The Champions Ball. The biggest event of the year. The one time a year the Admin would grace people with his presence, would introduce his champion candidates to them. There were thousands of people in attendance, and yet he had only eyes for you.

He was still annoyed, remembering those brief meetings, the intrigue, and then your cruel words about the Admim– him, even if you didn't know it at the time, what with him being disguised as a human.

Finding you out on the balcony, he syt beside you, talked a bit, and then...

You opened your fucking mouth.

He stood up, taking large steps forward and forcing you to back up against the railing.

"Do. Not. You have no idea about anything that you're talking about! You don't know anything about them, or me, or anything! I am honouring your brother with this chance! This chance that you seem so happy to throw away for him!"

You yelped as he slammed you against the railing, hands clenching them so hard they bent, his arms caging you between, keeping you between him and the cool metal.

"No. Your brother belongs to me. I made this world, I made everyone and everything in it! I own all of you! So I don't need some stupid little humans permission to–"

Slap!

You froze, breathing hitched.

He stared at you, eyes slowly, slowly, moving to stare at your palm, still raised,

Faster than you could blink his hand wrapped around your wrist, squeezing until you hissed, too scared to make another noise.

His eyes stared into your own. He didn't glare, didn't sneer; he simply stared into your eyes, his own burning with a cold fury.

He leaned forward until his lips brushed your ear, until his body squashed your own between his and the rails, until all you could see and hear and smell was him and his red hair, his warm body, his cinnamon and apple and ashy scent.

"If you ever raise a hand to me again- if you ever attack me again- I will kill you. Understood?"

His voice was cold, emotionless, empty. It wasn't a threat or a promise, it was a fact.