#maybe......

The little chill in the air is what wakes Fiend.

It's easy enough to ignore though as they toss in their bed. The nice warm feeling still lingering in their body gives them comfort. The memories of last night make Fiend feel happy and content. They draw the sheets up a little closer and a smile tugs at their lips as they snuggle a little closer to-

Oh.

He's not there.

Fiend feels a shiver as it reaches out and its hand lands on the cold, very empty sheets. A sinking, cold despair curls in their gut, eating away at the warmth that had just moments before had brought them peace. Almost reluctantly, it opens its eyes, hoping childishly that maybe he's just out of its reach.

But no. She’s alone.

The realization almost physically hurts. Their fragile heart barely able to withstand the fact that after the night they shared he would leave them alone. The possibility hadn't even been something Fiend considered. And yet here they were. And here he wasn't.

Fiend sits up slowly, clutching the blanket to its chest as it looks around the room. The familiar distorted rainbow refractions from the window clings it had put up weren't enough to comfort the sinking feeling in its chest. Thinking perhaps that maybe having glasses will change what it already knows to be true, they grab them and put them on.

Nothing changes. They're still alone in their room.

Fighting the urge to lie back down, pull the blanket over their head and cry, Fiend takes a shaky breath and decides to get up. Twisting their body to put their feet on the floor is. Slightly uncomfortable. Lilia had been very gentle with her at the start, but far from it by the end. Still, not as bad as Fiend may have thought it was going to be. A little huff escaped their lips. They had read so many stories of sex leaving people unable to walk the next day. If nothing else, this experience would let it know that particular idea was only specific to fantasy.

And all that disappeared the moment Fiend attempted to stand, legs giving out, knees folding as a dizzying sensation overwhelmed them.

Fiend had to blink a few times to get their head straight again. Their legs felt a little numb and their core throbbed slightly, clearly unhappy about the movement. They were sitting on the bed again after falling back, almost making it seem like it hadn't moved at all.

Huh. Okay. Maybe there was some truth to it.

The thought of giving up and going back to sleep(or at least pretending to) was suddenly even more enticing. But its bladder reminded it that it couldn't stay in bed all day, and so, more prepared this time, Fiend rose to its feet.

It's still achy and numb as it hobbles over to the bathroom as best they can. With their shaky legs it's proving to be quite a task. They refuse to look at themself in the mirror until after their hair is brushed and their face is washed.

Fiend is leaning over the sink, feeling the cool water drop down their face, pretending like they’re the teardrops it's refusing to shed when it finally meets its own gaze.

They look ruined.

There are clear visible marks all along their neck and chest from Lilia's teeth and lips. It looks like Fiend has been mauled. There's barely an inch of skin that isn't some shade of red or purple. Even over their shoulders countless little marks marred their skin. Fiend took in a shaky breath, trying not to think too much about the way it had felt like it was receiving a gift every time his mouth pressed against its skin. Bruises along their waist and hips reminded Fiend of the way they had been held so firmly, safe and kept.

It wouldn't be a problem to cover them, at least. Fiend had plenty of high collar shirts and wearing his hair down would help to cover anything that could peek out. The rest of the marks in more intimate places were always promised to be a sight exclusive to the two. Nobody else would know.

The words he spoke in the afterglow as he lavished kisses against each little mark must have been a product of the pleasure as well. He couldn't have truly wanted everyone seeing his marks on them. If Lilia wasn't here to show them off, then surely these weren't actually meant to be seen.

Nobody else would know…

Fiend got dressed slowly, taking it's time to remake itself into the picture perfect prefect they pretended to be. Buttoning up their shirt to the chin, forgoing the pink collar she typically wore. The thought of wearing it didn't feel right. They smiled at their reflection. Trying to force themself to look genuine about it before they set off.

Opening their bedroom door a smell coming from downstairs alerts them to something instantly wrong. Something burnt and sweet and smokey is wafting up from the kitchen. Hopefully it's from the kitchen. A fire in the lounge or hallway or guest room would be much less favourable. So Fiend takes a deep breath and once more tries to push down all its feelings. It can't dwell on that right now. Something downstairs is wrong and Fiend must make it right.

It takes some time to get downstairs, but Fiend powers through it, bracing herself to act like the worst thing that's going through their head is whatever is probably on fire as they make it to the kitchen.

