Parity - 14. Dom - "Alpha"

Later that day...

"Mmf!" Dom exclaimed, leaning against the telephone pole as a gorgeous, sun-tanned blond beauty strolled his way down the footpath, clad in the revealing clothes the Catholic boy had chosen to wear. Seeing the toned arms and chest of Topher Lynch on full display did nothing to help Dom's struggle in keeping his hormones under control. What can I say? He's so hot.

"Hey," Topher, who had been looking awfully miserable in the distance, visibly cheered up and smiled when Dom grunted in desire. "You look nice today."

"Yeah, I brushed up alright," Dom nodded, reaching back and playing with his curly black hair. He'd started wearing it down as the days slowly cooled. It looked nice on him, he thought. Topher seemed to like it too. Veikko preferred his hair short, but since he and Veikko agreed to suspend the physical side of their friendship permanently, what Veikko liked wasn't important anymore. "But you look sweeter than candy, little Toff!"

Dom extended his hand for their typical man-hug. Because Topher was still in the closet and not yet ready to be publicly affectionate, the stoic man-hug was the best he could get from him. Not today. Today, the beautiful, blond boy threw his arms around Dom's chest and the bigger fellow had to almost back off to hide his erection. Topher smelled as brilliant as he looked. His hair exhaled the aroma of coconut, and his body smelled of his favourite cologne. Acqui di Gio. Something Dom would never be able to afford. More's the pity, because it was heavenly. Is it the scent or is it because it's Topher? While Dom thought about these things, Topher kissed him. On the lips. Out of nowhere. Unashamed. Bold. Dom was too shocked to simply enjoy the experience and pulled away.

"Wow, what's got into you?" Dom raised his eyebrows in amusement.

"Sorry," Topher, who had to stand on his toes to kiss his friend, backed away. "I thought... I..."

"No, do it again!" Dom beckoned with his head, and Topher giggled, doing as instructed and reaching up to kiss Dom a second time. Dom loved it. It was everything he'd wanted since those paramedics reached into the abyss and pulled him back. "I'm stoked, Toff! You can kiss me any time you want, you cutie. But yeah, wasn't what I was expecting!"

"Aw," Topher smiled. "I'm just... it's been a weird morning. I came out to my Dad!"

"You did? Shit! What happened? How did that go?" Dom asked, his eyes wide.

No shit. This was a twist he didn't see coming. Topher was whipped by his community so severely that Dom was wondering if he'd ever find the fortitude to come out. He didn't mind that Topher was piety incarnate. He was inspired to see how much strength and faith his crush drew from his beliefs. It was the way Topher felt extorted into being an entirely different person that bothered Dom. Still, he gave Topher space and time he needed to work everything out where his sexuality and religion were concerned. It seemed to have paid off!

"I thought he was going to flip!" Topher rested his hands on Dom's hips. Damn, Toph. You're playing a dangerous game here. "He didn't, though! He was really supportive. I cried a lot."

"Awww," Dom enveloped him with his big, broad arms and snuggled him close. In broad daylight. Topher fucking Lynch. Maybe I did die after all, he thought happily. Maybe this is heaven. "Is that why you were lookin' a bit blue down there?"

"...Yeah," Topher nodded, pulling away. The sun seemed to shine off him. Dom was an atheist, but he couldn't think of any other word to describe Topher other than angelic. Just... beautiful. "Come on. Let's go to school."

"Can I kiss you one more time first?" Dom asked with an alluring grin.

One taste of Topher had corrupted him forever. He was too intoxicating. Topher pretended to be disgusted by the invitation before letting Dom press their lips together. Mmm. He tasted Topher's lips briefly, his strong arms holding the boy close. Topher's tongue was shy but eventually came out to meet Dom's and play with it. Dom had been kissing since he was twelve, but it was evident to him that Topher was not so experienced. Still, even though the deep kiss was awkward and uncoordinated, it was beautiful. Arousing. Dom hoped to have Topher soon. As a friend, boyfriend and a lover. It was all his head, heart and dick wanted. The two walked together side-by-side to Peatsland Academy from their usual meeting spot. Even though Dom had been complying with the terms of his compulsory treatment order - taking his medication and participating in psychotherapy - he still had more bad days than good days. Today was going to be a good day, though. He knew already. No mental malaise to keep him on edge or innate despair to keep him miserable. Only Topher.

