ICHOR
Part 2 - POV Pedro
WARNING: 18+, alcohol, desire, sexual references, hint at human harm, slight angst (I guess?)
Pairing: mafia!Pedro x OFC
Wordcount: 4.1K
Note: Not betad all mistakes are my own. Alright, I've been continuously planning on this story and concluded it will be a slow burner. Stuff will take time with this series, but I might as well put a future warning for this series: it will contain a lot of 18+ stuff, like drugs, alcohol, violence, murder, blood, sex and so on and so forth. So bear with me as we build this thing up.
Also, I appreciate you guys, you're the best 💛
Part 1 | ... | Part 3 | Part 4
Masterlist
He wasn’t interested in being there that night. He had other things to tend to, especially after the Water Lilly gang had tried to stop the import of exotic cigars and whiskey. They had almost succeeded hadn’t he instructed the drivers to arm themselves two weeks in advance.
There was a reason Pedro was on top, the fearless boss no one dared to touch. He was as good at reading his surroundings and the people within it as he was staying impeccably dressed - no one outmatched him on either. Rumours quickly spread that he could see into the future, which he found amusing, but were far from the truth, he simply had a rough childhood; always looking over his shoulder and seeing the devil in the details.
It was Mr. Ruiz – the capo for south-east side of the city – who suggested the club. Pedro barely remembered putting money into the place, but then again, he didn’t really care where it went, as long as it would turn to a profit, which it did. It was Ruiz who had asked for investment in the place, back when it was an empty waste of space and turned it completely around – the most lucrative club in the city.
Pedro was lost in thoughts, trying to figure out how to get back at the Water Lilly gang for their transgression. They knew to stay off those trucks, yet their greedy disgusting little hands had reached for his goods and taken out some fine men too. He wanted to hit them hard and as he swirled the liquor around his glass, contemplating if he was to just raid their base or just take out some men in return, the crowd begun to cheer and clap.
Mr. Ruiz, who had been babbling with too much alcohol in his blood and the one person Pedro wished had shut up during his occupied mind, rose to his feet applauding. Pedro lifted his head, dragging his eyes up from the golden content of his glass to see what had made the crowd go wild. It didn’t take long though, as a mysterious caped form had stepped onto the stage. It intrigued him as he placed his glass on the table, hand still wrapped around the crystal.
He let out a long exhale when the figure reached up and pulled off the hood over its head, revealing the face of an angel, at least that’s what he thought when his eyes snapped from her plump lips to her rich brown eyes. He had never seen such beauty before and this woman on stage with this almost sad face, had pulled him into something that felt foreign yet warm.
He breathed through parted lips as her eyes wandered across the room where she met his gaze. For the first time he felt vulnerable, even though he was probably the deadliest in the room. His grip loosened around his glass as she continued to hold her eyes. He didn’t even flinch as she pulled at the string of the cape and it flowed down, revealing the most sinful body to walk this earth.
His mind felt numb once she finally had looked away from him and begun her performance. He couldn’t help his eyes wandering her form, taking in each curve, dip and fold as she moved around. He tried hard to ignore the pressure he felt in his groin while watching her. It was the animalistic side of him trying to get out, but he supressed his urges to stay respectful of her performance. He knew her dancing and clothing were to provoke such impulses, he wasn’t ignorant, but his mother had taught him better; if you ever want to be a man, you treat every woman in your life with respect. He could still hear her voice echo the sentence in his head.
He let go of his glass and leaned forward in his seat, trying desperately to meet her eyes once more. He wanted to feel that foreign sensation again. When they finally met, his heart skipped a beat before slamming into his ribcage several times. The warmth spread across his chest as he dragged his fingers through his curly hair and held her gaze as she twisted and turned around on stage. He felt almost honoured that this woman would stay connected with him as she danced.
He didn’t take his eyes off her until she finished her performance and left the stage. As soon as she was gone, he felt empty and a slight chill went through his veins. He grabbed his glass and took a sip, letting the liquid burn down his throat to feel some warmth again.
Mr. Ruiz slumped down on the chair with a disgusting grin on his face. He had loosened his tie and taken off his jacket during the performance, which Pedro has missed entirely being pulled into her beautiful gaze. Ruiz downed his glass and let out a rumbly chuckle.
“What a piece of meat, huh boss?” He bumped his elbow a few times on Pedro’s arm.
His brows furrowed deeply as he turned to look at Ruiz with a deadly stare. “Piece of meat?” He echoed to him in a low growl.
Mr. Ruiz shrunk in his seat as he saw Pedro’s eyes turn darker by the second. “I-I mean…” A tremble went through his body as he lost all words in his vocabulary.
