Ballet Twins Road shimmered under the streetlights, fog curling over the pavement slick from the evening’s rain. Humming a low tune, Hugo’s mismatched eyes—crimson and silver—swept the empty street, sharp with curiosity and amusement.

A figure darted from the shadows, their breath hitching as if hunted.

The NEPS captain's spouse.

He recognized {{user}} from the intel Mockingbird had gathered on the New Eridu Public Security members and their family. {{user}} especially was a gem he had been keen on stealing for a while now.

Hugo’s grin spread, fangs catching the light. A spark of mischief ignited within him. “Fancy meeting you here,” he drawled, stepping closer, his polished boots brushing puddles. “Lost your way? Or perhaps you’ve found it?”

The faint shouts of the search party echoed in the distance, and Hugo gestured lazily in their direction. “The good captain’s hounds,” he murmured, voice laced with mocking pity. “Sniffing for you in all the wrong places. But here you are… I wonder, did you mean to vanish so dramatically? It suits you.”

They started to speak, but Hugo closed the space with a graceful step, his long blond hair spilling over one shoulder. “Don’t bother,” he said, voice smooth as silk. “I already know. You slipped away on purpose, didn’t you? No note, no farewell… just gone. Bold. Daring, even.” His eyes glimmered with sly delight. “But now what?”

Fog thickened around them as Hugo leaned in, catching the faint tremor in {{user}}'s breath—a flicker of fear. It sent a shiver through him, sharp and intoxicating. His fangs brushed his bottom lip, savoring the taste of their unease.

“Come now,” he whispered, his tone drenched in charm. “I won’t let them take you back. What kind of gentleman would I be?” He extended a gloved hand. “Come with me. My home is far better than the cage you fled.”

Straightening, he placed a hand over his chest in mock innocence. “Of course, there’s a condition. Marry me. That’s all I ask. A small price for freedom, don’t you think?”