C:STP Chapter 21 (Patreon)

on the previous scene,

Miles was happily braiding Vanya's silver hair which the man is actually annoyed with, but can't say anything because he's the babysitter. They're in the Garden, Vanya squatting by the rosebushes and cultivating the soil while Miles squats behind him messing with his hair.

"Ahh, I'm so proud of you... you're such great friends with the worms when you used to hate them back then..." Miles mindlessly drones on, since Vanya can't really understand or hear whatever he's saying. "Hmm... I wish... your brother is the same..."

Vanya has finished collecting the worms in this plot, so he stands up to stretch a bit. Miles follows him to the greenhouse compost area where he plans to free the earthworms, the silent giant internally happy that Miles is very interested and supports his hobby. He looks very cute as well, cheering him on as Vanya gently dumps the worms on the compost.

"Wow, this please is so cool! A little stinky, but mm, that's composts..." Miles mumbles, watching Vanya take off his gloves to face him. "Wanna go get lunch, Vanya? Maybe I can convince the chefs to let me cook... I want to cook for you!"

After they exit the greenhouse, Miles pulls out a handkerchief to dab onto Vanya's sweating forehead, even needing to tiptoe a bit to wipe him off. It's like the concubine is the babysitter, happily taking care of his bodyguard. Vanya just stares at him, eyes gentle and admiring the beauty that is Miles Taylor, for he is beautiful inside and out.

Speaking of insides, someone from inside the mansion is internally fuming at the sight of Vanya and Miles being together in the garden. And worse... Miles leans in to kiss Vanya on the lips, a little peck that made Misha's eye twitch.

So you've always chosen him... Misha puts his legs over the veranda and jumps one floor down, proceeding to do it again until he lands on the gardens where he lights a cigarette for himself.

"I guess you made a decision, Miles," Misha says, quite bitter yet his emotions are not surfacing. To the shocked and concerned Miles, he's just emotionless and a little grumpy.

Vanya is confused, looking backs and forth at them. Misha adds, "Have fun getting my brother killed when the Master finds out about your affair. Other than that, enjoy." Misha then signs, 'You'll be his bodyguard from now on.'

"Misha!" Miles stops him from turning around, stepping towards him. His gentle and kind demeanor disappears as he stands his ground, "I didn't decide on one of you. I told you, I like the both of you."

"How disgusting," Misha turns around to spit, "Of course a slút like you would want two, you just love cheating, don't you. Not satisfied with one person."

Wha- I can't believe this guy. "How many times do I have to say that, in the past we-"

"Past, darling. Past," Misha steps towards him in mockery, also sending a bitter hateful look towards Vanya. "I respect your decision whichever one of us you will choose. But, you can never have both of us. I don't share my bítches."

An arrow was shot in Miles' heart, and it's not from cupid. He has successfully seduced them, but how can he make them fall in love with one guy when they no longer have the same connection as before? Vanya is also confused, as his heart is torn between the two. He loves his brother, but Miles makes him feel happy.

Too happy, that Vanya slips his hand onto Miles', making him look back at the silent man whose face bore no emotions. "Vanya...?"

Then, Vanya tugs him back to where he stands before him, plunging Miles' heart deeper into confusion.

"See, he wants you for himself too," Misha mumbles, quite sadly since he's in a rivalry with his brother now. "What you want will never work out, Miles."

"No!" Miles steps away from Vanya, away from both of them. "What the-like I'll ever choose between either of you, I came this far to free the both of you, not one of you!"

"Free? We're already free," Misha glares at him.

Taewon, you destroyed Carvalle just so you'll be free from the clutches of the Mafia, and now you're calling yourself free when you're serving the Schliemann?! "Misha..." Miles takes a deep breath, "Please... listen to me—"

"I'm not listening to a lunatic who just wants to mess around with men," Misha finally turns around to leave, "Have fun with Vanya. I could care less how deep you'll take him in your mouth."

Miles is heartbroken, but he could only watch Misha walk away with not a glance to spare. Vanya scowls at his ásshole of a brother, but then walks to hold Miles' face once again, comforting him.

Shhh, Vanya thinks, comforting a frozen Miles whose eyes threaten to spill tears. Then, he signs, 'Don't worry. I'm here. You can be mine... shh...'

