eyes cold. “Wanna hear about how many rounds I let off tonight, or whatever sh-t you civilians think us underground trash do? Didn't think so. Cause all you civilians ever f-cking do is play with fire then run away when the fire wants ta play with you. Wanna hear why I’m a monster?”

“N-No… I want to hear how you wound up with a shoulder subluxation.” 

Whatever rant he was getting ready to continue was forgotten. “The f-ck?” 

“Your shoulder,” Poppy indicated with her tea mug. “It’s partially dislocated. I think that’s why you’re in pain.” Physical pain that is…  

She watched him whip his head to look at his shoulder. He turned back to look at her, to interrogate her. 

“How do you know that?”

“I come from rural folk and grew up with livestock,” she blushed, “and sometimes our animals fell because of the terrain. I-I can help you set it if you’d like. It’s not going to stop hurting until you fix it.” 

“...I got hit by a car.” He said, his eyes were now probing her just as much as she was probing him. 

“That’s terrible, Tora!” She was concerned now more about internal damage, “have you gone to the hospital? You need an X ray! How did this happen?” She was giving him a visual examination, tamping down her sudden flushing from inspecting his muscular form so brazenly. 

“Why the hell do you care? There’s no benefit here for ya,” he gruffed and leaned back against his apartment with a shrug. “Pain is pain. Who gives a sh-t.” 

Poppy’s patience finally snapped. She hopped up, letting her blanket fall, slammed her mug down on the stool and planted her fists firmly on her hips.

“Okay Mr. Grumpy Pants, you get your buns up and go get me something I can use to pull your shoulder back in place right now!” 

He was on his feet in moments, his anger flashing, mixed in with absolute shock and surprise at her tone. 

Have you lost your mind? He literally just said he was in the mafia, and you’re goading him like this?! 

But something in her reassured her he was safe. He wouldn’t harm her. She latched on to that with everything she had as she held his gaze with a hot determination of her own. They seemed to be at a standoff, neither of them yielding. Finally, Poppy couldn’t take it anymore.

“Why are you still standing here?” she bit out, “do I need to spell it out for you?!” 

“I heard ya just fine, Bobby,” he bristled.

“My name’s Poppy! If you’re gonna be an ass you call me by my name. I only allow pet names when they sound sweet and or cute.” She huffed, secretly shocked at herself. 

Tora’s eyebrows quirked again. 

“Well aren’t you a feisty one.” But surprisingly, he seemed to have pulled himself out of his rut. He smirked, the teasing warmth creeping back into his eyes, his energy shifting to the familiar calm and comfortable openness she recognized. Poppy felt her insides flutter at the inner pride she felt from this victory. 

“Too bad ya still got a boyfriend, would love to know if you’re this feisty in the bedroom.” He purred.

“Gah!” Now Poppy was the one who was thrown off her game. She slapped her hands to her cheeks, trying to hide the blush rocketing its way up to her forehead. Tora chuckled at her response. “Y-Y-You can’t say things like that to people!” 

“Why not?” He teased, he was now leaning against the railing with his tea mug, smirking.

“B-B-Because! People might get the wrong idea of you!”

“Says the girl who just told me I have ‘very lovely eyes.’” He chuckled again, playfully batting his eyes, his smile showing off those dimples. 

“Wah!!” Now she hid her face in her hands and ducked down into a crouch. “I-I a-already told you I didn’t mean to say that out loud! A-And it was j-just a compliment!” 

This time Tora laughed. An actual laugh. It was so beautiful and light hearted she peeked out from her fingers. He looked… mythical in the first rays of the morning light, his canines were pronounced more than normal and his gold eyes actually sparkle. 

She felt her body intensely respond to him in the most unfamiliar way. She felt hot… and tingly down there. And her nipples were suddenly sensitive to the fabric of her bra. She closed her fingers back on her face and squeezed her eyes shut, trying desperately to erase the image of a nicely sculpted tattooed forearm, golden eyes, breathtaking smile and full lips out of her mind. 

“Can you just go get something for your shoulder now?” She managed to compose herself and shoot back up to her power stance. 

“Ya don’t have to trouble yerself,” he smirked as he finished off his tea and went to sit back down. 

“It’s no trouble, Tora,” she said emphatically, gripping the railing and getting as close as she could to him, “it’s the least I can do, since you helped me so much the day I moved in.” She bit her lip, her eyes pleading. She was so worried about his shoulder. He could damage it more, she didn’t know why that thought brought tears to her eyes but it did. 

Tora startled from the way she looked at him, recoiling slightly. He had a touch of panic in his eyes, “yer not gonna start crying are ya?”

“I cry easily,” she sniffed, “but I really don’t want you to walk around like this, especially if I know I can help.” 

———-

“You sure ya know what yer doin?” Tora was sitting on the floor of his balcony, his feet braced against the railing. He had a sheet tied around his wrist and hand and it was threaded through a gap in the railings to her balcony where she was sitting directly across from him in the same posture. If their railings weren’t in the way the soles of his shoes would be connected with the bottom of her slippers. She had wrapped the rest of the sheet around her shoulders and wound it around an arm for better leverage and control. The sun had now risen, making it much easier to see accurately in the morning light.

“Y-Yeah!” She said, “just use your leg strength to resist me okay?” Tora eyed her warily but before he could get a chance to question her again she started pulling, making sure to keep the sheet high enough to pull his arm straight in front of him. She shifted her feet higher and pushed against the railing with all her strength. 

Tora effortlessly resisted her, but she was obviously moving his shoulder back in place, although his face didn’t show any signs of discomfort or pain. 

“Sh-t,” was his only reaction in a deadpan tone right before an audible pop sounded. 

Poppy immediately stopped pulling and dropped all tension on the sheet. 

“See?” She puffed triumphantly as he looked in wonder at his arm while he rolled his shoulder and flexed his hand. He moved his arm around, testing it out. 

“D-mn she-Hulk,” he smiled, “sorry I doubted ya. Yer kinda strong for such a tiny hamster.” 

“Don’t you ever forget it!” She laughed. 

“Thanks… for… ya know. Helping me out.” 

He’s not just talking about his shoulder… is he?  

Poppy smiled as she stood up. “Well, just don’t make this into a weekly thing, okay?”

Tora chuckled as he stood up and started unbinding his hand and folding up the sheet. But then he hesitated, the former weariness returning. He took a deep breath. 

“I got hit by a car cause of my boss. He made me do it.” 

“W-Wha? Y-You didn’t…”

Tora scoffed and looked at the river. Then he turned back and stared deeply into her eyes, gauging how much he should trust her, how much he should reveal to her. 

“Ain’t no such thing as choice in my world. Only orders.” He finished folding his sheet. “I need ta crash.” 

“Yeah, me too,” she relented with a stretch and a yawn, “I hope I don’t wake you later on, I’m packing up my planties to haul to my coworkers before I leave.” 

“I can look after ‘em for ya.” 

“R-Really?!” Poppy beamed, surprised and touched yet again by his random act of kindness towards her. Maybe he appreciates me not pushing him away because of his lifestyle? As if she could ever do something as absurd as that. But nevertheless the thought thrilled and warmed her heart more than it probably should. 

“Thank you so much Tora! Now I can sleep and not have to rush around packing! Here, can I get it all set up? That way you can just crash and I won’t have to disturb you later on?”

————

“You let the cat lady watch your plants?” Mirabelle laughed.

“No! I let… my other neighbor. He said he didn’t mind.”

“Mr. Threesome?!” Danae howled, “you let Mr. Threesome watch your plants?” 

Poppy regrets ever telling Danae and Mirabelle about that night. She originally started off telling the dream, but when they pressed as to why she was moaning in her dream she cracked. But then again, she reminded herself, he was bold to be that loud with such thin walls. 

They were sitting in the local pub in Benson. It wasn’t their hometown but this used to be their usual weekend routine. Poppy sighed as she watched Granny and her opponent finish the pint they had been chugging. He slammed it down victoriously, but then immediately fell over out of his chair, and passed out. The other three men were already face down on the table. 

“Whew!” her Granny belched as she wiped her mouth, “that one was a stubborn bastard.” She snatched up the large pile of money in the middle of the table and began organizing it to fit in a purse.

Poppy and her two friends quickly finished their pints. Poppy slipped under the table and dug out the men’s debit and credit cards from their wallets. She was back in her seat by the time the waitress came to close out the tab the men had started. After the bill was paid she tucked the cards back in their places, along with shoving the receipts in their pockets.

“I think… I think I’m going to stay here a few more days instead of heading to… if that’s okay Granny.” Poppy began as she helped her Grandma climb onto the Harley behind her. Danae and Mirabelle were waiting for them in the rental truck. 

“Yer always welcome fer as long as ya need,” Granny said. Poppy fired up the Harley and headed back to her Grandma’s house. Poppy was grateful they haven’t been hounding her about Julri. It was always so stressful having to go back and forth about Julri with her family and friends, and it had started to create a rift between them. It wasn’t like she was angry at them, it was just easier to avoid the conflict. 

Is that why you want to stay? She asked herself. There will no doubt be the fight of a lifetime between her and Julri once she sees him. It’s not avoidance, it’s strategy. She decided. If she just shows up at his doorstep and stays on the front porch, then they may have a shot at a decent, productive conversation. Julri hates arguing in public, and if she catches him on a weekend afternoon, most likely there will be enough neighbors home where he won’t want to raise his voice at her. 

Besides, she and her friends have actually been having an amazing time together, like how it used to be before all this mess with Julri. They went dancing the other night, and they did karaoke the night before. And of course they went shopping and got their nails done. They were going to do a wine and canvas tomorrow night. In a way, she was grateful for the two weeks without Julri, she hasn’t felt this clear headed and light in a long time. And it was all thanks to her gruffy, enigmatic and uniquely charming smoking hot neighbor.

I wonder how my plants are doing with him. She briefly thought as she rode home. She and her friends and Granny have an unnatural tolerance for alcohol. Those four men weren’t even a challenge enough for any of them to feel buzzed. It was what they call ‘easy money’ tonight. They purposely singled those men out, Granny has some business to attend to later on. 

She was glad she set him up with all of her plants before he crashed. He hadn’t woken up by the time she was ready to go. She giggled again from the look on his face as she handed him the detailed care chart for her plants. 

“Now, I made this for my coworker Erdene so I went into a little more depth than usual.” She blushed. 

