Empty out those pockets, baby!
Vampire outlaw!Jay x reader
Chapter 1 (NSFW): Heeseung x reader x Jake (brief threesome), eventual beginning of Jay x reader
Word count: 8.7k
Synopsis: From the outside, reader is a simple working girl at a saloon in Saint Denis. Jake and Heeseung soon learn however that attraction can lead to unfortunate luck after they are drugged and robbed during a steamy night.
Meanwhile, Jay tries his best to get his family back on track in a new town after fleeing from their home, bringing nothing with them but the clothes on their back and the insatiable need for blood. Reader may just be who they need to liaise with the most dangerous outlaw gang in town, but will this come at the expense of a slowly blooming affection?
(Pulls from the lore of Red Dead Redemption 2 for plot purposes only)
Warnings: alcohol consumption, sex work, oral sex (f!receiving), face riding, male masterbation, unconsensual drug use leading to unconsciousness (all sexual acts are completely consensual), drink spiking, brief fears of sexual assault in context, implied discussions of contract killing and organised crime, era-accurate discussions of misogyny, reader is traumatised and scared of love
SMUT UNDER THE CUT. MINORS DNI. YOUR MEDIA CONSUMPTION IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
Saint Denis (pron. San Da-nee) was a foul place. Its very essence was founded with the roots of corruption and blood, only built upon by dishonour and betrayal.
It was no wonder, therefore, that the seven wanted men had entered its boundaries for refuge. Although at this point in time, wanted was a strong word. Being wanted required witnesses bearing enough information to begin a hunt. As far as they were concerned, they had left none.
The men entered on horseback, carrying with them cautious confidence. Anonymity was required, but right now so was shelter, and even a beer. They tightened the ropes that restrained their horses to the fence, and climbed the outdoor staircase to the nearest hotel establishment. Its entry was a bustling saloon, and as per the moon approaching its peak in the star-speckled sky, many locals and travellers filled its space. The smell of alcohol and cigars was severe, soaking into the wooden surfaces and up the nostrils of anyone in its radius.
Jungwon led the six other men to an unoccupied booth. They sat with grunts and sighs, grateful for a soft landing for their tired, aching legs. He ordered two beers for each of his men, directing the bartender to their table with a pointed finger. The bartender gestured to the reception area in a room toward the back, to where Jungwon sauntered to, wood creaking under his heavy boots. He booked enough rooms for everyone to have space in a bed, handing over a generous bag of gold coins.
He returned to the men already merrily laughing between themselves, clinking their bottles together and holding each other close. Exhausted smiles painted their faces, and while their eyes didn’t quite crinkle, it was more than they had been able to give recently. Jungwon let his lip twitch, and Jay shuffled over to give him sitting space. Jungwon lowered his volume, letting his voice be concealed by the live guitar tune playing to its dancing crowd.
“I’m glad everyone is feeling a little better.” He glanced at Sunoo with a knowing nod, who otherwise had not bothered to participate in the jolly activities. “But we need to stay focused while we are here. We are lucky with how things transpired, but we need to be vigilant. If we hear talks of witnesses, we need to be ready to flee. Travel in pairs. We can’t get comfortable here until we know it’s safe.” The men intently listened, nodding their heads. Jay was watching beer drip from the lips of his bottle, Heeseung had kept his eyes on Jungwon, Sunoo was solemnly spinning his drink in his hands.
The brief moments of joy were just that, fleeting and empty. Because they would always be reminded of who they are. What they are. The towns folk may not be any wiser, but the stares being shot their way were still the same disgusted looks they were now accustomed to. “But, all seems clear tonight at least. So let’s have a good enough night and sleep in an actual bed.” He held up his bottle, and the other men sincerely responded with a clink of their own.
Jake took a generous swig to finish his first bottle and made haste on the next. His eyes lingered across the saloon; he noted its patrons to be more wealthy than most. Quality suit sets and gowns, clean hair and beards, obvious jewels and gold decorating their pockets or wrists. That was until they were headed for the door, as he watched as they would collect their valuables and shove them into deep pockets.
Jake, however, was also just a man. He saw you behind the bar, stacking up piles of glassware into a wooden box. Your bouncy curls were tucked behind your hair, although falling to the front when you bent slightly to pick up the box. This displayed your modest cleavage, tightened into a deep red gown, corseted on your torso with a sweetheart neckline. Why was a gorgeous woman like you, dressed like that, stacking cups? He eyed you cheekily as you were sufficiently distracted, until you retreated away with your box.
The men drank some more, their high tolerance for such substances made drinking a simple pleasure, allowing for some moments of relaxation but nothing too much more. They abandoned their empty bottles and sauntered up the stairs. The first floor they reached was a hallway lined with doors, and women with neat corset gowns paced between the rooms. A residual scent of lavender travelled through the air, and soft splashing could be heard behind the walls.
“Ah thank god, we can bathe here too.” Jungwon sighed with genuine relief. Heeseung and Jake shared a lighthearted look as they watched the moving women. “Let’s keep going up, our rooms will be up here they said.” Jungwon hoisted his bag higher on his shoulder and continued, reaching the four adjacent rooms he had booked. “I don’t care where you sleep, who needs a room alone tonight. I don’t mind.”
