Chapter Forty-One

Even as you had come to accept your fate, you couldn't quell the lingering curiosity you had for the truth of the attic and of Don's whereabouts. You promised to stop looking, and you would, but you could still think about it.

Ryo and you were walking to find Quince. Oddly, Ryo had been the one to suggest you two to go see him. In your mind, you couldn't figure out why, but Ryo knew with full clarity that if anyone could do anything about Jason it would be the weirdo in charge.

Quince knew Ryo was on his way over, and he also knew what Jason had done. It wasn't that he didn't care, just that most of this had been part of his initial plan anyway. When he set this version up, he decided to include occupants that he knew would fall for you too fast and chase you into his arms.

Jenna and Don were mistakes—they gave you a desire to seek answers. He had brought them along originally to just give you a few friends, but that certainly didn't work. He sighed at the thought. Hopefully, you wouldn't dwell on their disappearances for too long. He really didn't want to try again. He really wanted to just succeed this time. He wanted you to ask him to take you away.

He wanted everyone else to die.

Someone knocked on the door. Right on time.

"Ryo? What brings you here?" he asked as if he didn't know.

"Listen—something needs to be done about Jason. He's doing some seriously fucked up shit and it isn't okay," Ryo said hurriedly.

"Come on in," Quince opened the door wider. You stopped to hug him before going all the way in, making his whole body go warm with affection.

"Hi Quince!" He thought he was going to cry. You're so cute.

"Hello," he smiled as you pulled away and patted your head. As the two of you turned to join Ryo further in the room, Quine smugly noted the other man's glum face. "What seems to be the issue?"

"Jason just locked (y/n) in his room for who knows how long!" Ryo relayed fervently. It was funny, honestly, how he spoke like an angry brother desperately telling his parents what his sibling did.

Quince feigned shock, "Are you serious?"

"So fucking serious! We have to do something—ban him from (y/n), I don't care!"

Quince wanted to laugh. Yeah, lock (y/n) away from the man who locked her away. Hypocrisy was Ryo's middle name in general. Quince looked to you, who brightened slightly at his eye contact. You... really liked him, you honestly did. "Is that what happened?"

You looked to the floor. Quince noticed how some part of you seemed less upset than you should be. Had something in you cracked when you were with Jason? Did he make you more docile? You looked back at Quince, "Yes, but—well. It wasn't malicious. He was just worried. We talked about it and it's okay now. I'm not mad at him and...he's not mad at me."

Quince sighed. He didn't have to fake his expression this time. He did want this to happen to an extent, but he didn't want you hurt. He didn't want you broken. "(y/n), could you give Ryo and I just a few minutes to talk? You can stay in here and we'll leave, or you can sit outside for a minute. Whichever you prefer."

You pouted and Quince wanted to kiss the expression on your face. "Can I stay in here?" you requested.

"Of course you can," he smiled. Of course, you repeated in your head. You've started to love hearing the phrase. Of course of course of course, it's so obvious that we care for each other. You almost laughed at yourself. You needed to chill. "Make yourself comfortable. We'll be right back."

The second the two of them hit the hallway, the air got tenser. Quince turned to Ryo, his eyes cold. "Are you really mad that that happened to her, or do you just regret not doing it before Jason did?"

"I—obviously I'm mad that happened to her!" Ryo stepped away with a glare. Unfortunately for him, his face told Quince everything.

"I don't want you to lock (y/n) away. I also don't want Jason or Suki or Dianna to do anything like that, unfortunately, the lot of you are a basket of nutcases," Quince sighed again.

"Where the fuck is this attitude of yours coming from?" Ryo scowled. "I came to you for help, not for you to act like a fucking tool."

"Sorry," Quince put on a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I'm lashing out. I know you'd never do that." Lies.

"Fine," Ryo huffed. "What...should we do?"

"Let's be honest for a moment. Out of all the occupants in the house, which of us are the most likely to do something like what Jason has done?"

Ryo thought for a moment, running through each remaining member. He wanted to curse as he realized that he had no idea. They all seemed capable, even the man across from him now. Just as Ryo had always believed, he couldn't trust anyone but himself. You were being ridiculous by trusting these crazy assholes, he just wanted you to see that.

"It could be any one of them," Ryo admitted after thinking.

"I agree," Quince nodded. "Let's just try to have you or I around her at all times."

"Isn't that a bit ridiculous?" Ryo said, barely covering his own excitement.

"Well, I'll keep an eye on her alone if that's what you'd prefer."

"No--! I mean, no, that's not necessary," Ryo spoke quickly. He gulped, trying to keep his insufferable excitement for you a little less obvious.

"You want to spend time with her now," Quince observed.