“I’m not saying this sh-t,” he flushed as he blanched at a page. Poppy giggled, he looked like someone just dropped a baby off and told him he had to take care of it from now on. It was adorable to see him so flustered when he wasn’t in his element. What a cutie he really is… 

“It’s okay if you don’t! I already talked to them and prepared them.” She blushed again, she hadn’t meant for that to come out. Good job, Pops. He probably thinks I’m some crazy plant lady, or some weirdo now.

“Thank f-ck,” he smirked, “didn’t wanna have ta tell them their old lady ran off.”

“I-I would never!” Poppy stammered. She gripped the railing and called out to the boxes of house plants still on his balcony, “d-d-don’t listen to him! Momma’s coming back, I-I would never leave you like that!” 

Tora laughed, for the second time. And it was still one of the most beautiful sounds she’s ever heard. And it suddenly made her realize he was way out of her league. Why that bothered her so much she didn’t know, especially since she’s trying to patch things up with her boyfriend. She looked down, hiding her face in a hand.

“You probably think I’m such a weirdo,” she had just humiliated herself without even thinking about it. Now he’s really going to think-

She almost jolted from his touch. 

He had reached out, carefully hooked a finger around her wrist, and gently pulled her hand away from her face. Fwoosh!!!! She was sure her blood pressure was at a dangerous level. Her body suddenly felt like it wasn’t hers anymore, and she squeaked involuntarily from what was happening inside this now foreign form. She’s never felt a throbbing like this… down there . His finger was warm and rough and this body was howling from the sensation he was giving her on her skin. She bit her lip, sure her face was bright red. She looked at him, her eyes begging him to reassure her she was not possessed. 

He gasped softly, but then his eyes narrowed slightly and glinted. His smirk was different this time, there was a confidence to it, and a hunger. As if she was a nice, juicy lamb that just got served up on a silver platter to him. He stared her down as he traced his finger slowly, softly, from her wrist, over her palm, then to the tip of her middle finger, releasing her with a delicate flick. She had watched their hands, mesmerized, her breath coming out in shallow puffs, the throbbing between her legs morphing into an ache. Did she pee on herself a little bit? Why were her pajama pants so wet all of a sudden? Tora chuckled.

“Normally I’d stay away from another man’s woman, but for you … I’d make an exception.” He drawled. He stalked off to pick up her boxes of houseplants. “Let me know whenever ya wanna watch my hands play with yer-“

“Gah! No, don't finish that!!” She hollered. Poppy had managed to fight off whatever had taken over her body. Did she just cheat? It felt so dirty and so wrong, but so, so good. So good she didn’t care what line she may or may not have crossed. Tora laughed as he ducked inside to deposit two of the boxes. When he came back out for the last one, Poppy had fully recovered. 

“Oh wait! Before I forget,” she was shaking as she lifted up a box from her balcony. “Umm, my budget is going to be kind of tight for some time, so I had to be creative with a thank you gift.” 

“You… have a gift... for me ?” He said it as though it was a completely foreign concept to him. 

“Y-Yeah! If you don’t mind.” She stammered. 

“S’fine. I’ll be right there,” he quickly deposited the last box of houseplants into his apartment and moved toward the railing. It was cute, he was suspicious, yet equally curious and excited. 

“Well,” she began as she handed him the box, “since you will be an expert gardener by the end of this week… I figured this way you can remember how much I appreciate your help.” She bit her lip, anxiously searching his face as he lifted up a Ficus bonsai. 

“His name is Ulaan,” she said, “my Dad and I started him from a seed. I always found taking care of him was very relaxing, helped me think. He was a big help during college!” She giggled. 

He set Ulaan down and took out a jade plant. “That one is Serenity. She does just fine in the bathroom. And that one is Calypso.” He pulled out a Chinese Evergreen. “As you can see on the card, she doesn’t need much.” 

“Ya sure ya want me to have these?” He asked, “they seem important to ya.” 

“Of course!” She smiled, “I have 3 of Ulaan’s offspring still in my apartment. My Dad always told me plants spread joy and it is always a good thing to share as much joy as you can with people. And, since you gave me some joy by your kindness I wanted to return the gesture.” Maybe this isn’t the right gift? She couldn’t tell what was in his eyes. 

He cleared his throat as he carefully loaded up the plants in the box. “Thanks,” he said, slightly flushed. “I’ll take care of ‘em. Promise. Gonna go crash now. Have a good trip.” He shuffled off with his box of plants and disappeared into his apartment. 

I don’t think he’s ever been given a gift before… 

Poppy realized as she parked the Harley on the side of her Grandmother’s house. How… sad…. 

————-

“So why did you leave your plants with Mr. Threesome?” Mirabelle pressed. They were all settling in Grandma’s house for the night. Poppy was helping her Grandma count out money from her earnings from the hooch she and her friends helped sell into different envelopes for Granny’s expenses. 

Mirabelle was stretched out on the chaise lounge, which used to be Poppy’s bed. Danae was on the couch. Poppy will sleep with her Grandma. Granny was making them all a late night meal so the house was warm enough for them to be in shirts, fuzzy socks and their panties. Granny remained in her duster. 

“Well, he offered. And I didn’t feel like taking three trips to haul them across town only to have to turn around and do it again a week later. Ugh ! I didn’t even get any of his contact information. Maybe I should send Erdene over to get them? No! No, it’s fine. He won’t kill my plants. Plus it’s only a week they are strong enough to handle whatever happens.” Poppy nodded to affirm herself as she finished sectioning her Grandma’s money in envelopes. Granny’s neighbors help her with this when she’s not around. 

“A-Anyways,” she continued, “are you going to call that guy from the club? He was one smitten kitten!” Poppy teased. 

“Hell no!” Mirabelle huffed, “I tried him out when we were all waiting that really long time for our drinks while you and Danny were dancing. I was not impressed.”

“What does impress you, Mira?” Danae teased, “you’ve done so much with so many, I’m surprised you have any mileage left!” 

Mirabelle threw a pillow at Danae. Poppy and Granny laughed. 

“Leave Mira be,” Granny giggled, “she’s doin’ what any 23 year old should be doin.’ As long as yer bein’ safe.”

“Of course!” Mirabelle said. “See? You two need to listen to Granny and stop being such prudes!”

“I’m not a prude!” Danae defended, “I’ve done everything else except that . That big tittied one in the kitchen is the prude!” 

“Hey!” Poppy exclaimed, “I’ve done… things.”

Granny, and her two friends laughed themselves to tears right in her face. 

“I-It’s true!” She stammered, “I-I got… excited … the other day when Mr. Threesome, er my neighbor, touched my hand! He even told me he would… with me .” She flushed. But the teasing whoops and hollers she got from the other three did nothing to bolster her ego.

“If you saw how hott he is you wouldn’t be laughing at me right now,” she huffed. 

“Whew! He must be a hottie if yer heatin’ up like this jus talkin’ bout him. Especially since yer still tied down.” Granny laughed. Poppy decided to address the elephant in the room. 

“Yeah, about that… I’m not… sure … if I want to stay with Julri. I mean, I thought I did but the more time that passes between us not talking the more… I… like … it?” 

“Sounds like ya got the hots fer yer neighbor if ya ask me.” Granny said. 

“N-No! I mean he’s hott, but I’m sure every woman gets a little flushed when they see him ,” Poppy retorted with a giggle, “if you saw him you’d know what I’m talking about. But, I think it’s deeper than that. Maybe when I see him again I’ll get better clarity.” 

Poppy noticed Mirabelle and Danae let Granny navigate this conversation. She isn’t ignorant to the subtle energy rippling throughout the room. 

“A-Anyways,” Poppy said, “Granny there’s still time to add you in for wine and canvas tomorrow?” 

“Can’t,” Granny gruffed, “gotta gig tomorrow night. And ya need to feed Old Duke when ya get back.” 

Do I have the hots for my neighbor? Is that really why I'm unsure about Julri?

No… it’s because, with Tora, I see how a man is supposed to treat a woman. Even when he was upset and had his moment, he wasn’t disrespectful, or manipulative. And, he made me feel comfortable to be myself and to be so bold. Even when I let my weirdness slip he didn’t ridicule me. He even joked back with me! And, I think I needed that interaction, to see what is actually normal… and… healthy… 

———-

Poppy stayed longer at her Grandma’s than planned. She now only has a limited amount of time before she has to head to the train station to go home. The rest of the week flew by with good times, fun memories and a lot of laughter with her friends and Grandmother. And there wasn’t a single thought about Julri outside of that night, but she found herself slipping and talking about her neighbor more times than she probably should. 

So what am I doing here then? She asked herself. Because… at the end of the day… Julri is the only one who will tolerate her and all her impulsive awkwardness. And she’s never going to be enough to be on the same level as someone like Tora , let alone any other man. Her mind flashed briefly to her making a pass at Tora, and him giving her a hard look and rejecting her, spouting off every excuse other than the truth. That he really just has a dirty mouth and that she’s not his type, nowhere near his league. And then her sitting in a nursing home, staring out of the window, just waiting to die… without anyone to visit her. Poppy punched in the code to unlock Julri’s front door and pushed herself through. 

Maybe… if we tried to… again… things will be…  

What was that sound? What is this smell? Julri is a successful businessman, specializing in process evaluative services. He’s basically one of the top Quality Improvement Analysts out there and businesses pay a great deal of money for his services. His home is expansive, and modern, with big glass windows everywhere. The sounds were coming from his lounge room, his man cave so to speak. The door was closed over and she pushed it open… to the answer she had been looking for. 

“Poppy!” Julri yelled, grey eyes wide, frozen mid thrust into some skinny, busty blonde bent over his pool table. His moderately muscular form was glistening sweat and his dark brown hair was damp from his efforts. The woman under him was so lost in how he was pleasuring her she was still moaning and groaning, moving against him. 

“Don’t stop Julri! Please!” She gasped. 

“Poppy you were supposed to call before you came over!” Julri snapped as he pulled out from the dazed blonde. He tugged his condom off and fumbled for his clothes while he talked. 

Say something!! 

“I did,” Poppy replied flatly, too shocked for much else, “but it went to voicemail. I guess you were busy.” She started backing out of the room, she couldn’t breathe. 

The woman finally came to her senses and righted, completely unashamed of her nudity. She was built how Poppy used to be before her weight gain Julri had constantly complained about. She had big blue doe eyes and full pouty lips. She was probably the same age as Poppy. 

“Is this the ‘girlfriend’ who won’t put out?” She scoffed as she twirled a lock of her hair. “She’s not even that hot.”

“Quiet Mimi,” Julri snapped, “Poppy let me explain-“

“Don’t bother,” Poppy said, she was by the front door now as he was approaching, still wrestling himself into clothes. “You’ve said enough these past two weeks,” and she was out the door before Julri had caught up to her. She slammed the door just as he had reached it. 

