#aether's requests

Waking up was a slow process.

Stretching in his bed, nuzzling his face back into his pillow and holding his soft blankets to his chest. Sun streaming through the windows, gentle, birds chirping in the distance.

Still early enough that there wasn't the normal noisy hustle and bustle of everyday life.

It was perfect.

He breathes in softly, sighing when he smells you on his pillowcase. Such a lovely thing to wake up to...

"I dreamt of you again..." He hums, eyes fluttering closed as the memories of the dream flashed through his brain without even a second to spare. Fluffy white blankets, a picnic basket, baking together. Sweet lemonade and you.

It takes him a few minutes to come back to reality.

Somehow, the room is darker when he sits himself up, clouds covering the suns warmth.

Tears are already gathering in his eyes when the thought runs through him - you were gone now.

And it was all his fault.

-

"Ya can't keep secrets from me." Mammon's tone was gruff, and he was staring into your eyes with something like a pout on his lips. "'S not allowed."

"Oh?" You question, teasingly, a smile curling on your lips as you slowly started to lean closer to the demon of greed, running your hand through his hair and watching as he pushed into your hand like a cat. "Baby, you know I'm not keeping secrets."

"But... Luci said you went to dinner with him the other night. Why didn't you tell me?"

You outright laugh at that, and have to quiet yourself when you see Mammon start to pull away. "No, no, I'm not laughing at you, love. I didn't mention it cause you told me you didn't want to hear me talk about any of your brothers when I'm with you, remember?"

He jolted at the reminder, eyes widening as he flustered.

Hells above and below, he was so cute. You couldn't believe how lucky you were.

"Oh. Um... I. I forgot about that." The white-haired demon mumbled, bringing his hands up to hide his blushing face, determinedly avoiding eye contact with you. He only hid more when you started cooing over him, and you couldn't help but fall further in love with your pouty little demon.

"...Sorry." He muttered under his breath, slowly moving his hands away from his face, still unable to make eye contact with you with his embarrassed state.

"Just say that you love me. Please. That's all I want. That's all I need." The Heartslabyul housewarden all but begs, his eyes watery as he stares at you, desperate for any shred of affection that you could give him.

"Riddle... I... You know I don't feel that way..." You tried, gently, trying to let him down easy.

He couldn't accept that.

The waterworks start in full now, tears streaming down his face as he sniffles and tries to suppress sobs. His hands go up, hiding his face from view, and for a moment you wished that he had done this somewhere more public, so you could get away faster, but supposed that you would have done the same in his situation.

"Please." He whimpers, falling to his knees before you, his eyes revering. As if you were the only thing that mattered to him, the only thing that he existed for. As if he would do anything to keep you with him.

It was like you had destroyed his entire world, rejecting him.

Like you had taken away his very meaning in life, his essence, simply by telling him the truth. You felt... more than guilty. But, you couldn't take it back. You were many things, but you weren't a liar - it would be worse if you had led him along, you rationalized.

"You... you really don't, do you? You don't... feel anything for me."

Riddle seems to be just barely having the realization, his arms shaking, barely holding himself up. His eyes start to swirl with madness, and you unconsciously take a step back in fear.

"My rose... my love... how I would devote everything to you... and you don't view me as any more than a speck on the side of your path..." A manic tone slips into his voice, and when you don't deny him, he starts to giggle - tears still rolling down his cheeks, sobs wracking through his chest.

What could you do besides run away? What could you say? What could anyone say, that would comfort the housewarden at this point?

Not to worry, though. Riddle will convince you, eventually. Even if he has to be a bit mean to get to that point.

-

"I mean, isn't it kind of romantic, though?"

Missing the way that the Diasomnia boy seemed to freeze at the question, you instead continued looking interestedly at the décor just outside of said dorm.

You, of course, had been referring to how Ruggie took such care in looking after Leona. "I mean, I know it's not meant to be that way - it's just his job. But the idea of having someone look out for you like that, isn't it sweet?"

His stunned silence continues, and you have half a mind to think that he fell asleep walking. To your surprise, when you check back on him, he's wide-awake. And he's blushing quite strongly.

"What, do you not agree?"

"Well, I guess." He starts, looking away as if you hadn't already seen his flustered state. "I just... wasn't aware you liked things like that."