“Heeseung and I can share.” Jake perked up quickly.
“Yea, real smooth.” Heeseung whispered into his ear, snorting back a laugh. Jungwon pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Frankly, I am too tired to care about whatever you two are planning on doing, but just don’t be stupid. Because it is all of us you are putting at risk.” He gave them a stern glare, before turning to the other men. “Me and Sunoo can share for the night. The rest of you can work it out.” He quickly unlocked his door, holding it open for Sunoo to passively walk though. He passed Jay the remaining keys while leaning up to his ear to speak softly. “Keep an eye on them please.” Jay nodded and patted Jungwon on the shoulder before the shorter man turned to excuse himself.
“Sunghoon, you seem like you need some time. I will share with Riki, you can take the solo room.” Sunghoon thanked him under his breath and quickly excused himself to his room. Jay unlocked the door for the youngest boy so they could both enter, stripping themselves of their heavy jackets. Riki took off his hat, loosened and pulled off his boots, and flopped onto the mattress.
“Ah, so comfy…” he sighed, closing his eyes instantly.
“You can have the bed to yourself for a bit, Riki. I’m gonna have a bath.” The young man was asleep by the time Jay had finished his sentence.
***
“Y/n, a gentleman is asking for you specifically. Said he saw you behind the bar earlier.” You flicked your towel over your shoulder to begin neatly stacking the freshly cleaned glasses behind the counter. “I told him you were off duty tonight.” Mary’s smooth voice grew closer as she closed in on you, placing her hands on your biceps gently so she could speak quietly. “But he has another gentleman with him too. They both look wealthy. Their clothes are normal, but they are so handsome Y/n, it doesn’t look like they go without, that’s for sure. They said they will pay generously.”
“Interesting…” you smile at Mary and she smirks back. You brush some hair behind her ear. “Are you sure you don’t want them for yourself?”
“He was insistent on you. He is waiting in the bathing suite closest to the stairs.”
“You know I don’t work in the baths, Mary.” You frowned at her inquisitively.
“You will want to when you see them. Just go up.”
***
As instructed by Mary, Jake entered the small cloak room. He removed his large black coat, hanging it on the wall. His black hat followed, then his flannel. He sat himself on the wooden bench along the wall, left in his faded brown jeans and a dark brown shirt. Consecutive knocks lightly tapped the door that led to the bathing room, and Jake lept up to open it. You were on the other side, smiling warmly up at him.
“Hi, Jake. Mary said you had asked for me. My name is y/n.” You held out your soft hand, flexing it to encourage him to hold it. He wore a giddy smile, and placed a hand over yours to step into the room fully. You almost pulled your hands back in shock. You frowned, looking up at him.
“Your hands are so cold…” you traced your eyes across his face to see if Mary had tried to waste your time. However, he was simply gorgeous. Fluffy long black hair framed a strong face. His brown eyes were large, gentle and inviting and his smile was so bright as he looked down at you. He was almost too handsome. It made the hairs stand on the back of your neck, and your hand enveloped in his cold one had begun to shake. You remembered what Mary said, he looked wealthy but only upon close inspection. It was almost like he was trying to hide, blend in, travel unnoticed. You hoped he was stupid enough to hold his belongings as close to his chest as he did his secrets.
“I guess I need you to warm them up for me….my friend and I have been traveling through the winter, it’ll be nice to be comfortable again.” You wanted to roll your eyes, the men here always had a story for you. It was too bad for them that you didn’t care.
“I’ve got a bath prepared for you now. Let’s get you ready, okay?” You said gently, a tone of seduction lacing through. You pulled his shirt from between his pants and up his torso slowly. Your eyes followed the skin as it exposed itself. He was unbelievably pale. Impossibly so; while it was winter, the hot days were still unforgiving on the skin. If he had been travelling, he would have been at the sun’s mercy. Jake was oblivious to your inspection of him, he had already started to close his eyes as your hands traced up. Once you had gotten the shirt to his armpits, he lifted his arms to pull it the rest of the way off, and you held your hand out before he could throw it to the ground. You gently folded it as you eyed his naked torso, placing his shirt on the bench just by the door. His arms were subtly muscly and similarly pale. Shadows of abs revealed themselves in the low candlelight, and his veins were prominent on his forearms. He was unlike any man you had seen here before, and you needed to know more. You tickled your nails over his biceps before rubbing your hands up.
“So Jake, I’m very flattered you asked for me. When did you see me?” You traced your hands down his hard chest, and over his tummy, to rest above his jeans. He had begun to fluster. You were looking up at him through your lashes with purposefully tantalising eyes.
“I saw you behind the bar earlier. I thought you were beautiful.” His arms twitched to hold you, but he was respectful of the no-touch rule. You undid his pant button.
“Did Mary tell you I don’t do bath duties? I thought you must have been special for her to come and ask me.” You unzipped his pants. His breath hitched. “She was right…” you pulled away from him abruptly and walked to the opposite side of the bath, quickly running your hands through the bubbly water to ensure it was still hot before looking up at him. “I will leave you some privacy to get yourself comfortable Jake, I will be back in a few moments.” He blinked out of a trance as he watched you retreat behind a door. Jake causally pushed his jeans down with his briefs, exposing his already half-hard cock to the air as he smirked to himself. He sunk into the warm water, his body now concealed by the thick layer of bubbles across the water's surface. He instantly closed his eyes and laid his head back against the landing, moaning quietly in relief.
