Literally Ariane

He muttered your name before cursing again, gritting his teeth like he was the one in a lot of pain from a stab wound and not you.

One moment the two of you were fighting like usual and the next, he saw one of the bloodbags get a good swing in; its sharps digging into your flesh and left behind an injury far too severe to be ignored. Hong Lu didn’t remember what exactly happened afterwards, his memory was fuzzy and the last thing he saw that wasn’t you was the shouts of the bloodfiend he was hunting and the sound of footsteps growing more and more distant.

Things weren’t supposed to go like this. Things weren’t supposed to go like this. Things weren’t supposed to go like this.

Nothing he did seemed to make things right and he cursed himself over and over again for foolishly throwing away the one thing that would’ve helped in this situation. And all because of what? In a vain attempt to cut off his family when he was destined to return to them eventually anyway? What a joke.

He pulled back slightly, the reality of the situation weighing down on him as he took in the sight of you cradled against his chest: Blood spilled from your lips, one hand rested loosely over the gaping wound on your stomach, the light in your eyes fading ever so slowly…

The only thing he could do now was to rush you back to the office and use the medical supplies there. Supplies that he should’ve brought along with every mission instead of getting cocky. Supplies that he’d start bringing with him if you managed to make it.

“Stay with me,” his voice came out as a mere whisper as he stood up with you in his arms.

He doubted you would.

<- Back to the masterlist?

Your immediate denial only seemed to amuse him as he used his other hand — which was resting beside your head prior — to cup your cheek into his palm. The pad of his thumb pressed against your lower lip. His gaze softened then, leaning in ever so slightly as if debating whether he should kiss you or not.

His hand trailed down from your cheek to your neck, stopping to take in how you shivered under his touch due to the hickeys he left there earlier. The corners of his lips quirked up, forming into a smirk that only a few got to see.

“You look so pretty under me.”

“Get out.”

He giggled in response, hand moving a little lower onto the collar of your messed up uniform before he tugged at it. “And leave you like this for the others to find? I don’t think I can let that happen~”

“Fix my clothes then??”

He hummed in thought, letting his eyes wander up and down your body. “I like you more like this though.”

Pervert. He was one of the worst perverts you’ve ever known and it was a shame that no one else would get to know about this because of the naive and clueless act he put on around the others.

“Well then, before the others get back…” Hong Lu leaned back in, this time close enough for his lips to brush against yours. “Happy birthday to me~”

<- Back to the masterlist?

…He wasn't wrong.

Mon was the worst among all the void lords. Hell, the only reason you ended up in the void was because they were bored and wanted something pretty to look at. To think they cared for someone like you would be foolish, and yet... and yet, hearing Johann talk about them like that made your blood boil.

"...I know."

He scoffed at your response, it was obvious that he didn't believe you.

Well, no matter. Mon gave you a task and you were better off fulfilling rather than talking to your target. No need to listen to the words of a lost soul when your role is to take their locusts for Mon.

“Wouldn’t you rather continue our search for an exit instead of talking about this though?”

“…Of course, let us continue with our search.”

Mon seemed oblivious of your plight as they walked in front of you, uncaring of the growing gap that formed between you and them. Their lack of worry about losing you wasn’t unwarranted, you’ve traveled through the void enough times to know how to solve most of the puzzles on your own and knew where the shortcuts were.

But that didn’t make the distance between you two hurt any less, especially after the words you exchanged with Johann. Did Mon truly not care for you? It was a silly question — of course they didn’t — but it still hurt.

You used to think that the void was once a sanctuary away from home, but it seemed like those two were the same thing all along. Don’t have anyone who cares for you here or there, nor do you belong in either place. Maybe you should just—

Ah.

You took a step back, away from the activated trap tile. It looked like you accidentally trapped yourself while you were lost in thought. In such a simple room, too. Of course you trapped myself, you can’t do anything right.

“Ksi shi shi shi. How did you end up in this position, stranger?”

Mon was in front of you the next second, the paper on their face hiding their expression yet the usual smile on their lips said enough. They must be mocking you, rightfully so.

“I… wasn’t paying attention,” you told them.

“It’d be troublesome for me if you were stuck there, so I’ll save you free of charge just this once.”

“Right, I’ll— huh?” Did you hear them right? Free of charge??

Mon stepped onto the activated trap tile without a care in the world and a pair of wings reminiscent of a bug’s sprouted from their back as the tile gave away under their feet. They stepped onto the tile you were standing on and grabbed your waist; ungracefully throwing you over their shoulder before making their way back.

“Mo— My Lord, you didn’t have to…”

“Oh, but I did.” They placed you back on my feet and condescendingly pat your head. “I can’t lose my business partner so soon, can I?”

Right, business partner… That’s all you were… No, no, them calling you their business partner meant that they did care about you to some degree, right? Even if it wasn’t genuine care, it was some kind of care that you were desperate for.

“Can you do that again?”

Mon tilted their head, confused. “Do what again, stranger?”

“Pat… my head… again…” you muttered.

They laughed but did as you asked. They did it just as condescendingly as the previous one, too.

“This one will cost a fortune for you, ksi shi shi shi.”

“Huh? Wait you should’ve told me beforehand!”

<- Back to the masterlist?