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Penelope had always warned her about the dangers of being a journalist.
Granted, it was far from the safest line of work Yuna could have taken. Being a journalist meant dealing in information, and information was valuable. Especially so when a false tip or a missing clue could lead to one’s death via a conniving scoundrel or a vision orb. Her best friend had always cautioned about prices too steep, risks too dangerous. And for the most part, Yuna had always thought she was a good listener, that she knew how to calculate the odds and keep herself safe.
Evidently, she thought with a wince, she wasn’t as good at listening as she had thought.
She took stock of the situation. Three armed men circled her, large smirks stretching across their faces. Her back was against a crumbling, dirty wall, and the daggers in her hands felt far smaller compared to the sabers pointed at her.
How cliché that she would meet her end like this- chasing a dark mystery and running into a literal dead end, her life at the mercy of thugs in a back-alley.
One of them sneered at her. “Nowhere left to go now.”
Yuna flashed what she hoped was a dazzling smile. “S’il-vous plaît, could I persuade you gentlemen to back off? Zis is hardly any way to treat a lady.”
The men around her didn’t even flinch.
“Ah, well,” Yuna murmured. “It was worth a shot.”
Penelope had also said that in situations like this, surprise was her greatest weapon.
Yuna attacked. Her first dagger flew towards the man closest to her, knocking the saber out of his hand. Her next dagger sliced another’s cheek, sending a yowl of pain echoing through the alley. But before Yuna could take advantage of the chaos and run, large hands fastened around her arm, and she was slammed unceremoniously against the wall.
She cried out in pain, crumpling against the bricks. Her attacker leered at her, saber raised for the killing blow-
Then a shot rang out, splitting the air with an otherworldly scream. The man in front of her let out a cry of pain, a flash of red piercing through his body as if it was nothing. Blood spurted from the wound in his chest, and then he collapsed onto the floor, unmoving.
“What the hell-” Another man turned- just in time to meet a screeching burst of red in the face. He couldn’t even scream before his body thudded unceremoniously to the floor.
The last tried to run, but with another wail, a third shot found its mark. With a soundless cry, he crumpled a few feet away from Yuna. None of them got back up.
Yuna pulled herself up and turned to the source of the bullets. Her savior was cloaked in shadow, the silhouette of a man cutting through the diffused moonlight. The only feature she could make out was the glowing red weapons in his hands. His boots clicked on the bloody pavement as he approached her, deliberate and steady.
“Yo, you Yuna Azetta?”
Yuna steadied herself, pushing herself off the wall. She picked up her daggers and turned to face the stranger. “Zat depends on who’s asking.”
A low chuckle rang through the alley. The man stepped out of the shadows, stopping a few feet away from her. A menacing black cloak swirling around his relaxed stance, his hair unkempt and the sharp angles of his face heightened by the moonlight. Bright violet eyes watched her, before his lips pulled into a lopsided smirk.
“Name’s Vicious. Heard you were lookin’ for the Nation of Sin.”
Vicious. A strange name for a strange man. He looked just a few years older than her, but he carried himself with a self-assured confidence that most people would never have. His violet eyes crinkled with mirth, hardly put off by the death he’d just delivered. But more than strange was the red mark branded across his muscled torso, twisting and unmistakable. Curiosity was replaced by dread as Yuna realized who she’d come face to face with.
“You- you’re ze Great Transgressor.”
Violet eyes flickered, before the man’s grin widened. “What gave it away? The Stain of Guilt or the dashing good looks?”
Yuna bristled. Jutting her chin, she met his stare. “Ze overblown ego.”
Vicious stared at her. Yuna held his gaze. Despite his reputation- and her own common sense- something in her refused to be cowed by the Great Transgressor. To her surprise, instead of shooting her dead, the man laughed.
“I like you,” he said with a sharp grin. “Most people wouldn’t have the guts to say that ta me. Especially if I just saved their life.”
She spared him a wan smile and shrug. “I presume ze Great Transgressor did not go out of his way to rescue me out of courtesy. And I’d assume you wouldn’t be ze least bit squeamish to take zat courtesy away.”
Violet eyes studied her carefully. “Are all journalists this brazen, or is it just you? And what’s with that funky accent?”
Fluttering her eyelashes, Yuna smiled. As if she wasn’t staring death in the face and flirting with the Great Transgressor himself. With no small amount of irony, she said, “I am a rose among ze thorns.”
Vicious shot her a skeptical frown. Then he shook his head. “Doesn’t matter. Do ya have info on the Nation of Sin or not?”
Yuna paused. Common sense would have said she shouldn’t push with someone so dangerous, but her journalist’s instinct said that there was something else at play here.
Just like how it had told her that she was in something big, pursuing the Nation of Sin, and judging by the three dead men around her, it wasn’t as if Yuna ever shirked from a challenge.
She drew herself up, folding her arms. “Say I do- what’s in it for me?”
Vicious kicked the body closest to him. “Ya went after these mooks cuz you were huntin’ fer the Nation of Sin, same as I was. Except, well.” He shrugged, spinning the guns in his hands. ”I ain’t no delicate rose.”
“And you are… qu'est-que ç'est? Offering a partnership?”
The Great Transgressor arched an eyebrow, dismissing his guns into thin air. “I did just save yer life. Plus, it helps us both, yeah? Figure it probably ain’t a good look for anyone to go digging into the Nation of Sin, journalist or no.” He eyed her critically. “Yer lookin’ fer someone, ain’t ya?”
