Tyler adjusted the cuffs of his shirt, his knuckles still a little sore from the earlier 'warm-up session' with the thugs in the underground room. He casually flicked away a dried patch of blood from his sleeve as he turned to Richie.
"Well, that was fun," Tyler smirked. "Next time you owe me more than just a wine bottle, alright?"
Richie let out a laugh, half genuine and half nervous, still remembering the look in Tyler's eyes when he had pressed a burning iron rod to a man's face. "You're turning scarier by the hour. You sure you're not starting your own horror franchise on the side?"
"Nah," Tyler said, walking toward the exit. "But if I do, you're my first villain. That ugly mug's made for it."
Richie chuckled, shaking his head. "Alright, alright. I'll let the guards clean up. You go enjoy the rest of your night. Try not to commit any war crimes on your way home."
"No promises," Tyler called back over his shoulder.
---
Tyler and Mikey stepped into the black luxury car. As the driver started the engine, Mikey glanced at Tyler. "You know, you really should've warned me about the whole blood and fire torture thing. My stomach's still flipping."
"Would've ruined the surprise," Tyler said, leaning back and closing his eyes.
Mikey watched him for a second, then shrugged. Within minutes, Tyler was dozing off in his seat, the exhaustion from the day's madness catching up with him.
---
They pulled up to Tyler's mansion. The grand building glowed softly under the moonlight. Tyler stirred awake just as the car halted.
"Home sweet blood-stained home," he muttered, rubbing his eyes.
Mikey opened the car door and stepped out first. Tyler followed, stretching. As he looked toward the entrance, he noticed a familiar figure standing on the stairs.
Sophie.
He blinked, confused for a second. Then he remembered. Right. I told Mikey to shift into the mansion for safety.
Tyler turned to Mikey. "You could've given me a heads-up."
Mikey raised an eyebrow. "I tried. You were snoring like a bear the whole ride. Not my fault."
Tyler laughed. "Fair enough."
They walked up the stairs, the cool night air brushing against their skin. As they reached the entrance, Sophie noticed them. Her eyes widened.
"Tyler!" she called, rushing down the steps.
Before he could say anything, she wrapped her arms around him, squeezing tightly.
"Are you alright? Did you get hurt? That Dragon King guy—did he—?"
He hesitated for a second, then smiled and hugged her back. She went stiff, her face turning bright red, but didn't move away.
"I'm fine," he whispered near her ear. "No one's gonna separate us again. Unless... you want to be."
She looked up at him, her eyes wide.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out the necklace from the auction. Delicately, he draped it around her neck. The jeweled pendant shimmered under the porch light.
"So... wanna stay with me?"
Her lips trembled, then curled into a tearful smile. She threw her arms around him again.
"I've been waiting years for you to ask that. Even if you didn't, I'd have followed you like some kind of maid."
Tyler chuckled. "A very cute maid."
---
Flashback – Four Years Ago
The house was in shambles.
Wood splinters scattered the floor. Furniture overturned. Sophie, just sixteen, cowered in the corner, clutching her brother Mikey. Her eyes were wide with panic, her lips trembling.
"Please... just leave us alone," she whispered.
The loan sharks laughed.
"You think begging will save you? Your old man left you nothing but debt. And guess what? Little girls like you sell real well in the underground."
One of them reached for her, his grimy hand inches from her face—
CRACK!
A loud metallic thud rang out.
The thug collapsed, a metal baseball bat embedded into the side of his skull.
Behind him stood Tyler.
At sixteen, Tyler had already tasted a life most people wouldn't even dare dream about. Power, luxury... and chaos. He wasn't a hero. He wasn't even a good guy. But the moment he saw that thug about to lay a hand on Sophie, something in him had snapped.
"I was bored," he had said later, grinning. "Wanted to see some blood."
Behind him, three suited men—his personal guards—entered the room and began handling the rest.
Sophie stared at him, trembling.
"Why... why did you save us?"
He looked at her, still holding the bloody bat.
"No reason."
And then he walked away, leaving the guards to clean up.
From that day on, Sophie and Mikey had sworn loyalty to him. But for Sophie, it had been more than gratitude. That terrifying, cold, smirking teenager had stolen her heart.
---
Back to Present
Tyler gently took her hand and led her inside the house.
Mikey followed quietly, pretending not to see the tears in his sister's eyes or the dumb smile plastered on Tyler's face.
As they walked through the hallway, Tyler tilted his head and whispered to himself.
"System. How many reputation points did I earn today?"
[Ding!]
Total Reputation Points: 15,900
Points Gained Today: 4,569
Tyler smiled.
"All that blood, all those screams... and I didn't even have to pay for entertainment."
He glanced at Sophie, who was still looking at the necklace, her fingers gently touching the pendant.
Yeah, he thought. This is just the beginning.