You removed your red gown, now in a white corset undergarment and white skirt. The corset sat even lower on your chest than your dress, your breasts spilling from their constraints. It was still ornamental, the neckline was lined with deep blue fabric, and an intricate lace pattern tightened it up your back. You heard the water unsettle, and you entered the room again a few moments after you heard his relaxed sigh.
“Is it comfortable for you?” Jake had not opened his eyes yet, calmed even more by your voice.
“It’s perfect, y/n. Thank you.” You brought the short wooden stool closer to the bath's edge and sat down, dropping your hand into the water to run it up over his arms and across his chest. He had now opened his eyes to your direction, and they dropped to your tits moving slightly as your arm worked on his body. His cock hardened at the sight, combined with the feeling of your soft hands now massaging his shoulders.
“If you like what you see, Jake, I can make myself available for you tonight…” you cupped some water in your hands to drop onto his hair, gently running your fingers through his locks. His breathing had slowed now, fully relaxing into your touch and the comforting water.
“Fuck, I would love that y/n…” he whispered out, his arousal making him lose trust in his voice. He heard a bump in the next room, a foot hitting the ground, and he was reminded of his roommate for the night. “Can I invite my friend, y/n.” He sounded shy as he averted his eyes, not wanting to push his luck.
“Only if he is as handsome as you are, Jakey.” You slowed your hands on his shoulders to run them up to his cheeks, pulling his head toward you to leave a soft kiss on his forehead. “Meet me in the room on the ground floor behind the staircase once you’re done, okay?” You dried your hands on a towel resting by the bath, and left through the back door.
***
You had never entertained the prospects of two men before. You relied on your victims being alone, shameful they were even with you. Jake was neither of those things, but you felt inexplicably drawn to him. If his friend was anything like him, they would be easy travellers to use.
You poured three rum shots to sit on your nightstand. The one for yourself was pure, a simple prop to entertain the men, differentiated by a gold rim around the lip of the glass. The other two were laced with a strong concoction. Not enough to be deadly, but enough to knock a grown man unconscious. You were practised now, you didn’t even need to touch the foul men you brought into the room. Once they passed out you would rob them of their belongings, and use the side door in your room to drag their bodies into the dark alleyway. By morning they wouldn’t remember how they even got to the saloon, believing their riches to be in the hands of the cunning street children or a fortunate bypasser.
You would usually only act if you knew they were wealthy, but Jake was still a mystery to you, and he was not foul by the slightest. You were even considering entertaining yourself before you pounced. You impatiently waited on your bed, tapping your bare feet into the ground while you neatened your hair and applied a new layer of lipstick.
***
You widened the door, and gestured for Jake to enter the room. Another man stood tall behind him, golden hair softly sitting around his forehead. His face was full with a strong jaw line, a cute nose and teasing eyes. His prominent Adam’s apple bobbed as he took you in, raking his eyes from your face down to your tits.
“I’m Heeseung.” He held his hand out for you, and you were similarly flinching at its cold impact. He brought your hand up to your lips, kissing it softly as he smirked, looking at you intently through his lashes. You smiled back at him, he was just as gorgeous as Jake, but he too gave you the same unnerving feeling.
“Please come in, Heeseung.” You turned to Jake, about to guide him to sit on the bed, but he had already made himself comfortable on the edge of the mattress, his denim jacket discarded on the floor. “You’re an eager boy aren’t you, baby?” You walked toward where he sat and ran your hands through his lightly damp hair. His hands were resting behind him on the bed, making his crotch push forward toward you. His cock looked painfully restrained behind his jeans. “Did you touch yourself in the bath when I left, Jakey?”
“No…I was too impatient. Wanted to feel you instead.” He moved his hands to your waist, pulling on your body to encourage you down. You first unbuttoned the side of your skirt to pull it off, your white panties now on display. You anchored your legs on either side of his body and sank down onto his lap, instantly feeling how large his cock was against your covered pussy. He moaned instantly at the impact, and you softly giggled.
“So desperate, baby…” Heeseung had remained standing by the door, half leaning his body against the wall, eyes locked on your ass. “Heeseung, can you please help me with my corset.” He wasted no time, striding over to you as he too dropped his jacket. He sensually bunched your hair together to move it over your right shoulder, softly kissing your left one before undoing the bow and pulling the lace from its holes. Once the corset had dropped vertically into your lap, you placed it on the bed next to you, leaving you in a white low cut bra. The hands of both men twitched to reach for your tits, Heeseung’s quickly raced around to your front and tweaked your nipples through the fabric. Jake’s hands tightened on your waist, and he started rocking you across his cock when you softly sighed in response to Heeseung’s movements.
You leaned your head back onto Heeseung’s broad chest to let out a purposeful moan, dragging your eyes to your nightstand. You would have already had them knocked out by now, but you decided to have a little fun. You locked your legs down onto Jake so he would stop you from grinding, and made work on your bra clasp to unclip it. Heeseung quickly grabbed at the fabric to pull it off you, throwing it by your corset. Jake took advantage of Heeseung’s quick intermission, as he was now cupping your bare tits in his hands, massaging and fondling them. He shamelessly moaned at the sensation.