"Why are you making us get to school so early?" Topher asked, plucking a red bottlebrush from the branch above them on the footpath and spinning it around in the palm of his hand. "It's not even eight thirty yet!"

"I don't get a lotta free time after school," Dom explained, his eyes transfixed on Topher's machinations of the flower. "That's why I try to see you and the twins as much as I can."

"Oh," Topher smiled and teased Dom by tickling his face with the bottlebrush. "You almost complimented me."

"This is my favourite part of the day," Dom snatched that darned plant from Topher's hands and used it to attack the smaller boy's neck playfully. "Just you and me."

"For me, it used to be my run on the beach with my friend Kevin," Topher replied, almost hurting Dom's feelings until he spoke again. "But yes. I agree with you. I love our walk to school."

"Then we should totally get up earlier, and you can see me for longer!" Dom laughed as Topher snatched the plant back and tossed it behind them. "Maybe you could run on the beach with me!"

"I'd like that," Topher smiled. "How early do you want to get up?"

"However early you can handle!" Dom joked. "My Pop leaves at ten in the evening, so any time after that is good by me."

"What? So I should ring you up at ten o'clock tonight, and we'll go for a run on the beach, is that it?" Topher's fingers brushed against Dom's arm. Again and again. He's doing it on purpose!

"Yeah! Come and stay over and we'll wake up early and have breakfast and stuff," Dom cheekily solicited. "If we leave early, Pop won't be any the wiser."

"What are you suggesting?" Topher's curious, blue eyes were wide, and he slowed down. "Do you actually want me to stay over?"

"Well... I mean... yeah, but that doesn't have to be tonight!" Dom reassured him, and Topher smiled bashfully. "And I'm not saying we need to have sex! I want to see more of you, you know? And my Pop's always working nights. After I finished at work, you could meet up with me, and we could hang out at my place if you liked."

"I don't know if my father would ever agree to that," Topher replied sadly. "He's very protective." He cocked his head and shrugged. "Maybe I can work something out!"

"What? For real?" Dom gently put his left arm around Topher's waist, hoping he wasn't being too forward, and rested his hand against the boy's hip as they walked. Topher did lean into him, and he put his right arm around Dom's hips. Yes! Yes! Fucking yes! This is happening!

"Yeah! Not tonight, but sometime soon," Topher looked up at him. He wasn't smiling. He looked worried. "Just us?"

"Yeah, sure!" Dom reassured him. "Any time, Toffee man! That's all I've wanted since you rocked up at Peatsland, you know?"

Topher chuckled. "Okay... yes, you were not very subtle, were you?"

"Have you seen me, cutie?" Dom quipped, wishing he wore something nicer than his old t-shirt and jeans today. "I don't do subtle. Nothing about me is subtle!"

"No, but you are so sweet to me," Topher told him as the two passed through the open gate into the Peatsland grounds. "I don't know why Veikko takes you for granted."

"Hey Toff," Dom felt a surge of indignance rush through him. "Can you not talk about him like that, please? I know you guys don't get along, but can you keep that to yourself?"

"Of course. I'm sorry! That was rude of me," Topher apologised immediately, but Dom wasn't sure of the boy's sincerity.

It was surprising to him that although Topher and Veikko agreed on a ceasefire, it was not Veikko who breached the truce. Topher was the one who made the unsolicited snipes. Veikko behaved himself always; even when Topher passively insulted him. Nobody in the world would have guessed that Topher would have been the bitchy one in this situation. But then, Veikko was almost a different boy entirely since he'd become enamoured with Maverick Matsuda. Dom was still very vigilant where Matsuda was concerned. Sure, appeared to have done a world of good for Veikko, who seemed happier and less prickly of late. In some ways, Dom saw his friend as the boy he was before the malicious assault at the hands of his cunt father. He didn't trust Maverick at all, but to the psycho's credit, he did seem to genuinely have feelings for the Finnish boy. He went out of his way to make Veikko happy. More than I ever did.

