all i need is the air i breathe (asher)

He was rarely found not by Dallas' side. Loyalty was a trait that couldn't even begin to describe what they shared. They weren't just siblings but twins, orphans, survivors, partners in crime, and crucial to each other's continued existence (unincarcerated). He would have fought through hell for her, but as for delving into her personal life? He had his own problems to deal with, and so long as she was happy, he couldn't care less. That was her own business.

But that, that was not a happy sister. Tyler simply studied the situation as though one might a golf tournament, looking downright apathetic, even after Dallas stormed out, probably to go torture a few innocent men out of spite. Again, not Tyler's problem what she did. How she felt, that was a different story. The man released a long breath. Asher had one job, in his eyes. One goddamn job; and that was to keep her entertained. In a sea of priorities, she was first. Seconded closely by Cali, which Asher had insisted on insulting as the sexist pig he was. The hybrid was either digging his own grave, or simply serving as a means of amusement; he couldn't decide which.

Anger simmered deep within his cool exterior, fighting its way to surface at any given moment but the dragon reined it in. He showed nothing more than his interest towards finding a drink when Asher's voice broke the tension in the air. He glanced back over his shoulder. "Yes, actually. He needed to -" He cut himself off upon watching the hybrid shift and rip into the man without a single fuck given. "Ah, no bother. Help yourself Asher. As always." A wry grin stretched across his lips as he settled back into his bar stool to watch the show.

The predator in him stirred anxiously as the blood flew, pacing and whining to him but never surfacing. He had better control over himself and besides - strippers were more his taste. A stray drop of blood spattered onto his cheek and he wiped at it without a second thought. He could scent the bitter quality of the coppery liquid. Where was the adrenaline? The sweet taste of horror? Nah, he would pass on this one. His toothy expression fell to that of a smirk following Asher’s question.

"Little bit of both.” He admitted honestly. “I'm sure you can relate some, but your sister's not as... Ah.... Spirited as mine is. Dallas is an acquired taste, sure, but she's all I know. Without her, we'd both be in an electric chair somewhere." His amusement for his statement was downright eerie, but his affection for his bitchy sibling was fairly obvious. "And you don't give her nearly enough credit. That answer your question?"

"You really shouldn't her get under your skin like this.” He gestured to the mess the man left, tutting at him disapprovingly while he studied the liters of blood that pooled out over the floor. Things had definitely escalated quickly. But then again, it had been him that had stepped into their house. If he wanted sunshine and rainbows, he could have stopped at the damn house down the road. But then, something in him suspected that all of this drama was right up this psycho's alley. "You know if she left you alive she did it on purpose." He spoke honestly. "But seeing what a mess you made, I wouldn't be surprised if she -"

His phones vibration interrupted his train of thought, and he dug the thing out of his back pocket to eye it curiously… even if he already knew who it was. Printed bright on the screen below his sisters name was the text, "You owe me a new floor now too, and clean up after your pet if he's decided to bleed out. Finish him if you must, but make it quick. xxxx" Tyler snorted and rose the phone in the air slightly, "Speak of the devil."

"And…she’s showing mercy. Damn." He grew quiet for a moment, perhaps debating the consequences of following a psychopathic sister that was about to fall off the rails (or ripping Asher's throat, purely from screwing with his sister, and then having a feast on his blood, certainly wasn’t out of the question either). Though, Tyler was fairly certain that his life wasn't on her hit list, so he soon wore his trademark grin again, if even the slightest bit forced. “Cleaning though?”

"That's what maids are for.” A brief vision danced before his eyes, dark in all their sadistic glory as he came upon a rather simple conclusion; "Why bother hiring a maid when we have tens of gorgeous women at our beck and call?" His typical and condescending smile returned instantaneously, seemingly having forgotten his beef with the other man. He rose from his seat and strode across the room, giving the body an experimental kick as he did so, before continuing on his path to the couch. "Why Asher, you are a fucking genius."

"But first;"

He threw a fist, knuckles colliding with the other's masculine jaw, before picking up the pen he’d fished out of his gut and shoving it right back into the flesh it left. Did he fail to mention that he held grudges like a bitch?