Mimi had yelled out behind Julri as he opened the door to catch up to Poppy. “Just let her go, babe! You didn’t want to be with her anyways!”

“At least someone told me the truth,” Poppy clipped as she started power walking down the sidewalk. Julri fell in step beside her. “What the f-ck are ya doin’ next ta me, go back an’ finish what ya started. By all means don’t let me stop ya.” Poppy was too upset to edit her dialect. 

“Poppy, look I’m sorry you had to see that. But, you had to have known this was coming. It’s been coming for some time now.”

“F-ck you, Julri,” she snapped as she walked faster, eyes ahead. He easily kept pace with her.

“See? That’s what I’m saying. You never wanted to have sex with me! I’m a man , what the f-ck did you expect?! You really think any man would stick around this long, faithfully , without sex?” He defended.

“That all ya wanted from me? Probably. Ya hate everything about me now.”

“Not true, Poppy. I love those tits of yours. And yes, okay, the only reason why I stayed this long with you was because I thought you’d put out one day.

“But come on , Pops. Face facts. Look at me! Look at you! You’re wearing some f-cking cartoon anime sh-t shirt for f-ck’s sake! I work with millionaires and billionaires , I can’t bring you around them! I’ve worked too hard for you to shame and embarrass me out of my career. I mean, maybe if you lost some weight off your -ss, and if you practiced more with makeup and did a better job at fitting in you might have a shot at finding someone else.” he finished. 

“Well, ya ain’t got ta worry ‘bout that anymore,” Poppy snipped as they neared the end of his block, “that blonde bimbo looks real nice on ya. She’ll be perfect fer what ya need.” 

Julri huffed and turned back towards his home. He doesn’t care!! He doesn’t even care how he just hurt me! How could you just leave me like that? Don’t… go… don’t make me be alone… 

But he didn’t come back. She watched him hustle back to his house, back to the city girl with the perky boobs and slender-toned body and perfect wingtips. He never looked back. The cold finality of how easily and willingly he left her in the street, to make her figure out her own way to the train station, brought the reality she had been running from crashing down on her. Oh Pops… you’ve already been alone for a long time now…

She had no idea how she managed to get to the train station let alone the right train. She doesn’t remember the ride home. But when she came to, she was back in her apartment, on the living floor. She hadn’t even closed her door, she must’ve passed out hyperventilating at some point. And when she looked at the painting she had been making for Julri, she instantly blacked out again.

***********

“F-ck, ya really don’t hear that?” Tora stopped his strokes and raised up to sit back on his heels on top of his bed. He turned his head, tuning into the sounds. F-cking music, he fumed. Kadijah likes music playing in the background to muffle her screams. She was an albino with a head of thick frizzy curls and her music career was going to take off soon. She was in Narin for a show Tora had gone to. It had been awhile since she came back to the city and they had pounced on each other as soon as she had cleared his threshold. 

“Wha? Hear wha, sugar?” Kadijah panted. She was still writhing and rocking, dangerously close to her orgasm when Tora had stopped. She moaned in frustration and arched up, squeezing him with her legs and reaching out to rub what she can. “Just ignore it,” she huffed, moving to sit on top of him, guiding him back inside her. She cried out and wrapped her arms around his neck, peppering his face with kisses as she began riding him. 

Tora smirked, relenting and started returning Kadijah’s kisses. He lowered her back to the bed and propped her leg back up on his shoulder and continued his tortuously slow pumping deep inside her, drawing himself all the way out, before pushing himself all the way inside her, making her howl and cry out with every inch sinking in her, her body unable to stop frantically moving and bucking under him. He was watching his cock move in and out of her at this snail’s pace, stroking her clit with his thumb in compliment to his steady rhythm, bringing her to the precipice of her climax again when he heard a crash. 

“ F-ck,” Tora snapped as he pulled out of a gasping Kadijah and searched for his jeans and shirt, “how are ya not hearing this, buttercup?” It sounded like it came from Poppy’s apartment. 

“Oh I don’t know I guess I’m just a little preoccupied,” she fumed. Tora zipped and slid on his shirt. He crossed over to the bed. 

“Ya see I didn’t take off my rubber,” he drawled as he bent to kiss her. He trailed down to a nipple. She cried out and gripped him. “Once I satisfy my curiosity, I’m coming back ta satisfy you. ” She giggled, her dimples flashing, and he gave her a quick kiss before heading to his door. 

The smell of cat piss and dirty woman was at his front door. Whatever was going on had brought Angeline out of her apartment. He slipped a knife in his pocket out of habit after stuffing his feet in his high tops. Was someone breaking into her apartment? He was out the door immediately after that thought. 

Holy… sh-t…

He didn’t know how she did it, but her big -ss solid wood armoire was on the landing one flight down in pieces. That must’ve been the crash. Angeline and Tora exchanged a quizzical look as a coffee maker whizzed out of Poppy’s apartment and smashed on the steps, glass flying everywhere. Sounds of clothes ripping to shreds emanated from her entryway before strips of fabric flew out, fluttering into the hall and onto the steps. By now the rest of the neighbors were outside their doors watching, with some from the fourth and sixth floor creeping to see the spectacle. 

‘Do something!’ Angeline mouthed, as she clutched a squirming cat to her large breasts. She had on the same duster from last week and still hadn’t taken her curlers out. He glanced down the hall, the other neighbors were giving him the same pleading look. He scowled at them. 

‘ What the f-ck ya want me to do?!’ He angrily mouthed back. This isn’t his business, he’s only watching her plants and was already failing miserably at keeping his distance from her like ‘ off limits’ was supposed to mean. And frankly, he was scared of her right now. He’s well aware of the state she’s in. She’s battleraging and she probably won’t remember any of the pain and vehemence she unleashes. She’s at a place where she could cause more harm to herself just to hurt anyone else right now. 

‘ Come on Trevor,’ Harold, the neighbor down the hall mouthed, gesturing emphatically to Poppy’s apartment. By now the rest of the neighbors have clustered together by Angeline’s apartment, too scared to go farther as picture frames sailed out and smashed into the lower landing’s wall. Ripped up pictures and letters followed shortly after, flying out like confetti.

‘Someone’s going to call the landlady,’ Anuk, another neighbor mouthed. 

“You f-cking chickensh-ts,” Tora huffed aloud. 

“Sugar? What’s going on- oh. ” Kadijah had poked her head out, wrapped in Tora’s comforter, but then stepped in the hallway and pressed herself behind him as she peeked around his shoulder at the rampage happening from Poppy’s apartment. Everyone jumped from the sound of her breaking her coffee table. 

“Go wait inside, buttercup,” Tora gruffed with a sigh as he started cautiously making his way to Poppy’s apartment. He dodged a coffee table leg that shot past his face and decided to stand next to her opened door. He tentatively knocked on the doorpost as his neighbors huddled together to watch. 

“Hey, uh, Poppy?” He called in softly and more timidly than how he wanted to sound, “ya movin’ out?” He tried to keep his tone light, in case she flies off the handle and goes after him. 

Poppy emerged from her apartment, in a peach anime printed hoodless sweatshirt, leggings and low tops, her hair a wild mess and reddened face streaked with fresh and dried tears and snot, oblivious to everyone as she dragged the rest of her coffee table out of her apartment. She hurled it down the steps with one arm to the landing to join the armoire, shattering it as well, the impact reverberating around the walls of the hallway. Sh-t . She huffed at the stairs for a second, then turned back to grab more stuff. 

“Ya know they got rooms for what yer doin,” Tora tried again as he leaned against the wall next to her door, “I can take ya ta one. Be a lot cheaper than replacing all yer sh-t.” But she didn’t hear him. 

“What’s gotten into you!” Angeline snapped. 

“Angie, what the f-ck don’t say-“ 

“Really, Angeline?! ” Poppy barked, turning her attention to her neighbor, who jolted from Poppy’s sudden and unusually vicious disposition. 

“Have I ever said a word about all your cats? They have no manners. They sh-t in my flower pots and eat my plants. And you Herald. When have I ever complained about your old -ss doing naked yoga on your balcony? And Anuk, have I ever knocked on your f-cking door from your Dungeons and Dragons tournaments you host in the hallways that last all night long, or your creepy -ss friends who press their ears against people’s doors?! Felicity, you’re learning the f-cking tuba. The f-cking tuba!!! And Hannah you really try, but you can’t cook for sh-t and you set the fire alarms off almost every other day! And you, ‘Trevor’! Why the f-ck do you have to work out so f-cking early?! Before the sun even comes up it’s you and that f-cking punching bag!! I’ve never complained about any of your guys’ bullsh-t, so let me have my f-cking moment in peace!!!” And she charged into her apartment to find more sh-t to throw. 

D-mn she’s so f-cking feisty, and d-mn she just made me hard as hell. Kadijah was in for a real treat now. Tora laughed, “I think I got off the easiest, she just handed yer -sses to you. Oi Anuk, I’ll beat the living piss out of yer friends if they pull that peeping Tom sh-t again.” 

“Where are you going, Trevor?!” Hannah called. 

Kadijah squeaked and giggled as Tora lifted her up and started walking back to his apartment. 

“Thought I told ya to wait inside,” he scolded playfully as he started nuzzling her neck, his mind already imagining the feisty, tiny yet thicc -ss hamster next door taking him up on that rebound f-ck he previously offered.

“Trevor!” Hannah called again as Poppy dragged out a painting almost her size and started slamming it to bits in front of her door.

“I’m lettin’ her get that sh-t out,” he called over his shoulder as Kadijah started sucking on his gauge, “I suggest you all do the same.” And he slammed his door closed with his foot.

————-

Kadijah and Tora shifted themselves awake from the sound of her phone ringing. After a brief search she was greeted by her manager having a hissy fit on the other end. Tora had kept them both up all night, they had only been asleep for a few hours. He liked Kadijah. She was charismatic, and very flexible. But, she also didn’t know anything about what he really did for a living. 

“Mmmm… you sure you don’t wanna be my bodyguard?” She teased as they got dressed. If he could he would be on the tour bus with her within the hour. 

“Sorry, buttercup,” he smirked, “I’m tied up in an exclusive contract.” 

“Too bad,” she pouted as he guided her to the front door, “you’re good for song writing.” She scooped up her guitar and her purse as Tora opened the door. 

“Oh. Whoa. ” Kadijah said as she looked at the aftermath of Poppy’s tirade. Tora had kept an ear tuned to the hallway throughout the night. Thankfully no one called the cops or the landlady on her. She had cried herself to sleep around the same time he and Kadijah finally drifted off. 