“Piece of meat…” Pedro turned his head away from Ruiz, feeling disgusted by his presence, and swirled his whiskey around in the glass. He let out a sigh and looked over his shoulder to grab the attention of one of his guards standing by. The guard walked up to him and bent down to head level with Pedro. “Take Mr. Ruiz home, let him sober up ‘til the next morning, then I want you and two more to remind Mr. Ruiz that women are not pieces of meat.” His voice was low as he spoke it into the guard’s ear. “And have Mr. Miller pick me up in fifteen.”
He rose to his feet, straightened his suit and picked up his coat. He turned to look down at Mr. Ruiz, who still sat small and shaking in his chair. Pedro gave him a reassuring smile, which didn’t help the trembling, but gave him hope that perhaps his boss was feeling forgiving for his choice of words. “I believe it’s best you get some rest, Mr. Ruiz. The alcohol has obviously gone to your head and you are in no state to have a civilised conversation with. I have asked this man to take you home.” Pedro gestured to the broad man standing behind him. “Sleep well, Mr. Ruiz.”
~
Pedro stood still in front of the wooden door with the words “changing room” on. The A and the second O were almost completely scraped off. He probably shouldn’t have been there, intruding upon her space right after a show, but he had to see her, to share just a moment alone with her.
He knocked softly on the wood three times, waiting to be invited in. His eyes widened at her sweet voice vibrating through the door, it sent a shiver down his spine. He pushed the door slowly open and found her standing in front of a mirror, brushing her hair.
“Good evening, miss. I hope I don’t disturb.”
He noticed her eyes widened at his manifestation, he didn’t know if it was out of surprise or fear, which he didn’t like, not knowing. She put her hairbrush down and turned to him, he watched her assess him, waiting for her to speak up, whether it was to reject his presence or let him stay.
“No, you’re not.” She sounded nervous, but he couldn’t help but see a hint of curiosity in her eyes as he held it.
He took a step in and closed the door behind him as to not be disturbed. He just hoped she wouldn’t feel trapped as he did so. He noticed the chair next to him and put down his coat on top before taking a step closer. He could smell her sweet floral perfume from where he stood. He inhaled slowly, trying not to make it apparent he was taking in her scent. It made his head almost swim and he swore he could stay there forever, inhaling her perfume and admire her beauty.
He lowered his head at her, mostly out of habit when he first meets someone. “My name is Pedro Pascal and this is my first time coming to this place. I must say your performance was captivating. The rumours about your dance were insignificant compared to actually seeing it.” He said truthfully, because it was indeed a delightful performance.
“Your words are too kind, mister Pascal.”
His ears perked up as she said his name. It had a pleasant tone to it, which made him faintly smile as he straightened up to look down at her.
“I must admit it is surprising to hear this is your first time here, I thought you owned the club.”
For a split second he wanted to furrow his brows, until he found her words somewhat humorous. “Yes, I suppose.” He smirked thoughtfully. She didn’t seem intimated by him after all, which made him lower his shoulders just a little. “But I am a busy man, I own a lot of businesses around town. I can assure you I have probably not been to half of them before.”
She chuckled at his remark and it made his heart flutter. So soft and innocent, he wanted to touch her, but knew if he did for too long, it might corrupt her.
“I hope I don’t intrude on your time off, miss?” Her name, he wanted her name. He wanted to see how she pronounced it, how she sounded and then he wanted to taste it on his own lips, like she had tasted his.
“Rose, Rose Miller.”
“Rose.” Her name was perfect. It matched her rosy cheeks, warm aura and that sweet floral perfume of hers. “That’s a beautiful name you have, Rose.” He had another taste of it and he loved it.
He took a step closer to her, not knowing why, but something drew him to her, but the atmosphere in the room immediately changed. He saw the sweetness in her eyes turn to fear and her smile that once painted her plump beautiful lips faded. He furrowed his brows, not knowing if he had stepped too close to her, if he had perhaps pushed his luck a bit too far.
“Is everything okay, Rose? You seem…” He noticed the warmth of her skin had faded and her once rosy cheeks were now – “Pale.”
She leaned back on the table behind her. “Oh, I am terribly sorry, mister Pascal, I am just…” Her eyes darted around his face in panic. “Drained from the performance.”
Lies. He wanted to confront her of it, that he knew her lips were not speaking the truth, but he also knew he had no right. He knew it had to do with him, but he was not going to push it. He knew she was aware of his position in this city, which could be intimidating enough in itself, but to share such a small space with him alone – she had strength within her to stay grounded on her feet, which only made him want to know her more.
He nodded, trying to cool down the slight disappointment and anger rushing through his veins from her lie. “Then, miss Rose, I wouldn’t want to occupy your time and keep you from getting home. But before I go.” He lifted his hand to pull out his personal card.
He pulled it out and noticed her flinch at his movement. His heart dropped at her reaction, but he didn’t blame her. “It’s just a paper card, miss Rose.” He tried to assure her there was nothing dangerous with it before handing it over. “I would like to invite you to do a more private performance at my place next Saturday. I know it is a working day for you here, but I have arranged for someone else to come instead. I will of course pay you should you choose to come.”