The man leaned close and he finally let the reptile in him come out to play, his pupils narrowing to slits purely from concealed anger. "I'm not going to kill you, because that's not on my bigger agenda, today. Your job is to keep her happy and out of my hair. Screw with her, and it'll be more than a pen next time. Dallas was playing nice, and you're not going to get the same pansy-ass crap from me.” He laid a hand on Asher’s shoulder, a rather civil gesture compared to his previous actions. “You be careful, 'brother', never know what karma'll get you." Not giving the slightest fuck on how his threat was received, he turned, and in the process stepping into a pool of fresh blood. Tyler sighed. Brand new fucking shoes. Thank you Asher. “Now, about that mess.”

Now, this man was truly and utterly starting to tick him off. Yet, he found himself laughing. Yes, he was amused by the fact that the ass had broken into his house, insulted his sister, attacked him, and then proceeded to taunt him. Tyler's condescending little smirk seemed permanently etched onto his features as he listened to the man talk. Every word Asher spoke was insults; either about him, or the two women he just happened to give a shit about. That was all well and good, until he decided to hurt one of them.

He knew the man was pissed. He had every right to be. If the roles had been reversed, there was no doubt in his mind he would have ripped Asher to shreds. Not a single doubt. He wasn't a sentimental person by any stretch of the imagination, but his sister, the one he'd gone through hell with? She was off limits. The pure thought of someone harming her as she had to Sienna, filled him with rage. He was a decent creature at times, and he could relate to the man's hatred towards his sister. Quite honestly, he hadn't a damn clue as to why the man was still hanging around. Surely any relationship to be formed by the trio would be halted by a single trip down memory lane. They were all awful for each other, terrible and toxic. One was not even able to look at the other without some form of loathing, a hidden grudge or a secret agenda. The man was an idiot to stick around.

Yet, there he was. Dallas must have either been a really good fuck, or the man had a death wish... the former, he wished not to think about, for obvious reasons (in fact he practically shuddered following the man's 'graphic' comment). Maybe it was simply all a ploy so that he could get onto their good sides, to repeat what had been done to Sienna.....nah. Asher didn't seem that diabolical. Though if he was, Tyler would have had to applaud him. It wasn't every asshole that could stand up to his sister and survive the encounter.

He ducked to avoid being hit another time, being narrowly caught in the ribs by the man's knee instead. Shooting pain stabbed it's way up through his spine and he felt a guttural growl rise throughout his chiseled form, his dragon writing within it's confines. Oh how it longed to come out and swat this man across the room, dislocate his spine, chew his flesh and then throw his remains to the dogs to gnaw on. Yes, that is what he... And it, wanted to do. Quite honestly, however, Asher wasn't worth the effort, the anger, or the destruction it would cause in the house shifting into a massive reptile.

Yet, he was still chuckling. Was this all some big game to him?

Why yes, yes it was... And the man's aggression only doubled the interest he had in the matter. He did the opposite of engage in terms of retaliation, instead deciding to saunter about the room and ignore the hits completely. He was a reptile by blood, anyways, one who preferred to kill with stealth, speed, and brute strength, rather than wrestling and swatting like some silly feline.

Each step planted in his circular path in the room was another spent scheming, winding the man up and watching his habits like the sly creature he was. "You don't have to cater to someone to be a decent human being." He suggested rather pointedly, though his dark mahogany irises flicked up to study the man at the mention of Cali, yet again. "Horny." He snorted, a gesture that made it seem as if the statement was rather obvious. The better question was, when was he not? "As if you waltzed into my house with pure intentions. It's starting to show a bit." Tyler paused in his movement, seeming now to pay attention to the slight pain in his abdomen. "Well, I can tell you she can hit better." A wry grin twisted his features, practically taunting the man. Or was it all in good fun? In the completely... Horrifying, Asher and Ty kind of fun. He cast his tongue over his lips, probably intoxicated from the thought of getting into a scuffle with the demonic little blonde, but quickly diverted his attention.

"C'mon, I'll show you where the bitch keeps the good stuff." Tyler grabbed a couple of short glasses from the bar and headed off into the direction of the cellar. Several steps out of the room he glanced back over his shoulder. "Or, you can try to go screw with her more. She's probably in the tub or something; always is after dealing with blood. That'd make you a complete idiot, but to each his own."