“Sh-t,” Tora whistled. It looked like a mini tornado ripped through the hallway steps. He stooped down in front of Kadijah. “Climb on, buttercup.” 

“This was one nasty breakup.” Kadijah speculated as Tora carefully made his way down the steps with Kadijah and her guitar on his back. “She was really pissed off wasn’t she, sugar?” 

“Hell yeah,” Tora agreed, resisting the urge to get in his car and make that rat bastard eat every splinter of the furniture she smashed. He didn’t know why he suddenly became so protective over Poppy. He didn’t want anyone getting the wrong idea about her. 

“She’s actually… a really sweet girl. It’s too bad this happened to her.” 

“Aw look at you, showing off your sensitive side,” Kadijah cooed as he set her down on the third floor landing. “Is there a gentle soul in there after all?” 

Tora scoffed and pinned her against the wall, kissing her hard. When he let Kadijah up for air she gave a breathless laugh. 

“My mistake,” she joked as she grabbed his dick through the fabric of his jeans one last time before turning to head down the stairs, giving a wave over her shoulder as she dug for her rental car keys. Tora turned and started heading back up the steps. 

“Bobby?” He asked incredulously. But then he had to fight to stay composed. She was standing at the top of the stairs holding a broom, as if that was supposed to clean up this disaster on the steps. She had tied her hair in a low ponytail with a bandana covering her head. She was still wearing her clothes from yesterday and her little hands had small cuts and scrapes. Her puffy eyes were looking around, shock and awe plastered on her streaked face, as if she had no idea who violated her property in this fashion. D-mnit why is she always so f-cking cute.  

“Bobby?” He tried again, still wary in case there was a part two, “Bobby ya doin’ okay?” 

Poppy blinked, then stared at Tora. She couldn’t hide the deep hurt in her eyes and she dropped the broom and buried her face in her hands, her sobbing continuing in earnest, her body heaving and shaking so hard he could see it from the landing. Tora dashed through the wreckage and up the flight of steps to her. He gently gripped her shoulders. “Hey-“

“D-Don’t t-touch me, please,” she sniffed, shrugging her shoulders under his hands. Tora instantly let her go and backed away. Sh-t. That’s right, she knows what he is and he’s in her space, no railings separating them. She probably doesn’t want some thug touching her or anywhere near her-

“Y-Y-You s-smell l-l-like her.” She stammered. “Y-Y-You s-s-smell like a-another w-w-w-woman…. and I… and he… he!!!!” 

F-ck, she caught him balls deep... and my horny -ss just triggered her.

“S’fine. I’ll go shower.” Tora quickly offered, “I’ll take the heavy stuff to the dumpster when I’m done.”

“R-Really? Y-You’d do that?” Poppy peeked an eye out from between her spread fingers. If she had asked him to set his dick on a hot stove he would’ve done it. 

“S’fine.” He was in his apartment and heading towards his shower before he could even ask himself if he locked the door. 

His skin was pink from scrubbing himself so hard and he made his gums bleed from how he had brushed his teeth. But he opened his balcony door and even some windows to make sure there wasn’t a trace of Kadijah left behind. He had thrown his sheets and clothes from last night in the washing machine and washed his hands afterwards. 

By the time he had thrown on a long sleeve, hoodie and jeans he was sure he wasn’t going to trigger her again. But he decided not to step into her space like that anymore. Even though, to his relief, she pushed him away because of how he smelled it still stung more than he cared to admit. He decided to box her plants back up instead of handing them back individually, that way she won’t have to risk having to touch him again. He didn’t want her to push him away like that ever again, and if she was only comfortable interacting with him at a distance he was going to take that and run like hell with it. It was better than nothing. So much for ‘off limits…’

When he went back into the hallway she wasn’t there, so he lit a cigarette and set her boxes of plants next to her door and began hauling the busted up armoire to the dumpster. When he came back for the doors Poppy was sitting on the ground, peeking in her boxes of plants. Tora dropped to a crouch in front of her, at a measured distance. She had managed to wash her face, but didn’t change. And people call me a monster… who would do this to someone like her? He resisted the urge to find this prick for the hundredth time and turned his attention to Poppy. Despite the circumstances, he was buzzing inside from being alone with her again. She still smells so good, and he felt like everything in his life is now exactly where it is supposed to be. 

“They all made it, even the outdoor ones,” he informed her, smirking. He had hopped her balcony every day to water or check on them. She sniffed and managed a weak smile. 

“You did a lot better than what I gave you credit for,” she admitted, “the soil moisture is good and I can tell you rotated Daphne and Buster. And you were so thorough in pruning the offshoots on Chica. I hope they weren’t too much trouble for you.”

So cute. Even now. 

“They wore my -ss out,” he joked, “that Mindy is snobby as hell.” He smiled as if he won 1st place when he managed to get a genuine laugh out of her. 

“Well, you should’ve sweet talked her like page 3 told you to.” 

“She’s not my type, didn’t wanna lead her on.” He smiled and chuckled when her eyes lit up as she laughed again. The sweetest f-cking sound…

“Well how honorable of you,” she giggled as she stood up. Tora picked up a box as he rose back up and held it out for her to grab. He handed each box to her like that, careful not to touch her. When she disappeared into her apartment with the last box he went back down to the landing for the armoire doors and coffee table and headed for the dumpster. 

“Bobby I got it,” he said when he saw her bending to grab the coffee table legs on his way to the landing. “There’s nails in it, ya might cut yerself.” He carefully grabbed the legs from her and dropped them in the broken drawer of the armoire. He stooped down to start gathering the chards of wood. 

“I’ll do this part,” he told her as he examined the large splinter that just stabbed into his palm, “don’t want ya to get splinters.” 

Poppy kicked some debris aside and plopped down on the step. She watched Tora collect and deposit the broken fragments of her furniture into the drawer. Tora stopped suddenly. 

“You okay?” He asked. She had been staring at him. The way she stares at him unnerves him, yet entices him. It is always so steady, so inquisitive. She stares at him as if she has no fear, as if she’s known him forever and knows more about him than he does. 

“Have you ever cheated?” She blurted. She propped her chin in her hand, expectant for an answer. 

“Probably,” he was surprised he answered her. This was an invasive question for only a fifth encounter. 

“What does that mean?” She pressed, not seeming to notice how out of pocket she was. But he was currently incapable of being dodgy. It’s like she has him pinned or some sh-t. It was… refreshing.

“I’ve had a lot of hook ups, didn’t really ask if they had someone at home, and they sure as hell didn’t offer up that information.” He went back to cleaning. 

He f-cks a lot, but he’s still not one to kiss and tell. Where this conversation was headed was making him uncomfortable, especially with someone who’s staring at him so intensely, yet so casually and innocent. And with someone he also didn’t want to get repulsed by him. He actually… wanted to make a good impression on her. 

He was fully aware how impossible of a feat that was for him, but she was worth trying for. But then he also didn’t want to pretend to be something he wasn’t, like how he was with Kadijah. This is confusing sh-t , ya want her to like ya for who you are… but ya don’t want her to know who you really are cause then she won’t like ya… He’s f-cked. Might as well make it an honest f-ck. 

“Well that’s different,” she continued. “Have you ever knowingly cheated?” 

“...Dunno.” 

“How do you not know?”

“It’s complicated.” 

Technically I was around before Tyler, but she’s shacked up with him… f-ck, this is really confusing me now.

“Why do you think people cheat?” she asked.

“Beats me.”

“I don’t buy it. I think you know more than what you let on.” 

F-ck . How does she know that?

“Has anyone ever cheated on you?” she pressed.

“No. But, I ain’t exactly been tied down either.”

“You’ve never been in a relationship?”

“.... I have. But, it wasn’t exactly something that would be considered normal.” 

“That’s not a relationship, then. Is it? But, maybe  it is in your world?”

Her words strummed him like a finely tuned guitar. He paused to think about why her words stirred him. Maybe I always thought it was more than what she did…??? 

He caved last week. When he woke up and unpacked Poppy’s plants he texted sunshine. 

T: I really am a monster. I walked out on you. I’m sorry. 

S: *sent an image* 

S: I want it in white, with leather cream interior and all the bells and whistles and chrome finishing with dark tint.

T: When ya want it.

S: Now. 

T: Tints gonna take a few days. 

S: Bring it when it’s ready then. 

Her new Benz was going to be finished soon. And she had told him to bring it, so at the time he was grateful for the sliver of a chance he still had. But now? ‘ That’s not a relationship.’  Maybe it wasn’t after all. 

But, it’s the best I’m probably ever gonna get…. 

“Tora?” Poppy asked. 

“No,” Tora finally acknowledged as he went back to cleaning, “not even in my world.”

“You haven’t answered my question.”

“Some people have a hole in them, Bobby. No matter what ya do or what ya give or how hard ya try it’ll never be enough for ‘em.” He was taking his own d-mn medicine right now. And it was a tough pill to swallow. 

She’s never gonna leave him. She’s never coming back dumb-ss… why would she? You’re just city trash. A nobody… a monster.  

But… it’s still the best I’ll ever get.

Then maybe I’m better off alone… 

“Am I?” he asked aloud. 

“Are you what?” Poppy prompted.

“Nothing,” he said as he finished loading up the drawer of debri, “just in my head right now.” He grabbed the drawer and started heading for the dumpster. To his surprise Poppy walked beside him with her own little pile of wreckage in her arms.

“I think you’re right, Tora.” She said softly as he opened the door for her. “I think Julri had a hole in him… and I think I made one for myself trying to fill his.” 

“I don’t think ya got a hole in ya, kiddo.” He said. “I think ya got too much good in ya for that.” 

“Well then why do I feel like this?” She sniffed. 

“You’re just… hurting. That’s all.”

“You think I’ll ever feel better?”

“Dunno. That’s all up to you.”

“What does that mean?” 

“You can either get over it, or get destroyed by it.” He said as he tossed the trash in the dumpster. 

“But, I think yer gonna get over it. Yer…different.” 

———

( Wish You Wouldn’t , NF)

T: Keys under the mat. Papers in the dash.

S: I’ll be down in 5.

T: Gotta go. 

Tora loaded up his playlist and slid his phone in his armband. He started running as he tucked in his ear buds and hit shuffle. He smirked at the irony as the first song started up, Wish You Wouldn’t by NF. He let his mind start sorting out the mess in his head as the song played.

