Content Warning: Stalker POV, Unhealthy obsession, mentions of violence

“Daddy, are you comin’ home soon?” The little voice on the other end of the line had Cedric frowning, cradling the phone closer to him. It wasn’t like he didn’t feel bad- his daughter was the one caught in the crosshairs of this whole thing. But his mother’s house was safe, and thanks to the burner phone, this number couldn’t be tied to him. As long as Tina was there, she was protected and tucked out of it.

And it wasn’t as though his mother was about to tell the six year old that her daddy was hiding out from the police.

“I’m not sure, princess. This job is running longer than Daddy had hoped, and it may be a bit longer still. Can you be a good, brave girl and keep listening to Grandma for Daddy?” He crooned. A few more months, and he would be able to take his daughter and start over. If he could just find five fucking minutes that that bastard wasn’t all over his Diederich. He had it all figured out, after all. The hard part would just be snagging his beloved away without being caught. He already had the little apartment he was holed up in ready, soundproofed and well stocked with supplies. Surely it wouldn’t take too long for the younger man to realize the error of his ways, right?

It wasn’t as though he were planning on hurting him again either. He hated that he had in the first place. But Diederich had just made him so damn angry that he had lost his cool. If he could just get him to himself, he could apologize for what had happened. He could explain. He just needed the opportunity to show Diederich what good care of him he could take. Then the other would undoubtedly fall for him too. They could be a family with Tina.

“I promise I’ll be home as soon as I can, baby girl. You are being so good and so brave. I’m proud of you, honey.” He soothed. “Daddy has to go now, but I love you a million, okay?” He hung up the phone, glaring at the hotel from his perch at the cafe across the street. Cedric wasn’t worried about being recognized. A box of hair dye, dark shades and a razor had taken care of that. A scowl touched his lips as he watched the man step outside and light a cigarette. God, did he ever go farther than that? He was like a goddamn helicopter around Diederich, and it was pissing Cedric off.

“Asshole…” He muttered. Eventually, they’d have to leave. He couldn’t keep Diederich holed up in a small suit forever, could he?

A groan escaped him as his head tipped back to gaze up at the sky. Maybe his plan would need some readjustments. If he could find a way into the hotel without the man noticing… A smile touched his lips as an idea began to form in his head. He’d have to be patient a while longer, but that could certainly work. He lay down the newspaper, picking up his coffee and heading away from the hotel. He felt lighter, relieved. Soon, my love.

In rare moments of lucidity, he questioned just exactly what it was he was doing. He hadn’t planned on any of this happening. But the first time he’d laid eyes on Diederich, he’d just known, somewhere deep within him, that this man was supposed to be his. Everything had happened so fast since then. He had honestly had no intention of hurting his beloved that night. The gun had just been for show, no more, no less.

But he’d been so damned angry. Had felt betrayed. Diederich had been flirting with him for weeks, giving him those soft smiles, speaking in that gentle, musical tone that had made his heart pound in his chest with possessive desire. And sure, he’d always seemed to have an excuse as to why he couldn’t see Cedric. But the older man had figured it was just Diederich being shy, just being anxious that it was unprofessional to be seen with a students parent outside of school. It was so obvious though that Diederich liked him too, wanted it as much as he did.

And so to be rejected so coldly… it had all just been a game to the other. He had been led on. And that had infuriated the man.

When he’d shown up on Diederich’s doorstep, it had been with flowers. He’d insisted that he forgave him, that they could still be happy together if Diederich would just give him a chance. It had been the fearful reaction; the door slammed in his face that had finally made him snap.

And then had come that man, touching Diederich like he belonged to him. God, Cedric hated him. What right did he have to hover, to keep them apart? They were meant to be. And he’d be damned if he let that fucker keep them apart. When he put his plan in action, he’d be sure to take that bastard out of the picture completely. No one was going to keep them apart again.