💙 Do you love me? 💙

Neo here, with yet another muse to torment and throw into a vampire AU. Even if I owe so many replies elsewhere, I'm so sorry I'm not consistent.

"Meemee, Ame, look at me!" She pleads, her heart sinking alongside Ame's. "It's okay, it's okay. I already knew. I've known for a while now, so you don't need to apologize."

Yuki's brows furrow in bewilderment. She fully expected Ame to get angry enough to attack her outright, not unlike how Harley would've reacted if she was on the receiving end. But no, Ame just breaks, a raw wound full of fear and anguish.

Disappointing, yet also a familiar sight for her.

"What do you mean you knew? You told us her previous partner wasn't treating her well." She asks, a cautious expression tugging at her features. She's met with a scorching hot scowl from Harley, baring her teeth like a lioness ready to fight for her kin, before she elaborates.

"I did think P was real, at first. But I've been over at Ame's a million times now, and I... noticed things." She runs her fingers through Ame's hair, calming herself enough to explain. "It was like P was barely there at all. No clothes, no belongings, no pictures of them together. She didn't even beg Ame for a second chance, nothing. She only existed whenever Ame talked about her, so I just..."

Harley finally meets Ame's gaze, her own heart racing as her hands slide down to her shoulders.

She's trembling, remembering how poorly it's gone the last two times she was really honest about her feelings for a girl. She wanted to immortalize herself as that adorable, sexy succubus who Ame could go to for warmth and protection. The cutest, funniest, most clever lover...

And also one who could get territorial. Though Ame caught a glimpse of her possessive tendencies, the lengths Harley would go to just to ensure Ame wouldn't leave her... scare her.

"Ever since we had our first sleepover, I didn't wanna lose you. Not to anyone, or anything. I... I wanted to be better than her. Better for you. I wanted to prove that I was the best girlfriend for you, and make all your other options look stupid. But... the more I knew you, the more that changed."

"I started worrying about if I was really doing right by you. If you were happy together, what you thought of me. I just wanted to make sure that you wouldn't regret choosing me, over her."

"Even if it meant... you'd forget about her."

Sage is speechless, utterly dumbfounded and not even sure where to start with processing any of this. Much less reconcile with how Yuki only managed to wring that out of Ame by backing her into a corner. Like a confession only given for fear of death, or worse.

Yuki recognizes this too, turning away from the group. Disturbed by seeing her own reflection in someone she'd considered untrustworthy, she clenches her fists and swallows her own flurry of emotions.

"Right, I got what I wanted. I'll... take my leave."

She heads towards the door, twisting the knob before Harley's pointed words stop her for a second.

"Where do you think you're going? You started this."

"And it's finished, now. I know the truth. That's all I needed."

Her tone remains aloof, but a strain in her voice speaks to a sharp sting that tugs at her heart. She leaves without another word, heading down the hallway to her own apartment.

Sage puts her head in her hands, letting out a long sigh. Madison gently rubs her back, in an attempt to reassure her.

"I told her this was a bad idea..." She mutters, before she musters the energy to get up. "I'll go talk to her. Sorry that this whole thing turned out to be such a mess... I'll let you know how it goes."

She starts to follow after her friend, before stopping for a second. Swallowing down her fear, she gives Ame an apologetic glance.

"Take care, Ame." And closes the door behind her.

Madison, who's been silent during the exchange, however, connects the dots quickly. They stand up from the couch, beckoning Grayson to their side. They look to the couple with concern, but their face doesn't speak to any ill will.

"Even the most introverted of us need company. We're social creatures, after all." Their voice is soft, soothing with cool kindness like a flower sharing its spoils with the bees. "Don't worry, I'll work on putting the food away."

While she would've probably snapped at someone else for touching her, Ame not only lets Harley get close, but she also finds comfort in Harley's warm touch, falling against her cheek and hand while her body's fighting for not knowing how to react due to the rollercoaster of emotions hitting her.