"Do you still miss your old school?" Dom asked out of the blue as he opened the front door for Topher to walk through.

"Thank you! Um..." he paused, his bangs blowing in the breeze. "Yes. I always will. But I'm glad I'm here now. I wouldn't have met you otherwise."

"We've met before," Dom closed the door, and the two circled to the back staircase. "A few times."

"Not properly," Topher reminded him, wheeling his noisy luggage case behind him. "And not in the circumstances I want to remember."

"You've come a long way since then, Toffee boy!" Dom slapped him on the back. "We never had to give you the kiss of life, at least."

Topher began giggling. Yeah. He hated Zack. Dom had no idea why Topher hung out with Zack when he didn't like him. Zack was a tool. At least he would be gone soon, and nobody would have to worry about him again. Savage prick. It felt good to get even with him. Zack came up with a problem with he and Veikko cuddling on the beach towel one day, and he immediately targeted the small guy. Not Dom. No, Zack was a fucking coward, so he went right for little Koko and not the guy who could snap him like a twig. Holding him down while Veikko made out with him was the perfect way to exact justice. If Dom beat him up, Zack would only be angry and come after Veikko again next time. By publicly humiliating him, however, they cut that shit out for good. Zack still had a lot to say, sure, but he didn't ever lay a hand on Veikko again. Neither did Kellan McLeod, Jayce di Napoli or Maverick Matsuda - at least, not until Veikko decided to let him. For whatever fucking reason. Fucking snake.

"Hello... um..." Topher bit his lip when the two entered the homeroom to see a Carlisle twin sitting alone in there. He was still terrible at telling Veikko apart from Reima. Dom didn't get it. It was clear as night and day to him, but Topher got it wrong more than he got it right.

"Rei Rei!" Dominic laughed. "Here, Toph! Hair's longer. Clothes too big. Check out the size of that smile! That's our Rei!"

"I feel like a supermodel or something!" Reima flashed that smile that he used to share with his brother. Such a cute lad. "Dom! Toph! What's going on, brothers?"

Dom wanted to tell his friend all about the kisses and intimacy he shared with the blond boy only minutes ago, but he restrained himself. Topher would tell people when he was ready. It's not my place to out him.

"We kissed!" Topher gushed to Dom's surprise.

"No shit!" Reima's eyes bounced between them, his smile widening. He had such a big mouth. "I guess Veik was right to be jealous all along!"

"Oh..." Topher's beaming expression faded and Dom smacked Reima on the back of the head, bringing a grunt of surprise from him.

"Love you, bro! But damn you need a filter," Dom squeezed the small guy and kissed him on the top of his head. "Where is our Koko anyway? Is he off sick today?"

"Oh, he's with Mav," Reima reached out and pulled Topher into a hug as well.

Those two got along very well. No surprise. Reima was one of the easiest-going people Dom had ever met in his life. That came at a price, though. He was socially clumsy and inept, often saying things that were tactless, inappropriate or poorly timed. Topher, once he got used to Reima perpetually putting his foot in his mouth, grew to like him. Reima, loyal to the end to Veikko, was distant and cold to Topher in the early days but had now embraced him as one of the group.

"Where are they?" Dom asked, instantly chilled by that name reaching his ears.

Reima mimed the act of giving a blowjob, then he laughed and shrugged. Dom couldn't help but grin at the crude reference, but Topher went red. Aww.

"Really?" Topher asked quietly, and Reima laughed again.

"Nah, Veik's making him work for it. I reckon they're just in the other homeroom if you wanna say hello," Reima reassured him. "Since Mav turned over this new leaf, Veik never hangs out with me anymore. I've got to tell you. It's kind of nice not to have him around all day."

"I'm gonna tell him hi," Dom decided. They put an end to their physical relationship. No kissing, touching or fucking, aside from the hugs. That didn't mean Veikko wasn't still a big part of Dom's life. Best friends for six years. "You don't have to come," he reassured Topher, who was unpacking his luggage case and putting his books into his locker.

"That's probably for the best," Topher replied coolly, and Dom caught the look of resentment on his face.

