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"This is why I asked the Don to send me." Victor said it drily, although he was aware that he was really admitting to quite a bit here. Knowing that Roman would handle this badly, of course. But also that he wanted to keep him safe, still, which included keeping him safe from himself. He was making it clear that he cared.
"Will you give me what I've come for?" He could hurt him, of course, he would get the job done any which way. But he wasn't only loyal to Don Falcone. He was loyal to his old friend too, if in a very different way.
"Will you give me what I've come for?" He could hurt him, of course, he would get the job done any which way. But he wasn't only loyal to Don Falcone. He was loyal to his old friend too, if in a very different way.
"I could have handled them. They don't pretend like you. Acting like you care but you don't." Obviously. He knew he was talking shit, he knew Victor cared but he couldn't process it properly when he was so cruel to him as to ruin his plans and take other sides against him. Victor wasn't with him in any way to he could comprehend so he felt more like an enemy than a friend.
"I have the tapes in the safe... let me up and I'll get it." He sounded reluctant and petulant, pouting childishly at his old friend for hurting him so much.
"I have the tapes in the safe... let me up and I'll get it." He sounded reluctant and petulant, pouting childishly at his old friend for hurting him so much.
"They wouldn't care, you are right about that." And he knew Falcone wanted Roman dead, not that the man crossed his mind that often. He could imagine who he'd have sent if not him. Victor moved the letter opener, since he imagine that Roman wouldn't be able to get it out of the desk, then he took a step back, but held a hand out to Roman, to help him up should he want it. "You know that I like you."
He had to know. At least Victor wanted him to know. It was certainly true.
He had to know. At least Victor wanted him to know. It was certainly true.
"Not as much as you like Falcone." Sliding off the desk, Roman stood on his own and brushed himself off, looking at the hole in his suit sadly before poking his finger through it with obvious lament. "You didn't have to fuck up my suit. That was uncalled for." With a petty huff, he stormed across the room to the safe and spun the dial around, careful to block his code from Zsasz view.
Opening it up, there was about 50 or more tapes lining the walls, along with some momentos from the fights. Plucking out the tape, he tossed it to Victor. "I don't see why everyone is mad at me. I made it clear, he signed a contract, how am I the bad guy?"
Opening it up, there was about 50 or more tapes lining the walls, along with some momentos from the fights. Plucking out the tape, he tossed it to Victor. "I don't see why everyone is mad at me. I made it clear, he signed a contract, how am I the bad guy?"
Victor caught the tape and then moved closer to Roman, lifting his shoulders a little.
"Bad for keeping it, not for making it. Don't worry, I'll visit the guy too. And I like him a lot less than you." Even if he was being petulant and huffy. Honestly, as annoying as it was for business, he liked it outside of it. Kind of cute.
So he took the last two steps closer as well and ducked his head to kiss him, before playfully biting his lower lip. "Stop pouting. You look sweet." Hard to resist.
"Bad for keeping it, not for making it. Don't worry, I'll visit the guy too. And I like him a lot less than you." Even if he was being petulant and huffy. Honestly, as annoying as it was for business, he liked it outside of it. Kind of cute.
So he took the last two steps closer as well and ducked his head to kiss him, before playfully biting his lower lip. "Stop pouting. You look sweet." Hard to resist.
"I'm allowed to pout. You were mean. You ruined my jacket."
Childishly and stubbornly, Roman didn't relent but he did relax a little, his shoulders falling from their tense position as he looked at Victor. Licking his lips, he moved forward and held Victor, holding him as he lazily leaned his head against his shoulder. Well, he hated being mad at him... even if he was still mad. And rightly so! Victor had wronged him.
But he also liked Victor, even if Victor didn't love him as much any more. Tragic. "You never visit me any more. Why are you so cruel? It's just not fair."
Childishly and stubbornly, Roman didn't relent but he did relax a little, his shoulders falling from their tense position as he looked at Victor. Licking his lips, he moved forward and held Victor, holding him as he lazily leaned his head against his shoulder. Well, he hated being mad at him... even if he was still mad. And rightly so! Victor had wronged him.
But he also liked Victor, even if Victor didn't love him as much any more. Tragic. "You never visit me any more. Why are you so cruel? It's just not fair."
"I've been busy." He had been, that wasn't a lie. With Don Falcone... Victor knew that his Don had lost some of his drive. The sharks were circling, sensing blood in the water. It meant that he had to be more of a presence, he was a symbol of power after all.