She wants to cry, but at the same time her body doesn't let her do so, so it settles for staying somewhat tense; dark eyes eventually staring back at her lover once she calls out for her.

Her hand immediately tightens around Harley's to squeeze it, not hesitating in pulling her girlfriend closer despite the confession.

"You knew…"

Desperate, almost. There's shame all plastered over her face, and for a moment she does look away, but only to stare at Yuki from the corner of her eyes.

Then back at Harley.

She knew, yet, she played along. Even if Ame's thoughts were rather disordered at the moment, there was relief in knowing that Harley didn't react badly.

Someone else would've probably called her crazy and things along those lines, but Harley decided to stay despite it all.

"…you noticed all of that." She managed to mumble, pressing her lips together and frowning softly, but not out of anger- the beating of her heart was starting to even feel annoying, too.

"…it was just me, all the time, alright?…I made bad decisions and blamed P-chan even if she never existed- I just needed to blame someone else. I couldn't just blame myself."

She made a pause as she listened to Harley, squeezing her hand some more before her eyes averted to look at Yuki, Sage and even Madison, wanting to see how they reacted, as well.

"Hopefully my actions have been enough to answer those questions you had, Harley…" Because she was more than enough. Harley has been that person that has changed Ame's life for the better- a person that has genuinely wanted to be around her, trying to understand her, despite her possible mood swings and bad habits.

Then, Yuki's change of mind and attempt to leave got Ame perking up, but with how tense everything has gotten, it isn't exactly in Ame's interest to try and stop the other from leaving- nor Sage, for that matter.

It wasn't exactly the ideal outcome of this, but at least it gave Ame room to calm down better; her free hand coming up to her forehead so she can press against it.

"Right…" After listening to Madison, the streamer closes her eyes, sighing in relief after- her attention now fully on her girlfriend. "…I'm sorry that happened, Hacchan." Actively looking for comfort, Ame would be the one to step closer to Harley in order to lean a little against her, huffing, this time by her nose.

And she knows full well that if Ame laid a hand on her, the night would quickly go from tense to deadly. Her hands are stained with enough blood that Ame hardly stands a chance.

Harley knows this too, eyes wide as she rushes next to the two of them. She places a hand on each of their shoulders, trying to preserve the peace before one of her best friends and her lover try to kill each other.

"Hey hey hey! Look, that was all the way back in March, and Ame brings me painkillers now! It was my fault for not saying anything earlier, alright? The whole reason you got caught up in this is because of me!"

"I have years of experience caring for you in those moments. Your girlfriend, who you are planning to live with for the foreseeable future, fell to the floor like a wet napkin the second she saw you." Yuki's sharp scowl practically pierces into Ame, remembering the glimpses of her she'd caught. The way she'd sulked to Harley's side, instead of standing tall and strong for her sake.

This is who Harley was intent on committing to? A walking liability? What in the world happened to the woman who didn't hesitate to step in when Harley was drunk? Who got her home without any issue or complaint, even offering her painkillers?

"I saw the razor by the sink. No wonder Harley was afraid to tell you the truth- if she falls apart, you'll just sink with her."

Harley's eyes and heart flare up with fury, as she roars at Yuki. "You don't know her! You don't know the life she's lived, none of you do! She's had to claw her way out of a hell that nobody should have to go through! So back the fuck off!"

Sage stands from the couch, trying to meet Yuki's eyes one more time. Reminding her of the conversation they'd had before arriving here.

"Yu, we talked about this. You were the one who told us to let Ame prove herself. Why are you suddenly changing your mind now?"

Harley tempers the flames of her anger by searching for the friend that comforted her like a sister. When she was lost, hurt, confused, all without thinking any less of her. A warm heart, trapped beneath layers of snow and frost.

"Look, I know you're worried, but this isn't going to end the same way it did for you." Harley takes Ame's hand, squeezing it as she meets Yuki's eyes. "I finally have my happy ending. We finally have our happy ending. Do you really wanna take that from us?"