Yuna pursed her lips. “Zat is not up for sharing.”
“So, what? Parent? Sibling? Lover? Someone to carry that beautiful rose on their arm?”
Yuna scowled, and the Great Transgressor shrugged. “Not like it matters to me,” he said. “I just figured with yer brain and my brawn, we could actually crack this puzzle. Instead of wanderin’ around in circles and fightin’ these morons.”
Yuna glanced down at the three dead men around her and bit back a disappointed sigh. Tonight had started with such a promising lead, except of course it turned out to be a dud. And to top it all off, she had almost ended up getting killed for all her trouble.
Maybe Vicious was on to something, after all.
She turned to the Great Transgressor. “What promise do I have that you won’t turn around and kill me?”
Raucous laughter, flashing violet eyes. Vicious grinned at her, all teeth and danger, the devil in his smile. “I ain’t promisin’ shit. I’m the Great Transgressor, sweetheart. I want ya to die, you’ll die. Too much of a deal-breaker fer ya?”
Penelope would have said it was. Told her to walk away, find her information elsewhere. But there was something enigmatic in that gaze, that smile. And despite the dread, curiosity buzzed all too loudly in Yuna’s mind.
After all, who better to find the Nation of Sin than the greatest sinner of all?
“I’ll need some time to find a new lead,” Yuna said at last. “Meet at ze inn tomorrow night. We can talk more then.”
Vicious studied her, before he nodded. “Sounds good ta me. Wanna shake on it?”
He stuck out a dark-gloved hand. This close, Yuna could smell the mana from his guns on his skin, the scent of death and blood lingering around him like perfume.
She took his hand, gripped it tight. But unlike what she expected from the man, his hand was steady and warm, even through the leather. He held her hand carefully, his fingers closing gently over her own.
And briefly, almost imperceptibly, the Great Transgressor’s eyes widened before something pulled at his smile.
Yuna breathed. Curious.
“Pleasure workin’ with ya, Yuna.”
“Likewise, I’m sure,” Yuna answered.
Vicious’s chuckle was mirthless as he pulled away. The Great Transgressor stepped back into the shadows from which he came without another word, flashing Yuna a salute as he backed down the alley.
The last sight Yuna had of him was his violet eyes, trained on her like unflinchingly. Yuna held his stare until at last, he disappeared into the dark.
All at once, the adrenaline drained from her and she sagged against the wall. Shoving her daggers back into her sleeves, Yuna took a glance around at the artful carnage around her. Three bodies, scattered in a back alley, their deaths barely marked by a single wound. Killed by the man they called the Great Transgressor, who looked far more human than she’d ever believed.
The man who saved her life, whose hands had warmed her own.
Yuna shook her head. Penelope always warned her about the dangers of her job. She wondered what her best friend would say about making a deal with the devil.
Wondered, too, exactly what that price would be.
Vicious was gone for now, and all Yuna was left with were the rumors of his deeds, the whispers of his reputation. She rubbed her temples, following the path back into the shadows.
“Ah, mon cher, let’s see where this road leads us, non?”
As it turned out, Penelope would have probably had a lot of things to say about Yuna’s life choices. Chief among them would have been becoming a transgressor for speaking out in her defense, but Yuna supposed she’d have to wait until they changed the world for Penelope to tell her that.
In the meantime, she could just imagine her best friend rubbing her temples as she admonished Yuna for putting herself in dubious and potentially dangerous situations, once again.
To be fair, though, unlike the numerous clandestine meetings or back alley dealings Yuna had been privy to, tonight’s affair was just a ball.
A couple’s ball, in fact.
The only danger? Yuna was going to attend it alone.
Certainly not from lack of trying. But she wasn’t going to give Orwin free reign of being her ‘partner’, even for one night, and Aegis had flustered like a schoolboy before freezing up utterly at the notion. As for Vicious… well, odd as it was, he was her first choice- if he hadn’t been so predictably peeved at the idea and threatened to damage all the rental suits she’d found.
Yuna took in a deep breath as she waited in line, trying not to let her irritation show. Sometimes, she didn’t know why she even bothered. For all his reputation, Vicious was surprisingly easy to understand. He liked his booze, he liked causing mayhem and chaos, and he didn’t even flinch when he killed someone. He was certainly dangerous and deadly, every bit the Great Transgressor of the stories.
But sometimes, something flickered in his usually unwavering gaze, where he’d smile or say something that felt almost as human as the hand that shook hers the day they met. Small things that slipped through Vicious’s unbothered façade, flinches and swift evasions. Unintentional clues given to a bigger puzzle, little hints that made Yuna wonder what was really going on in the Great Transgressor’s head. That made her think he was possibly a good choice to come to a ball with her.
But well, that was then and this was now. Yuna smoothed her rental dress one more time as the line winded its way towards the manor gates. Dressed in a bright orange cocktail dress with her hair done up in a fancy bun, her appearance tonight was a far cry from anything resembling a threat. If she leaned into it, she could pass off as a naïve village girl, or a vapid airhead, depending on the situation.
The line wasn’t particularly a long one, but with the ball being open to the public, she was certainly surrounded by a fair number of couples, all leading up to the two guardsmen at the gate. For their part, the two men looked all too weary and disinterested at their job.
