Bustling with hardcore gamblers, tourists and scantily clad women, you and Phoenix looked a little out of place in The Lucky Six. There was supposedly a dress code, but your boyfriend wasn't one to conform to 'codes' or 'rules'. It was a surprise he hadn't been kicked out. Grabbing his muscular arm in the grey hoodie and hugging it, he could sense how tense you were. With bells ringing, cries of the winning and losing players and chatter everywhere, it was probably natural to be feeling a little uncomfortable.
"What's the matter?" he whispered, leaning over a little so he could be heard over the commotion.
"I just don't want to lose you in this crowd, that's all..." Smirking, he exhaled a little breath.
This was supposed to be a romantic holiday for the pair of you; without Trucy. She was cute and you adored her, treating her like your own, but she could be a little... Intrusive. In-Truce-ive. However, what you had forgotten when booking your little holiday was beyond you. Vegas was the heart of casinos, and at the heart of your other half was a bit of a gambling problem. He was a cheater.
But not a cheater in a relationship, he cheated at poker. For a living. You sometimes wondered why you were dating him in the first place. A drunken, scruffy poker cheat.
Staring at the red patterened carpet, your silence caught his attention.
"Seriously, (F/n)... are you feeling okay?" Glancing up at the taller man, you bit your finger thinking about what to say.
"I'm just a little... Overwhelmed" You felt your whole body crush against his frame as his arm wrapped tightly around your waist.
"Don't worry, you aren't going anywhere"
As if that was supposed to be reassuring. He pointed over to the poker room, when your heart sank. You knew his addiction was going to take over.
"Nick, maybe not" He didn't take kindly to your worried eyes and shaking head. "I mean, there's slot machines over there and-"
"It's just one game"
"Nick-"
"One game"
"But one game is never one game is it?"
"Please, (F/n). I already put my name on the waiting list anyway before we left the hotel"
...It was his holiday too you supposed. Cocking your head to the side, you swallowed. You were going to hate yourself in a few hours for giving into him.
"Alright Nick, but one game or I swear you will wish you were never born" Grinning, he gripped your hand and weaved through the crowds to the poker room.
It was filled with televisions, noise and mainly men crowded around little tables, huddled over cards. You were filled with dread. There was a pit in your stomach and it kept twisting. You knew Phoenix couldn't control himself, especially after a bottle of wine or two. You weren't actually sure how much he had drank. He was clever at poker, he really was, but he was also a massive cheat. What if these people realised?
On the wall as you walked in, there was a whole list of rules printed onto the plaster. You wouldn't let go of your boyfriend's arm whilst he familiarised himself with them.
"Jeez, (F/n), must you grip so hard?" Loosening your fingers, you just looked away sheepishly. "Anyway, let's get some chips!" You followed him over to the cage where the chips were sold. They were stacked in neat piles of 100, all over the shelves on the back wall.
Later at the table, the pair of you were asked to sit down. Doing so, you gripped his trouser leg out of view. You wanted to hold his hand, but he needed both hands on the table in order to play. Your table was far away from the others, in a dark corner. It frightened you slightly, but you kept to yourself. Phoenix was used to playing in a cold, dark basement anyway.
Something didn't strike you as right though, the dealer had a long scar across his face. It was almost like his face had been stapled across the middle.
Going into his pocket, Wright pulled out some money and laid it on the table. The dealer took it, stuffing it in his breast pocket. Was that right?
The game seemed to run pretty smoothly, you looked at Phoenix's cards every now and then, following the waves of play. Phoenix won, and you were actually rather proud.