It sucked that Topher and Veikko didn't get along. But then, Veikko felt the same way about Dom and Maverick. As far as Dom was concerned, he would never give Maverick his blessing to date his friend. Veikko was vulnerable, and Matsuda sniffed out weaknesses like a fucking bloodhound. All the beatings. All the spiders hidden in Veikko's locker. All the homophobia, the cruel words and the relentless bullying. How can Veikko forgive that? It's not the same as Topher coming into their lives and winning Dom's heart. It's just not. Topher is a sweet guy. Maverick is a psychopath. A drug-dealing menace. Dom wasn't sure what to do about it. If he didn't get involved, Maverick would win. If he got involved, Veikko would undoubtedly side with his charming cunt of a boyfriend and Maverick would win.

"Hang out with me!" Reima chirped. He was so fucking adorable. "You can help me with the English homework I didn't finish!"

"What do you do when you get home?" Topher asked with a smile. "Everything except homework?"

"I was going to do my homework!" Reima stuck up for himself.

"Oh? What happened?" Topher asked, fishing out his English textbooks.

"I didn't," Reima finished, and the two of them started laughing.

Yes, Dom thought. Toph's in good hands with Rei Rei. Content, he ducked out and decided to hunt down Veikko and make his presence known. Sure enough, the two of them were next door, but they weren't as close as Dom had been expecting. Maverick was sitting cross-legged on top of the lockers in 11-B, wearing a generic red t-shirt and ripped black jeans with red converse shoes. He always looked like he came right out of the mosh pit of a boy-band. That neon blue hair and a hundred piercings. Not to say he wasn't attractive. Dom just hated him. Veikko though, in his tight-fitting blue plaid shirt and denim shorts, looked lovely. A few months ago, Dom would have wanted to fuck him right then and there. Then the suicide attempt and subsequent fights happened, and the feelings for the boy were all but gone. That didn't mean he didn't still love him. Just... never in the same way Veikko felt.

"Koko!" Dom greeted him happily, and Veikko looked up and smiled.

"Hey, bitch!" Veikko hopped up and sidled his way over to Dom.

Dom opened up his arms and Veikko did as he always did - jumped up and Dom caught him, the two of them squeezing each other until Veikko gasped that he was out of breath.

"D'you fellas need a room?" Maverick's gravelly voice immediately soured the moment for Dominic, and he put his friend down before his eyes met those angry black beads in the psycho's head. At least, as much as he could see past those blue strands of hair that hid most of his face.

"Yeah, I'd like to have a chat with my friend if you don't mind," Dom replied testily, rubbing Veikko on the back.

"Cute." Maverick leapt into action so quickly that Dom flinched. The lithe, athletic boy sprung from the lockers and landed effortlessly on his feet barely a foot away from Dom like a goddamn cat. The younger kid loved parkour and free-running. He was fit, strong and fast. Doesn't matter, Dom thought. I'm not scared of him. I'm bigger and stronger. We gave him the kiss a while ago, and we can do it again. If he hurts my friend, I'll break his fuckin' arm. Maverick, to his credit, didn't seem the least bit intimidated. He never did. Psychopaths don't feel fear, he reminded himself. That's what made Maverick so dangerous. He just didn't care. He sold me all that heroin without even thinking about the consequences. He knew it was enough to kill someone with, and he didn't even care. Nope. He's fucked in the head. This amnesia bullshit has everyone else fooled, but not me.

"Then don't do anything I wouldn't do," Maverick, a little shorter than Topher, looked up at Dom. "I'll go and say hey to my buddy Topher. You boys play nice, you hear? Take it from me, man. If you get caught fucking on the school grounds, it's a bitch." He laughed, and then he spoke once more. There was something different about what he said this time. Something that frightened Dominic to the bone. There was malice in his tone of voice, a slight change from arrogant smirk to malicious sneer and a glint in his small, teardrop-shaped eyes. "That Daivari chick always gave me shit about it."

