Redemption (Midas x Reader)

• VIII •

Had I imagined it? Why did I care one way or the other?

Ever since what had happened yesterday, I'd been nervous and on edge, unable to sleep or relax. I didn't want to talk to anyone, so had been subsisting on snacks in my room, trying to think about literally anything but him. Rather unsuccessfully.

And the flower. Was it a peace offering? Was it a threat? I knew that he was just doing his job, spying on someone who had come from Shadow, whom they didn't know anything about at the time. It wasn't fair to take it personally.

But I had to keep in mind that he was the leader of a spy agency, and Maya had told me that he was more powerful than I knew, and I didn't yet know what she meant. It was hard to imagine that someone who seemed to care so much about my well-being could be dangerous.

Unless it was all an act? To get information out of me? And why could I not stop thinking about him?

Because I wanted him. Badly.

I couldn't really deny it to myself anymore. I was furious that I had let him draw me in. I'd never allowed myself to be vulnerable in front of a man, let alone desired one.

Now what was bothering me was whether or not he felt the same way. Had he stopped out of respect, not wanting to take advantage of his power over me? Had he stopped because he never really wanted it, and was trying to use me? Had what I thought happened even really happened in the first place? Maybe he was just being kind.

I'm losing my fucking mind.

I needed to get out of here. I didn't care where I went, or what I looked like, I just needed to find something to take my mind off of him. It didn't help that my room was so fucking hot today. I hadn't been able to find a thermostat, and I was suffocating.

I threw on a pair of tennis shoes to go with my jogging shorts and tank, and headed out the door, without a plan. I figured I'd explore the place, I couldn't possibly get so lost that I wouldn't eventually find my way back to my room. I'd need to know my way around at some point.

Unfortunately the temperature wasn't much better in the hall. I wondered whether the heat was just here, or in the whole building. I made my way over to the elevator and got in, thinking that I might just try to find out. The floor my room was on was below ground, but it wasn't the lowest floor. I decided I'd go down and start there, working my way back up.

As the doors opened, I was blasted by cool air, making me realize that the problem must be somewhere closer to my room. I was surprised as I stepped off the elevator that my way was blocked. There were two separate doors, one on either side of the room I was in, each with a keycard reader beside it. I was just about to give up and turn around, when I noticed that one of the doors was open a crack.

I hesitated. These doors were probably supposed to be locked for a reason. I should just wait until I get my keycard and see if it works. I had almost talked myself out of it when I heard what I thought were voices coming from beyond the door.

Fuck it. I'm going in.

Curiosity got the better of me and I pushed the door open, heading inside. In front of me was a hallway, with a door at the other end. Lining both walls were what appeared to be prison cells. It was some kind of jail.

The cell farthest from me on the left had an open door, and it sounded like that's where the voices were coming from. I was suddenly nervous. I had no idea what I was walking in on, but from the sounds of the raised voices, it wasn't good. I started to debate once again if I should just turn around.