After he had helped Poppy clean up the hallway, she crashed. He listened for her, woke up a few times in the night to press his ear against the wall like some creep, and even waited for her on the balcony as the sun came up. But then he got a text from Jonesy. Her car was ready, and Poppy still hadn’t woken up. 

He had skipped his morning regimen so he mapped out a route to Rootburn station once he parked her new car. Sunshine moved out of Narin the day she left him. He understood her monthly expenses were going to go up because of her car insurance and maintenance, but at the time, in his mind, it was a small price to pay to still have access to her and it still wouldn’t be a noticeable difference. He had originally planned on waiting for her to see her new car, hoping to watch her eyes light up and give him some comfort. But after the conversations and interactions he’s had with Poppy, something was different in him. 

It was if he had been looking at a beautiful painting, and then someone told him he was looking at it upside down, flipped it, and now what he saw was horrific. Poppy arguing with her ex that day was tame in comparison to the arguments he and sunshine have had. 

Poppy…   he still remembers how cute she looked when she stared him down all fiery like she was a little bad-ss. What is it about her that affects him so much? How was she able to bring him out of his darkness so effortlessly, how does she calm the torments in his mind with just a simple smile? Why does she make him feel sh-t he has no business feeling, and thinking sh-t he has no business thinking?

Like how it’s better to be without this f-cked up game he keeps playing with sunshine every month. ‘ That’s not a relationship, is it?’ No. It’s nothing. Just something to make him feel like he has a chance at something normal, something good. 

He’s watched sunshine from a distance before. He sat in his car, smoking while he watched her cook dinner for that boyfriend, smiling and laughing with him, dancing with him, looking at him how she used to look at Tora. He would watch her so complacent in the domestic routine with him, so engaged in his day over dinner, so content nestled in his arms on the couch. So understanding and patient with his issues in the bedroom. 

But then he’s also watched when that boyfriend leaves town. Watched how she satisfies her need with the man or woman she finds interesting enough to keep around for a bit. He would watch her, hard as hell while she f-cked, and then wonder what it was about him that made her refuse him the enjoyment of her body. The sex had never been the issue between them. But lately she hasn’t even wanted that from him. Only his money. He had worked his -ss off just to get his head between her legs last time. 

He went straight into the next part of his cardio regimen and scaled up the fire escape of the apartment building he mapped out and started hopping roofs. He sprinted and leapt the 15’ distance to grab onto the outside structure of a parking garage and started dropping himself down each level till he hit the ground floor. As soon as he hit the grass he started back up to the top of the parking garage. When he reached the top level he perched on the ledge and stared at the cityscape while he caught his breath. He could see the train station in the distance and checked his watch. He was pushing himself harder than normal, letting his inner turmoil out and now he was going to be early.

He tch-ed at himself but kept heading toward the train station by the tops of the buildings, scaling up and down them as necessary, leaping the distance between the ones that he could, his mind reeling between Poppy and sunshine the entire time. He stopped at a vending machine for water and decided to walk alongside the tracks to the station as his cool down. 

Am I really better off alone?  

‘ Don’t go… please. I’m afraid of what I’ll turn into without you…’

It’s too late, I’m already the very thing I fear.  

And he’s been selfishly dragging her back into this life she sacrificed everything to get out of every month. He’s been selfishly making her responsible for keeping what little there is left of him going. At the end of the day, she wants nothing to do with him anymore. She hates him now. And the only thing remaining between them is some promise. He’s never regretted the words he whispered to her while she had laid in his arms… until now. 

Am I really better off alone?

He looked at his watch to check his pulse as he walked, knowing the reason it was so high was because of his inner panic at the idea of a life without her, without anyone. Not even Poppy, because the more time he thinks about her the more he realizes how he is nowhere near good enough for even a one night stand with her. That thought alone was threatening to crush him. But then he heard tires crunching while he walked, he looked up to see a white Benz parking in front of him. 

“Sunshine,” he stopped, stuffing his ear buds in his pocket, as she slid out of the car, her hair shimmering like water in the breeze. He looked around, he was still a few miles from the train station, still in the countryside part of the tracks. He stayed a distance from her, told himself she wasn’t going to end him because she still needs money from him. 

“Thought you’d be somewhere around here.” She smiled as she leaned against the hood of her car. She was in a wool mini skirt, fleece thigh highs, knee length boots and a tight v neck sweater under her opened pea coat. Sh-t . 

“I’m sweaty,” he began. He was only in his long sleeve workout shirt, hoodie, joggers and sneakers but he wasn’t cold because of his cardio. “What are ya doin’ here?” He looked around again. 

“Still don’t trust me I see,” she giggled, “I love the car, but it smells like you.” 

“I kept the windows down the whole way,” he defended. 

“Didn’t say it was a bad thing, now did I?” She smirked, flicking an eyebrow up. When Tora said nothing she tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear and continued. 

“You didn’t wait for me,” she said softly. Tora looked around again. They were alone. She wasn’t armed. He dropped his head, unable to meet her gaze, stuffed his hands in his hoodie pocket and continued walking towards the station. 

“Didn’t think you’d wanna see me,” he said as he approached the car to pass by. But she stepped in his way, stopping him. He looked away. 

“Why would you think that?” She asked.

“Because… of what happened the other night.” He went to step around her but she moved with him, gently placing a hand on his stomach to halt him. He had tried, but his body soaked up the familiar touch, relished in the forbidden comfort it gave him. 

“I was angry,” she said, “I wanted to hurt you.” 

“S’fine.” He stepped back from her and dropped his head again. He couldn’t look at her. 

“Toto-“

“You should go,” he said, glancing around to make sure they were still alone, “you can’t risk being seen with someone like me.” 

“I don’t want you to leave like this.” 

“What do you want, sunshine?” He challenged, “it sure as hell ain’t me.” 

“I want you out of that sh-thole you call a life,” she huffed. 

“That’s not possible,” Tora said, “you know that’s  not possible.” He swallowed hard and stepped closer to her, expecting her to back away from him. Instead, she moved against him, resting her hands on his chest and looked up at him. 

“Toto please look at me,” she whispered. She tentatively slid a hand up and turned his face to her. He lowered so his forehead could rest against hers while she stroked his cheek. 

“I’ll never be more than this,” he murmured, “and I know it’s not enough for you. I’m sorry.” 

His eyes popped open when she kissed him. He drew up every bit of self control he had and turned his face away from her. 

“You don’t have to… I’m still gonna keep my word to ya.” He didn’t want to do this anymore if she felt obligated in order to get what she wants from him. He wanted her to want him… just like Poppy wanted to talk to him, to watch the sunrise with him, wanted to give him a gift and wanted to help him with his shoulder. Even if she only did those things because she doesn’t know any better. 

“I know I don’t,” she breathed as she stood on her tiptoes to kiss him again. He should nudge her off of him, he should listen to his gut which is telling him she’s full of sh-t and she’s worried about securing her cash flow, and just using him cause he left her horny as hell, but instead he found himself cupping her face and kissing her back. 

Sh-t. She hasn’t kissed him like this in a long time and he knew from the moment her tongue touched his he was going to snatch up every bit of what she was willing to give him, just like always. 

“I don’t wanna get on the train hurtin’ down there,” he murmured against her lips. He was beating his own -ss on the inside for whatever it was that prompted him to say that. He instantly began telling his body to start winding down, and that he probably won’t be getting this again for a long time. 

“Then don’t,” she whispered as she sucked in his bottom lip and started teasing it with her tongue. He groaned. She knew his body so well, knew what she just gave him permission to do with that simple act. “Lift me up, right here on the hood,” she panted as his hand found her nipple under her clothing. 

He had hoisted her up by her plush -ss and had plopped her down on the hood before his mind could bring up all the sh-t he just wrestled with his entire way to the train station. She gasped excitedly as he ripped her panties off under her skirt and slid her hands up his shirt to rub his abs, his breath whooshing out of him from her hands on his skin. He forced himself to slow down and began stroking her clit while he tasted her neck. She moaned and wrapped her long legs around him and lifted her shirt. He yanked down the cups on her bra with his other hand and licked a trail to suck and flick his tongue across a nipple while he teased the other one, rolling it around between his thumb and pointer just how she likes it. 

“Oh! Oh God,” she huffed as she threw her head back and arched into him. She sat up straight and started frantically fumbling with his joggers, shoving her hand down below his waistband and gripping him firmly. 

“ Sh—-t,” Tora hissed from the feel of her skin clamping around his cock. He began rocking his hips into her pumping of his length as she tugged his pants down and freed his cock from his sweats. He wanted to slow them both down and enjoy this as much as possible but she was dripping down the hand now fingering her. 

“I didn’t bring any rubbers,” he huffed. 

“I’ll swallow you,” she breathed as she tugged him to her entrance. He groaned in excited anticipation of that promise and thrust himself inside of her as deep as he could go. 

“ Unh!” He called out from the feel of her wet heat and softness gripping his bare cock. D-mn how he missed the feel of her, the way she felt without a barrier between them. He used every bit of concentrated focus he had not to come inside her before his first strokes. 

“ Aahn! Yes Toto! Make me come, baby,” she hollered as Tora started ramming into her hard and fast. He pulled her hips forward so her upper half laid flat across the hood of the car, her lower half hanging off of the car and held up by him. He rested her thighs in the crooks of his elbows and leaned forward, looming over her, gripping her hips and spreading her wide as he watched her fall apart beneath him while he f-cked her; her perfect, perky tits bouncing and slapping together violently with loud claps, and her mouth hanging open, eyes squeezed shut and face flushed. 

“Ya want me ta make ya come on this dick?” He growled. He lowered closer to her, and she drew her legs up, planting her booted feet in his elbow crooks and dropping her knees down, pulling him so deep inside his dick head was pushing the ridges of her cervix farther into her. “F-ck,” he gasped as he picked up the pace. She arched high on top of the car, reaching up to grab two fistfuls of her own hair. 

“T-T-Toto… I c-can’t… I’m not gonna…. ohmygod …. ohmygod!!! “ 

“Let me feel ya come, sunshine,” he gruffed. He dug his fingers into her hips as her walls tightened and clenched around him as she came, hard. 

“ Aaaaahhhhnnn!! Ohmygod aaaahhhhn!!!” She was thrashing her head and writhing again as Tora somehow managed to keep her orgasm strong and steady, giving her wave after wave of ecstasy rocketing through her. She half growled, half groaned loud and long as she bared down on him, her body bucking and jerking frantically, her come mixed in with her wetness and trailing down his sack. As soon as her body was ready to wind down Tora pushed her backwards to lay more stably on the car and pulled out of her. 