He also knew that Roman didn't care. Roman was needy, always had been. He had heard the man whine about not being paid enough attention while getting his cock sucked, so, really? hard to satisfy. He was playing with his hair now, once more, drawing calming circles on his scalp. "Don't you like how cruel I am?"
He also knew that Roman didn't care. Roman was needy, always had been. He had heard the man whine about not being paid enough attention while getting his cock sucked, so, really? hard to satisfy. He was playing with his hair now, once more, drawing calming circles on his scalp. "Don't you like how cruel I am?"
"I like when I'm in on it and it's fun. There's fun cruel and then there's ruining my suit and never calling." They were two very different things - one was a lot of fun to play with and the other meant not talking to Zsasz for a long time and then suddenly he turned up, only to then exclusively want to talk business. Okay, maybe not exclusively, maybe he asked about the mask but whatever! Who cared?
"You're always busy. I'm busy too but I find time to have fun. Why can't you?" He looked at the close door and frowned at it, feeling very annoyed at everything and everyone. "I guess you don't care since you got yourself a harem."
"You're always busy. I'm busy too but I find time to have fun. Why can't you?" He looked at the close door and frowned at it, feeling very annoyed at everything and everyone. "I guess you don't care since you got yourself a harem."
"Hm." Victor wondered whether it was worth pointing out that whatever kept Roman busy was unlikely to be as important as his own business, then he wisely decided that, nah, really wasn't worth another tantrum. He was still holding on to the last one, after all. "I have my fun in-between, don't worry. Is it because I'm not having fun with you?"
He smirked, definitely amused. "Harem? Huh."
He smirked, definitely amused. "Harem? Huh."
"Everywhere you go, girls go with you. It's so boring. Of all men. I never expected you to be the type." Pulling away, Roman rolled his eyes and grabbed his drink off the side, dropping into his office chair and sipping his drink as he looked at the disorganised mess of his desk. "Can't think of anything more tedious than surrounding yourself with women."
With a loud sigh, he kicked his legs up onto the desk and gave Victor a frank look. "You have fun with everyone but me. I expect it these days, I know you don't care about me any more. I get it. Tragic but I moved on, I'm a big boy." Pfft. As if.
With a loud sigh, he kicked his legs up onto the desk and gave Victor a frank look. "You have fun with everyone but me. I expect it these days, I know you don't care about me any more. I get it. Tragic but I moved on, I'm a big boy." Pfft. As if.
"Mostly women and nonbinary, in my closer circle." If he had to focus in on gender to that degree - and of course he did, not as if Victor didn't know why - he was going to point that out. "I've plenty of men under me too."
The wording might be intentional. He tilted his head at that last assertion. Being accused of not caring, he was used to that. But moving on? Victor jumped up onto Roman's desk, rather unnecessarily athletic about it, then he knelt down. On top of the desk, so he obviously still looked down at Roman, but that didn't mean he couldn't move his hands behind his neck and watch for any reaction. "I know you are a big boy."
He had taken care of business. He could play a little.
The wording might be intentional. He tilted his head at that last assertion. Being accused of not caring, he was used to that. But moving on? Victor jumped up onto Roman's desk, rather unnecessarily athletic about it, then he knelt down. On top of the desk, so he obviously still looked down at Roman, but that didn't mean he couldn't move his hands behind his neck and watch for any reaction. "I know you are a big boy."
He had taken care of business. He could play a little.
"Don't look at me like that. You play these games but they're not as fun as you think." Said the guy already getting worked up. He leaned forward and looked into Victor's eyes, trying to seem determined and unbothered but instead, the want almost twinkled in his eyes as he leaned in closer. With a sigh, he shook his head and purposefully forced himself back in his chair, wanting to be strong.
He decided who he wanted. Victor could chase him, not visa versa.
"I have plenty of guys and girls under me too, fun to play with but they mean nothing. Half the time, they wind up dead. Either after or during." Roman laughed as he tried his best not to stare at Victor. He could do this. He could be cool.
He decided who he wanted. Victor could chase him, not visa versa.
"I have plenty of guys and girls under me too, fun to play with but they mean nothing. Half the time, they wind up dead. Either after or during." Roman laughed as he tried his best not to stare at Victor. He could do this. He could be cool.
