A colorful AU!

[crab_rangoon]

The world is gray. Always gray. He had thought once, as a little boy, that the emergence of color would be a wonderful thing. He used to dream that finding that person, that getting to see everything in brilliant Wizard Of Oz technicolor would be something he would always cover until it happened.

But after Ishwari, after the betrayal and the loss, after Ajay and Lakshmana left to America after Mohan's failed assassination attempt, Pagan just gave up on that dream. Love, he decided, was just for those who have given up on themselves. Not worth the trouble.

Yuma became the face of Kyrat after that and Pagan stepped back, letting her handle the death threats and the rebels and all of the bullshit that he just didn't want to deal with. Pagan ruled from the back, tempering Yuma's impulsive bullshit with a cooler head, though no less ruthless. However, the arrangement left him free to roam the world, taking care of his business in Hong Kong and the mainland unmolested. His father might not have had the desire to rule the Triads, but Pagan sure as fuck does. Even if it means he has to go and do things himself.

It's this reason, chasing spineless Hong Kong assholes, that lands him in Japan. He has a small security detail that walks the crowd, but otherwise Pagan is by himself as he walks the streets, checking his phone for his victim's last location.

Comments

[lone_horse]

Another of those tiny eyerolls before he starts off, heading down the stairs, and out one of the back entrances that leaves them even closer. He'll trot down the street, heading for what looks very much like a service elevator at the back of an abandoned building. There's a number of homeless men out back, squatting in the entryway. All of them smile as they see him walk up and there's a few murmurs that he does his best to quiet before he dips his head and leads the way into the building and towards the elevator. No one stops them, though there are a few looks at Pagan.

[crab_rangoon]

Pagan sends the guard away well before they arrive at the building and, consequently, he walks much closer to Kiryu. He's trusting the other man, this supposed soul mate of his, to keep him safe. Pagan can hold his own, but he's certainly not on familiar territory here.

He can feel the eyes on him, the questioning and suspicious gazes, but that's nothing new to him. He just follows him into the elevator silently.

"They know you."

[lone_horse]

"They do," he says with a nod, "since I used to spend a lot of time here."

He presses the button for the right floor and it dings as the doors open smoothly. Despite the appearance, the elevator looks to be clean and well-maintained.

"Do you want me to help you drag him out if we have to?"

[crab_rangoon]

Pagan shakes his head. "Oh no. You'll find I'm quite - persuasive," he says with a bright smile. He can hear the man's voice from somewhere nearby and bristles a little. "The audacity of him, really. Gambling away my fucking money."

[lone_horse]

Ah. Well, that's fair. The elevator dings and Pagan might be surprised to see what looks like an upscale casino, staffed by well-dressed people with a few servers walking around with what is clearly complimentary drinks. The cousin is at the blackjack table with a girl nestled next to him watching him play.

Kiryu gives no comment.

[crab_rangoon]

Pagan walks in front of Kiryu at that, gently placing a hand on his chest as he passes. Without too much of a flourish, he walks up next to Lau and drapes an arm over his shoulder, tightly, giving the girl a firm look.

He doesn't need to say anything to her. He doesn't need to do anything. The energy between them is enough and she suddenly has found someone much more interesting to talk to.

Pagan's all smiles as he leans over the table and picks up one of the chips, not wanting to interrupt the dealer at his job. He's not Pagan's priority and Pagan's not looking for an all out brawl. Lau cowers under Pagan's touch and tries to get away, but Pagan's arm around him is like a vice, keeping him in place.

After thanking the dealer, Pagan pushes the rest of the chips over and starts to guide his unfortunate cousin, who looks rather green, towards the elevator.

[lone_horse]

Kiryu will stay the hell out of all of that.

And he'll go to the table to get the chips and cash out properly. He stashes the money on his person, since he'll be returning it to Pagan, and makes to follow the other man to the elevator.

[crab_rangoon]

Pagan shoves the other man inside the elevator and glances over his shoulder. "Be a dear and get the button for me?" he calls out to Kiryu softly, leaning one arm heavily against Lau. "We're going to just have a quick chat."

Without waiting for a response, he launches into rapid Cantonese with the other man, and while Pagan sounds quiet, almost lazy, his victim is terrified.

As he should be.

[lone_horse]

Kiryu makes it over and presses the button immediately before watching to make sure no one else joins them. The rapid-fire Cantonese, at least, lets him hear Pagan speaking in his native language and it's... it's lovely, really. He decides he has a very nice voice. And that he wants to listen to him sing, if he can get the man in a karaoke booth.

