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“Boss?” Adder calls, stepping out of the elevator and into the office Corbeau rarely seems to leave these days since portals to an inverted Lumiose started opening. So far nothing serious had happened, but mirror copies of people had been showing up and it was starting to cause some headaches.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t my favorite right hand man,” a voice purrs from Corbeau’s desk, drawing Adder’s eyes to a man in a white suit. A quick glance behind him confirms that Adder’s own counterpart is standing by the elevator, looking like he’d rather be anywhere but here.
“Get away from that desk,” Adder orders, taking a threatening step toward the imposter, “you’re not my boss.” Much to his surprise, Alt actually listens, leaving the desk to step right into Adder’s personal space.
“It’s easy to pretend though, isn’t it?” Alt asks, pressing Adder’s hand against his own cheek, “I'm just like the real thing, why not enjoy it?”
Adder just stares at the man who looks so much like his boss, it would be easy to pretend it was Corbeau’s face he was caressing; if he closed his eyes Adder was sure he could ignore the light green hair and blue eyes. It would be so easy to give in and pretend, but the man before him wasn’t his Corbeau, just a twisted version from Hyperspace Lumiose, who didn’t give a Rattata’s ass about his feelings.
“Y-you’re not Beau!” Adder exclaims, finally finding the strength to push Alt away, “So stop it, would ya!”
“Ah, worth a try,” Alt shrugs, an easy going grin on his face. “I’m doing you a favor, ya know, letting you pretend. Why waste the offer?” Alt’s grin turns sharp, as he continues, “c’mon. It’s not like you’re gettin’ that type of attention from him here.”
‘How does he–” A bead of sweat drips down his face as Adder tries to keep his emotions in check. “And who says I want that kind of attention?” He demands, making his own alternate counterpart tsk from over by the elevator.
‘What a fool…’ Philippe thinks as his watches Alt manipulate his darker counterpart. Only a complete and utter fool would hold any affection for any version of Corbeau. Alt was a ruthless bastard that had taken over his Rust Syndicate by force; Philippe had no doubt this world’s version would be just as heartless.
“Oh please,” Alt shakes off Adder’s grip with a flick of his wrist. “It’s obvious you’re attracted to your 'Corbeau.' Probably for a while, unless…” Alt watches Adder’s face as he continues with a sneer. “Ah, you haven’t told him yet, huh?”
“And what of it?” Adder mutters, glaring as the obnoxious man in white lets out a little laugh.
‘Right on the money,’ Alt thinks, the sneer on his face widening as he realizes Adder is just as his to read as his Philippe. “I wonder…this fear you have, is it because you’re afraid of his answer…or because you already know what he’ll say?” Adder’s face falls at his words and Alt can't help but grin. ‘What a nice face!’ Taking a step forward, Alt gently caresses Adder’s cheek, he would take all that his counterpart cherished and shatter it. “You poor thing,” he coos, “you’d be better off saying yes. No shame in a substitute, right?” Alt barely has time to enjoy Adder’s forlorn look before his wrist is caught in an uncomfortably tight grip.
“How many times must I tell you to keep your hands off of what’s mine?” Corbeau practically growls, narrowed golden eyes meeting the amused blue of his counterpart. He swore if this little prick didn’t go back to Hyperspace Lumiose City soon, Corbeau would cut his damn hand off.
“And how was I supposed to know he was yours?” Alt asks innocently, yanking his hand free from his counterpart. “I don’t see your name on him,” he continues with a purr, very aware of the effect his words have on Adder, “and he just seems so desperate for our touch.”
The fist catches Alt right in the mouth, splitting his lip, and he stumbles back a few steps as he stares at Corbeau’s still raised fist. For a long moment no one moves or says anything, each trying to process what had just happened. Alt couldn’t believe his pansy of a counterpart, who couldn’t even make a move on either of the men who had feelings for him, actually had the balls to hit him; when was the last time anyone had dared to lay hands on him!? Philippe carefully keeps his face neutral, but was laughing on the inside because someone had finally hit that bastard; maybe this world’s Corbeau wasn’t as bad as he thought. Adder was trying to ignore how Corbeau’s words and actions just made his heartache all the worse as he fell even more in love with his boss. Corbeau was pissed that he’d let his emotions get the better of him, but damn that prick for hurting Adder!
“I suggest you leave,” Corbeau states coldly, glaring down at the corrupted copy of himself despite them being the same height.
Alt glares for a moment, before he wipes the blood off his chin and schools his expression into his usual easy going smirk. “Fine, fine,” he says, raising his hands in a placating manner, “I can see when I’m not wanted.”
