Trash day.

Chun Li Xiang, the famed detective of Interpol and Strongest Woman in the World, hated taking out trash. The dumpster was 20 stories down with a broken elevator, forcing her to lug a bag of garbage behind her as she huffed down the stairs.

The alarm was going off like crazy, forcing her to smack the offending noise with her hand. Yawning, she rolled over as she pressed her nose into the pillow again. Today shouldn't be trash day. Today should be a lazy day!

"I'm going to hire a butler." She said out loud, sighing, "A cute one with a nice butt. He can take out my trash for me."

Of course, Chun Li didn't have the funds to hire a butler or even a decent stand-in boyfriend. Stretching, she sat up and placed her feet on the warm carpet. The sun was streaming through the window, burning her eyes a little as she tried to adjust to waking up.

"Trash day." She muttered. Maybe a magical butler would come around.

After putting on her ratty sneakers and sweatpants, Chun Li grabbed the trash bag out of the trash can as she twisted the tie into a knot. She could easily dart down, take a shower, eat breakfast, and laze about until someone forced her to go to work.

She clicked on the news, barely listening to background noise as she prepared herself for a staircase workout.

"Today, a senator has been found dead in his apartment with slash marks on his neck…"

Chun Li stretched her legs, frowning. A senator dead this early in the year? Slash marks? The FBI was definitely going to start snooping around Interpol's files, especially if the senator was a highly publicized.

Shadaloo could have been involved. Shadaloo was always involved in such things but a senator? Why would he be dead? Naturally, Chun Li could surmise the reasons but…

Trash day first. Then she'll take a look at the report more closely.

A knock at the door interrupted her routine. Chun Li peered through the peephole first before opening, seeing a neighbor that lived down the hall from her.

"Hey, Chun Li!" The young man greeted warmly as if they were old friends, "I was walking by on my way down to the mail and guess what?"

Chun Li forced a smile. She couldn't remember this boy's name for the life of her but he had the courage to knock on her door, interrupting her, and pretending it was no big deal? He must have had some balls to pull that off.

He couldn't have been more than 25, with sandy brown hair and green eyes. Muscular, fit, and dreamy smile…

However, he was being a nuisance with this flirting business. She just hated standing around, awkwardly talking, before something happened.

"Oh yeah?" She pretended to play dumb, "Taking the long way around?"

The exit to the mailroom was on the opposite side of the hall and he knew he had been caught. Reeling a bit, he laughed uncomfortably.

"Yeah, guess so. Getting my steps in." He swallowed, "Anyway, uh, so there's this party…"

"Oh. Sorry. I don't do parties." Chun Li ticked her tongue a bit, making a snapping sound, "Maybe another time."

His bottom lip seemed to tremble a little. She hated that. Why were men so easy to destroy? Weren't they supposed to be strong protectors or something? But one wrong word and they start blubbering like an idiot or something! Couldn't they be a little rougher? A little tougher?

Maybe she was wanting to spar her dates beforehand.

"Oh...I see…" He hesitated, "That's okay. See you...see you."

Chun Li closed the door in his face, humming to herself. She surmised she was being kind of a bitch but he did interrupt her trash day routine. Lifting her leg up and twisting her finger into the lip of her shoe, she readjusted her foot before grabbing the trash bag.

Perhaps she did play too rough her with playmates. But she couldn't help it! There was hardly a man that matched her in verbal barbs and power. She needed a man, not some wishy washy boy to hold her hand and stroke her hair!

Chun Li recalled, in her deep thoughts, when she faced down the Shadaloo Commanders a few times that they were rough with her. Deadly but rough. They had very little time for her shit and even less patience. But she eagerly ate up their fights like nothing, almost yearning for another release...

Shaking her head, she sighed. What was she, some schoolgirl lusting after some bad boy with a car? Such a Daddy issues girl sometimes…cliche too. Having a cop for a father and beckoning the very thought of a man using her for sex...

There was one Commander that Chun Li thought for a moment, she could leave the world behind with. Vega. The handsome assassin and bullfighter. Elegant, crafting, and tasteful, he danced with her in the fighting ring like a tango.