His sympathy for the cousin is nonexistent; he's beat the shit out of people like that man far too many times.

[crab_rangoon]

Pagan leans against him, keeps him from moving, and then, when the elevator doors open again, he pats his cheek and grabs his ear, leading him out in the most embarrassing way.

Once on the street, one of his guards grab Lau and guide him off while Pagan stands near the steps, watching them with narrowed eyes.

Goddammit.

"Well. That was exciting," he says to Kiryu.

[lone_horse]

"Not really," he says while he watches the man get led off. Not a single fist thrown. No shouting. Not even a scene. He'll pat the spot he has the money in. "I'm assuming you wanted this back."

[crab_rangoon]

Pagan glances at his pocket and then up to his face. He's not about to spill blood on the streets in front of everyone with a fake passport and a name that turns heads.

That will come later.

"Keep it," he tells him. "You can use it to take me out later. Now. That interrupted my drink and I am going to miss my shows."

He takes out his phone and sends off a quick text.

[lone_horse]

...he wouldn't be the first to do that. Kiryu's dealt with plenty of them who feel just fine about doing that very thing. But sure, cool. He's fine with that.

He raises an eyebrow but he'll nod, giving the tiniest little eyeroll since he can certainly take care of money himself at this point, but he'll find a way to give it back to him before the night is over. All the same-

"Did you want to head back to the hotel or grab food?"

[crab_rangoon]

Pagan doesn't like being out. He doesn't like being around other people. He doesn't mind the city, but he's not in his element and this just isn't fun. So he adjusts his sleeves and starts walking. "Food first," he says, though he's watching Kiryu and will follow him where he goes. "Then the hotel. I need a break."

[lone_horse]

He nods and he'll reach into his pocket to text Kanrai.

"I know somewhere we can pick up a few boxes, bring them back to the hotel. Sound good?"

[crab_rangoon]

"For a dead man, you certainly are walking around like you fucking own this place," he mutters, but isn't at all worried. If Kiryu is fine with it, then Pagan is fine with it.

"And you better not steer me wrong," he points out.

[lone_horse]

He just huffs in amusement, because he's never had an unhappy meal at Kanrai. Not even one of the boxed ones. Especially since the hotel is close enough that they should be able to get their food and enjoy it hot.

"Head back to the hotel. I'll pick up some food. Bring it back."

He's feeling... a little more like himself, like a living man, like... like he's allowed to exist. He's not sure if that's safe or smart but he wants it.

[crab_rangoon]

"You don't know what I like!" he complains, but he gets a phone call at the same time. Answering it, he speaks in English, and is almost...cooing at the person on the other end.

He laughs, suddenly a little freer, and turns the corner to head back to the hotel.

[lone_horse]

He will return in about 10 minutes with a tall tower's worth of boxes, all of them smelling absolutely divine. The abstract geometry and metaphysics involved in how he opened the door is anyone's guess, but he's kicking it shut behind him as he makes his way over to the little suite's table and bar area.

He'd also popped on another couple of hours for the room.

[crab_rangoon]

Pagan's still on the phone when he arrives, but he ends the call when Kiryu comes inside. "What the fuck?" he mutters, helping him with the boxes.

"Do they even know what you're doing in here?" he asks, sitting down to pick through what he's brought.

[lone_horse]

"You think people don't bring food in here?" he asks with a raised eyebrow. While he's never actually done what most people do in here, he can't see how having snacks and dinner before, after, or in between rounds wouldn't make it better. But he is a bottomless pit.

"They usually have delivery menus up front. But it's faster" and you get the food still hot, "when you get it yourself."

[crab_rangoon]

"I don't know what they bring in here," he laughs. "Well. No. I do. But listen, bringing food into the bedroom leads to a very sticky situation that is hell to unstick." He leans his head back with a grin.

"Alright. Let's see what you have here."

[lone_horse]

Kiryu will start unstacking the boxes to reveal some of the high-end selections from Kanrai that he picked out. He likes to eat good and he has a feeling Pagan feels the same. The scent of roasted meat and sauces starts to spread as he opens the first of them.

"Utensils are behind the bar."

[crab_rangoon]

Pagan stands up and retrieves the utensils before sitting back down in front of him.

"So. Let's talk about this elephant in the room, hm?" he mutters, flipping through each of the boxes and finding the one that he wants.

Well. He could get used to this.

[lone_horse]

...he actually looks. For the elephant.

What, he's not familiar with that saying.

Then he clears his throat and goes to find another box of what he wants since, oops, that first box is already demolished. The reason for the stack becomes a little clear. He'll happily eat anything Pagan doesn't.

"What do you mean?"