Maverick pat Dom on the shoulder twice before turning to Veikko, who had not noticed the veiled threat. Veikko wouldn't, though. He knew Maverick had issues, but he did not truly understand the nature of the predatory human. Dominic did, and Maverick knew that. It was scary, the way the boy seemed to change entirely when he knew that Dominic saw him for who and what he was. He didn't pretend anymore. In fact, he often went out of his way to try and bait or scare Dominic with subtle and calculated words and actions that meant nothing to onlookers. It was frustrating. Topher thought he was a nice guy, Selena believed he was growing up, and Reima was impressed by how protective Maverick was. It's so fucking annoying!

"I'll be back in a few, kay?" Maverick leaned down and kissed Veikko on the lips. The sight made Dom's skin crawl, and Maverick, unable to resist, looked back up and smirked again. Nope. You and I are having words, you piece of shit. Maverick waved a friendly goodbye before leaving the room. No doubt he's off to butter up the others some more. Argh!

"What's up, bitch?" Veikko greeted him. "Did you have a good weekend?"

"Not really," Dom admitted. "I worked Sunday and it rained all Saturday, so I had nothing going on. How about you? I miss you."

"I made a video, saw a movie with Rei and Selena, hung out with Mav. It was nice. It would have been nicer if you came out to the cinema with us instead of being a loner!" Veikko tutted.

"I had a bad day. Sorry. I would've just brought everyone down," Dom shrugged, and Veikko looked sad.

"MMM, I get you. That's alright, bubs," Veikko reached up high on his little feet and ruffled Dom's hair. "You know you having a bad day doesn't mean we don't wanna see you, though? So tell me, bitch! I wanna cheer you up and stuff like you always do for me!"

"Hah," Dom grinned. "I just wasn't feeling it, you know?"

"How's Topher?" Veikko asked, the bitterness not entirely hidden from his voice. He's still jealous, Dom remembered. He still loves me a lot.

"He's doing well," Dom nodded happily. "He came out to his dad. Apparently, it went well."

"Well, lucky him," Veikko tried to sound happy for him, but it didn't work. Dom realised he shouldn't have said that. He remembered what today was.

"How are you, Koko?" Dom asked, sitting down. "I know what today means to you."

"I dunno Dom," Veikko rubbed his face anxiously. "I'm okay now, but I've been having nightmares for like, two weeks now. I'm seeing some psych today, though."

"Do you want me to come with you?" Dom asked, reaching out and taking Veikko's hands in his own. "For support? I know this shit is hard for you."

"Ahhhh I think it's fine. Rei will be there. So will Mrs Daivari," Veikko's fingers played with his friends. Will we ever be able to be just friends, Dom wondered. We've been physically intimate for so long. Sexually, too. It'll be weird not to have that every day. More's the pity.

"Well, he'll be stupid to ever come near you, okay Ko?" Dom reassured him. "He'll keep his distance or he'll have everyone in the world after him. He's had all that therapy and stuff in jail, so he's supposed to be square now."

"I'll be okay, won't I?" Veikko leaned his head against Dom's chest. "I'll be okay because I have you, and I have Maverick, and I have Reima, and I have Mrs Daivari."

"Yeah, we've got you, little Ko," Dom smiled. "Let's hang out this week, yeah? I miss the hell out of you."

"Mmm yes, please. Come and have breakfast! I won't be a little bitch this time, I promise!" Veikko laughed and squeezed Dom's face. "You put up with so much shit from me, oh my lawd. I dunno how you don't just shove me through the window."

"Because I know you'll haunt the shit out of me if you die, so I need you alive," Dom quipped, and Veikko laughed and slapped him. It was nice to be back to normal - more or less. "I'm gonna go back to Toph and Rei. I'll send Maverick back."

"AHH, you can keep him," Veikko smirked. "He's a smartarse this morning and there's only room on the throne for one queen!"

"Pfft! I don't want him! There's only room in the pack for one alpha," Dom winked back. Veikko giggled and waved his friend away.

Dominic was surprised to see that Topher and Maverick were not in the 11-A homeroom. No. He saw them together in the corridor that separated the two rooms. Seeing Matsuda's fingers on his crush's arm sickened him. They were speaking together quietly, and that triggered the alarms in Dom's brain. Maverick never did anything by accident. Never. If he was discreet, there was a damn good reason. If he was obvious, there was a damn good reason. This guy was a loner by nature. A malcontent. An anomaly. A predator. If he was getting close to Topher and Veikko, there was a damn good goddamn fucking reason. I need to know what that reason is.