Of course, he also made her lose several pints of blood on his expensive clay floor. Slicing the air with his claw and his tongue...his tongue. Deadly and venomous with such strike!

At one point during their match, Vega had pinned her down beneath him as she squirmed, trying to fight him off her. She could have sworn that he smiled behind his broken mask, almost as if he was amused by such a sight. His thighs pressed into her ribs, almost thrown away by his need to destroy her.

"So you always fight until the end. Una niña tan tonta." His words were silken with pride, as if he wanted her to keep going.

Then she Kikoken'd him into next week. Pity. He would have won otherwise but Chun Li never gave up so easily. The very idea wasn't in her nature and Vega should have anticipated that before kneeling down with her.

Trash day. Chun Li had to take out the trash. Grabbing a bag, she flung open the door again.

Much to her surprise, there was a man in a white suit with his back to her door. His long, blonde braid hung off his head, lightly dancing with his every breath. Chun Li snuck a quick peek at his rear, blushing madly at the roundness and firmness that the pants had to offer.

'Were my wishes answered?' Chun Li thought wildly. 'Did I really get a butler?'

He turned around, turning her blushing into widened eyes within seconds.

Vega. The third commander of Shadaloo. The...bastard who may have had a hand in murdering her father!

He had come to murder her, undoubtedly. Chun Li chucked the bag, screeching a banshee howl as Vega easily maneuvered out of the way. He forced his way into her apartment, kicking back the door as Chun Li tumbled behind her.

"What are you doing here!?" She shouted, her spit flying everywhere as Vega took her words like a brick wall, "Here to finally kill me?! Good! I'm glad you finally had the balls to do it, Vega! I'm tired of waiting for Shadaloo to do something!"

Her blood started to pump as her heart raced. He cocked his head, humoring her a little as he advanced towards her. Chun Li felt goosebumps on her skin, launching herself into a fighting stance as Vega attempted to grab her.

Too slow; Chun Li dodged, throwing a punch at his ribs as he stumbled back. He glared a bit, perhaps annoyed, before he swiped at her again. For the first time since he had arrived, Chun Li realized he had not brought his claw.

Perhaps he wanted to do it by his own hand?

His fingers entangled in her hair, making her shriek in pain as he brought her close to him. Chun Li wriggled madly, like a cat trapped in a bag, as he tightened his grip on her scalp. She was afraid he'd pull it off entirely off!

"Solo estás siendo difícil." He scolded her, "Difficult and hard. But that's what you want, eh? Tal mujer…"

Chun Li reared her leg back, throwing her foot up to kick him in the groin but Vega had pulled her close. She could smell his cologne-masculine with tints of flowery fragrance like a garden of roses. Her head spun. Her world started to darken.

Vega, in his slyness, had stuck a needle in her thigh. He must have slipped it out when he was moving towards her. Chun Li could only think that she should have been watching his hands, not his words…

"Thrash about, my rabbit. That's a good girl…"

Chun Li, in her last thoughts, wished she had just taken out the trash right away instead of lazing about so she may have avoided all of this.

Light came to her eyes, making her weary. Something warm and comforting touched her forehead like a hot, damp towel. Chun Li awoke, seeing a hand hovering above her nose as she tried fruitlessly to swat the offending person away.

"Shh. You'll hurt yourself."

The dulcet tones of a Spanish serenade. Chun Li sat up, letting the towel fall off her head as she tried to come back to reality. A chuckle as she winced in pain and nausea before she felt fingers dig into her upper arm.

"Lie back down, little bunny. Don't want to make yourself sick now. Por otra parte, eres un niño terco."

That phrase couldn't have been in agreement that she was now a prisoner and probably going to be murdered by his hand. Chun Li glared, finally fixating her blurry eyesight on the agitating person in front of her.

Vega had seated himself next to her, bending over to tend to her as she scowled. His outfit had changed from his earlier white suit to a ruffled silk top that seemed more suitable for lounge wear. His pants were some thin cloth that Chun Li couldn't recognize but she could figure that he wore them when he had special lady friends around due to the easy nature of pulling them off.

