Tanzanite

You wake up in an unfamiliar bed. The sun is particularly bright this morning as it glistens on the snow that fell last night. It nearly blinded you before you shut your eyes again, giving yourself a few moments to adjust to the light. In that time, you realize you are being held. It's tight, but not crushing. When you can open your eyes, you look at the hands that cling to you. They are gray and cold. While there are pointed claws at the end of each finger, you are not bleeding.

The person who holds you moves just enough for you to see messy, black hair out of the corner of your eye. Only then do you realize who is holding you. It's Jack. You are in Jack's bed. "Wasn't I here for Amber?"

Things changed. As you got closer to the truth, your life grew exponentially more dangerous. The monsters you handled could tell something was off with you. Finn became clingier than normal, while Jack offered you a deal: you live within the facility's walls as "prey" for him, and you would have his protection. This allowed you to sneak around the facility with a stolen keycard, but it also meant living with Jack.

You tried your best to remain focused, but Jack is attractive. The way he commanded a room sweeps you off your feet every time. He is seemingly predictable, but can still surprise you whenever he pleases. You did not want to admit that you became romantically attracted to the monster some time ago, right? You still need to find Amber.

Yet here you are, in the arms of someone who you are fully aware knows more than he lets on. You seek comfort from someone who could kill you at a moment's notice. You don't care so much about your mission anymore. You care about Jack.

It was quite unfair that he could hold you, but you could not do the same. You glance at him and notice that Jack is still sleeping. With the opportunity available, you turn around in his arms.

Before reveling in the success of your simple operation, Jack starts to stir. He opens his eyes slowly and observes his surroundings before looking down at you.

"Good morning, sleepyhead," you quietly cheer, "did you sleep well?"

"Mm hm," Jack nodded, "but why are you facing me like that?"

"You allowed me in bed with you. Said it was 'too cold to be alone.'"

"Yes, but…" the monster trails off as he yawns.

"Can't I not hold someone I like when I'm in bed with them?"

Jack blinks twice at you. You blink twice back. Then, it hits you; you did not mean to say that. You wanted to confess your feelings at some point, but you were not ready yet. Even still, you grabbed a shovel and are digging your own grave.

He sees how your face shifted hues. While red is Jack's color, it did not suit you here. You were allowed to sleep in his bed because he was cold. That's it. You two are not partners. You two are not dating. You are not ready.

"You are tired, little human. That is too big of a conversation to have so early."

"But I do like you."

"What could make you 'like' me, hmm?"

The question confuses you. You sensed anxiety from him, but that level of self-loathing seemed a bit too much. Jack is the type to run away from these kind of discussions. You force yourself on top of the much bigger man and place your hands on his chest to hold him down. Jack does not fight back. He just gawks at you.

"Well, you're hot."

Jack nods.

"And you are the smartest man I know."

Another nod.

"And, even though you can annoy me, you still are one of the kindest people I know."

Jack has to think for a second about how to respond, but you think faster. "You let me live here, even though you could get hurt. You ask me how my day is each time you come back here and bring me little gifts every so often. That pudding from last week was one of the best desserts I have had in a long time."

Jack opens his mouth to tell you how normal those actions are to him. Once again, you are faster, "Jack, you ask me questions and follow up days or weeks later. You have learned so much about me so quickly and actually remember it. That's special to me."

"I am simply being a gentleman. There is nothing extraordinary about remembering such simple details about a person."

"Most people don't Jack," you sigh, "you are the first person who's really cared about me in a long time, and I care about you… a lot."

Jack pauses for longer than anticipated. He doesn't know how to argue that point. If no one had cared for you like he has, then it would make sense that you would start to develop a stronger emotional bond to him. That bond does feed him well. Every little emotion is his and his alone. Jack has enjoyed his ownership of you. Yet, something is changing.

"What, do you 'love' me or something," he prods with slight disgust in his tone.

You don't answer. You can't answer.

"I am too tired," Jack thinks, "that cannot be right." Your face becomes an interesting combination of pale and red. You were caught in a lie, and he knew it. But what did Jack to wrong? Like you said, he did so much for you. Every day, he has made time for you. It is not perfect, nothing is, but it should be enough to keep you here and compliant. He wanted to vomit at the word "love" when he asked the question, but he's strong. Monsters like him must be.

"'Love' is a disguise for lust. It's a way for them to escape, to leave me. They don't have that capacity. There is no such thing as love. There is no such thing as love. There is no-"

Jack side-sweeps your dominant leg, causing you to fall. He takes the opportunity to get on top of you. You are able to flip yourself over to see his face. Jack looks distraught. His eyes quiver. His breathing is intense.

