Mark paced the room, mulling over ways of possible escape.

    They cared about him, he noticed. Well—sort of. They made sure he ate two meals a day, got some light from the windows... Other than that, they locked him in this godforsaken room, which constantly remained in a state of darkness.

    He glanced around the room, the ebbs of sunlight giving him a bit of light to see. He rummaged through the drawers, the closet, under the bed—nothing.

    Mark eyed the covers of the bed, which had been barely touched since his first day in captivity. That was four days ago, and fatigue threatened over him like a vampiric vice.

    He shook his head, eyes lingering on the bed frame—black steel, rickety yet old. If he could just break a piece off... use it as a weapon... Mark mulled over the idea, running a hand through his hair.

    He grimaced, dirty after the long days of no showering and constant stress.

    "I bet they don't even shower," snapped Mark, turning away from the bed and running his hands over his face. "Fucking—ability-ass whores—"

    He clenched a fist and swung it at the window with a frustrated yell, pain throbbing up his arm. The glass didn't even waver, intact from his blow. Mark cursed and held his hand, fury flaring in his veins.

    "I'm so weak," he hissed at himself, reeling back and punching the window with full force. It surged back at him, and he fell back with a shout, pain thrilling in his veins. Only proving his point.

    Mark rolled onto his hands and knees, bowing his head. "No wonder," he grimaced, "why Evolveds hate us."

    He spat at the ground, almost surprised to see blood on the floor.

    "I hate us, too," he spat, cursing that he didn't have his own set of abilities. His eyes burned, and he grimaced, trying to keep the tears back.

    Crying in the Tear Stealer's home? thought Mark. Not the best idea.

    He glanced over the bed, fatigue bearing down on his frame, and he clenched his jaw.

    "I'm not sleeping," he hissed, wearily making his way to his feet. "Not until I get the fuck out of here!"

    He kicked the bed frame over, and it toppled over with a dull crash, bringing the mattress down with it. One of the drawers fell over with a thud, hopefully marking a dent in the wall. He huffed, hoping he caused enough ruckus to bring Equinox over, panting as he stared at the mess he made. Suddenly, a wave of emotion crashed through him, and a tear rolled down his face.

    Mark gave a sad chuckle, unsure how to feel, his body twitching with tired anger. He cursed and hit the fallen bed frame, sinking to his knees and tugging at his hair.

    "Pathetic," he spat, bowing his head and resting it against the bed frame. "I'm so pathetic."

    He drew into himself, trying to hold back the wet dripping down his face. His limbs ached from constant stress, his mind whirring from the lack of sleep. His eyelids drooped, fatigue bearing down on him, and he clutched his shirt weakly.

    The door opened, and he jumped, gazing into the candle-lit hallway with wide, wet eyes.

    Your chance—

    The Tear Stealer emerged from the door, robes swaying as he gazed around the ruined room. Mark froze in his place.

    "Shit—"

    Dark glanced down at him, brows raising in the slightest at the sight. Mark hastily wiped his tears away with his knuckles, smearing blood on his face. He stumbled onto his feet, head swaying from his recent outburst.

    "I-I—" I can explain, is what he tried to stay.

Mark thickly swallowed, cursing as another tear rolled down his face. Dark took two large strides and stood in front of Mark, gently holding the side of his face as he pressed a cold, glass vial up to his eye. Mark shuddered at the contact, wincing and trying to pull back. Only one teardrop made its way into the vial.

    "W-what are you doing—"

    The Tear Stealer lingered for a moment, gazing into Mark's eyes, and stowed the vial away. They both froze like a deer in headlights as their eyes met, red and brown clashing against one another. Mark swayed in place, tempted to lean closer.

    With a sigh, Dark pulled his hand away and composed himself, looking around the room. He looked back at Mark, glancing at his bloodied knuckles and frowning. Carefully, he raised his hand, examining the wounded flesh and glancing over at the window—a small smear of blood tainted its surface, and he sighed.

    "Come," he said, voice solemn and low. "You've blood all over your face."

    Mark swallowed, and Dark held his hand, leading him out of the room. A surge of hope rose to his throat at the sight of the hallways—freedom—but as the Tear Stealer held onto his hand, the idea of escaping pushed further back in his head, and suddenly, he... didn't want to leave.

