insurmountable | i'm dragging a heart that weighs a ton / holding out for not just anyone

[ her gaze flickers to his face, her breath coming up short and hard when he pushes her against the door. it's cold from the cryo element she's released earlier, stinging her bare skin. she's not surprised when her entire body feels like it's on fire, every inch that he's touched radiating with heat. even her lips feel tender, swollen from his kisses.

lumine slowly draws her hands back from his hair, fingers trailing lightly against the line of his jaw as if to coax him back to kiss her. to tease him once more, get him back on track to his descent to madness. ]

Mm, you should, [ she replies quite amicable, her eyes sweeping down his face to his mouth, his jaw, his neck. her pupils dilate for a moment, her teeth worrying on her lower lip.

a moment later, she's looking up at him once more, her head tilted ever so slightly. ] It does sound very important. They probably need you.

[How she can torture him like this with such a straight face, he's not sure. His head follows along with her fingers, his eyes closing and his jaw slack as she does so. It works exactly the way she wants it to, the fog clouding his mind again as he opens his eyes halfway to meet her own golden ones.

Important, she says. He should, she says.]

I should...

[But his body doesn't move, doesn't allow her the room to step away from the door. With her hand asking him to kiss, but her words telling him to go...]

You're really enjoying yourself, aren't you.

[Teasing him. Driving him mad. How terribly unfair.]

Edited 2022-06-09 05:28 (UTC)

[ a faint smile plays on her lips as she watches him slowly crumble into pieces beneath her fingertips, his entire being a complete mess of incoherent sounds, incomprehensible words. he's all but reduced to a puddle of goo, and if she were the type to take advantage of someone's weaknesses, she would've done so already. but as it stands, lumine is still on the morally white side—somewhat, at least.

after all, she's winning, isn't she? made sure he's on his knees for her.

she draws him closer to her until their foreheads touch, their lips a scant distance away. she can taste him again, their breaths mingling. so close for another kiss, except: ]

They're waiting behind this door for you, [ she whispers, a gentle fleeting kiss pressed in between words. the intent: to continue to drive him mad, insane. unthinking. ] Master Ajax ...

[ lumine tilts her head as she leans in, pressing their lips together in full, dragging him into a deep, heated kiss, tangling their tongues together—only to pull away with a smile, breathless. ]

... You should go.

Edited 2022-06-09 09:07 (UTC)

[He feels a line of heat racing through him when their foreheads meet, his breath coming heavier until she silences it, but only for that short, intimate moment. If unthinking is the state she wants him in, he's arrived at it, her words not making any sense to him as he stares back into those resplendent eyes, captivated entirely by them.

Oh, and then she breathes out his name, calling him Master Ajax before he takes him completely. He loses his sanity as she drags him downward under the waves of her tongue, eliciting muffled groans and whines as she forces his mind to focus on her and her alone.

He doesn't think he's ever been so under the control of a woman before, if it were safe to say that he was thinking at all. It's as if he can feel himself being twined around her finger, and he's not resisting it.

Ajax feels as if he can barely breathe when she releases him, his eyes reflecting nothing but a single thought.]

Lumine... [he breathes, her words confusing him.] Go? [But that's not where she is.]

Why... [he whines back, pressing his body down on her as he presses a needy kiss to her lips.]

I don't want to.

[ who knew that ajax volkov can be reduced to a whining, simpering mess? lumine certainly didn't, though she's starting to see how her counterpart might have reined childe in if he's all but identical to ajax in terms of everything.

she gasps, air knocked out of her lungs, when he presses against her, stealing her breath with another kiss. it's becoming harder and harder to breathe, to keep her own sanity intact when he's consistently breaking down all rational thoughts in her head as well. his touch, his kisses—lumine knows she's not touch-starved at all, and yet, all she wants is for his hands to remain on her body, his skin kissing her skin.

it takes all of her strength to pull away from the liplock, an unrestrained groan bubbling her throat in the process. her voice sounds hoarse for a moment, her mouth dry. ]

You have to, remember? Your men need you. [ her hand leaves his shirt, blindly groping for the door knob. a moment later, she's dragging it open, hiding behind it.

his subordinates, three of them and looking just as young as he is, suddenly stand in attention when presented with the boss's son. ]

See?

[Did he make her sound like that? Her hoarse voice, those groans he got out of her, it makes his breath hitch in his throat and desire grow in his stomach. Hunger looms behind his eyes, but he doesn't notice that she's turning the door knob, pulling the door open as the action pushes him back.