"Bastard." She started immediately, "Let me go."

"Not happening." He replied just as quick, "You haven't even let me tell you why you're here, mi esposa. You could be part of a vivid hallucination for all you know. I did smack you a little hard. But be patient with me-I'm very concerned about your welfare, first and foremost. Not your tantrum."

Her head spun. Was Chun Li dead? In a hospital with a sexy Spanish assassin as her nurse? Kidnapped and sold in slavery? Who knew what these Shadaloo Lords did in their spare time of not ruining the world.

"Forget all that." Her mouth forced the words out, "I want to go home."

"You are home, mi amor." Vega was fast to correct her, picking up the damp towel and placing it back on her head, "Shh. Lay down and I'll explain everything. Even the dirty details."

Her vision finally refocused as he put her on her back, seeing an ornate ceiling above her head. The fabric under her tush bunched up, making her cringe a bit with stiffness as Chun Li figured the mattress she was laying in was too different than her own.

She must be in a bedroom of sorts. Judging by the atmosphere…

"Is this your bed!?" Her blunt question hit hard, "Am I…"

"Yes." Vega interjected, cutting her off, "My bedroom. El tuyo tambien. We're in my castle in Barcelona and before you say anything, it's a real castle. Built in 1670 and it's been in my family for generations."

Chun Li didn't really appreciate the history tourism she was forced to experience. She didn't even know they built castles in Barcelona or that some still exist. She tried to sit up again but this time, Vega pushed her back down with enough force to make her bounce slightly on the mattress.

"You have a difficult time listening to instructions." He notated, "Chica muy terca. Me darás hijos tan rebeldes. Strong ones too. Las buenas caderas traen buenos hijos, so they say…"

Her hair felt like strands were getting caught in her mouth. She sputtered a little, eliciting him to brush aside her locks before she tried to bite him. Vega pulled his hand back in the nick of time, humored by her attempt to hurt him.

"That was uncalled for, mi esposa. I've been nothing but kind to you. But you can't help yourself." Vega idly chided her, making her growl, "Ah, ah, ah. Chun Li. Behave."

"Just cut the bullshit, Vega." Chun Li spat at him, seeing her wad of saliva aim towards his face before he moved out of the way, "Why am I here? Playing with your food before eating?"

He smirked, "Do you want me to play with you? All night long, perhaps?"

A recoil, "No!"

Vega tittered, as if he was thinking. The glint of his canines brought Chun Li back to reality: She was at the mercy of a dangerous man. A fire grew inside of her before she flung herself upwards, attacking him with vengeful fury.

He seemed prepared, knocking over his chair as her fist barely missed his face. His hand shot out, twisting her arm behind her as Chun Li screeched holy hell. Vega pressed her back towards the bed, bending her over so her rear rubbed against his groin.

"Now that you tried and failed," He started, letting her struggle in his grasp, "Will you let me explain this now or shall I keep you here?"

Chun Li tried to kick but her feet couldn't connect. After several minutes with Vega taking her squirming and kicking like a champ, she relaxed. Her eyes refused to meet his, almost embarrassed by his stare.

"You can't help yourself." Vega repeated again, "You have to fight, don't you? Lay down on the bed. You'll need to hear this."

For some stupid reason that she justified in her brain, Chun Li did exactly as she was told. She started to lay back down, seeing Vega picking up his chair to sit. She hated this. She hated her resolve deteriorating so quickly.

"Why am I here?" She asked as he adjusted his posture, "To kill me?"

"If you were to be killed, I would have done so in your apartment." He reminded her, "No, mi esposa."

Why did he keep calling her that? Chun Li couldn't remember what esposa meant. Was it a dirty word? A curse word? He said it so affectionately though, like he was talking to a family pet. Besides, Vega didn't seem the type to carelessly toss in cuss words like a brute.

"What does that word mean? Esposa?" She cawed a bit, looking for a reason to fight again.