Heeseung, not deterred by competition, brought his hand to the band of your panties and dipped his middle finger inside, reaching to your slick to bring it up to your clit, circling it slowly. You leaned your head back again, this time letting out a genuine string of moans. Your hands reached up to lace around Heeseung’s neck, intertwining with the hair strands you could reach as you began to rock into his hand. This pushed your pussy down onto Jake’s cock, which was now twitching with each little thrust you gave. Jake leaned up to sloppily kiss across your neckline and shoulders, and you felt the vibrations as he groaned against your skin. You moaned out desperately as Heeseung’s pace quickened on your clit.
“Need one of you right now, need to ride your face.” Jake’s abuse on your neck quickly ceased, and he pulled Heeseung’s hand from your panties.
“I’m all yours, baby.” He tapped your thighs, and you stood up to take your panties off. Heeseung laced his fingers into the fabric to pull them down for you, letting them drop so you could step out of them.
“Don’t lay down yet Jakey, let’s have a shot. I forgot I poured them earlier.” You handed them each their glass before reaching for yours, the men clicked theirs together before chucking it down without hesitation. You soon copied, crinkling your eyes slightly as it burned down your throat. The men hummed in confusion at the taste. “It’s a local distilled rum, it’s not the tastiest but it’s strong.”
“It’s not bad at all.” Heeseung said contemplatively, and Jake nodded in agreement. You slightly jerked your head back.
“Oh, that’s a first. I’m glad you like it, then.” Not once had anyone complimented the taste. The men were decidedly odd, but you only had enough time to get yourself off before they would soon be fast asleep, so you pushed Jake into the mattress and crawled up to hover his mouth.
“Fuck baby, sit down, I’ll make you feel so good…” he kissed your pussy before pulling you down by your thighs, attacking your clit with his lips and tongue. You held onto his hair as you started to grind down onto him, his nose brushing your clit adding to your instant pleasure. Heeseung had circled the bed to stand in front of you, your speed quickening as strong hands were now resting on your waist to guide you. The pressure of his hands and Jake’s tongue continuously flicking against you had you moaning in pure euphoria, and you tweaked your nipples for added pleasure.
“Fuck, you’re something, I’m so glad Jake brought me here…” Heeseung had removed his hands from you to unbutton his pants, pushing them down just enough to release his cock. He was long and thick, and you quickened your pace on Jake’s mouth as you imagined it was Heeseung’s cock inside you. He squeezed it, precum leaking down for him to collect as he stroked himself, eyes locked on your face contorted in pleasure. He got a kick out of your obvious staring at his girth, and he pumped it sensually, letting out whiny moans.
Jake was moaning underneath you as he too rocked his hips into the air, clawing for any friction he could get from his pants. The vibrations were an added sensation on your clit, and you could feel yourself building to your climax. The men would soon be knocked out, so you aggressively pressed down on Jake’s mouth, moaning shamelessly as you grinded until you came, gushing across his lips and face.
Heeseung had started to become lightheaded, and as he had drawn all the blood to his twitching cock, he quickly lost his balance and stumbled onto the bed, just catching himself before he could fall to the floor. He laid himself down on his back, panting as he tried to stop his head from spinning before his body inevitably gave out. Jake was much less dramatic, simply dropping his head to the side and closing his eyes, looking satisfied even in his slumber after you abused his mouth. You sat on his torso for a few moments before lightly slapping his face, repeating the same action to Heeseung. They were both as still as a rock, so you shoved your hands into their pant pockets, pulling out decent piles of cash and coins. You climbed off the bed to ransack their denim jackets, finding more money. It was not the usual amount you would aim for, but your experience for the night had made up for it. You applied pressure to a wooden floor panel to kick it up, revealing your wooden box for your safekeepings.
You flung open your closet to find a simple nightgown. It sat low on your chest and high up your thighs, making it perfectly comfortable to sleep in, or drag a body. Bunching his legs together by his boots, you pulled Jake from the bed. A thud sounded as his back impacted the wooden floors, another following Heeseung. You peaked out the door to ensure no onlookers were nearing, and began to drag Jake outside to rest against the wall.
As you pulled on Heeseung’s body, you watched his gorgeous face to ensure he wasn’t stirring. That was until his eyebrows began to twitch, and his mouth slightly moved. His eyes otherwise remained closed, void of consciousness, so you put all of your strength into your arms to move him outside. You unceremoniously chucked their emptied jackets on top of them, giving Heeseung a little dignity of covering his otherwise unclothed crotch.
You locked both doors to your humble room, extinguished any candles you had lit, and dimmed your lanterns. Crawling into bed, you thought about Jake’s mouth, and Heeseung’s cock. For the first time, you were almost regretful, sad at the thought they wouldn’t remember this shared night. It was delightfully easy to not get attached when you had perfected your usual menu of wealthy, lonely men. These two were vastly unlike the rest, and you squirmed slightly in place as you tried to calm yourself to sleep.
***
You had been drifting into slumber for no longer than half an hour before a steady, heavy knocking could be heard on your door that connected to the saloon. You were convinced you were dreaming at first; it was far too late for anyone to be bothering you right now. The noise ceased, and you comfortably rolled over to ease into your pillow once more.