Even with Harley's insistence, Yuki doesn't budge. Her muscles are still tense, eyes empty only with the sight of an imagined, inevitable tragedy.

Her voice raises, her tone more matter-of-fact, but with no less contempt for Ame. "I think we need to recall the order of events. You met at the arcade, but you didn't get together at the arcade. No, that was the sleepover."

She pulls up another screenshot on her phone, dated the day of Harley's first visit to Ame's apartment.

. . .

Yukiiiiii are you busyyyyyy? ∠( ᐛ 」∠)＿

I'm on break at the moment. What do you need?

Just a question about a term that came up!!

When someone calls someone else their "P-chan" that means theyre talking about their partner, yea? :0

More or less, depending on the context. It's something you'd only say if you're close with someone, such as a friend or family member. Why?

I was just thinkin about using it for a girl I like is all~ (　-∀・)☆

Good luck, then.

. . .

"You wouldn't happen to know why she was asking me this, would you? Because given your history of underhanded behavior, and your little stunt with the Blackout, infidelity wouldn't surprise me."

She narrows her eyes at Ame, stepping closer towards her. Towering over her, voice lowering as she digs deeper into the heart of the matter. Her shadow on its own is tall and large enough to engulf the poor girl.

This wasn't just a search for the truth. This was a test, much like at the restaurant.

Ame would soon see that Harley's presence wouldn't work to calm Yuki down the same that it did with her. It's not that she was going to stop talking back if necessary, but feeling Harley's hand on her shoulder would at least get Ame to relieve some of the tension, taking a small step back.

The streamer was more like a cornered rabbit that was willing to fight for survival than a hunter, but there was some relief in hearing that Harley was willing to defend her.

Yet, as she heard Yuki talk about the worry she had for Harley that day to use it against her, the same step she took back, she would take forward.

"Excuse me for finding out about the worrying condition my girlfriend was in? I didn't know what was going on because I had no idea beforehand, so I'm sorry I was shocked and worried about her the moment I saw what the fuck was going on."

Ame wasn't yelling, but she was very close to do so; her jaw tightening and her eyes opening more the moment Yuki dared to mention the razor. That genuinely made Ame's heart skip a beat for the worse- anxiety settling further and barely held back by the medication in her body.

And then, Harley stepped in to defend her, which felt good -to not feel so alone for once- even if she couldn't help but avert her gaze for a moment.

At the same time, Sage standing up to also intervene, -also to try and defend her- made Ame regulate her breathing; her slender fingers wrapping and tightening around Harley's hand.

Even if she didn't notice it, she was already having a cold sweat, and the next screenshots wouldn't help it.

"What?…" It's surprise, at first- surprise that Yuki had so many well-kept screenshots to use against her. Like if she was getting cancelled on the internet over all her mistakes or, if she would've been sentenced to face an aggressive prosecutor in court.

The direct mention of P-chan was a problem coming back to bite her in the ass. It's been so long since she last had to mention it, that she, genuinely, almost forgot about that fabrication, but in her loneliness, that delusion of a partner felt real.

Good thing that at least right now, Ame was enough lucid to think of it as what it was, a farce of her own creation.

"I'm sorry-" That's the first thing that escaped her lips, a desperate apology that was directed at Harley, Yuki, and also herself. "P-chan…I-" Guilt was starting to drown her chest alongside the anxiety, to the point that she let Harley's hand go to take a few steps back from both, Yuki and her girlfriend.

The same that shame was suddenly plastered all over her face, the worry and paranoia were strangling Ame by the neck; her mind pushing her to the worst case scenario when not knowing if the people in this room would react positively to the truth behind P-chan.

Who would react positively, anyway?