She took the card from his hand and he was disappointed that their fingers didn’t touch. He had to feel her, just a small graze would be enough.
“It is optional for you to come of course. If you choose not to perform, just take the day off. I will make sure you are paid none the less, so you don’t feel pressured.” It was important to him that she didn’t feel threatened to come, that this was entirely optional.
She glanced from him to the card, inspecting it and he waited patiently. Looking at her delicate fingers feel the card and flip it over. He breathed a little heavier watching her read his full name on the card, watching her lips slightly move as she recited it within her head.
He wanted to touch her so badly, to feel her skin and see if it was as soft as it looked. He had said everything he had to and now was the perfect time to say goodbye in the most old fashioned way, but a way he loved to part as it gave him the opportunity to not only show his respect for her, but also let him feel her. He reached out his hand with his palm up and watched the confusion spread across her face. He couldn’t help the amusement he felt when he saw her. “Your hand, miss Rose. If you please.”
With a trembling hand, she placed her hand in his and his heart was enveloped by pure warmth. She was soft, oh so soft, and delicate, like a little bird resting in the sun. He placed his thumb on top of her fingers to get a better grip on her and the shakes in her hand were gone. It delighted him to see it and he bent down, leading her hand to his lips and softly pressed them down at the back of her hand. He had to close his eyes as he revelled on the warmth he felt on his lips once he touched her. His head swam as her scent were stronger, seeping through his nostrils and playing with his senses. He could hear the silent gasp leave her mouth and he fought hard to not let a teasing smirk grow on his lips.
He straightened up and watched the warmth had returned to her cheeks and her shoulders were no longer tense. There was a smile playing with her lips and for a moment – just a very small moment – he imagined kissing them, but he quickly pushed the thought away. He didn’t want to let go of her, but knew if he held on, she might find it uncomfortable, and he regrettably let go. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Rose.”
He turned around and picked up his coat. He reached for the door and looked over his shoulder with a faint smirk on his lips. “I truly hope to see you next Saturday. It would be an honour to have you as a guest at my house.” He bowed his head at her before leaving the room, closing the door behind him. He begged within himself that she would show up.
~
Pedro sat still behind his mahogany desk, listening to his capos discuss their next move to broaden their reach outside the city. Although he heard every word that was said, his mind was occupied by a pair of dark brown eyes, rosy cheeks and floral smells. He saw her fluid movements on stage, tantalising him, luring him, begging him to seek her out. He could almost smell her perfume and for a moment he closed his eyes just to see her clearly in his head.
“What do you say boss?”
His eyes snapped open and they wandered across the men standing in the room with him. He must have missed the last part, but he was not going to admit it, mostly because this was a first for him. They expected him to listen, to understand and then either agree or disagree with them.
Pedro looked over at Federico – his right hand man – and rose an eyebrow at him. Taking the hint immediately, Federico stood up from his chair and stepped over to the side of the desk. Turning to speak to the other men in the room, he straightened his jacket and scanned the room, making sure everyone was listening.
“I believe the best option is to go straight through to them, instead of taking a detour. If we can own the road, no one can stop us. We’ll start furthest away and squeeze them closer to the city, entrapping them and forcing them to do as we say.” He begun to explain and the men in the room listened intently. “We don’t want any attention on this, so make sure to keep the body count to a minimum. If the Water Lilly gang finds out we’re eating up their territory, this might turn ugly pretty fast. Set up a date as soon as possible and claim it within a night.” Federico crossed his arms and puffed his chest out. “Now leave, this meeting is over. Any questions and you take them with me. Nothing is to be done until I say we’re ready.”
The men in the room, as if on cue, spoke in unison. “Inigualable, indiviso, inflexible.” They scrambled out of the room, leaving Pedro and Federico alone.
Pedro let out a sigh and leaned back in his chair. He was already exhausted from the meeting and he had barely said anything. He pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes shut, feeling a slight headache coming in.
The sound of liquid being poured made him open his eyes and look at Federico standing by the side table, pouring two glasses of whiskey. He sauntered over to the desk and placed one of the glasses in front of Pedro. “What’s occupying your mind?” He asked as he sat down in the chair on the other side of the desk.
He glanced at the golden liquid. “Wondering what to do with the Water Lilly gang for touching our goods.”
Federico snorted and Pedro snapped his eyes at him with a stern look. “Forgive me, Pedro, but I’ve known you long enough to know that’s not what’s occupying your mind. There’s something more personal.”
He tilted his head back, exhaled deeply and looked back at him with a softer expression. “Her name is Rose.” He said, not willing to give up too much, but knowing Federico, he would get just enough information to give some advice to clear his mind.