"Uh-huh." No, Victor wasn't convinced, but - knowing Roman - he was quite impressed at his self-discipline. Usually he didn't exhibit that much of it. "Of course they mean nothing. So why bother with them?"
Not that he minded Roman having others. He wasn't really the type for jealousy. However, possessiveness? That could be fun. That knowledge that he could do this, when he wanted to. When he wanted to play.
"How do you want me, boss?"
Not that he minded Roman having others. He wasn't really the type for jealousy. However, possessiveness? That could be fun. That knowledge that he could do this, when he wanted to. When he wanted to play.
"How do you want me, boss?"
"I'm not your boss. Falcone is. Don't-- Don't dick with me. I know the game and it's not gonna get to me." Roman had to take a stand, he had to defend himself and keep himself from falling from Zsasz every time he came in and got all kinky, called him boss and -- God damn it. He had to cross his legs to try and hide his boner.
Why was it that easy?! Every damn time.
"I bother with them cause you don't bother with me." He had to settle for lesser fucks cause Victor was Falcone's pet instead. "You're cruel to me, Zsaszy."
Why was it that easy?! Every damn time.
"I bother with them cause you don't bother with me." He had to settle for lesser fucks cause Victor was Falcone's pet instead. "You're cruel to me, Zsaszy."
"You know I don't do this with the Don." At least he sincerely hoped he knew that. Although the idea of Falcone's face when being presented with the concept was admittedly hilarious. "This isn't business. This is just us. I am what I am, but we've dealt with that for today. I'm still who I am too. And I chose to come and see you. I choose to stay longer now."
He had to smile a little. "You're cruel to yourself, Roman. You'll not sleep well tonight if you keep resisting."
He had to smile a little. "You're cruel to yourself, Roman. You'll not sleep well tonight if you keep resisting."
"Yeah, well...." He ran out of points to make and after a few moments of awkward stalling, he was too climbing onto the desk to make out with Victor, desperately trying to touch every inch of him, his resolve crumbling so easily under Victor and his steady gaze. It was impossible to win against someone so cool and collect.
In the end, the only loser would be him and they both knew it. He hated how it felt, he hated being the more needy one but he knew what he wanted to get from him.
In the end, the only loser would be him and they both knew it. He hated how it felt, he hated being the more needy one but he knew what he wanted to get from him.
"Zsasz, darling, my love!" Roman declared as Victor walked in, lazily sprawled at the visitor table with his legs up, eating some grapes because he'd felt like it and bribed the idiot guards to get him some. For once in his live, his money mattered and worked for him. He was finally top dog and Arkham was something he could rule.
It's the little things that mattered most.
"How you doing, Vic? Is Gotham burning yet?"
It's the little things that mattered most.
"How you doing, Vic? Is Gotham burning yet?"
"Hm." Good question. In some ways, Victor supposed. He shrugged and sat down across from Roman, looking him over as much as he could see, but quickly concluding that he hadn't been hurt. He had no suspicion of Roman hiding anything like that from him, he had heard the man whine about the tiniest injuries before. Or that one time he had had the flu and texted him about it nonstop. Riveting stuff.
"It's still standing." Less solidly though. "I found a place that does great milkshakes. I'll take you some time."
He was a lot less busy now.
"It's still standing." Less solidly though. "I found a place that does great milkshakes. I'll take you some time."
He was a lot less busy now.
"I look forward to it. I'd love to be out of this dump. The people are weird here. Like seriously weird. They think I'm tweaked or something but seriously, these fucking weirdos." He was nothing next to them. "Between clown boy and the cannibal, I'm dying for sane and sensible conversation, you know? I even chatted sports with the guards. Urrrrgh, so boring."
But it filled his need to talk about something and have it make a little bit of sense. He was crazy, sure, but he wasn't that crazy. "So, tell me, what going on in Gotham? Who died? Who won the power struggle... is that even still happening?"
He didn't care, he knew he'd never win so it was pointless to care about.
But it filled his need to talk about something and have it make a little bit of sense. He was crazy, sure, but he wasn't that crazy. "So, tell me, what going on in Gotham? Who died? Who won the power struggle... is that even still happening?"
He didn't care, he knew he'd never win so it was pointless to care about.
"Maroni's gunning for it. He keeps hitting me up. Seriously needy." Reminded him of Roman sometimes, honestly, but he kept that thought to himself. "I'm staying out of it."