"Sup?" Maverick quickly switched tracks and looked up at Dom as the big guy approached. No fear. No humanity. Just an empty shell of pure primal instinct. "You're havin' fun interrupting me this morning, ay?"

"Hey, Dom!" Topher seemed far less upset to see him.

"Hey buddies, what's going on here, hey? You know this is what a drug deal looks like, don't you?" Dom teased and Topher laughed, but Maverick smirked.

"Well, you would know," Maverick's bladed tongue cut right through Dom's resolve like warm butter. The boldness of him! To let out such potentially damaging information to the both of them! Who the fuck does this guy think he is?

"What do you mean?" Topher asked, his eyes bouncing between the shocked Maori fellow and the smug Japanese arsehole.

"Never mind, Toffee," Dom quickly shut that down before Topher could get wind of Maverick's underlying message. "Just stuff about my sister. Heyo Maverick, why don't we have a private chat, yeah?"

"Why? You starting to run out of conversations to interrupt?" Maverick baited him, and Dom's fists started to clench.

"Just about you and Koko, that's all. Nothing big," Dom wasn't as good as Maverick at being menacing. Sure, he looked the part. Big and brutish. Tall and muscular to boot. He had good genes. All the men - and women - in his family were tall and well built. The problem was that Dom's heart was soft and warm. And frail. "Do you mind giving us a bit of space, Toff?"

"Oh. Okay," Topher beamed at the two of them, blissfully unaware of the nature of the conversation. So naive, Dom thought grimly. Maverick's gonna make easy prey out of him as well. Topher returned to the room with Reima, and Dom shoved Maverick when his sweetheart wasn't looking.

"Come with me, Matsuda," Dom ordered him, and Maverick bit his lip provocatively.

"Wow. First Veikko, then Topher, now you! I'm just queer bait, ay?" Maverick taunted him with a wink and a seductive swipe of his tongue over his pink lip, passing over the two blue studs that pierced it. Dom ignored him. There was no point biting back. Maverick lived for that shit. Dom wasn't going to give him that kind of satisfaction. "Fourth-floor toilets, ay?" Maverick continued to be an insolent twerp when Dom beckoned him to come inside. "They should set up a camera in here, don't ya reckon? People gettin' their heads kicked in and shit. Pretty entertaining."

"Yeah, mate," Dom did not use that word in a friendly way. "Remember when McLeod fucked you up in here because you didn't know when to pull your head in? Just saying."

"Oh! Did he?" Maverick pretended to panic and bite at his nails before his expression changed, and he let out a childish giggle. "I forgot what happened," he added with a singsong voice.

"It could happen again, you know," Dom threatened him, taking a step towards him. "If you ever hurt Topher or Veikko--"

"Okay Dom, let's not play games, ay?" Maverick took a step towards Dominic, and their chests touched. "We're gonna have to get along now, aren't we? I mean, you're besties with my BF, and I'm about to become besties with yours. You're gonna be seeing a lot o' me."

"Why are you doing this?" Dom asked, nudging Maverick with his bigger, stronger chest. "What the hell are you doing?"

"What are you on about? You talk a lot o' shit," Maverick strolled casually over and leapt up on the counter like a panther, sitting cross-legged between two porcelain sinks. "Your best friend is my boyfriend because I like him and your boyfriend is my best friend because I like him. Where are you getting lost here? Too much brawn and not enough brains, that's your problem."

"You don't like people!" Dom gripped his forehead out of frustration.

"That's not strictly true," Maverick shrugged, playing with his fluffy blue hair. "A bit, though. I don't like you."

"Yeah, you've made that clear enough, kid!" Dom walked up close, but with every inch closed between them, the irritating little mongrel's smile grew.

"What are ya gonna do? Bash me?" Maverick asked, and Dom shrugged.

"I thought about it," he replied aggressively.