Vega smiled, as if she asked the million dollar question, "It means wife."

Chun Li blinked. And blinked. Her brain stopped, reassessing what he just said. Her organ systems just paused for a moment.

Mi. Esposa. Esposa meant wife. Mi sounded like 'me'. Me wife.

My wife.

Her captor might as well lit some dynamite and tossed the stick into bed. Chun Li flew upwards, enraged and bewildered as Vega seemed unaffected by her outburst. Her words, stammered and nonsensical, as she blurted out the first things that came to her mind.

"I...I...you...Wife?! Wi...f.e…!" She stuttered, "I am not!"

He sat so patiently, tolerating her dissent by a mere smile and warm tones. Chun Li felt fire burn in her chest as she heaved hard breaths, almost retching at the thought. God forgive her for the worst but she refused to be his! His...companion!

"You are my wife now." Vega stated matter of fact, as if he had been the last person to have a say on the issue, "Any sort of discussion will be entertained briefly but the truth remains: you are my wife."

Chun Li stared at him, wanting to smash his pretty face into the table. His wife? What was she, some trophy game that he brought home after shooting? This was absurd, even ludicrous to think...

"I'm not anyone's wife." Her jaw clenched, barely making her words out, "Let me go."

"As I said, mi esposa, that's simply not true anymore." The fine line between diplomatic and rused had been crossed, "You've been caught. You've been brought back. And you've been bound to me. Please fight this as much as possible; I want you to wear yourself down from exhaustion. Más fácil de domar a la musaraña."

He wanted her to fight? Why? Questions swirled around her brain. Was this a farce? A trick? Vega couldn't have dragged her from her home in New York just to live with him in Barcelona. He had to be up to something nefarious. These Shadaloo Commanders were always up to no good and this had to be the same.

"Why are you pretending this is some game?" Chun Li hissed, inflamed with her own white-hot rage, "As if…?"

"If my tone indicates that I don't take this seriously, forgive me. This is very important, my dear Chun Li. The most important thing that you'll hear in your life. You lost. You don't get to prance around like a little woodland sprite any longer, mi amor. You're enslaved by my love and ensnared by my engagement ring. How could you possibly win under those circumstances, much less escape?" Vega said, his explanation worn thin by her scowl, "Nobody faults you for this. In fact, I applaud you."

She was done with this whole shenanigan that Vega had cooked up. A sick, twisted freak of game that trapped her in this hellish nightmare. He must have gotten his jollies to the idea-the very idea!-of Chun Li squirming around in his grasp.

"I'm going to put your head through the wall." Her words were acidic compared to his calm tone, "After that, I'm going to cuff your bloody corpse to the next jailhouse I find."

The assassin shrugged, "You can try. As I said, mi esposa. Fight. Pound your fists into the wall. Nothing changes."

Chun Li couldn't stand his condescending attitude. So smug, so...so...irritating!

"How are we even married? I was blacked out." She demanded, inflamed with hatred, "Bastard. What did you do to me?!"

He shrugged, "These things happen. You were brought here and a priest was called. Catholic rites. Easy matrimony ceremony. At least, that's how you want me to tell you? The truth is, you're my wife in name only. Because I say so. And here, my dear bunny, my word is law."

These Shadaloo people were nightmares to talk to.

"Just because you say so…" Chun Li sneered, "Say so for what? You could say I'm not married and poof, I wouldn't be."

"Ah, very true. But I didn't and I won't. We'll make it official soon enough. But for now, all you need to know is that you truly are mine." Vega leaned back in his chair, "My little bunny seems so agitated. What's wrong? Am I not the picture perfect husband you wanted?"

She pounded her fists into the bed, "No! Not even close! I didn't want to marry an assassin who works for the organization that killed my father!"

Her captor smirked now, "To be fair, I had nothing to do with that."

Chun Li narrowed her eyes, "Fuck you."

Why wasn't she kicking his face off? Why wasn't she running for the door? Did she have some sick and twisted need to sit here and take his abuse? Chun Li eyed the exit before Vega placed his hand on her cheek, making her slap his hand away.