“Ah! Dearest, what are you doing up?” Lilia's voice was bright and sweet, ringing almost like a bell through the room.

Fiend stares, slightly dumbfounded at the scene it's walked in on.

There is a fire. A pot on the stove is burning and a pan is sizzling as Lilia stands there, all smiles at a cutting board. He's wearing Fiend's apron, the pink ruffley one that Trey had gifted them over a pair of boxers with little bats on them. His hair hasn't even been brushed yet. It’s almost like he rolled out of bed and right into the kitchen. He lets go of the knife and it magically continues its task, chop chop chopping away at the garlic, strawberries, and what are those, crickets??? The chaos doesn't seem to concern him, in fact, he looks rather pleased as he approaches Fiend.

“I'm surprised to see you walking, come here, come here!” Lilia picks Fiend up easily despite the slight protest of Fiend shaking his head. He smiles at it and he holds it in a sweet bridal carry, close to his chest as if that's where it belongs, “Now, care to explain yourself?”

“You left…” Fiend finally says after a moment, trying not to melt into his arms too easily. It's such a relief being off of their feet, but the idea of admitting that seems too scary. Seeing him and hearing him and feeling him doesn't seem real.

“I did, we need a big breakfast after all that.” Lilia says with a fangy grin, one that has their stomach twisting in a way Fiend doesn't feel qualified to describe.

“I thought you left.” Fiend admits in a smaller voice.

“Oh,” he understands only a few moments after they say it. “Would you like for me to leave my heart at your bedside table next time so you know I'll come back?” it's mostly a joke. With the little lit to his voice Fiend can tell he's trying to make light of it. Not in a mean way, never in a mean way. It knows he's just trying to ease Fiend's tension. He is here after all, there should be no need to worry anymore.

Fiend presses their face against his neck, hiding from his gaze so they don't burst into tears. She feels silly for doubting him and a sudden guilt pours over her mind in waves as Lilia holds her. Of course he wasn't going to leave. Lilia wasn't like that, Lilia was good.

“No… no, it's okay. I know… I should have known…”

“Don’t fret, we're both here, aren't we?”

“I was just scared but I should have trusted you, I didn't really think, I'm sorry-”

“Lyssa.”

Fiend shut up instantly. Teeth clacking together with how quickly they closed their mouth. The sound of his voice using her true name as a command was too powerful to resist.

“It's alright.” he follows up with, much softer, and if Fiend wasn't so focused so intensely on him the sound just may have been drowned out by the chirping of the crickets and the crackling on the stove.

“I’m s-” he doesn't even think before the words start to fall from his lips again, only to be cut off.

“Lyssa.” His voice is much more firm this time as he repeats the name.

“Don't apologize. You have nothing to be sorry for.” He waits a moment, letting the words linger as if hoping they'll finally sink in. And then he's all smiles again as his entire expression softens back into that playful look Fiend knows and loves.

“Hmm, perhaps except for ruining your own surprise. How can I possibly serve you breakfast in bed now that you've gotten up?”

“You didn't have to do that…” Fiend mumbles, still feeling a little vulnerable from… everything…

“Ah, but I wanted to, and you'll indulge my romantic cravings, won't you?” and of course Fiend will. Always. Anything for him.

“You could just send me back to bed…” it offers, trying to find a way to continue with Lilia's plan. Lilia's grip tightens for a moment as if the thought of Fiend alone in bed upsets him somehow.

“It wouldn't be much of a surprise then now would it? We'll have to save it for another time.” he leans down to press a quick kiss to its forehead, and then deposits them on the counter.

“Maybe next time you could try not to burn it too?” Fiend says, attempting to be playful with him, to let him him know that for now at least, it's worries have been soothed.

“Cheeky…” he laughs a bit, mostly to himself as he pulls a flaming skewer of something from the pot. “I'm just making sure it's well done! Doesn't food taste better when cooked over an open fire?”

“You’re lucky I love you.” Fiend says as a joke, rolling their eyes and smiling at him.

“Mhmn! Very.” Is Lilia's deeply earnest response.

And I was going to write more, but I figured I would end it there. Yay!!!! This was a lot of fun to write and I'm really really really happy I actually finished it!!!!! And in like 10 hours!!!!!!!!! I haven't written like this in like nine years!!!!!