Reality hits him like a truck, and his face drops when he sees them.]

Why are you three still here?

[His voice is icy, irritated, and unimpressed.]

Didn't I say to handle it?

[We didn't want to make a move without your insight, boss...]

Can it wait?

[No, we think someone's here to get at someone, or there might be a bomb...]

What??? Let's go.

[He turns to Lumine, breathing out a heavy sigh.]

Stay down here while I check. If it really is something, I don't want you getting caught up in it, okay?

[He turns to go, to head upstairs and see what the problem is...]

[ their words pique her interest and she peers from behind the door, looking concerned and apprehensive despite her bright pink cheeks and dilated pupils, lips tender and swollen. one of them looks away from her, a faint blush staining his cheeks. not thay lumine notices it, glancing at ajax with a frown. ]

A bomb?

[ it's no surprise that they wanted his input, then. still, would they really endanger their boss's son by calling him out and having him attend to it?

and despite his warning to her and instruction to stay put, she steps out of the room after him, keeping up with their hurried pace despite her heels. he can scold her later; for now, she'd like to see what the fuss is all about. ]

If it's really a bomb, don't you think it's a bad idea for me to stay underground?

[Oh, but he noticed his man looking at her like that. He feels a twinge of jealousy and anger bubble up, but he pushes it down. Now's not the time or place, and so he'll have to deal with that later. Striding quickly down the hall, the click of her heels on the concrete alert him that she absolutely did not listen to him at all.]

If you're caught in the explosion, you'll die with us, if it's a bomb. If you're in the training room, you can be dug out when rescuers eventually show up.

[He shoots her a look, because he really doesn't want her to accompany them in case this is what the danger really is. But he knows that if she's coming, he's not going to be able to stop her...

Climbing the stairs, one of the men stop them inside of the small office-like space above the firing range. The man who normally sits behind the counter reads the news on his phone, seemingly ignoring the whole fiasco.

Boss, look.

He points to Lumine's car.

We don't recognize that car, and it's been here for almost an hour. Someone dropped it off here, and we know some of Dufort's guys have been hanging around here recently.

Ajax stands silent, having already known that information, but...

He places a hand on Lumine's shoulder. His eyes close, he can feel his temper rising.]

...Mind telling them, Lumine?

[ not really the place or time to argue about explosions and the possibility of also dying trapped underground. maybe later, when this all dies down. figuratively, of course.

in any case, lumine resolutely follows them, trailing after ajax into the room. for a moment, she almost opens her mouth to ask what's going on, until one of his men points at her car parked next to his. she blinks, looking very much confused at the idea that someone dropped off her car and placed a bomb inside (???), but quickly realises where this is all heading; the heavy hand on her shoulder also helps in giving her an idea on where and how this little fiasco will end.

she almost laughs, the sound she's managed to stifle before a clearing of her throat. ajax is pissed, terribly pissed, she can tell. ]

Hm? [ lumine glances at him before she offers them a faint reassuring smile, the one she's practiced well enough to wear. ] That's my car ...

[ all three men turned to her in surprise, and she catches one of them turn away almost immediately, face red. what? was it something she said?

your car? ]

Yes, my car. I came here in that earlier, and I can assure you none of Dufort's guys came with me.

Yes, her car.

[He echoes Lumine, his own voice sounding nothing less than angered at the pure stupidity coming from these three. In fact, to drive the point home, he address his guy behind the counter, the one ignoring the whole situation.

Ajax doesn't even turn around to do so, his back facing the guy.]

Lorenz, who's car is that outside?

[Without hesitation, the guy answers cooly and unbothered, like he knew the whole time. Because he did, because he was here the last time Lumine was here, he did her paperwork, he saw her pull up earlier today, he's always known.

That's the ladies's car.]

And you three didn't think to ask him first?

[They all freeze, especially the one that keeps glancing at Lumine. Ajax's eyes fall on him, and there's a searing fire behind the deep ocean blue that screams danger.]

What are you looking at? Why's your face all red, huh?

[The guy lowers his eyes to the floor, silent.]

Get out of my sight before I lose my temper.

[He's already lost his temper, but Lumine seems to help him keep it in check from going too far. The men scamper downstairs, and Lorenz just snorts in amusement. That's the boss.]