You hummed, a half-smile pulling at your lips as you continued along, hearing Silver follow after you.

"I feel like everyone does, though?" You question, and seeing how he seemed to be curious as to what you meant, you continued. "It's just the idea of having someone be there, having your back. Helping you whenever you need it, or even when you don't. Something about it, it's just nice."

"Hmm." He doesn't really answer, clearly trying to think it over as his pace slowed. "I'll remember that, then."

-

"What? You think it's just... okay to post me all over Magicam without permission? Seriously?"

Cater doesn't even look up from his phone at your accusatory tone, instead laughing and carelessly waving one of his hands. "What? You look cute all the time, so what's it matter?" He doesn't see the way that you grip the bottom of your shirt, or the way that your scowl deepens.

A sigh of frustration escapes you, and without another word, you walk out. You could deal with the ginger menace another time. When you were less angry. When you knew for sure that you wouldn't end up ripping into him without remorse.

Though, he didn't seem to get the memo.

You were half-way down the hall, on your way back to Ramshackle from Heartslabyul when he came running after you, a shout of your name on his lips.

Anger runs red hot through you as you whip around to face him, glowering in full now. "What, pray tell, is so important for you to run after me in the middle of the hall after you couldn't even look up from your phone, moments ago? What gives you the right to chase after me, hm?"

Cater's face goes pale, and you can't help but feel satisfied that he's finally noticed your anger.

"Oh... uh. I... hadn't, really... noticed."

There's a moment of silence, and it's then that you make a decision. Perhaps one fueled by wrath, that you might come to regret later. But one that you needed to make.

You stone yourself, and you walk closer with a serious expression, uncaring to how he seemed to only grow more uneasy. Determined not to make a spectacle, something that Cater can grow popularity from, you keep your voice measured. Even.

"I'm done with this." The ginger goes to exclaim, to protest. Something. A glare cuts it off easily enough, and you continue your train of thought. "You can act all you like, but not with me. Not anymore. You're self-absorbed to the point that you can't care about anyone besides yourself or your image and I'm done."

The final statement comes out as more of a hiss, but the hallway was empty enough. It would have to do.

Steeling yourself once more, you turn - not paying any attention to Cater, and how he was on the verge of tears. Until he took hold of your wrist, keeping you from moving forward. From leaving him.

Stopping in place, you try to take a deep breath in - to calm yourself.

Cater seizes the opportunity, words spilling from his mouth as soon as he realized he wasn't met with immediate rejection, despite your back still being turned to him. "I didn't know you felt anything like that. Really. I'm sorry for not noticing."

His voice is softer now, getting choked up, but with more purpose. His grip loosens when you make no move to leave.

"Really... I had no clue. I... What can I do to fix this?"

"...Leave." You breathe out, still frozen to your spot, glaring at the wall in front of you. If you looked back now, you couldn't be sure you wouldn't forgive him. "It's... this is too little, too late. I'm done, Cater. Let go of me."

"Please." His breath hitches, and you can hear him trying to stifle soft sobs now. You don't look back, removing your arm from his grasp as he continues. "Please, please. Don't do this. I- I would do anything for you. I would drown for you. Just... don't leave me. Please..."

"Anything but do it right the first time." You sigh, and you finally walk away, even as he started to cry in earnest. Even when the gazes from others in the hallway were unavoidable, or when you see a phone recording out of the corner of your eye. You couldn't... do any more than this.

You couldn't waste any more of your time.

Not on someone that would only waste a second chance.

-

"Hmm... Just say that you love us." Cater hummed, surprisingly serpent-like as he twisted his way from behind Idia, a wicked grin playing on his lips, eyes sparking with a cruel amusement.

Idia's eyes widen at the remark, much like your own, and for a moment you think that he isn't in on whatever game the ginger is trying to play.

"Wh-!? We agreed we wouldn't tell them yet...!" He whisper-shouted, a bit frantic as he glanced between you and Cater, who was now hanging off his shoulder. The male in question honest to god giggled, simply putting up a piece sign and sticking out his tongue. As if that answered any of your many questions.

"Uhhh... no?"

Idia's hair flares out at that, and you can't help but shiver at the way Cater's gaze darkens.