    They continued on through the halls, the Tear Stealers robes lightly waving as they walked and Mark weakly following behind him, their hands still intertwined. His eyelids drooped a few times, but he continued to remind himself where he was, what was happening, and that an Evolved was in his presence.

    They turned into another hallway—shorter this time—with only four doors. The Tear Stealer opened the first one on the right, and brilliance gleamed through the room. Ornate tiles lined the floor, and elegant wallpaper lined the walls. In the center, built into the floor, was a white marble bathtub. The room sang of a different era.

    A bathhouse.

    Mark blinked, jumping when the door clicked to a shut behind them. The Tear Stealer let go of Mark's hand and advanced into the room, undoing the clasp at his neck and pulling down his black shawl.

    Mark swallowed as Dark draped the textile over a chair by the tub, surprised to see him without his signature black robes. Dark knelt down and turned on two spigots, and hot water rushed out of the golden metal and into the large tub. The Tear Stealer glanced over his shoulder, beckoning Mark over, who tentatively obeyed.

    "Strip," he ordered, staring evenly at the human. Mark's eyes widened as a heat flared in his cheeks, his body tensing.

    "I—what?"

    The Tear Stealer unbuttoned his jacket, raising a brow at Mark.

    "You're filthy," he stated a-matter-of-factly, red eyes gleaming. "I'm going to give you a bath."

    Mark swallowed at that, the heat growing redder at his words. He cleared his throat, shifting on his feet. "Um... could you—possibly—" He glanced at the floor. "—turn around...?"

    Realization dawned over Dark's face, and he nodded, turning around as he worried at the buttons of his jacket. Mark swallowed, eyeing the Tear Stealer for a moment, and quickly removed his clothes, dropping them in a pile on the floor. He wrapped his arms around himself, self-conscious, and hastily stepped into the already-half-filled tub, wincing at the heat.

   There's no way this is happening, he thought.

    The Tear Stealer slipped off his jacket and set it over his robes, perking up at the sound. "Is it too hot?" he asked, rolling up the sleeves of his black button-up. Mark leaned against a corner of the tub, taking as little space as possible as if he were a wounded animal.

    "I—a little," he said.

    The Tear Stealer kept his eyes downcast—respecting Mark's privacy—and turned around, leaning over to adjust the spigots. Mark swallowed at the sight of the other, never seeing so much skin from the Evolved before. The sight of him right now—so relaxed, so... normal—made him seem almost human. His muscles lightly rippled beneath his silk shirt, arms strong and legs graceful, his features calm and focused. Mark turned his gaze away, keeping himself covered as the water was still clear.

    Dark leaned back up, keeping his eyes away from Mark, and headed off to the far corner of the spacious room, reaching a glass cabinet and gazing into its contents. Mark watched as he mulled over his options, opening the cabinet and picking three bottles and a small box, stowing them under his arm. The Tear Stealer returned to the large tub with a small smile.

    "Lavender," he said simply. "I think that fits you."

    Mark rose a brow at that, not knowing whether to be offended or flattered, but his naked state kept him from throwing any comebacks. He watched as Dark sat down on the tiles above the bath, rolling up his pant legs to his knees and sinking his legs into the water. Mark's heart beat in his throat at that, and he kept himself covered, leaning away from the spigot as Dark reached over to turn it off.

    Dark set the bottles down, grabbing the small box and opening it to reveal a bath bomb. Mark rose a brow at it, meeting the Tear Stealer's amiable gaze.

    "To cover yourself," he said, throwing the bath bomb into the comfortable water. It fizzed with color and thick bubbles. "And for fun."

    Fun, thought Mark tiredly. Never thought Evolveds experienced that.

    Dark used the box to scoop up some water, spreading his legs and beckoning Mark over. He hesitated, a little more comfortable now he was covered with bubbles, and rose a brow in questioning.

    "Let me wash your hair," said the Tear Stealer, motioning at the space between his legs. Mark's face flared with heat, and he swallowed.

    You've gotta be kidding me.

    He hesitantly waded through the water, stomach coiling with butterflies as he pressed his back against the tub, Dark's bare legs shielding him from both sides. His heart pounded in his throat, mind whirring, his breath stuttering when Dark gently ran a hand through Mark's hair.

    "Close your eyes," said Dark, pouring the water over Mark's head and running his claiming fingers through his hair. Mark subconsciously tilted his head back, shoulders relaxing.