All the better. Without a significant other, Yuna would have to either lie her way through, or sneak in when the guards were distracted by the couples around her. While it would have been a piece of cake if she had someone with her, it wasn’t as if she hadn’t been in more precarious situations before.
And well, the information she’d garner from this party would make it all worth it.
So Yuna smiled, made small talk with the people around her. Tried not to give away any semblance of tension as she made it closer to the gate. And when the couple in front of her were distracting the guards, Yuna surreptitiously skirted along the side of the gate-
“Miss, could you please stop for a moment?”
Foiled. Yuna plastered on her brightest smile as she turned to face the guard. She would have to play up her charms to allay the man’s suspicion and maybe get herself in.
“Mais bien sûr .” She pouted sweetly. “Is there anything I can help with, monsieur?”
The guardsman gave her a weary once over. “Miss, this is a couple’s ball. Where’s your partner?”
“Ah, mon cher is already inside, I fear!” Yuna fluttered her lashes, clasped her hands in front of her. The perfect picture of a foolish wretch. “He is always so punctual and hasty, and I could not find him when I arrived. We had planned to spend the night dancing, and making such wonderful memories, but alas, I cannot find him now.”
Unfortunately, the man didn’t seem to show her sob story the slightest bit of pity. With a heavy sigh, he began, “Miss-”
“Unless… a strong, handsome man like yourself could accompany moi ?” Yuna leaned closer to the guardsman. It was a charm offensive that usually worked against an underpaid, exhausted man, but tonight…
“Sorry miss.” The man was completely undeterred by her performance. “But if you don’t have a partner, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
Yuna wracked her brain. Information didn’t usually come served on a silver platter like this, especially so as a transgressor, and information had proven time and time again to have kept her companions and herself safe. She could turn away, sure, but…
“Miss.” The guardsman’s voice had taken on an edge, and even with his eyebags, there was a clear hostility in his eyes.
Yuna wrung her hands, not entirely an act. “J-just un moment , monsieur! ”
The guardsman let out a heavy sigh, took a step towards her. Yuna braced herself, ready to move if need be-
Then a warm hand clasped her bare shoulder, stilling her. The scent of alcohol wafted around her, identifiable even underneath a woody cologne.
“She’s with me.” Vicious’s familiar voice was loud, unmistakable, and Yuna’s stomach dropped.
She spun- half dreading what she was going to find, half flustered at their closeness- but Vicious only grinned in response. The Great Transgressor looked completely different than what she expected- his hair combed back instead of flowing wildly, his posture straight, his clothes neatly done, not a single button out of place. He looked like a gentleman.
Only his grin felt familiar. Something mocking pulled at the edges, brightening teasing eyes, centering Yuna as she caught her breath.
“Vicious!” she exclaimed. Well aware of the guardsman watching them, she threw herself at him. “ Mon cher, I thought you had left me all alone!”
For his part, Vicious was quick on the uptake. He wound an arm around her waist, cradling her against him so that their faces were mere inches apart. He held her gaze as a finger caressed her cheek. “Sorry for the trouble, sweetheart. Took me a while to get here.” He glanced at the guardsman, who was staring at them with bored scrutiny. “We’re all good, yeah? My darling was just really lookin’ forward to this shindig. Now that I’m here, there’s no reason for any fuss, am I right?”
The guardsman sighed, waving them in without another word.
Yuna giggled, leaning against Vicious, playing the part of a very lovestruck damsel as they made their way towards the manor itself. For his part, Vicious was absolutely chivalrous, not a hint of his usual Great Transgressor attitude slipping through. He gently guided her through the winding gardens until they made it some distance away from the guards.
When they were out of earshot, Yuna slipped out of his arms. Turning to face him, she hissed, “What are you doing here?”
“‘Scuse me?” Vicious scowled, the polished façade slipping when he slouched his shoulders and glared at her. “Didn’t ya invite me? Didn’t I just get ya in?”
“I rescinded that invitation,” Yuna snapped back, waving a hand at him. “I could have figured out another way to get in eventually. You didn’t have to come. Ze suit is not to your liking, non?”
Vicious eyed his sleeves. “Could be worse,” he said at last. “‘Sides, I’m guessin’ they have free booze here.”
Yuna rolled her eyes, throwing her hands up in the air. Of course it was about alcohol. Vicious was nothing if not predictable.
Sure, maybe some delusional part of her wondered if Vicious came because he was worried or guilty or wistful or something human, but of course, that would require him to have some level of consciousness. And after all this time, she should have expected just as much from the Great Transgressor.
But well, he was still here.
“If you are going to accompany me, you must behave.” She jabbed a finger at him. “No chaos or mayhem tonight, compris? ”
Vicious raised his hands placatingly, a confident smirk flashing across his face. Stepping up to her, he wound an arm around her shoulder. “Wouldn’t dream of it, sweetheart,” he said lowly in her ears, steering them towards the door.
Yuna stiffened at the sweetness of his words- it was out of character enough for Vicious that she should have just laughed at him, but the hand on her shoulder was steady and warm. Protective, Yuna would have said, if this wasn’t Vicious at her back.
If she put some thought into it, she could almost picture the gentleman Vicious portrayed himself to be. Imagine someone who was her boyfriend- reliable and comforting, someone who she’d have happily gone to a ball such as this with. With a gentle sigh, Yuna leaned into it, channeling every ounce of a lovesickness that she could manage, resting her head against Vicious’s shoulder and smiling up at him when he glanced at her in confusion.
“We are in love, remember?” she whispered.