“Good,” Corbeau states, moving toward his desk as he had work to do.
Alt lets his counterpart get all of two steps away before he surges forward and grabs Adder’s tie, yanking the larger man down into a searing kiss, all the while making direct eye contact with Corbeau. He has just managed to force his tongue into a stunned Adder’s mouth before pain explodes in his wrist and Alt is forced away from Adder. Alt looks from the blood staining his white sleeve, to the bloody katana in Corbeau’s hand, back to his bloody wrist, before finally staring at Corbeau in shock.
“Yours is real!?” Alt exclaims, applying pressure to his wound. The angry little Venipede hadn’t hit his vein, but it would definitely scar and mess up his tattoos.
“Is yours not?” Corbeau asks with a raised eyebrow. Without letting his counterpart even open his mouth to speak, Corbeau presses the tip to the underside of his chin, reminding prick once again just how sharp the blade is. “Now,” Corbeau continues, applying just enough pressure to draw a trickle of blood, “this is your last warning: keep your hands off what’s mine or next time I will cut your hand off.”
Alt continues to glare at Corbeau, but he is smart enough to know a losing battle when he sees one, and takes a step back. “You will pay for this,” Alt promises, turning to leave, his white coat flaring behind him dramatically.
Corbeau watches silently, refusing to take his eyes off his counterpart until both Alt and Philippe are in the elevator. He was grateful he’d already warned his team members about Alt, so they would know to throw the bastard out. Carefully placing the katana on his desk, he could clean it later, Corbeau turns to Adder; the poor man hadn’t moved a muscle since Alt attacked. “Adder?” Corbeau calls softly, frowning when his right hand man still fails to respond. Biting back a sigh, Corbeau gently guides Adder to sit down on the couch.
Adder’s mind was spinning a million miles a second, ricocheting from one emotion to the next like a Drifloon in a tornado. The fake Corbeau had told his Corbeau about the shameful feelings Adder had tried to hide for nearly a decade and then kissed him! And he hadn’t pushed him away! Adder had only ever kissed Corbeau before and now he felt dirty and was sure Corbeau would never even look at him again. Arceus above, he must have looked so pathetic, just standing there and letting that slimeball do whatever he wanted. Adder faintly hears Corbeau call his name, but he couldn’t bring himself to look at the younger man, not when he was sure Corbeau’s about to toss him aside like the Trubbish he was. It’s only when gentle fingers brush away tears that Adder realizes he’s crying.
“Adder,” Corbeau repeats, gently wiping away a few tears as he forces the older man to look at him. “Are you okay?”
“H-huh?” Adder blinks in surprise, that was not what he was expecting Corbeau to say.
“I asked if you were okay.”
“I-I’m fine…” Adder mutters and Corbeau raises an eyebrow, clearly not believing him.
“You wouldn’t lie to your boss, would you?” Corbeau asks, one hand dropping to Adder’s neck, his warm palm resting over the other’s pulse point.
“Of course not!” Adder yelps, both calmed by the familiar hold and afraid Corbeau will feel how fast his heart is beating.
“Oh really?” Corbeau smirks, leaning forward so he is nearly nose to nose with Adder, “then why don’t you tell me what that bastard meant.”
Adder just stares into those deep golden eyes, his lips moving on their own like he’s in a trance. “I really like you,” he mutters, “like, a lot.”
“Oh Adder,” Corbeau sighs, a fond smile tugging at his lips. Before Adder can misread the situation, Corbeau claims the older man’s lips in a gentle kiss. He keeps the kiss soft, not wanting Adder to think this was like their past interactions, only pulling away when the larger man's face is completely flushed.
“B-Beau…?” Adder pants, trying not to let his hopes get too high.
“I never realized you saw us as more than friends-with-benefits,” Corbeau admits, “I thought I told you to tell me the important things, and don’t you dare say your feelings aren’t important.”
Adder’s blush threatens to engulf his entire head as he processes his boss’s words. “Mr. Gray…?” He manages after a moment, needing to be absolutely sure Corbeau means what he thinks he means.
“Mr. Gray is happy if I’m happy,” Corbeau explains before his smirk turns absolutely sultry. “Now, the real question is how should I punish you for keeping such a delectable secret from me?”
Adder can’t stop the whine that escapes him, as he squirms under Corbeau’s gaze. He wasn’t completely sure the boss returned his feelings, but at least Corbeau seemed pleased by his confession and wasn’t going to toss him aside.