"P-chan DOESN'T exist!…they don't exist, alright?!" She was slightly curled against herself, still taking a few steps back, but coming to a halt when she felt her knees growing weak. Just like a prey animal, she was obsessively and attentively looking around the room, looking at everyone while her voice cracked and her breathing became heavier, feeling her irises sinking in.

"I've always been so ALONE that I had to do it if I wanted to try and keep myself TOGETHER for a little longer, ALRIGHT?!" There were tears forming at the corners of her eyes, teasing but never flowing down, although a nervous and almost manic laugh escaped Ame's lips, at the same time she let a hand rest on her stomach, feeling herself getting sick.

Everything spinning.

"P-chan doesn't exist…they don't-…she doesn't-…I'm just a FUCKING loser!"

Ruby pressed her index fingers against her lips. The gesture she always did when she wanted to keep things a secret from everyone else. Miyako always said that when she did did, she looked exactly like Ai.

When Ruby said her name, she saw KAngel open her eyes slightly surprised. Had she recognized her? Well, she was pretty famous now so there was a chance the streamer had heard her songs or saw one of her videos. And despite wearing a costume that hid her appearance, she was not exactly being very careful with the whole deal of not revealing who she was. Not with KAngel at least.

Why she didn't mind the streamer knowing she was? Perhaps she felt that KAngel wasn't going to make a fuss about it. And thats exactly what KAngel did... she kept smiling, not even whispering a question about if she was really Ruby Hoshino.

That made Ruby smile too.

It was refreshing meeting someone that for once wasn't thrilled to dote on her with empty compliments hoping to get something from her. It was not as if KAngel neded her either. She was doing amazing on her own.

"Yes! I made it" Ruby scratched the back of her neck with a somewhat nervous smile "I am not the best doing handmade things but bracelets is something I think I am pretty good at!"

KAngel placed the bracelet around her wrist. That small gesture made Ruby feel like she was going to fly away. Driven by the joy of hearing that KAngel was going to keep her gift.

"I am glad you liked it!"

It felt warm seeing KAngel smile, truly happy with the gift Ruby had given her. How to describe it... she felt that her job as an idol was tainted. Before, aside from living Ai's dreams, she wanted to make everyone happy as idols had made her. All of that was in the past now. Now being an idol was more about her path to revenge than to make people happy.

But she still wanted to make people happy. That's what made her different from her father she thought. The desire of wanting to make people smile. And seeing she had done that with KAngel... it made her soul shine bright. Specially when she tought she saw a glimpse of scars in KAngel's wrist.

Still, it wasn't her bussiness, so she kept smiling and took the CD the streamer had signed for her. Reading the inscription... Ruby held her breath.

Love people and being loved. Those were two core things human desired more than anything. Ruby felt that everyone lived their lifes searching for them. Some people found love in a sport. Some people found love helping other. And some people... found love being fans of something greater than them.

Seeing that inscription made her feel someone truly loved her. She knew stars faked love most of the time. But if this was a lie, she was more than willing to believe it.

"This is beautiful! Thank you" she said hugging the CD against her chest and giving a little jump. Then she chuckled "You are cute too, KAngel!"

Ruby heart jumped hearing that KAngel wanted to meet her later. She thought after this short meeting it was going to be the last time in a while they would have the opportunity to talk in person. The meeting had been better than she expected it too. She would have been very happy if it ended now.

But seeing KAngel after and having the opportunity to get to know her more? It made her feel excited and like she could jump of elation.

"Yes! I would love too!" she said more loudly than she wanted "Thou.."

She frowned. If the rest of B-Komachi arrived before KAngel finished, she could not meet her. Unless...

"I have a show later here. So if I am busy when you finish just text me and we can arrange other place to see, would that be okay with you?" Ruby took a bussiness card from her purse "Here is my number"

The card was of a dark pink with white stars. It had written her name, number and... agency. If KAngel wasn't truly sure of who she was, now she would have no doubt.

Ruby pressed against her index finger against her lips.