"Jihun," Miles cries against his chest, Vanya not minding the unfamiliar nickname. However, deep inside, the man is actually very pleased that he will no longer share with his brother.

I... will take care of you. My brother won't... so be mine only...

later on,

Vanya delivers a meal to a depressed Miles inside the Master's bedroom, a ghost of a smile grazing his lips at the unintentional victory of getting Miles for himself. Misha always walks away, runs away from anything that he disagrees upon. But Vanya is silent, caring, and will treat Miles in a way his brother wouldn't. If Miles needs him, here he is.

"Vanya..." Miles sniffs, erasing his tears as he goes to the table for the food. Both signing and saying, "This is very nice, thank you."

Miles looks up at him with tearful eyes, still heartbroken that Misha refuses to be with him so long as he stays with Vanya. He doesn't know what to do now; he is stuck. He simply cannot force the brothers, he simply cannot cheat just to have the both of them.

Vanya, noticing how sad Miles is, leans in to kiss him on the lips, a soft gentle peck for comfort. Miles did nothing but accept it, too depressed to even think of his next move. However, the door suddenly opens, bringing Miles to the real world and making him push Vanya away.

"Ahh, I'm glad you're having your meal now..." The dreadful Master of the Schliemann enters the room and sees Vanya serving Miles, hopefully unaware of their kiss. "Good job, Ivan."

"You're home early," Miles says as Vanya steps away from him, waiting for the Master's orders. Miles is insecure, he feels unsafe and is worried for Vanya when Farlan is in the room. Yet he remains undeterred and calm as if nothing happened.

"Yes, I finished business with Britain early, and now I am free to rest. However I'll meet with my friends later, you can come if you want?" Farlan approaches the table with a smile, leaning down to greet Miles with a kiss. After that peck, Miles' eyes went straight to Vanya who remains standing there without emotions.

"No, I'll stay," Miles mutters, "Your friends scare me."

"Hmm. Did Miroh say anything bad?" Farlan sighs, rubbing Miles' neck comfortingly. "He has a habit of talking bad about me as do friends. Don't worry about him, he's not as strong as you think, someone younger than you even scratched his face."

The scar? Why would someone do that to him, unless Miroh did something really bad? That doesn't make Miroh look better in Miles' eyes, he believes it may be in self-defense. Miles looks down because he doesn't want Vanya to see Farlan get affectionate with him. He feels guilty, and he's already trapped and unable to go against Farlan without endangering them.

"Well my dear, I'll see you later," Farlan says before kissing Miles' forehead. Then he whispers, "I want you to rest for now and maybe wear something cute later, alright? I want to make up for neglecting you..."

Please don't tell me Vanya heard that... Miles feels terrible and wouldn't even look at the men in their eyes. This means he has to serve Farlan tonight, and he has never been so against it. Yet what can he do, he agreed so long as he is in the Schliemann's care?

They're never truly free until they're in these walls. When Farlan finally left and Miles meets Vanya's eyes yet again, he's starting to think of a plan that being submissive may not take him anywhere. He has to play another game.

the next day,

SCHLIEMANN MASTER'S OFFICE

"I won, Farlan! Navi has been found," Miroh Llorona enters the Schliemann Master's office with exciting news, his scarred face smiling warmly as if delivering good news to a brother. "Isn't the Llorona efficient? Lei and Kino couldn't, even..."

"I knew you could do it," Farlan halts his business to face Miroh, trusting that the man wouldn't just pull a gun and shoot him right now as he usually does. "Where is he?"

"Happy with a wife and two kids," Miroh threw a bunch of photographs on the table, revealing their childhood friend in simple, ordinary clothing carrying a girl in his arms, both wearing Mickey mouse headbands. Miroh sighs, "I'm jealous. I didn't expect him to be a family man."

Farlan stares at the photos; a woman had joined them, hand in hand with a small boy. It was almost heartwarming. After years of societal pressure on him from a young age, he freed himself from the Mafia world and created a family on his own. Something that none of their group did, for innocent children isn't fit for their world.

"So, will I finally meet Járed? Or will you continue hoarding him for yourself," Don Miroh playfully teases the serious Schliemann.