Until it started again, louder and more impatient. You shot up in your bed, more frustrated than scared.
“What? Who is it?” You exclaimed.
“My name is Jay, I’m looking for my friends.” His tone was short but soft spoken. Fuck.
“Who are you friends, Jay? There’s no one here. I’m done for the night.” You spoke as confidently as you could.
“Their names are Heeseung and Jake. I know they’re probably not in there, but they are idiots, I just need to know they are okay. Can I check please? I will be out of your hair in no time.”
While you technically had nothing to hide in your room, if he wanted to peek out your door he would see their bodies sitting in the blissful moonlight. You also were in your right to not open your door to a strange man, although your curiosity peaked as to whether a friend of those peculiar men would be as gorgeous as they were. His voice sounded warm and comforting, so you toed across the floorboards to the door. It was much less suspicious to let him look, and you just hoped he would be quickly discouraged at your empty room.
You clicked the lock open and turned the door knob, carefully opening it just enough for your head to peep through the gap. His hand was raised as if he was about to knock again, and he dropped it quickly. You looked up at him to assess his behaviour before opening your door; if Jake and Heeseung were handsome, Jay was a god amongst men. His jawline was prominent and strong, illuminated in the moonlight flowing through the windows. Despite his sharp structure, his face was so cute; he had gorgeous dark brown eyes that carried a sincerity you found endearing and his lips were sat in a slight pout. He looked down at you, eyes slightly widening before softening to genuine gratitude.
“You have to agree to stay out there, okay? I’m not letting a strange man inside my room at this hour of the night.” You tried sounding assured, but your instant attraction to him was making it difficult.
“I completely understand.” You swung the door open to reveal your empty room, illuminated only by a street lantern just outside. His eyes quickly drifted to the v-shaped neckline on your tiny night dress, perfectly framing your inner cleavage, soon tracing to where the fabric landed just at your upper thighs. You had erred in making yourself presentable, now feeling uncharacteristicly shy under his gaze. He shook his head, as if to reset himself, and glanced around your room with a sigh.
“You were right. Of course they’re not in here, I’m sorry for disturbing you.” He nodded at you before he reached his hand to grab the door handle.
***
Heeseung’s eyes twitched open slightly, only briefly seeing his own boots through a fuzzy haze before they were forced closed. He tried to move his neck from its awkward position, but he was seemingly paralysed. He was too groggy to even panic, barely able to form a coherent thought. Where was he? Why couldn’t he move? He could subtly feel rough brick where his hands sat. As the wind picked up, it cooled his crotch area which was apparently exposed. This triggered his memory briefly, a woman on a bed. Jake was there. Wait, where is Jake? It was at the saloon, wasn’t it?
He spoke within his mind, hoping one of his dear friends was awake and close enough to receive the message. ‘Me and Jake are in trouble. We were…in the room behind the stairs…’ the mental dexterity required was far too much for his fragile mind right now, and he quickly slipped back to sleep.
About five minutes later, his eyes fluttered open again, only this time he was able to keep them open as he shifted his heavy neck up. He softly grunted, his limbs felt impossibly stiff, but he fought their weight to slowly sit up. He looked around. It was dark enough to conceal any identifiable markers as to where he was, only seeing generic buildings and uneven cobble paths. He moved his jacket out of the way to properly close his trousers, turning to his left to see Jake, sprawled unconscious against the wall. Heeseung shook his shoulders lightly, becoming more aggressive when the boy didn’t initially budge. His eyes finally twitched, and he mumbled and groaned in pain.
“Jake, we need to get up. I don’t know where we are, I think we were drugged.” He was whispering, but his tone was still authoritative.
Jake's eyes instantly widened, shocking him back to reality. He stretched his limbs and turned to Heeseung, embarrassment etched in his features.
“Heeseung, I think this was my fault…” he reached into the pocket of his denim jacket, feeling only fabric, and he knowingly sighed. “What are we going to tell Jungwon?”
“We don’t have to tell Jungwon anything. I know we are not meant to use our abilities if there are witnesses, but if I just go in and ‘convince’ her to give our money back it should be fine. We can leave in the morning and she won’t know any better.”
“Okay.” Jake whispered back. “But-”
“No Jake. I know what you’re going to say. We can never see her again.” Heeseung said with finality. The older man stood, pulling Jake up with him. They quietly walked toward the lighted pathway, relieved to see they were just outside the saloon. The wooden panels squeaked on their hinges as the two men forced themselves through, moving toward the hallway by the staircase. They quickly halted their movements at the sight before them; Jay gripping the handle of your opened door. The men began to slowly turn, but a voice travelled loudly down the hallway.
“Hey! What are you two doing?” Jake and Heeseung looked at each other shamefully before walking to Jay.
“We were lost trying to look for the bathroom.” Jay squinted at Jake, humming sarcastically.
You shuffled over to hide behind his larger frame, face tensing with sheer confusion. Neither of them should be able to hear torrential rainfall right now, let alone be walking and talking. You instantly pictured the dosage you poured them, it was no different to your normal usage, even a little more based on your accidental heavy hand. Did the chemist lower the potency on the new bottle? No, you hadn’t opened that one yet. These men were just getting weirder, and you grew disturbed. You had never been confronted before. Sure you could just give them back the money, but if they watched you retrieve it, there was nothing stopping them from robbing you blind. You figured it best to just run out the back, and you placed yourself in an offensive position.
