The Dergling Den

this little flatterer. you make an oh, you! gesture and turn back around to the mirror so you can double check your reflection once more. stray hair tucked back into place. white spot picked at on your chin. you contemplate the fine details of your skin. "i promised my friend a while ago that i'd let her set me up on a blind date. she finally cashed in last night." you nod to yourself in the mirror, then glance up at sun when you notice him suddenly go still. "you okay, buddy?"

his smile stretches thin. "blind date?" there's an oddness to his voice that you can't quite place, but you brush it off all the same.

"yeah, i'm supposed to meet them at some fancy restaurant." you shrug and straighten out your clothes for what feels like the umpteenth time. you're nitpicking, you know you are. might as well get a move on. “my friend sent me the address earlier. it was kind of a last minute thing.” you eye the mess on the counter and decide to leave cleaning up for later. it’ll make you late otherwise.

sun doesn’t say anything, just looks down at you as you pivot on your heel to head out of the bathroom. he’s in your way, however, and you raise an eyebrow up at him as he clasps his hands tightly together. “uh, is something wrong?” did he reboot? wouldn’t be the first time that has happened. a small frown tugs at your lips, your brows creased in worry.

there’s a beat of silence where all he does is tilt his head slightly—like he’s listening to something over his shoulder. and before you can say anything else, he reaches a long arm out and promptly flicks the bathroom light-switch off.

the abrupt darkness makes you blink a few times, grinding gears and metal shifting in front of you until two hands reach out to grasp at your shoulders and a new light just above your head paints your vision in ruby.

“with whom?” moon hisses out as he presses his faceplate closer to you. you squint up at him and brush away his grip.

“wouldn’t be a blind date if i knew, moon,” you say with an amused chuckle. he growls something lowly, but you don’t quite hear it with your beeline out of the bathroom. the rest of the apartment’s lights are still on, so you do moon a favor and flick them off as you pass by the switches. the dewy moonlight seeping in through the open windows is enough to guide your way.

moon slinks after you as you head towards the front door so you can grab your jacket hanging on a hook nearby and slip on your shoes. he’s unhappy, you can tell, but you haven’t got the time to decipher his thoughts and figure out why. it could just be an off day for him. maybe some time away will help.

you can hear moon grumble something behind you. it makes you turn around to look at him expectantly. he hesitates for only a second, then seems to curl farther into the large hoodie he has on.

"you don't dress like this at home," he eventually says quietly, an almost pout lining his voice. petulant, almost. he's not quite looking at you. "we didn't know you h—" he cuts himself off, choking down the rest of what he wants to say.

you cock your head slightly, confusion starting to seep into your expression. "well, no," you reply lightly. he still won't look at you, but you don't take it to heart. "haven't got a reason to, really. takes effort, you know?" you shake your head and miss the small twitch of his faceplate.

"anyways, i should be back in a couple of hours," you tell him as you pat down your pockets to ensure you have your belongings. phone, wallet, keys... you're all set. you open the door and step out into the cool evening air, calling out one final time to moon. "please don't burn the apartment down while i'm gone!" and with that, you're gone, not even a final glance tossed behind you.

there's a quiet, quiet moment where moon stands in the darkness of your living room. staring at the front door you'd just disappeared beyond. the apartment feels cold, somehow. ruby eyes flick over to the couch and accompany coffee table in front of it, a selection of movies scattered atop its smooth surface. a cup of tea, still warm with wispy smoke rising from it, rests patiently on an embroidered coaster sun made not too long ago. its fate tonight will be at the bottom of the sink instead of in the depths of a belly.