Farlan snaps his eyes towards him, "You guys can meet him right now. I was waiting for his brain to develop into an adult before I can introduce three bumbling rats. You can't meet him while he's still impressionable."

"Aww how sweet, Farlan..." Miroh chuckles, then lean down onto the Master's desk where his eyes seem to threaten him. "Did you enjoy him while he's still impressionable? Must be nice to groom a grown man."

"Get out," Farlan spits, amusing Miroh even more. "I never had séx with him during development."

"I know you, my friend. Behind all that professionalism, you're still an impatient little boy who wants what he wants," Miroh laughs while reviewing the reports on Navi's whereabouts, "I am the same... only that, I don't go after corpses, Farlie."

The Schliemann Master is irked by this man's condescending personality. It's as if Miroh remained a teenager, and never got sick of playing games at this age. But then again, this is Don Miroh who thrives on making everyone else as miserable as possible.

"The Levough is falling behind on stocks and I'm slowly convincing their partners in the Black Market to invest in the Llorona instead. Piss me off, and you'll lose your chances on seizing the Black Market and being one of the Unholy Trinity," Farlan sternly tells him.

"Aww come on Farlan lighten up, we're friends, are we? If we can kill each other as sports, what's a little roast gotta do?" The man with a defective eye looks down on him. "But I gotta ask, if you could choose between Miles Taylor and Járed Levough, which one would you keep as a partner?"

"Why choose when I can have both, are you doubting my power?"

"It's just a question," Miroh chuckles, "I'm pretty sure you will keep Járed. If so, would you sell Miles Taylor to me?"

"Yes, the payment would be the entire Llorona Mafia, get out," Farlan dismisses him quite rudely since the man is pissing him off.

"Haha, so adorable when you are angry, Master Schliemann," Miroh turns away to leave the room, successful in ruining Farlan's day. If he can't assassinate him, better to make him miserable. "Looks like I won't be the one to kill you, huh. With how you're running things, one of those two might kill you."

Farlan's eyes fly to the window, where he thinks of his two prisoners kept behind the bars of his selfishness. One in his bedroom, showered with everything luxury, yet deprived of anything that he wants which is freedom. And the other showered with all the comfort, not knowing what freedom really is.

Maybe it's the reason why Navi, their one friend who has escaped the life of a Mafia Boss, is the happiest among them. With his wife and two kids, working as an ordinary member of society, he has a grasp of freedom without luxury.

meanwhile,

In Miles' small window of freedom, he marches out of the room very early in the morning before any bodyguards could wake him up. He is freshly showered, no perfume, and determined to properly seduce these amnesiac motherfúckers that are making his life miserable.

Only one, my áss. After you shoved two in me, you want me to choose only one?! Fúck you, Mikhael. I want my Taewon and Jihun back.

"Where is he, your leader?" Miles demands inside the dining room where he catches gangsters eating cereals with alcohol shirtless and suddenly frozen when a very beautiful foreigner enters the room.

"Uhh... Good morning." Someone slapped that gangster because Miles can't understand any Russian.

"Leader? Leader...? Uhm... room," one of them points up as the others straighten their postures in an attempt to look tougher to impress the visitor. "Yes, uhm... he is up the floor. He... alcohol. So, head very hurt."

Miles notices them getting choked up, since some of these gangsters turn out to have a crush on their Master's concubine. "Alright...? And Vanya?"

"Music," answers a shirtless one drinking cereal milk straight from the bowl like a neanderthal, his fingers dancing on the table to imitate a piano.

"Thank you, gentlemen," Miles at least offers them a smile which displayed his dimples, making one of the men cough and some even tries hiding their blush.

When he exits, they got even nosier than before.

"He called me gentleman, comrade!"

"Someone eating cereal with alcohol isn't a gentleman, Niko."

"His type is Asian eh, you have no chance."

"I am born in Siberia, I have a chance."

"The leader has six-pack, you have negative two."

"Vanya," Miles calls out once he reached the music room, catching the man playing single notes on the piano. He couldn't hear very well, so Miles approaches him and hugs him from behind. Normally, he would be startled and break Miles' arms upon contact, but he smells something familiar engulfing him like sunlight in a cloudy meadow.