    The Tear Stealer grabbed the bottle of shampoo and pressed some onto his fingers, bringing it to a lather and massaging Mark's head, washing his locks. Mark shuddered at the touch, leaning into it. Dark scooped another pale of water, pouring it over Mark's head until the suds washed away.

    Mark's eyes fluttered open, blinking away droplets from his lashes. He swallowed and glanced over his shoulder, heart skipping a beat as he realized just how close they were. Dark's red eyes gleamed down at him, his torso close to Mark's face.

    "Why are you doing this?" asked Mark softly, watching Dark squeeze some conditioner onto his hand. The Tear Stealer's jaw twitched at the question, and Mark flexed his hands under the water, anxious for his answer.

    "You've been here for days," said Dark poorly, touching the side of Mark's head. He turned his head to look straight forward again, inwardly frowning at the response. "And you need new clothes."

    Mark hummed, stomach tingling when Dark massaged the conditioner into his locks. He shakily breathed out, bringing a knee up to his chest and gripping it with weak fingers.

    "Are you going to kill me?" asked Mark, trying to separate himself from the delectable sensations. He swallowed, involuntary arching his back in the slightest when Dark's fingers pressed against the nape of his neck.

    "No," answered the Tear Stealer, eyes glinting as he examined Mark's reactions. He ran a hand down Mark's neck, lightly massaging his tense muscles. Mark tilted his head back, lightly biting his lip. "But I'm not letting you leave."

    Dark pulled his hands away, and Mark opened his eyes, humming in his throat. He gazed ahead at the door they entered through, mind blank.

    "I figured," said Mark softly. "I guess I have to accept it, won't I?" He swallowed. "I'll miss home, and my friends, and..."

    And killing, he almost said, quickly stopping himself.

    "And?"

    Mark swallowed, turning around and facing Dark, looking up at him.

    "I have no use to you," said Mark quietly, throat tight. "I'm just a human." His brows furrowed. "What's the point of keeping me alive?"

    The Tear Stealer stared down at him and swallowed, jaw twitching. The future flashed for a glimpse before his eyes at the sight of Mark's face.

    Cibil's visions, thought Dark, but there was no way he could explain something like that—especially to a human. Instead, he found himself leaning down, hands sliding up the sides of Mark's jaw for an answer. Mark shuddered, his breaths stuttering, their gazes locked onto one another. Electricity sparked between them, and Mark leaned in, too, his stomach coiling with butterflies.

    "I—I don't even know your name," he whispered, shuddering as Dark caressed his cheek with his thumb. Dark tilted his head, and Mark's breath hitched as their lips brushed.

    "It's Dark," he breathed, breath hot over Mark's face. "Dark Edwards."

    Mark swallowed and glanced down at Dark's lips, breaths shuddering and shallow, and Dark closed the distance between them, hands claiming and large on Mark's face. Mark's breath hitched, body reacting in a way that shocked him, hands reaching up to hesitantly rest on Dark's.

    Dark licked at his bottom lip, and Mark opened his mouth eagerly, brows furrowing at how pliant his body reacted. Something about the Tear Stealer made him so relaxed—eager for what was to come; unafraid of what was to come.

    Mark softly moaned into Dark's mouth, heart racing and arousal flaring through his body. Dark licked into Mark's mouth with fierce eagerness, and—had Mark not been on his knees—they would have buckled. Dark ran his hand up into Mark's conditioned locks, faintly tugging, earning a groan.

   Mark leaned forward, his body eager for more, but Dark pulled away, the both of them panting and stunned. Mark's eyes fluttered open, his mind surprised despite the fog of lust shrouding his thoughts. They stared at each other for what seemed like hours, pleased shock in their eyes. Dark was the first to pull out of his trance.

     "Let's finish cleaning you up," he said softly, still dazed and in disbelief from what he'd just done. Mark blinked and nodded, swallowing thickly.

     "I can—wash my body myself," he said quietly, face red. Dark nodded, handing him the bottle of body wash.

     "I'll get you a towel and a fresh set of clothes," said the Tear Stealer, lifting his feet from the water and heading over to a second glass cabinet. Mark lingered, still in a dream-like state, his fingers hovering over his lips.

     I just kissed the Tear Stealer, he thought, unable to think straight.

Heh, because he's not 😏😂

Thank you for reading!

Have a great day!
Kassian