“Shouldn’t be too hard,” Vicious grunted, pulling her closer, not a word of protest on his lips. Despite how the Great Transgressor was usually wild and manic, he played the part of caring boyfriend well enough.
And leaning against him, of enjoying his solid weight around her… it wasn’t really half bad.
They made their way into the party without further incident, with Vicious winking at any curious glances in their direction while Yuna curtsied and tittered. Just one couple among many, an observer might say, attending a ball for the first time.
For his part, Vicious was far more courteous than she’d expected. “This way, sweetheart,” he said, dipping into a bow before guiding her towards a quiet corner of the room. He stood near her, not too close to be obtrusive but close enough to step in at any hint of trouble. He’d even offered to get them some food and drink- alcohol for him, though- as they stood on the sidelines, taking stock of the ball.
“Ain’t this a bit overdone?” The Great Transgressor asked at last. He leaned against a decorated pillar as he nibbled on a canapé. His gaze swept across the room, across the gold-lined banisters and decorated, leafed walls. He was studying the many couples already dancing in the center of the ballroom, his glance flicking over the others mingling by the edge.
And while she should have been doing the same, Yuna couldn’t help but stare.
Violet eyes flicked to her. “What?”
“Nothing,” she murmured. When a frown creased Vicious’s face, she smirked, waving a hand at the canapé in his hand. “Only… I did not think you could be so delicate. Normally, you would just eat zat in one gulp.”
“Hah?” Vicious followed her stare to the morsel in his hand, before his gaze narrowed. “Ya told me ta act like a gentleman, yeah? Ain’t that what I’m doing?”
Her smirk stretched. “As long as you leave the talking to me,” she sniped back teasingly. “Your acting otherwise is parfait.”
“‘Parfait’?” Vicious frowned. “Ya want me to get some fer ya?”
Yuna chuckled, resting a hand on Vicious’s arm. “Non, mon cher,” she said. “But I do appreciate your gentlemanly attitude. I cannot imagine Aegis, Orwin or Kanata being better company than you are, tonight.”
Vicious huffed, glancing away. “What, you actually appreciate being the Great Transgressor’s arm candy?”
“Don’t be absurd.” Yuna pressed against him, batting her eyelashes at him. “You’re my arm candy tonight, Vicious, not ze other way around.”
Unlike other men, Vicious was always unaffected by her charms. Instead of flustering or blushing, her companion stared at her blankly. “Ya realize who yer talkin’ to, right?”
The Great Transgressor. Even with his Stain of Guilt hidden under the buttoned up dress shirt, it wasn’t as if Yuna could forget. Still… she’d known the man long enough to hear the wistful undertone in his voice that she wasn’t even sure he was aware of. The self-deprecating way he waved his title around like some sort of repellant.
Only, well, Yuna was never good at staying away from where she wasn’t wanted.
She grinned. “My second half, my soul in another body?”
Vicious groaned, and Yuna giggled.
The man huffed, though a small smile broke through his features. Glancing back to the crowd, he took another bite out of his canapé. “So what’s the plan?”
What indeed? Yuna glanced over the gathered partygoers once more before she leaned into him. “See those people over there, at ze far end of the room? Ze ones with diamonds and outrageous clothes?”
Violet eyes narrowed as Vicious locked on target. “Ya mean the ones that ain’t rental? I’m guessin’ they’re important?”
“Oui.” Yuna nodded. “It’s a literal congregation of bigwigs there. I can see at least two local mayors and leurs femmes. Three ministers from Centerport. A couple of minor nobles from around the region. And ze man with la grosse moustache should be a Marquis from Toshimina.”
Vicious let out a low whistle. “How’d ya get all of that in one glance?”
Yuna chuckled. It was nice that at least Vicious, of all her companions, appreciated her skills.
“Those people there? Most of them are far from the stellar public image they portray themselves as. A couple of them have had unscrupulous dealings with enemy nations. At least one has a brother that disappeared under mysterious circumstances. As une journaliste, it is my job to keep track of those who’d hide the truth and expose them for who they really are.”
“Makes sense.” Vicious nodded, but then his expression darkened. “But yer a transgressor now, though. Fat good yer gonna do when ya can’t even publish under your own name.”
Yuna shrugged. “It is not completely hopeless,” she murmured. “Even anonymous, as long as the truth gets out there, it could help someone. Nonetheless, it’s not something I can simply turn away from, not when these lies and pretensions could hurt those who do not know the truth.”
She expected Vicious to call her out on being a liar. On teasing her for her ridiculous daydreams. But instead, the man merely smiled, her eyes watching her with proud understanding. “Ya really are brazen, aren’t ya, Yuna?”
A comforting warmth fluttered through her. For all his flaws, Vicious was always supportive of her pursuits and motivations, even back when they first met. Back then she had thought it odd, but well. Vicious always was an oddball, wasn’t he?
She grinned. “Is that not what you love about me?”
Vicious laughed then. Not as loud as he usually would, but it was enough to ease the tension off her shoulders.
“So, we gonna go up and introduce ourselves?”
“And draw unnecessary attention?” Yuna shook her head with a coy smile. “Vicious, we had our faces plastered all over Vision Central less than a fortnight ago. En fait, if ze enforcers were to show up now, our whole plan would be absolutely ruined.”
Her companion rolled his eyes. “So what, you asked me along in case we gotta fight our way outta here?”