[ aah, here it goes.

lumine too pretends that she can't hear the scolding, the lecture, ajax losing his cool, feigning interest at a spot on the wall. looks like his men are just as dumb as him in certain situations, though maybe she expected more from someone from the mafia. the movies definitely made them more cunning than most people.

she only turns back to ajax when the three are finally gone, shrugging her shoulders. ]

You've already lost your temper, mind you, [ she points out, gaze flickering at the surprised and amused expression of lorenz who quickly hides it. ] ... I'm sure they were just concerned.

[ is she trying to justify the stupidity? not really, it's still dumb, in her opinion. but, well, doesn't ajax have a hand in this too? ]

I had thought you might have at least said something to your subordinates about my presence here.

[He sighs in frustration, letting his head fall into his palm. He did, she's right, and he doesn't refute her observation. He's especially annoyed with the guy that eyed her up, and Ajax is actively trying to push his anger down now that they're gone.]

They probably just got here, and we'd already been here for some time. Still, a little investigation would have answered their questions. And...

[He looks to her, because this isn't her fault, but...]

...then they wouldn't of been ogling you the way they were. Maybe a camisole isn't the best idea for workout clothes if they're going to be lurking around while you're here...

[Lorenz just turns his chair around, trying to pretend like he didn't hear a thing, but he can't help but snicker. Boss is jealous, wow.]

[ her eyes flicker towards the snickering lorenz, an eyebrow arching at his remark. ]

Maybe you should start disciplining your men first before you tell me not to wear certain articles of clothing.

[ it's not that lumine doesn't understand what he's trying to say; sure, this seems like a space mostly for guys in their family. she, for one, has yet to see a woman wandering around the building, and she seems to be the only one present at the moment. but this is teyvat, after all; his men should know better.

lorenz stops snickering, sitting up straight in his seat and putting on a no-nonsense expression. ]

Besides, they're not the ones who had their hands on me earlier, [ she adds with a shrug before walking out of the office and back towards the training room underground. ]

[Ouch. He's not arguing with her on that, because she's right- he glances over to Lorenz, who turns a little to look as Lumine goes back downstairs towards the training rooms. Ajax shoots the other man a meek smile while he rubs the nape of his neck worriedly, and Lorenz only inclines his head towards the stairs.

Right, catch up with her.]

Sorry, [he apologizes to her as he catches up, trotting down the stairs as she makes her way through the range to the training rooms.] You're right, they're the ones that should be a bit more respectful. I just...didn't appreciate them looking at you like that, that's all.

[ lumine continues her way downstairs, passing by the three who quickly moved out of their path, until she arrives at the training room. she glances at them for a moment before she turns her attention to ajax, tilting her head to gesture at him and go inside. ]

Hence the disciplining your men first, [ she closes the door behind them, sighing under her breath. ] I heard from Aether that you hooked up with a lot of girls back in college.

[ she's not accusing him of treating girls poorly, but if that's what his men had been seeing all this time, then they might think it's okay for them to do so. they seem like baby ducks, after all, following the habits of their boss. ]

Lumine...

[He follows her inside the room, the door shutting heavily behind them, now finding themselves alone once more. He spreads his arms, not really sure what to say to that.]

I was so much younger then, and finally getting out on my own and exploring the world without having to be under the thumb of my old man. I didn't know what I wanted, back then.

[He'd hardly place any blame on his horny teenage self, that kid was clueless.]

Besides, I did just discipline them, didn't I? They didn't get away with it.

[ she highly doubts that uni is his only stint with hooking up with girls in his lifetime. being the son of a multi-national ceo has its perks, especially in terms of the people he meets and the power placed in his hand over said people.

again, lumine sighs, but she ensures she doesn't show any expression of exasperation on her face. this conversation is not a conversation she'd like to have soon. ]

Anyway, it's almost time for me to go, [ she says with a glance on her wrist watch, surprisingly still alive despite earlier's little ruckus. ] I think I've had more than enough excitement for one day.

[ she can't stay for too long anyway. the excuse she's made to aether has a timelimit. ]

It has been nearly an hour, hasn't it? Haha, I guess I really didn't notice the time.

[He wonders why she'd wandered back in here if she needed to go, so he steps a little closer to her, eyes twinkling with amusement.]

Hey. You know, you didn't quite get me to need to check into a psychiatric ward, but it was a good try. So I'll still be in your hair for a while yet.

[He laughs, walking away from her to walk towards the door. He's got to change anyway, and get his shorts back from her- and that's not happening in here.]