“Right, looking for the bathroom…you both look drunk. How much have you had to drink?”
Heeseung was trying to peer over Jay to see you, but he couldn’t do so without arousing Jay’s suspicions further. If he was to use his powers right now, Jay would quickly piece their stupidity together.
“Too much, we used up all our savings.”
You frowned in disbelief, but simply chose to be grateful as he lied through his teeth. Jake piped up.
“We were going to see if a working girl would still have us...”
“Okay… but why did Hee—” Jay remembered you were still behind him, thankfully catching himself before he questioned the telepathic message he heard. “Fine, whatever. I think you both should just come back upstairs.” He turned back to you, eyeing the suspicious anxiety you now exhibited. “You don’t want two idiots who can’t even pay you, right?” He softly laughed with a charming edge, easing some tension. You smiled slightly and shook your head at him. “I didn’t think so. Sorry to disturb you again, I hope you can get back to sleep. Enjoy your night.” He politely smiled at you, and gently shut your door closed behind him.
The three men began walking up the stairs. Each step Jay took carried a particular anger as he stomped to the first floor. Bath services had now ceased for the night, giving them a somewhat private place to argue.
“Yknow, I’ve almost come to expect this shit from Jake. But Heeseung, what are you doing? Something obviously happened between you both and that woman, and you’re going to tell me right now, or I can go wake Jungwon.” Jay thought he was whispering, but the pure frustration in his tone sent his voice echoing off the walls.
“How would you even know that, Jay?” Jake attempted faux dumbfounded offence.
“I clearly heard Heeseung ask for help from that room. And then when you two showed up, she freaked. Please tell me you didn’t—” this time he genuinely lowered his voice, walking toward the men and grabbing their jackets.
“Jay. You know we would never try to…” Heeseung ensured he dropped to whisper. “We would never feed from an innocent person.”
“Okay, good. So what the fuck happened.” Jay dropped their jackets with a shove to their chest.
“She robbed us after putting something in our drinks, and then dragged us outside.” Jake averted his gaze to the ground, cheeks burning with embarrassment.
“Well, you two are bright aren’t you. A pretty woman talks to you and you lose all your braincells”.
“We were going to go see if we could get our money back. That’s when we ran into you.” Heeseung was speaking genuinely, meeting Jay’s eyes with a silent apology.
“Well, you need to let it go. We need to draw as little attention as possible. Use this as a lesson to take with you moving forward…”
According to Jake and Heeseung, Jay continued a monologue dripping with self righteousness and judgement as he led them up the next flight of stairs. They were now exhausted from the prolonged impacts of whatever you had given them, so they simply nodded in agreement. Jay signed at them with slight sympathy and patted their shoulders.
“Don’t talk to her anymore. I have a plan for us here, and I think I can use her. Let’s just keep this between us.”
***
Despite the pit you were nursing in your stomach, you continued to soak the mop head in the soapy bucket, dragging it across the glossy wooden floor boards. You had yet to see the strange men from your eventful night, and just about every creak of the staircase had you flinching. If they had woken up prematurely last night, it was inevitable they would piece together your guilt. You abandoned your nights sleep as you compared whether getting robbed or fired was more disastrous. What was plaguing you is why they seemingly lied to their friend; while you wanted to feel relieved, it quickly dissolved into a deep unease.
You whipped your head around to another squeak coming from the stairs. Blood started to pump to your cheeks, heart beating in quick succession, hands shaking as they idled around the mop handle. Jay calmly trudged down the steps, hands in his jean pockets, seemingly oblivious as he looked at the ground.
You turned so your back was facing him, listening for his footprints to hopefully stride past you to the exit. They instead stomped toward you, stopping as they grew closer. You snuck your eyes to the side to try and see him without turning, gulping when you saw his denim-clad figure standing just a metre from you.
“Hey, I am so sorry again about last night. Like I said to you, those two are idiots.” You halted your movements, slowly turning to assess him. He had a sweet smile on his face, and his eyes softly sought yours as he met your face. “I hope you were able to get back to sleep.” Your jaw tensed, but you plastered on a grin.
“That’s okay, I slept fine. Your name was Jay, right?”
“Yes, I don’t think I ever got yours?” He spoke with prodding curiosity. You felt yourself leaning into his warm energy, now able to focus on how attractive he was in the morning sunlight. His skin glowed like honey, and you were drawn to his plump lips when he swiped his tongue between them.
“My name is, y/n.” You spoke calmly, holding out your hand that wasn’t gripping the mop. Jay’s own wrapped around yours, and you tensed your grasp at the harsh cold. You fought the urge to grimace, instead focusing on how unusually soft his skin was.
“Are you working tonight? I mean, not like that—” he cleared his throat. “Are you free tonight. I would love to buy you a drink to make it up to you anyway.” You squinted, slightly smirking up at him.
“I will be working the bar again tonight. There’s no policy against drinking on the job, so if you’re happy to join me at the counter I can make it work.”