“And ruin that lovely rental suit? We wouldn’t be able to pay for damages.” She shook her head. “ Non, while your violent strength would be valuable if we need to escape, there was another reason why you were my first choice as a partner. You see, tonight, we dance.”
Vicious’s expression brightened. “Now we’re talkin’.”
He popped the rest of the canapé into his mouth. Yuna let out an affronted noise, but his grin only grew. Dusting his hands off on his jacket, he turned to her and extended one of them, watching her with a warm gaze.
“So, sweetheart, might I have the pleasure of this dance?”
Yuna rolled her eyes, but took Vicious’s hand. He held her easily, steady fingers closing over hers. It shouldn’t have felt so natural for the Great Transgressor to gently lead her on to the dance floor. Shouldn’t have felt so believable to have Vicious as her partner.
“Follow my lead,” Yuna murmured as they faced one another. Vicious nodded, letting her position his hands on her hip and shoulder. Stepping closer, Yuna could see the flecks in his violet eyes, hear his slow breath ghosting along her skin. The usual restless energy about him was muted, waiting for her instruction.
Yuna smiled. For once, without his dark clothes and wild hair, Vicious didn’t seem quite so chaotic or terrifying, more like a man than a monster. The look of guileless trust he gave her looked so normal, yet so out of place on his face. Yuna tried not to think too much about it, tried not to dwell on the way Vicious’s hands steadied her amidst the gold and glitz.
Joining the line of dancers, they easily blended in with the rest of the ball. It was a simple waltz- nothing too complicated for the majority of the partygoers, and one that Yuna vaguely remembered from the last time she had to attend a function. Vicious, for his part, was at least coordinated enough not to step on her toes as she led them through the crowd. But more importantly, she could tell from the look of concentration on his face that he had picked up why she had dragged him into a dance.
Yuna smirked. “You see them, can’t you?” she murmured into his ear as she pulled herself abreast to him. “The way they whisper when they think nobody else can hear? The little looks, the glances?”
“This how you pick stuff up?” There was a note of admiration in Vicious’s voice. “Figurin’ out who’s talkin’ to who?”
“It’s one way, certainly.” Yuna twirled, stepping back into Vicious’s arms. “And it’s plus amusant compared to hiding behind pillars and listening to drunk nobles talk.”
A low chuckle. Another spin. Vicious shook his head. “Beats thrashin’ shitheads in a back-alley,” he agreed. “There’s a lot of talking going on, for sure.”
Yuna nodded. “Ze Toshiminan Marquis there- he’s being awfully friendly with his partner. She’s the wife of the trade minister of Centerport.”
“Carrying a message between the two countries?”
“Could be. Given a chance, I’d like a closer, more private interview of ze two of them to be certain.” Another spin, another glance. “On your left. The blonde in red is the leader of a local group of bandits, even though she’s not acting the part, tonight. Her partner happens to be the wealthiest merchant in town, in search of a wife.”
Vicious chuckled. “A terrible romance in the makin’,” he returned.
They shared a grin, before Vicious nodded behind her. Pulling up close, he dipped his head closer, his lips grazing her ear. If Yuna had been any other woman, she’d be aflutter at the idea of a potential kiss. As it was, her heart thumped even as she remembered why they were here. She leaned towards him, a coy smile on her features as she acted the part, the flush on her cheeks not entirely intentional.
It was a good thing her partner was so oblivious. “I know that guy behind ya,” Vicious murmured, completely focused on the task at hand. “Black market dealer, wanted in Medagal fer selling’ off kids. Kinda surprised he’d be here, if I’m bein’ honest.”
Yuna twirled them around, getting a better view of the man Vicious marked. “Oh, c’est tres curieux,” she replied. “Ze lady he’s talking to is Lady Ada of Centerport. When I was researching Malcolm Sloat, her name came up as an investor in his research. As well as someone who helped procure… ‘supplies’.”
Vicious’s eyes narrowed. “They can’t be up to anything good.”
“No,” Yuna agreed. “They most certainly aren’t.”
They pulled away as the music ended, and the audience around them clapped politely in applause. Vicious’s hand still lingered on her shoulder, and even now he looked like the perfect gentleman. Yuna was still far too aware of the heat of his touch, of the way she felt safe around him, but as she settled her gaze back on their last targets, she reminded herself of why they were here.
Lady Ada was leading her black market friend away from the floor. They had taken the cover of the distracted crowd as an opportunity to slip away, inching out towards the ballroom exits.
Well, if nothing else, her work always helped her focus, and it was past time Yuna made this party worth her while.
“Vicious, mon cher, I apologize but I must leave you for un instant. ” Yuna winked as she slipped away from his touch, dipping into a curtsy. “You were excellente compagnie , but duty calls.”
She caught the widening of Vicious’s eyes, but whatever he said in return was swallowed up by the music striking up once more. Yuna made her way through the crowd, slipping in between the dancers and following her targets out into the darkened halls.
They weren’t exactly hard to follow. In between the hushed whispers and the footsteps echoing in the quiet hallways, she soon tracked them to a small room at the edge of a courtyard. Pressed against the wall, she stayed out of view as she listened to their muted conversation, their voices floating through a door left ajar.
Sloppy, Yuna thought. Considering the hired help standing along both sides of the door, however, she supposed the two felt secure enough that they could manage anybody who stumbled across them.