Federico leaned forward in his chair, interest peaking at his ears. “Rose, huh? It wouldn’t be the woman Mr. Ruiz made a comment about?”
“Perhaps.”
Federico couldn’t help but chuckle at his vagueness. “Figured as much, cerdito was a drunken mess.” Pedro narrowed his eyes at Federico. “Which of course doesn’t excuse his comment.” He rubbed the back of his neck nervously. Although they had been friends and business partners for a long time, Pedro knew how to dominate anyone he interacted with, which sometimes made him nervous. “I heard he had a pretty bad fall down a flight of stairs the other day.”
“That’s what happens when you’re not careful.” Pedro hadn’t even given it a second thought when he first told the guard to take care of him. He supposed he was too occupied thinking of Rose, trying desperately to have a reason for her to come to him.
Federico took a sip from his drink. “I must say it was kind of you to let him live.”
“He might have overstepped, but there was no reason for me to have him killed. He is good at what he does, but he needs to control his alcohol intake.”
Federico rose an eyebrow at him. “To be a man relying a lot on import and export of alcohol, you sure are not a fan of it.”
Pedro reached forward and picked up the whiskey filled glass. He turned it around in his hand and looked at the content. “It’s not about the alcohol, Federico. It’s about the people consuming it. With the right amounts, it can be a party, but with too much, it can turn to a bloodshed.” He guided the glass to his lip and took a sip as he held Federico’s curious gaze. The liquid burned down his throat. “There’s a difference.” A smile played on his lips as he placed the glass down again.
Federico smirked back at him and took a gulp from his whiskey before setting the glass down on the desk. “Now, tell me about her.”
Pedro leaned back in his chair, fingers interlaced and resting in his lap. His eyes wandered the ceiling, thinking back at her beauty. “Divine.” He murmured as he saw her face. The image trailed down her body and blood began to rush to his groin. “Sinful.” He sighed as her seductive curves played in his mind.
“That says a lot and nothing at the same time.” Federico chortled. “So, I assume that you spoke with her when you were at the bar?”
Pedro mentally slapped himself, reminding himself to not think this way of her, but it was hard – very hard. “Yes, I spoke with her after her performance. When I first entered the room alone with her, she seemed fine, nothing out of the ordinary, but halfway through our conversation, everything shifted. She seemed uncomfortable.” The memory made him upset, he never wanted to make her tense.
“Hmm… what were you talking about then?”
He thought back at it. “She had just told me her name.”
“Full name?”
Pedro nodded, remembering the sting of fear in her eyes.
Federico hummed in amusement and leaned forward in his chair. “Pedro, put two and two together. She just handed her own identity to the most dangerous man in this city. I too would be nervous if I didn’t want to be on the radar of a man like you.”
Pedro rubbed his chin thoughtfully. As his words settled in, he rubbed his eyes in annoyance, more of the fact that he didn’t even think about it. He had never shown interest like this in a woman before. Yes, he was always polite to every woman he met, but Rose, she was someone he actually wanted to seek more time with.
“Yeah, you know what I am talking about. How did it go after that? Was it still uncomfortable?”
“It was.” He said, thinking back at him finally touching her. “Until I asked for her hand, she gave it to me and I kissed it, saying my farewell. When I looked up at her again, she seemed almost…”
“Smitten?”
“Yes.” He admitted, thinking back at her soft eyes and kind smile.
Federico chuckled and leaned back. “Well, with the charm you ooze, no wonder.”
“I invited her to my place next Saturday.”
His eyes widened slightly in surprise as he looked at Pedro. “And what did she say?”
He shook his head. “Nothing. I just assured her there was no pressure for her to come.” He didn’t know if it was a good sign or a bad sign that she hadn’t said anything to his offer. He was just glad he had managed to turn the tight atmosphere to something calmer.
Federico nodded as he reached for his drink and downed it all in one go. “Well, do as you want to Pedro.” He rose to his feet and looked down at him. “Just know that even though you’re as untouchable as a man can get, remember that the people around you are not.” He took the glass with him as he left Pedro’s office.
Pedro watched the door close behind Federico. He leaned back in his chair and dragged his hand over his face, feeling tired, annoyed and a sting of conflict within himself. He propped his elbow up on the arm rest and rubbed his temple, trying to soothe the lingering headache. He knew Federico was right, but the thought of having to not seek her out was numbing in his head. All he had thought about the past two days was her. It was dangerous, he knew, to let his mind slip so easily, but the pull he felt towards her was too much. It was like a craving he needed to satisfy.
(Wanna be added to my tag list for Pedro Pascal and his characters? Let me know and I will happily add you)
@cynic-spirit, @lililolli, @notabotiswear, @sara-alonso, @blankmooon, @ah-callie, @mamacitapascal, @thewaythisis, @greeneyedblondie44