He used her fluids still on him as lubricant while he pumped his length hard and fast, his body roaring from the way their f-cking left her so satisfied and disoriented. Once she had enough of her wits back about her she flipped to her hands and knees on the hood of the car and lowered her head to take his tip in her mouth. The moment her lips sealed around his cock he lost it. 

“Fff—-ck… uhnnn!!!” He came just as hard as she did, his fangs out as he gripped her hair, panted and throbbed in her mouth while he spurted. She kept him in her mouth, swallowing him, reaching down for his sack. He was instantly hard again, groaning as he rocked his hips into her mouth. She started sucking him, using her tongue to play at his sensitive spot under the crown. He groaned loudly and threw his head back. 

She released him from her mouth and spun around so her backside faced him. He shifted her so one foot was on the ground and her other leg was propped on the hood of the car as he slid her coat to the side, gripped her tits and thrust back into her from behind. He kissed and nipped at her neck as he pumped into her with the same aggressive need from earlier, the car thudding loudly with each of his thrusts. She cried out and panted as she clutched his hands while he teased her nipples. He slid one hand down to her clit and stroked her pleasure point at the same breakneck pace as his thrusting. 

She howled as she arched deeper into him, rocking back against him and clawed at his hands. 

“You know what I want,” he huffed in her ear. She moved her hand down to where his fingers were working her clit and got her fingertips drenched in her fluids. She brought them up to his mouth for him to lick and suck clean. She watched with hazy eyes in an aroused stupor while he did it and slid her hand down for more. This time she wiped it on her neck, and he instantly ducked his head down and licked her excitement off her skin. 

She repeated, moaning and groaning her enjoyment of him tasting her while he f-cked her. She boldly stuck her wet fingers in his mouth and gripped him tightly and moaned while he sucked them. She began tightening around him, her body moving according to its own need. He bit her earlobe and with a few more quick passes over her clit she came apart around him again, screaming his name. He buried his head against her, gritting his teeth so he can keep her orgasm going for as long as possible, her walls feverishly milking him. He made it just in time. 

“ Uhnnn!!” He yanked himself out of her and squeezed his dick, angling it so he would spurt down between their feet as he stroked his own orgasm to last a little longer. She played in his hair as he kissed her neck and groaned, winding himself down, his strokes slowing to a stop along his length. He dropped his forehead against her shoulder as he leaned some of his weight on her to steady himself. 

“See?” She panted, “no pain.” 

He chuckled softly between his gasps for air and kissed her cheek. “No pain.” 

Maybe he had been wrong about all of this… maybe she’s this way to protect herself, to make sure she doesn’t go back-

Her phone rang in her coat pocket. She stiffened and pushed him back when she saw who was calling. She took a few deep breaths as she slid her leg down off the car, careful not to step in his release still steaming on the cold ground. Tora pulled his pants back up, and inspected the hood of her car while she answered the phone. 

“Tyler! Hi sweetums!” She said brightly. She popped the trunk and dashed to get the tool used to pop dents out of cars. Tora grabbed it from her and began popping the dents out of her hood to distract himself and keep his jealousy at bay. 

“No, I didn’t forget about lunch, something came up. Why didn’t I call? It’s a surprise, sweetie!” 

Tora returned the tool to her trunk and quietly closed the lid. She fixed her clothes as she spoke to her boyfriend. 

“Okay, okay I was trying to surprise you with it, but I got you a car! The one you wanted, just how you wanted it!” 

The f-ck?!  

Tora backed away, glaring at her. But she was so focused on her conversation she just blew him a silent kiss and waved to him as she prepared to leave, dismissing him. 

“Happy Birthday sweetums! I love you too! I know! I can’t wait to show you I’m picking it up now…”

Tora took off walking towards the train station, not even waiting to make sure she got in the car and navigated out of the terrain safely. He almost missed the f-cking train gettin’ played like a f-cking fiddle. He managed to find a seat just as the train pulled off. He pulled his hood over his eyes, put his earbuds back in and reshuffled his playlist and rested his head against the window. He almost laughed aloud as the same song played first again, Wish You Wouldn’t by NF.

All of this for a f-cking car for her boyfriend. He should’ve known better. Her recent hostility towards him, the fight in the motel room, using his hurt and capitalizing off of his guilt, all of it just a long -ss con for a birthday gift for Tyler … a gift he would’ve just outright bought if she had only asked. But then she wouldn’t have been able to feel like she earned it herself. He couldn’t tell who was better at manipulating him, her or his f-cking boss. At least with Vincent he knew where he stood. 

Am I better off alone?  

He asked himself that over and over until he pulled in front of his apartment. He climbed the steps to find Hannah balancing on a stool in the landing, frantically fanning the smoke detector and Felicity practicing her tuba with her door open. One of Angeline’s cats had gotten out. Tora kept going and headed straight for his shower. Normally he would be celebrating the headway he made with sunshine but what was there to celebrate? He felt used, worthless, filthy, ashamed… like trash. Exactly how she saw him, how she’s probably always seen him. How could he ever possibly think anyone could ever see him as anything more than what he is?

You dumb-ss, he told himself as he let the water from the nozzle run down him, rinsing off the soap, don’t you know you’ve always been alone?  

He stepped out of the shower and went to his room and grabbed a duffel. He needed to stay in his place in the city for awhile. He packed and dressed, went looking for his brush… and saw the jade plant in his bathroom. 

Serenity. That was what Poppy had named this plant. He had set her up on the sink’s counter top in his bathroom. And he even… he even placed a scallop shell he had randomly found in Ares St. last week next to her.

‘Since you gave me some joy by your kindness I wanted to return the gesture.’

That’s right, she thought I was kind. She said I gave her joy.

He didn’t think much of it when he had offered to look after her plants. He figured it was the least he could do, especially since he had disturbed her sleep and woke her up with his bullsh-t and then was an -ss to her when she just wanted to help. But at the time he didn’t believe someone like her would have any inclination to want to do something helpful for someone like him. And the more time he spends with her the more his whole world starts to become distorted. It scares him, yet draws him in. Because the things she has shown him makes him feel… good.  

Like… he actually mattered. And he’s getting attached to her despite his best efforts to keep her at a distance, which is the worst thing that could possibly happen to her. He is a total f-ck up, and he would only drag her down, make her whole life a complete f-cking disaster. But nevertheless he found himself searching his place for a box to pack up his plants. He promised her he would take care of them, and he didn’t want to f-ck up the first gift he’s ever received. She puts a lot of care into her plants, and he didn’t want her efforts to be wasted. He had started reading and researching how to take care of houseplants and was determined to do something right , for once. He remembered there were boxes by the dumpster and took off to find a sturdy one. 

By the time he got back, there was a note and a gallon jug that had been reused to hold tea in front of his door. 

Dear Trevor ;) 

Please accept this tea as an apology for the mean things I said to you the other night. I actually don’t mind hearing you at the punching bag in the morning, it helps me keep track of time and lets me know you made it home safely. I just had to say something so it would be fair to the other neighbors. :)

-Bobby

1. Thank you for helping me clean up my mess.

PPS. I hope you got the splinter out of your hand. 

PPPS. I hope you enjoy the tea. It’s the same blend as the first time we hung out on the balcony. It’s just as good cold. Well, at least I think it is. 

F-ck.  

How is she able to do this? He found himself smiling as he read her note right there in the hallway, forgetting all about the sh-tty day he just had and all the bullsh-t his mind was torturing him with. He glanced at her door but didn’t hear anything, decided she must have done this on her way out and scooped up the tea she made him. He chugged it straight out of the jug as he walked into his apartment. She was wrong, he thinks it tastes much better cold. But then again he’s never been a fan of warm tea. 

The box was big enough to hold the plants and his tea. He debated, but then placed the note she wrote him in his safe. She had cute handwriting, it was very girly yet very neat. It looked like she wrote it on lines but there weren’t any. His penmanship is crap so he’s always had an appreciation for people who actually can write legibly. But he dug around and found some paper and pen anyways. 

Thanks for the tea. I like it a lot. Hope ya feel better soon, gonna stay in the city for a bit. I got the plants with me. Hope ya can read this. 

-Tora

Ps. Splinter came out fine.

He almost tore the note up. But he boot strapped up and slid it under her door after he locked his apartment. He hauled -ss to his car, his heart pounding. He told himself it was just a note, just a thank you note letting her know he got the tea and not one of the neighbors. 

He smiled at the memory of how she blushed when he touched her despite himself as he turned onto the freeway. He’s never seen a woman react the way that she did to him. It turned her on for sure… but also surprised her. As if she had no clue her body was capable of responding so intensely, her eyes were a mix of wonder, confusion, and enjoyment. It was cute, and sexy as hell at the same time. Her ex must have been a total douchebag if just a touch on her wrist got her so riled up. He would have had to get one of those belts just so she could get a decent night’s sleep if he had had access to that body, because that creamy pale skin was probably the smoothest he’s ever felt and he almost went crazy imagining what the rest of her felt like. And how she would react if he slid his hands… 

He likes how she responds to him. He’s got a dirty mouth and is incapable of letting a good innuendo go to waste. Most women get excited and join in when he lets his filth spew out of him, but she flusters in the cutest way as she chides him, almost as if no one has ever been so bold to talk like that to her. What did her and that -sshat do when they were together? Watch movies? Talk?  

Is that such a bad thing? If he had to admit… he actually enjoys talking to her. Almost as much as watching her clumsily fumble to stay composed around him. And she can be so keen, and yet so innocent. She was the first drag of a cigarette after a hard day’s work. And he hopes by the time he comes back she will feel better, and still want to step out on the balcony with him, tea mugs in hand.

Hope, he scoffed as he parked in Quincey’s parking garage of his condominium. Look where that got ya. 

——

“There you are!” Quincey fumed as he scowled at Tora’s rockstar dinosaur printed crew neck sweatshirt, black skinny jeans and low tops and his messy man bun. The caterers were finishing up with the food and the guests were to arrive soon. Quincey was in plum form fitted slacks and blazer with a subtle dark beige patterned button up. He left his collar unbuttoned but wore a grey and plum ascot and had his hair carefully styled. He wore dark brown bit loafers and belt.

“For f-ck’s sake Quince yer hostin’ a f-ckin’ orgy for your 25th Birthday. No one’s givin’ a sh-t about clothes tonight,” he fumed as he dropped his work duffel down and began setting up. 

“Oooh… someone saw sunshine today,” Quincey grimaced as he poured himself a glass of wine. “How’d that go?”

“I f-cked her that’s how it went.” He gruffed as he checked his watch. He had no intention of saying anything more than that. They were tired of hearing about her anyways. And, for the first time, he was tired of talking about it. 