“Twenty thousand, and not a gald less.” Lady Ada’s voice was audible enough. Muffled by the distance perhaps, but Yuna could still make the words out. Through the gap, she could see the lady standing poised and stern, her beautiful ball gown looking too out of place in the midst of a negotiation.
“That’s far too steep,” the man she was speaking to replied. He looked far too clean in his suit and tie- certainly not the average look for a black market dealer. “These aren’t malleable youngsters, or exotic women. Transgressors go for far cheaper than the normal rate.”
The lady sniffed, studying her nails. “A steady chain of supply for transgressors is also far harder to attain. And I can provide that far better than your average supplier.”
Yuna’s eyes widened. There were rumors, of course. Of Lady Ada’s generosity to the downtrodden, of her bleeding heart that colored the public’s perception of her. The lady was allegedly sympathetic towards wrongly accused transgressors, and if one happened to evade the enforcers long enough, the lady could provide passage to safe haven. Of course, Yuna always suspected that said safe haven had been the bowels of Malcolm Sloat’s lab. And with Malcolm dead… Well, it was no wonder that Ada was looking for another buyer.
And the sight of Lady Ada talking to a black market dealer so out of her way, of the intense negotiations that was taking place between them…
Pictures always spoke louder than words.
The enpicturator clicked in Yuna’s hands. A single shot was all she needed. The rest, her article could detail later.
But then the black market dealer stiffened. “What was that?” he asked, turning to his guards.
Yuna bit back a curse. In between the conversation and the distance, she had thought a single click would go unnoticed, but the man was either far more on edge than she anticipated or had much better hearing than she assumed. Quickly, she slid the enpicturator back underneath the folds of her skirts, turning to slip away from the courtyard-
Only to run straight into one of his guards.
The burly man was stealthier than he looked, managing to sneak up right behind Yuna without her notice. Blocking the path with crossed arms, he shot Yuna a narrowed glare. She smiled placatingly, but the man didn’t so much as move.
“Ah, excuse the guard, miss.”
Yuna turned. The black market dealer and Lady Ada had caught up to her. Their arms linked- the look of a loving couple to anyone else, and not two people negotiating a slave trade.
But then Lady Ada’s eyes widened. “Yuna Azetta?”
“The journalist?” The black market dealer’s gaze sharpened.
“Oh, n- no.” Yuna flashed a smile as she dropped her accent, pressing a hand to her lips to better hide her Stain of Guilt. “I’m no journalist, my lord and lady, just a girl from the village nearby. I came to the party, but I stepped out to catch a breath of fresh air. It’s so stifling inside, is it not?”
The suspicious looks did not lift. Yuna smiled wider, channeling every bit of the fluttery, naïve village girl she was supposed to be. Her daggers were still hidden underneath her dress, but surrounded by at least four guards, discounting the lady and her companion, it was far from the best odds.
“There you are, sweetheart!”
For the second time in a single night, Yuna jumped at the familiar voice. But then Vicious barreled his way past the guards to her side, completely unfazed by their presence. He smiled politely at the gathered people, before slinging an arm around her shoulder. Dipping his head low to her ear, he said audibly, “Thought we were tryin’ fer some privacy, love.”
Stupid. Panic fluttered through her, mixed in with a strange sense of relief. She hadn’t considered that Vicious would actually come after her. Hadn’t thought he’d try to save her- but then again, now that she thought about it, it was an extremely Vicious thing to do, wasn’t it?
And even though it was just an act, the warmth of Vicious’s breath ghosting against her ear sent heat rushing to her cheeks. “A-ah, my lady, my lord, this is my boyfriend!” She laughed, leaning into Vicious’s embrace, trying to play this situation and turn it around before things went south.
“So, not just a breath of fresh air.” Lady Ada eyed them critically, her lips pursed into a threatening smile. “Just how much did you overhear?”
“‘Overhear’?” Yuna widened her eyes. “My lady, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Vicious’s arms tightened around her. “It ain’t our business to go pryin’ in other’s affairs,” he spoke up, meeting Ada’s stare head on. “‘Sides, my girl here, she was probably distracted by… other thoughts.”
“Oh, darling, stop. ” Yuna tittered, ducking her head as she hid her cheeks between her hands. The perfect act of a flustered damsel, or so she hoped. “Some things are meant for you and I alone!”
But the act didn’t seem to distract either Ada or the black market dealer. They stood still, watching them. All it would take would be for someone to call them out, insist … and then Vicious would probably take the chance to unleash the havoc he was always so good at creating.
Glancing at Vicious, smiling, pretending for her… Violet eyes twinkled with warm assurance, and his arm held her steadily against the night. How easily he let himself be human when he wasn’t aware of it. How easily he didn’t need to be the Great Transgressor. And just this once, Yuna wanted to avoid that at all costs.
So she seized Vicious’s head in her hands, pulling him close.
“Désolé, mon cher,” she whispered for his ears alone, before pressing her lips against his own.
A fluttering breath against her lips, the tightening of his grip on her shoulder. The taste of alcohol lingered on her tongue, not too bitter but not too sweet. Violet eyes held her in their thrall as Vicious studied her, warm and wavering with words unsaid, before his lips settled into a smile.
“Well, why the hell not.”
Then before Yuna could respond, he dipped her and kissed her deeply. She would have yelped- if his tongue didn’t slip between her lips, if his hands didn’t hold her close. Before she knew what she was doing, Yuna was kissing back, chasing the taste of hot wine that slid against her tongue, the sweet euphoria that grew and washed over her with every pass-
And then Vicious pulled her upright once more.
