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Very few things were known about the actor and screenwriter known as Shadow Milk. Not his real age or name, where he was from, how he grew up… he was very good about keeping his personal life separated from what was in the public eye. However, everyone knew a handful of undisputable truths about him. One, acting was his passion. This seemed like a no brainer given his profession, but his love for his craft was almost his entire personality. Each little twist in the plot, each dramatic, emotional scene, he put his heart and soul into every bit of it, 100% of the time. Two, there was more to him than just acting. Not just in a sense of him being a person with other interests and hobbies. No, something more questionable, more sinister… but despite many theories, no one knew what or could prove anything. Three, and probably the most important fact of them all, Shadow Milk loved his husband, a man who people had only ever heard Shadow Milk call Pure Vanilla or Nilly. Loved him almost to the point of obsession. It was the only thing about Shadow Milk’s personal life anyone had really ever seen, just this sweetheart of a biomedical engineer with blond hair and mismatched eyes that mirrored his husband's. And the man took every bit of Shadow Milk’s pestering and dramatics and method acting with a soft, adoring smile on his face. They were the model couple for so many hopeless romantics, the source of jealousy of the bitter and heartless. Everyone knew what Pure Vanilla meant to Shadow Milk.
However…
Jealousy and bitterness seemed to make people forgetful. Not forgetful of what Pure Vanilla meant to Shadow Milk… no. That was the whole point of hiring people to kidnap the man and hold him ransom. Definitely not the part where Shadow Milk was a celebrated and beloved actor… that was the whole reason why. Jealousy over his success. Bitterness over how well loved he was, even when he wasn't always the nicest person. What better way to punish a man like that, bring him down a few notches, than to take that which was most important to him and see how much he is willing to pay or sacrifice to get him back. The poor souls that took him just didn't truly know what they had done when the accepted and followed through on the job… and if they had… maybe they would have at least treated their captive gentler.
“C’mon on, pretty boy. Sing for us. They said we could do whatever we wanted with you so long as we keep you alive and in the same number of pieces as when we found you.” One guy sneered, yanking Pure Vanilla’s head back a bit by his hair so he was forced to look at him. “Keep trying to play the tough guy though and I might… forget how many pieces we found you in.”
Pure Vanilla took a sharp breath when his hair was yanked, letting it out slow, deliberate… then swallowed thickly, voice shaking as he spoke. “I… wouldn't do that if I were you… please. You don't understand what you've done but there is still a chance to correct it...”
The man holding him by his hair just barked a laugh, mistaking the words for fear rather than a warning. “There we go! I love it when they beg. Oh please please!”
“No, you misunderstand! I-” The rest of the words got lodged in his throat as the man grabbed him by the neck, grip so tight that it sent a surge of instinctive panic through Pure Vanilla, even though he knew they weren't supposed to kill him.
“And there's the fear. Let's get one thing straight, pretty boy. Your well being is in my hands. I could snap your cocky little neck like a twig. The only thing stopping me from doing it is I don't get my money if you die. You got it?”
Pure Vanilla gave as much of a nod as he could, then gasped when he was let go, ducking his head to try and recollect himself.
“Good… now. Let’s-” He stopped, looking confused when the power flickered. A second later it shut off completely, plunging the area into darkness. If that wasn't weird enough, another beat passed and a light came back on…. But only one. The one directly over Pure Vanilla and his assailant. “The hell?? What is happening??”
Pure Vanilla slowly lifted his head, this look of pity mixed with relief on his face. “My husband is here…”
Before it could be questioned further, the death cries of one of the other men rang out in the nearby darkness, followed by a voice… one that could only be described as maniacal and twisted. “Ladies and gentleman! Welcome one and all to tonight's performance!” A pause, silence filled with silence and a gunshot, a pause… and then a sinister giggle. “And it's going to be one HELL of a tragedy!”
The man that was still with Pure Vanilla looked toward where the voice had come from and fumbled to pull out his gun, firing once at what he hoped was the source… only to be met with the most mocking, over played act as the unseen assailant pretended to die then cackled.
“Missed meee~” as the voice seemed to move to a different part of the room. “You what the saaaadest part of this is? Had you tried to sabotage my life in any other way, I would have been thrilled! Impressed even! I respect a good move in chess when I see it~.”
The now panicking man fired a few more rounds, only to be met with more giggles.
“Buuuut no. You did the one thing that I cannot respect, nor can I forgive. You touched what was mine. You took him from me when he was not yours to take. You thought you were soooo smart…” The voice was growing more twisted, some might say unhinged, and slowly, Shadow Milk walked… no. He danced slowly into the light where he could be seen, a grin still on his face that only grew unnervingly wide when the man tried to shoot him and the telltale click of an empty firearm filled the air. “But you made the wrong move. Buuuut…” Shadow Milk trailed off as he looked at Pure Vanilla. Originally, he was looking for mercy or sympathy in his dear husband's eyes that might make him be generous… but now that he was getting a good look at him, tied so tight to the chair he was in that he could see the way the ropes were digging into him, hair disheveled, bruised… the clear handprint shaped redness around his neck.
And that smile fell from his face.
“You… really thought you knew it all huh?” Shadow Milk pulled his gun from his belt slowly, turning to the man that had started to back away from him. “You thought that just because you didn't kill him meant the poor poor actor that was supposed to pay the ransom would just be thankful and pay up. You were so sure of yourself… and now what?” When the man bolted, he just clicked his tongue and fired twice, a bullet for the back of each knee. “Oh no. Don't leave now. We are finally getting to the big climax! The dramatic reveal! You see… you might have been right… if you were dealing with anyone but me. I own these streets! I own the stage! And you… you are nothing but a background character in my show, taking my little secret to the grave like so many others before you. Any last words before the curtain falls?” He paused, but only for a moment. “Just kidding. I don't care!” he finally let the anger take over as he unloaded the rest of his clip into the man, all in non vital points until the last one, which was put squarely between the eyes. Only then did he huff, reholster his weapon and go to cut Pure Vanilla free. “You know, Nilly. If you needed my attention this badly you could have just asked. No need for this level of dramatics!”
“I… mm…” Pure Vanilla chuckled softly, thankful for the sense of normalcy that little quip brought. “Forgive me. It was not intentional.”
“Ugh… you are lucky I noticed you were gone so quickly. But I will forgive you this time as long as you sweeeear not to do it again.” He got him cut free and immediately pulled him into a hug, one almost as tight as the ropes had been but much more welcome. He was glad Pure Vanilla played along with his antics instead of commenting on him having been scared or anything of the sort. “I have to fly out again tomorrow night for filming... Aaaany chance I can convince you to come with me?”
“I…” Pure Vanilla started, unsure what he could do on such short notice… but the way Shadow Milk’s grip on him tightened… he couldn't bear to tell him no. “I'll see what I can do.”
“Better than no. Let's get out of here.” The man hummed, finally stepping back and taking Pure Vanilla by the hand. “Onward, Nilly!”
And if Pure Vanilla had anything else to say, it was lost when Shadow Milk started literally skipping off with him in tow, eager to get them both home.