“Oh?” Quincey asked, feigning interest. He had let go of all hopes a long time ago. “And how was that?” 

“It was just a f-ck. Nothing else to say.” He tossed the now empty bag in the entrance closet and began trying to turn on the scanning devices, but quickly got frustrated and confused. “Where’s Gyu? He’s late.” 

Gyu burst through the door, red faced and out of breath, still in his bus boy uniform. “Sorry Big Bro!” He panted, “Dexter was late again.” He moved to the table and started helping Tora properly set up the devices. 

“How… interesting … Tora,” Quincey pressed as he seated half of himself on the table Gyu and Tora were at. Tora ignored Quincey.

“What’s interesting?” Gyu asked.

“Nothing,” Tora clipped. 

“ That. ” Quincey said victoriously, “ that’s interesting. He f-cked sunshine today and said it was just a f-ck!” 

“Big Bro!” Gyu beamed. 

“I told you there was progress Gyu but you didn’t want to believe me!” 

“Where’s the dividers, Quince.”

“See?!” Quincey practically hollered as he hopped off the table. 

Tora huffed and finished setting up Quincey’s condo. His crew arrived as he was finishing up. 

The front door was sectioned off by printed backdrops serving as partitions so people won’t be able to see into his condo when the front door opens. His balcony entrance had a basic black partition. There was a station for scanning for devices and weapons as soon as they walk in and a station for frisking on each side of the scanners, one for the women and one for the men. There was another station partitioned off in an L shape in the hallway to check in the participants who had been required to RSVP and get their confidentiality and no harm waivers signed. 

“Heli!” Quincey beamed as Pinky and Brian escorted Helix in. They embraced tightly as Quincey peppered her face with kisses. She’s known Tora longer than Gyu and Quincey have and now does contract work for him. 

“You first, hot stuff,” she purred as she playfully frisked him. Quincey shamelessly pressed his bulge in her hand as she grabbed between his legs. She laughed and lightly swatted him.

“By all means do join in when you’re done working,” Quincey teased. She tched and giggled as she let him go and went to the tables to grab something to eat. Helix always makes a statement wherever she goes, and the catering staff flushed as they tried to maintain eye contact with her and not look at her completely bare torso, piercings, necklaces, leather skinnies, heeled combat boots, fingerless  gloves and tattoos. She was tall and a slender type of curvy and her caramel skin was smooth. She had her curly Afro in a ponytail, making it look like there was a giant puffball attached to the back of her head. But make no mistake, Helix was one of Tora’s most effective assets and silent partners.

“Where’s Gyu?” She asked casually as she munched from the plate she made herself. She enjoys f-cking with Gyu, but Tora always had a hunch there was something actually there. 

“He’s hiding in the bathroom,” Quincey snitched. 

“I wasn’t hiding, I was changing, you -sshole,” Gyu defended as he came out in black skinnies, a light beige Bob Marley shirt, unbuttoned chambray and black combat boots. 

“Did no one get the memo?!” Quincey yelled as Helix started in on a blushing Gyu, “you’re all supposed to be in uniform! ” 

Pinky and Brian had on black skinnies too, but theirs were ripped up at the knees. Brian had on a pair of folded down brown jump boots and a Black Lives Matter shirt with his backwards black hat on. Pinky was wearing high tops and a thrift store olive green sweater with large safety pins on one side and a longer brown undershirt. 

“Big Bro just said black pants,” Helix shrugged.

“ You don’t count,” Quincey puffed. 

“Yeah he just said black pants, Young Master Quincey,” Brian echoed. 

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” Quincey huffed as Markum, Beagers and Jenkins also showed up in ripped up black skinnies and casual shirts and sneakers. Jenkins had rolled his brown ponytail and had wound it in a tight bun. Beagers had his hair cut fresh and now it was longer in the front and short in the back, with his locks combed over and covering one of his eyes. Markum kept his gray beanie over his short dirty blonde buzz cut. 

“Tora! They were supposed to be in uniform,” Quincey fussed as soon as Tora came back into the living room for final checks and assignments.

“They’re all wearing black pants, Quince,” Tora shot back, disregarding formalities, “ya got’em workin’ all f-cking night. No one wants ta sit in a hot -ss condo watching people f-ck and have their suits smell like pussy and balls the next day. F-cking drama Queen, we’re Security not participants,” he gruffed as he rolled his eyes and continued fine tuning the security details for the night. 

“Wait we can’t-“ Brian began

“No,” Tora snapped, “all of ya better keep it in yer f-cking pants tonight. Ya wanna get paid ta f-ck join Escort Services. Check in the catering staff once we’re done sorting this sh-t out.”

Markum and Beagers were making sure waivers were signed and only people on the list entered. Jenkins and Gyu were scanning for devices and metallic objects. Helix and Tora were frisking. Pinky and Brian were serving as bouncers in the condominium. The condo will close and lock at a certain time where they will then rotate guarding the outside door and other posts set up around the condo. There will be sweeps for devices every 15 minutes as well as perimeter checks every 10. 

“This is gonna be a long -ss night,” Tora finished, “keep yer earpieces in and if ya need air make sure ya get yer post covered before ya leave. Yer gettin’ double pay after 2.” The crew whooped and hollered from the surprise news. The catering staff were cleared. 

“No one is allowed ta leave once they get checked in,” Tora finished, indicating the wristbands the catering crew now had on. “If they need more food or supplies we’re the runners for it.” 

“Looks like I’m earning my commission tonight,” Helix huffed as she finished off her second plate. 

“Now for those doing the pat downs,” Quincey jumped in, “make it… fun for them, since the ladies will be frisked by Tora and Helix will be frisking the men. But if someone gets handsy, Helix, feel free to kick them out.” 

“After I break their f-cking arms,” she smirked, but was dead serious. 

F-ck . He really wasn’t in the mood to be charming or flirt with women right now, surprisingly. He already got chewed up and spit out like a dried up piece of meat earlier and wasn’t interested in getting groped by some horny -ss entitled socialites. 

“First guests are arriving,” Gyu called out from his post where they had set up surveillance videos. 

“Informal genteel tonight, lady and gentlemen. Since you all look like hooligans at least make sure you don’t sound like one,” Quincey called out as everyone took their places. 

———

“I would be… immensely... obliged to a strip search as your preference,” Tora playfully purred in a giggling, skinny blue haired heiress’ ear who was wearing the shortest mini dress he had ever seen. It had gotten hot quickly and he had shed his Dino shirt and remained in his simple dark gray designer v neck. Although tempted, he refused to take his shirt off like Pinky and Brian had, these women were aggressive as hell and were enjoying Tora’s flirty and pleasurably thorough pat downs a little too much. He had her hands pinned above her as he pressed against her, sliding his hands slowly down her body, snaking them around to search her cleavage and knead her little mounds. She moaned and wiggled her tiny -ss against him. He lowered to a crouch behind her and continued to alternate between teasing her and searching her. By the time he cleared her she was huffing and rocking like all the other women he’s been groping, searching and talking dirty too. 

“Enjoy your evening… and think of me,” he murmured in her ear as he bent his head to smell the perfume on her neck. He gently touched her hips and guided her to stumble over to join her group of friends who have been eye-f-cking him while they waited for their entire group to pass Security. As soon as they disappeared behind the partition and was engulfed in the atmosphere of black lights and music Tora turned and caught his sneeze in the crook of his arm. Most of the guests had arrived and doors will lock soon. Normally this would be one of the best nights and jobs of his life, but he had thought about his altercation with sunshine again and how much it had f-cked him up differently this time and he was now in a terrible mood.

“One of you at the door go get my smokes from my car, door’s unlocked.” He looked over to check on Helix. She definitely was working for her money tonight. Just as Tora has been getting these upper crust women wet as hell, Helix has been making these elitist men hard as f-cking rocks, even the ones who play for the same team. 

Although no one has touched her, they sure as hell made every pass imaginable at her, including one flat out drop-down-to-one-knee proposal. It’s a f-cking miracle Gyu hasn’t kicked anyone’s  -ss from some of the horny sh-t these guys have said to her. But she’s stunningly beautiful, an exotic rarity to them with her piercings and tats, grabbing their dicks and caressing their bodies playfully, flirting while she searches them and has her tits out at an orgy. He would’ve been surprised if no one had made a pass at her. 

“This is the last group coming, party of eight. 50/50,” Jenkins called out in the earpiece. 

“Thank f-ck,” Helix said, stretching, enjoying the first brief break they’ve been able to have since the guests started arriving.

“Report,” Tora called out while they waited for the last group to arrive. 

“No intervention needed on the floor,” Pinky said.

“No uninvited guests have arrived,” Markum replied. 

“Eight cell phones, and 15 disposable cameras believe it or not. All phones have been properly labeled and stored and no weapons,” Gyu reported. 

“I can’t even begin to count how much in contraband,” Helix huffed, “I probably have $2,000 worth of X alone. But no roofies.”

“Same,” Tora added, “Vance is on his way to get rid of this sh-t. I let the green pass.”

“Same here,” Helix chimed in. 

“F-ck, of course the last group is a handful, they’re half pissed already.” Beagers muttered in the earpiece. “One of them said he’s not giving up his cellphone.”

“He doesn’t get in. If you gotta drag his -ss down the steps do it.” 

“Markum isn’t back with your smokes, he’s refusing to sign the waivers now.” 

“Jenkins, go take over for Pinky.” Tora clipped. His patience has officially run out. He fell in step besides a shirtless Pinky as they joined Beagers in the hallway. 

“Get the f-ck outta here,” Tora snapped, startling the group who were still going back and forth with Beagers. “All of ya.” 

“But we signed the forms!” One of the women protested. “Peter is the one causing trouble!” 

“Then take turns beatin’ his -ss in the parking lot,” Tora bit out as he, Pinky and Beagers started backing the group towards the elevator. Gyu moved to guard the door.

“We’re calling Quincey!” Another woman yelled as they got on the elevator, furiously dialing on her phone.

“Go ahead, but ya ain’t gettin’ in there tonight,” he retorted. They stood by the elevator to make sure it started going down to the ground level. 

“Markum, make sure those twats leave before you bring up my smokes. We’re locking the doors.” Tora was already done and the f-cking night just got started. He was glad he brought the tea Poppy made for him.

“Big Bro,” Brian called in the ear piece, “someone clogged the toilet.” 