"Jihun?" Miles whispers, making the man turn around to look at him. "Hi."

Miles. He's here...

"Come with me, please?" Miles gave him no choice since he asks while kissing Vanya on the neck, triggering serotonin for the silver-haired man. Miles gives him one last kiss on the lips before tugging him to the door, leading him to where he remembers the Brothers' bedroom is. Knowing Misha's unending obsession for games, he will surely not pass up this one.

later on in SaLu's Quarters,

Vanya's expressions changed from happily emotionless to that of worry and concern once he enters his own bedroom, led by Miles. There, they meet Misha who is brushing his teeth while shirtless and putting an ice pack on his head.

"Vany—Miles," his tone deepens in spite after seeing the curly-headed man enter their rooms uninvited. Their hands are intertwined, so Misha's even more pissed. Taking the toothbrush out and spitting onto a potted plant he sneers, "You came here to fúck with Vanya right in front of me?"

"No." Miles releases the other brother's hand and steps forward to give each brother equal space. "I want to play a game."

At the sound of that word, and the shape of his lips being read by Vanya, Misha scoffs condescendingly. "You learned Russian to say that?"

"I want you to understand since I can't understand you myself," Miles spits out, arms crossed and foot tapping. "Well? Will you hear me out now that I'm playing by your rules?"

Misha gargles some water before spitting it out at the potted plant again. He then wipes his mouth, face freshly shaven and sarcastically smiles at the determined Miles Taylor.

"Hmm, what will it be, Krolik?"

"You're calling me bunny?"

Misha scoffs, eyes glancing at his brother as if to make fun of Miles to him. "All I see is a brave little bunny, twitching his nose as if he can get some grass from two big wolves. How pathetic."

Looks like Taewon is still inside him, but Miles wants him out. "Will you play the game or not?"

"Elaborate."

Miles turns towards Vanya so he can clearly read his lips, leaving Misha to hear him say, "Kill me."

Both were silenced.

"Whoever can slice my throat, stab, or do anything to kill me for a short amount of time... can have me."

Once again, both were silenced. Misha may insult or push him away as far as he wants, but he can't deny that he yearns for Miles' body and attention. Be it love or lust, he doesn't care, he's selfish. Vanya on the other hand, wants Miles to take care of him since he's the only one to ever understand his personality. So patient, so kind, so loving. Be it love or attachment, Vanya doesn't want Miles to be with his younger brother.

"If you want to fight with me so and, then fight with me." Miles glances at Misha once more, "The game has no location, no time limits. Just assassinate me whenever you want. I'll show you what became of me after sucking the Levoughs' díck."

Misha was taken aback, but he also feels the fuel of competitiveness in his heart. "So the game never ends until we kill you...?"

"The game ends when one of you kills me." Miles glares at the both of them. "Or, it ends when I finally kill Farlan."

Vanya stands there horrified and Misha has never looked this shocked. Did Miles just say he's going to kill the Master of the Schliemann? "What the fúck, do you really think you can kill Farlan-"

"If you don't want your Master to die, then kill me. Win the game. If I kill Farlan before you kill me..." Miles stands his ground. "Then it means I win. The both of you must come with me."

"Miles—”

"I'm done being the ragdoll that everyone uses. I'm done crying while the world beats me up. I want to try your method, Taewon..." Miles smiles at them, clearly broken from all the times he's been violated, tortured, and heartbroken. "Your method... both of you were evil, diabolical... but you got what you want. I want to show you what you could've done if you were in my shoes."

Is he crazy?!

"Besides, you have no choice if I win," Miles suddenly laughs, tears in his eyes not budging since they're also tired of spilling. "I'll make sure you can't call Schliemann your home anymore. Because when I kill Farlan... I'm framing you."

Misha is the most loyal to the Schliemann Mafia, is he really gonna let Miles conspire on the fall of its Master right in front of him? This makes winning the game a motivation to remain loyal to the Schliemann, and get Miles as a trophy in the long run.

But is Miles really willing to be a trophy yet again? His eyes bear something dark, finally resorting to violence after so much pain. SaLu feels unsettled, for they are seeing something in Miles that they can't understand.

Misha says it clearly while Vanya whispered without hesitation, "Deal."