"So stop thinkin' about it and fuckin' do it!" Maverick challenged him.

"Are you mental?" Dom was bewildered. "What the fuck's wrong with you? You know I can splatter you easy, right?"

"You hit me, and Veikko jumps straight on my dick," Maverick explained arrogantly, mimicking Veikko's signature palm to the face gesture. "So go for your life, Faye. You're in checkmate, my man, but you're just too dumb to see it." Maverick reached out with his right hand as though he were offering to shake. His hand was completely still. It did not quiver or shake at all. Fucking eerie. "I have a lot of influence with both your bestie and your boyfie. So whaddya think, Dom? I'm a reformed citizen. I'm a victim of a brutal attack! So if you put a hand on me, do ya reckon it'd take much for 'em both to write you off?"

"You devious little motherfucker," Dom had to laugh. Not a happy laugh. "What the fuck do you want, then?"

"I have what I want!" Maverick beckoned with his fingers. "Veikko belongs to me now, and in return, I've handed you Topher on a silver platter. You think he grew the balls to come out to you on his own? Nuh-uh, mate. That was on me."

"Huh?" Dom narrowed his eyes. "When? Why?"

"Quid pro quo, y'know?" Maverick waved his hand around. Does he want a truce? Seriously? "Toph came to visit me in the hospital. He's a sweet kid, don't you think? Yeah. He never said so, but he had the hots for you bad, Faye. It was obvious. All he needed was a push in the right direction. Now you have him. Great job mate. I did all the work, and you reap the benefits! Haha! So in return, I only want one thing, okay? You stay in your lane, and you don't interfere with Veikko and me."

"No, Matsuda. Veikko's too good for someone like you," Dom was no longer feeling like punching the guy's head in. It felt like Maverick was sincere. Honest. With Dom being aware of who he was and his tendency to lie and manipulate, Maverick didn't seem to bother. He went out of his way to get under the Maori's skin of course, but he didn't try those stupid mind games.

"You know, they all think it takes strength to rise to the top in the world," Maverick locked his eyes on to Dominic's. They were cold as ice. "It doesn't, though. Not really. It takes tenacity. Conviction. Smarts. Veikko has all of those things, Faye. You don't. You tried to fuck off out of here the moment shit got real for you. Veikko didn't, though. Through all the shit that guy's been through, he's still hitting back at life. It doesn't matter if he's not strong like you are because when shit gets real, Veikko never gives in. I dig that. I mean shit, you were there the whole time I tried to break him. He never stopped fighting back. Not for a second! And when you helped him kiss me, I felt things and I've never stopped feelin' it. You might think you know me, Faye, but you know nothin'. Veikko's my boyfriend now and I'm gonna take better care of him than you ever did. You don't gotta worry about him. You worry about your pretty Church boy. Whaddya say? I gave him to you as a gesture of good faith. Whether or not you wanna do this the easy way or hard way is up to you. Just remember, mate - I gave you Church boy, and I can take him away just as easy."

"If you hurt him--" Dominic pointed his finger, and Maverick rolled his eyes.

"Never. That's the truth," Maverick swore. "He likes you, mate. I'm cool with that. Fuck the demons out of him. I dig it. But if you do anythin' stupid, I'll take him away from you. Veikko too. It's easier just to be a happy family. We got a deal, then?" He waved his hand one more time. He'd been looking to shake for a while.

"Like I have a choice," Dom muttered angrily and put his hand in Matsuda's, the two of them shaking their hands before he took it away. He hated touching his nemesis. It was like touching a viper. "I'm keeping my eye on you, Maverick. You don't scare me."

"Likewise," Maverick raised his eyebrows and smiled. "Maybe Topher and Veikko buy your big, strong alpha dog act, but they didn't sell you the needle and gear you used to commit suicide. Remember that, big guy. You already tried to kill yourself. With your history, nobody's gonna think much about it if you, I dunno, happened to die to another hotshot. Y'get me?"

With that, Maverick hopped down to the floor with the grace and ferocity of a tiger, that arrogant glint in his eye. Maverick's hand gently tapped Dom's cheek before he walked out, leaving the bigger, stronger man utterly defeated.