But again, the scar on his shoulder almost looked like a faint stain, as if it had been left behind by a mosquito bite or large chicken pock.

Inching closer and reaching out, she traced the slightly raised and lighter skin with her fingertips, examining the old wound.


Charles allows her to do this for a moment, speechless letting her touch him there curiously as her eyes shift from his scar to lock with his.

"I was shot once." He explained, sitting down on the bed across from her.

Rosabella bit her lip as she looked down at his shoulder, her fingertips still stroking the area.


"How..."

"Nothing remarkable. It was a deal that went wrong."


Without answering, she just let out a deep breath through her nose.

Teleporting around, Charles leaned back against the headboard and moved Rosabella with him so that she ended up lying on top of him, her hand resting on his bare chest.

"Your father, what's wrong with him..."

"Die?"

She nodded.

Charles was silent for a few seconds before starting to speak.

"He was the second in command of Michel's father. Both of them actually founded the Black Roses righteous gang, but Mr. Wallace - Michel's father - was the leader. Then one day, the two make a deal with one of the amusement parks that was raided by the police. A member of the Wilson's family and my father died that day. He was shot five times and bled at the scene." He told the story without any emotion as his hand gently stroked her hair.

"How old were you then?"

"Twelve. Vengo is thirteen. Michel's father raised us."

Rosabella suddenly felt a sense of grief over the loss the young teen had experienced. She knew that he was obviously trying his best to accept it, but she couldn't help picturing him at the age of twelve, informed that his father had been killed.

"What about your mother?"

"She died in a Phoenix attack years later."

Rosabella fell silent.

Charles could feel the tension in her body, clearly not accepting the fact that it was his life.

After a long while, she finally spoke up again.

"I hate your world, Charles."

"I know you do."

"And I hate that Fanny seems fine with it now."

Charles ran his fingers through her hair, enjoying their softness.

"I don't think you can say it happened overnight."

Leaving his chest, Rosabella sat up, folding her legs underneath as she turned to face him.

"Still. How can you be okay with all this illegal bullshit?"

Without any reaction, she didn't expect him to actually laugh at her question.

He just casually crossed his arms behind his head as he leaned back and shrugged.

"For someone as tough as me, I still find myself amazed at your innocence."

She rolled her eyes.

"Sorry?"

Sitting up on the bed, Charles frowned at her while his expression remained slightly amused.

"How do you think the world works? Do you really believe that everything is done fairly and squarely?"

"What..."

"You can see an oddball here and there who's completely honest about what they do, but that's rare, Rosabella. Everything counts, everything is a game bribe. Elections are spoofed, police forces are crooked, and businesses are rigged. Don't tell me you didn't know this."

Rosabella was stunned as she silently stared at him.

Of course, she knew he was right. But she just doesn't like having to face that fact.

So, not wanting to admit defeat, she let out an annoyed whistle and pushed his chest instead.

"Ugh, shut up, Charles."

He laughed again, pulling her down on the bed again as he playfully rolled over on top of her and began to undress her pajamas.

To his surprise, she didn't protest as she also took off the rest of his clothes, quietly unzipping his pants as the two continued to look at each other.

When they were naked, Charles snuggled up against her neck, using one of his knees to separate her legs as he settled comfortably between her thighs.

And without saying a word, he relaxed himself in her lap, his eyes fixed on her the whole time.

The first few strokes are very gentle, followed by an unusually deep stroke.

Rosabella gasped, her voice tense as her arms flew to his back, clinging to him with nails dug deep into his skin.

"Yes, there..." Her breathing quickened.

His thrust was very slow, barely moving, as he continued to forcefully cover her body.

That thought invaded Rosabella's head, suddenly aware that, at that moment, she didn't know what to do with this fact.

She felt him with every cell of her body, listening as he panted and groaned against her neck, his warm breath against her skin.

The two are usually quite loud during sex unless they're wary of someone overhearing them.

But now?

They heard each other as they took in shaky breaths and let out nervous groans.

Wrapping her arms around him tighter, twirling the soft curls of the nape of his neck around her fingers, Rosabella couldn't help noticing the little vibrations in her stomach.

She didn't know what they were because they didn't quite feel like the beginning of an orgasm, but it was a sweet sensation... so sweet...

Charles pulled kisses along the line of her jaw before pulling back enough to look down at her.

He still didn't say anything, but the curve of his lips, his gentle smile that bloomed in the dark, brightened the air between them.

He ended up in her lap at the same time she arrived, still staring at her, an ecstatic look on his face that took her by surprise.

And with lips parted and eyelids drooping, the soft whisper of a groan escaped him in the form of her name.

"Rosabella."

Then they just lay there, Rosabella lies on her stomach beside him on the bed, blankets wrapped around her. She was half asleep again, exhausted and satisfied, when she felt his feathers lightly brush her back, his fingertips tickling as he stroked her skin.