"Can you shut the fuck up?"

"Christ, you're so pent up you're acting like a rabid animal," Quince laughed openly. "Come on then, let's both spend time with her." Quince was openly torturing Ryo. He knew that Ryo wanted nothing more than to bombard you with affection, but Quince wasn't going to leave the pair of you alone for now.

Ryo was close to fuming. He should've never come to Quince in the first place. You didn't need him, hell, you didn't need anyone else in this place! You only needed Ryo just as much as he needed you. What a load of shit.

The pair reentered the room, making you feel a little better. You were worried while they were gone—you know how prone Ryo is to argue. "What did you guys decide?" you questioned.

"We're just going to spend some time with you. Is that alright?" Quince asked, stepping closer to you.

"O-oh of course," you said, your confusion apparent. You had assumed that one of them would want to...spend quality time with you, as they usually did. Ryo and Quince, in particular, tended to dislike group hangouts more than the others.

Quince boldly took your face in his hands and pressed a chaste but drawn-out kiss on your mouth. You felt warm with him, and it made you happy to have his affection, but you knew it was going to infuriate Ryo.

You were right, of course. When Quince stood back up and sat on his bed, Ryo looked about ready to explode. "What did you two want to do?" You asked, full of nervous energy.

"If I had to guess, I'd say we both want the same thing," Quince said, patting the spot beside him. You blushed at his implication. Okay? And...? So what does that mean now?

Ryo beat you to the punch and jump dived to the spot Quince patted. Quince looked as surprised as Ryo looked grumpy. In truth, Ryo was like an angry cat. He repositioned himself to be sitting up, staring at you as you stared incredulously back at him.

"Well?" Ryo snapped. From anyone else, you would've been worried, but this was Ryo's default tone of voice.

"What?"

"Quince told you to sit here," he said, patting his lap. Oh my god, you screamed internally. You didn't really mind, though, despite how awkward it was. You made your move to climb onto the blonde fuck, and you genuinely almost laughed at Quince's dumbstruck expression.

Quince had expected some sort of love triangle-esqe shit to go down, he didn't know you'd go along with it!

You got comfortable pseudo-cuddling Ryo, your head resting on his shoulder and his arm hugging your waist.

"You're in my room," Quince half growled. He didn't want you to see him upset, but he couldn't have you thinking he was enjoying this. Quince was supposed to always have the upper hand.

"And on your bed," Ryo added smugly. "Your point?"

"Ryo!" you softly shoved his arm. "That's mean."

"He was mean when he kissed you right in front of me," Ryo argued.

"Well, I—"

"You could make it even by kissing me," he held you tighter.

"Absolutely not!" Quince sat up fully now, trying to gently pry you away from Ryo.

"Guys, stop," you said softly. You didn't mind their affections, but you didn't want them to fight about it. That was the last thing you wanted really.

Ryo's obvious hard-on was starting to make sitting on his lap awkward, but he clearly wasn't going to let go of you anytime soon. Ryo sighed. He really wanted to be kissing you right now. He really didn't want to be in Quince's fucking room right now.

"We could cooperate," Quince suggested, even though he'd rather not.

"If that's the only way this'll work," Ryo glared.

"Wait, what?" you asked, your face only getting hotter. Did you hear them right?

"Would you mind?" Quince asked, leaning closer and kissing your jaw.

"I-I guess not," you agreed, Ryo kissing your shoulder. You began to feel slightly self-conscious with the two of them showing you affection so openly. Quince's arms caged you and pushed your back onto Ryo, and in turn, pushed Ryo's back to the wall.

Ryo tsked at the development but put both of his arms around you, happy to hold you tighter, his hands trailing under your shirt. Quince's hands that cornered you into the wall distracted you until he was too close to ignore, his eyes staring deeply into yours. It was always a surprise to see just how pretty Quince was, even up close. He closed the gap and kissed you. The feeling of the two of them left you breathless, embarrassed, and honestly a little dizzy.

Quince was still kissing you somewhat sloppily when Ryo bit the spot where your neck meets your shoulder. You hissed in pain and turned your face, pulling away from Quince for a moment.

"What was that for?" You asked, trying to ignore Quince who only nuzzled into more, like a desperate and affectionate cat.

"Don't pay so much attention to him when I'm right here," he frowned.

"I—I'm sitting on you!" You pouted. Ryo shrugged and continued kissing your neck, leaving marks along your skin. Quince was more or less straddling the two of you at this point, his face constantly touching yours. One of his hands boldly made its way to your chest, but you couldn't find it in yourself to stop him, really. If they weren't fighting with each other, then you really didn't mind at all.

You only hoped that this wouldn't dissolve into something less agreeable.

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