"Ah. So we're back to that." He remarked, "The door is sealed shut. I put the castle under lockdown. Even the wiliest of girls can't escape my home. Chun Li. Little bunny. Be kind to me. We have a very long life together and you shouldn't be so rude."

"I am not your wife!" She screeched, "You made this up! You made everything up! Filthy basta…"

A pounce later and his hand was on her mouth, shutting her up. Chun Li wailed a bit, fighting him as Vega stared down at her with intense fervor.

"You will respect me, mi esposa. I am the man of your household now. You will bend to my will or I will snap your back so you have no choice but to bend. This is your life now. Your consequence for taking my attention." Vega told her as if that was the end of the argument, "Nothing will keep us apart, not even your outbursts."

She cringed, trying to think of something before she blurted out as he removed his hand, "I don't even know my married name!"

A smile, "It's la Cerda."

How did she not know that after all the investigations and insights that Interpol had to offer. Chun Li shuddered briefly at the name Chun Li la Cerda. Could be worse but not exactly the cute name she had always pictured when she got married…

No! Chun Li couldn't buy into this! She forced up a scowl.

"Ugly name." She protested, "I won't take it."

"You will and you have." Vega let her go, "Now, will you listen to reason? It's grown late with your childish bursts and it's time for dinner. You need to change."

Change? Into what? She seemed perplexed but Vega motioned to the closet.

"Your clothes are in there. I had them fitted for you. Hurry and change so we are not late to dinner." The assassin stated, "I will help you if you want."

Chun Li wasn't going to be his little doll that dressed up for him. She turned up her nose, sitting back down on the bedside. Vega crossed his arms, amused at her insolence.

"I'm not hungry. I want to leave." She demanded.

"Then we're at an impasse." He stated, "But you'll find that I win these arguments, little bunny. Every time. Now, I can drag you to the closet and strip you down but I don't think you'll like that very much."

Her bottom lip pouted, "I don't like any of this."

Vega paused for a second before finally saying, "Would you like to play a game, mi esposa?"

Chun Li furrowed her brow. A game? What kind of game? Her interest was piqued-after all, this psychopath was holding her against her will and keeping her hostage in an ancient castle. Was he going to kill her for losing? Kill her for winning?

"I love to play games." He continued, watching her face carefully, "I used to play games all the time in this castle. My mother used to scold me for playing around so much but all I wanted was another playmate. Would you like to play a game with me? If you win, you don't have to come to dinner."

Her face brightened.

"Let's see...how about we play Roughhouse?" Vega suggested, seeing her look confused, "It's very easy. We wrestle each other-clothes stay on unless you feel differently-and whoever pins the other wins. Simple, si? Tu método de elección."

Wrestling? Was this some convoluted way to….? Chun Li couldn't think like that. The very idea that she could hurt Vega was too much to pass down. She nodded, thinking that she could beat him and run away…

He held his hands up, "Well?"

Chun Li uneasily stood up, putting her hands into his and almost instantly, he swiveled her around to push her to the ground. His legs caught up from under hers, pressing down on her muscles as she struggled back.

Vega didn't seem like it but damn, he was built and grounded! She pushed back, rolling over him to straddle his hips. He appeared prepared, pushing her off before tackling her again and pressing her hands down. She felt his groin touch her body, knowing that he was starting to grow aroused.

After all, he was rolling around on the floor with some beautiful woman. That would be the hardest thing for any man to overcome.

But he seemed so playful! Like he really was a big child, tussling with his playmates. Chun Li struggled, kicking his body with her heel but he wouldn't budge. He seemed so gleeful, as if he was treasuring the moment.

He winked, "Give up?"

"No!" Chun Li protested, "How…?"

"I used to wrestle with my schoolyard friends. As I said...I loved to play games." Vega reminded her, pinning her down, "Plus, I wrestle with bulls all the time. Quite difficult as you can imagine. Isn't this fun?"

Chun Li found herself stuck. Damn.