"Love doesn't exist. It never has, and it never will." Jack's voice was quiet and ice cold, "you are using me for something. I do not like liars or oath breakers, so tell me exactly what your goal is."

The rage radiating from Jack was intense. You had only seen him this irate once before— the one shift you dared to visit his twin brother first. Yet, you knew this monster had never broken a promise before. He swore he would never hurt you, and Jack kept his word. You are confident he would not hurt you now. Furthermore, you notice another feeling trapped within the walls Jack tried to build around himself…

Sadness.

Jack seems betrayed and heartbroken. Something happened that made him think such thoughts about love. An event you were not going to ask about. Right now, the man who dressed as an imposing commander was falling under some kind of pressure. You figure you have to save him before he drowned.

Jack continues to stare at you, silently pleading for you to respond. No matter how much he stared, he couldn't detect any expected emotions from your beautiful eyes. He could see them glitter slightly from the morning sun. He instinctively holds a breath as he notices your lips curve into a smile. There was no malice in your smile, only warmth. You had always been so warm and cozy to Jack. Even now, after he pinned you down to make you tell him the truth, you remain calm and pleasant. A soft, human hand found its way to his gray cheek, relieving him slightly from the morning chill.

"I want a life partner, Jack," you proclaim, "I want someone I can cherish as much as they cherish me."

You rub your thumb against his face. He remains still, likely transfixed by your words. "I want to make you warm espressos in the morning and stay by your side while you wake up for the day. Rather than asking simple interview questions like I did at work, I want to ask you more personal questions and spend time learning about you. Then, every night when we go to bed, I want to be there to tell you good night and that I hope you have wonderful dreams. If I can be there for you like you have for me, it would make me the happiest person I could be."

Jack's crimson eyes narrows at the response you gave. He gazes deep into your soul, something he has done plenty of times before. You continue to rub at his cheek and move up slightly so you can see his face better. Jack wanted to find spite and hatred within you. He wanted to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that you were breaking his oath, and yet, nothing. Your emotions are radiant and passionate. It was difficult for Jack to tell if you were truly glowing from the sun, or if your positivity caused the visual stimulation. It was certainly causing the olfactory stimulation.

Your scent to him is a strong, almost overbearing vanilla. It was his favorite flavor when it came to food, but on you… his mind started to scramble. You would taste divine. Your soft human flesh, the vanilla on his tongue, the noises that you make that would be music to his ears. He would lick his lips if he had as much self control as his younger twin brother.

"Let me devour you, sweet thing. I want to taste you. Make you scream louder than you ever will. I will show you why you cannot be alone with monsters in the-" Jack does not let any of those words leave his lips. He made an oath to never hurt you. Why would he dare start now? Even if he was angered beyond belief, why?

You continue to comfort him with each stroke of his cheek. You know your words greatly impacted Jack. Even with his tired state, there was no way he would be this silent for this long. You choose to break it. "Maybe love isn't real. Maybe it's just a word humans made up to excuse awful behavior. Still," you reach for Jack's hand with your free one, "the emotions I have had since I met you are some of my favorites. I don't want to give them or you up. Not even for the rest of the world."

You feel sharp claws move to envelop your smaller hand. The trembling is obvious, as much as your potential paramour would like to hide it. "You don't have to say or do anything, Jack. Whatever you need now, I am here for you."

Jack chooses to let go of your hand. You retract your fingers as well. When you remove your hand from his face to allow him some personal space, he invades yours. The larger man flops on top of you and fully embraces you. You can only move your dominant arm.

"You smell good," Jack murmurs unprompted before nuzzling the crook of your neck, "and you feel nice."

You return the favor by stroking his ebony hair to help it lay flat. He growls in satisfaction and licks the back of your shoulder. Your rubbing becomes comforting scratches as the pair of you lay for an amount of time neither of you could agree on.

"Jack," you coo, "are you feeling better?"

He takes a moment to think of an answer and confidently responds, "I'm alright, my dove, thank you."

"You're welcome."

Jack moves his head up closer to your ear, "I would like to make another promise with you." You feel one of his hands shift down to your waist while the other leaves your back entirely. He uses it to scratch your head as you did for him. "I promise I will be more vulnerable in the morning as long as I can hold you like this every morning when we wake up."

"I will be all yours every morning."

He chuckles slightly at your response before kissing you on the cheek. "I'll make us something warm to drink, alright?" He gets off you to prepare your drinks as you are left flustered on the bed. You came for Amber, but you stayed for Jack. You care about him, and he cares about you.