[ cue eyeroll yet again. he's enjoyed the last part of their conversation far too much, which is exasperating. then again, a part of it is her fault, indulging her own desires and needs over everything else, so much so that she feels like she's being possessed by her counterpart's own feelings.

she wonders where it ends and where hers start; it's beginning to blur together. ]

I highly doubt that, [ she mutters, trailing after him towards the changing room. ] You sure were out of your mind the entire time ...

[ and to make her point, lumine reaches out with her hand, fingers brushing the bare skin at his nape, peeking out from his ginger hair and the collar of his tank top. she deliberately makes it slow, excruciatingly so. ]

[Ajax stops in his tracks, stretching his neck upwards to let her have more access to the skin, breathing out a deep, slow breath. His skin tingles at her touch, easily pulling that desire back up that had been building in him when she had complete control of his thoughts. She really doesn't want to give up this challenge, the man surprised at her stubbornness. He thought it was over, he was very wrong.

Would she continue, even at the threat of Aether suspecting something because she's taken far too long to leave? Does she know the consequences of how this will affect her, too? He wonders that.]

Your tenacity is praiseworthy, comrade. But are you prepared to follow through with your actions to the very end?

[And, as much as it amuses him to see Aether all riled up about this, he did talk to him and he'd rather not have to go through another lecture or rant. He's had enough of it...

Ajax turns quickly, scooping her up in his arms in a princess carry. She'll try to drive him down into madness again, and he'll certainly let her- but he's going to be walking down the hall at least, while she does it. He'll do his best not to falter on the way to the changing rooms. It'll be a nice challenge to himself.]

[ lumine lets out a shriek when he suddenly scoops her up, her arms instinctively wrapping around his neck. she sees a few heads peering out from the other training rooms, no doubt gaping and gawking as to what's going on in the hallway, but they quickly return to their businesses. which makes her wonder if this is normal ...

she peers at ajax's face. it'd unsurprising, wouldn't it, if it is, knowing the kind of stories aether's told about him lately. ]

I'd rather not leave my car behind just in case your men decide it has a bomb in it again.

[ don't worry, lumine won't attempt to try and seduce him further—or so she feigns a mild smile, her fingers tangling around the hair at his nape. ]

Terrified of what Aether might do to you?

[He doesn't mind any of the gawking, the opinions of their subordinates not mattering to him. Plus, he's sure word will spread now that it's very obvious that Ajax has "laid claim" to this girl- they won't dare ogle her or anything again lest the mafia lord find out.

He flashes a toothy grin at her, laughing at the implication of her car. Oh, he was never planning on having her leave her car behind anywhere...]

Terrified isn't quite the word I'd use. Tired of listening to him yell at me is more like it. Though, I think you'd like seeing him tear into me, wouldn't you...

[If her fingers that toy with his hair are any indication. Aether would be furious with him for messing around with his sister, even if Ajax has tried to soothe him the best he can about it.

It wasn't that effective though.]

[ laid claim, when he's yet to determine what their relationship is—if there is anything at all. after all, this could just be some consequence or result of their counterparts being indirectly meddlesome with their memories and feelings. when it happens too often, one might start believing it's their own desires.

even until now, lumine believes that whatever attraction she feels towards ajax also has something to do with him looking exactly like childe and the other lumine loving him deeply. it's frustrating, to find certain lines blurred and not have any clear definition to them. ]

It's amusing, I'd have to say, [ she replies with a shrug, twining a strand of hair around her finger. ] I've never seen Aether so angry at someone before. At least not to the extent that they'd yell at them.

[ she's always thought she's more impulsive, more emotional than her twin. that might not be the case anymore. ]

[She would be amused, he thought she was pretty amused by Aether chewing him out in their apartment too. He wonders what she'd be doing to him right now had he not grabbed her, restricting her access to him to just his head and shoulders. Guess it was the right move.

He glances back down at her, before snorting. These twins, what's he going to do with them.]

Now who's the brat. I can see you laughing at me now.

[He hoists her into his arms again, a lift that gives her a little air as she falls back into his arms. But the corridor comes to an end, reaching the changing rooms once more. He starts striding into the women's side, right along with her, because he knows there's no other women in the facility right now.]

[ please, she's just returning the favour to him.

at the realisation that he's not stopping, though, not even when they reach the changing rooms, lumine squirms in his arms to get off. even if—even if there's no other woman in the building at the moment, he should have the decency not to go inside the women's changing room. ]

What are you doing, Ajax? Put me down, I can change by myself.

[ definitely the bigger brat than her with what he's doing right now. so much for being a role model to his men. ]

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