milliways_bar | (no subject)

He sits, keeping his eyes on the knife.

"Look, I don't know who you think I am, but I'm not him. I've never seen you before."

Simon smiles. It's not a particularly nice smile.

"I'm going to put the knife away, Alex. But you make a move, say a single thing I don't like, and it's in you, you understand me?"

He sheathes the knife, pulling his jacket over the hilt to hide it, and grins at Alex.

"Now. We're going to talk, and you're not going to lie to me, are you, Alex?"

He licks his lips nervously, eyeing the other man.

"I don't make a habit of lying to people..."

"Good. Because I don't like it when people lie to me."

He smiles. "You look nervous, Alex. Don't be nervous, we're all friends here, right? You help me out, and I won't bury my knife in your gut. Sound like a good idea?"

"I told you, I don't know you. I don't know what you want me to do."

He shakes his head.

"Alex, Alex, I told you I don't like people lying to me, Alex."

Fuck.

He tenses, eyeing Simon.

"I'm not lying to you."

Nick! I kind of really need you right now...

Nick blinks. Something was...

He looks over to where he can feel Alex...and he sees him nearly shaking, staring at.

Oh god. No...

And he's there, in a shot, between Simon and Alex.

"Is there a problem here?"

His eyes are red.

Simon blinks, and stares at the newcomer. And laughs.

"Oh, you've got to be fucking joking."

He shrugs.

"Not particularly. I was curious since Alex was very upset. So I came over. You're not bothering him, are you?"

It's a calm, happy smile that greets Simon. With red glowing eyes.

"I'd hate to think you were bothering him."

His tone indicates that really anyone would hate to think they were bothering Alex. Because that's a bad thing. A very Bad Thing.

"'Course not. I'm not bothering you, am I, Alex? We're just having a nice, friendly chat. Aren't we?"

"Um. Um, yeah... it's fine. Sorry, Nick. I just freaked for a moment, because, uh, well, the things that've been happening lately, with the past versions of you, I thought maybe..."

He shakes his head, eyes still on Simon.

"It's fine. I overreacted. I'm, uh, I'm kind of tired, though, do you mind if we go upstairs now?"

Nick doesn't turn around.

"This is no version of me. Certainly not with that haircut, Alex. Honestly. I'm hurt."

He laughs...and it's a dark sound. The very vibration of it is wrong to the ears and it flows like an oil slick across the senses, dark and dirty.

Red eyes flick to Simon.

"You're lying. And I can tell. Now, Alex. Alex, I love. I'll forgive his lie because he means well enough. He doesn't want me in trouble. You on the other hand, sir, are nothing but a sack of flesh that happens to share my face. And you won't share it much longer if you ever threaten him again. Do you understand?"

He shrugs, leaning back in his seat.

"Yeah. Yeah, whatever. I've got no beef with him. Go ahead, take him upstairs. Have fun."

A hand shoots out, grabbing Simon by the side of the neck, one thumb jamming his chin up with enough force that the back of his head makes a loud crack as it collides with the seat.

"I don't like you. And I don't like your lies. And I don't like how you refer to Alex, as if he were some sort of whore for my pleasures."

He smiles. It is definitely not a nice smile. It's so very not nice that it doesn't even have fangs. This smile promises to rip your throat out without the help of longer canines. Dull teeth.

It'd hurt more.

"I don't want to meet you again, sir. In fact, I'm tempted to end your life right now just to save myself that trouble. However, I'm aware of the rules in this place and Death would be quite cross with me. I'd like to avoid that. But please, sir, I'd appreciate if you stayed away from Alex."

A sunny grin as he presses a nail into the soft spot under Simon's jaw, drawing blood. He jerks his thumb, carefully so as not to tear the wound any...just enough to hurt.

"Is that understood?"

"Nick..."

His voice is quiet.

"Nick, please, don't."

Simon holds up a hand, chuckling slightly.

"Easy, boy, I can fight my own battles."

His eyes turn to Nick.

"I don't intend hurting your friend, if that's what you're worried about. Never did, really."

True enough. Simon doesn't bother hurting people who are useful.

"But sure, I'll keep away."

For now.

"I don't believe you."

And he lets go, pulling the thumb to his lips a moment later, licking it clean with a satisfied, half-lidded smile.

"But I won't hurt you if Alex doesn't want me to. But, perhaps you should go ask the bar over there for a room key and be, how should I put it, 'strangely absent' for a while? I think I'd like that."

He stands up, tugging his jacket into place.

"Real nice to meet you two."

And he's gone. Not without a muttered, "fucking psychopath."

He smiles...and the red eyes change to blue. A too-bright blue, a glowing blue...but it's blue.

Then he turns to Alex.

"Are you all right, Alex? I'm sorry about that, I just . . . I thought he might hurt you if I didn't make it clear."

"I'm okay. Just... freaked me out, a little. I think he thought I was someone else."

He nods.

"Probably. Are you all right, Alex? I didn't mean to . . . scare you."

"Yeah. I'm okay. I just... can we go upstairs, Nick? Please?"

*Thom, having just come down the stairs, sees nothing about barging in on this conversation.* Hello, Alex.

Alex looks up, startled.

"Thom. Hey."