Yuna gasped, heated indignation flickering at the edge of her consciousness as her mind caught up to what had just happened- until she remembered the multitude of eyes still on them.
Her face burned. She wondered whether death was that much worse of an option, really.
But Vicious was unperturbed. He grinned, eyes flicking at the people around them. “Sorry,” he said. “See, my girl and I haven’t seen each other in months and we’ve been lookin’ forward to catching up. Guess the waitin’ got too much for her, ya know?”
Oh, she would absolutely murder him for that later. But now, Yuna leaned back towards him, pouting lightly. “That’s all you can give me? I thought you’d want more.”
Vicious gave their audience a helpless shrug, squeezing her close to him. “Don’t suppose you’d let us go now, would ya? Night’s still young.”
The black market dealer finally broke his heavy stare. He let out an indulgent huff. “My lady, this is a waste of time.”
Then Lady Ada sighed. “Indeed. Perhaps I’m jumping at shadows.” She flashed a smile at her companion, winding her arm through his. “Far be it for me to discourage a little secret rendezvous, no? Enjoy yourselves, you two. Though I’d strongly suggest finding another spot for your retreat.”
“We’ll take yer advice.” Vicious flashed them a salute, before shuffling Yuna away from their targets.
They both stayed silent as they made their way back to the ballroom. Yuna waited until she was sure she couldn’t hear Lady Ada or the black market dealer any longer. Then, without a word, she pulled away from Vicious and stalked off towards the door.
“H-hey!” Vicious’s surprised yelp was followed by his quickening footsteps, but Yuna didn’t stop. Not even when they pushed past the surprised guests or the guards, not even when they’d left the manor estate entirely. Yuna kept walking, cresting up a hill near their camp, until Vicious’s hand finally caught her elbow.
“Qu'est-ce que c'est?” She glared at him, not quite sure she could contain all the feelings trembling through her body. Not quite sure what it was she was feeling, even, except she had to get away, try to calm down from everything that had just happened.
Forget the way Vicious’s lips felt against hers.
But the man in question, the Great Transgressor, sin incarnate, stayed by her side. His brow was knit in a frown, piercing violet eyes illuminated by the moonlight. “You’re angry.”
Yuna sighed, rubbing her temples. “That was a disaster.”
“But ya got the information you came for.” Vicious shrugged. “It was a bit touch an’ go at the end but we made it out okay, yeah?”
“‘Made it out okay’,” Yuna echoed. She turned to him, jabbing a finger right into his exposed chest. “Vicious, I would have been perfectly fine if you didn’t stick your meddlesome nose into my business! You didn’t have to come, you didn’t have to protect me! I could have gotten away from Lady Ada easily if I wasn’t trying to make sure you didn’t murder the entire party! ”
“Wait, what ?” His jaw dropped, before violet eyes sparked in indignation. “Yuna, ya could’ve gotten yerself killed! And we avoided a fight in the end, didn’t we? Are ya really upset at me saving your life, or is it cuz ya liked it when I kissed ya?”
Stupid, stupid Vicious. Yuna wanted to bury her face in her hands. Instead, she threw them into the air. “The former, obviously! You are a horrible kisser!”
That silenced the man. He watched her with a stunned expression, the only sounds around them their breaths and the rustling of the grass in the wind. Silhouetted by the moonlight, the Great Transgressor should have looked cold, menacing- but the wide vulnerability on Vicious’s face, the way he watched her with understanding…
He exhaled. “Well, I can’t let that slide now, can I?”
Vicious reached for her. Gentle fingers brushed Yuna’s bangs away from her face, warm hands trailing down her neck and shoulders before he pulled her closer. Violet eyes shone bright in the moonlight as he studied her, a teasing smile ghosting his lips. His hold was not too tight that she couldn’t break away but…
Staring at the man she should have feared but could only feel anything but, maybe Yuna didn’t want to.
Vicious’s lips claimed hers with the same passionate intensity as his first kiss. Her rage melted when that sweet intoxication flowed over her, any thoughts of resistance crumbling as he parted her mouth, as she gave in to the heat of his tongue. A soft moan escaped her at the pleasure of the sensation, and Vicious responded by pulling her deeper into bliss with every pass of his mouth.
She wound her hands into his hair, wanting more of him, wanting his taste to stay on her lips, to feel him with every breath in her body. Wanting more of the comfort and support that wrapped around her with every second she spent in the man’s presence.
Vicious gave her everything she never knew she wanted.
The kiss felt like a second, or maybe an eternity. But slowly, slowly, the need for air pulled them away. Yuna breathed heavily, looking deep into violet eyes. Vicious regarded her with that same steadiness that he always held her with, that kept her grounded and safe.
“You’re not a bad kisser,” she said at last.
A low chuckle. Vicious leaned down, resting his forehead against hers. “Good enough ta get Yuna Azetta to tell the truth for once?”
A smile pulled at her lips. “Maybe.”
Vicious snorted. “Fine, one of my own then.” The intensity of his gaze dimmed slightly, a hesitant tone creeping into the man’s voice. “Truth is, I was worried about ya. Ever since the day we met… you always put yourself in danger while chasin’ the truth.”
Yuna stilled. All too easily, she could remember that first time they met. The havoc and carnage- and the warm steady hand that held hers.