These trifling sons of b-tches… 

Tora let out the vilest string of cuss words. “No one leaves and no one uses another bathroom until it’s fixed. If they gotta piss in a cup then so be it. No one but Security is allowed in the guest room and no one is allowed in Young Master’s room, not even Young Master.” 

————

“Let’s take a break,” Helix said softly in Tora’s ear. “You’ve been rotating everyone out non stop and you need to sit down.” 

If anyone other than Helix had suggested it, he would have bitten their heads off. But he sighed and relented. 

“Someone come cover us,” Helix said in her earpiece, “Big Bro and I are taking a break.”

“Bout time,” Pinky gruffed, “Beagers and I are on the way.” 

Tora went to the fridge in the kitchen and grabbed his jug of tea. He followed Helix to the guest room, technically his room whenever he stays over at Quincey’s. It had been rearranged and set up with food, a couch and a tv for the crew. He had been rotating them out in 1.5 hr blocks of time so they could power nap or eat. As soon as he closed the door he flopped down on the bed, kicked off his low tops and immediately lit up a cigarette. 

“See?” Helix giggled as she joined him on the bed with a plate of food and started feeding him grapes. 

“This f-cking night just won’t end,” he gruffed as he rubbed his eyes at the nose bridge and exhaled a long stream of smoke. He opened his mouth for Helix to pop a strawberry in it. 

“You are in one sh-tty -ss mood,” Helix replied as she force fed him a piece of celery. 

“I’ve had one sh-tty-ss day. Having you here is the only good part about this night.” 

“Ya wanna talk about it?” Helix asked. She tried to feed him a piece of raw broccoli but he turned his head and spit it out. She tsked but went back to feeding him fruit.

“Dunno if ya wanna hear about it,” he said as he sat up to drink his tea. He offered the jug to Helix. 

“Mmm! This is really good! Where ya get this from?” She said.

“Someone needed ta say sorry,” he smirked despite himself. 

“Kinda cutesy, but I like it,” Helix smiled as she took some more chugs before setting it down.

“She’s a kinda cutesy girl,” he grinned.

“Well, if yer blushing like this then she can’t possibly be the reason yer so pissed off.”

“No… I saw… her … today.” Tora braced. As expected, Helix rolled her eyes, groaned and huffed loudly.

“Still? Bro, when ya gonna let it go?” Helix tched.

“Dunno… but, I think I just might after today. She conned me into getting her boytoy a car. Found out after I f-cked her. Twice. Right on top of the f-cking hood of the car.” Hearing it aloud made him feel more like a dumb-ss than he already felt. 

“That f-cking b-tch . Sorry, it slipped.” Helix smiled, lacking any remorse. Helix and sunshine never got along. Sunshine hated the relationship Tora and Helix have and tried numerous times to make Tora cut ties with Helix. Things got physical between the two women on multiple occasions and Helix beat her -ss every time, which only made sh-t worse for him. 

“S’fine. I dunno, I guess I’m having one of those moments in life where ya realize this is the best sh-t’s gonna get for ya.” He admitted.

“Oh, Tora,” Helix sighed, “ ‘ we accept the love we think we deserve.’” 

“Who’s that?”

“Steven Chobsky… Perks of Being a Wallflower. ”

“Mmph,” Tora grunted.

“Huh uh,” Helix chided, “over analyze that sh-t later, you need to turn your brain off.” She shifted so she was sitting and leaning back against the headboard, propping herself up with his oversized pillows. She guided Tora to lay back between her legs, his head between her breasts and started playing in his hair, massaging his temples. He felt his body relax and his mind quiet despite his best efforts to stay in overdrive. She continued to feed him as she twined and twirled his locks between her fingers and traced doodles in his scalp. His eyelids started getting heavy. He pinched the cherry off his cigarette and stuck it behind his ear.

“I’m charging you extra for this,” she teased as she held a drumstick to his mouth. 

“Name yer price,” he joked back with his mouth full of food. He reached and slid his hands behind her back, rubbing her lower back with his thumbs. He sighed deeply as she bent to rest her cheek on the top of his head and wrapped her arms around him. 

“Was it enough?” Tora asked, his eyes were closing. 

“More than,” Helix said, “we even got the road repaved and finally have a reserve started. Thank you.”

“Mmph. Wouldn’t have been possible without ya,” he replied.

Toby was a contract. He was getting ready to nark and skip town in witness protection. And although Vincent jumped the timeline and went off script like the -ss he was, Helix adapted and had said just enough in Toby’s ear to convince him to drive the car at 40 mph. The sooner Tora can get it done the higher the price on top of his retainer fee. Vincent walked away with Lightbridge Airstrip and Tora walked off with a cool 20 million. A small price to pay for Master Cain and his clan to stay out of prison. 

Tora’s specialty is accidents and random acts, which usually takes time to set up. But Master Cain needed it done quickly and was more than willing to play his part. It was a calculated risk, Toby could’ve taken him out or actually broke something, so the whole plan had hinged on Helix. She was compensated handsomely for her role, and Tora only kept his retainer fee. The rest he entrusted to Helix and Bubba to mark the money and distribute around the district. 

Ares St is it’s own city now, complete with its own residential areas and small businesses. Master Balthuman had raised the fee for the businesses in his district and many of them struggled to adjust. Everyone who lives in Balthuman District works for the Balthuman clan in some capacity or for Ares St. Those who work in the Balthuman businesses get paid sh-t and struggle to get by. The neighborhoods suffer because of it, and since the small businesses in the district had to raise their prices to adjust to the new fee, the businesses suffered as well. 

So the 13 million Tora was able to reintroduce back into the district went towards helping the businesses so they could keep their prices down, repaving a road and the sidewalks where the businesses were localized, and turning the abandoned space the kids play in into an actual park. There were some people who will never leave Ares St. or their district, so it was crucial the residents had access to the basic necessities for survival. 

The only stipulations Tora places on the money is for it to stay circulating in his clan’s turf and for people to keep quiet about who infuses the cash flow into the Balthuman District. It lasts longer that way, minimizes the risk of the Ares St economy collapsing and Vincent making his life hell for investing more into the community than he does. The vast majority of people have remained compliant, and it was nice to finally start seeing it pay off. The Ares St. kids had been hounding him non stop about a park, and they’ve always had to put it on the back burner.

But is it worth a man’s life? One for the many? Tora wasn’t sure, especially since he was the one with the blood on his hands. 

“You should stop by the park sometime,” Helix said, “they put some ramps in it.” 

“Show those little sh-ts how ta skate, huh?” he joked. He probably won’t, the farther he stays away from the money the better. 

“Ha! It’s been so long you’d probably fall and bust yer -ss as soon as ya stood on it.” 

Tora laughed as he closed his eyes for a power nap.

——-

“Markum. Beagers. Get Helix home now, you two can take off after.” Tora said quietly in the earpiece. He was keeping guard outside of the condominium. The sun was going to come up and he didn’t want to draw too much attention to Helix since she was in the civilian world. A soft knock sounded behind the door. 

“It’s us,” Helix called. Tora had already given them their pay for the night. They slipped out into the hall, with Beagers draping his zip up across Helix’s shoulders. They took off for the steps, with Helix between Markum and Beagers. 

The elevator opened for the breakfast supply delivery just as the three closed the door to the steps behind them. After a thorough inspection of the food the catering crew began quietly preparing breakfast. It was time to rotate and do scans and checks. 

Tora and his crew carefully and silently navigated through the sea of sleeping, tangled up naked bodies to do their jobs. Pinky, now fully clothed again, pointed out to Tora where Quincey was sleeping as Tora took over the post in front of Quincey’s bedroom door. Tora hadn’t lied, it had been a long -ss night monitoring people while they f-cked like there was no tomorrow. His men had bloodshot eyes, bags and dark circles. He checked his watch, only a few more hours to go. They had to kick a few people out, butt -ss naked, throwing their property out the door at them because of a fight but that was the only issue they had. No hidden footage, no leaked videos or pictures, nothing stolen or broken and only one clogged toilet which Tora had fixed. All in all the night was a success. 

The smell of bacon began stirring people awake. It was interesting to watch the aftermath of the night unfolding. How people were shy, embarrassed and shocked at themselves from their previous night of debauchery and experimenting. Tora didn’t understand the shame civilians have for just about everything. But maybe that’s the appeal civilians see with the underground, the freedom to not be bound by things such as propriety and decency. 

But the underground has its own code and its own way of life. And as much as it disgusts the civilians it draws them in as well. As if people made this big of a deal about an orgy in the underground, with all these waivers and no cameras sh-t. There were places in Ares St that made an entire business out of orgies and turned it into a whole different experience. 

He found himself thinking about Poppy. Again. She’s different from any civilian he’s ever met. She’s just so… comfortable around him. So natural. And yet so ballsy in how she speaks to him. Some of the things she says about him are so accurate it’s like Helix or Quincey or Gyu said it. 

‘You’re hurt.’

‘I think you know more than what you let on.’  

How she was able to read him like an open book he had no clue. Is it because she’s that d-mn perceptive, or because he is incapable of hiding anything from her. Or both? 

His phone vibrated. 

S: Sorry you had to hear that. I’m going to make it up to you next month. 😉

Tora gaped at his phone. He’s gonna drop by the Doctor’s to make sure she didn’t give him any infections. Normally his heart would be soaring at the promise she just made him since he had been working and waiting so long for this from her, but now?

T: Already told ya. Can’t next month.

S: Okay, Toto. It was funny the first time.

T: I never laughed when I said it. Yer gonna have to figure it out, I’m not giving you anymore until I can get to ya. 

S: And when will that be?

T: Dunno. 

His phone rang. He rejected the call.

T: Working. 

S: What the hell’s gotten into you?! 

T: I’ll be in touch when I can meet up. Gotta go. 

He turned his phone off before he saw any more messages from her. When she had kissed him, he had already started refactoring how he could see her again next month. But when she stomped on what little male pride he had so boldly with that conversation to her boyfriend in front of him as if he was the family dog, he scratched whatever plan he was hatching. He wasn’t going to risk his neck for someone who didn’t see him as anything other than a f-cking joke, some toy she can keep playing with. 

Poppy was right. It wasn’t a relationship, it wasn’t anything but him honoring his word and it was time he started seeing it as just that. He thought he would be more torn up about it, but the taste of Poppy’s tea was still in his mouth. He almost laughed out loud. He’s had more fulfillment with the few interactions with Poppy than all the years of chasing after sunshine. And he wanted more of her, as if he had a right to that but he didn’t give a sh-t about that anymore. And if he was going to clear his schedule for anyone’s company, it would be for Poppy. At least he’d feel like a man afterwards, pink mug and all. 

-End