“It’s a deal then. I will see you tonight. Keep an eye out for me.” He sent you a wink before heading for the door. You were now unable to distinguish whether your bodily anxiety was out of fear or attraction. If you assumed Heeseung and Jake didn’t tell him, you were cautiously optimistic at the prospects of seeing Jay more. You didn’t even assess the quality of his clothes or whether there were lumps of cash in his pockets, instead focusing on his sweet voice and enchanting eyes.
You shook your head, tutting at yourself. Your safety relied on the quiet loneliness you now lived in. While initially forced upon you, life had slowly become easier once you accepted that bad things simply don’t happen if you don’t get attached. But your mind wandered against your own will, picturing the nicest dress you could wear for the night.
***
Jay approached the bar, smelling of subtle lavender following his nightly bath. He pushed up the sleeves on his newly purchased black button up. It was neatly tucked into his jeans, and his hair sat loosely across his forehead. He slotted himself into a tall stool along the bench.
The saloon was full with a steady echo of chattering and clinking glass. Dim lighting and the scent of beer set a comforting and cheery mood. He tapped his boots against the stool leg, shifting his head to look for you behind the bar.
You finally entered, wearing a black gown. It was slightly low on your chest with a decorative lace edge, but was otherwise tastefully modest. Jay took in a heavy breath upon seeing you enter his view, rubbing his hands on his thigh to ground himself. His family was relying on him right now, even if they didn’t exactly know. You both shyly smiled at each other, and you quickly approached him.
“Hi Jay, what can I get you?” He pulled out some cash and slid it across the bench, a bright, toothy smile directed your way.
“Make whatever you want for both of us.”
“Can do. Two beers coming up.” You spoke with a laugh, clicking open two bottles. You both clinked your beverages together before taking a large swig.
“So, when do you finish for the night y/n? To be honest, I was hoping to get to know you more.”
You darted your eyes to the man further down the bar serving a group of men.
“Yknow, I’m sure John can handle himself for half an hour.” You gestured for Jay to follow you, leading him to the booth in the very corner of the establishment. It was surrounded by a window bay, which illuminated the table with an orange tinge from the streetlight. To your surprise, he sunk into the couch in the space next to you, and you could feel his body heat radiating onto you.
“This is a pretty nice saloon, especially compared to some of the places we’ve been. How long have you worked here?” His eyes hadn’t left yours since he started to speak, and they now carried a hint of affection. You hesitated for a moment; you’d never really gotten your story straight once you arrived in this god forsaken town. Something about him made you want to attempt a genuine conversation, but you restrained yourself before opening your mouth.
“A couple of months. I came from a really small town called Valentine. Compared to it, anywhere is better, but this place has its own demons.” Jay nodded contemplatively.
“I’m getting that impression. My brothers and I are trying to figure out if we want to settle here. It just feels like there is something more under the surface.” You felt like he was staring into your soul, whether that was his intention or your paranoia you’re not sure.
“Were those two men from last night your brothers?”
“Yea. There’s seven of us. We’re staying here for a bit, but I’m going to start looking for a place if we find work.” He took his last large sip of his beer, pushing the bottle away before he leaned his arm back to rest behind you on the chair.
Men never took the time to conversate with you before they shoved cash in your face or cornered you against the wall. You’ve never felt bad about what would transpire after, because why should you? If they view women as nothing more than a sex object, why not use it against them?
This is why you were so disturbed by the flutter in your heart as his scent wafted in your space from his movement. His thigh had shuffled to sit against yours, and he comfortably eased himself into the back of the lounge.
“Anyway, enough about me and my strange family. Tell me about Valentine, did you come here with anyone?” You poured a generous gulp of beer down your throat, attempting to distract from the instant tears prickling at your eyes.
“Yes, I did. But she, well, left.” You steadied your voice enough to conceal your sudden grief, shocked at your own reaction. What seemed like an easy question carried a weight you still have yet to confront; guilt, regret and sadness rolling into one. You had forbidden yourself from thinking about it, let alone talking about it.
“Hey, it’s okay. How about you tell me what I should do around town, who makes the best food?” A gentle hand rubbed at your shoulder, another resting on your thigh. His touch was like nothing you had experienced before, it felt genuine, soft, comforting. You subconsciously leaned into him, resting your head around his shoulder.
“Hmm, the old lady who runs the food stall at the market makes a fantastic beef stew.” He laughed slightly at you entertaining his distraction.
“Well, if you are free one day, I would love for you to show me.” You both smiled, although Jay’s quickly dropped upon thinking about how a stew would do nothing to contain the deep, painful hunger that was eating at his stomach. Sunoo was actively starving, and Riki was about a day away from tearing into the nearest human. He needed information, for the sake of his brothers. He pushed down a lump in his throat, and moved his mouth to your ear.
“Do you want to go somewhere quieter?” Your eyes widened at his sudden tone change, and you reached a mental fork in the road as you felt his hands rub more sensually on your leg. You could give him the benefit of the doubt, ease into your emotions for once and test his intentions. Or, you could cut your losses now, and rob him for all he is worth before he could rob you of your dignity.
“Yea, let’s go.” He tapped you where his hands were sitting before he shuffled off the chair. He held out his hand to help you out, and you interlaced them together once you stood to lead him to your room.