"You don't?" The ginger questions, something serious in his tone, and he gripped his companion's shoulder as he moved around him to get face to face with you. His other hand comes up, grabbing your jaw and forcing you to look right in his eyes.

The intensity more than throws you off, and you can't help the noise of pain you make. His grip tightens, and insanity swirls in his irises as he pulls you closer by the face - you have no choice but to follow where he drags you, jaw becoming sore as you try to figure out how to make him let go. Why was Idia just... letting this happen?

You chance darting your eyes away, to the flame-haired, only to see him standing just behind Cater with a stunningly detached look.

"Tch. Eyes on me, pretty thing~" The ginger sung, gaining your attention once more, his expression sweet as ever. As if he wasn't on the cusp of breaking your jaw. As if the three of you weren't out in the courtyard, able to be seen by anyone at any time.

"Idia and I have been looking after you for so long, you know..." The other seems to float down from the clouds at the call of his name, and suddenly he's huffing but unmoving.

Cater rolls his eyes at the noise, but his grip loosens ever so slightly, and you thank every god you know at the relief. "I won't hurt them too bad, don't worry. I was just saying, that really, I don't see why you would lie to us after we've been nothing but lovely to you!"

Delusion seems to honey him even more, and dread fills you. They both... really believe that. That they have somehow earned your love, just by... what? Being friends with you? What nonsense.

You try to speak up as such, and all Cater does is click his tongue, looking away from you, holding back from being any more violent now that his companion was back to earth.

"Now... you don't mean that, surely..." Idia speaks up now, voice quiet as he slowly moved forwards, cocking his head at you with glassy eyes. "You love us... we just... have to remind you."

-

"You... make me feel alive."

Jamil straightened up, blinking with a shocked look on his face. That was... quite out of nowhere. With how low Yuujirou's volume was, he almost felt like he imagined it - he hadn't, had he?

“I do?”

“Mm.” The panther hummed in affirmation, forcing himself to be nonchalant - the façade was ruined by the twitching end of his tail, showing his anxiety, but he doesn’t look to Jamil. The look he knew was in his eyes would be too real. It would say too much.

"I'm... glad, then." He doesn't say how that happiness borders on honor, or how he feels the same for Yuuji. It hangs in the air anyways, the appreciation between the two of them.

They move closer without a thought to it, situated in the kitchen and cooking together. It was something that they both quite liked, and when the hybrid offered to start helping him with his daily tasks, Jamil couldn't refuse. Something was just... so relaxing, so domestic, about cooking together with him.

And if the jaguar's tail loosely wraps around Jamil's leg? Neither of them mention it.

When they do have to part, it's with a sense of longing, but with the knowledge that they'll be back together soon enough. Maybe sooner than either of them are planning, with how Kalim is starting to get the idea of how much they like each other. We know his tendency for extravagance - even more so when it comes to setting up his two best friends.

-

"What... What do I mean to you?" The usually strong lion's voice trembled, and you couldn't help but scoff as you looked at him. He was splayed across a half-wall in the botanical garden - his usual napping spot.

That's what he had been doing, of course, before you came along. Looking for him per Ruggie's request, though you couldn't have cared less to talk to Leona himself.

"What do you mean to me?" You asked, and rolled your eyes when you saw the infamous Prince of the Sunset Savannah wince at your tone. Sighing aloud, you took a step forward with purpose, a scowl on your face. "Nothing."

He goes to speak again, looking physically hurt by the answer, but you cut him off.

"Really, Leona." You spit his name out like venom, taking another step towards him, leaning down to his level with malice in your eyes. "What are you supposed to mean to me? Hm? After all, I'm just a little herbivore, aren't I? What does my opinion of you matter?"

"I just- I..."

He trails off, helpless, and you can't believe that his prideful demeanor was this easy to shatter. Really, you didn't know what to expect from him - not anymore.

The lion had told you, to your face, that you meant nothing to him. That you were just a herbivore, a piece of prey infringing on his territory and surviving off of borrowed time. And he expected it all to be okay? Like you'd just play nice with him when he suddenly decided that you were worth his attention?

"Fucking pathetic."

That's all you say before leaning back, motions quick and efficient - you didn't want to be here any longer than you had to be.

"Go see Ruggie. God knows he's the only one holding your life together." You hiss under your breath, already on your way out.

You don't listen to what he says as you leave.

-