Because that was what Don Falcone had told him to do and because he could see his point. It was best to see who would come out on top. If Victor was to choose anyone, it'd likely catapult them right there. And, honestly, he wasn't hugely impressed by any of the potentials right now. "Always calls me Vic. Don't care for that."
Well. "You can do it."
Because that was what Don Falcone had told him to do and because he could see his point. It was best to see who would come out on top. If Victor was to choose anyone, it'd likely catapult them right there. And, honestly, he wasn't hugely impressed by any of the potentials right now. "Always calls me Vic. Don't care for that."
Well. "You can do it."
"Of course I can. I'm special. I can do things no one else can cause we're like this." He crossed his fingers playfully and then leaned forward, ruffling his messy hair as he tried to work out what Victor was feeling. A fun yet impossible task. He never really showed feelings. "I've been trying to read you since school and it's just never happened, not once, but sometimes I can tell when things are ... wrong?"
Something was off, Victor seemed -- depressed? Maybe? Hard to tell. Seriously. There was no real strong emotion there.
"What's in your head, Vic? Talk to me."
Something was off, Victor seemed -- depressed? Maybe? Hard to tell. Seriously. There was no real strong emotion there.
"What's in your head, Vic? Talk to me."
This wasn't the first time he'd thought about it, but it was the first time he had been asked like this. Roman was always special, it was true. And Roman didn't just see him as what he was, which was special too. Given what he had become, very few ever saw the who past the what.
He lifted his shoulders a little and thought back, trying to figure out what bothered him, if he really was bothered. "He gave up. He could have kept going. I could have kept him going. But he sent me away."
It wasn't right. He was glad that his Don was still alive, but he was gone. It wasn't unlike his parents' death. What was left to care about now?
He lifted his shoulders a little and thought back, trying to figure out what bothered him, if he really was bothered. "He gave up. He could have kept going. I could have kept him going. But he sent me away."
It wasn't right. He was glad that his Don was still alive, but he was gone. It wasn't unlike his parents' death. What was left to care about now?
"No more stones in your pockets again, eh? Look, you gotta be happy for him, he's a smart guy. He's pushing it a bit with his age and he has the cash - why not retire? This city is a dump. If you can leave, you probably should." Not that Roman ever would but he could take a step back and thing that yeah, this place was awful and retiring elsewhere did seem delightful.
"You couldn't have kept him going, he lost the drive." He held up his hands, not wanting to be misunderstood by what he was saying. "This isn't me calling him weak, Zsaszy, I'd never do that. He's not soft or weak, he's just not that into it."
Sad but true. "He just didn't want to fight for something he didn't want. It wasn't worth your life for something lesser."
"You couldn't have kept him going, he lost the drive." He held up his hands, not wanting to be misunderstood by what he was saying. "This isn't me calling him weak, Zsaszy, I'd never do that. He's not soft or weak, he's just not that into it."
Sad but true. "He just didn't want to fight for something he didn't want. It wasn't worth your life for something lesser."
"I just expected to die." And now he hadn't. It wasn't as if he wanted to die, anyway, but the only way Don Falcone should ever have been toppled was by going through him first. Instead he had only escorted him out of the city and then followed the final order of staying out of it. Left him adrift.
Victor sighed and then shrugged. "Things are changing. Don Falcone said that the freaks are gonna be taking over."
And the Don was always right about Gotham. "Guess you are in the right place."
Victor sighed and then shrugged. "Things are changing. Don Falcone said that the freaks are gonna be taking over."
And the Don was always right about Gotham. "Guess you are in the right place."
"Dunno about that. These morons couldn't do anything right."
They could barely fight properly, let alone take over a city. The city was going down hill but he doubted it was going downhill in that way. He predicted shitter bosses, not weirder bosses. "Look, you lived and it's fine. It's great even! You get to find a new way to have fun. You always did. Besides, if I ever get out of here, think of all we can do now you have time."
His mind probably should have gone to work but instead, his eyes lit up at the idea of play. "We haven't been to the Foxglove in forever."
They could barely fight properly, let alone take over a city. The city was going down hill but he doubted it was going downhill in that way. He predicted shitter bosses, not weirder bosses. "Look, you lived and it's fine. It's great even! You get to find a new way to have fun. You always did. Besides, if I ever get out of here, think of all we can do now you have time."
His mind probably should have gone to work but instead, his eyes lit up at the idea of play. "We haven't been to the Foxglove in forever."
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