***
You lightly closed the door, watching Jay fiddle with the rolled sleeves of his shirt before shifting his hands into his pockets. He was slowly pacing from the door to the bed, darting his eyes around.
“Jay, are you okay? You can sit on my bed.” You frowned at him, now feeling slightly uneasy. It stung your heart a tinge that he was seemingly working himself up about what would happen next. You knew deep down he wouldn’t have wanted a quiet place to just talk, but you had let yourself dream on your short walk here. You sat closely next to him, grabbing his hands in yours. “You seem nervous. It’s okay, did you talk to me because I’m a working girl, is this your first time seeing one?”
“That obvious…?” He scoffed to himself, shaking his head. He intertwined his fingers with yours, rubbing his thumb where it rested on your skin. You hummed, thinking about how he had probably buttered you up to just reduce his nerves.
“Well, I always have some drinks ready for guests who seem nervous, it’s very normal.” You moved your hand to rub his shoulder, using the other to reach for the shot glass with a spiked rum. “Here you go.”
“Oh, thank you. I would love for you to have one too, it would make me feel better. You can have that one.” He rubbed a hand on your thigh, and you hoped he didn’t feel your muscles tense.
“It’s okay, Jay. I can make another for myself in a moment.” You pushed the glass toward him, starting to tickle the hair on the nape on his neck.
“Is that so you can drug me, too? Steal all my money? Chuck me outside?” His tone had completely dropped, low, soulless and confident. You felt as if the room had gotten darker, and you began to shake with adrenaline. You dropped the hand that was touching him, juxtaposed by his tightening on your leg. “All I had on me is the cash I spent at the bar, you’re not going to get anything from me.” He took the glass from your weak grasp and leaned over you slowly to place it back on your nightstand. Your eyes became hot, and you clenched your jaw to ensure you wouldn’t falter.
“Did you really think Hee and Jake wouldn’t tell me? I don’t blame you for what you do, but you endangered my brothers. So, you’re going to do some things for me, or I will take that glass out so your boss can have a whiff.” You tried to push yourself up from the bed with fighting strength, now terrified of what he would do in this lonely room. He not only held you down by your leg, he used his other hand to grasp your wrist. You whipped your head toward him as you were flung back onto the bed.
“What the hell could you want from me, Jay? You’ve wasted my time all night, I would have just slept with you if you asked.” You tried to speak loudly to alert one of the nearby women, thrashing against him.
“Woah, hey, I promise I’m not going to hurt you. Jesus, I would never do anything like that.” He lightened his grip, instead standing so he was between both exits in your room and he surrendered with his hands like he was calming a trapped animal. “I just need you to answer some questions. And you’re going to be honest. I told you my brothers need work. We want to speak to Angelo Brontë.”
You now felt a deep nausea building in your stomach, and your head spun with dizzying stress.
“Why don’t you just go ask someone at the bar? I’m just a working girl, what could I have to do with him?” You exclaimed with enough conviction that you almost believed it yourself.
“Well, I did speak to someone at the bar, which is why I know that’s not true. When I walk out of here, no one will know it was you who told me, you have my word. I’m not going to put you in danger. But I will make life very difficult for you here if you don’t tell me right now.” His voice had softened, coaxing you into a false sense of security that in no way matched what he was saying.
You threw your head into your hands for a moment, groaning in acceptance. It was only a matter of time before your lies would catch up with you. However, you refused to simply give away all of your cards without something in return, and you concocted a plan.
“Fine. You’re right. I work every weekend at Angelo’s personal saloon.”
“Well, that’s a great start. Me and my brothers have some, well, sought after skills. We think we could do some good work for his gang. We’re not scared to get our hands dirty. How do I get a job with him?” He sat back on the bed, feeling more calm about the conversation. You shuffled back next to him, now seeking out his eyes with a genuine vulnerability.
“Well, Angelo’s main problem right now is Micah, he’s from this small outlaw gang, they’ve been causing trouble to Angelo’s people since they got here. Get rid of him and prove it to Angelo, and I’m sure he’d be appreciative. The Van Der Lin gang defend their men strongly, so it won’t be easy.” You played with the skirt of your gown, mulling over your next words carefully.
“I could help you get a meeting with Angelo if you prove yourselves. But only if you agree to help me too. You will tell Angelo that it was my idea, that I wanted to help him generously.” You spoke with a newfound venom, and Jay jerked his head back with disbelief.
“Why would you want that y/n? I can’t tell if you like him or hate him.”
“He hurt someone close to me. What I need to do from there doesn’t need to concern you.” You both sat in a stark silence, finally looking at each other when it became unbearable. “I have a day off tomorrow before I head to his saloon for the night. Meet me down here tomorrow at 9, and I can tell you what you need to know.”
A thin lipped smile grew on Jay’s face, and he nodded in thought before standing to leave. The moment his back was to you, the tears began to release themselves instantly down your cheeks. You tried not to breathe, not wanting to cry until he had left.
Jay opened the door to strut out, but he turned back to you before he could move his boot into the hallway. He saw your shaking frame as you held a fist to your lips in comfort.
“Hey, I never wanted to hurt you, okay? I’m sorry for how this had to go. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He sighed, clicking the door closed.