KAngel would look over Ruby's side to notice that other fans were waiting, but the streamer didn't exactly mind making them wait. Her turn here would soon be finished, anyway, and it was obvious she was way more eager to meet with Ruby later.

KAngel herself knew that most idols probably just became idols for the fame, the attention and the money…yet, there was part of her that still hoped these gestures were out of genuine kindness, the wish of making someone else smile, just as she tried to do, even if it was difficult at times.

"I'm glad you like it! Specially when you haven't been a fan for long…but your support means a lot!"

Despite how negative and cynical KAngel could be about people at times…some kept giving her reasons to believe there was still some good in the world.

And so…she continued smiling and softened her expression, kinda tired from being here and attending so many people, but at least knowing she had something to look forward to, rather than just thinking of going back home, to her hole.

Alone.

"You don't have to worry too much about your own show." She said, making sure it wasn't loud enough for others to hear. "I will actually attend it, even. I gotta kill time before they close the place, right? So look out for me among all the attendants~."

Maybe she will even get there with one of those glowsticks to wave it in Ruby's color- it's the least she could do when she got in line to see her here, after all.

It's why she so openly picked Ruby's business card, immediately looking at the name, and just confirming that, for sure, it was Ruby Hoshino. That surprise even got a very soft blush to cover KAngel's cheeks; her heart getting a little anxious, but she had to keep her cool.

"I will keep your secret, don't worry." She continued, speaking in a soft voice still, and winking at her the moment that Ruby did too.

"I'll see you around later and call your number if I need it, but try to enjoy your stay!…and have fun!"

Even with those adorable features she has, she's still human, a strange anomaly that's grabbed the adoration and attention of things far beyond her capacity to deal with.

"Please.." Even as Ame pulls from her, she remains locked in her embrace, though if she were to move more, it would come at the assistance of Ame's strength. Plucked into her arms whenever the vampire decided it was time to go.

"You'll have to carry me.." How strange it was to say that, how badly Flavia wanted to do the opposite. She wanted to be the one to carry someone how, to hold them in their arms after saving them maybe?

Instead it's her that's getting lifted again, tucked against someone who is stronger than her.

"I'm good at hiding...when I leave. So they won't find us.. not right now..." They might in truth, but what Flavia doesn't share is that the vampire Lenora's already cut a deal to ensure those thralls don't come knocking to ruin Ame's time.

She's lying again, she's always lying lately. But part of her hopes maybe one day... maybe there's no need for these deals or hiding. She still can't tell if she's honest with herself right now, or if she's slipping deeper into an attachment to Ame she can't escape.

"Like a role call.. as long as I make it back often enough.." As long as they can toy with her enough, maybe she can hide away in Ame's arms more often. "I'll break it one day, their control.. I promise..."

Ame expected having to carry Flavia, not only after all she's done, but also because of whatever had happened to her before the vampire started following her.

In all honesty, Ame wasn't exactly used to carry other girls in her arms, but it's something that she could easily do thanks to her inhuman strength, and so…after placing a kiss on Flavia's nose, she moved back while making sure she lifted the human with her, easy as lifting some kind of light stuffed toy.

"I will help you hide, then…" Getting steady and back on her feet, Ame held Flavia close in a bridal style, looking around herself to make sure no one was around, and then looking up at the night sky so she could take flight.

Perhaps not too surprising, to see that Ame could manifest bat wings that would make sure to carry them both back to her place.

"…why do they want you so much- what do they get from it aside of seeing you suffer?…" She shouldn't be surprised by such, yet, here she was, focused on flying to the right place, and only looking down at Flavia from time to time.

"…so many humans in the world, and they had to choose you."

Even when knowing that Flavia was partially getting more attached to her because of the consumption of her blood, her words sounded genuine- she was still angry at how they treated her, even when their first encounter wasn't really good either.

Then again, Ame didn't think of herself as a great person, so maybe she felt this way because she was getting obsessed with Flavia, and it wasn't the first time they took someone away from her.