“Don’t get me wrong, that absolute dedication is one of the best things I like about ya. But sometimes…” He let out a helpless chuckle, flashed her a rueful smile. “I want to be there for you to rely on me. Want to know that you’re safe, even if that’s all I can do. That’s what our deal was, wasn’t it?”
Her face burned. It wasn’t fair for Vicious to look so open and warm when he smiled at her that way. Wasn’t right that the man who was the Great Transgressor could also be the man who so easily said those things. Who regarded her with unwavering violet eyes, meaning every word.
She huffed, winding her arms around him, leaning into the crook of his neck. “You silly, silly man.”
“Hey,” Vicious protested without much force. One hand cradled her head against him, stroking her hair. Yuna smiled as she relaxed under his touch.
“Ze truth is… I always feel safer when you’re around.”
A soft snort. “Yer crazy if bein’ around the Great Transgressor makes you feel safer.”
“Peut être. But I know you wouldn’t let any harm come to me, Vicious.”
“‘Course not, I-” He stiffened, eyes dropping to his feet. Barely visible in the moonlight was the light flush dusting his cheeks, the way Yuna could hear his heart thumping through his body.
Who knew the Great Transgressor could be so human.
Yuna chuckled, brushing away Vicious’s bangs from his eyes. Used a finger to guide his gaze back to her, held his attention with a fond smile.
“I care about you, too,” she said.
A soft breath. Violet eyes glistening with unsaid emotion. Vicious’s hold was steady in the night, rooting her to the world, but in that moment it was as if all that existed was them.
“Yuna-”
Then a loud crash. Footsteps and bodies bustling through the underbrush. Instinctively, Yuna pulled away, one hand on a dagger, and for his part, Vicious had already stepped in front of her, eyes trained on whoever approached.
But then a blond head poked out of the trees. Kanata’s bright smile beamed through the dark. “Vicious! Yuna! I thought I heard your voices!”
Vicious glanced over at her, rolling his eyes before letting out a soft laugh. Yuna couldn’t help but shake her head and chuckle as well, watching with mild amusement as the rest of their friends emerged from the trees.
Misella was the next to walk up to her. The girl had a narrowed stare fixed on Vicious before she asked, “Did Vicious cause you any trouble, Yuna?”
“I’m right here kid.”
Yuna chuckled. Meeting Vicious’s gaze, she winked. “Ah, oui. Ze Great Transgressor could not keep his hands off ze canapés and wine. He also does not know how to waltz.”
Vicious waved his hands wildly. “Oi!”
Kanata frowned. “Vicious must have tried his best, though. For how uncouth he is, the fact is that the suit’s still fine- no blood or tears!”
Vicious glared daggers at the boy. Misella smirked. Almost immediately, Aegis stepped in with a lecture over Kanata’s backhanded compliments, while Orwin attempted to sidle up to Yuna. Luckily, she sidestepped it, easily avoiding the older man’s attempt to get into her personal space. It was easier when Vicious was right next to her, their shoulders brushing even as their friends surrounded them.
“So, how did your reconnaissance go?” Aegis asked at last, turning away from Kanata.
Yuna jiggled the enpicturator in her hands. “I’ve gotten enough material to write an article on ze human trafficking trade of transgressors in Centerport. It should be quite ze story.”
Vicious caught her eye. Yuna half-expected him to say something, a more detailed breakdown of what actually happened. But instead, the Great Transgressor merely huffed and shook his head, a soft smile on his lips.
“That’s amazing, Yuna!” Kanata exclaimed, instead.
“Indeed,” Misella agreed with a warm smile. “It’s a good thing you went to that party. I’m sure your article will save many lives, just like ours.”
“Well, I’d like to hope we won’t get captured by a slave trafficking ring, at least,” Aegis began. Misella started to say something about Orwin, which dragged the older man in, and then Kanata made some remark or other that totally turned the conversation on its head.
Yuna smiled as the sound of her friends’ ridiculous argument filled her ears. Someone suggested that they'd head back, and slowly they meandered the way through the woods. After the whole night, Yuna was more than happy to look forward to a quick bath and a long rest.She took up the rear as they winded their way back to camp, content to just watch in silence as the peaceful night replaced the earlier tension of the ball.
Vicious fell in step by her side. The Great Transgressor looked straight ahead, but the warmth of his hand brushed against the back of hers.
“So… do we wanna talk?”
The heat of his kiss still lingered on her lips. Just like the confession he had given, wrapping around her thoughts. Yuna smiled, turning to face her companion. “What is there to talk about, Vicious? I’ve said everything that needs to be said, and you have too, non?”
Violet eyes twinkled in the moonlight. “Heh. Fair enough.” A sharp grin brightened his angular features, but Vicious hardly looked dangerous or threatening by her side. “Ya know, I kinda liked tonight. Was a real change of pace.”
Yuna smirked. Slid her hand through his. “So if I were to ask you again…”
Vicious didn’t miss a beat. “I promise I won’t ruin any suits.”
Yuna leaned against him with a soft huff. His presence was a steady weight against hers, his warmth a welcome protection in the cool shadows.
“What is it you said again, mon cher? ‘With my brain and your brawn, we could take on this whole world’?”
Vicious chuckled, but his hand was steady in hers. “Now that’s my kinda tune.”
Yuna laughed. They walked, hands linked, following their friends back into the night.
Yuna once wondered what the price would be for making a deal with the devil.
To her surprise, she didn’t mind trading in her heart.